Tom is a retired paediatrician who spent 29 years working at Nevill Hall Hospital and continues to support its historic gardens as a nearby resident. Throughout his career, he contributed to voluntary projects focused on enhancing the hospital’s environment.

He founded the Umbella Appeal charity, which funded the construction of the Nevill Hall Children’s Centre in two phases, 1992 -2000. This featured nature murals by Francis Baines, some now used in NHNS publicity. Tom also initiated the use of hospital corridors as gallery spaces for local artists, starting with Dreamscape ceiling tapestries designed by Tina Rivers, involving local children and arts groups—now overseen by GARTH, of which he was a founding member.

Additionally, Tom helped launch the Millennium Project to improve the hospital gardens around 2000. Recently, he has returned as chair of Nevill Hall Nature Spaces CIO to lead efforts for further restoration and community engagement in garden development.