Roberts was born in Aberystwyth, and was educated at the Neath Grammar School for Boys and the University College of Wales, Cardiff.
[1] He was the first Headteacher of the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School when it opened in 1963, and was president of the Cardiff branch of the National Union of Teachers.
He fought Cardiff South East in 1955 and 1959, being defeated both times by future Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, on the second occasion by only 868 votes.
At around 9:44PM on 10 February 1983, Roberts collapsed from a massive heart attack while speaking at the despatch box in the House of Commons during an adjournment debate and was pronounced dead, aged 55, on arrival at hospital.
[1] Ordinarily there would have been a by-election to succeed him but none was called due to the impending 1983 general election, in which boundary changes abolished his Cardiff North West seat.