His family ran a flour mill but the business failed and the family soon moved to London.

His father then died in 1872 and Royce had to go to work selling newspapers and delivering telegrams to help support his mother and 4 older siblings.

In 1878, Royce started an apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway company at its works in Peterborough thanks to the financial help of an aunt.

After three years the money ran out and, after a short time with a tool-making company in Leeds, Royce returned to London and joined the Electric Light and Power Company.

Then in 1882, he moved to their Liverpool office and worked on street and theatre lighting.

In 1884, Royce started a business with Ernest Claremont making domestic electric fittings in a workshop on Cooke Street in…