Biographical note

Alice James was a proud Lancashire Lass, born in September 1921 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge. She taught at several schools before taking up the post of Headmistress at Wykeham House, where she remained before retiring and marrying Lieut. Cdr. James ("Jimmy"). Throughout her career she always continued with her local activities, which included founding and running Fareham Local History Group, undertaking a key role in the setting up of Westbury Manor Museum and the restoration of Cams Hall. Instinctively recognising the importance of preserving local history she collected and recorded a great quantity of material over the years, material which might otherwise have been lost, and built up her already extensive knowledge of the district. This acquisition of local information included a great deal of research into the Delme family who lived at Cams Hall for over 100 years. The Fareham Past and Present booklets came into being as a result of her work. These booklets, originally edited by Alice, are still being published by the local history group two or three times a year.