 During his time with the Board of Trade he investigated numerous railway accidents, such as those at Witham, Essex in 1905 and at Ilford, Essex, in 1915, and also carried out safety inspections of tram services, such as that at Warrington, Lancashire.He died on 7 November 1921 and is buried in Mortlake.Donop acted as godfather to the writer P. G. Wodehouse, who was named Pelham in his honour.