He stayed there for twenty-eight years and rose rapidly to reach full Permanent Secretary rank at the unusually early age of 42.
Padmore tackled the occasional difficulties of his career — notably the frustration when a proposed appointment to the post of Cabinet Secretary did not materialise and, later, a well-publicised disagreement with an incoming Minister of Transport — with humour and stoicism.
Described as one of the great Civil Servants of the post-war years, he was an outstanding administrator and manager, an understanding and tolerant man of absolute honesty and integrity with a brilliant mind.
His personal life was overshadowed for some years by the tragic death of his only son from cancer in 1956, followed in 1963 by that of his first wife, Alice.
Other joys in his life were gardening and music; he took up the violin in middle age and became a skilled amateur violinist, playing in regular quartet sessions with friends and family.