He was a professor of philosophy at Lancaster University.
After studying history at Lancaster University he spent several years working in book publishing.
In the 1990s, due to financial pressure, it became the tenth college of Lancaster University.
He also has a building named after him at Lancaster University.
He was a researcher at Lancaster University before taking up his writing career, which began by writing for radio.
He is a senior lecturer in economics at Lancaster University.
He studied environmental sciences at Lancaster University, graduating in 1975.
Lancaster University installed him in 1967 as its first professor of religious studies, a post he filled until 1982.
Between 20 and 30 partner universities operate exchanges with Lancaster University at any one time.
He went on to spend a year studying philosophy at Lancaster University before dropping out.