Dixons Shopping Centre

Today, it is still a family run business and has become famous for its friendly approach and comfortable environment. It offers more than 20 shops under one roof including a shoe shop, jeweller, pet shop, house gifts, computer shop and much more, including a café in which to sit back and relax. It really is a shopping centre to experience and enjoy.

Once upon a time, many years ago, our dad Kenneth (Ken) Dixon was born in a pub at Baconsthorpe, near Holt. His father was a carpenter and his wife was the businesswoman of the family - at one time she ran a fish and chip shop in Holt. They moved to Norwich and lived in Eversley Road, Hellesdon.

Dad became a carpenter, but when work ran short he joined the army and spent five years in India. On coming home he met our mother, who was in service in Acle. After getting married, dad was called up again, this time he was sent to Hong Kong and India for one year. Dad sadly lost an eye and with the compensation he received plus a loan he started to build houses. They moved to a house in Middleton's Lane where brother John was born and then went to live in Meadow Way, where dad began building bungalows.

I was born in 1936 and we moved again, this time to Red Acre on Reepham Road, in Hellesdon.