Born in Enfield, Middlesex, Campbell joined the British Federation of Young Co-operators.
He was a conscientious objector during the Second World War, working as an agricultural labourer.
[1] In 1967 Campbell stood down as general secretary to take up a post managing a housing trust.
However, he remained chair of Co-operative Planning and the Co-Ownership Development Society.
[1] Campbell retired in 1985 and moved to Portugal with friends; the group later returned to the UK.