Joseph Charles Sykes
Joseph Charles Sykes (1871-1931) of the W. R. Sykes Interlocking Signal Co
son of William Robert Sykes
1931 Obituary [1]
JOSEPH CHARLES SYKES was the son of the inventor of the lock-and-block signalling system for railways.
He was born in London in 1871 and was a student at King's College, London. He served a pupilage at the Battersea locomotive works of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway under William Kirtley, and after further experience in the drawing office and in the running department took charge of the Margate district for the locomotive, carriage, and wagon department.
In 1896 he joined his father in the management of Messrs. W. R. Sykes's signal works of London and Glasgow, and took charge of the maintenance of the electrical signalling on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway.
Subsequently the firm was converted into a limited liability company under the title of W. R. Sykes Interlocking Signal Company, and Mr. J. C. Sykes became successively assistant works manager, assistant general manager, and on the death of his brother, Mr. W. R. Sykes, Jun., in 1908, director and manager.
Among the numerous works carried out by the firm under Mr. Sykes's supervision were the electrical signalling of the Glasgow and South Western Railway at St. Enoch and Dalry stations, and of Victoria Station, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
Mr. Sykes had in recent years acted as Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers.
His death occurred on 5th January 1931, and he had been a Member of the Institution since 1905.
1931 Obituary[2]
"THE LATE MR. J. C. SYKES.
A wide circle of railway engineers will learn with regret of the sudden death of Mr. Joseph Charles Sykes, which occurred at his home at Fairfield, Dulwich Village, London,.S.E. 21, on January 5. Mr. Sykes, who was honorary general secretary of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, and had for many years been managing director of Messrs. W. R. Sykes Interlocking-Signal Company, Limited. railway-signal engineers, Voltaire-road, Clapham. S.W.4, was the son of the late Mr. William Robert Sykes and was born in 1871. He received his general education at King’s College School, London, passing on to King’s College, Strand, for engineering and technical training. Mr. Sykes served his apprenticeship under Mr. William Kirtley, the locomotive, carriage, wagon, and marine superintendent of the old London, Chatham and Dover Railway. He was subsequently employed in the department in which he was trained, in various capacities, including that of assistant to the locomotive works manager, and engineer in charge of running 'sheds. He was afterwards made responsible for the whole of the electrical apparatus controlling the 'Signalling on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. In 1897, Mr. Sykes was appointed assistant works manager of Messrs. W. R. Sykes International Signal Company, Limited; he subsequently became assistant general manager and afterwards deputy managing director. Final promotion to managing director of the firm came in 1910.' A former student member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. Sykes was elected an associate member of the Institution on January 12, 1897. He became a full member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1905 and of the Junior Institution of Engineers in October, 1904. For many years a Fellow of the Permanent Way Institute and a member of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, he became honorary general secretary of the latter body in 1923. Mr. Sykes was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1897."
1931 Obituary.[3]
The Institution has sustained a heavy loss by the death of Mr.Joseph C. Sykes, its Honorary General Secretary, which occurred! at his residence, Fairfield, Dulwich Village, London, S.E., on 5th January last, after a short illness. He was buried on 10th January in St. Luke’s Cemetery, Bromley Common, Kent.
Mr. Sykes, who was the second and eldest surviving son of Mr. W. R. Sykes, was born in 1871. He received his education at King's College School, London, passing on to King's College, Strand, for engineering and technical training. His inclinations were towards locomotive engineering, and instead of following his father in signal and telegraph engineering, he became a pupil of Mr. William Kirtley, the Locomotive, Carriage, Wagon, and Marine Superintendent of the former London, Chatham and Dover Railway, at Longhedge Works, Battersea, London. He continued in the employment of the railway and eventually became Assistant to the locomotive works manager and Engineer in charge of running sheds. He was afterwards made responsible for the whole of the electrical apparatus controlling the signalling on the L.C. and D.R.
In 1897 Mr. Sykes was appointed Assistant Works Manager to Messrs. W. R. Sykes, International Signal Co., Ltd., railway signal engineers, Voltaire Road, Clapham, London and he subsequently' became Assistant General Manager and' afterwards Deputy Managing Director. In 1910 he was appointed Managing Director of that firm.
Mr. Sykes was elected a member of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in 1921, and in 1923 became Honorary General Secretary at the same time the Institution’s Registered office was established at Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. During the eight years he held this post, the Institution advanced greatly in membership and influence. The highly successful summer visits Vo Germany in 1928 and to - Switzerland in 1936, largely organised by him, helped to impart an International character to the membership and proceedings, as also did the reading of papers by eminent French, German and Swiss engineers which he was able to secure. The Institution was expanded by the establishment of new Centres at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Birmingham and in India, the total membership increasing to over 1,300 in spite of the very difficult times through which railways, the locomotive building and allied industries have passed in recent years.
Mr. Sykes had a wide circle of friends in the engineering world, and his genial disposition greatly endeared him to the members of the Institution. His knowledge of men and affairs was of great value to the Institution in his secretarial duties, as also his advice and opinions expressed at the meetings of the Council, many of the advances made by the Institution being due to his initiative or suggestion. Mr. Sykes was an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, as also of the Junior Institution of Engineers. He was for many years a Fellow of the Permanent Way Institute and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1897.