Early Life
Philpot was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of an expatriate London engineer. Holding both British and Canadian citizenships he returned to England as a child. He was educated first, at Aymestrey School near Worcester, then at Radley College between 1927 and 1932 and then studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford University. During his time at Oxford he joined the Oxford University Air Squadron and learned to fly.
Upon graduating in 1934, he joined Unilever as a management trainee and in 1936 was apppointed assistant commercial secretary in Unilever's home margarine executive. This proved to be useful in his wartime escape as the post required him to travel extensively in Germany and to learn to speak German.
Read more about this topic: Oliver Philpot
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