Educated at Hoe Place and Allhallows Schools, after national service in the Royal Navy where he spent a year in south and west Africa, he obtained a trainee post with the BBC.
In twelve years he worked as a studio manager, announcer, and scriptwriter in Singapore and a producer in the Archives and African services.
Interested in politics, he joined the Young Conservatives in 1960 and two years later was elected to Kensington Borough Council from Brompton Ward.
[2] In 1964, after the reorganisation of London local government, he was elected as a member of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council for Pembridge Ward.
A passionate opera lover, Bennett had a significant collection of operatic memorabilia, some items from the 18th century.