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Property industry legend Ivor Dickinson has died aged 64

Former colleague at Douglas & Gordon Ed Mead recalls how he revolutionised estate agency advertising during the 1980s and 1990s.

Nigel Lewis

ivor dickinson

One of estate agency’s best-known figures, Ivor Dickinson, has died it has been reported.

The 64-year-old was one of the most colourful and well-regarded seniors within the industry who was best known as the Managing Director of London agency Douglas & Gordon, which he led until 2013.

Since leaving the company after nominally retiring, he had been working for the past seven years as Chief Executive of the Lomond Group’s London and South operation.

But it is his 27 years at Douglas & Gordon which he will be best remembered for, starting as a negotiator at its Belham office in 1986 before rising through the ranks to lead the company with a pizzazz and good humour not often seen at the top of estate agency.

Before joining the industry Dickinson served in the Coldstream Guards in Belfast and Germany.

Revolutionised

Ed Mead - Viewber - imageEd Mead (pictured), who worked alongside Dickinson for many years, says: “It’s with regret that we hear of the death last weekend of Estate Agency legend Ivor Dickinson.

“Ivor was best known…[for the way he] revolutionised property advertising in the 90s and 00s.

“Just google ‘Douglas and Gordon advertising’ to see some prime examples.

“Many will remember him as a successful and colourful character who created a business with a service over profit mentality and will be much missed by family, colleagues and friends.”

Dickinson was not averse to PR stunts too. In 2011 he was behind the prank fly-on-the-wall film, Under Offer, who pretended to show estate agents at their worst which, although it caused hilarity within the industry, was taken seriously by some tabloid newspapers.

August 17, 2022

4 comments

  1. A true legend and such sad news. I was very lucky to work for D&G with Ivor at the helm, he had a personal interest in everybody with infectious enthusiasm and always a smile, he was a leader in the truest sense of the word and thoroughly respected. I remember the copious note taking at meetings which recorded everything that then always came back to haunt you and being made to listen to the American salesmanship cassettes with the inevitable discussions on technique that followed!! What a wonderful man, rest in peace.

  2. There are only a few people who genuinely stand out in our business. Ivor has been one of those for many years. If you’ve not seen the fun video (can’t believe it’s more than 10 years ago) then watch it. It is a masterclass in promotion/advertising. Sad to see him gone too soon.

  3. Sad sad news. And too young to leave us. He brightened our industry and gave licence to so many others to think outside the box, pulling agency away from its previously stuffy image. And of course an absolute gent as ever. Rest in peace Ivor. You will not be forgotten.

  4. That’s very sad news, when I was first starting out Ivor fascinated me both himself and the business. Seeing Douglas & Gordon slugging it out with Marsh & Parsons was to me my version of Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago.
    He clearly had such a different view to so many agents, as Ed quite rightly said i think he was outstanding from a marketing perspective and the Under Offer series I personally thought was the best I’ve seen to date in the industry.

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