Man in court over bus death

Jul 4 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

THE heartbroken partner of a man who died following a row over swearing on a bus last night paid tribute to the “happy-go-lucky man who enjoyed life.”

Anne Fisher, 41, said her daughter Lauren, 12, had also been left bereft by the loss of Stan Dixon, 60, who “was like a father to her.”

She added: “We shared many good times in the five years we were together.”

Ms Fisher was with Mr Dixon, a retired motor mechanic and truck driver, on a 243 Arriva service from Hartlepool to Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, on Saturday night.

The couple became involved in an altercation with other passengers after complaining about their swearing.

As they prepared to leave the bus outside Beech Terrace, Horden, the stop before their normal exit, Mr Dixon was involved in an incident in which he sustained serious head injuries. He died in Newcastle General Hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Dixon, a father-of-three, of Eden Vale, Horden, had lived in the village all his life.

“He was well liked by all and never had a bad word to say about anyone,” Ms Fisher added.

She said the couple had recently returned from a holiday in Bilbao, Spain, and were planning another to Mexico.

Ms Fisher added that Mr Dixon’s brother Ken, a taxi driver, was also “devastated by his death and is going to miss him terribly.”

Mr Dixon suffered from ill health and had not worked for several years, but he served his time as a mechanic in Hartlepool before working for Nissan and the National Coal Board.

He then worked for the Nightfreight company before retiring due to ill health.

Gary Robson, 23, of Galloway Road, Peterlee, appeared before the town’s magistrates yesterday charged with assault on Ms Fisher and the murder of Mr Dixon.

He was remanded in custody to Newcastle Crown Court on July 9.