1920/21
8th November, informal meeting in Sheffield to discuss preliminary matters relating to the formation of the Sub-Centre.

30th November, Sheffield Sub-Centre inaugural meeting at the Royal Victoria Hotel. Chairman's address by Samuel Edgar Fedden (Sheffield City Electrical Engineer). He was General Manager of the Electricity Department between 1900 and 1929 and undertook extensive developments of Sheffield's Electricity supply including the building of Neepsend power station. During the First World War he managed Sheffield's load growth from 26.5 GWh in 1914 to 177.5 Gwh in 1918. Samuel later became the first Manager of the Mid East England Area of the Central Electricity Board until his retirement in 1938 at the age of 71. He died 3rd November 1942.

First Sheffield Sub-Centre Committee

S E Feddon (Chairman - for 2 years)
H West (Vice Chairman)
E Cross (Vice Chairman)
E P Austin
E H Crapper
E H Furnival
H Hayhurst
A E Jepson
D G Jones
W F Mylan
W Redmayne
T W Sampson
W M Selvey
A H Symonds
H E Yerbury
R N Patterson (Hon Secretary - for next 3 years)

Samuel is mentioned by name in the Royal Charter of the Institution (section 8) dated 15 August 1921 as being on the first Council and his chairman's address on 23 November 1921 is mentioned in the History of the IEE 1871-1931 (page 250).

R N Patterson is the Sub-Centres first Honorary Secretary and serves for a three year term.

1921/22
Samuel Fedden chairman for a second term. 15th December, Sheffield Sub-Centre Graduate and Student Section formed. Three months latter in March 1922 the North Midland Centre also formed a Graduate and Student Section.

1922/23
Sub-Centre chairman Harold West, Cyclops Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield.

1923/24
Sub-Centre chairman Mr. Edward Cross. Engineer and general manager, Prince of Wales Power Station, Rotherham. From 1901 he had been engineer and manager at the Electricity Works, Rotherham. During this time the undertaking under his control had shown the most remarkable developement among the electrical undertakings in the country. He was entirely responsible for all extensions at the old electricity works and for the erection of the huge Super-Power Station, which was considered by experts one of the most economical in the country, and which was opened by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales on May 28th, 1923. Prior to coming to Rotherham he had held the position of Chief Assistant to the City Electrical Engineer of Aberdeen. He also had experience in public supply work at Preston, Manchester, and Bradford.

R G Ward appointed as Honorary Secretary and serves for a 3 year term.

1924/25
Sub-Centre chairman D G Jones. In 1925 he was appointed Chief Electrical Engineer at the Atlas Works of John Brown Ltd and later was Chief Engineer of Thomas Firth & John Brown Ltd.

William Bradley Woodhouse is the President of the IEE. The only North Midland Centre chairman to achieve this honour. William was born in London in 1873. He trained at Finsbury Technical College. Served an engineering apprenticeship with the Silvertown Company, and continued studies at University College, London. Became a lecturer on Mechanism and Mechanics at Finsbury, under Professor Dalby. On the staff of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Company. In 1903, was Engineer and Manager of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company, and subsequently responsible for the development of this and other large power-supply undertakings.

1925/26
Sub-Centre chairman William Francis Mylan, in 1917 he was the Sheffield branch office manager for the British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd. Later he was Managing Director of Mylan & Smith (Engineers), Sheffield.

29th September, 43rd Sub-Centre committee meeting held at the Royal Victoria Hotel. It was agreed that a lecture by H E Yerbury and Dr Ferranti be arranged at Mappin Hall for the kindred Societies. A budget of twelve guineas was agreed for the event.

A two guinea prize was presented to Mr H Rainford for a student paper on "Flame Proof Mining Electrical Apparatus".

A smoking Concert was suggested for the 20th October and a budget of six guineas was agreed.

