Peter Wilfred James

Peter Wilfred James (1930–2014) was an English botanist and lichenologist. He was a pioneer in the study of lichens as environmental indicators, especially of atmospheric pollution.

Early life and education Peter W. James grew up in Sutton Coldfield, which was then a rural suburb of Birmingham and his interests in natural history and exploring the countryside were encouraged by his older sister. His father was a headteacher. James attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Warwickshire from 1943 until 1949. Their collaboration extended beyond formal work, with regular lunchtime meetings in London and joint field excursions to remote areas including Inchnadamph, Assynt, Connemara and south-west Ireland, where they documented rare Atlantic lichen species.

At the Natural History Museum, James created what many considered the spiritual home of lichenology in Britain. He welcomed visitors to the herbarium with characteristic courtesy, often greeting them with "Now, is there anything I can get for you?" before providing desk space where they could examine specimens or receive assistance with identification. He was known for his accessibility and genuine interest in the work of others, providing encouragement to newcomers and experienced lichenologists alike. He acknowledged significant support in his early career from Ursula Duncan, who lent him reference materials and with whom he later collaborated extensively.

Lichenology in the UK was improved by his own and collaborative books about lichen identification, especially his New Checklist of British Lichens (1965) and his contributions to Ursula Duncan's Introduction to British Lichens (1970) and Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland (1992) edited by Ole William Purvis.

His interest in the effects of air quality on lichens began in the 1970, particularly after a visit to an aluminium smelter on Anglesey. He was involved in many field surveys as well as publishing and providing training about lichens and air quality. and the first overview of lichen communities in the British Isles.

Personal life James was also a collector of UK stamps, specialising in those from the Edwardian period to King George V and of cacti. His collection of cacti comprised about 600 species, with his main collection housed at his sister's home in the Midlands which he visited at weekends. His other notable characteristics included never learning to drive or use a computer, and having an apprehension of mobile phones.