Only in his final two years at secondary school did he became interested in mathematics and this was brought about by one of the masters at Watford Grammar School who said:
Lamang sa kanyang huling dalawang taon sa sekundaryong paaralan ay siya ay naging interesado sa matematika at ito ay tungkol sa nagdala sa pamamagitan ng isa sa mga Masters at Watford Grammar School, na sinabi: