Eddie Dawes received The David Devant International Award on November 16 2002 at The Magic Circle awards Banquet. This award, initiated to celebrate the opening of the Centre for the Magic Arts in 1998, is presented to a person who, in the opinion of The Magic Circle, has made a significant contribution in advancing the art of magic or given outstanding service to magic internationally.

The David Devant is the premier award of The Magic Circle presented only when there is a worthy contender chosen by an international jury. At the Awards Banquet Eddie and Amy were joined by their sons, Michael and Adrian and family. There they heard President Michael Bailey read the citation that accompanies the Devant award. In reviewing Eddie’s remarkable career in both science and magic. Michael described Eddie’s contribution to the history and literature of magic as “staggering in both quality and output”.

The actual trophy, which Eddie retains, is a uniquely sculpted bronze replica of the life-size bust of the first President of The Magic Circle, David Devant.

Eddie described the evening as “a splendid occasion with delightful speeches by President Michael Bailey, Sir Bill Cotton and Rolf Harris, and a great cabaret featuring Roy Davenport, John Archer and Tommy Wonder. John Archer particularly was in tremendous form and had the place in delirious uproar, emphasising his claim to the Carlton Award for Comedy he had received shortly before, and leaving us in eager anticipation of his forthcoming appearance at our Annual Supper on 17 January. It was good too that another friend, Geoffrey Durham, was awarded the Maskelyne Trophy for his tremendous contributions to British Magic, and naturally I was very happy to receive the David Devant Award especially with the family in attendance”.

Magicians worldwide recognise Eddie as the pre-eminent world expert on the history of magic as a performing art. He is a performer, writer, historian, organiser, magical consultant, researcher … the list goes on. As well as being President of Hull Magicians’ Circle since 1965 Eddie is a Past President of the British Ring of The International Brotherhood of Magicians (1972/73), Scottish Conjurers’ Association Honorary Life President and Honorary Vice President of The Magic Circle. He has been elected to the Society of American Magicians’ Hall of Fame. His output of books, monographs and articles is prolific. There is hardly a magic magazine that has not had a contribution from Eddie. As this article is being written Eddie’s book on the life and magic of Stanley Collins, Stanley Collins - Conjurer, Collector and Iconoclast, has been published in the USA and his biography of Lyle written with Granville Taylor is about to be published. Eddie is the recipient of a Literary Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts, The Magic Circle Literary Award and in 1998 The Maskelyne Award by the Magic Circle for services to British Magic.

The three previous recipients of the Devant have all been from the USA, Jay Marshall, John Gaughan and Channing Pollock. Eddie is the first British magician to be honoured. There is no doubt that Eddie has made an outstanding contribution to magic internationally, President of The Magic Circle, Michael Bailey said at the conclusion of Eddie’s citation, “For his exceptional talents as a writer, and in recognition of his work as a world authority on the history of magic, The David Devant International Award is presented to Dr Eddie Dawes”.