His father was a Liberal politician who joined the Labour Party in 1934, who was created Baron Nathan in 1940 after he stood down as MP for Wandsworth Central to allow Ernest Bevin to take the seat.
After training at Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1942 and saw active service in North Africa, Italy, Austria, and Greece.
He worked on the flotations of Sainsbury's and Plessey on the London Stock Exchange.
The firm collapsed in 1988, and he joined many of its former partners at Denton Hall Burgin and Warren, where he was a consultant until 1992.
He was president of the Society of Sussex Downsmen in 1987, and later chairman of the South Downs Conservation Board.