Fred or Freddie?

Sir,

Having completed what is intended to be the definitive biography of Dixon, which I hope to see published in the near future, I was delighted to see Bill Boddy’s article about him in the August 1996 issue. It is a splendid summary of Dixon’s achievements on four wheels. There is much more to the story.

Bill Boddy, among many others, provided me with help when I wrote the chapters on the Riley years, and I am grateful for all of the help I have received. He has included some Dixon anecdotes in the article. There are many more.

He was a great character.

The article is, of course, packed with accurate information about Dixon’s exploits with racing cars. I only question one item in the article. Dixon is referred to throughout the article, and in the title, as Freddie. My research has led me to think that only the press called him that (the press loved him for the rich copy he provided). His friends called him Fred (or something much more personal). However, if anyone has any further information or comment on that I would be delighted to hear from them.

I am pleased to see that Bill Boddy thinks it was a field of rhubarb in which Dixon landed after he left the road at Quarry Corner in 1932. Some reports said it was a field of cabbages. Dixon could never have done anything so dull. Now he would ensure that it was bright yellow oil-seed rape! As Bill Boddy says, “Long may we remember him”

David Mason, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne.