Rupert Swindells (1835-1908)
1908 Obituary [1]
RUPERT SWINDELLS, son of the late Mr. William Swindells, of Manchester, was born in that city on the 20th June, 1835, and was educated at Bradford and Manchester.
He served his pupilage under the late Mr. Alfred Moore, when that gentleman was Resident Engineer for Mr. J. F. La Trobe Bateman, Past-President, of the Glasgow Waterworks, and subsequently entered Mr. Bateman’s service, remaining on his staff over 20 years, and with Mr. Brunlees 4 years.
Under Messrs. Bateman and Hill, he designed and carried out Copster Hill reservoir for the Oldham Corporation, Whitley reservoir, Calder siphon and other works for the Dewsbury Waterworks, and was engaged upon the Thirlmere scheme for the water supply of Manchester, and various works for Stockport, Stalybridge, Batley, Blackburn and other places.
In 1881 he commenced private practice in Manchester, and, amongst other matters, was engaged on surveys of the estuary of the River Mersey in connection with a scheme for the formation of an approach channel to the Manchester Ship-Canal by means of training walls, and on dredging operations in the estuary.
In 1900 he gave up practice and went to live at Southport, where he died on the 27th February, 1908. Mr. Swindells was of a retiring disposition, conscientious and proficient in the discharge of his duties. He took great interest in young men entering upon their professional career, and was always ready to help them with advice and encouragement.
He was a Fellow of the Geological and Royal Geographical Societies, and regularly attended the meeting of the British Association. He travelled much, and was the author of an account of “The Island of St. Michael and the Azores,” which he published in 1877 for circulation among his friends.
Mr. Swindells was elected an Associate of The Institution on the 12th January, 1875, was subsequently placed in the class of Associate Members, and was transferred to the class of Members on the 22nd January, 1884.