Mr Caffery went to Barnard Castle School, from 1921 to 1926, after which he attended the education department of Armstrong College, Durham from 1926 to 1929, gaining his BCom in French, Spanish and Economics, and his Board of Education Certificate. On leaving, he joined the staff of Mortimer Road Elementary School until, in April, 1934, he moved to the South Shields High School, where he taught French.

In 1937, he gained a BA from London University in Spanish, Latin and Economics and, in 1941 he married Miss Habbershaw, from the Girls' High School, and moved to Brighton. He worked for the BBC and by 1960 was the BBC's Assistant Head of Copyright. He later became Assistant Head of Documentaries, Television.