Mayor
Bolton: 1926-28 (Liberal)
Born
31 Bury Street, Bolton 10 July 1861
Died
28 Somerset Road, Bolton 14 May 1938
Educated
East Hardwick, Pontefract, Yorkshire; Owens College, Manchester; LRCP Edinburgh; LFPS Glasgow.
About

Physician and surgeon.

Son of William Flitcroft, cotton spinner of Lostock House, Lostock Hall.

He set up his medical practice in Bolton in 1883. Known locally as the 'Factory Doctor', he was Honorary Surgeon at Bolton Infirmary 1901-21 and described as "...one of the finest practitioners ever to have practiced at the Infirmary". He was also Honorary surgeon to Edgworth Children's Homes.

Represented Halliwell Ward 1892-1901 and 1920-30. Alderman 1931-38.

President of Bolton Liberal Association from 1907 and member of Bolton Reform Club.

Vice Chairman of the Education and Sanitary Committees (later Public Health), Chairman of the Hospital Committee.

Chairman of the Wards Committee 1895-1900 and Chairman of the Council 1901-6.

As Mayor he presided over the Samuel Crompton Centenary celebrations, hosting the visits of King Fuad of Egypt and King Feisal of Iraq to the town and attending the opening of Crompton Way.

He laid the main foundation stone of Bolton's War Memorial in Victoria Square on Armistice Day, 11 November 1927. The Memorial was formally unveiled (with him once again in attendance as Mayor of Bolton) by the Earl of Derby on 14 July 1928.

He opened Moss Bank Park, Bolton on 27 June 1928.

He was also Mayor for the Royal Lancashire Show which was held on land at the corner of Wigan Road and Beaumont Road in 1927.

Borough magistrate 1899.

Knighted in the Birthday Honours list 1913.

President of Lancashire and Cheshire Branch of the British Medical Association 1912.

He was a staunch supporter of the Insurance Act and was Chairman of the National Health Insurance Committee and Chairman of Bolton Insurance Committee from 1929.

Chairman of the Statutory Medical Committee under the National Insurance Act.

President of the Certifying Factory Surgeons Association

During the First World War he was Chairman of the Recruiting Committee, Chairman Medical War Committee, Chairman of the Advisory Committee and Surgeon to the Bolton VAD Hospital.

Member of the Red Cross Society - gave First Aid classes and was an examiner, meeting Queen Alexandra in conjunction with this work.

President of Bolton Operatic Society.

President of Bolton West End Bowling Club and member of Bolton Golf Club

Prominent Freemason - Worshipful Master of Supera Moras Lodge (No 3326) and a member of the Mark and Royal Arch degrees.

Anglican - he worshipped at Bolton Parish Church.

Lived at Bedford House, Chorley New Road, later moving to 28 Somerset Road.

His wife, Elizabeth Ellen, was Mayoress.

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