February 1921 - June 2012
Philip Dixon was a ‘leading light’ in Blesma through the second half of the last century with his influence stretching well into this one as well!
He was injured serving in the Royal Engineers whilst clearing a minefield in Holland in 1944. Months of hospitalisation could not save his badly damaged right leg which was amputated in December 1945. Discharged in 1947 he joined Blesma and very quickly became the Secretary of the Sheffield Branch. At the same time he went into the family paper mill business and like many Members returning from the war who got on with interrupted lives and developed businesses and grew families though the 1950s, so did he. Even in such busy times Philip made time to engage fully with Blesma's efforts. He joined the Board of Management of the then relatively new Blackpool Home which involved much driving to and from his mill the other side of the Pennines, through storms, snow, fog and flood.
Philip attended Blesma conferences as a Branch delegate and got to know others of increasing influence in the Association such as Sir Austin 'Tiny' Bunch and Braham Myers – both of whom he served alongside in the Council in later years.
He developed a close interest in prosthetic matters, not untypical for any Member then or now, in the way they were developed and procured for the country’s amputees. Along with 'Tiny' Bunch he was dispatched by the Council to look at what other countries were doing, but while it was an abiding propaganda tenet of those days that anything built in Britain was bound to be better than anything produced in foreign parts, they would return from conferences from as far away as Finland to lambast ministries and ministers with the astonishing news that amputees in said foreign parts had better prosthetics than we did.
For Blesma Members who were injured in the two world wars there was the added indignity that having been on the winning side they were somewhat distressed to learn that 'Jerry' – the former foe – was actually getting a better deal. Philip certainly seemed to enjoy a good scrap from time to time and he was one of those who regularly knocked on ministers’ doors, discomfited complacent Civil Servants and generally got things changed, and he and others working in the prosthetic arena certainly achieved much in those difficult days.
In the early 1970s he moved on from the paper industry, settling eventually in Kew, which had the advantage that he was close to much of the action in diverse establishments from Whitehall Ministries to the more humble abode of Blesma HQ in Chadwell Heath and of course, in other charitable areas. Philip became a leading light in the World Veterans Federation and Blesma's name consequently became known internationally. He was also appointed Vice Chairman of SSAFA. In later years he became very involved with the Cambodia Trust which set up and organised, much needed prosthetic services for a country so blighted by mine warfare. Whilst so busy and on such a broad canvas, Philip’s influence in Blesma was of growing significance and his experiences gleaned now over many years, honed by quick wit and able intellect, served the Association very well.
In 1972 he was appointed Chairman and some very busy Blesma years followed. There was much to-ing and fro-ing with the huge Department of Health and Social Security, with many issues developing not least of which were the reforms to the national artificial service and the McColl Study which preceded it. There was the Falklands War and the sudden impact of nearly 40 new amputees in six weeks and this led to a developing relationship with ‘military medicine’ which certainly thrives today. Philip weaved a careful route through the Association’s strongly held and passionate beliefs expressed by strong and vibrant personalities who all left their mark. Clearly he and 'Tiny' Bunch, old friends and occasional opponents in Council, had a huge joint impact, particularly as the need for constitutional change became ever more apparent in the late 80’s. Philip’s crowning achievement perhaps was the change in late 1990 which saw the New Executive Council constituted in such a way that ensured essential disciplines and knowledge were represented in those appointed to it.
Of course, having stood down, Philip remained a prominent Member, always willing and able to lend a hand around so much of the charitable sector. This is reflected in his award of the OBE in 1980. Additionally he was only the third Briton to be honoured with the World Veteran’s Federation Rehabilitation Prize in 1996. In 2008 he was honoured for his work in SSAFA over many years, being made a life member.
He died on 26 June 2012, survived by his wife Betty and his children and grandchildren, to them we offer our profound sympathy.
He left his mark, his was a life fulfilled - Blesma is proud of him.