Percy Dixon

(1873-1939)

PERCY Dixon and his elder brother John achieved an incredible collection of medals and accolades.

Charles Percy Dixon was born in Grantham in 1873, the second son in the well-known Grantham clothing business of Dixon and Parker owner.

He had a lot to live up to with an active big brother, but achieved it admirably by taking up tennis and winning an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1912 Stockholm Games, in the mixed doubles with Mrs Hannam.

Tennis was an Olympic sport up to 1924, then dropped, but brought back in recent years.

Partnering H. Roper Barrett, Percy won the Wimbledon Men’s Doubles in 1912 and again in 1913, and they were runners-up the following year.

He also twice reached the singles finals at Wimbledon, 10 years apart, in 1901 and 1911.

And he had a big say in Great Britain’s Davis Cup team winning the cup back in Australia in 1912, as player and vice-captain.

While he was out there he partnered J.C. Parke to win the Australian Men’s Doubles title.

A great humorist, Percy used to recall his first Wimbledon Singles final, in 1901, against the legendary A.W. Gore, by saying: “I always dreamt of playing in the Men’s Singles final at Wimbledon, only to wake up in the third set to find that I was!”

In the 1911 final he lost a two-set advantage to lose to his doubles partner, H. Roper Barrett.

He also represented Cambridge at racquets, winning the silver medal in 1891. He was a keen prize-winning golfer, and represented Britain in international fencing in Paris.

In 1897 he married Louise Robinson, and until his death they lived in West Norwood.