This paper traces my climatological career from the 1950s and that of my graduate students from the late 1960s that were formative in the evolution of climate science. A summary of my early training, teaching and research in the UK is followed by activities at the University of Colorado, Boulder from 1968. The history of the World Data Center for Glaciology/National Snow and Ice Data Center from 1977 is described, and climate-cryosphere and international initiatives.

Colonial era Colaba-Alibag MO, operational since 1841, contains valuable information on geomagnetic phenomena of different periodicities. First Indian director Nanabhoy Moos compiled Colaba data and interpreted them radically differently, echoing current understanding. Moos rejected terrestrial origins for magnetic storms and tried to bind together meteorological, seismological and geomagnetic realms. Colaba instruments have historical and scientific significance. Move to Alibag was incidental.