[1][2] He joined the National Union of Leather Workers and Allied Trades, becoming secretary of its London branch.
In 1965, the union's general secretary, H. P. Higginson, retired due to poor health, and Childs was appointed as his successor.
A provisional body bringing several unions together was established in 1970, and he acted as its general secretary.
The merger was completed in 1971, forming the National Union of the Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades, upon which he retired.
This biographical article about a trade unionist in the United Kingdom is a stub.