1926/27

	Sub-Centre chairman George Horatio Nelson, works manager (manufacturing) Metropolitan-Vickers, Sheffield. In 1930 he resigned to join the English Electric Company, of which he became managing director and later chairman; he was knighted in 1943.
Picture of GH Nelson by kind permission of GEC Archives

17th November, 45th Sub-Centre committee meeting held at the Royal Victoria Hotel, W H Fuller appointed Honorary Secretary and served for the next 10 years.

Programme of events agreed for the session.

15/12/26 "Electric Locomotive Drives" - G H Fletcher
19/1/27 "Electricity Bill, Discussion" - H E Yerbury
16/2/27 "The Application of X-rays to the Examination of Metals" - Dr E V Pullin. Joint meeting with local Scientific Societies at Mappin Hall.
16/3/27 "Annual Presidents Visit (W H Eccles)"

23rd February, 48th Sub-Centre committee meeting. Proposal to apply to Council for change to rule 7 to allow representation on Council. There appears to be no record of the outcome of this proposal.

1927/28
Sub-Centre chairman Harry Edward Yerbury, Engineer and Manager Sheffield Corporation Tramways. He began his service in Sheffield as Chief Assistant Manager in the Tramways Department, and later served in that Department as Chief Electrical Engineer for ten years. For 15 years he was Deputy General Manager and Engineer of the Sheffield Electricity Undertaking. He was also one of the founders of the Sheffield Wireless Society, which he served for two years as President.

Mr Yerbury had served as chairman of the Leeds Local section (predecessor of the North Midland Centre) in the 1908/09 session.

19th November, 50th Sub-Centre committee meeting held at the Royal Victoria Hotel.

Programme of events agreed for the session.

16/11/27 "Higher Steam Pressures and their Application to the Steam Turbine" - A H Law & D P Chittenden
18/1/28 "Electric Furnace Construction" - G E Taylor
18/4/28 "Squirrel-Cage Induction motors" - D B Hoseason

The following is an extract from the minutes of the 51st ordinary general meeting held at The Mappin Hall, Sheffield, Monday, 5th March 1928:

The Chairman then gave a hearty welcome to Dr. S. Z. de Ferranti and to the Members of Kindred Societies and called upon Dr. Ferranti to give his lecture.

The Lecture was of a very interesting nature and at the conclusion of same a hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. J. H. S. Dickenson of the Sheffield Metallurgical Association, and seconded by S. E. Fedden.

Dr. Ferranti suitably replied.

The meeting closed at 9-0 p.m. - 250 members and Friends being present.

The significance? though not stated anywhere in the minutes this was in fact the first Faraday Lecture to be held in Sheffield. It was called 'Electricity in the Service of Man'.

1928/29
Sub-Centre chairman Richard Gibbs Ward, Chief Electrical Engineer John Brown & Co. Mr Ward also served as North Midland Centre chairman for the 1931/32 session.

In January 1899 he commenced work as an electrician at the Atlas Works of John Brown Ltd, having previously gained valuable experience at the Dowlais-Cardiff Iron & Steel Works, East Moor Cardiff. "Dick" Ward as he was popularly known soon obtained promotion, and after being foreman of the Electrical Department for about eleven years, he was appointed Assistant Electrical Engineer in 1912. When Mr. D. G. Jones became Chief Engineer at Atlas Works in 1925, Mr. Ward was given charge of the Electrical Department. He represented the Sheffield Sub-Centre at the Royal Sanitory Congress which was held in Sheffield in 1929.

Mr Ward designed the Atlas D.C. sleeve bearing electric motors ranging in size up to 40 H.P. They were made in John Brown's electrical workshop in Carlisle Street. A model of an Atlas motor was made for the IEE Centenary exhibition by apprentices at Firth Browns.

He also took a prominent part in the formation and developement of the Sheffield Engineering and Steel Trades Council and occupied the position of President of that organisation in 1930 with distinction.

He retired on October 31st 1931 - shortly after having presented his Chairman's address at the North Midlands Centre in Leeds.

1929/30
Sub-Centre chairman Hubert William Walker. Summer outing to Buxton. This is the first recorded social event.