Hugh James
Hugh Morgan James (Hughie) passed away peacefully at 81 years old on Tuesday 7th July 2026.
Hugh was a big part of Epynt Motor Club from when it was founded in 1969.
He was a larger than life, always with a smile and good story to tell.
Hugh joined Epynt Motor Club shortly after it was founded in 1969 and enjoyed competing on Autotests and 12 car rallies as they were then called, he also marshalled on club events especially the Mewla where he would man the service in or out controls with other members.
He would attend meetings and had been the chairman for a number of years, Hugh was a director of the club until he stepped down last year due to his and Maureen’s health problems. Hugh was President of the club for two years which he enjoyed immensely, flag waving the competitors at the start, presenting awards and speeches at social evenings and cracking a Hughy joke or two.
He purchased a Mark1 Escort 1300 and along with long time friend Keith Edwards as navigator, and competed on 12 car events and a few other larger events in West and South Wales, with success in the club championship over a number of years, Brian Jones navigated on one event starting in Builth with the first control above Nant yr Arian where the steep hill leads up to Maesmynis, the marshal said go, Hugh rewed up the engine dropped the clutch and he flew into the back seat as the seat brackets had broken, no worry Jones said Hugh, into the boot he went got out a spare wheel which he jammed behind the seat and off they went, Brian says as well as holding the map he had to hold Hugh up on right hand bends, on another 12 car event utilizing the lanes around Cwm Camlais there’s a tricky triangle where two roads meet, Hugh and Keith were beached on top of the triangle , push us off boys was Hughs call to other crews. Along with lan Davis they built a mini powered special for autotesting and they christened it The Javis, competing with it for years, with other club members also competing with it.
Some time later they purchased a racing car single seater for use in hill climbs, it came in pieces and satin the barn for at least 25 years until they built it up with a 1600 Ford full race engine, the driver sat alongside the engine and when it came to test it they both decided they were two old, or that’s the excuse , Alun Probert was roped in and one evening they fired it up and tested it up the road outside Buelah chapel, If memory serves well they took it to the hillclimb at Llys yr fran in Pembrokeshire.
Hugh purchased another Mark 1 Escort this time being a 1600 it needed a bit of work so Hugh and his trusty mechanic Daniel had the engine in and out on a regular basis, He last used it on the clubs Cambrian classic tour with Keith and the late Catrina Edwards 2 years ago having entered all 6 previous events.
The club organized a visit to Viking Motorsport in Newtown one Saturday morning where Hughy viewed the historic Escorts they built, He was like a kid in a sweet shop, drooling over these cars, under the bonnet, head under the wings examining them with a knowledgeable eye, asking loads of questions, we could not stop him and had to drag him out as Phil Mills wanted to close up.
A annual marshalling trip was up the Abergwesyn road near Trallwm for the Welsh Two Day trial for both days, with Hugh were lan, Tommy Powell and Graham Tong for a few hours fun.
Hugh was happy spannering and sorting out his fleet in the competion department (as he called the barn), his knowledge on motorsport was evident in quiz nights, the rest of us never stood a chance with the Beulah team, we will miss Hughy in club and as more than one member has remarked he was a true gentleman.
Written by long standing Epynt members, Graham Tong & Keith Edwards.
