During some troubleshooting with AXIM, I did a re-install of ActiveSync and hard reset of device.
When all else failed a call to Dell support (lasting only 30 minutes start to finish) resulting in replacement of AXIM (delivery later today).
When going through calendar entries, I noticed many DUPLICATE entries (several hundred, come to find out).
Not wanting to rectify these duplicates by hand, a Google search found this handy utility that did it for me.
http://www.hlyspirit.org.uk/outlook.php
Mike