A former Workington and Cumbrian forward, who went on to play for the British Lions, has died at the age of 79.
Although Peter Dixon was born in Keighley he was brought up in Cumberland after the family moved up to the area and lived at Setmurthy.
He attended St Bees School before studying at Oxford University where he gained four rugby Blues from 1967 to 1971.
He first played senior club rugby for Workington Zebras and then Harlequins. He was selected for the 1971 British & Irish Lions’ successful tour of New Zealand, playing in three of the four Tests and scoring the only try in Auckland, the Lions winning the series 2-1.
At county level he played for Cumberland and Westmorland in the County Championship and also the North West Counties when they defeated the All Blacks at home in 1972 and for the North team who beat them in 1979. His first England cap came in 1971 and he went on to secure 22 caps in all, scoring five tries.
Neil McDowell played for three years at Gosforth and five years in the county side with him.
“He was an outstanding blindside flanker, who could also play number eight. In the modern era those 22 caps would have been more like 62,” he said.
“He was a good bloke. The fact that he sort of dropped out of rugby circles for over 20 years to become full-time carer for his wife Alison speaks volumes of him as a man.”
When he played at Gosforth, he formed an indomitable back row with Roger Uttley and fellow Cumberland county player Dave Robinson, the team winning the John Player Cup in 1976 and 1977. He went back to Gosforth to help coach them in 1994-95, helping the team to retain Second Division status.
He worked in overseas development at Durham University, and helped coach there too.
Former row teammate Roger Uttley said: “When Peter came to Gosforth, having been on the 71 Lions tour, everyone was delighted and for me, as a younger player, he was a tremendously valuable mentor who became a great friend.
“Peter was a fantastic bloke, with a very good rugby mind and very bright. He was well respected in New Zealand and throughout the rugby world. In that generation, everyone had huge respect for Peter, and he will be much missed.”
Former Workington player John Patterson said: “I can remember captaining the Zebras against the Quaggas at the Ellis and Peter would come up from Harlequins to play. One season the Quaggas had the best team we faced, including all our club fixtures.”
He and his wife Alyson had lived for many years in Durham but 12 months ago he returned to his old home at Setmurthy to live with his daughter.
