Originally from the North East he started piano lessons at the age of four with his grandmother continuing until around 14 with various teachers. Whilst at school he formed a duo, piano accordion and drums, playing local dances etc. and later on a pop group based on the Shadows playing lead guitar. His love of jazz developed from listening to the radio and other peoples records and he tried to develop his piano style by transcribing records of the masters, Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Stan Tracey and Russell Ferrante. This process continued whilst at college gaining a degree and doctorate in Physical chemistry. This led to a job in West Cumbria where he ended up running the local jazz club and forming part of the resident house trio and later a seven piece band “Endangered Species” (a pre-curser to Time Enough).

He also gigged with a local big band and later with a well known (at least in the north west) Carlisle based big band playing gigs in Scotland, the North West and Manchester areas. He was Jazz tutor at Wyndham Comprehensive Music Centre for 15 years.On arriving in Birmingham, he met Mark who was putting together a new band which has grown to become Time Enough.

Cliff also plays keyboards with the Blue Twentyone Big Band - based in Birmingham and regularly with wide rang of groups across the Midlands area.