Ealham was born in Willesborough, Kent, and began his career with Kent C.C.C.; his father, Alan Ealham, had spent his entire career with the club.
There are few other places in East Kent with the same characteristics as the South Willesborough Dykes, other areas of grazing marsh are designated as the Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge marshes SSSI, Ash Level and South Richborough Pasture an SNCI, there are nature reserves at Gazen Salts recreation ground (Sandwich) and Monk's Wall nature reserve.