Born in Sheffield, he was educated at Netherthorpe Grammar,Staveley,Derbyshire and after leaving education in 1977 became a dock worker at the Marine and Port Services of Pembroke Dock. He stayed in this position until 1992 when he was elected as the MP of Pembroke, due to change of constituency borders in the 1997 election he successfully ran for MP in Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South.
He and his wife Sally Ainger have one daughter.