It’s My Life


Having recently retired from an astonishing 80 years in showbusiness, a world-famous magician and wartime entertainer has now settled into an RMBI Care Co home in the seaside town of Llandudno.


Queen Elizabeth Court in Llandudno is now home to 97-year-old Mark Raffles who is looking


forward to a well-earned rest aſter entertaining millions of people all over the world, including D-Day troops during the Second World War.


Mark became a regular on our TV screens during the 60s, 70s and 80s, appearing on popular variety shows with his famous pickpocket act under the stage name of Ray St Clair. He also guest starred on TV game shows such as 3-2-1, hosted by Ted Rogers.


Born in Manchester in January 1922, Mark discovered he had a giſt for magic at an early age. His family were in showbiz- his grandfather was a comedy star at the beginning of music hall in the 1800s, while his uncle, F.V. St Clair, appeared in the very first Royal Variety Command Performance in 1912. Mark’s mother, Amelia, appeared with film legend Charlie Chaplin in the original stage production of Casey Court.


Mark’s first professional engagement was in 1938 at the Queen’s Park Hippodrome in Manchester. He performed a silent magic act due to having a debilitating stammer.


With the onset of the Second World War, having failed his army medical because of his stammer, Mark worked as a bricklayer building air raid shelters. He was also part of the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) rescue squad during the Manchester blitz.


Before long, Mark was directed into the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), an organisation set up to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel. For the next three years, Mark entertained servicemen and women in army barracks and theatres all over the UK.


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As if by magic, Mark Raffles retired from over 80 years in showbusiness to reside at RMBI’s Llandudno care home. Here, we find out more about his exciting life…


It was during this time that Mark developed his famous pickpocket routine, standing in the foyer before the show looking like the perfect gentleman, who later produced items on stage stolen from the amazed audience.


Following D-Day in 1944, Mark was draſted into Europe, performing to British, American and Canadian troops. In May 1945, soon aſter Liberation Day, he performed for troops and civilians in the Channel Island of Guernsey.


Mark later received the Veterans Badge from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of his wartime service.


Aſter the war, Mark returned to playing the Music Halls with his famous on-stage pickpocket act. He first appeared on our television screens in 1949.


Mark began a new act aſter falling in love with his late wife Joan. For many years, the couple toured as ‘Mark Raffles and Joan’. They had three children who followed them into showbiz.


Mark and Joan later took over a well-known variety act called The Wychwoods. They had twelve toy poodles, which were seemingly produced out of thin air.


Mark is a life member of the Inner Magic Circle with a gold star. He is also both a past President of The International Brotherhood of Magicians and a life member and past President of the Blackpool Magicians Club. He is also a Life Member of the Invisible Lodge in the USA.


Mark, who was known as the oldest working magician in the world before his retirement, said: “I’ve had a marvellous life and I am lucky to have been able to continue for as long as I have. Magic has led me to meet all sorts of interesting people and enabled me to serve my country.”


On one occasion, before a show at a Royal Airforce Base in Lincolnshire, Mark recalls: “We were given a piece of chalk and shown buggy loads of bombs. We were invited to chalk our signature, messages or cartoons to Mr Hitler and we did it with gusto. Later that night, some members of our audience had to deliver those bombs and I couldn’t help but think; had we delivered the last bit of laughter and glamour some of those airmen would ever see? It certainly made you work hard to please.”


Do you know a care home resident with an incredible story to tell?


We want to hear it! Please get in touch with georgie@opusbm.co.uk for more information.


Credit: Top Leſt - RMBI Care Co. Bottom Leſt & Top Right - Mark Raffles. Bottom Right - RMBI Care Co.


www.rmbi.org.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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