Paul Raymond (publisher)

Paul Raymond was the alias of Geoffrey Anthony Quinn, (15 November 1925 - 2 March 2008).

Born and raised in Liverpool where he attended St. Francis Xavier's College, Raymond and his family were abandoned by his father when he was young. The outbreak of the Second World War prompted their relocation to Glossop in Derbyshire, where he was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. He changed his name when he tried to break into showbusiness as a mind-reader on Clacton pier at the age of 22.

His self-made fortune came from pornography, property development and ownership of the Raymond Revuebar strip club and several major English erotic magazines such as "Razzle", "Men Only", "Mayfair" and the short-lived "King". Models featured in his magazines included Fiona Richmond (who became Raymond's girlfriend towards the end of his marriage), Joanne Guest, Shanine Linton, Aria Giovanni and Veronica Zemanova. Raymond regularly appeared on UK rich lists and was widely believed to be a billionaire.

Raymond started out by opening the Raymond Revuebar strip club in the former Doric Ballroom in Soho's Walker's Court in 1958, which was at the time the first British strip club, and continues to the present day as a cabaret venue. [ [http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/lon203.html Raymond's Revue Bar, Soho, London ] ] He was frequently referred to in the press as the "King of Soho".

In recent years, his fortunes waned due to competition from "lad mags" that were not as sexually explicit as his own publications. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4185678-102271,00.html Observer | Top shelf gathers dust ] ] He began to hand over control of his empire to his daughter Debbie during the early 1990s, until her death in 1992 from an apparently accidental drugs overdose. Raymond also had two sons, the eldest from a relationship prior to his marriage. He was estranged from his ex-wife and sons. Raymond had 4 recognised grandchildren: Cheyenne and Boston Raymond, from son Howard and Fawn and India Rose James from daughter Debbie. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7275177.stm BBC NEWS | UK | Porn baron Raymond dies aged 82 ] ]

Raymond long ago diversified beyond pornography, and had many millions tied up in property and real estate, most notably in Soho, through his company, Soho Estates. [ [http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3000766 Property and porn - Property Week ] ] He was listed at #62 on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2004 and valued at £600 million, although it has been claimed that this was only a fraction of his wealth. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7275177.stm BBC NEWS | UK | Porn baron Raymond dies aged 82 ] ]

Paul Raymond died, aged 82, from undisclosed causes.

ee also

*Paul Raymond Publications [http://www.paulraymond.com Visit the official website]

References

*"Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema" by Simon Sheridan (third edition) (Reynolds & Hearn books) (2007)

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/R/real_lives/raymond_credits.html The Real Paul Raymond (Channel 4)]
* [http://www.sexclub.co.uk/ Official Home of Paul Raymond Magazines on the Net]
* "Guardian Online" report: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/03/1 "King of Soho" Paul Raymond dies aged 82]
* "Times Online" report: [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3475064.ece Paul Raymond, porn baron who became 'the King of Soho', is dead]
* "Times" obituary: [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3479153.ece The man who owned seedy Soho]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/03/db0304.xml "Daily Telegraph" obituary for Paul Raymond]
* "BBC News:" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7275177.stm Porn baron Raymond dies aged 82]
* "The Stage:" [http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20015/revuebars-raymond-dies-at-82 Revuebar’s Raymond dies at 82]
* "PaulRaymond.com:" [http://www.paulraymond.com -Official Website of Paul Raymond Publications]