David was educated at Haileybury and the University of Bristol. In 1965 he was commissioned into the RAF and served in the Middle East, Germany and Canada, as well as at home, retiring with the rank of Air Commodore. He commanded RAF Lyneham from 1991-1993 and was later chief NATO liaison officer to the UN in Zagreb. His last posting was as Defence and Air Attaché at the British Embassy in Paris. David is now deputy secretary of the D Notice committee. David became a Trustee of the charity in 2004 and is chairman of the Welfare Committee