Meadowcroft was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire but moved to Southport when young as a consequence of his railwayman grandfather's promotion from signalman at Sowerby Bridge station to St Luke's railway station. He was educated at King George V Grammar School in Southport. In 1958, he left school to work as a bank clerk, and joined the Liberal Party. He became Chairman of the Merseyside Region of the National League of Young Liberals in 1961.
