Professor Colin Talbot

Colin Talbot has had an unusual career. After leaving school at 16 he worked for five years before “sneaking into University” (his words) at 21. Then he worked in a variety of jobs – including as a telephone engineer and a local government officer – before finally becoming an academic at “the ripe old age of 38” in 1990. He’s since been a professor at three UK universities and an advisor to governments here and abroad. He’s been an expert witness in Parliament more than two dozen times. After he and his wife, Dr Carole Talbot, retired they moved to Bedford – midway between various branches of their scattered, blended, family.