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James Holroyd, O.B.E, was one of the mainsprings from which the new Society took off in 1951, following the Sherlock Holmes Exhibition in the Abbey National Building in Baker Street.
In the early years James was immensely active in the Society. He was an enthusiastic Council member, with a talent for getting the right sort of publicity. In 1958 he became a very sociable Chairman, establishing and renewing contacts in unexpected places. And he was a very influential editor of the Journal.
James was opinionated, but he did not expect everyone to share his opinions; indeed, had little time for people who didn’t have opinions of their own, but despite disagreements, maintained friendships.
As the years went by-and especially after his retirement from the Editorship of the Board of Trade Journal in 1972,-James became less active in the Society. But he was always there, in the background, an elder statesman of some renown being made an Honorary Member in 1978. And it was only illness in later life that kept him away from our Annual Dinners, an absence he greatly regretted.
This summary is based on the obituary written by Patsy Dalton which appeared in the SHJ 17/2 Summer 1985
He told his personal Sherlock Holmes story to Nick Utechin, when he was approaching his 80th birthday, which Nick reported in the SHJ Winter 1982 issue.
