Paul Raymond (publisher)

Lore & Background

Raymond was born in Liverpool to Frank Joseph and Maud McKeown, one of three sons of an Irish Roman Catholic family. His father abandoned the family when Raymond was five, and he was raised by his mother. He attended St Francis Xavier's College in Liverpool and, after wartime relocation to Glossop, Derbyshire, was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers. Leaving school at 15, he worked as an office boy on the Manchester Ship Canal, played drums with dance bands, served as a Bevin Boy in a coal mine (giving up after a day), and completed National Service in the Royal Air Force as a switchboard operator and bandsman. He sold nylons and petrol coupons on the black market and changed his name at 22 when he attempted a show business career as a mind-reader on Clacton pier. His magazines eventually included Razzle and Mayfair. He was the target of two extortion attempts, disclosed in 2010 Metropolitan Police papers.

Reader's Guide

Paul Raymond's significance lies in his pioneering role in the UK's adult entertainment and property industries. This venture, combined with his later publishing empire—including Men Only, Mayfair, and Razzle—made him a central figure in the commercialization of soft-core pornography in Britain. His legacy is complex: he was both celebrated as the 'King of Soho' and criticized for the seedy reputation of his clubs. Raymond's career reflects the intersection of entertainment, publishing, and real estate in post-war Britain, as well as the shifting legal and social attitudes toward adult content.

Did You Know?

• Raymond was born Geoffrey Anthony Quinn and changed his name at age 22 when he attempted a show business career as a mind-reader on Clacton pier.