Francis Dewsbury Pinfold

Francis Dewsbury Pinfold (21 March 1892 – 19 October 1976) was a New Zealand doctor and local politician. He served as mayor of Hamilton from 1931 to 1933.

Francis Dewsbury Pinfold
22nd Mayor of Hamilton
In office
1931–1933
Preceded byJohn Robert Fow
Succeeded byJohn Robert Fow
Personal details
Born(1892-03-21)21 March 1892
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Died19 October 1976(1976-10-19) (aged 84)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Spouse
Claudine Heather Norman
(m. 1916)

Life and family edit

Francis Dewsbury Pinfold was the 4th son of Elizabeth Pinfold (née Marks), and Reverend Pinfold, born in 1892 in New Plymouth.[1] His father, James Thomas Pinfold (28 April 1855-30 July 1933), was a Methodist minister at Thames, Gisborne, Hamilton, Rangiora, Springston, Mosgiel and Wellington.[2] Francis was one of 10 children[1] and went to school at Hamilton West, Auckland Grammar School and Christchurch Boys' High School.

He qualified as a doctor at the University of Otago[3] in 1915.[4] As a student he took jobs building Otago Central railway, shearing and school teaching. He became a resident clinician at Dunedin Hospital, a junior and then senior house surgeon at Waikato Hospital,[3] from which he resigned in 1916 to join the army.[5] Shortly after, he married Claudine Heather Norman on 18 April 1916.[6] In 1917[7] he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as a major with the Medical Corps on the Western Front. On his return he started a practice[3] at 389 Victoria St.[8]

He was a hunter, fisherman and president of Waikato Acclimatisation Society and Hamilton Gun Club. He was also active in Hamilton Orphans’ Club, Hamilton Fire Board, Auckland Acclimatisation Society, Auckland Swimming Centre, Whitiora School Committee and Okete (Camp Fergusson) and Port Waikato Children’s Camps.[3]

Mayoralty edit

He was elected as a councillor on Hamilton Borough Council in 1925.[9] In 1929 he lost a mayoral election against John Fow by 82 votes,[10] but won the next election against him by 272,[11] standing on a platform of opposing a "Mad orgy of spending".[12] He supported paving more footpaths, but opposed the Anglesea cutting[13] and removal of Garden Place hill.[14] Hamilton Municipal Offices on Alma Street[15] were built during his term in office.[16] All but two councillors supported him standing again in 1933,[17] but John Fow won by 678 votes.[18] Pinfold put his name forward for mayor in 1938, but then withdrew it.[19] He twice stood to be a candidate for the National Party in 1943[20] and 1959.[21]

Death edit

He died on 19 October 1976 and was cremated at Hamilton Park Cemetery, Newstead.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Elizabeth Pinfold". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  2. ^ "Reverend James Pinfold". Puke Ariki Collection Online. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  3. ^ a b c d "MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 May 1931. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  4. ^ "OTAGO WITNESS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 Sep 1915. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  5. ^ "PERSONAL. TARANAKI DAILY NEWS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 Feb 1916. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  6. ^ "MARRIAGES. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 May 1916. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  7. ^ "Francis Dewsbury Pinfold". Online Cenotaph.
  8. ^ "Register of Medical Practitioners" (PDF). 1927.
  9. ^ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 May 1925. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  10. ^ "GREY RIVER ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 May 1929. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  11. ^ "Municipal Elections. TE PUKE TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 May 1931. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  12. ^ "THE MAYORALTY. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 21 Apr 1931. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  13. ^ "FOR THE1 MAYORALTY. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 May 1931. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  14. ^ "GARDEN PLACE. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 May 1931. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  15. ^ "Hamilton Borough Councillors and staff in front of the Municipal buildings in Alma Street". Hamilton Libraries Heritage Collection Online. 1935. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  16. ^ "MUNICIPAL OFFICES. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 Feb 1933. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  17. ^ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 Apr 1933. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  18. ^ "MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 May 1933. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  19. ^ "WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 May 1938. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  20. ^ "PARTY BALLOT. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 Jul 1943. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  21. ^ "Seven Seeking National Nomination At Hamilton PRESS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 Mar 1959. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  22. ^ "Search our cemeteries". Hamilton City Council. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Hamilton
1931–1933
Succeeded by

External links edit

Photos - 1927, 1947, 1950