Tom's first contact with Africa was back in the 1960s when as a volunteer teacher he spent two years in Songea in Southern Tanzania. He returned to N.Ireland in 1967 and continued his teaching career, the last 24 years of which, was as principal of a large Primary School in Newtownabbey. During his last five years in the school a supportive link was formed with a primary school in Tanzania, allowing him to make several visits. He retired from teaching in 2003.

He is heavily involved in his local Methodist Church where he is a lay preacher, a member of the choir and also plays guitar and sings with the praise group.

In June 2004 he was appointed as the Lay Treasurer of the Home Mission Department of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and will serve in this capacity for six years. He is also on the steering group of the Lay Witness Movement in Irish Methodism and has led many weekend missions.

During one of Michael Cassidy's visits to Ireland in 2004, a number of Michael's friends met in Tom's home. This group became the Irish Support Board of African Enterprise, with Tom as the chair.