Dixon William Scarth

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Biografie:
William Scarth Dixon (1883 – 1963)
Just forty years ago, the headmaster of a preparatory school was interviewing a very young graduate for a. post in his school. After an afternoon and evening occupied exclusively in discussing mountains, the appointment was promptly made. The headmaster was W. S. Dixon.
He was a very great headmaster, a genius. He devoted his life to building up and perfecting his school, first at Overslade, Rugby, and from 1940 at Featherstone Castle, Northumberland. His influence was a perpetual inspiration to boys and staff alike.
Scarth Dixon was born in March, 1883, and was elected to the Alpine Club in 1913, his proposer being T. Howse, who was himself elected just a century ago. Most of Dixon's alpine climbing was done between 1902 and 1914, during which years he visited the Alps seven times, his ascents including Grand Combin, Dent Blanche, Aletschhorn, Portjengrat, Monte Cristallo, Ortler, Königsspitze, usually with the late J. A. B. Bruce, one of the founders of the Association of British Members of the Swiss Alpine Club. A serious injury to Dixon's knee during army training in 1915 prevented long or difficult expeditions after that. But he never lost his love of mountains. Most of his school holidays were spent on the Lakeland fells, and he finally retired to live at Grasmere some twelve years ago. For more than a year before he died in November, 1963, he was tragically crippled and frequently in great pain, which he bore with heroic courage.
A Cambridge Mus. Bac., he was a musician of considerable merit. A recent setting by him of the Evening Canticles was performed in Carlisle Cathedral very shortly before his death.
Dixon was a person of exceptional integrity. He would really rather be over-reached than over-reach another. At the same time he possessed a strong sense of humour and his wit was often too subtle for the solemn. He was completely free from pomposity and his company was always a delight. It was a great privilege to know him.
He bequeathed to his family the right attitude to the hills. His elder son, killed in the Fleet Air Arm in 1943, was a member of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club. He leaves a wife, a son (Alpine Club member), and a daughter (F. and R.C.C.) to whom our sympathy goes.
J.P. Walker
Quelle: Alpine Journal Volume 69, 1964, Seite 169-170


Geboren am:
03.1883
Gestorben am:
1963