Getting personal with Neil Dixon

Editorin People

NeilDixon2
Neil Dixon - calm, honest and personable - unless it's last orders at the bar. Time gentlemen, please


Who are you? Neil Dixon, Head of Grounds and Gardens, St Paul's School.

Family status? Married to Jo for fourteen years, no children, but a 2½ yr old Boxer dog called George.

Who's your hero and why? Those serving in the armed forces … they do a very tough job on our behalf and are fearless in doing it.

What would you change about yourself? I would like to be able to eat what I want!

What's your guilty pleasure? I enjoy a nice Whisky Bourbon.

What do you drop everything for? Last orders!!!

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Preparing pitches for Middlesex 2nd XI fixtures we held a few years ago; a fantastic experience of competitive pro cricket.

Glass half full or half empty? Depends who's buying ... half full.

Climate change - fact or fiction? Fact, because it is happening. Whether it is down to man or not, I think is yet unproven.

What's your favourite season? Autumn.

What are your pet peeves? Rudeness and arrogance.

If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Disney World, Florida.

What's the best part of your job? Looking back on a well striped pitch.

… and the worst? Coming in to a mud bath after a wet fixture.

Do you have a lifetime ambition? Apart from live forever, I would like to travel the world.

Who wouldn't you like to be? Any politician: they are pompous buffoons who have a zero grip on reality, yet tell the rest how to live their life; the worrying thing is, we elect them!!!

Favourite record, and why? Probably Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, a timeless and stirring song.

Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? My wife.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Book a holiday.

If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? Drums, can be very mellow and calm but, within a split second, that can change!

What's the best advice you have ever been given? Work hard, respect and treat others how you want to be treated yourself.

What's your favourite smell? Indian food.

What do you do in your spare time? Walk the dog, enjoy cycling, and socialising with friends.

What's the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Why is the turf white? - we had just sprayed some fungicide that left a white tinge to the grass. When someone asked why it was white I replied grass is like hair, that the older it gets the grass leaf goes white ... the member walked off chuffed to bits with his new bit of info!

What's your favourite piece of kit? Wiedenmann Terra Spike or our Sam 5 composter.

What three words would you use to describe yourself? Calm, honest, personable.

What talent would you like to have? To turn water into wine (or beer).

What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I would hang the young drivers who feel the need to have bass speakers the size of a small house in the boot of their 1.1 Fiesta and turn them full up.

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