Frederick Peter Scourse was born on 23 Jun 1944 to Margaret Elaine Scourse and Frederick David John Scourse. He attended Wells Cathedral School, the Royal Navy College in Dartmouth, and Churchill College Cambridge (1964-67 and 1973-74 for the Mechanical Sciences Tripos, Electrical Sciences Tripos and an Advance Control Engineering Course).

Scourse joined the Royal Navy in 1962 and specialised in submarine engineering. He served on HMS Dido, 1963–64; HMS Warspite, 1969–73; worked as a Trials Officer studying submarine magnetics, 1973; was Senior Engineering Officer on HMS Renown, 1974–77; staff officer to Flag Officer Submarines at Northwood, the Navy's operational headquarters [date?]; Head of Reactor Safety and Operating at the Ministry of Defence [date?]; worked on shore infrastructure and facilities to support new Trident submarines, then as an Assistant Director to design and deliver HMS Vanguard, [? to 1986]; Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Procurement, 1987-1989; Director of General Surface Weapons (Navy), 1989-1994; and Director General of Surface Ships and Controller, 1994-1997.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Scourse carried out consultancy and voluntary work for various organisations, including as Nuclear Weapons Safety Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, 1997-2003, and Industry Advisor to Churchill College, Cambridge. Scourse was also Director of the Wild Trout Trust from 2002.