James Vivian Magnall was born on 26 September 1903 to Joseph Magnall and Eliza Jane (nee Wilkinson). The family were living at 4 Nairne Street in Habergham Eaves and James was christened at Holy Trinity Church on 28 October 1903. His father was working as a grocer.

At the time of the 1911 Census, James was living with his parents and younger sister at 69 Athol Street in Burnley, he was 7 years old and at school.

James worked as a motor driver and mechanic. On 22 December 1929 he was involved in a serious motor accident, he was standing next to a stationary motor vehicle when he was struck by a car driven by Dr George Dignam of Cleveleys, near Blackpool. The offside mudguard struck him and he was carried 26 yards through a thick thorn fence and into an orchard. James had three limbs broken and his shoulder dislocated.

PERMANENTLY CRIPPLED.
£2250 Damages for Lorry Driver.

DAMAGES of £2250 and costs were awarded at Liverpool Assizes yesterday to James Vivian Magnall (26), a motor driver and mechanic, of Leyton Road, Blackpool, against Dr George Dignam, of Cleveleys, near Blackpool, for personal injuries received in a motor accident on December 22, 1929. Magnall was standing by a stationary motor lorry in the roadway near Kirkham, when, it was alleged, the doctor drove his own car from Kirkham at a fast pace on the wrong side of the road. The offside mudguard struck Magnall, who was carried 26 yards along the road through a thick thorn fence into an orchard.
Magnall was permanently crippled. He had three limbs broken and his shoulder dislocated, with various other injuries
The defence was that the motor lorry had no lights, and that Magnall stepped from behind the lorry into the roadway.

The Scotsman 6 February 1931

The 1939 Register shows that James was a “Motor Driver Retired” living at 22 Eaton Avenue in Blackpool in the household of Margaret Hargreaves (widow), Hannah and Edith Wilkinson (both single). I think these may be his Aunts on his mother’s side.

James died on 30 December 1978 in Blackpool aged 75. Probate reads:

MAGNALL, James Vivian of 3B South Lawn Waterloo Rd Blackpool died 30 December 1978 Probate Liverpool 29 January £15265   791700435F

[Last updated 30 Dec 2023]