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Professor Eddie Dawes
Remembered by Jon Marshall
Renowned
magic historian Professor Eddie Dawes died on Friday 3rd March 2023. He’d had a
couple of days in hospital and sadly developed pneumonia. Eddie was 97 and was
born in Goole in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 6th July 1925, named Edwin
Alfred Dawes, but of course no one called him Edwin, he was always Eddie to all
his friends.
Eddie was without doubt the world’s leading authority on magic history,
internationally recognised by numerous awards from many organisations. As Ricky
Jay said in the March 2011 Genii magazine, “I marvel at the outpouring of his
books, monographs, commentaries, reviews, introductions, and opuscules. He is a
treasure”. He will be much missed by so many who would ‘Ask Eddie’ for help with
their magic history research. Collect, Collate and Communicate were Eddie’s
three Cs of magic history research and communicate he did with an amazing output
of publications. Just take a look at Eddie’s Wiki page
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_A._Dawes, there’s a list of his many
achievements including Eddie’s scientific work.
Eddie was a stalwart on the Hull Magicians’ Circle Quiz team when they
participated in the annual, fun, magical quiz nights for northern magic clubs
organised by Mike Shepherd of Castle Magic. Hull were frequent winners. On one
occasion, quiz master Mike asked for a date, to the nearest decade, of an
historic magic poster. Eddie's reply was not just the decade but the year of
publication, information about the tour, the printer, details of the different
editions and facts about the trick depicted. The opposing team rose as one and
waved white hankies!
Eddie was Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Hull from 1963 to 1990
where as Chairman of the library committee he was a friend of the poet Philip
Larkin. Later Eddie became chair of the Philip Larkin Society. Eddie loved
cricket and rugby, sports he had participated in as a young man. Eddie was
married to Amy Dawes for over sixty years and said in an interview, “everything
I have achieved in my work and in magic I could not have done without the help
and support of Amy by my side”. As the duo Professor Bluffman and Madame Patrice
they created a successful stage act , Only Make Believe, appearing on the IBM
British Ring Gala show in 1958. Over the years Eddie made several television
appearances.
After Amy’s death in 2014 he adapted to looking after himself. Lately with the
amazing help and resourcefulness of his sons Mike and Adrian he was enabled,
despite advancing years and increasing frailty , to remain independent and
relatively mobile and active in Dane Hill, Anlaby, surrounded by his books and
magical archive so important in his continuing magical research. Eddie was
President of Hull Magicians’ Circle since 1965 and did so much to sustain and
help the Circle. He was awarded the Gold Medal of The Magic Circle, one of only
ten recipients and was President of the British Ring IBM in 1973, later becoming
a Vice President. Eddie’s magical links with Scotland, he lectured at the
University of Glasgow from 1951 to 1963, were recognised when in 1974 he was
made Honorary Life President of the Scottish Conjurers Association. Eddie and
Amy’s hospitality was legendary and their visitors' book reads like a who’s who
of magic. Eddie’s kindness and generosity was well known to his friends and
others - he continued receiving queries for help on magical history topics to
the last and was always happy to share his knowledge.
Eddie’s many books and writings will live on as a lasting legacy of his
scholarly research and knowledge culminating in the current publication of nine
volumes of The Rich Cabinet Collection comprising forty-eight years of his
magical research published by Magicana. Sincere sympathy and condolences are
extended to Eddie’s family including the latest addition to the Dawes’ clan, his
great granddaughter Freya.
There are countless magical friends, readers, acquaintances whose lives Eddie
touched and will greatly miss him.
Jon Marshall , March 2023