Ridgley was born in Essex.[3] When she took up athletics, she competed mainly at 200 metres but also at 100 metres.[2] In 1923, she began studying at Edmonton County School, which is now in the London Borough of Enfield in north London.[4]
Ridgley attended the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, but there was no women's 200 metre event.[4] Ridgley finished second behind Muriel Gunn in the 100 yards event at the 1928 WAAA Championships[5] and second behind Eileen Hiscock at the 1929 WAAA Championships.[6][7]
At the 1930 Women's World Games in Prague she was a member, along with Ethel Scott, Eileen Hiscock and Ivy Walker, of the British 4 × 100 metre relay team that won the silver medal.[8] In 1931, she won the silver medal at the Olympics of Grace in Florence in the 100 metre race.[9]
In 1938, she married Reginald Pell in Edmonton, Middlesex.[10] According to the 1939 England and Wales Register, she was an art teacher in Wembley at the time.
