Before the war, he dropped out from Lincoln College of the University of Oxford, and became an expert on English church architecture, took part in the Battle of Cable Street, and became involved in various religious and political organisations which aimed to better the conditions of the working class, including the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).

[1] In 1929 he enrolled onto a degree in Philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University's Lincoln College,[2] however he dropped out in 1931 without completing his course, with his tutors commenting that he 'can hardly pass' and 'hopeless'.

[1] After leaving Oxford he returned to Dorset and settled in Sherborne where he worked with organisations involved in improving the conditions of working-class people such as Toc H, and the Brothers of the Order of St Francis.

[3] Arriving in Spain, Rickman reached the International Brigade's Albacete base in December 1936, and shortly afterwards joined the British Battalion.

[5] A small memorial to Rickman in his home village was created shortly after his death,[6] with the inscription "He gave his life in the cause of freedom.