He worked as a librarian[2] in Lewisham Public Library, and at the same time set out to write poetry and read widely.
Fletcher began to study for an external London University degree, but the war intervened and he joined the army.
Cairo was something of a literary centre at this time and Fletcher came into contact with numerous other poets, including Bernard Spencer, G S Fraser and Ruth Speirs.
Fletcher always retained an interest in making sure that the work of Second World War poets was not underestimated or forgotten, supporting the Salamander Oasis Trust in their production of anthologies and putting on an exhibition, based on his donated collection, in Reading University Library in 1981.
This was brought to the attention of Professor Donald J. Gordon of Reading University who offered Fletcher a lecturership on the strength of it in spite of his lack of a degree.
[2] Fletcher had a distinguished career at Reading, gaining a PhD, his only degree,[2] with a thesis on the history of the little magazine in 1965, and progressing to a professorship in 1978.