Sir James Henry Norritt was the managing director of Cantrell & Cochrane Ltd, a soft drinks manufacturer based on the Castlereagh Road.

Norritt was the son of a Canadian-born father and an Irish mother. He was born in Belfast born in 1888, and lived for a time at Larne, where his father worked as a fisherman. He was employed as a railway clerk and for many years acted as General Secretary of Harland & Wolff recreation & Athletic Association.

Norritt was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts movement. He acted as Scoutmaster of Belfast’s 17th Troops and was appointed as District Commissioner of East Belfast. Norritt was associated for many years with the Belfast Rotary Club and served as its honorary secretary and as President from 1940-41. In 1937, the Rotary Club nominated Norritt as its representative Life Governor of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Norritt represented the Dock Unionist Association on the Ulster Unionist Council. He served on the Belfast Chamber of Commerce committee and was a member of the Ulster Industries Development Association.