Edwin Dawes
Hull biochemistry professor who delighted his friend, the poet Philip Larkin, with magic tricks
PROFESSOR EDWIN DAWES, who has died aged 97, combined a career as a biochemist whose research led to the development of the first completely biodegradable plastic, with that of a multi award-winning magician and prolific historian of magic.
Eddie Dawes was also a close friend at Hull University of the poet Philip Larkin, whom he entertained with sleights of hand and magic tricks. Ten years after Larkin’s death in 1985 he became founder chairman of the Philip Larkin Society and waged a long campaign for the poet to memorialised at Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.
On December 2 2016, his efforts were crowned with success when, together with the society’s president Anthony Thwaite, he unveiled Larkin’s memorial at Poet’s Corner. “I feared this would not happen following the claims of misogyny and racism and all the rest,” said Dawes. “But everything changes in time and it has been recognised that he is a great poet worthy of inclusion. Philip would be delighted.”
Edwin Alfred Dawes was born on July 6 1925, at Goole, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to Harold Dawes and Maude, née Barker. He became fascinated by magic aged five when his father and grandfather entertained him with some simple tricks while he was convalescing from a bout of pneumonia: “I was hooked after that.”
The next Christmas he was given his first box of tricks, then, by saving up tokens from boxes of Quaker Oats, he bought his first magic book, The Master Book of Magic. “I ate a lot of porridge,” he confessed.
His interest in chemistry developed at Goole Grammar School and he recalled how, during the war, he decided to test his gas mask by making chlorine gas in the garden shed: “Fortunately [the gas mask] worked.” He began his career as a lecturer in biochemistry at Leeds University, where he had taken a BSC and PHD, moving to Glasgow University in 1951 as a senior lecturer in biochemistry.
It was in Glasgow that he rekindled his interest in magic, serving as president, and later honorary life president, of the Scottish Conjurers’ Association and later honorary life president of the Scottish Association of Magicians, editing the magazines of both organisations.
In 1950 he married Amy Rogerson and when she banned science books in their bedroom, he read magic books instead. She too became interested, and they later formed an award-winning stage show “Only Make-believe: A Plethora of Prestidigitation,” in which they performed as Professor Bluffman and Madame Patrice.
In 1963 Dawes was appointed Reckitt Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Hull with a remit to establish a new Biochemistry department. In the early 1970s he began research into biodegradable plastics, but as he recalled in a BBC interview the work was shelved at the time because people thought that biodegradable plastic bags “would never catch on”.
As director of Hull’s biomedical research unit from 1981 to 1992, however, he returned to this research. His work on polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics led to the commercial development of Biopol, a biodegradable plastic polymer, by ICI. He also served as Hull University’s Dean of Science (1968-70) and Pro-vice-chancellor (1977-80).
Dawes first came into contact with Philip Larkin shortly after his arrival in Hull when Larkin, in his role as university librarian, wrote to him to discuss his library needs. They became good friends and at Larkin’s instigation Dawes became chairman of the university library committee.
One day Dawes invited Larkin to one of his magic shows, featuring, among other acts, the “Sceptre of Tutankhamun”. In his letter of thanks, a clearly delighted Larkin wished that Dawes had sawn a professor in half or doubled the library grant.
Larkin became a regular dinner guest at the Daweses’ home. In 1982, after an evening in which Larkin had been treated to a performance of magic by Dawes and the American critic Dale Salwak, another amateur magician, Larkin told Dawes it had been “one of the most remarkable” evenings he could recall.
Dawes gave performances of magic tricks at universities, professional societies and literary clubs, and appeared on television in shows such as Q.E.D and Take Nobody’s Word for It, as well as serving as consultant on documentaries. In 2018 he was the subject of I was Philip Larkin’s Magician,a half-hour profile on BBC Radio 4.
Dawes won numerous awards for his magic, including, in 2018, the Allan Slaight Lifetime Achievement Award. He served as president of the Hull Magicians’ Circle for more than 50 years, was a Gold Medalist and Gold Star Member of the Inner Magic Circle and was an honorary vice president and the official historian of the Magic Circle.
He wrote or co-wrote some 18 books on magic and magicians, as well as numerous articles and reviews. He contributed a monthly column, “A Rich Cabinet of Magical Curiosities”, to The Magic Circular, the official magazine of the Magic Circle.
Dawes’s wife Amy died in 2014. He is survived by two sons.
Professor Eddie Dawes, born July 6 1925, died March 3 2023