[1] During World War II, he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to the 6th Airborne Division, and rose to become a sergeant.
In 1947, he gained admittance to the University of Glasgow to study electrical engineering and, although his time was interrupted by a year recuperating from tuberculosis, he eventually graduated BSc and spent the remainder of his career in the industry.
[1] Rollo joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) and was elected as its treasurer in 1953/4, serving until 1967.
In 1956, they used this to launch "Radio Free Scotland", based in Rollo's home town of Kirkintilloch.
[6] Rollo stood for the party at the 1959 general election in Hamilton, by which time he was head of the SNP's broadcasting committee.