Jim was born in Liverpool, attended Liverpool University and was teaching in the city when called up for National Service. After marriage he settled in Birkenhead and taught in various schools in the Borough before appointment as history teacher at Calday Grange Grammar School for Boys, where he stayed to retirement.

His first love, having a pleasant baritone voice, was choral singing and he was a member of the choir at Oxton, St Saviour, then Liverpool Parish Church (our Lady and St. Nicholas) returning to Oxton in later years.

His son, Tom, started to ring at Upton St Mary and this stimulated Jim. In 1971, he started ringing at Oxton staying until 1978, when he joined the Wallasey St Nicholas' band and continued to ring there until 1987. He was a most regular in attendance at practice and service ringing although his method ringing was limited. He and his wife, Lil, thoroughly enjoyed travelling to meetings in Cheshire and North Wales and even farther afield.

Regretfully, Lil passed away almost a year to the day after Jim. They will be sadly missed by his two sons and many grandchildren, including Ben and Sam, Josh and Abby, also ringers at Upton.