John's teaching experience has been in primary and secondary schools and in April 2009 he retired after twenty-one years as a primary headteacher. He trained at Ripon College (Leeds University) and completed an MA in Primary Education at the University of York. As a Research Associate with the National College for School Leadership, and with their sponsorship, he completed his Doctorate in Education in 2010 and worked for the Open University, tutoring 'Children's Literature' and 'Learning and teaching in the primary years', until 2020. Now fully retired, John volunteers for the National Trust and enjoys cycling and sailing. Through his talks in 2023, John raises funds for One World Mission School in Manak Village, Pakistan.

Face to Face presentations are available across Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East.

Talks are available online and include PowerPoint presentations.

Comments: 'Thank you for your excellent talk [A Village Headmaster]. It brought back memories for the teachers in the group and some of us as children. You had wonderful photos of your student days to your teaching days. A wonderful piece of history.' (Fresh Start Ladies, Bawtry, July 2023)

'Thank you for the wonderfully entertaining talk you gave us on Tuesday afternoon. Everyone was captivated by your humorous stories and the slides depicting many of your innovative projects with the pupils. You spoke with boundless warmth and passion, about the ‘art’ of teaching all subjects creatively and I think all of us learnt something new during the afternoon. We look forward to you returning to us at Leeds u3a, for another of your wonderful talks.' (Leeds U3A, February 2023)

'Dr John Ridley gave us a talk on “A Village Headmaster”. Clearly, a very gifted, creative teacher, John revelled in initiating projects in primary and secondary schools. He encouraged children to be artistic, making pottery models as part of historical projects. He twinned his classes with schools in more deprived urban areas, and with children from Islamic and other faith backgrounds – giving his pupils personal experience of very different ways of life. A number of members in the audience expressed the wish that they’d had a head teacher like John!' (Harrogate Probus Club, January 2023)

2024 Bookings 05.01.24 Darlington U3A, 'Tales from School'; 24.01.24 Phratry Dinner, Ascot House, Harrogate, 'A Village Headmaster'; 28.02.24 Wetherby U3A, 'Tales from School'; 03.07.24 Scorton WI, 'A Village Headmaster'; 08.07.24 Darlington Probus, 'A Village Headmaster'; 12.08.24 Richmond WI, 'Arthur Ransome: Author and Adventurer'; 12.09.24 Cawthorne Ladies' Society, Barnsley, 'A Village Headmaster'; 29.10.24 Harlow Men's Forum, Harrogate, 'A Village Headmaster'

2023 Bookings: 04.01.23 Harrogate Probus Club, ‘A Village Headmaster’; 18.01.23 Bedale U3A, ‘A Village Headmaster’; 07.02.23 Leeds U3A, ‘A Village Headmaster’; 16.02.23 Huby near Otley, ‘Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal’; 22.02.23 Thirsk Mowbray Probus Club, ‘A Village Headmaster’; 17.04.23 Saltburn Retired Men's Forum, 'A Village Headmaster' (Zoom); 25.04.23 Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club Dinner, 'A Village Headmaster'; 19.05.23 Richmond Methodist Church, 'A Village Headmaster'; 06.07.23 Cononley WI, near Skipton, 'A Village Headmaster'; 17.07.23 Doncaster Fresh Start Ladies, 'A Village Headmaster'; 12.09.23 Thirsk U3A, 'Tales from School'; 10.10.23 Harlow Men's Forum, Harrogate. 'Sir Joseph Swan'; 26.10.23 Harrogate Forum, 'A Village Headmaster'; 09.11.23 Driffield & Wolds U3A, 'A Village Headmaster'; 15.11.23 St Mary's Ladies' Group, Barton upon Humber, 'A Village Headmaster'.

2022 Bookings: 18.01.22 Pudsey Friendship Group; 20.01.22 Knott End Golf Club, Ladies’ Lunch; 14.03.22 Richmond WI; 15.03.22 Thoralby WI; 30.03.22 Wetherby U3A; 12.04.22 Worsall WI; 22.08.22 Filey Ladies’ Fellowship; 23.08.22 Richmond Rotary Club; 29.09.22 Women in Fellowship, Pannal; 12.10.22 Northallerton U3A; 18.10.22 Middleham Women, Key Centre; 20.10.22 Poppleton WI; 28.10.22 Harrogate U3A; 02.11.22 Cameo, Richmond Methodist Church; 03.11.22 Garforth and District Probus Club; and 19.11.22 Ripon National Trust Supporters

2021 Zoom Bookings: 2.01.21 Thurlow WI, Suffolk; 14.01.21 Chanctonbury Probus Club, West Sussex; 24.02.21 Retired Leaders in Education, Avon; 18.03.21 Rotary Club of Marlow; 09.04.21 Early Birds WI (Cambridge Federation of WIs); 05.05.21 Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society; 13.05.21 Uplowman WI Devon; 18.05.21 The Rotary Club of Richmond, North Yorkshire; 01.06.21 Little Aston WI; 04.06.21 National Trust, North Cheshire Centre (a supporters group of NT members); 10.06.21 Stratton Probus Club; 16.06.21 Maney Probus Club, Sutton Coldfield; 08.07.21 Elm Tree & Fairfield Women’s Institute, Stockton-on-Tees; 16.08.21 Roding Valley U3A and 29.09.21 Essex Federation of Women's Institutes

Previous Bookings: Wesley Guild Richmond, Wesley Guild Cotherstone, Newton-le-Willows WI, East Witton WI, Richmond U3A, Harrogate Friendship Club, Ure WI, Bedale Methodist Church, Bainbridge WI, Richmond Mothers’ Union, Melsonby WI, Wensleydale Wives, Bedale Probus, Northallerton Stroke Forward, Staindrop Over 60s, Swale WI, Ingleton WI, Ravensworth WI, Richmond WI, Manfield WI, Gayle Ladies, National Trust Supporters in Knaresborough Golf Club, St Agatha’s Gilling West, Kirby Sigston WI, Harrogate Ladies’ Forum, Upper Wharfedale Field Society in the Octagon Theatre Grassington, Wetherby Classic Car Club, East Witton W I, Richmond WI, Cleveland Outlook, Out and About in Yorkshire (Knaresborough), Cameo Richmond, Staindrop WI, Sessay Tuesday Club, Women in Middleham, Stainton and Streatlam WI, Cotherstone Over Sixties, Sessay Tuesday Club, Burneston and Carthorpe WI, Thirlby Local History Group, Haxby and Wigginton Local History Group, Barkisland Active Together, Barkisland Cricket Club, Halifax, Ben Rydding MHA Ilkley, Bardsey-Cum-Rigton WI, Scorton Buddies and Thirsk U3A.