Mayor and Alderman of Maidenhead - Pioneer of Early Closing - William Ferguson Good and his wife Hannah Good

Angel monument of Hannah Good, died September 29th 1927 and William Ferguson Good, died December 27th 1934. All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire.


William Ferguson Good was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland on 11th May 1850 to John Good, a carpet weaver, and Marion Ferguson. It seems that it was this particular family's tradition to give their sons their mother's maiden name as a middle name. 

William first appears on the Scottish 1861 Census aged 9, living with his parents and siblings at 22 West Shaw Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

In 1871 a 19-year-old William, now a tailor, is living at 28 West Shaw Street with his parents and siblings. By 1880 William had travelled to Leicestershire, where he met and married Hannah Croshaw Harris.

West Shaw Street, Kilmarnock, Scotland.

Hannah Croshaw Harris was born in Bagworth, Leicestershire in 1845 to Joseph Croshaw Harris, a farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Jones Skermer.

Hannah first appears on the 1851 Census living with her parents and siblings at their farm in Bagworth, Leicestershire, where she remained until her marriage to William in 1880

The 1881 Census finds William and Hannah making their move to the St Lukes area of Maidenhead where William is now a tailor and clothier employing one youth, Montague L Fouler. 1883 saw the birth of their only child, Maggie Good.

St Luke's, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

In 1901 William became Mayor of Maidenhead. By that time the family had moved to their home Glen Cairn, in Ray Park Avenue.  In 1910 William became Mayor of Maidenhead for the second time and was elevated to Alderman at the same time. William remained Alderman of Maidenhead until 1920.  Just seven years later, on 29th September 1927 Hannah passed away aged 79 in Marylebone London. She was followed 7 years later by her husband William who died in Maidenhead aged 84 on 27th December 1934.

 The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on William's passing on Friday 28th December 1934, as follows:

"Death of Ex-Alderman W. F. Good. A former Mayor of Maidenhead.

We regret to have to record the death which took place at his residence, "Glen Cairn" Ray Park-avenue, Maidenhead, yesterday (Thursday) morning at 10.40, of Mr. William Ferguson Good, Mayor of Maidenhead in 1901 and again in 1910, and alderman at the time when he left the Council in November, 1920, at the age of 84 years. He was taken ill on January 8th last and had been in failing health for some time, so that the end was not unexpected. Death was due to bronchial pneumonia. He was born on 11th May 1850. His wife predeceased him seven years ago last October. He leaves a daughter, the only child, Mrs. Paul Dworzakowska, who has resided in the Argentine for some time.  

The deceased was born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and priding himself on being a loyal Scotsman. He was educated at Fraser's school, Kilmarnock, and was afterwards apprenticed to Mr. Foster, outfitter, whose premises were opposite the statue of Sir James Shaw, at the cross, Kilmarnock. Sir James Shaw rose to be Mayor of London. Mr Good crossed the border into England in 1872 and came to Maidenhead in 1879, and his business investments were so successful that he was able to retire in 1889.

~ ~ ~

Mr. Good made an excellent Mayor during the Coronation year in 1902, and the experience he than [sic] gained proved very useful to him during his second term as Mayor in 1910-11. During his year in office as Mayor in 1901-02, Mr. Good approached Mr. Andrew Carnegie in reference to a grant for a Public Library for Maidenhead, and the result was a donation of no less a sum of £5,000, while a site for the building was obtained through the munificence of Mr. William Nicholson, so that Maidenhead possesses on of the finest Public Libraries outside of London. Mr. Good laid one of the foundation stones of the building in St Ives-road.

~  ~ ~

In 1882 Mr. Good made his first endeavour to obtain Early Closing for Maidenhead, but at the first meeting, held in the then Literary Institute, Queen-street, he was unsuccessful. Year after year, however, he kept pegging away at the movement, and at long last prevailing upon three or four leading tradesmen to close their shops, independently of others, at 5 p.m. Other tradesmen soon followed suit, and then Mr. Good set his mind upon securing a half-day's holiday once a week for the assistants. His exertions were ultimately successful, and every Thursday business is now suspended at 1 p.m. Mr. Good was elected president of the Early Closing Association, and to show their appreciation of his valuable services the members presented him with a handsome testimonial. 

The deceased was elevated to the aldermanic bench when he was for the second time elected Mayor in 1910.  

The funeral will take place at 2.30 p.m. on Monday neat at Maidenhead Cemetery." - Maidenhead Advertiser, Friday 28th December 1934.

