Joshua Robert Markwell Fitch
Joshua Robert Markwell Fitch (1879-1946)
1947 Obituary [1]
"JOSHUA ROBERT MARKWELL FITCH, who was born in 1879, received his technical education at the Albert School of Science, in Colchester, and served an apprenticeship to Mr. A. G. Mumford, engineer, of Colchester, from 1897 to 1900. After gaining practical experience as a journeyman with Messrs. Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Ltd., and Messrs. R. and W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Ltd., of Newcastle upon Tyne, he went to sea as a marine engineer and from 1902 to 1906 was employed on vessels of the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., and also served on the dock staff at Bombay.
During this period he rose to be third engineer and obtained his Board of Trade First-Class Engineer's Certificate. He then returned to Mr. Mumford's works at Colchester, but in the following year he accepted the appointment of chief engineer at Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster. In 1913 he acquired the Lawford Iron Works, Manningtree, Essex, and continued as its managing proprietor until his death, which occurred on 16th December 1946. Mr. Fitch had been an Associate Member of the Institution since 1910. He was the patentee of a furrow spreader of improved design."