How to order
By Post: Mail to Lynn Davidson, The Memoir Club, 34 Lynwood Way, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE34 8DB UK cheque payable to Lynn Davidson.
By Email memoirclub@msn.com OR MOBILE 00 44 755 2086888
By bank transfer: Lynn Davidson, Barclays, 20 83 69 83948145
Presentation at Antigua book launch Feb 2024
Sir James and Lady Carlisle after the investiture
Grandchildren
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| Presentation at Antigua book launch Feb 2024 |
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| Sir James and Lady Carlisle after the investiture |
After completing his elementary education at Bolans Public School, Antigua, Sir James was appointed as a pupil teacher at the same school. He continued to study by taking a number of General Certificate of Education Courses by correspondence. Eager to acquire higher education he emigrated to Britain where he planned to work and study. He attended evening classes at the Working Men’s College in St Pancras, London and Northwestern Polytechnic, Kentish Town, London.
In 1961 he joined the Royal Air Force where he was trained as a medic /decompression operator. While in the military Sir James took advantage of the educational opportunities offered. Following his demob in 1966 he attended the Northampton College of Technology where he took a number of A-level science courses. In 1967 he was admitted to the University of Dundee to study dentistry. He graduated as a dental surgeon in 1972.
He was employed in the National Health Service for seven years before returning to Antigua where he became involved with a number of community and charitable projects. When the first Governor-General, Sir Wilfred Jacobs retired due to ill health, the prime minister recommended him to Her Majesty the Queen to be appointed to the post. He served in this capacity for fourteen years (1993-2007).
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| COAT OF ARMS |
Sir
James has been the recipient of a number of Honours and Awards:
Knight
Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).
Knight
of Justice of the Order of St John (KStJ).
Knight
Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (KGN).
Knight
Grand Cross of the Order of Sheba (GCQS).
A
Banner and Plate of the Order of St Michael and St George. These are
permanently displayed in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Coat
of Arms from the Royal College of Arms, London.
Doctor
of Laws ad hominem (LLD) from Andrews University, USA.
Fellowship
in Dental Surgery (FDS) ad hominem from the Royal College of Surgeons of
Edinburgh.
Centennial
Fellow of the Royal College of Edinburgh in 2005. His name is engraved in
the Hall of the famous Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Membership
of the British Dental Association.
Fellowship
of the International College of Dentists (FICD).
Charter
member of the International Academy of Laser Dentists.
Book launch Antigua
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5cy6bNKBxY
REVIEWS/ARTICLES
Thank you for a cannot put down book. Lady Joseph
Sir James what a wonderful book! the talent you have for telling the story impresses and delights! and the very felicitous way you build up the tale is so impressive from the days of what seems like unimaginably dim dreary London of the long-ago with its harsh reception of the courageous souls who came to England's shores and the triumphs which follow this. Excellently excellently done! What a masterpiece, ready for multiple readings. Please permit me to congratulate you. It was thoroughly kind to send it. Grazie grazie grazie. It has a very proud place on my shelf. SO kind. Homage and salutation. Robert Noel
I was delighted to receive a copy of your book – fascinating stories!
Professor Peter Mossley
Office of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua News
Room
https://www.facebook.com/OPMAntiguaBarbuda/?locale=en_GB
Former Governor General Sir James Carlisle pens
autobiography. Makes Presentation to Prime Minister Browne
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – 7th March 2024…..Former
Governor General, Sir James Carlisle, who served in the post from 1993 to 2007,
has penned an autobiography that chronicles his life from humble beginnings to
ascending to the office of Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda.
Sir James, accompanied by his wife, Lady Emma, made a
presentation of the book to Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Tuesday. He told
the prime minister that he had very good reasons for writing the book. It is
entitled ‘A Life Shaped by Extraordinary Circumstances’ and it traces Sir
James’ life from childhood in Bolans to his journey to the UK and his quest for
higher learning, his service in the Royal Air Force and his decision to study
as a doctor specializing in dentistry. He later returned to Antigua to open his
dental office. He was appointed as Governor General following the death of Sir
Wilfred Jacobs.
“I remember after Sir Wilfred Jacobs had passed and I had
assumed office, a reporter came to Government House and queried ‘what should I
write about him. I know nothing of him (Sir Wilfred). I don’t want that to
happen to me. This is my attempt at leaving my footprints in the sand of time,”
Sir James remarked.
The former governor general told the prime minister that
despite having ‘mobility issues’ he felt that it was important for him to visit
the Office of the Prime Minister to make the presentation to him in person.
In response, PM Browne thanked Sir James for the gift of the
book and also thanked him for his many years of service to the people of
Antigua and Barbuda.
“You have certainly made your mark and it is good that you
have documented it as I have seen too many instances of people trying to
re-write history. So, where we fail to document, we allow for this
mis-interpretation of facts. You are from humble beginnings and have risen to
the top office in our country; you have made your contribution and having it
documented is a good thing. What is good too is that it is an autobiography
written by you so it doesn’t get more authentic than that,” he observed.
The prime minister also expressed the hope that other
officials who have made significant contributions would follow the example set
by Sir James to write their respective stories. “This would avoid leaving the
interpretations to others or having them made the subject of political spin. I
must give you credit for having the discipline to actually sit down and write
your life’s work. Others have had the ability, but did not possess that
discipline which is required to undertake a project such as this,” PM Browne
noted.
According to the prime minister, Sir James’ time in office
was one of exemplary work and honour that he brought to the office.
Additionally, both Sir James and the PM Browne called on
young people in the country to look past their current circumstances and to set
themselves lofty goals and to strive to achieve them.
Bolans to his journey to the UK and his quest for higher
learning, his service in the Royal Air Force and his decision to study as a
doctor specialising in dentistry. He later returned to Antigua to open his
dental office. He was appointed as Governor-General following the death of Sir
Wilfred Jacobs. “I remember after Sir Wilfred Jacobs had passed and I had
assumed office, a reporter came to Government House and queried ‘what should I
write about him. I know nothing of him (Sir Wilfred). I don’t want that to
happen to me. This is my attempt at leaving my footprints in the sand of time,”
Sir James remarked. Both Sir James and PM Browne called on young people in the
country to look past their current circumstances and to set themselves lofty
goals and to strive to achieve them.’
INSTAGRAM – Faith Smith USA
To hear my father’s story most people wouldn’t believe it.
So what should you do when you have had a life shaped by extraordinary
circumstances? You should definitely write a book! From being one of the best-dressed children in his village to then losing his father and it all at the age
of 5, forced to go barefoot, sell coal and cut sugarcane to help his family
survive. Literally fighting against all odds, he managed to turn his days of
walking in the slums into 14 years of walking into the Palace of Her Majesty
the late Queen Elizabeth ll. My dad went from leaving a country he thought he
would never return to, into leading his country. I always say I don’t have a
story to tell. Because hearing my father’s life story I’m always like wow, I
ain’t got nothing amazing to share.
But you know what? With a dad like mine who needs their own story 😂I
just tell his. It’s amazing for the both of us!
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