David Tetlow was born in Rossendale, Lancashire during the Second World War. Following his school years, he worked as a mechanical engineer and later specialised in textile machinery research and development. He married Joyce in 1963 and has a son and daughter, four grandchildren, and recently two great-grandchildren. He joined the Lancashire Police in the 1960s and completed most of his service in the Greater Manchester Police, from which he retired as an investigation officer.
