James was a pupil at Rathkeale College in the Wairarapa (1984-1989) and Deputy Head Boy in his last year at school. In 1990 James went to Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, England as a “Gap Year” tutor – he coached sporting teams, assisted in the boarding house, taught lessons and became very involved with all aspects of school life making friends with both teachers and boys forming friendships that continued for 15 years. James returned to New Zealand and went on to complete a Bachelors degree in Engineering at Canterbury University. He worked at Beca Carter as a civil engineer in Wellington. As many young New Zealanders do, James traveled to London to work and ‘see the world’.
In 1998, before James headed overseas, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. This unexpected leg of the journey eventually took him through four major operations but during the next 7 years of uncertainty and between operations he worked, traveled, loved, laughed, and met people in over 46 countries.As a result of the surgery James had to learn to talk, walk and eat again and each time his recovery took months of painstaking struggle – a challenge he met each time with dignity and without attracting sympathy. All this adversity was met with the grace and spirit of a true champion of life.
James died on February 6 2005 after a courageous battle.
