Memorial Service for Jim Dixon

By Don Halliday

Some may have heard of the sad death of Jim Dixon, who passed away on Monday 12 October 2005. I know Hugh Barnfather, with the help of Roger Clark, informed a number of people and advised that a Memorial Service was to be held on Friday 11 November 2005.

Tony Elgie, Mike Delaney and myself attended the Memorial Service Held at Saint Peters Church, Weston-Super-Mare last Friday. A congregation of over 130 took part in a celebration of his life. The service, conducted by the Rev Geoff Eales included moving addresses by Tony Morgan, who was a school colleague of Jim’s from his days after the RAF and from Bruce Holden, an ex-policeman who had been sucked into athletics and given the benefit of Jim’s coaching skills. Both spoke in glowing terms of his skills and the proficiency with which he helped so many people throughout his life.

Jim was an Icon of the RAF athletics team when I joined as a boy in 1964. He coached me and I trained with him throughout my time as an Apprentice at RAF Locking. I have fond and vivid memories of running beside him, struggling to keep up and taking two strides to every one of his. Jim won 8 consecutive RAF 440yd Hurdles titles and held the RAF Record for many years. He is still in the Top Ten all-time lists for Veterans over 400m and 400m Hurdles having held the World Records for both these events. His son Guy tells us that in later life he took to running half and full marathons. The picture shows him finishing in the 1987 London Marathon at age 55 in a time of 2.35.33. In that race, he was the first over 55 and also the first over 50 to finish the race! Guy says he was obviously proud of that race as he kept a copy of the photograph in his wallet. Incidentally, having not seen his son Guy since he was five years old more than 35 years ago, I recognised him instantly as his father’s son.

Whilst it was a sad day last Friday, Tony, Mike and I were proud to have attended the Memorial Service representing the RAFAA and saying farewell to a loyal servant of the RAF Athletics Team.