Remembering when Maurice swung his way into history

Wed, Dec 11th 2019 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

FORMER Evening Mail reporter Graham Dixon concentrated on the stories of the seventies when he gave a talk to fellow members of the Rotary Club of Furness.

Graham Dixon talking to us about life at

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FORMER Evening Mail reporter Graham Dixon concentrated on the stories of the seventies when he gave a talk to fellow members of the Rotary Club of Furness.


Graham first joined the Barrow paper in 1975 and said an early assignment involved covering Princess Margaret's visit to The Lakeland Rose Show. The Queen's younger sister was quite a controversial figure at the time and enjoying a dalliance with 'hippy' Roddy Llewelyn.
Graham said the decade was his all-time favourite and the hot summer of '76 saw two local stories gain national prominence. The first was when Maurice Flitcroft conned his way into the British Open and shot a record high of 121.
A former Vickers crane operator, the eccentric Barrovian was never a member of a golf club but entered as a professional under an assumed name.
Flitcroft's antics drove his fellow American competitor to distraction and earned him legendary status on both sides of the Atlantic.
Graham said the second sensational story became known as The Lady in the Lake case. At the time it was only reported that married teacher Carol Park had gone missing from her home in Leece. Her body was recovered from Coniston Water by divers 21 years later and former husband Gordon Park found guilty of murder.
Graham also gave examples of misprints that were often corrected after the first edition had hit the street. These included: Barrow's new MP hoping to meet his constituents in prison (person); Lakeland climber plunges 300 foot down frozen snot (snow): police chase stolen cat (car); and long-haired schoolboy suspended by Head.
Brian Barwick, a Scouse colleague in the late 70s, went on to edit Match of the Day and then became FA Chief Executive, returning to Barrow to unveil the Emlyn Hughes statue.
Other former Evening Mail journalists from that period, Bob Herbert and Terry Horne, are long-standing Rotarians with the Barrow and Ulverston Clubs respectively.
Graham, now retired, added that he returned to The Evening Mail for a second spell in 2003, having worked in Birmingham, Kendal, Leeds and Bristol as well the education offices at The John Whinnerah in the 90s.
A vote of thanks was given by President Elect Martin McLeavy.

Rotarian Graham Dixon


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