Don Dixon, Baron Dixon

Donald Dixon, Baron Dixon, PC, DL (6 March 1929 – 19 February 2017) was a British Labour Party politician.

Baron Dixon PC, DL
Dixon in 2011
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons
In office 16 July 1987 – 19 October 1995
Leader	Neil Kinnock John Smith Margaret Beckett Tony Blair
Preceded by	Norman Hogg
Succeeded by	Nick Brown
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 12 June 1997 – 9 February 2016
Member of Parliament for Jarrow
In office 3 May 1979 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Ernest Fernyhough
Succeeded by	Stephen Hepburn
Personal details
Born	(1929-03-06)6 March 1929
Died	19 February 2017(2017-02-19) (aged 87)
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Doreen Morad
Children	2
Parent	Albert Dixon (father)
Education	Ellison Street Elementary School

Early life

Dixon worked in the Tyne shipyards and was a workers' representative before being elected.^[1]

Political career

Between 1963 and 1974, Dixon was leader of Jarrow Borough Council; after that council's abolition he spent five years as chairman of housing at South Tyneside.^[2]

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Jarrow from 1979 until his retirement in 1997, serving as a party whip, and considered on the Old Right of the Party. He was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords as a life peer with the title Baron Dixon of Jarrow in the county of Tyne and Wear.^[3] He retired from the House of Lords on 9 February 2016.

Arms

Coat of arms of Don Dixon, Baron Dixon

Crest A sea-bee Or winged Proper. Escutcheon Gules between two flaunches voided Or three crosses flory in pale Argent. Supporters On either side a sea-dragon reguardant Argent gorged with a plain collar and supporting with the exterior foot a trident Or. Motto March With Dignity[4]