A chance meeting with John Ffowcs Williams, who was an expert in aeroacoustics on the mathematics staff at Imperial College, London, changed Crighton's career. He left Woolwich Polytechnic to become Williams' research assistant at Imperial College, taking a huge cut in salary in the process, and he also studied for his doctorate while at Imperial College.
Isang pagkakataon na pagkikita sa John Ffowcs Williams, na isang eksperto sa aeroacoustics sa matematika sa mga kawani ng Imperial College, London, ay nagbago Crighton ng karera. He left Woolwich politeknik upang maging Williams' research assistant at Imperial College, kumukuha ng isang malaking hiwa sa suweldo sa proseso, at siya rin-aral para sa kanyang mga titulo ng doktor habang sa Imperial College.