Dixon Blackstock’s story is one of passion, resilience and gratitude. His journey — as a renowned sports journalist reporting on the world’s greatest stars to receiving outstanding support from the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Care at Home team — illustrates the power of human connection, professional dedication and compassionate care. Born in Cambuslang in 1937, just across the road from where he now resides, Dixon is the very definition of a local lad. He attended West Coats Primary School and Rutherglen Academy before venturing into the world of newspapers. At just 18, he joined the Evening Citizen newspaper in Glasgow but was then called up for national service in 1955. Upon returning, his journalism career flourished, taking him to the Sunday Mail, where he covered golf and football until his retirement in 1997. One of the highlights of his career was covering the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, USA, where he formed friendships with some of the sport’s greatest icons, including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino. Dixon said: “Tom was a really nice guy and Lee was very funny. I even got to play golf with them in Scotland – they all wanted to come over for a game at the Old Course in St Andrews. The relationship between journalists and professional sports stars was quite different back then.” He also covered football across Europe, was editor of the Rangers programme for many years and authored books on Rangers and Scotland. Dixon added: “I got all the players to sign my Rangers book – although it took me a while to get Ally McCoist’s signature! Despite Rangers being my team, the nicest person I met in football was Tommy Burns of Celtic who was a real gentleman.” Beyond his career, Dixon’s greatest pride is his family — his wife Jean, whom he met at the age of 16 at ‘the shows’ in Overtoun Park, his son Russell, daughter Kay, and four grandchildren. Now married for 66 years, Jean recalled: “I knew as soon as I met Dixon that I’d spend the rest of my life with him. It was love at first sight for me — and I made sure it was for him as well!” Three years ago, Dixon’s life took an unexpected turn when he suffered a stroke. After spending seven weeks in University Hospital Hairmyres, he returned home, where he was initially supported by the Home Assessment Team. Since January 2023, the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Care at Home team has provided ongoing support, helping Dixon regain independence. Dixon said: “I’m extremely grateful and couldn’t be more pleased or thankful for the care and support of the Care at Home team. They have been wonderful.” Jean also acknowledges how the transition to receiving care at home was initially daunting. She said: “He had a stroke on my 85th birthday – that was the present I got! It was a new world for us having carers coming in. It was a bit of a shock to be at that stage in your life. We didn’t know what to expect, but they have been great.” The quality of care provided to Dixon and many others has been reflected in a recent outstanding report from the Care Inspectorate. The Care at Home team was awarded ‘Very Good’ (5) ratings across all key quality indicators. The report highlighted strong leadership, a compassionate and dedicated team, and a service that puts people at the heart of its care. Feedback from service users and their families was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the responsive and respectful support they receive. Staff also spoke of a strong team ethos and excellent partnership working, ensuring the highest standards of care. Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, Professor Soumen Sengupta, said: “It was a pleasure to spend time with Dixon a couple of days before his 88th birthday, and hear direct from him the vital role that our Care at Home team has played in supporting him. “I want to thank Dixon and Jean for sharing their story and for allowing us to showcase the positive impact that compassionate care can have. The outstanding feedback from the recent inspectorate report reflects the dedication and professionalism of our team, who continue to provide exceptional support to individuals and families across our community.” John Scott, one of the Care at Home team said: “Supporting people like Dixon to remain in their own homes is incredibly rewarding. “We build strong relationships with the individuals we care for and it’s so fulfilling to see the difference our support makes to their daily lives. Every day, we’re reminded how important our role is in helping people maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life. It’s a privilege to be part of that journey.” Chair of the South Lanarkshire Council Social Work Resources Committee, Councillor Margaret Walker added: “This outstanding report is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the Care at Home team. Their commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care enables people to remain in their homes while receiving the support they need.” *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .