James was the youngest of six children. His mother Elizabeth was unmarried and worked in service. The Charmer family lived at the Nag's Head at a time when the total inhabitants of the yard numbered more than 30.
From an early age James loved working with animals. As a young man he worked as a groom at various stables in Caynham, Snitton Lane and Richards Castle. He especially enjoyed parading the horses at Ludlow Races.
It was at the races that James notoriously had too much to drink on one occasion. It is widely accepted that this incidence of intoxication combined with his great love of horses led him to sign up that same day for the Royal Worcester Light Horse Artillery.
On Christmas day in 1919 James Charmer married Mary Thornton, and they went on to have six children. The family had its fair share of tragedy. James' son Tony died of carbon-monoxide poisoning whilst in the bath at the family home. Another son, Jim returned from service in the Second World War confined to a wheelchair.
James is remembered as a kind person, who loved his family and made any visitors welcome. A keen gardener, the family enjoyed home-grown food and good sing-songs around the fire.
James spent his later years living at Steventon Crescent in Ludlow. He died in 1971.
We spoke to his granddaughter Mrs Jean Parker.
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