Ronald Edwin Press was born in Johannesburg on 22 August 1929. He was educated at the Marist Brothers Observatory school and the University of the Witwatersrand where he completed a PhD. in chemical engineering in 1952. His first job was as a chemist for African Film Productions and then at the Chamber of Mines Research Laboratories. He worked as a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand for most of 1955 until he was dismissed due to his political activities.

Press learnt about trade unionism and activism at home. His father was secretary of the Cinematograph Workers Union for over twenty years and his mother worked for the Trades and Labour Council. Press became active in the Congress of Democrats and joined the underground South African Communist Party in 1955. The following year he became general secretary of the South African Textile Workers Union.

Press was Accused No. 60 at the Treason Trial which began in December 1956 when 156 people were arrested, including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Helen Joseph and Rusty Bernstein. The trial lasted until 1961 when all the defendants were found not guilty and in February 1962 Press left South Africa. After working in Ghana from 1963 to 1965 he settled in Bristol, England, with his wife and daughter.

Press continued to be active in trade unionism, politics and anti-apartheid activities. He was a life member of Bristol Trades Union Council, secretary of Bristol Anti-Apartheid Movement and represented the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) at many events. His expertise as a chemical engineer was employed by Mkonto We Zizwe (the military wing of the African National Congress) and with Tim Jenkins he set up the communications network for Operation Vula, the underground structure to return ANC leaders to South Africa from exile.

Ronald Press died in Bristol on 28 October 2009.