In 1971 he studied at Loughborough College for his degree in physical education (PE).
It was a set of biographical impressions of the first three Singaporean women Olympians: Tang Pui Wah, Mary Klass and Janet Jesudason.
In 2009 he published Perspectives on Physical Education and Sports Science in Singapore.
Alongside Tibor Károlyi, Aplin wrote a series of chess books.
Endgame Virtuoso Anatoly Karpov was Guardian's Chess Book of the Year in 2007.