 In addition to his writing work, after serving in the Admiralty between 1940–45, he worked as a banker from 1924–37, a company secretary from 1937–39, and finally as a sales promotion executive, from 1945-63.He had one sister, (Desirée Rachel) Helen Coulson, born 12 June 1905.She died in a car accident on the M4, west of London in 1970.