Alfred Doxey 1865-1933

Alfred Doxey was the author's Grandfather. Born in Matlock, he moved to Sheffield at 19 and worked all his life in the Electricity business. He helped install the first telephones and mains electricity in Sheffield. Retiring after 46 years in 1930, he died in 1933, leaving a wife and five children. The bookcase mentioned is still in the possession of the author. Two letters from Alfred Doxey can be browsed on this website. The first is a short biography of his grandmother, which is almost the only source of information about Eliza Dorothy Doxey.

December 1930 PIONEER OF ELECTRICITY Retirement of Sheffield Corporation Official At the Sheffield Corporation Electric Supply offices last night a presentation was made to Mr Alfred DOXEY on the occasion of his retirement after the long period of 46 years, the whole of which has been spent in the service of the Electricity Supply Department and its predecessors in Sheffield. Mr Doxey came as an assistant in 1884 in connection with the telephone service inaugurated by Mr John Tasker. Mr Doxey was one of the engineers concerned when the first electric lighting was shown in the Drill Hall in 1887. Since then he has been actively connected with the development of the undertaking which in 1898 was purchased by the Sheffield Corporation. It is noteworthy to record that the eight or nine consumers of electricity in 1887 have now increased to 75,000, and the year's output in 1898 when the Corporation took over was under one million units, which at the present time is exceeded in one day. Mr Doxey was in frequent consultation with the pioneers of electricity, such as Ferranti, Mordey, Rayworth, and others, and his advice was always considered to be of great value. The presentation, consisting of a mahogany sectional bookcase, was made by the general manager, Mr Ernest Morgan, who took advantage of the opportunity of voicing his own appreciation and good will, as well as those of Mr Doxey's colleagues. Alderman E Snelgrove (chairman of the Electric Supply Committee) also added his tribute in behalf of the Committee, and Mr A S Frost, on behalf of the generating staff, and Mr W J Howard, of the distribution staff, expressed their appreciation of Mr Doxey's services and their good wishes for his future.

1933 MR ALFRED DOXEY Death of a Local Pioneer of Electricity. A local pioneer of electricity, Mr Alfred Doxey, died yesterday at his residence, 107 Banner Cross Road, Sheffield, at the age of 67. For 46 years he was in the service of the Electric Supply Department and its predeccesors in Sheffield, and on his retirement in December 1930, he was presented with a mahogony sectional bookcase. Mr Doxey came to Sheffield in 1884 as an assistant in connection with the telephone service inaugurated by Mr Tasker, and was one of the engineers concerned when the first electric lighting was shown at the Drill Hall in 1887. From that timehe was actively connected with the development of the undertaking, which in 1898 was purchased by the Sheffield Corporation. In 1887 there were only nine consumers of electricity in Sheffield. On many occasions Mr Doxey was in frequent consultation with the pioneers of electricity, including Ferranti, Mordey, and Raywell, and his advice was always considered of great value. His wife and five children survive Mr Doxey.

1933 FUNERAL OF MR ALFRED DOXEY The Sheffield Corporation Electric Supply Department was represented by many of the staff and workmen at the funeral at Ecclesall, yesterday, of Mr Alfred Doxey, who during his 46 years with the department did valuable work in public lighting. Mr Doxey, who died at the age of 67, at his home 107, Banner Cross Road, Ecclesall, was an expert electrical engineer, and one who played an important part in the development of the Electric Supply Department.He retired in December, 1930. The family mourners included Messrs W.and E.Doxey (sons), Misses D.and L.Doxey and Mrs C.B.Palmer (daughters), Mr and Mrs W.Walker (sister and brother-in-law), Mrs E.Kenworthy (sister), Messrs R.and S.Buxton (cousins), Mr and Mrs W.E.Burnand and Mr and Mrs A.E.Longden (sisters-in-law and brother-in-law), Messrs J.Burnand and H.Longden (nephews), and Miss Burnand (niece). The Electric Supply Department was represented by Messrs A.S.Frost (station superintendent), F.A.Dear (secretary, also representing Mr E.Morgan, general manager), P.E.Taylor (constructional department), J.B.Wikeley (chief accountant), W.E.Miles; W.J.Howard, F.Langley, R.E.Beale, F.Moore, W.T.Wardale, E.J.Marsh (mains department); F.E.Meredith (meters department); A.T.Nixon (Blackburn Meadows); L.Moorhouse, W.Margerison, W.Bennett, T.Roberts (Neepsend), and Mrs Beauvazin (welfare department). There was a huge number of workmen from Neepsend power station also present. Friends who attended included Dr J.B.Fisher, Messrs W.H.Bolton, A.Lucas, H.E.Bowen, C.Wilkins (Hathersage), W.A.A.Burgess (A.Reyrolle and Co.Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne), J.Riley ( Messrs John Riley and Son), A.Cuthil, F.S.Sanderson, Mr and Mrs E.Higinbotham (Ashford), Mr and Mrs D.G.Jones, Mrs C.W.Garnett, and Miss Bowen.

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