| The injury that William sustained in the trenches saw him undergo 23 pioneering operations and three years in hospital to reconstruct the lower part of his face. Following his invalidation from the army and a lengthy convalescence, he entered public life via Godmanchester County Council in 1925. |
| He was first proposed as Mayor of Godmanchester in 1934. Accepting the office on behalf of his wife, Hilda May, and himself, Councillor James remarked that he "trusted that when his twelve months of office had gone by, ... he would be able to say that the trust that had been placed in both of them had not been misplaced, and that the office had not in any way been sullied." Click the underlined links below to view associated documents. Of his first acts as mayor, one was to attend the Remembrance Day Service, another the instigation of a Mayor's Christmas Appeal for the Unemployed. Meetings with the Prince of Wales soon followed to prepare for the celebration of George V's Silver Jubilee. In recognition of his efforts in planning the festivities, William was awarded the King's Jubilee Medal. During this time, the Mayor also found time to spearhead a movement to bring a public water supply to Godmanchester. Such was the public feeling for the Mayor, that he was elected for a second term in 1935 as well as being voted Alderman of the Borough by the council. January 20th, 1936, saw the death of the King. Just two days later, William James performed the proclamation of the new King, Edward VIII, from a horse at the Town Hall. The year also saw the Mayor's attendance at a reunion of Grenadier Guards, the birthday of the town's oldest resident and the Golden Wedding of his own parents. The same year saw his re-election for a third term, the abdication of the King, and the coronation of George VI marked by the giving of medals to the town's children. The last months of his mayoralty brought the death of his father, and much celebration of his three years of office. |
| THE MAYORAL CHAIN |
| This website tells the story of my Grandfather, William Alfred James, of Godmanchester, 1891 - 1966 |
| A Godmanchester Man |
| A Godmanchester Man |
| 'He has had what I think must be a very peculiar, and yet very interesting three years of mayoralty. Nationally, he has taken part in some poignant and stirring times. Locally, he has seen Councillors walk out of the Council Chamber in a fuss.' |
