Ron Dixon (Brookside)

Ronald William "Ron" Dixon is a fictional character in the British soap opera, Brookside, played by Vince Earl^[1] from 1990 until the final episode in 2003, during which time he was involved in several major storylines.

He divorced his first wife "DD" shortly after arriving in Brookside Close. He then became engaged to Bev McLoughlin and in December 1993 she gave birth to a son called Josh, but they split up a few months later after she revealed that Josh wasn't his son. He was actually Ron's grandson and the son of Ron's son Mike.^[2]

In early November of that year, Ron's 14-year-old son Tony was left in a coma after fracturing his skull in a car crash which had claimed the life of Frank Rogers. Frank had crashed after swerved to avoid an oncoming car which was being driven recklessly by neighbour, Jimmy Corkhill. Tony never regained full consciousness and died in February 1994. Jimmy broke down at Tony's funeral, confessing to Ron at the graveside that he was driving the car while high on cocaine.

Ron later married teenage sweetheart Anthea Brindley who had revealed to him that he was the father of her daughter, Megan. In December 2000, only a few days before Christmas, his life was hit by another tragedy when his son Mike was badly injured in a car crash caused by neighbour Tim O'Leary, who had fled the scene after crashing the stolen car that he had been driving. Mike suffered spinal injuries and was unable to walk for six months.

In May 2001, after a succession of robberies at his house, Ron finally snapped and bought a gun off Sotto, an acquaintance of Tim O'Leary, which he eventually used on a burglar who had entered his house. The burglar was Clint Moffat, the brother of his daughter Jacqui's boyfriend, Robbie. Ron was charged with his murder. He was released on bail but following his trial Ron was incarcerated for nine months, four of which he served for possessing a firearm. After the verdict, Anthea left Ron and the close.

In 2003, Ron married Bev and in the final episode, Ron, Bev and Josh moved away from the close.^[3] His final words on the programme were telling Jimmy he hoped he never saw him again.

Feuds

Throughout his time on Brookside Close, Ron Dixon was often an unpopular man. He also had many petty feuds with neighbour Max Farnham. Like many of the neighbours he despised Jack Michaelson and was assaulted by him in 2003.

Ron and Jimmy

Ever since Jimmy Corkhill was involved in the death of his son, he had an ongoing feud with him. The two however reconciled when Ron's son Mike and Jimmy's daughter Lindsey were arrested in Bangkok after drugs are planted in Lindsay's daughter's teddy bear. Later on, Ron has an affair with Jimmy's wife, Jackie. Jackie leaves Ron after Jimmy's son is killed by drug dealers.

In 2003 in his wedding speech, Ron says he has now realised that the man responsible for his son's death (Jimmy) is not a callous killer.

Politics

Ron is one of the few politicised characters in the later years. Although unlike socialist Bobby Grant and Chrissy Rogers and Conservative Paul Collins) his beliefs aren't fervent, Ron often makes off-the-cuff right wing political remarks as a reaction to something he has heard. In the series he has supported taxing the poor more than the rich to incentivise hard work, bring back hanging, arming the police and claiming that nobody is truly addicted to anything. His outbursts are usually treated with bemusement by others. During the siege he claimed that hanging would deter the criminals from shooting their victims to which Bev pointed out that no deterent stopped him from 'pulling the trigger' when he shot an intruder.

References