Enid Mary and her mother Ellen Lewis Campbell-Dykes - Gate of Everlasting Life

Gateway monument of Enid Mary Campbell-Dykes and her mother Ellen Lewis Campbell-Dykes, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Mors Janua Vitae - Death is the gateway to everlasting life.

But thy eternal summer shall not fade.

Enid Mary Campbell-Dykes was born in 1909 At 120 Mona, Grenfell Road Maidenhead, the second child to Thomas and Ellen Lewis Campbell-Dykes nee Clift.

Thomas Campbell Dykes was born on 13th September 1882, in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire Scotland to Thomas Dykes a dental surgeon, and his wife Mary Slimmon.

Thomas first appears on the Scottish 1901 Census, aged just eight years old. He is living with his parents and younger siblings at 11 Church Crescent, Dumfries, Scotland.

 At some point after 1901 Thomas linked together his middle name Campbell and surname Dykes to become Campbell-Dykes. In 1901 he is listed living with his parents at Spring Gardens Newall Terrace and at the time he was a dental student. Sometime between 1901 and 1907 Thomas met and married Ellen Lewis Clift who was born in 1887 in Glasgow.

On 4th January1907 their first child Cyril Thomas Herbert was born in Richmond Yorkshire. In 1909 their second child, a daughter Enid Mary Campbell-Dykes was born. Two years later the family is recorded on the 1911 Census as living at Mona 120 Grenfell Road, Maidenhead where Thomas is now a Dental Surgeon E.A.S.

 Thomas appears in the 1915 Kelly's Directory as a Dental Surgeon practicing at 120 Grenfell Road. 

On 28th March 1916 they celebrated the birth of their second daughter Doreen Eileen Campbell-Dykes.
Sadly, tragedy was to strike on 18th May 1924 when at the age of 15 Enid passed away. 

During the First World War Thomas was granted a conditional exemption due to his work as a dental surgeon for Cottage Hospital, The Red Cross, and the Prisoners of War.

On 21st December 1932 Thomas was arrested and charged with being in charge of a motor while under the influence of drink. The Reading Standard reported on Saturday 24th December 1932:

"Serious Charge against Motorist.

Hearing of Case Adjourned at Wokingham.

At a special sitting of the Wokingham County Bench on Thursday morning, Thomas Campbell Dykes, of Maidenhead, was charged with being in charge of a motor car while under the influence of drink to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control, on the Bath Road, Twyford.

P.S. Foster said the defendant was brought to the Twyford Police Station at 8.55 the previous evening by P.C. F. T. Bailey. Witness cautioned him and charged him with being under the influence of drink whilst driving a motor car, to which he replied, 'I want the Chief Constable and two doctors.' Defendant was then charged with driving a motor car in a dangerous manner. To that he made no reply. He was examined by Dr. Maconochie.

Supt. Butler said the defendant was offered bail at Wokingham the night before, but refused it. 

The hearing was adjourned until January. Bail was allowed in the defendant's own recognisance of £20 and one surety of £20."

Thomas was eventually found guilty of driving whilst under the influence of drink, the other charge was dismissed. Thomas was fined £10 with £3. 7s. 6d costs

In 1934 Ellen divorced Thomas for adultery with an unnamed woman. The Wokingham Times reported on Friday 20th July 1934:

"Lived in a Caravan at Wokingham

A decree nisi has been obtained by Mrs. Ethel [sic] Dykes of Boydon Road, Maidenhead, against her husband, Thomas Campbell Dykes, a dental surgeon. Mrs Dykes alleged her husband and a woman lived together in a caravan at Wokingham."

On 23rd March 1936 Thomas married Dorothy Eileen Finch who was 29 years his junior. In 1937 their son Graham Ewan Glen Campbell-Dykes was born. The 1939 Register finds them all living at "mona" 120 Grenfell Road, Maidenhead.  Thomas's ex-wife Ellen and their daughter Doreen can be found on the register living at 68 St Mark's Road. 

Thomas would pass away suddenly at his home Maidenhead on 1st June 1961. His death was so sudden and unexpected that he had spent the morning at work, and the afternoon at the bowling green before dying at home that evening. Ellen never remarried and passed away in Weymouth, Dorset in 1965

Research into the Campbell-Dykes family also turned up information on Thomas's social affairs as well as a picture of the man himself. In 1936 Thomas Campbell-Dykes opened the Twyford Bowling Club.

"The Club was formally opened on Wednesday the 3rd June 1936 by Thomas Campbell-Dykes, President of the Berkshire County Bowling Association, seen here bowling the first wood on the green." - Twyford Bowling Club.