Born Walter Alan Holmes on 10 September 1925 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, he attended the town's Vicorage Street School and Higham Lane School, before working as a Bevin Boy during World War II. He would later work as an engineer for Morris Motors and Massey Ferguson. He joined Nuneaton R.F.C. (known locally as the Nuns) in 1944, and enjoyed a twenty-five year playing career with them. In 1950 he was called up to play for England, and represented them in fifteen international matches. He also played eight matches with the Barbarians, and during his career was capped sixteen times.
