Obviously of Indian extract, many wondered why he had a surname Smith. The explanation is that he is a decedent of the Dutch Burghers of Ceylon who settled in Holland in the 1790s where a relative married into the Smith family historically
His father was an Indian surgeon who served in the military during the second world war in both North Africa and Italy
Educated at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla
After the war he came to the UK to study for his FRCS
Successfully passed the examination in 1947 and decided to stay in the UK
He worked at the West Middlesex Hospital in the early part of his career and in Stoke on Trent
In 1952 he married Audrey a state registered nurse that he met in Stoke
He commenced his consultant appointment at the Birmingham Accident Hospital in late 1959 and moved into their house in Swathmore Road, Selly Oak
He joined Team 2 working with Peter Bewes
A senior colleague advised him that his house was overpriced at £5,000
Part of the conditions of employment were that he was within walking distance of the Acci if required
He needed special permission to install a second telephone in his house for use when on call
He was on duty on the night of the Birmingham Pub Bombings
He attended the reception given by the Queen and Prince Philip to those consultants who worked the night of the pub bombings
He suffered his first coronary in 1967 and the second in 1974 after which he did not enjoy good health
He retired in 1987
He had a love for classical music and had a large collection of vinyl LPs
He collected bibles in different languages
He died on 12 September 2001. His wife died 2015
He had a son Richard who worked as a Customs Officer, another son who was involved in computer network equipment and a daughter who had a nursing career
Jim dealt with many individuals at work and for anyone who annoyed him or could be deemed naughty he was well known to call them “bounder”