3rd Baron Glentoran

THE BARONY OF GLENTORAN WAS CREATED IN 1939 FOR THE RT HON HERBERT DIXON OBE MP

The Hon Thomas Robin Valerian Dixon succeeded to the barony and baronetcy in 1995.

He was a major in the Grenadier Guards before retiring from the army in 1966 to pursue a successful career in commerce.

After serving with the Grenadier Guards from 1954 to 1966, Major Dixon joined Kodak, where he worked as a Public Relations Officer.

In 1971 he moved to the Redland Tile and Brick company in Northern Ireland, where he built up the company from small beginnings into a multi-million pound subsidiary, ultimately holding the position of Managing Director, then Chairman by the time he left the firm in 1998.

In addition to his career interests, in 1964 Major Dixon won an Olympic Gold medal in the Bobsleigh event, and a World Championship Gold in 1965.

In the same year he was appointed MBE for services to sport.

He retained his strong sporting links by, amongst other things, being President of the Jury at the 1976 Olympics, and has been President of the British Bobsleigh Association.

In 1983, he established and became the founder chairman of the Ulster Games Foundation in an attempt to bring international sporting events to Northern Ireland.

In 1987, he was appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tall Ships Council, and successfully managed to bring the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race to Belfast, an event which he then subsequently organised.

Between 1992-96, Lord Glentoran was chairman of Positively Belfast, which aimed to promote the city as a potential host city for major events.

Because of these and other significant achievements, in 1992 he was appointed CBE for services to Northern Ireland and Industry.

Between 1993 and 1995, he was Chairman of the “Growing a Green Economy” committee, which reported to the then Northern Ireland Minister, Sir Robert Atkins.

Lord Glentoran first entered the House of Lords in 1995, and from 1999 he was the Conservative Party "shadow minister" for Northern Ireland and Wales.

From 2001 to 2003, he was also a shadow minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body.

The 3rd Baron was a representative Conservative peer in the House of Lords. 

His father, the 2nd Baron, was HM Lord-Lieutenant for the City of Belfast from 1976-85.

Lord Glentoran's seat is Drumadarragh House, near Ballyclare in County Antrim.

He has three sons: His heir, the Hon Daniel Dixon; the Hon Andrew Dixon; and the Hon Patrick Dixon.

First published in July, 2010.