Budgett was born in 1959 in
Glasgow. He studied medicine at
Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, where he was a member of the Hermes Club, and the
Middlesex Hospital University of London and read his MSc in Sports Medicine at
Queen Mary College,
University of London. Budgett won the coxed pairs title with
Tom Cadoux-Hudson and
Adrian Ellison and the coxed fours title with Cadoux-Hudson, Steve King, Geraint Fuller and Ellison, rowing for Tyrian and
London University composites, at the
1982 National Rowing Championships. Budgett was part of the British
coxed four that won the gold medal at the
1984 Los Angeles Olympics, alongside
Steve Redgrave,
Martin Cross,
Andy Holmes, and Adrian Ellison (cox). ==Medical career==