in 1964 james was elected president of the medical society of london. he was inspired by jonathan hutchinson, william osler, and william harvey. after the death of his wife sheila in 2001, he wrote daily on the lives of notable medical men and women. his last two articles came were published in "the history of medical biography". in 1965, he represented the osler club of london when he was part of the founding committee of the british society for the history of medicine, along with william copeman, haldane philp tait, k. d. keele, douglas guthrie, f. n. l. poynter, edwin sisterton clarke and charles newman.