National Biography adds John Dawes and Michael Peckham

The Gwent pair are among 238 people added to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography after they died in 2021.
Dawes is the only man to have led the British and Irish Lions to a series victory in New Zealand after being skipper on the 1971 tour.
The Abercarn-born centre won 22 caps for Wales after his debut in 1964 and was captain for the Grand Slam triumph in 1971 before heading off to face the All Blacks.
Dawes became national coach and won the Five Nations title four times, two of them Grand Slams, and won four triple crowns. He coached the Lions in New Zealand in 1977.
He played for Newbridge and went on to become a London Welsh captain and coach.
Panteg-born Peckham was the son of a railway locomotive fireman and won a scholarship from Monmouth Grammar School to Cambridge.
That started a career as a distinguished oncologist whose multidisciplinary treatment programmes improved survival rates and led to the wider acceptance of holistic care models for cancer patients.
A strong believer in the application of evidence-based medicine, he was the first NHS director of research and development.
The Oxford DNB is a national record of people who have shaped British history.
From June 2025, the dictionary includes biographies of more than 63,000 individuals, written by more than 14,000 contributors, and with more than 12,000 portrait images.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is included in the new edition with Queen Elizabeth II's entry to be published next year.
Other prominent figures added include politicians Shirley Williams, Austin Mitchell and Sir David Amess, entrepreneurs Sir Clive Sinclair and Sir David Barclay, Nobel prize-winner Antony Hewish, actors Sir Antony Sher and Helen McCrory, footballers Jimmy Greaves and Ian St John, journalist Katharine Whitehorn, broadcaster Janice Long, anti-deportation activist Anwar Ditta and charity fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

South Wales Argus

23 minutes ago

• South Wales Argus

Glasspool and Cash delighted after success at Queen's

The all-British pairing defeated Michael Venus and Nikola Mektic in a three-set thriller 6-3 7-6(5) 10-6 to claim not only their fourth ATP Tour title but their first on grass. Glasspool had actually lost to Mektic in the 2022 showpiece, with both individuals competing alongside different in partners in Harri Heliovaara and Mate Pavic respectively that day. But while there were new faces in Cash and Venus for the contest in West Kensington, the feeling of winning a title remains just as sweet. "It's one of my favourite tournaments, if not my favourite, so to win was super special,' said Glasspool. "The last time I played in the final was actually against Mektic and I lost so it's nice to amend that. "I don't think they played their best, which is credit to them. They're amazing players. "It's been a long week but we can relax now and enjoy it. We played our best tennis and that's always a great feeling. "We're always confident in ourselves but to have the result to back up the confidence doesn't always happen so it means a lot." Cash added: "I feel absolutely amazing. Just to be out there on a court like that competing is amazing and to take home the title is a childhood dream of mine and I'm absolutely delighted. "I don't care who I beat if I'm honest but they're a very tricky pair, very experienced and with a lot of titles between them so it definitely makes the win feel even better. "It's been great. We always look forward to weeks at home but this tournament truly puts extra effort into us Brits with extra tickets and credentials so I'd like to thank everyone who has made it possible. It makes it feel extra special to have our friends and family out there to support us." For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website

Daily Record

31 minutes ago

• Daily Record

John Clark dead aged 84 as Celtic mourn the loss of another legendary Lisbon Lion

The heartbreaking news has sent shockwaves through the Parkhead support and Clark was recently by Dermot Desmond and Brendan Rodgers Lisbon Lion and Celtic legend John Clark has sadly passed away at the age of 84. The huge Hoops figure spent almost half a century as part of the Parkhead club as player, coach, assistant manager and kitman. ‌ Clark was immortalised as part of Jock Stein 's heroic side who became the first British team to win the European Cup, defeating Inter Milan in Lisbon in 1967. ‌ Celtic won an unprecedented quadruple that season and Clark and Tommy Gemmell were the only to members of the squad to play in all 59 matches. Aside from that historic Lisbon win, Clark won three league championships, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups. When he left Parkhead after 13 years as a player he moved to Morton where he spent two years but returned in 1973 as a coach, working with the reserves. He left to join Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill at Aberdeen in 1977 where he was assistant manager before returning to Celtic the following year when McNeill was appointed manager. The pair won five major trophies together, including three league titles. Clark went into management on his own at Cowdenbeath, Stranraer, Clyde and junior side Shotts Bon Accord before again returning to Celtic in 1997, this time as kit controller, where he spent 20 years. Only Celtic's first ever boss Willie Maley spent more years serving the club.

Glasgow Times

39 minutes ago

• Glasgow Times

British and Irish Lions warn Australia must release players for tour fixtures

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Western Force players Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White to take part in Saturday's first match Down Under in Perth. However, all those from the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies, including big names such as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini, will not face the Lions until the Test series. Roll on Saturday 🦁 Game two, and our first on Australian soil: @westernforce in Perth 📍#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 23, 2025 Given Australia's lack of depth, Schmidt is keen to avoid picking up any injuries while their warm-up fixture against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, which takes place the day after the tourists meet the Waratahs, is another obstacle. However, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley has reminded the hosts of the terms of the tour contract, knowing Andy Farrell's men want to play the toughest possible opposition to provide adequate preparation for the opening Test on July 19. 'We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series,' Calveley said. 'The agreement is very clear – it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. 'We'll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with (Rugby Australia chief executive) Phil Waugh and will take it step by step. Ben Calveley wants to see the strongest possible warm-up fixtures (John Walton/PA) 'It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just from a performance standpoint but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well.' Calveley declined to reveal what action the Lions could take if Schmidt will not be budged from his current policy, but it is clear the tourists hold all the aces given the vast revenue they generate for hosting countries. A sold-out Aviva Stadium turned red for Friday night's send-off in a display of commercial power from the elite of British and Irish rugby, who continue to be a huge draw. Argentina won an entertaining but scrappy game 28-24 and given they are positioned three places higher than the Wallabies in the global ranking in fifth, they could be viewed as a more credible tour destination than Australia. There are also calls for France to be added to the current rotation that is completed by South Africa and New Zealand. For now, however, fixtures against other nations will be bolt-ons to existing destinations rather than stand-alone tours. Argentina beat the British and Irish Lions in Dublin on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) 'There are different teams around the world that we might be interested in playing against in future. Traditionally that's been consigned to a pre-tour element – Dublin, Murrayfield – so we'll probably focus on that,' Calveley said. 'We're also interested when we go away on tour to see if we can bring in other countries like Japan and Fiji to feature in those games as we build up to the Test element. 'We're open and we're flexible, but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure.' Calveley was speaking at a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, a 20-minute First Nations cultural experience held in in Perth's Kings Park.