Bernard was born  on 4th June 1931 in Bedhampton, Hampshire.  In 1946 he passed the School Certificate with Matriculation Exemption and in 1947 obtained the Higher School Certificate.

From 1947 to 1952 he trained as a solicitor, including day release courses at Univeristy College (now University of) Southampton.  He was articled to Hubert Way, a Southsea solicitor and passed professional examinations at the first sitting and was admitted as a solicitor in December 1952.

From 1952 to 1954 he served in the Royal Air Force on National Service.  After training, including Officer Cadet Training Unit, he was commissioned into the secretarial branch as a Pilot Officer, and subsequently promoted to Flying Officer. He was stationed at R.A.F. Tangmere and twice seconded, once to R.A.F. Fairlight and once to R.A.F. Manston to act as adjutant due to the temporary absence of the officer normally holding that post.

In 1955 he returned to the law as partner of Hubert Way, becoming principal on his death in 1961 and subsequently senior principal in the partnership which he established to carry on the business.  He continued as such until his retirement in 2000, following which he acted as a consultant to the successor firm of Hughes Way.  He specialised in the mortgage lending aspect of the business and as such represented owners in areas of Portsmouth due for slum clearance.  Through Members of Parliament he negotiated the principle of market value compensation for owner occupiers and finally saw this enacted as the Slum Clearance (Compensation) Act 1956.

In 1960 he established the Southsea Mortgage and Investment Company Limited.

Bernard was a member of the Portsmouth Diocesan Conference from 1960 and successfully led  opposition which defeated plans for the over large extension of the Cathedral.   He was elected Representative for the Portsmouth Diocese on the Church Assembly 1965 to 1970 and on General Synod for 10 years thereafter. He was editor of  the “General Synod Review” from 1975 to 2000.

He was elected as the first lay vice-president of the Portsmouth Diocesan Synod and chairman of the House of Laity.

In 1960 Bernard set up the Bedhampton Charitable Trust to act as a grant making charity. In 1967 he established The Manor Trust, Bedhampton to care for elderly people and to preserve the historic local buildings in which they were cared for.

Bernard had suffered ill health for the last 5 or so years and latterly required more care.  He sadly died on 5th October 2021 at the Bedhampton Nursing Home.