Rayner, Eleanor, Born 1938
Dates
- Existence: Born 1938
Biography
Eleanor Rayner was born in 1938. She was the daughter of William Rayner and Louise Rayner (nee Danter). William Rayner (often referred to as Billy Rayner) was the ringmaster of flea circus, which he took to fairs across the country, notably the Goose Fair. In an interview with the Nottingham Evening Post in 1957, he talked about the scarcity of human fleas: 'People are much cleaner and flea conscious these days'. The article mentions how he was trained by a German professor before the Second World War. He died in 1992.
William Rayner was the grandson of James Rayner, a play actor, who was born in 1849. James Rayner was married to fellow actor Elizabeth Rayner (nee Perkins), born in 1856. An obituary for James Rayner (also known as Jimmy Rayner) appeared in The World's Fair on his death in 1926. William Rayner's sister, Nellie Rayner married into another showman family on her wedding to Walter Chadwick.
Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:
700th Goose Fair Souvenir (Black and White), 1 October 1994
Two copies of a special publication by Nottingham Evening Post titled, '700th Goose Fair Souvenir'. Includes a welcome from the Lord Mayor, articles on the history of the fair, the stories of showmen involved in the fair and a map of the fairground in 1994. Illustrated with black and white photographs, 12pp.
700th Goose Fair Souvenir (Colour), 1 October 1994
Two copies of a special publication by Nottingham Evening Post titled, '700th Goose Fair Souvenir'. Includes a welcome from the Lord Mayor, articles on the history of the fair, the stories of showmen involved in the fair and a colour map of the fairground in 1994. Illustrated with colour photographs, 12pp.
Articles, c2005 - 2006
Articles on the history of the Rayner family, compiled by Eleanor Rayner.
Eleanor Rayner Collection
Small collection of souvenir newspapers, newspaper cuttings, articles and printed ephemera, relating to the Rayner family and their involvement in the Goose Fair, compiled by Eleanor Rayner.
Goose Fair: A Bygone Special, 24 September 2004
An edition of the Nottingham Post titled, 'Goose Fair: A Bygone Special'. Includes articles on the history of the Goose Fair. Illustrated with reproductions of advertisements and photographs, 31pp.
Goose Fair Newspaper Cuttings, 1960 - 1990
Newspaper cuttings, relating to the history of the Goose Fair, compiled by Eleanor Rayner. Includes articles taken from the Nottingham Guardian (1960 and 1962), and The World's Fair (1983, 1984 and 1990).
Miscellaneous Newspaper Cuttings, c1995 - 2005
Newspaper Cuttings, 1960 - 2005
Newspaper cuttings on the history of the Rayner family and the Goose Fair, compiled by Eleanor Rayner.
Old Nottingham Goose Fair: A Story in Pictures, 1975
Two copies of a special publication by Nottingham Evening Post titled, 'Old Nottingham Goose Fair: A Story in Pictures'. Includes a timeline covering the history of the Goose Fair from 1284. Illustrated with reproductions of advertisements and photographs of the fair taken between 1855 and 1950 47pp.
One of the Old School, c2005 - 2006
Typed transcription of an article, titled 'One of the Old School', concerning the life and career of actor and acrobat, James Rayner, written by Tom Norman for The World's Fair on 1 May 1926. The article also includes details of the acting career of James Rayner's late wife, Elizabeth Rayner (nee Parkin). Accompanied by two pages of photocopied photographs of unidentified members of the Rayner family, 4pp.
Programmes, 1975 - 2004
Souvenir newspapers relating to the history of the Goose Fair, compiled by Eleanor Rayner.
Rayner Family Tree, c1995 - 2005
Photocopy of the family tree of James Rayner, confectioner, and his son Samuel Rayner, confectioner and play actor, who married Sarah Stevenson in 1839. Their son, James Rayner born in 1849 was also an actor who married fellow actor, Elizabeth Perkins born in 1856. The family tree provides details of six generations of the Rayner family, and is thought to have been compiled by Eleanor Rayner, daughter of William Rayner and Louise Rayner (nee Danter), 2pp.
Showman's Guild Subscription Payment Receipt, 13 June 1994
Receipt issued to Miss Eleanor Rayner for her subscription to The Showmen's Guide, 1p.
Various Items, c1994 - 2005
Family trees and miscellaneous items, compiled by Eleanor Rayner.
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