John Dixon, Master Linguist
“Before I first met John, his charming and lovely daughter Emma told me he spoke English and French fluently, passable Spanish, and a smattering of other languages he picked up from his travels around the world. When I did meet John for the first time, I discovered he did indeed speak the Queen's English passably well, and though I don't speak French, his sounded excellent, though proudly maintaining his English lilt. I have never heard him attempt Spanish, but I imagine Spanish with a British accent would be rather entertaining, particularly here in Florida conversing with our large Hispanic populations. Only after his first visit to Florida did I learn he was fluent in another language. After an exhausting trip and flight here to Orlando, John was taking a well-deserved snooze on the sofa downstairs. Sensing it was indeed a "cat" nap, our forty pound beagle, Charley, bounded down the stairs and leapt into his lap full force. John instantly let out a bellowing string of Ango-Saxon oaths that demonstrated his complete and total mastery of that ancient tongue. I bow before thee in humble awe at that rather colorful demonstration. Wes þu hal! (I wish thou health, but you already knew what that meant, didn't you John?)”
- Doug
“Things I remember about Uncle John, in no particular order:
His beard tickled whenever I had to kiss him hello and goodbye but he smelt nice so that was okay. I must have always liked the smell of cigarettes.
He used to put me on Genghis’s back so I could ride him round like a pony.
Uncle John always lived in houses that were a little secret garden at times and definitely the best places for hide and seek.
He drives really really fast. Occasionally a little too fast to see the turning.
He's always said the right thing at the right time.”
- Helen
Our trip in 1978 to the American West
“I was 10 years of age and very gullible. We were travelling in the camper van and one very embarrassing moment was walking in on your Father sitting on the LOO - I could not look at him without blushing - especially as he kept on talking about my "peaches"!!!
A vivid memory of him driving the camper van through some pretty mountainous and windy roads and him cursing and swearing while trying to get the camper up the hill! I learned what the "F" word is! In Arizona, he pointed out a rattlesnake and made me promise not to tell Ingrid! (I felt very proud!) Then we were in a rental office and I wanted a drink of water from the water "machine.” John told me “if the water bubbles and makes a gulping noise then leap back as it WILL explode”.... of course there WAS a large bubble as I pressed the lever and I remember SCREAMING and John being very amused at my reaction!
Oh yes the "peaches ' story. As a very little girl, my own Father used to refer to my bottom as my "peaches"! One day as your Father was finishing his meal at our house. I said "Uncle John, would you like to see my peaches?" Little did he know what was in store for him when I proceeded to pull down my pants....... I've never lived that down!!”
- Jenny
“We’ve had some exhilarating drives together: driving a Winnebago round the Western States of America only to find that the steering was badly defective and when we returned it to the rental place, the mechanic emerged white faced from the cab when he heard where we had been.”
- Ingrid
“My earliest memories of Uncle John (through the eyes of a ten year old mind you!) are of a quiet dignified man. He seemed very mysterious to me. I remember being fascinated by his beard because you couldn't see his mouth (or so it seemed to me at the time). I also remember thinking that of all the things you could want your dad to do/be, being a toy maker had to be one of the best. I imagined he had a toy workshop somewhere in the house but we just never got to see it! I also thought he drank more cups of tea than anyone else I knew.”
-Anna
“John has always been phenomenally generous. It was always John and Ingrid’s birthday or Christmas present that I would look forward to opening the most - and I was never disappointed. There was always a horsey theme which was always a winner. There was also our journey to Russia which was such an experience that will always be remembered. I no longer have a taste for vodka but I still secretly wish to be a ballerina or even a circus artiste. And the drive to the chapel on my wedding day. Who else would have a car as flash and to be so gracious with his time and energy. So thoughtful. And of course my parents’ wedding anniversary. John and Ingrid drove all the way up through France for the party, donating the champers to surprise my Mum and Dad. He was so supportive during the preparations for the party. A truly gracious, generous and kind uncle.
Happy Birthday!”
- Caroline
