In 2017 James Gray MP accepted the invitation from the Operation Christmas Box, formerly uk4u, Directors and Trustees to become the Charity’s new Patron. 

James is very sympathetic to the military having had a short military career himself. He served for seven years in the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment of the Territorial Army (1977-84) on whose Court of Assistants he also served from 2002-07, and of whose Saddle Club he is life Vice-President. 

He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and of the Royal College of Defence Studies. In 2013, James set up the Armed Forces Parliamentary Trust and became its founding Chairman. 

The Trust now administers the revamped Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.