On the outbreak of war in 1939, Pawle joined the Royal Navy and served in destroyers. After the war he became a partner in a firm of stockbrokers in the City of London. He was British amateur racquets champion four years running, 1947–50, and was twice in the world singles final, losing each time to Jim Dear.[5]
After retiring from the City in 1979, Pawle became a full-time artist, holding a number of one-man shows.[4]