Clive Wilkinson trained as a religious studies teacher and taught at a mission school in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), an experience that radically changed his thinking about religion and politics. He read geography at Newcastle University, undertaking doctoral research on human migration in Lesotho. He trained geography teachers and environmental studies specialists. After retirement he researched youth homelessness in Northhumberland. He also indulged his love of slow travel crossing continents by train, oceans by container ship, and driving around England via electric car. No flying allowed.