ID: ELS_069 / Owen Ellis

TitleTribute to a Sportsman - Henry James
AbstractHenry James died in April when the trees in Birch Park were bourgeoning with the tender colours of Spring; and although he was associated with many other organisations in the village, it is this picturesque setting, in pre-war years when the lofty columns and gracious cedars of Birch Hall formed a typically English background to the Saturday cricket match, that those of us who were boys during those golden summers tend to remember him.

"Good old Henry", we would cry as that jaunty, twinkling eyed figure went past. Not because he was a mighty batsman or a demon bowler, but because he was a true sportsman who put his heart and soul not only into the actual game, but also into all that was needed to be done to sustain it.

So also did his bright-eyed, laughing wife, who endeared herself to us by ensuring that those greedy cricketers did not get all that delicious pre-war bread and butter and fruit cake.

When Henry appeared gloved and padded ready for that long walk immortalised by A.P.H. in "The Ninth Wicket", it could be confidently assumed without so much as the suggestion of a glance at the scoreboard that the innings of the Birch XI was drawing to a close; and as witnessed by many an entry in those pre-war cricket score books he will always be affectionately remembered as H. James; nought not out.

Henry would have laughed about that.


Henry James worked for the Round family at Birch Hall and lived at the nearby North Lodge. Following this he lived at Hardy's Green until his death in April 1972.


Henry was a member of Birch Church Choir. My particular memories of him, when I was a choirboy in the 1950s, was from Good King Wenceslas at Christmas, where the solos were always taken by Henry James, Walter Pentney and Tom Millatt. [ Tony Millatt ]

AuthorOwen Ellis
SourceMersea Museum
IDELS_069
Related Images:
 Birch Church group by the font in the south west corner of the nave. The Rector, Church Wardens, organist and choir.
 Back row 4 L-R: 1., 2., 3. Dennis Everett, 4., 5. James Arthur Millatt, 6., 7.George Everett, 8., 9., 10., 11. Henry James, 12. Basil Rootkin, 13.
 Row 3: 1., 2., 3.,4., 5., 6., 7. Miss Beck.
 Row 2: 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., font, 7. Dennis Johnson, 8., 9., 10.
 Front row 1: 1. T.B. Millatt ( Lay Reader, Choir Master), 2. Mrs Sylvia Round, 3. Rev. George Armstrong, 4. John Gill, 5. Miss Smith ( organist, from Constantine Rd, Colchester ), 6., 7., 8.
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The pews in this area of the nave were removed in the 1949 renovation of the church. James Arthur Millatt died in 1957.  PBA_071_BBB
ImageID:   PBA_071_BBB
Title: Birch Church group by the font in the south west corner of the nave. The Rector, Church Wardens, organist and choir.
Back row 4 L-R: 1., 2., 3. Dennis Everett, 4., 5. James Arthur Millatt, 6., 7.George Everett, 8., 9., 10., 11. Henry James, 12. Basil Rootkin, 13.
Row 3: 1., 2., 3.,4., 5., 6., 7. Miss Beck.
Row 2: 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., font, 7. Dennis Johnson, 8., 9., 10.
Front row 1: 1. T.B. Millatt ( Lay Reader, Choir Master), 2. Mrs Sylvia Round, 3. Rev. George Armstrong, 4. John Gill, 5. Miss Smith ( organist, from Constantine Rd, Colchester ), 6., 7., 8.

The pews in this area of the nave were removed in the 1949 renovation of the church. James Arthur Millatt died in 1957.

Date:After 1949
Source:Pat Adkins / T.B. Millatt