Harrison Veevers
Harrison Veevers (1833-1907)
1908 Obituary [1]
HARRISON VEEVERS, who died at his residence, The Lakes, Dukinfield, on the 12th November, 1907, in his seventy-fifth year, was a well-known personality amongst the older generation of gas engineers.
Born at Thurnham, near Lancaster, he gained his early experience of the branch of engineering to which his life was mainly devoted in the office of the late Mr. Henry Rofe, who had an extensive practice as consulting engineer for gas and other undertakings.
After a year spent in Carlisle, in partnership with the late Mr. H. A. McKie, Mr. Veevers, in 1858, obtained the appointment of engineer and manager of the Warrington gasworks, and remained there until the latter end of 1862.
Then, forsaking for a time his connection with gas-engineering, he turned his attention to railway work. Accepting a post as engineer on the construction of the Colombo and Kandy Railway, he took charge of the first 35 miles of line, including long viaducts, a tunnel, and other heavy work, but his experience of Ceylon proved unfortunate. His station being in an unhealthy part of the island he was overtaken by fever and dysentery, and, after two years’ work, was invalided home.
Arriving in England considerably improved in health by the voyage, he returned to his former allegiance, on receiving the appointment of engineer and manager to the Bolton gasworks, a post which he retained for 14 years, when he resigned.
He then came to Dukinfield, where he ended his days, and from 1878 until 2 years prior to his death, he served first as gas-engineer and borough surveyor, and afterwards as engineer and manager of the Corporation gas-undertaking. When his health began to fail he was appointed consulting gas-engineer to the borough.
In gas-engineering circles Ms. Veevers was widely known and esteemed. He took a prominent part in the proceedings of the Manchester District Institution of Gas Engineers, of which he was one of the founders and a Past-President. He was also from early days an active member of the society now known as the Institution of Gas Engineers, and for several years served the office Vice-President of the Incorporated Gas Institute.
Apart from his professional interests Mr. Veevers was an artist of no mean ability, and wielded brush and pencil with such facility and happy effect that in his younger days, as a fellow-student of Luke Fildes, R.A., an artistic career was contemplated for him: his talent remained the chief delight of his leisure hours, and many works from his own hand embellished his home. He was an active Freemason, and served several offices in connection with the craft. His accomplishments and agreeable social qualities rendered him an acquisition to any society, whilst his professional associates knew him as a well informed and capable engineer.
Mr. Veevers was twice married, and leaves two sons, who are following their father’s profession.
He was elected an Associate Member of The Institution on the 1st December, 1874.