An erudite Welshman, Reg joined the British Royal Navy at the age of 16, eventually joining the Royal Canadian Navy. Over the next 36 years he excelled at many and varied sports, was a master fencer, champion squash and soccer player, gymnast, became a highly respected physical education instructor and survived three sinking ships. After the war he had a career as Chief Petty Officer and taught at the Royal Military College at St. Jean, Quebec and at Kingston, Ontario where he received an honorary degree. After retiring from the services he accepted an invitation to teach at Brentwood College where he spent the next 30 plus years, finally retiring in 1989.