John trained for the ministry at Bristol Baptist College and did postgraduate studies at King’s College, London. Norma trained as a librarian and then spent a year at Carey/St Andrew's Hall.
Since 1967 they have been serving with BMS World Mission in a number of locations in Brazil including Paraná, São Paulo, and Campo Grande. They have been involved in a variety of ministries including church planting, association work, theological education, lay training and being house-parents at the BMS Hostel.
John has been the principal and Norma the librarian of two Baptist seminaries, in Campo Grande and Fortaleza. From 1987-92 John worked as BMS Overseas Representative for South America and the Caribbean.
For nine years they were involved in church planting. In 2005 they moved to Ecuador to help set up a lay leadership training course and prepare the way for other BMS mission personnel to work there.
They have three married children. Nikki is an English teacher in Brazil, Raquel is a social worker in England where Daniel also works in language and theological education, based in London.
If having three small grandchildren comes under hobbies that would come in first place. Norma is learning to play the flute and enjoys photography. John is an ardent Charlton fan and enjoys swimming, reading and computing.