Obituary: John James

The ITF is saddened to learn of the death of former Tennis Europe President and ITF Olympic Committee member John James (OBE), who passed away on 13 June following a recent stroke.

James, who was President of Tennis Europe between 2003 and 2009, served on a host of committees within the sport and was very well known and respected by the tennis family across the world.

James was a member of the ITF Olympic Committee from 1991-2009 and a stalwart at multiple Olympic Tennis Events.

Born in 1937 in Llanelli, Wales, James’ route through the ranks of tennis administration began when he was voted council member of the Welsh LTA in 1963. He was heavily involved in junior tennis for much of the ensuing decade, and became an international umpire – officiating at the Wimbledon Championships.

He was elected to represent Wales within the LTA in 1972 and made assistant secretary of the LTA the following year, organising Davis Cup and Wightman Cup matches while in the role, before becoming LTA secretary in 1983.

Two decades later he became LTA Vice President, a role he held between 2003 and 2007, and an Honorary Life Vice President from 2008.  

James also served on a host of other committees across the game at domestic level including the Anti-Doping Review Board (1997-2002), Officiating Committee (1997-1998), Rules (2004), Wimbledon Museum (2000-2008) and the Commonwealth Games Council for England (2003-2006).

He was named an Honorary Life President of the British Olympic Association in 2017 after 34 years’ service to the National Olympic Committee, and named an OBE in the 2003 New Year’s Honours list.