Professor Freshwater has been head of the department of chemical engineering at Loughborough University of Technology since 1957 and is Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University.
He is a member of many national and international bodies dealing with his subject particularly in the field of filtration and particle technology. A member of Quorn Parish Council for the past thirteen years, he was Chairman from 1970-72. He has been Chairman of the Governors of the Rawlins School, Quorn, since May 1971 and became a Governor in 1968. His hobbies are collecting watercolour paintings and sailing.
Professor Freshwater is married with four children and lives at Quorn.