Adam Alexander Dawson
Encyclopedia
Adam Dawson was a noted film editor.
Adam Alexander Dawson was born at 33 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh
, son of Alexander Bashall Dawson and Aileen Twentyman Smithers. He was a descendant of both the Dawson whisky family
of St Magdalenes Distillery
, Linlithgow
, and the Gillon whisky family of Leith
.
Dawson was educated at Edinburgh Academy
, Stowe School
, and The Queen's College, Oxford
where he was President of the Oxford University Film Society. He joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment
and from 1942 to 1946 he edited and produced many training films for the Army while in India. He subsequently worked for Nettlefold Studios
and for the BBC
as a Film Editor. While working for the BBC he edited a number of productions, including Z-Cars
, Doctor Who
and The Benny Hill Show
, although he refused to have his name in the credits of the latter. Among his films are Knight Without Armour
(1937), The Conquest of the Air (1940), The Glass Mountain
(1949), A Place in the Country (1967), The World of Coppard (1968), The World His Challenge (1967), The Highland Jaunt (1968) and the Doctor Who
serial Spearhead from Space
(1970).
He was married three times. His first marriage in 1942 to Nora Francisca Blackburne
ended in a divorce in 1946 following Nora's affair with the director Jack Lee
, whom she subsequently married. In December 1946 he married Elizabeth Grice, and in 1983 married Pamela Gwyneth Ward (née Owen-Williams).
Adam Alexander Dawson was born at 33 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, son of Alexander Bashall Dawson and Aileen Twentyman Smithers. He was a descendant of both the Dawson whisky family
Adam Dawson (distiller)
Adam Dawson was a Provost of Linlithgow, Scotland, and owner of St Magdalene Distillery in Linlithgow.-Background:...
of St Magdalenes Distillery
St. Magdalene (whisky distillery)
The St. Magdalene distillery was a producer of single malt Scotch whisky that operated between 1798 and 1983.-History:St. Magdalene was established at least by 1798 . During its early life, it was known as "Linlithgow" after the town in which it was built, and was originally located at Bonnytoun....
, Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, and the Gillon whisky family of Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
.
Dawson was educated at Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
, Stowe School
Stowe School
Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...
, and The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
where he was President of the Oxford University Film Society. He joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment
Royal Berkshire Regiment
The Royal Berkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 49th Regiment of Foot and the 66th Regiment of Foot.The regiment was originally formed as The Princess Charlotte of Wales's , taking the...
and from 1942 to 1946 he edited and produced many training films for the Army while in India. He subsequently worked for Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios
Nettlefold Studios were located in what is now Hepworth Way, Walton-on-Thames. Cecil Hepworth began film making there in 1899, but the name derives from the subsequent owner, Archibald Nettlefold, who rebuilt the studios on the original site. During the late fifties the studio changed its name to...
and for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a Film Editor. While working for the BBC he edited a number of productions, including Z-Cars
Z-Cars
Z-Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby in the outskirts of Liverpool in Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.-Origins:The series was developed by...
, Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill.There were various incarnations of the show between 1951 and 1991, and it aired in over 140 countries. The show is generally sketch-based with heavy use of slapstick, mime, parody and double-entendre...
, although he refused to have his name in the credits of the latter. Among his films are Knight Without Armour
Knight Without Armour
Knight Without Armour is a 1937 British historical drama film made by London Films and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by Jacques Feyder and produced by Alexander Korda from a screenplay by Lajos Biró adapted by Frances Marion from the novel by James Hilton. The music score was by...
(1937), The Conquest of the Air (1940), The Glass Mountain
The Glass Mountain (film)
The Glass Mountain is a film released in 1949. It starred Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray and Valentina Cortese. The theme music by Nino Rota is memorable...
(1949), A Place in the Country (1967), The World of Coppard (1968), The World His Challenge (1967), The Highland Jaunt (1968) and the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
serial Spearhead from Space
Spearhead from Space
Spearhead from Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 3 January to 24 January 1970. The serial opened Series 7 of the show and was the first to be produced in colour. The serial introduced Jon Pertwee as the...
(1970).
He was married three times. His first marriage in 1942 to Nora Francisca Blackburne
Nora Francisca Blackburne
Nora Lee was a Casting Director.Nora Francisca Blackburne was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina daughter of a banker John Devereaux Blackburne and Francisca Magaria Lopez. Nora was educated at South Hampstead High School and then RADA...
ended in a divorce in 1946 following Nora's affair with the director Jack Lee
Jack Lee (film director)
Jack Lee was a film director, writer, editor and producer.Wilfred John Raymond Lee was born in the village of Slad near Stroud in Gloucestershire...
, whom she subsequently married. In December 1946 he married Elizabeth Grice, and in 1983 married Pamela Gwyneth Ward (née Owen-Williams).