Charles Dawe
A notable local worthy, and someone who established a world-wide reputation in the world of music, was Dr. Charles Dawe. Charles Dawe was born in Taibach on 16th of March, 1876, the census of 1881 shows that living at 8 Greenfield, Upper Taibach, were Elizabeth Dawe aged 42, William Dawe aged 12, Charles Dawe aged 5, and Mary Dawe aged 3.
Charles also lived in Cotton Row, Taibach when he married his wife May; they lived in rented rooms and it was there they were blessed with the birth of their son Gounod (named after the French composer of Ave Maria)
Charles had a strong interest in music from an early age, and became involved with conducting local choirs. However, he became restless with the musical scene in Wales, and decided, in 1912, at the age of 36, that his future lay in the United States. He travelled to America alone, leaving May and Gounod behind until he sorted himself out. He settled in Cleveland Heights in Ohio.
In a short while they followed him, but May became homesick and couldn't settle, and returned home bringing young Gounod with her. It was two years before they returned to America, and the family were re-united once more.
Charles meanwhile had studied at Chicago University, and had been honoured with his Doctorate of Music degree. He became the choirmaster of the Calvalry Anglican Church. He returned to Britain at the advent of the First World War to serve his country, even surviving the torpedoing of his ship on the journey over. He returned to Cleveland after the war, to become the founder of The Cleveland Orpheus Choir in 1921, which soon established a world-wide reputation, even crossing the Atlantic to compete, and win, first prize in the 1926 National Eisteddfod in Swansea.
He conducted several large choirs and at one time in 1930, he was conducting 450 singers in 11 differnt groups each week.
Following World War 2 he returned to Wales to assist in reviving the National Eisteddfod choral competition with a bequest from a Cleveland industrialist called Edwin Griffiths. Charles and his wife Mary crossed the Atlantic every year from 1946 until 1958, using the liner Queen Mary to go one way, and using the liner Queen Elizabeth for the return journey. One of his proudest moments was when he was invited to becaome a member of the Bardic Circle of the National Eisteddfod. This honour had been well and truly earned because he was renowned as an Eisteddfod adjudicator, and also brought generous donations from Welsh/Americans to further the aims of Eisteddfodau. He was a fluent Welsh speaker, and on his visits to Port Talbot, he spoke in Welsh with his sister, brother-in-law and numerous friends.
Their stay in Port Talbot was normally between six to eight weeks, and a particular delight for Charles was if he caught the Whitsun gathering of local chapels at the Talbot Memorial Park, where he would join in and sing the Welsh hymns with lots of hwyl! They usually stayed with the brother of May, and never ventured far from the area, except on one occasion when they stayed at the Seabank in Porthcawl, while they visited the Eisteddfod.
Charles was a man of tremendous vitality, a chain smoker, and someone who only needed about five hours sleep every night. He was renowned for his wicked sense of humour, and when the mood took him he was an accomplished orator on most subjects. Back home in Clevelands Heights in Ohio, he passed the time by raising homing pigeons, and collecting Staffordshire pottery figurines. He was also a prominint member of the Masonic Order in The United States.
He had relinquished his Wesley (Taibach) upbringing by becoming a Christian Scientist during his latter years, but he always made sure of attending services in Wesley Chapel during his Port Talbot visits.
Unlike our other Port Talbot emigrant Sir Anthony Hopkins, Charles declined American citizenship, and remained true to the country of his birth.
Charles and May moved from Cleveland Heights and retired to St. Petersburg, in Florida. Sadly after only a few months in Florida, this great man of music, and a wonderful ambassador from our area passed away at the local hospital, on the 24th of August, 1958, at the age of 72, due to the complications arising from a strangulated hernia. He was survived by his wife May and son Gounod. It is though - but not confirmed - that Gounod died not long afterwards in his early forties.
Charles, in anticipation of his demise had purchased a plot in Goytre Cemetery in the late 1930's. His body was brought back to his beloved Taibach on board the liner Queen Mary accompanied by his widow May, and nephew Haydn Spong. He was buried in Goytre in early September 1958. His grave is through the main gates, and is the sixth grave on the right, of black marble.
