Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 07 September 1912
Mr Charles Dawson
Charles Dawson, son of Mr Albert Dawson, of Tickhill Square, Denaby Main, and a leading member of the Denaby Main Ambulance Band, is a rising young cornet player hovering great things are expected, and since leaving Denaby a few weeks ago he has made a capital hit by joining one of the crack bands of the country, that of Foden’s Motor works in Cheshire.
He is only 18 years of age, and is one of the smartest exponents of this difficult instrument that music loving South Yorkshire has yet produced. He owes a great deal to the careful and excellent tuition of Mr C Elson, the well-known solo cornetist, of Rotherham, and to Mr Moses soar, the Denaby ambulance band bandmaster, the latter having given him instruction in orchestral work as well, but his natural talent for music is remarkable and if he progresses at his present rate, this ex Denaby pit lad will shortly arrival the brilliant Paley, of Leeds.
He commenced his career in a competition at Elsecar, and the age of 14, and won fourth prize. That encouraged him to go on, and in 1910 he competed at Rockingham, and was awarded second prize in 19 competitors; while a week or two later he lifted another prize at Rawmarsh, together with a special silver medal for the best by soloist under 16 years of age. Last winter he obtained a fourth-place prize at South Elmsall and a fifth that Featherstone, while later he took a second prize and medal at Doncaster, where there again were 19 competitors.
This led to his first big success – a first at Bulwell out of 36 competitors, and he went on to take third that Kippax and Dronfield. His most brilliant success, so far however, has been at Queensbury, towards the close of last winter, when he beat 21 others for first prize.
Young Dawson has lived in a musical atmosphere, and has had a thoroughly good grounding at Denaby, where he has many friends, who heartily wish him further success.