Born at
Saul, Gloucestershire, Westwood was educated at
Grove Park Grammar School, Wrexham and
Emmanuel College, Cambridge. After ordination as a
deacon in 1952, Westwood was appointed
curate of
Holy Trinity Church,
Kingston upon Hull. He was ordained priest in 1953. After serving his title in Hull, Westwood was then
Rector of
St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft (1957-65),
Vicar of
St Peter Mancroft,
Norwich (1965–75) and an honorary
canon of
Norwich Cathedral. He became the
Bishop suffragan of Edmonton in the
Diocese of London from his consecration on 24 June 1975 by
Donald Coggan,
Archbishop of Canterbury, at
St Paul's Cathedral. From the creation of the London
area scheme in 1979, he was the first
area bishop, remained in that see until his translation to Peterborough in late 1984. He was enthroned at
Peterborough Cathedral on 12 January 1985, but had become
Bishop of Peterborough before that point, with the confirmation of his
canonical election to that see near the end of 1984. He described himself as "the only
Thatcherite bishop on the bench". He was the chairman of the
Church of England's Committee for Communications, President of the Church Housing Association, a member of the Board of Governors of
Nene College and an honorary fellow of
Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1989 until his death. Westwood was a regular contributor to
Thought for the Day on
BBC Radio 4's
Today programme. He was a member of the
Press Council (1975–81), the
IBA Panel of Religious Advisers (1983–7), the Video Consultative Council (1985–9) and the Broadcasting Standards Council (1988–92). Following his death a memorial slab was erected in the south aisle of
Peterborough Cathedral to his memory.
Oakham Ales produced a beer in honour of Westwood on his retirement, 'Bishop's Farewell', which is still being brewed. ==Family==