Cyril Raymond

Cyril William North Raymond MBE (13 February 1899 in Rowley Regis, Staffordshire – 20 March 1973 in Ripe, near Lewes, Sussex) was a British character actor.

Of dozens of film and television appearances, probably his best-remembered role was as Fred Jesson, the husband of Celia Johnson's Laura Jesson in Brief Encounter (1945).

During the Second World War he served as a RAF fighter controller during the Battle of Britain and was awarded the MBE in the 1945 King's Birthday Honours. He reached the rank of Wing Commander.

The 1911 Census shows that he was 12-year-old, a schoolboy living at the Grand Hotel, Broad Street, Bristol. His mother Rose Raymond, 44 years old, was managing the hotel. His father Herbert Linton Raymond had died in 1906 at the hotel, Herbert and Rose are buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol.

He was married twice, first to Iris Hoey and then to Gillian Lind, both of whom were actresses.

Cutting from The Times 18 September 1922 - Miss Iris Hoey, the actress, was married yesterday at a Bristol Register Office to Mr Cyril Raymond, of Bristol, an actor. Mr Raymond's mother, Rose L. Raymond, is the manageress of the Grand Hotel, Bristol.

Witnesses were Rose L. Raymond, Florence M. Hingley, Alice Baines and A. S. Baines. Florence is a cousin of Cyril. Bridesmaid was Miss Shelley Carlton.

On 4 December 1923 with Iris Hoey he had a son John North Blagrave Raymond, who was born in Bristol.

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