Edwin Alfred Dawes

Edwin Alfred Dawes (6 July 1925 – 3 March 2023) was a British biochemist and stage magician from Yorkshire. As a biochemist, he authored two textbooks and was the long-term and founding head of the Biochemistry department at the University of Hull, where he led its research into bioplastics. As a magician, he was an internationally recognised authority on the history of magic.

Early life and education Dawes was born in Goole in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 6 July 1925. He developed an interest in magic at the age of 5 when his father and grandfather performed for him during a period of illness. His interest in chemistry developed while at grammar school in Goole, and when he received a gas-mask during World War 2, he decided to test it by producing chlorine gas in the family shed.

Dawes completed his Bachelor of Science with Honours at the University of Leeds in 1946, and his PhD there in 1948. He was granted emeritus status in 1990, and awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by the university in 1992. In 1981 he became Publications Manager of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, and the following year commenced as Chief Editor of its FEMS Microbiology Letters journal. He retired from those positions in 1990, and subsequently became the society's archivist.

Dawes was chairman of the Philip Larkin Society from its founding in 1995, ten years after the death of the poet. They became friends while Larkin was librarian at the university's Brynmor Jones Library and Dawes was Chairman of the Library Committee (1974 to 1987). On 2 December 2016, after a long campaign, Larkin's memorial was unveiled at Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey by Dawes and Anthony Thwaite (the Society's president).

Works Dawes's 1956 textbook Quantitative Problems in Biochemistry was translated into 6 languages, and remained in print in Japan. with its text "outstanding for being concise yet clear". Its 1980 6th edition was considered as "disappointing" by two reviewers due to its abbreviated content and insufficient coverage of developments in the field, however another reviewer would recommend it without hesitation "as a valuable teaching and reference resource".

His 1986 textbook Microbial Energetics was aimed at the advanced undergraduate, with chapters on "microbial reserve compounds analogous to starch and glycogen of higher cells" deemed "especially authoritative and up-to-date", and with a writing style which "affords considerable pleasure simply by the manner in which the material is presented".

Magic Dawes was President of the Scottish Conjurers' Association from 1959 to 1963, and edited its magazine from 1958 to 1962. Dawes also edited the magazine for the Scottish Association of Magical Societies (SAMS), the national organisation for magical clubs in Scotland. He was President of the Hull Magicians Circle, and historian for The Magic Circle.

Dawes was a multi-award-winning historian of magic, and is likely to have been the most prolific. The Encyclopedia of Magic with Arthur Setterington, a number of monographs, and hundreds of articles including (since 1972) his long-running "A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities" monthly column in The Magic Circular . ) performed both as his assistant and solo.

Awards and honours 2020 - Honorary Vice President and Honorary Life Member of the Philip Larkin Society. 2018 - Allan Slaight Lifetime Achievement award from Magicana. 2017 – Gold Medal from The Magic Circle for "exemplary service to the Society or exceptional magical ability or both". Dawes was only the ninth recipient since 1926. 2016 – Special Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts. 2010 – John Nevil Maskelyne Prize (with Steve Short) from the Magic Circle for Entertainer with the Magic Touch about David Nixon. 2010 – the Edwin A. Dawes Award for Magic Scholarship was created by The Magic Collectors Association. 2006 – FISM award for History and Research. 2002 – David Devant Award from the Magic Circle for advancing the art of magic or providing outstanding service to magic internationally. 1998 – Maskelyne Award from the Magic Circle "for services to British magic". 1996 – made Honorary President of the Scottish Association of Magical Societies. 1984 – Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame. 1984 – Literary Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts. 1974 – made Honorary Life President of the Scottish Conjurers Association.