 Ford made a detailed study of Precambrian rocks and fossils, and was instrumental in the recognition of the Precambrian fossil "Charnia masoni", discovered in Charnwood Forest by Roger Mason.He wrote several popular introductions to Peak District geology, a definitive study of the local fluorite Blue John, as well as numerous cave guides.He served as the editor of "Transactions of the British Cave Research Association", renamed "Cave Science" (later "Cave & Karst Science"), from 1973 until 1993.