He was apprenticed (1928) to De Havilland at Stag Lane working in wood and won a scholarship to become a student (1934) in the DH Technical School where he learnt about design.
He worked completely alone in stressing the wings of the DH Hornet Moth; a job which he finished in 3+1⁄2 months.
It was a team of which he was the youngest member and included the chief test pilot, John Cunningham (Cat's Eyes).
He travelled the world and had to go out to the Comet air disasters which were attributed to faults in the fuselage (windows) not the wings which were his responsibility at the time.
He had a tremendously strong work ethic and, although very kind, did not suffer fools gladly i.e. there is a comment online about him being very severe with someone who evidently bears a grudge: this would be the case as Ralph was keen that every member of his team should contribute to the full.