James Wigram (63-67) died at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton on 14th January 2023, aged 72. He left a partner, Jill Dobson, and two sons, Thomas and William, and a daughter Tessa by his marriage in 1974 to Sue Braithwaite-Exley. They divorced in 2003.

At the Nautical College, James became Chief of Hesperus Division in the Winter term 1967. A noted athlete, he was in the rugby 1st XV in 1966 and 1967 (vice-captain) where “he worked hard in the scrum and was a tower of strength in the mauls.”  A keen oarsman, he rowed in the 1967 1st V111 at Henley and also boxed, being in the team in 1964, 1965 and 1966 when he captained it.

In 1967 he left the NCP in the middle of the Winter term to go to a technical college with a view to entering the Royal Marines. This proved successful, and he duly joined the Corps in January 1969 on a Short Service five-year commission. During training he broke an assault course record and won a judo championship. He then served as a rifle troop commander in X Ray Company 45 Commando, first in Stonehouse and then Arbroath, successfully completing one of the early operational tours in Belfast.

James’s school days at Pangbourne, which he shared with fellow Marine officers Chris Baxter, Colin Howard, Charlie Daniel and Paddy Quinlan, also bred in him a keen interest in sailing and it was a natural step for him to qualify as a landing craft officer. Serving in HMS Intrepid, he was the second-in-command of the Assault Squadron in 1972/73 and a qualified ship’s diving officer.

On leaving the Corps, he spent a few years managing a quarry and then entered the furniture business. Establishing the Wigram and Ferrier Furniture Company, he went on to create Futon World in Exeter with his wife. After his divorce, he moved to west Somerset with his partner Jill and, within the last two years, had started a caravan business. 

James valued his time in Royal Marines and was a very dear friend to those who knew him. A charismatic man, he possessed enormous natural charm and an infectious sense of humour. Always lively company and great fun to be with, he was nonetheless a formidably strong individual and imbued with a hard edge. Sadly, he suffered from depressions for a number of years but latterly was beginning to beat them.