James Dryland died on January 5 at the age of 68 A rugby-loving former Flying Squad detective with the Metropolitan Police who became a London taxi driver has died at the age of 68. James Dryland, who lived in Rickmansworth, passed away from Covid-19 at Watford General Hospital. His family have set up a Just Giving page in their his memory and will donate the money to Raise West Herts, the hospital charity, to thank staff who cared for him. Remembered as a kind, generous, gentle giant with an astute dry sense of honour, James was born on April 2, 1952 in Weymouth, Dorset. His father Basil Dryland was an army officer who later worked for EMI and his mother Marjorie Dryland was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service before becoming a housewife.