KP/JT - James Taylor

KP/JT

Series

James Taylor

1874-1974

Taylor, James, 1893-1977

Taylor, James, 1893-1977James (Jim) Taylor (1893-1977) was born in St Pancras, the son of a solicitor's clerk. He married Annie Kenney in April 1920. Between 1907 and 1914 he worked for various employers chiefly as a metalworker or pipe-fitter. In 1914 he enlisted in the King's Royal Rifles, rising to the rank of sergeant, then in 1916 he was despatched to the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Greenock, where he worked as a tin-man until demobilisation in 1918.

It was while working in Greenock that he met Annie Kenney. Between 1918 and 1930 he returned to metalworking and related trades. In 1923 he and Annie removed to Letchworth, where he was appointed maintenance engineer at St Christopher's School. There he undertook some part-time teaching of handicraft. Following periods of similar work elsewhere, he was appointed an instructor in the Government Training Service in 1930. He rose to become Assistant Manager and eventually Manager of the Service's Letchworth training centre. He retired in 1958, whereupon he embarked on an extended tour of Europe by moped. James Taylor had a fine singing voice and at one time had aspirations to a musical career. He was active in the community in Letchworth, in particular in local music and drama groups.