RACING JOURNALIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27567, 8 December 1950, Page 5

RACING JOURNALIST

Death Of Mr A. Dickson PA CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 7. * Widely known for his association with racing and bowls, Mr Alf Dickson died yesterday at the age of 78. For 63 years Mr Dickson was actively engaged as a journalist and up to the time of his death was still the Christchurch correspondent for a number of newspapers. Mr Dickson began his career in journalism in Dunedin and came to Christchurch in 1900 to join the Canterbury Times. Later he was racing reporter on the Lyttelton Times and Star and finally on the Star-Sun until his retirement in 1939. He was president of the New Zealand Bowling Association for 1945-46 and was elected a life member of the Christchurch Bowling Centre recently. He was also a life member of several racing clubs. Mr Dickson’s association with racing

was not confined to writing, as for many years he judged at both galloping and trotting meetings. One of the foundation members of the Christchurch Journalists’ Union, Mr Dickson was president when the union had its first Arbitration Court case in 1913, the union’s advocate being the late Mr D. G. Sullivan. Mr Dickson was also president of the New Zealand Journalists’ Association for a number of years, and was one of the first members to receive the association’s gold badge. He is survived by his wife, one son and one daughter.