After school, he went to the University of Exeter (1971–75) where he took a BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics, graduating in 1974, and a PGCE (Maths) in 1975. He played hockey and table tennis for University teams, and turned down the offer of a place in the University bridge team. During this time, he beat his Head of Department, Professor David Rees, at both chess and, at Rees' insistence, Go.
