Edward Foster James, CMG, OBE,(1917-2002)
Michael Rhodes
aged 85, was a diplomat and former Deputy Director-General of the
Confederation of British Industry.
He was born 18 January, 1917, the son of Arthur Foster James, and
educated at Chiswick Grammar School.
James served in HM Forces, 1939-46, in India, Burma, Malaya,
Indonesia; Lieutenant-Colonel (GSO1), and received the OBE, and was
twice mentioned in despatches.
He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1947; served at Rangoon, 1948;
Hong Kong, 1951; Foreign Office, 1953;First Secretary at Rome, 1955;
Foreign Office, 1958; Berlin, 1960; Foreign Office (later Foreign &
Commonwealth Office), 1961-74; Executive Director, Institute of
Directors, 1975-76; Deputy Director-General, CBI, 1976-83; Chairman,
Coastal Pollution Control plc, 1984-5; Director, Tace plc, 1984-91.
Jimmy James was twice married. He married firstly, 1951, (divorced
1984), as her second husband, Mrs Caroline Warwick Swift, (nee
Bampfylde), former wife of Wing Commander Dean Lenthal Swift, of the
Royal Australian Air Force, and daughter of the Hon Francis Warwick
Bampfylde, and granddaughter of the 2nd Baron Poltimore.
He married secondly, 1985, Janet Mary Walls.
He was appointed OBE in 1946, and CMG in 1968.
Mr James leaves a widow, and issue from the first marriage, son,
(David) Peter, and two daughters, Susan and Penelope.
The funeral service takes place at Kensal Green Crematorium, Harrow
Road, London W10, on Wednesday 6 February, 2002, at 11 a.m.
...Michael Rhodes.
Michael Rhodes
> Edward Foster (Jimmy) James, CMG, OBE, who died on 23 January, 2002,
> aged 85, was a diplomat and former Deputy Director-General of the
> Confederation of British Industry.
(...Snip)
Foreign Office (later Foreign & Commonwealth Office), 1961-74;
Edwin King kindly informs me that during the above stretch Jimmy James
was actually Director of Administration at MI6.
> ...Michael Rhodes.