Peter became High Sheriff of Somerset in March 2026. Born in Yorkshire and raised on a farm in Cambridgeshire, he later moved to Somerset in 1984 after qualifying as a chiropractor, settling in Bath.
In 1985, Peter founded Dixon Health, a chiropractic practice with locations in Bath and Frome in Somerset, as well as Bradford on Avon, Devizes, and Chippenham in Wiltshire.
Peter has played a significant role in the development and regulation of the chiropractic profession in the UK and beyond. He served as President of the British Chiropractic Association at the time when the Chiropractor’s Act was passed in 1994. He helped establish – and later chaired – The General Chiropractic Council, the regulatory body for chiropractors in the UK. In addition, he was instrumental in founding the Royal College of Chiropractors and served as President of the European Chiropractors’ Union, where he promoted professional regulation across Europe.
Alongside his professional work, Peter has been actively involved in the community and rehabilitation initiatives. He worked with HMP Earlstoke near Devizes, running a mentoring program for prisoners approaching release, helping them prepare for re-entry into employment. He also supported a similar program with Julian House in Bath, a charity assisting homeless men, many of whom had recently left prison. These experiences have given him a valuable insight into the criminal justice system and the challenges faced by individuals following custodial sentences.
Having grown up in a rural environment, Peter retains a strong understanding of the issues affecting farming and rural communities, which form a significant part of Somerset’s identity.
As High Sheriff, Peter intends to continue the focus of his predecessor, Janet, on supporting young people. In particular, he will focus on those experiencing difficulties in school, especially those at risk of exclusion. This includes both the support available within schools and the pathways available to young people and their families if exclusion occurs.
Somerset’s exclusion rates are higher than the national average. Approximately 1 in 16 secondary pupils experience exclusion, either temporary or permanent, and up to 30% are considered at risk of exclusion. These young people are significantly more vulnerable to involvement in crime, making early intervention and support critically important – not only for their own futures, but for the wellbeing of society as a whole.
Peter is also looking forward to travelling across Somerset, engaging with its diverse communities and landscapes and gaining a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the county.
It was a great honour to make my Declaration as High Sheriff of Somerset at a wonderful Choral Evensong in Wells Cathedral. In the year ahead, I look forward to supporting the work of the police, the judiciary, the probation service, and all the emergency services. I also hope to encourage communities to come together, to renew and rebuild after the challenges of the last two years.
Whilst I aim to support a wide range of charities and voluntary organisations, I also plan to focus on three critical areas for the county:
• promoting opportunities in education and training for children and young adults,
• working alongside charities which strive to prevent children becoming involved in, or being victims of crime,
• addressing the issue of child food poverty and, at the same time, promoting local Somerset food produce.
Role
The High Sheriff has a legal duty to appoint an Under Sheriff who has a vital role in ensuring continuity. They are valuable advisors to new High Sheriffs and are familiar with the protocols of the Court and have considerable experience of ceremonial matters.
Career
Stuart is a Senior Associate and Technical Director within the Debt Recovery Team of Clarke Willmott LLP, having been with the firm since 1999, and is based at their Taunton office.
0345 209 1731
Richard’s working life started with an electrical engineering degree from Imperial College, London, followed by the design of military computer systems. Joining Intel he moved into marketing in the computer industry in the early days of the “IBM p.c.” before hearing a call to ordination. He was ordained in 1995, first served in Cheddar in Somerset, then became Team Vicar of the Corsham parishes in Wiltshire. Later he held a UK appointment with the Church Mission Society. No largely retired, apart from giving some Spiritual Direction, he is a keen walker. He is married with two grown-up children and a clutch of grandchildren. He is amazed by the privilege of becoming chaplin to the High Sheriff.
Biography
Revd Jim Fallon trained as an ordinand at The Queens Foundation Birmingham form 2009 – 2011 before being ordained Deacon 03rd July 2011 at Wells Cathedral. He was ordained priest on 30th June 2012 and served his curacy at St Marys parish church in Chard.
Since April 2015 he has been serving as the Rector of the Blackdown Benefice in Somerset, where he looks after five parishes and six places of worship.
Biography
Sheikh Dr Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour is the Imam of Bath Mosque. He studied Islamic studies and philosophy at Al-Azhar, Egypt, for up to 18 years and gained the title of a ḥāfiẓ of the Quran when he was 11 years old. He came to the U.K. first to study English at UCL, then he won the British Chevening scholarship to do an MA in Theology and Religion at the University of Durham, followed by a PhD in Comparative Religion at SOAS University of London. He is the author of several books, most notably A Comparative History of Catholic and Ashʿarī Theologies of Truth and Salvation (Brill, 2021), The Higher Objectives of Islamic Theology (Oxford University Press, 2022), and Science and Civilization between Islam and Christianity (Gingko, 2024).