The magician died last month aged 100
The world's oldest magician who performed in Blackpool has died aged 100, with tributes pouring in for the man who performed professionally for more than eight decades.The magician spent years entertaining huge crowds until his retirement just three years ago. During his school years, he struggled due to a debilitating stammer and left when he was just 14.
At that point he was called Ray St Clair but changed his stage name to Mark Raffles after perfecting a pickpocket act, covering his stammer by a unique manner of speaking on stage. In 1947 he met his wife Joan, a dancer, at the Theatre Royal, Bilston, staying together for over 60 years. Mark also passed his magical knowledge onto his children Tim, Jacqui and Wendy. Tim told the MEN: "He was a great father and we were vey lucky to have a really diverse childhood.
One of Mark's closest friends was fellow magician and TV presenter Paul Zenon. He said that he first met Mark when he was working in Blackpool as a teenager.
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