Herbert "Jessie" James was a childhood friend of Albert Tatlock and Minnie Caldwell who went on to become headmaster at Alf Roberts's school. Born in 1896, Herbert knew Albert as far back as Bessie Street infants, where Albert once thumped his earhole. At school, Herbert gave Albert the nickname 'peewee', much to the ire of his short-legged friend. Albert came to resent over-achiever Herbert and longed to best him; the pair arranged a swimming race only for Albert to drop out, claiming to have pulled a muscle. In 1973, Ena Sharples revealed to Herbert that the true reason for Albert not racing was that his mother had threatened to leather him. Even Albert's proudest moment produced feelings of inadequacy in the man as when the local men returned from the First World War in 1918, Herbert wa