Born in Morton, Shropshire, to James Clewer (1889–1968) and Minnie Thacker (1883–1918), with his father a policeman, he spent his childhood in many different areas in the Midlands.
[3] Later he moved to China and was responsible for the design of what became the Convoy HQ in Kutsing, (Chuxiong City) Yunnan.
He married (Hilda) Dorothy Street at St Petrock's Church, Parracombe in the same year.
[5] Having joined the Society of Friends, he went to work for the Bournville Village Trust and later became Chief Architect, a post he held for 21 years.
Other buildings include: On retirement, Selby was appointed Administrator of Hanbury Hall[8] and was able to raise the profile of this historic house.