Ronald Edwin Press was born on the 28 August 1929 in Johannesburg. He went to school at the Marist Brother Observatory school, where he matriculated in 1946. He then went to further his education at the University of the Witwatersrand. He graduated in 1951 with a BSc (Chem.Eng.) Cum Laude and in 1952 completed his PhD.

It was in the same year 1952 when he became interested in South African politics, and soon got involved in various political activities. He joined the underground South African Communist Party in 1955, became the Secretary of the South African Textile Workers Union in 1956, and was arrested for Treason in 1956, together with the other 156 trialists.

His political involvement and subsequent arrest led to his dismissal from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1955, where he had held a lecture post in Chemical Engineering. After being banned twice in 1957, he finally left South Africa in 1962 with a one way exit permit.

He settled in the UK with his wife and daughter.

Ron Press became actively involved in the ANCs underground and MK structures. He provided scientific and technical expertise and support, as well as the development of electronic communication systems and services. These activities culminated in the Operation Vula in 1988.

His wife Sybil died in 1989. His daughter's family still live in the UK.

Dr Ronald Press died on the 28 October 2009, he was buried in London on the 5 November 2009.