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James Henry SCOGGINS

1921-2005

James attended Framlingham as a Pembroke Scholar and when he left school in 1935 at the age of 14, employment was not easy to find. Undeterred, he walked from his home in Framlingham to Diss in search of work and was taken on by Larter and Ford (Ironmongers). After wartime service in the RAF, engaged in bomb disposal, James returned to Diss as manager of his former employers before moving to Watson & Smith, motor dealers, as Sales Manager. He later became a director and shareholder and remained there until he retired.

A devout worshipper at St Mary’s, Diss, he was determined it should remain open despite the threat of vandalism and spent many hours on the volunteer rota, protecting the church and welcoming the many visitors from around the world. James was elected to the Diss Urban Council in 1948 chairing each of its working committees and the Council itself. When local authorities were revised in 1974 he was elected to the new District Council and served until 1995 thus spending close to 50 years as a local councillor.

James was a Rotarian, member of the Round Table and Freemason where he was a Past Master of the OF Lodge. He was still Clerk to the Trustees of the Diss Parochial Charities when he died aged 84.

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