 He served in the military 1968–1970, returning to become a retail industry executive.After moving to Queensland in 1987, Bradford was National Director of the Shopping Centre Tenants Association of Australia.He was active in local politics in Sydney, sitting on Warringah Shire Council (including two terms as Deputy Shire President) and the Mackellar County Council from 1977 to 1979 (Deputy Chair, 1979).