From Cambridge, Ralph Nottidge did his clinical studies at St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he was house physician, surgeon, and surgical registrar. He then worked as a medical officer in the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital in the Transvaal, South Africa, before returning to take up general practice in Chelmsford. There he became active in the training programme for general practice and was the course organiser of vocational training courses. He died on 12 June 1999.