Frank Caulfield James (1901 — 12 May 1973) was a member of the Municipal Commission of Singapore, the leader of the Singapore Progressive Party and a teacher.
Early life and education
James was born in 1901 in Bangkok. He was the son of Joseph Caulfield James, the principal tutor to Prince Vajiravudh of Siam. He was sent to Singapore as his father wanted him to learn English when the only foreign language taught in Bangkok was French. He attended the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) and St. Joseph's Institution.
Career
At the age of 15, he began teaching at St. Joseph's Institution. He was able to do so as the authorities forgot to check his date of birth prior to appointing him as a teacher. He began teaching at St. Joseph's Institution in 1916 and attended teacher training at Raffles Institution. In 1932, James went to teach at Saint Patrick's School.
During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, he was appointed by the Japanese as the headmaster of the Koon Seng Road Boys' School but was demoted to a teacher after failing his Japanese test. Following the end of the Japanese occupation, he was transferred to St. Anthony's School. He was also appointed Inspector of Aided Schools. He continued to teach at the school until 1952, when he went on a seven-month trip to Ireland with his wife. After returning to Singapore, he was transferred to St. Joseph's Institution. He was also the president of the Singapore Teachers' Association. He retired on 7 April 1966 and left for England.
James was elected a member of the Municipal Commission of Singapore representing East Ward in the April 1949 Singapore Municipal Commission election. He was a member of the Singapore Progressive Party. He was reelected in the 1950 Singapore Municipal Commission election. In February 1953, he succeeded Arumugam Ponnu Rajah as the leader of the party. In October, he withdrew from the 1953 Singapore City Council election for health reasons.
After returning to England, he was employed at several local examination boards as a part-time examiner. He also taught English to foreign students at a technical college.
Personal life and death
James married Iris Ess, who was principal of CHIJ, in July 1931. They had two daughters and a son.
James returned to Bromley, England in 1966.
He died at the Beckenham Hospital in Beckenham, Kent on 12 May 1973 after suffering a stroke on 8 May. Following his death, the Christian Brothers' Old Boys' Association established the Frank C. James Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of him.
References
- ^ Fong, Leslie (23 April 1973). "Half a world away, but old Frank's heart is still in Singapore". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Mr. James quits teaching after 50 years". The Straits Times. Singapore. 11 April 1966. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "RECORD POLLING EXPECTED TODAY". The Singapore Standard. Singapore. 2 December 1950. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "'No Spoilt Vote'Feature In Colony's Elections". The Sunday Standard. Singapore. 3 December 1950. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "James Named Prog. Leader". The Singapore Standard. Singapore. 6 February 1953. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "CANDIDATE WILL NOT STAND". The Straits Times. Singapore. 24 October 1953. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "A recent Singapore wedding. Mr. Frank James and Miss Iris Ess". The Straits Budget. Singapore. 30 July 1931. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- Lee, Lynn (5 December 2003). "CHIJ alumni mourn ex-principal's death". The Straits Times.
- ^ "James ('father confessor to his boys') dies". The Straits Times. Singapore. 15 May 1973. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- "Old boys to start fund in memory of their teacher Frank James". The Straits Times. Singapore. 16 May 1973. Retrieved 2 December 2023.