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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
gymnastics teams, and was
a clinician for the President’s
Council of Physical Fitness
and Sports. His Show Team,
of which performed many
times for the 76ers and the
Phillies, became so popular
they were selected by the
USAIGC to represent the
United States in Disney World, and for the World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee and Brisbane, Australia.
He has inspired thousands of young gymnasts and coaches around the world – he was an inspiration, a leader and an entertainer. If you ever met him you would never forget him. He is honored every year with a Gymnastics Tournament in his name – the “John Pancott Invitational”.
He is survived by his wife Alice, and two children, Stephen John and Beverly Ann. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
JOHN DIXON
6th July 1926- 2015
Major (Retired) Elwyn Pickering (Son in Law)
I rst met John just two months short of 40 years ago, in December 1975. Since that time the world we live in has changed almost beyond recognition.
But, of course, by the time I met him John had already been on this planet for almost half a century. He was born on the 6th July 1926 in Barrow on Humber, Lincolnshire, and was to become the eldest of ve siblings, four boys and one girl.
It could be said that this was a far simpler time, but the reality was that life was tough for most people. Very few people had a car, communication was via mail or a telephone box, and forget central heating; coal res were the main source of heating. People were required to be self-suf cient and – a term which I believe sums up John perfectly – resourceful.
An example of this from John’s early life saw the four brothers nding a derelict hotel, which had a parquet oor. This was obviously a good source of rewood for the family home and leaving brother Norman as lookout, John, Harold and Dougie began collecting the wood. Norman unfortunately failed in his duty and the local bobby came upon the boys. I think it epitomises the time when I tell you that the boys were allowed to take the wood home, minus a bag delivered to the bobby’s front door.
Always a keen sportsman, John could not afford to join a gym, so he used to hang from a windowsill by his ngertips to watch the training inside; which he then put into practice. He must have learned something because he succeeded in becoming the Amateur Flyweight Champion of Lincolnshire.
World War 2 saw John employed as a riveter at the shipyards in Immingham. As this was a reserved occupation he was not allowed to join up, despite badgering his bosses on a regular basis. With the ending of the war in late 1945, John seized his chance and in Feb 1946 enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regt. His sporting prowess was soon recognised and just 12 months later, in Feb 1947, he transferred to the Army Physical Training Corps. He had found his place and remained with the Corps until he retired from the Army in 1981.
Whilst on leave in Dec 1951, John met Barbara at a dance and they were married just nine months later in September 1952. Their rst posting together was here to Ripon. John was very much a
doer and paperwork was something that sometimes got in the way of what he wanted to achieve for the bene t of his soldiers. At Ripon the assault course had a ten-foot wall, but John required a six foot wall for his training programme. One of his National Servicemen was a bricklayer by trade, so John obviously had him remove four foot.
All went well until a new Adjutant arrived, who was young and out to make a name for himself. He went through the camp with all the rule books and a ne tooth comb. When he came upon John’s wall he sent out a call for him to appear at his of ce and explain why the wall was not regulation height. Fortunately, there were two camps in Ripon and John managed to oat between the two; avoiding the Adjutant’s of ce until the following day. With an angelic look on his face John managed to look perplexed by the claims, so the Adjutant dragged him off to the assault course with a tape measure. Needless to say, the wall was now 10 foot tall.
As well as being resourceful, John was quick-thinking. Whilst serving in Osnabruck he decided that he would make his sons, Antony and Graham, wooden sit-on trains for Christmas. Obviously a steam train needs a boiler and what better to provide this than a rugby post. Armed with a saw, John shinned up the rugby posts on camp and cut the length he needed from the rst upright. As he was working on the second upright the Commanding Of cer, walking his dog, turned up and questioned what was going on. Without pausing for breath John explained that he had noticed the uprights were taller than regulation height and was therefore reducing them. In true senior of cer tone the CO replied, ‘Well done Sgt Major, carry on’.
John excelled at many sports, with his favourite being football. He represented the Army at a time when National Service saw many professional footballers serving and on leave during his early years he would turn out as a substitute for Grimsby Town, who at the time were in the 1st Division. His participation in football did, however, cause disquiet just one week before I married Hilary. John and Graham went off to play ve-a-side football and John came back with a cracking black eye, courtesy of a miscued shot by Graham. You can well imagine John’s response to Barbara and Hilary’s insistence that he would have to wear make-up for the wedding.
John, your work here on earth is done; but you will never be forgotten, there are just too many memories and stories to share. You were a husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, colleague and friend.
They say that whenever someone passes a new star appears in heaven, but to me and many others you were a star here on earth.
God bless and I am sure you are already making an impression in your new home.
Résumés of Service
– Lincoln Regt 17/01/46
– Promoted Paid Acting Cpl 07/11/46
– AIs Course, York, 11/06/46 to 21/07/46
– Adv Course, ASPT, 07/11/46 to 05/02/47
– Promoted Paid Acting Sgt on 01/01/47 (Transfers in APTC)
– Sgt (SI) 30/06/47
– Promoted Sgt (SSI) 01/04/52
– Remedial Course, Netley, 08/01/56 to 28/01/56
– Awarded the GSM (Cyprus) in 1958
– Promoted WO2 (CSMI) 23/05/61
– Promoted WO2 (QMSI) 01/05/67
– Granted continuance of service e for one year until 16/01/72.
– Reverts to sub SSgt local WO2, 04/09/72 following a second
continuance of service past 22 years.
– Posted BAOR School of PT for employment as CQMS Long
Service List 04/09/72. – Discharged 05/07/81