Stanley Ritson began his medical training at King's College, London, where he took his BSc with honours in physiology in 1909 and was senior demonstrator in anatomy. His clinical years were spent at St Thomas's Hospital, from which he took the Conjoint qualification in 1911. He was academically gifted in many subjects but while working as clinical assistant at King's College Hospital he early decided to specialise in surgery. He took the FRCS in 1913. During the first world war he served as a surgical specialist at Belton Park Military Hospital from 1915 to 1917, but found time to take the London MB BS examination, gaining honours in medicine, surgery, midwifery and diseases of women, and the University Medal. He took the MS in 1918. After the war he was appointed consultant surgeon to the Royal Infirmary and Children's Hospital Sunderland and Monkwearmouth and Southwick Hospital, where he worked until his retirement. He died on 17 February 1977, aged 88.