Big John honours our own breath of fresh air

While others were dodging fireworks last Saturday, the man who's been setting them off under people for 25 years was being honoured at a posh and intimate event in London.

Phil Dixon was guest of honour at a private dinner hosted by John McNamara, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, but acting that night in a personal capacity.

Also present were people who've been important in Dixon's time in the trade. They included licensees Richard Slade, Bernard Brindley, Terry Cable, BII business editor Andrew Palmer and the man who breweries and pubcos must blame for recruiting a fresh-faced Dixon into the trade, Neville Marshall, of the National Union of Licensed Victuallers.

The Brazilian limbo dancer who made such an impression on Phil during a trade visit to Hamburg several years ago was, this time at least, uncontactable.

Snifter ­ who was gutted at being unable to attend ­ has not the time or space to list Dixon's achievements over the past 25 years. So he's happy to leave the general sense of appreciation to McNamara, who told the group: "Phil is always a breath of fresh air. He's made a big difference in his time."

In response, Dixon said there's been nothing to beat the sense of satisfaction from helping a tenant up against the corporate might of a brewer or pubco.

He might not have mentioned it that night, but Snifter's sure he would have been fondly recalling the time he forced Bass to pay back money to every single tenant in the

Midlands following a rent miscalculation.

Happy days, and happy nights (the Goring's bar was drunk in the small hours, even though Batham's Best Bitter was, amazingly, not on tap).