Jim Nelson (1918-2013)

Jim Nelson was an active member of the North Craven Heritage Trust, with an interest in local history and leading walks. In his later years he wrote articles for the Journal on The Attermire Rifle Range, Dancing Bears, The Great Walkers of 100 years ago, Langcliffe Mills, Rev. Richard Frankland, and Water Mills of Ribblesdale.

His practical skills were not just confined to boot and shoe-making - he made the model of the Ebbing and Flowing Well housed in the Folly and made the canvas window blinds in the Chapel St. Museum of North Craven Life offices. A miniature boot made by Jim is the Jim Nelson Trophy for the Fellsman event, presented since 1968 to the fastest lady runner.

He was involved in Scouting nearly all his life, having been one of the first members of the 1st Castleberg Group when it was formed in the 1930s. Throughout the war years, Jim stayed true to his Scouting Promise by helping injured service men and, on his return to Settle, he swiftly took up an active leadership role. He became Scout Master for 1st Castleberg Group in 1949, then Group Scout Master in 1952, then from 1971 to 1981 District Commissioner for Ingleborough District.

Memorable talks were given at meetings of the Men’s Forum on a variety of topics. John Metcalf, the blind road builder, was perhaps an inspiration to Jim. Thinking and acting positively was a feature of his wartime tales when his scouting experience was to prove invaluable - he made a baking tin to escape army stew. In France the BEF was over-run and his group had to find their way to Dunkirk with no rations so they lived off the land. His comrades raided farms and sought advice asking Jim - “Can you cuk a duk?”. Jim’s philosophy was that there is no place for war.

In the summer of 2003, one of our members had visitors from Toulouse and showed them Nelson’s shop as a piece of Settle character. They went into the shop just to look, and Jim happened to be there. When they explained that they were not customers, merely gawpers with French visitors, he took them into the back and showed them some of the tools and skills of his trade. At the time he was making miniature shoes for Beatrix Potter characters. He remarked how it was more difficult than making real shoes. This exemplifies Jim’s love of his traditional craft, and his readiness to impart his knowledge to others.