Submitted by Brynmor Evans, with thanks to the late Sylvia Fletcher for additional material.
Charles also lived in Cotton Row, Taibach when he married his wife May; they lived in rented rooms and it was there they were blessed with the birth of their son Gounod (named after the French composer of Ave Maria)
Charles had a strong interest in music from an early age, and became involved with conducting local choirs. However, he became restless with the musical scene in Wales, and decided, in 1912, at the age of 36, that his future lay in the United States. He travelled to America alone, leaving May and Gounod behind until he sorted himself out. He settled in Cleveland Heights in Ohio.
In a short while they followed him, but May became homesick and couldn't settle, and returned home bringing young Gounod with her. It was two years before they returned to America, and the family were re-united once more.
Charles meanwhile had studied at Chicago University, and had been honoured with his Doctorate of Music degree. He became the choirmaster of the Calvalry Anglican Church. He returned to Britain at the advent of the First World War to serve his country, even surviving the torpedoing of his ship on the journey over. He returned to Cleveland after the war, to become the founder of The Cleveland Orpheus Choir in 1921, which soon established a world-wide reputation, even crossing the Atlantic to compete, and win, first prize in the 1926 National Eisteddfod in Swansea.
He conducted several large choirs and at one time in 1930, he was conducting 450 singers in 11 differnt groups each week.
Following World War 2 he returned to Wales to assist in reviving the National Eisteddfod choral competition with a bequest from a Cleveland industrialist called Edwin Griffiths. Charles and his wife Mary crossed the Atlantic every year from 1946 until 1958, using the liner Queen Mary to go one way, and using the liner Queen Elizabeth for the return journey. One of his proudest moments was when he was invited to becaome a member of the Bardic Circle of the National Eisteddfod. This honour had been well and truly earned because he was renowned as an Eisteddfod adjudicator, and also brought generous donations from Welsh/Americans to further the aims of Eisteddfodau. He was a fluent Welsh speaker, and on his visits to Port Talbot, he spoke in Welsh with his sister, brother-in-law and numerous friends.
Their stay in Port Talbot was normally between six to eight weeks, and a particular delight for Charles was if he caught the Whitsun gathering of local chapels at the Talbot Memorial Park, where he would join in and sing the Welsh hymns with lots of hwyl! They usually stayed with the brother of May, and never ventured far from the area, except on one occasion when they stayed at the Seabank in Porthcawl, while they visited the Eisteddfod.
Charles was a man of tremendous vitality, a chain smoker, and someone who only needed about five hours sleep every night. He was renowned for his wicked sense of humour, and when the mood took him he was an accomplished orator on most subjects. Back home in Clevelands Heights in Ohio, he passed the time by raising homing pigeons, and collecting Staffordshire pottery figurines. He was also a prominint member of the Masonic Order in The United States.
He had relinquished his Wesley (Taibach) upbringing by becoming a Christian Scientist during his latter years, but he always made sure of attending services in Wesley Chapel during his Port Talbot visits.
Unlike our other Port Talbot emigrant Sir Anthony Hopkins, Charles declined American citizenship, and remained true to the country of his birth.
Charles and May moved from Cleveland Heights and retired to St. Petersburg, in Florida. Sadly after only a few months in Florida, this great man of music, and a wonderful ambassador from our area passed away at the local hospital, on the 24th of August, 1958, at the age of 72, due to the complications arising from a strangulated hernia. He was survived by his wife May and son Gounod. It is though - but not confirmed - that Gounod died not long afterwards in his early forties.
Charles, in anticipation of his demise had purchased a plot in Goytre Cemetery in the late 1930's. His body was brought back to his beloved Taibach on board the liner Queen Mary accompanied by his widow May, and nephew Haydn Spong. He was buried in Goytre in early September 1958. His grave is through the main gates, and is the sixth grave on the right, of black marble.
Submitted by Brynmor Evans, with thanks to the late Sylvia Fletcher for additional material.