Tributes have been paid to Malcolm Dixon, former executive director of the Bermuda Employers Council, who died at the weekend. He was 69.

Labour relations stalwart Mr. Dixon led the council from 1987 until retirement in 2001.

The council?s current president, William DeSilva, said Mr. Dixon put his ?heart and soul? into the organisation.

He added: ?Much of the strength and respect we continue to enjoy was built under Malcolm?s tenure.?

Martin Law, the council?s executive director and a friend of Mr. Dixon for 20 years, said Mr. Dixon had been a major figure in labour relations on the Island for many years and was well known to senior union figures, the business community, as well as politicians from both sides.

?He could bridge the gap between different points of view, particularly in the labour relations field. He could talk to anyone without talking down to them.

?He was the type of person who could go into any situation, even if it was quite volatile, and use common sense and calm things down,? he said.

He added that staff at the council, where his daughter Becky works, were devastated by the loss.

After retiring five years ago, he continued to carry out occasional consultancy work for the organisation.

Mr. Law said that Mr. Dixon was at work and in the council?s Reid Street offices on Friday and that his sudden death had come completely out of the blue.

?He was a first class guy who will be really missed by all of us.?

Born in the UK, he came to Bermuda in 1961.

Before joining the council he was involved in labour relations through positions with Bermuda Properties, Oxford Laundry, St. George Hotel and Pearman Watlington.

Finance Minister Paula Cox, who is due to speak at Mr. Dixon?s memorial service, said that he was a good partner with the Ministry during her time heading Home Affairs Minister. She added: ?I do hope his family can derive some comfort from his real efforts to make a difference in Bermuda.?

Belco president Garry Madeiros said he had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Dixon for more than 25 years.

The pair working closely together when Mr. Madeiros was on the board of the Employers Council.

?As executive director he was a dedicated and loyal leader for that organisation,? said the Belco chief.

?Malcolm had a passion for good employment practices and a tremendous capacity to support all the council members? needs.?

He added: ?He always wanted to do what was right and fair for the employee as much as the employer.

?He made a very meaningful contribution to the development of employment practices on this Island and had a tremendous working relationship with the unions and the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs.?

Before stepping down from his post at the Employers Council in 2001, Mr. Dixon told he was not ready to retire from labour relations work which he saw as his ?calling?.

He took up the post of executive vice-president (for corporate and human resources services) for the Total Group, in early 2002.

Looking back on his 14-year tenure at the helm of the BEC he said there was now a more co-operative spirit between employers, employees and trade unions.

He also spoke about the active role the BEC played in putting the Employment Act 2000 on the books.

It promotes fair treatment of employers and employees, provides minimum standards, establishes procedures and notice periods for termination and protects against unfair dismissal.

He added: ?From day one, I got on so well with Bermudians, and I have taken a keen interest in the development of Bermudians and in people being treated fairly.?

Mr. Dixon leaves a wife, Pat, and two daughters, Becky and Lisa.

*A memorial service for Mr. Dixon will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday at St. John?s Church, Pembroke.