Ex-city councillor has died at the age of 75
No: 45,314
A FORMER Cambridge city councillor has died aged 75.
James Strachan died on December 18, and is survived by two of his brothers.
Mr Strachan was born in Llangollen, North Wales, and grew up in Wales, Staffordshire and Cheshire.
He was the oldest of four sons of a papermaker chemist father and an engineer mother.
He graduated from Gonville and Caius College with a degree in Civil Engineering. During his degree, he took part in lighting amateur drama productions.
After finishing his degree, Mr Strachan settled in Cambridge. He was a Conservative city councillor, chairman and then treasurer of the Cambridge Conservative Association, and governor of Chesterton Community College.
He worked as an engineer in London, Kent, Zambia and Iraq before changing careers to computer coding with Cambridge Online.
His brother, Crispian, said: “He was an accomplished photographer and had lifelong passions for Rover, Morris Minor and MG cars, and for railways – particularly the pre-1922 Midland Railway and South African Railways. He was also a formidable model railway engineer.”
Mr Strachan also volunteered with the Nene Valley Railway, a preserved railway which runs between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction, specialising in engineering works.
Crispian Strachan said: “His interests, attested by his bookshelves, ranged from Conservative and Imperial politics to naval gunnery in World War One, much history around the world and Madam and Eve satirical cartoons from South Africa.
“James never married, but was a source of entertainment and good advice to a number of godchildren and, of course, to his nephews and nieces. He leaves two brothers.”
He was a source of entertainment and good advice to a number of godchildren, and his nephews and nieces.