 He was then 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. Mark met his wife Joan, a dancer, at the Theatre Royal, Bilston, in 1947 and they were together for more than 60 years. In the 1980s, the couple took over a well-known variety act called The Wychwoods. They had 12 live poodle dogs, which were seemingly produced from thin air. The act played during summer seasons, pantomime and television for 12 years. Magician Mark Raffles spent almost 80 years in showbusiness ( North Wales Live/David Powell) Throughout his career, he appeared on more than 30 TV shows and performed alongside legendary acts such as Max Miller, Sandy Powell, and Ken Dodd. He worked until he was 97 with his final act 'Lord of the Rings' and was regarded as the oldest working magician in the world, prior to his retirement. Mark also passed){kind=link}
After taking a keen interest in magic and being taught by his uncle, Mark Raffles turned professional in 1938, performing a silent magic act at the Queen’s Park Hippodrome
The world’s oldest magician hailed for his pickpocket and magic dog acts has died.
Mark Raffles performed professionally for more than 80 years and was aged 100 when he passed away last month.
He was born Albert Taylor in Harpurhey, Manchester on January 22 1922 and his lengthy career spanned 81 years, until her retired three years ago.
The Manchester Evening News reports that tributes were paid to the magician, who struggled at school due to a debilitating stammer and left when he was just 14.