[3] He completed his National Service as an acting lieutenant, and retained a Territorial Army commission.

[6] He served in Borneo during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation as an acting major in the period 24 December 1965 to 23 June 1966, and was Mentioned in Despatches.

[citation needed] For his performance in this role, Ramsbotham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1974 New Year Honours.

[16] On 1 January 1987 he was appointed to the honorary position of Colonel Commandant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets, in succession to Sir Frank Kitson, which he held until 25 July 1992.

He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1993 New Year Honours.

[29] Ramsbotham was HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales from 1 December 1995[30][31] to 2001 when he was succeeded by Anne Owers CBE.

He was President of UNLOCK, The National Association of Ex-Offenders and an Ambassador for the charity, the Prison Advice and Care Trust (pact).

[38] He was also a trustee and vice-chairman of the Institute for Food, Brain and Behaviour[39][40] and a Patron of Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS).