[1] Osborne was educated at Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham and University College, Durham, where he graduated with a first-class degree in Physics in 1953.
[1] He stayed in Africa and became Senior Lecturer in Physics at the University of Ghana, but was eventually arrested and imprisoned by the government of Kwame Nkrumah.
[2] In 1964 he joined the University of Dar es Salaam as Reader in Physics, becoming Professor in 1966 and Dean of Science in 1968.
[1] Osborne left his academic career behind in 1972 when he joined the Civil Service, serving within the Overseas Development Administration.
He became Head of the East and West Africa Department in 1984 and in 1987 was picked to serve as High Commissioner in Malawi.