James Francis Symons
James Francis Symons (1875-1937)
1937 Obituary [1]
JAMES FRANCIS SYMONS was principal assistant in the mechanical division of the chief engineers' department of the London County Council. He was born in 1875 and received his technical education at Mason's College, Birmingham. In 1890 he became apprenticed to Messrs. R. Warner and Company, hydraulic engineers, of Walton on the Naze, and served until 1896, when he joined Messrs. Tangyes, Ltd., as a draughtsman. He was appointed assistant to the chief draughtsman at Messrs. Easton's works at Erith in 1901. Three years later he commenced his association with the London County Council, when he entered the mechanical engineering department. In 1920 he was appointed principal assistant, and held this position until his death, which occurred on 26th February 1937. He was responsible for the design of large steam-, oil-, and gas-driven pumping engines and steam boiler plant at the London main drainage stations and outfall works, and he also superintended their manufacture and installation. In addition he designed and supervised the execution of schemes for the ventilation of Blackwall Tunnel and Rotherhithe Tunnel by means of electrically driven extraction and blowing fans. He also devised schemes for the ventilation of large sewers by electrically driven extraction fans.
Mr. Symons was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1920. He had previously been an Associate Member from 1904 to 1914.