Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


Mel met Lynda on a works trip in early June 1962. She was 19 and he was 20. Mel proposed after only 6 weeks and they were engaged on 1st September of that year. They married on 13th February 1963, two days before Lynda turned 20, during what was the coldest winter in 200 years. There was so much snow, a channel had to be dug through the snow to get to the entrance of the church. Mel always said it was the best thing he had ever done. They married and unusually for a young couple had a very comfortable life. They owned a car and had bought their first house. They had just started a family as their eldest Helen was born in Consett. Times were changing and rumours of closure were rife. Lynda, who was working as a hairdresser, had heard from clients whose husbands were in the prison service, that it was a great career opportunity, so she encouraged him to apply. Mel applied and the rest is history. Lynda ended up following Mel as his career took him all round the country.
Mel joined at Durham as a officer posted to Strangeways before moving to the island to HMP Albany. After promotion to Senior Officer he transferred to Leicester where his youngest daughter Kathryn was born. He had many stories to tell about his time in uniform. He became an Assistant Governor and transferred to Wetherby in 1976 and then to HMP Leeds. He was Deputy Governor at Thorp Arch from
1984 until his promotion to Governor 4 and subsequent transfer to Long Lartin. He finished working for the Prison Service at HMP Wakefield when he accepted Verse, the initial early retirement scheme.

Mel had a very long and distinguished career in the Prison Service most of it in the High Security Estate which I will not expand on as it would take too much time, but like his brother Ivan he became a legend. His wit and repartee were renowned as he regaled us all with stories. He had something you can't quite explain to the uninitiated, jail craft, a skill honed to perfection. I know so many of his former colleagues will all have a story to share about him

Mel had retired early from the Prison service and started a new career with the Salvation Army. His business skills and acumen helped him turn a failing enterprise into a successful thriving business. Lynda, as always was beside his side, working as an unpaid volunteer. It is the sign of a strong relationship and a remarkable woman, that they spent so much time together and that he survived. One of their proudest moments was when they attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace nominated for their excellent service to Crown and community which thankfully did not go unnoticed by some of us. But Mel was primarily the family man who doted on his children Helen and Kathryn and was very happy when they both settled down in their respective careers and with their respective partners Christine and Paul. He was so proud of both of his daughters as they carved their own careers and became successful in their own
right.
























Mel had already shown great kindness to my children when he became their adopted grandfather after my wife and I both lost our fathers in quick succession. His hopes of ever becoming a Grandad had begun to fade and the happiness on both Lynda and Mel's faces when Wilf was born to Kathryn and Paul nine years ago was a joy to behold. Wilf was the apple of his Grandad's eye and gave Mel new life and vigour. He found no greater happiness than sitting chatting to his grandson and spending time in his company. Wilf should always be proud of his Grandad who was a remarkable man.

As I said before Mel fought hard to win Lynda’s hand and they were both lucky enough to have shared 59 years of marriage and as his health declined Mel was cared for by Lynda, who worked tirelessly to care and support him aided by his girls. Sadly Mel’s health, after being diagnosed with cancer, deteriorated, but he remained in good humour as long as he could. When they were leaving the hospital immediately after he received his diagnosis, knowing how upset Helen was, he told her he was fine. That he was content to
have reached 80 and wasn't afraid of dying. He then added - 'I won't bother getting my shoes soled now.' After fighting to win Lynda’s hand it was fitting that he slipped away while holding her hands. He will be missed by all of his family and his adopted family but more especially his Prison family. We were all the richer for having known him.

Sadly Melvis has left the building.

GERRY HENDRY

JOHN MELVYN (MEL) DICKINSON
1941 - 2022​

Husband of Lynda Dickinson, Proud Father of Helen and Kathryn and Grandfather to Wilf, the apple of his eye and of course younger brother of David and the late Ivan Dickinson. Mel was my friend, my mentor and I also considered him my big brother and judging by the number of people who attended his funeral and the messages of condolences received from all over the world, he clearly was a friend to so many others. I could talk for hours about Mel and not scratch the surface so I hope my words do him justice.

Mel was born on Boxing Day 1941, not during an air raid to the sounds of bombs but during a 
celebration ceilidh at the nearby Nurses home with Scottish dance music drifting into the ward. He was a twin brother to Ivan, many of you knew him too, but he sadly passed away 18 years ago. It was strangely coincidental that I also read the eulogy at Ivan's funeral.

Mel and I met when he was appointed Deputy Governor at Thorp Arch Remand Centre and I was delighted to see him again as I thought I knew him from Manchester. It turned out of course that I had met the other Dickinson identical twin, Ivan, at Strangeways. Mel and I formed a lifelong friendship during which he continually ribbed me for being a “sweaty sock” but I had the last laugh as many years later when Mel did an ancestry test his DNA was found to be “maistly Scots” something we both had a good chuckle about as it turned out he was more Scottish than I was. Mel was born and raised in Consett in County Durham and remained close to his roots all his life. Mel told me that “Although I had the benefit of a grammar school education seemed it was inevitable that I would either work in the mines or the Ironworks. I chose to serve my time as a mechanical fitter in the steelworks which was infinitely better than scraping a living in the pit.”

Mel Dickinson
Mel and Lynda retired to Upper Tean and soon settled into a life of constant change to the house, the garden and the addition of chickens which seemed like a good idea at the time. Mel knew what he wanted done and he knew that Lynda would and could do it. He was a great Superintendent of Works. They spent many years globetrotting on regular holidays to places that many of us just dream of. I used to love sitting in their garden enjoying one of their legendary barbecues as Mel recounted their travel tales. He also ensured that the family had regular holidays together latterly in this country as his health deteriorated but family was the most important thing to him and he wanted to spend as much time with them.

Visiting Mel and Lynda was always a pleasure. They hosted great evenings which Mel and I usually finished supping whisky and other fine liquors while sitting in the company of the other woman in his life “Alexa,” while he requested obscure songs and we both sang along to them. We discussed many things, even faith, he told me the story of the Consett man who visited the Evangelist Faith healer and asked if he could help him with his hearing, the Faith healer placed his hands on his ears and rocked him back and forth and asked if that had helped his hearing. 'Why nah', he said, 'I’m not in court till next Tuesday.'

Mel of course was also famous for his singing and for his alter ego 'Melvis' Presley. He was the man who could make Santa appear at the children's party while he disappeared temporarily, and his Panto Dame would have graced any West End Theatre Company.