Born in Temuka on 18 October 1923, Talbot was the son of Elsie and Leslie Talbot.[3] He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School.[3] In 1947, Talbot married Anne Sandston, and the couple had three children.[3]
Talbot represented the Ashburton electorate in Parliament from 1966 to 1969, then the South Canterbury electorate from 1969 to 1978, and then the Ashburton electorate again from 1978 until his retirement in 1987 whereupon he was replaced by Jenny Shipley.
As Postmaster-General he signed off on New Zealand's first cellular network in 1983.[4] In 1984, at a time when the use of Māori phrases was as yet uncommon in New Zealand, an Auckland telephone operator, Naida Glavish, was instructed to stop using "kia ora" when greeting callers after the post office had received a complaint. She refused to do so and was consequently stood down, with the whole affair attracting much public interest. Talbot, as Postmaster-General, is credited with successfully convincing the Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, to overturn that prohibition.[1]
Talbot died on 13 December 2012 in Wellington. His wife Anne had died before him. He was survived by partner, Wilhelmina Pondman, one son, and two daughters.[1]