Following a career of more than 35 years in education, which began teaching mathematics in secondary schools and included two headships and leading secondary education for a Local Authority, Noel retired in September 2013.

Since then he has been working voluntarily in a number of organisations, most notably as Chair of Trustees for West of England School and College, a charity providing education and care for young people with visual impairment and complex needs, Chair of Governors of a local primary school and Sporting Club Inkberrow where he supported the process of becoming a charity.

He is currently a trustee of Sudbury Gasworks a heritage project in South Derbyshire Dales that is a member of DDCVS.