George Percival (Percy) Spooner
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
Son of Charles Easton Spooner, George was born in Beddgelert on 13 June 1850 and died in London 21 January 1917. He trained as a mechanical engineer, receiving formal education at Harrow and Karlsruhe Polytechnic and being apprenticed to Boston Lodge. Percy designed the FR locomotives James Spooner (named after his grandfather), Merddin Emrys and Livingston Thompson, together with the bogie carriages and guards vans. He was appointed Loco Superintendent in 1872 and Engineer in 1879.
He was sent to India in 1879 in disgrace after an affair with one of the servants, Eleanor Davies. They had a daughter Kate Eileen (Kitty). He returned to England in 1894 & occupied himself with the construction of scientific instruments and organ building. He is known to have been living in a rather run down area of Willesden, London in 1901 and later to have moved in with his daughter. Nothing further is known about his wife who does not appear to have returned from India with him.