John James

David John James was born into a working-class family in Port Talbot, Glamorgan, South Wales on 30th November 1923. His father, Tom James, was a steelworker who spoke only Welsh until he joined the army in 1914. Tom was very keen on working men’s education and wanted to see his son get the education that he himself did not receive.

John, as he was known, learnt to read at a very early age, and was devouring the Works of Shakespeare under the bedcovers with a torch when he was 6 years old. He then attended Port Talbot County (Grammar) School. He read for a degree in Theology at the University College of Lampeter and then went Selwyn College, part of Cambridge University, where he read for a degree in Psychology. After graduating from Cambridge, he spent a short time as a youth worker before joining the Ministry of Defence as an RAF Psychologist. He worked in Reading, Berkshire for a number of years before returning to the Cambridge area.

John wrote his first novel, ‘Votan’ by hand in Woolworths exercise books , typing them up at the kitchen table after his children were in bed. Votan was published by Cassells in 1966. His second book ‘Bridge of Sand’ earned him the title of Sunday Express Historical Novelist of the Year in 1968. Later books included Victorian Naval fiction – the Tallyman series – and a nonfiction book on the history of the Royal Air Force called ‘The Paladins’.

History and writing were John’s passions. He was fascinated by all areas of the subject but had particular enthusiasm for military history and also the history of Roman, ancient Celtic and Arthurian times. He was an avid reader throughout his life, read and spoke several languages and also enjoyed travel, music and photography.

John married a teacher, Mary Norman, in Dorset 1953 and had two children and six grandchildren. He died in Cambridge in October 1993 and is buried in the churchyard at Strata Florida, Ceredigion.