Dates

• Existence: 29 June 1925 - 25 December 2009

Biography

Joan was born in Streatham, London, on 29 June 1925.

Initially Joan started a career as a civil servant, following her father's footsteps. However, since childhood Joan had always wanted to work in showbusiness.

Joan appeared on stage in pantomimes and met Mark Raffles while they were both performing at the Theatre Royal Bilston. A short time later the pair were married and Joan became Mark's on stage assistant.

The new magic act toured under the name Mark Raffles and Joan and when they had their first child, Jaqui, they took her with them, however when their second child ws born, Joan left the act, devoting herself to the business side of Mark's work. She and her husband also dealt in property, and at one stage Joan ran a successful Margate guest house.

Joan and Mark had three children, Jaqui, Tim and Wendy, who followed their footsteps into showbusiness forming a vocal harmony act called Golden Brandy.

In her early 1950s, Joan went back on stage with her husband with a poodle act called The Wychwoods, which they travelled around variety theatres for the following twelve years performing in pantomime and television shows.

A bad fall and resulting complications led to Joan's eventual retirement from performing.

Joan Raffles died on 25 December 2009, aged 84, in Blackpool.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: