James was a close friend of Rob’s from Christ’s Hospital school. James was the ‘dark horse’ of Rob and James’ adventuring endeavours and played a key role in the support team for both the Everest and Pole to Pole expeditions.
James was also a man of considerable talents himself. He was the popular and passionate leader of a well-known school choir and took up a place at Durham University, where undergraduates at St Aidan’s College now race a boat donated in his memory.
After school, James spent several months in Nepal, climbing in the mountains and teaching in a school in Kathmandu. He too climbed and cycled all over the UK and Europe, also riding from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, and could always be relied on to shield the group from a headwind.
James had a great love of the outdoors, and a bequest has been set up at Christ’s Hospital to enable future pupils to discover the outdoors.