After a spell of 1950s university maths, science, darts, beer, and bad rhythm-guitar playing in skiffle group, I switched to medicine.

Qualifying in the 1960s, I worked 35 years in the British National Health Service, twenty five as medical consultant/senior lecturer, latterly also medical director of large English teaching hospital. Examiner for foreign medical degrees/teacher abroad for London College exams.

Retired 2000 and worked 8 years part-time as medico-legal and medical management consultant.

In 2008, having always had an interest in history of science and maths, and in philosophy, I decided to study the latter more rigorously, I embarked on an external London BA (Phil), signed up for Pathways support, and graduated with first-class honours and year prize in 2011.

My interests are in philosophy of science/maths, metaphysics, and hardy perennials such as free will, causation, time and the mind-body problem.

Having had to wade through many poorly-written annual reports, project applications, option appraisals, white papers and the like, I am a fan of simple, clear, exact, vivid prose as in the King James bible, George Orwell or Ruth Rendell, and among my favourite philosophers-as-writers are Plato, Descartes, Berkeley, Bertrand Russell and David Lewis.

I play bridge fairly well. My wife and I are well-travelled (46 countries including several where she supported children through the World Family organization).

Read the interview in the online magazine of the University of London International Programmes by Suraya Saleh, September 26 2013:  London Connection Q&A: Craig Skinner