Mead was an avid lover of jazz, (watching) rugby, motor racing, local history and archaeology.

In 1994, he stated his ornithological interests as "bird ringing, migration, longevity and population dynamics"[1] He married Verity in 1965; they had three daughters called Vanella, Harriet (a wildlife artist) and Miranda.

Educated at Aldenham School, Hertfordshire, he began, but failed to complete, a degree in mathematics at Peterhouse, Cambridge.

In 1995, ill health brought about his early, and supposed, "retirement", after which he became the BTO's media consultant, regularly being interviewed on radio and in the press.

Mead was also remembered in a special edition of BBC Radio 4 wildlife programme Nature on 12 May 2003 (available on-line, see below).