His first post was as a lecturer at the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, Cape Colony.
He served as an Inspector of Schools and Assistant Director of Public Instruction in Eastern Bengal and Assam, alongside Richard Ramsbotham, until he was appointed Director of Public Instruction of the North-West Frontier Province in 1911.
In these posts he introduced many educational reforms designed to increase literacy among the Indian peasantry.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the 1920 New Year Honours.
[1] Richey had suffered from ill-health since his youth and died at the age of 57 after an illness of a few months.