James 'Teapot' Williams

‘Teapot’ was the second son of Richard and Margaret Williams, in a family of ten. He was born partly crippled, and for most of his life had to rely on two sticks to get him around.

His real name was James, but he was always known by his nickname, which was given him as a boy. No-one is exactly sure how he came by it, but ‘Teapot’ himself once said ‘My uncle gave me that name. When I was a little boy I used to help him pick the stones off the horse road. Other people called him ‘Teapot’ and when he pegged out they called me the same’.

He started life as an apprentice to a wheelwright but was a “jack of all trades”; whatever he turned his hand to, he did well. At one time he drove the mails to and from Campden Station in a horse-drawn vehicle and did farm work and gardening. He was well used as a bird scarer among the many cherry orchards around Campden at that time and this picture shows him with his rattle and length of string that clanged the tins tied in the trees.

He spent all of his life in Campden. In a broadcast from Campden in 1948, Teapot was questioned about his travels and said – “I’ve been as far as Stratford, but otherwise I’ve never been a stone’s throw from this place”. When asked who he would like to be, he thought a bit, and then replied – “ What’s ‘is name, up in London – Churchill – you can ‘ave all they cigars, y’know”!! He was very fond of a smoke and was delighted when several listeners to the broadcast sent him gifts of cigars.

He died in April 1953, having left strict instructions with the local undertaker, Don Ellis, that his sticks were to be buried with him when he died “in case I need them on the other side”!!