Gilbert Revell's secondary education was at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, from 1921 to 1927. When he left, he went straight to Liverpool University to study Classics, French, Spanish, Latin and Greek, and gained his BA (Hons) in 1930.

He stayed on to do a post-graduate course, and in 1931 left with his Liverpool University Teaching Diploma.

He joined the South Shields High School straight away, on 1st September, 1931, and stayed with the school through the move to Harton. In 1938, he studied with London University for his "BA Intermediate".

However, he didn't stay in teaching for much longer. On 31st January, 1939, he took up a post as an Administrative Assistant in Wakefield, with West Riding County Council.

He died in Swale, Kent, in June 1985.