Charles Walpole Sawyer, the third son and fifth child of Zechariah and Sarah Sawyer, was born November 2, 1910 in the settlement of Savannah Sound, Eleuthera. It was in this settlement that he began school in 1915 at the age of five, under the headmastership of Mr. W. B. Cooper.

His father had begun studies as a teacher but his dream was never realized. The dream, however, was passed on to Charles who received encouragement from his parents. More than that, when Charles was 12 years old, his parents made arrangements for him to live with and study under the careful eye of Mr. C. I. Gibson, who was then headmaster at Governor's Harbour Public School, for two years.

Just about that time, the good news came that the government would be offering scholarships to the Government High School in Nassau. "That became my ambition to win a scholarship!" said Charles. This he did, and in 1926 he left home and began studies at the Government High School, with such well-known Bahamians as R. N. Sawyer (his cousin), Gasper Weir, Drexel Armbrister, Victor Gibson and Ellison Thompson. By 1929, Charles had become a Student Teacher and was sent out on his first teaching assignment.

Charles hoped to remain in Nassau in order to complete studies for the Senior Cambridge Examination, but he was appointed by the Board of Education to the school in Moss Town, Exuma. "I was sent to Exuma. I thought to have stayed in Nassau a little longer to study for my Senior Cambridge Exam but I was not allowed to stay; I had to go out. So I went out and I studied very hard that year and, to the surprise of many, passed my Cambridge Exam from Exuma studying on my own." The year was 1930.
 
 
   
       
           
 

After only two years in Exuma, in 1932, Charles received a promotion as headmaster at the Western Junior School, on Hospital Lane, north of Meeting Street. He was the youngest headmaster the school had ever had, and remained there for six years.

In 1938 he became headmaster of the Eastern Senior School, (now the present location of the Shirley Street Post Office) succeeding Mr. C. I. Gibson, who had become his father-in-law when Charles married Hazel Evangeline in March 1937. Clement T. Maynard was one of his students at Eastern Senior.

While it may not have appeared as a promotion at the time, in retrospect, his children believe that his transfer to the school in North Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, in 1940, was one of the best things that could have happened to the family. It was there for 23 years that Charles and Hazel raised their ten children, and built relationships so strong that they have passed to the second generation. All their children attended the school, and together with their parents, participated in the life of the church and community. Some of his pupils were brothers Baltron and Philip Bethel, (later Director of Tourism, and Minister of Works and Utilities, respectively) brothers Glassford and Sherwin Thompson, Mervin Lim, and many others. The long time spent in Palmetto Point allowed Charles to be near his ageing parents, who lived in the neighbouring settlement of Savannah Sound.

It was not until 1963 that the call came again for a transfer to the northern end of Eleuthera, at The Bluff. Here Charles spent a relatively short time and retired from active service in 1969, owing to the onset of Multiple Sclerosis. He retired officially, but after his move to Nassau, continued to teach privately at his home in Stapledon Gardens, until his full retirement in 1986.

Charles' parents and grandparents were Methodists, and he continued the tradition, teaching Sunday School at Wesley Methodist Church in Nassau, the Methodist Church in Palmetto Point and The Bluff, Eleuthera. His dedication to the church and to God directed his principles over the years.

Some of the events that brought particular pride and pleasure to Charles were the following:

The Rev. Dr. Charles W. Saunders was named after Charles, who was at that time a teacher at the Moss Town, Exuma Public School.

1975 - In recognition of his contribution to education in the Bahamas, a school was named in his honour - the C. W. Sawyer Primary School on Harold Road. "The Great" Muhammad Ali was present for this event.

1978 - He was among the first teachers honoured by the Primary Principals Association.

1980 - On the occasion of his 70th birthday the institution's 5th Anniversary he was honoured by the C. W. Sawyer Primary School.

1990 - On attaining the age of 80, as a mark of respect and gratitude for all his love, guidance and sacrifice, his ten children bestowed on him the title "Honourable Dad".

In his own words, "I was proud to be a teacher! I was interested in teaching, helping to advance the children, and that seems to be what I wanted, and what I did."