A native of Manchester, James moved to County Durham where he was manager of the Consett Iron Co. For many years he played for the Durham Hockey Club. In 1909 he married Ethel Ainsworth(1882-1958) by whom he had two sons. He moved to Crowthorne in 1922 and, two years later, took up residence at 105, Easthampstead Road in Wokingham.
After a period of ill-health, James died at Benfieldside, 105, Easthampstead Road on the 3rd July 1945 at the age of 73. At the time of his death the younger of his two sons, Lt. Col Leonard Ainsworth Thorpe (b 1915), was a prisoner of the Japanese. The other, Lt. Col. L. A. Thorpe was stationed in India.
Thorpe Close, off Eastheath Avenue, was named in James’s memory.
The first associated photograph is thought to be James Thorpe declaring that Britain was at war with Germany.
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0150