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.

Early life and family

Francis Dewsbury Pinfold was the 4th son of Elizabeth Pinfold (née Marks), and Reverend Pinfold, born in 1892 in New Plymouth. His father, James Thomas Pinfold (28 April 1855 – 30 July 1933), was a Methodist minister at Thames, Gisborne, Hamilton, Rangiora, Springston, Mosgiel and Wellington. Francis was one of 10 children from which he resigned in 1916 to join the army. Shortly after, he married Claudine Heather Norman on 18 April 1916. In 1917 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 He became an honorary consultant in cardiology at Waikato Hospital where he introduced the first electrocardiograph. In 1929 he lost a mayoral election against John Fow by 82 votes, but won the next election against him by 272, standing on a platform of opposing a "Mad orgy of spending". He supported paving more footpaths, but opposed the Anglesea cutting and removal of Garden Place hill. Hamilton Municipal Offices on Alma Street were built during his term in office. All but two councillors supported him standing again in 1933, but John Fow won by 678 votes. Pinfold put his name forward for mayor in 1938, but then withdrew it. He twice stood to be a candidate for the National Party in 1943 and 1959.

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