James is a local boy, having being born in, and lived all his life in, S E Cornwall – apart from a short spell in the city qualifying as a chartered accountant! He is now senior partner of Metherell Gard, Chartered Accountants and currently a trustee of Broadreach House (drug and alcohol treatment services).
He served as an independent County Councilor for Cornwall 1977-1985, where he sat on numerous local school governing bodies. He was a member of the Board of the S W Regional Health Authority between 1978-1984; a former Cornwall’s County Treasurer of St John; and a former High Sheriff of Cornwall.