PAPERS, artefacts, photographs and letters have helped piece together the picture of James Dixon, who founded Blackburn Orphanage more than 120 years ago.

They help tell the story of the man of enormous Christian faith, who was also a philanthropist, entrepreneur, marketeer and fundraiser, a husband, father and brother.

One of the most interesting items handed in to today’s organisation, Child Action Northwest by Mr Dixon’s granddaughter Nancy Hill, was a notebook, which is being transcribed and scanned as part of its Lottery-funded heritage project.

It belonged first to James’ father, who wrote essays in it in the early 1840s on subjects that were Christian in tone: health, clean living and temperance, with titles such as ‘To Produce Agreeableness’ and ‘Liberty of Consciences’.

Later, James used it to record not only a diary but also quotations from poets, philosophers, Bible commentators and jokes.

He also recorded facts and figures, lists of his accounts and even tips for home remedies.

His first dated entry is in 1877, when he was 22 and his last in 1933. Three years later he died, aged 80.

To give more people the chance to learn about the orphanage and its founder and visit the original building, a presentation, titled ‘Meet Mr Dixon’ will be staged next Wednesday at 7pm.

It will be given by Melanie Warren, Child Action Northwest archives historian, and tickets are £5. Telephone 01254 244700, or email hroberts-@canw.org-.uk Back in 1892, James Dixon also organised an appeal called Pound Day, asking people to donate a £1 for the orphanage — a week’s wage in those days.

If they could not afford to give cash, they were asked instead to donate a lb of something the orphanage could use, such as rice, sugar, tea, candles or soap.

The date of this event was June 24 and on June 24, this year, exactly 120 years on, there is to be another pound day event — a Victorian-themed, vintage fun day, including a helter skelter, chair-o-plane rides and traditional side stalls on the original site of the Wilpshire orphanage.