The eldest son of Nathalie "Jean" McCance, he was born on the 1st April 1952, educated at Brambletye and Eton.  Studied architecture at the Architectural Assosciation and worked for a short while in his father's practice.  He then moved back to London where he started designing and making furniture.  He lived and worked in a mews in Paddington and it was during this period that he met "Spider" with whom he lived for several years.  Their son, Shaka, was born on 18 May 1983 but the relationship broke down a few months later while on a trip to South Africa.

Oliver returned to the UK with the baby and sold the mews to buy a large motorhome, in which they lived and travelled for the next three years.  They came to settle on the Hampshire/Dorset border in 1987 where he had inherited a small farm.  Shortly after arriving he met Susan who soon moved in with them bringing two more children to the family, Edwin (b.1980) and Lucy (b.1987).  Their son, Arthur, was born in 1990 to complete the family.

More information on the Nares family can be found on their website nares.net.