Dixons
From Arthur Ransome Wiki
Mr and Mrs Dixon live in Dixon's Farm on the eastern shore of the Lake. It is the closest farmhouse to Wild Cat Island. The bay in the lake, nearest the farm, is called Shark Bay, because it is where Roger nearly caught a great pike.
The Swallows get their milk from the Dixons; presumably Mrs Walker pays for it. They provide molasses for the explorers, and Mr Dixon gives John bait for fishing.
Mr Dixon is just called Dixon by his wife. He is tall and thin (SA6). He is not very talkative, but becomes a loyal and friendly native to the Swallows and the Ds during their visits to the Lake. After Dick rescues his sheep, there is a queer kind of alliance between Dick and Mr Dixon, though they were neither of them great talkers (WH13).
Mrs Dixon used to be the nurse of Mrs Callum, which is why the Ds (Dick and Dot) are staying with the Dixons in Winter Holiday.
Old Silas is the farmhand on Dixon's Farm (WH1). There is a dog, Roy. It is a mixed farm with sheep as well as cows; Mr Dixon's mark is a red patch or stain on the left shoulder of his sheep (WH12).
[edit] Appearances
- Swallows and Amazons: Mr Dixon has a walk-on role as taciturn husband to Mrs Dixon, the provider of milk to the Swallows on Wild Cat Island and to Captain Flint in the Houseboat; rows Mrs Dixon to the island with porridge after the storm.
- Swallowdale: Mr Dixon stammers the lengthy speech "I'm right glad to see ye" to the Swallows on their return.
- Winter Holiday: Of all the friendly natives, Mr Dixon is perhaps the one who knows the most about the plans of the North Polar Expedition before Captain Flint arrives. After Dick rescues one of Mr Dixon's sheep which had become cragfast, he finds ways to repay him, partly motivated by a determination to out-do those staying with his neighbours, the Jacksons. This involves building the Ds a sledge (the Swallows and the Amazons use a sledge from Beckfoot) and later providing the sledge with a mast and sail. He also provides them with fleeces and skins (which are used onboard the Fram).
