David Lloyd was born in Ludlow and went to the local Grammar School. In 1953 he won an exhibition to Balliol College, Oxford. He had a varied career in education, becoming Deputy Head of a large comprehensive school, and then teaching at the Open University and at the Department of Continuing Studies at Birmingham University.

He moved back to Ludlow in 1985, and was very much involved in the local community, holding several public offices, including that of Mayor and Churchwarden of St Laurence's parish church, Ludlow. In later years, David ran a series of very popular historical lectures in Ludlow and he frequently gave guided historical tours. He died on 17 May 2009.