MB ChB Manch 1958; DA Eng 1965.
Lawton was born in Longsight, Manchester, on 24 January 1932, and was educated at De la Salle College, Salford, and the University of Manchester. Lawton held junior positions at MRI, Park Hospital Davyhulme, and Withington Hospital Manchester before settling in general practice in Gatley, Cheshire. He was a member of MMS.