John Orme Brettell (1866-1913)
1913 Obituary [1]
JOHN ORME BRETTELL was born at Dudley on 16th September 1866.
He was educated at the Royal Orphanage, Wolverhampton, and then from 1881 to 1884 served an apprenticeship with Messrs. J. O. and C. E. Brettell, general engineers, of Worcester. During the latter period he attended evening classes at the Worcester School of Art.
He then joined the drawing office staff of Messrs. McKenzie and Holland, railway signal engineers, Vulcan Iron Works, Worcester, in whose service be remained for nearly thirty years as draughtsman, and finally chief draughtsman of the Worcester office, which position be held up to the time of his death. During that time he was responsible for the design of many of the interlocking systems installed on the leading railways.
For over twenty years he served in the Volunteer Artillery, and rose to be Brigade Quartermaster Sergeant.
His death took place, after some months' illness, on 11th September 1913, in his forty-seventh year.
He was elected an Associate Member of this Institution in 1908.