OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 11

OBITUARY

Mr. Frederick Charles Widdop FORMER CHIEF ENGINEER OF RAILWAYS Tbe death occurred suddenly at bis home, 98 Upland Road, Kelburn, on Monday night, of Mr. Frederick Charles Widdop. former chief engineer of the New Zealand Railways and wellknown in New Zealand civil engineering circles. Mr. Widdop was the third son of the late Mr. William Widdop and was born in Wellington 62 years ago. He had a distinguished railway career and was associated with that department from 1891 to September, 1931, when he retired on superannuation.

Mr. Widdop’s record oik service dated from boyhood. Joining the department in 1891, he spent 13 months in the office of the locomotive superintendent, Wellington, after which lie entered the civil engineering branch and was transferred to Wanganui as a cadet. Several years later Mr. Widdop returned to Wellington as assistant district engineer, and after gaining-fur-ther experience returned to Wanganui as district engineer. Before his appointment to the. position of assistant chief engineer, Mr. Widdop served as district engineer in Greymouth and Wellington.

As assistant chief engineer, and later chief engineer, Mr. . Widdop was associated with: many important construction and development works on New Zealand lines, including the drawing of the original plans for the new Wellington railway station and yards. He was similarly associated with the new Auckland station, the construction of many bridges; and the acquisition of the land and the development of the Eastern Hutt Valley scheme, which was carried out under his supervision. The Tawa Flat deviation, which he initiated, was also one of the many large undertakings with which he was associated.

Mr. H. H. Sterling, who was General Manager of Railways in 1931, said at a farewell to the retiring chief engineer, that Mr. Widdop was leaving the service with a record to his credit that earned entire admiration. Referring to tiie standard of track maintenance in New Zealand, Mr. Sterling added: “Commission after commission has stated that the track leaves nothing to be desired, a great tribute to Mr. Widdop and the men who went before him, specially when tiie nature of the country is taken into consideration.” After his retirement Mr. Widdop continued to take an active interest in the Kelburn Bowling Club. As a member of tiiis club in .1909 he drew up tiie plans and specifications of the present green and also-supervised its construction. He was associated also with the construction of the second green, completed three or four years ago. For many years he was a member of the club’s executive, and was also a past president. From 1935 to the time of his death he held the office of green superintendent. In his younger days Mr. Widdop played Rugby in Wanganui, and took an active part in rowing on the 'Wanganui River. When he returned to Wellington he joined the Star Boating Club, and was later elected an honorary life member of that club. Mr. Widdop was also interested in music, and with his father, was at one time a member of tire choir of St. Paul’s ProCathedral, Wellington, under the late Robert Parker.

Mr. Widdop married a daughter of Mr. W. M. Hammy, one of the early railway •commissioners in New Zealand, and later general manager of tbe Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company before Hie line was taken over by the Government.

Surviving Mr. Widdop are his widow and two daughters, Miss Helen Widdop and Miss Barbara Widdop. He is survived also bv two brothers, Messrs. J. E. Widdop, Wellington, secretary of the Kelburn Bowling Club, and 11. A. Widdop, Sydney, and two sisters, Miss

Nell Widdop, Auckland, and Mrs. F. M. Shortridge, London. Mrs. Shortridge is at present staying in 'Wellington. As a member of the New Zealand Institute of Engineers, Mr. Widdop represented the institute on the Town Planning Board set up by the Department of Internal Affairs some years ago. He held this office at the time of his death, and also took a keen interest in the affairs of the institute.