
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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Emma Raducanu relaxed about British number one status after progress at Queen's
The 22-year-old will officially become number one on Monday after Katie Boulter bowed out with a 2-6 6-3 6-2 second-round defeat to Russian fifth seed Diana Shnaider, two years to the day since she supplanted 2021 US Open winner Raducanu. And while she has played down her expectations ahead of this week, pointing to her ongoing back issues, Raducanu's win also ensured she would be the last Briton left standing in this new WTA 500 event boasting a £1million prize pot. Emma Raducanu, right, shakes hands with Rebecca Sramkova after her last-16 win at Queen's Club (Jordan Pettitt/PA) 'It's nice (number one),' said Raducanu, who paired up with Boulter for the first time in the doubles earlier this week. 'But I wouldn't say it's the most important thing for me. 'Having Katie in front it was nice for me to have something to chase, and now I'm sure she's going to enjoy that with me. The grass season is still young and so is the rest of the season. 'We have a healthy competition between us two. I want to see her do well, she wants to see me do well. It was nice to play doubles with her this week.' The timing of this new tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – means Boulter is down points because she won Nottingham last year in the same week, allowing Raducanu to leapfrog her for the time being. Raducanu looked to be cruising after claiming her first break in the opening game before winning the following four. Lifting each other up 🇬🇧❤️ Emma Raducanu reacts to becoming British No.1 again on Monday — LTA (@the_LTA) June 12, 2025 But Sramkova was determined to stay in it, saving two set points before breaking the Briton's serve in the sixth, eventually reducing the deficit to 5-4 before Raducanu regrouped, holding to love to seal the first set. It was a similar story in the second as Raducanu swiftly sealed a double break then made it 4-0. Then the Slovakian, four places lower on the WTA rankings than number 37 Raducanu, dug deep again, saving three break points in the fifth game to win her first of the set before the home favourite ensured she was a game away with a backhand to hold the sixth. And while she could not close out the match at the first time of asking, Raducanu would not be denied again as another break sealed her place in the last eight – and a meeting with top seed Qinwen Zheng. Raducanu, has – alongside Boulter – on more than one occasion found herself the target of stalkers. She welcomed the news that Wimbledon on Thursday affirmed athlete security was a top priority, though added 'whenever I've played at Wimbledon I felt very well protected, very safe.' Katie Boulter was beaten by Diana Shnaider (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Boulter said she enjoyed 'some of the best grass court tennis I have played' in the first set but was undone again by her first serves in the next two, double-faulting nine times in the match. She added: 'I'm very happy for (Raducanu) to be British number one but at the same time, it's going to be fun for me to chase her now, and I think she's been doing that for a while. Now it's kind of my turn.' Briton Heather Watson also bowed out in the last 16 after she was beaten 6-4 6-2 by former Wimbledon champion and fourth seed Elena Rybakina.


Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Copacabana Sands maintains strong form to land Barberstown Castle Stakes
The three-year-old filly landed the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas last time out, prior to which she was a respectable fifth in the Priory Belle despite encountering very little luck in running. At Leopardstown she returned at the same Group Three level as the latter contest, and under Wayne Lordan was an 11-2 chance when prevailing by a length and three quarters. 'She won her Listed race on good ground the last day but Wayne felt she probably improved for that (soft) ground,' said O'Callaghan. 'She found trouble again in running, she seems to do that, but she showed a bit of class and a bit of grit to get out and quicken up to win well. 'We'll probably plan an autumn campaign for her. The ground would be a factor and she's also been on the go from early in the spring. 'She tries very hard, so she leaves nothing behind and deserves a break.' Gavin Cromwell's Brownstown could have a smart future after making a winning introduction in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden. Brownstown (Cracksman) makes a nice start with the hope she could a stakes filly in the making for @gavincromwell1 at @LeopardstownRC — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 12, 2025 Sent off the 3-1 second favourite in the hands of Gary Carroll, the daughter of Cracksman showed a likeable attitude once kicking clear of the field to hold on for a half-length success. Carroll said: 'She's a filly we like a lot. She's a big, long-striding filly who travels well and has a gear. 'She picked up to win well and has got tired inside the furlong pole. She had a good blow, and the ground is probably as slow as she wants it. She has a bit of class. 'She won a barrier trial well and stepped forward. She's a very straightforward filly and I think as the year goes on, she'll keep improving.' There was also a first victory for Dermot Weld's Sindria (3-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, with the daughter of Kodiac running on strongly in the hands of Chris Hayes to pip Johnny Murtagh's 6-4 favourite Shakazia. Dermot Weld's Sindria won nicely (PA) Weld said: 'She ran a very good race on her only run as a two-year-old and at Naas the ground was probably a bit quick for her, and she ran too free early on. 'She only finished about four lengths behind the favourite in Naas having done a lot wrong. We've spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks just getting her to relax and settle to enjoy her work. The proof of the pudding was winning there today. 'She's by Kodiac out of a Galileo mare and that's why she came home well there. A good ride from the winning jockey.'


South Wales Guardian
5 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Contenders to replace Thomas Frank as Brentford boss after his move to Tottenham
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the candidates to replace Frank, who had held the position since 2018. Town fans, Thank you. 💙 Today marks the end of a challenging season, but tomorrow marks day one of a challenge we will attack, together. COYB. — Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) May 25, 2025 Relegation from the Premier League has failed to tarnish McKenna's reputation as one of the brightest British coaches around. The fact McKenna guided Ipswich into the top flight after they were in League One as recently as 2023 highlights his undoubted talent. With the ability to mix free-flowing football with pragmatism, the 39-year-old could be a good fit for Brentford and was linked with several prestigious vacancies last summer. Bodo/Glimt boss Knutsen has earned admirers for his work at the Norwegian club, where he has taken them from Scandinavian minnows to Europa League semi-finalists. Knutsen has won four Eliteserien titles during his seven-year spell and been mentioned as a candidate for roles at Rangers, Celtic and Leeds in recent seasons. Could the prospect of a Premier League job tempt Knutsen to leave Bodo? If Brentford want to keep some Danish continuity at Gtech Community Stadium, they could try to replace Frank with compatriot Hjulmand. The former Denmark boss has been out of work since he left the national team last summer, but is a familiar face to certain members of the Bees' squad. Captain Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard were all regulars under Hjulmand, who impressively managed his nation to the Euro 2020 semi-finals under emotional circumstances after Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest. A left-field option given his lack of Premier League experience, but Danny Rohl has masterfully navigated his first managerial role. Sheffield Wednesday were destined for relegation before Rohl, 36, turned around a sinking ship and last season helped them finish a respectable 12th place. The German coach has been linked with a string of Bundesliga jobs. Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 6, 2025 Ange Postecoglou may be due a deserved break after a roller-coaster two years at Tottenham and even though him switching jobs with Frank seems unlikely, stranger things have happened. Postecoglou was dismissed by Spurs after a poor Premier League campaign, but ended the club's 17-year trophy drought and has won silverware in virtually every job. Would the Australian be tempted by an instant return to England's top flight?