John Robert Billington
John Robert Billington (1873-1925)
1925 Obituary [1]
JOHN ROBERT BILLINGTON was born on 18th April 1873 at Freckleton, Lancashire, and received his early education locally.
He served his apprenticeship, 1889-1894, in the Locomotive Works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, and on completing his term was transferred to the drawing-office, Horwich, as draughtsman in October 1894.
From the beginning he was a regular student at the technical classes of the Horwich Railway Mechanics' Institute, and in 1897 won a Whitworth Exhibition.
In October 1901 he was placed in charge of the department at Horwich for the physical testing of materials, and in May 1904 he was appointed Manager of the Gas Department under the Chief Mechanical Engineer.
In June 1913 he was made Chief Draughtsman, and upon the grouping of the railways now forming the London Midland and Scottish Railway he was appointed to the position of technical assistant to the Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer of the Company.
This position he was holding at the time of his death, which occurred on 22nd March 1925.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1909.