Father-of-five John Joseph Dixon has died, the day before his 76th birthday.

Mr Dixon, who was also known as Dicko, was born on January 29, 1938, and was bought up in Gerrard Gardens, Liverpool with his siblings Joan, Dixie, Catlin and Tony.

He had a passion for football and played for Holy Cross which gave him the opportunity to play at Anfield in the final of the Catholic school league.

In May 1953, Mr Dixon became an apprentice at Beckhampton stables and worked for Jeremy Tree.

During his time he looked after and rode many great horses, including Coronation cup winner Quiet Fling and Paris Review who won the Cornwallis stakes ridden by Jimmy Lindley.

He also played football in the stable lads’ league and during one season he scored 12 goals in the league decider against Fred Winters which his team won 16–2.

Mr Dixon met his wife Denise at the Red Lion in Avebury while she was out at a work party.

Their first date was in the Churchill pub in West Lavington, and they enjoyed many evenings out together particularly in the Red Lion at Lacock.

The couple married in August 1962 and initially lived in Rose Cottage, Avebury.

They had five children, Veronica, Angela, John, Ellen and Linda who they bought up in Avebury while Mr Dixon continued to work at the stables as well as working at the Waggon and Horses and the Red Lion.

In 1984 Mr Dixon left Beckhampton stables for the first time to become the landlord of the Bullfinch pub in Burbage where he became known for his sense of humour and lock-ins.

He left the Bullfinch in 1990 and returned to the yard to take over as head lad and he later took on the stewardship of Avebury Club which he ran for six years.

Mr Dixon was a grandfather to eight grandchildren, Shaun, Katie, Naomi, Louis, Joseph, Harvey, Jake and Archie and he went along to anything that they took part in. He particularly loved watching his grandsons playing football on a Sunday morning.

He enjoyed many holidays with his family which were filled with comedy moments, from getting lost in Majorca to purchasing cooking oil for his eggs, only to realise his Portuguese was not as good as he thought and he fried them in washing up liquid instead.

His other love was golf and he spent many weekends playing at the North Wilts club as well as the odd tournament with his son John for Racing Welfare/Stable Lads Association.

Mr Dixon died peacefully at home with his family around him.