Robert Dixon-Smith, Baron Dixon-Smith

Robert William Dixon-Smith, Baron Dixon-Smith DL, (born 30 September 1934) is a British farmer, and Conservative Party politician. Lord Dixon-Smith is a former Shadow Minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Early life

The son of Dixon and Alice Winifred Smith, Dixon-Smith was educated at Oundle School, at the St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont, and Writtle Agricultural College in Essex. He served in the King's Dragoon Guards in the years 1956 and 1957, reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Political career

Dixon-Smith was elected to the Essex County Council in 1965, being vice chairman from 1983 to 1986, and chairman from 1986 to 1989. He was briefly Shadow Minister for Environment.

On 11 October 1993, he was created a life peer as Baron Dixon-Smith, of Bocking in the County of Essex. In December 1998 he was appointed the Conservatives' local government spokesman in the House of Lords by party leader William Hague.

In July 2008 he was forced to apologise to the chamber after using a racist phrase during a House of Lords debate.

Education service

From 1967 to 1994, Dixon-Smith was Governor of the Writtle Agricultural College, from 1973 to 1985 chair. In 1993 and 1994, he was Chair of the Anglia Polytechnic University and from 1973 to 2000 governor.

Personal life

Lord Dixon-Smith has been married to Georgina Janet Cook, since 1960. They have one son and one daughter.