BILLY
RAYMOND
Billy was born Raymond Jamieson Hubner (pronounced Hewbner) in Paisley, Scotland, on 6 January 1938, the second son of Mary (née Jamieson, born 23 June 1904, died 6 September 1976) and Lawrence Edmond Hubner, born 5 January 1903, died 23 December 1962. Their first son John (Jack) Lawrence Hubner, was born in 29th April 1933. Lawrence worked for the Seedhill Finishing Company as a Foreman Dyer, and Mary was a school teacher in Paisley Grammar School. Jack subsequently became a Bank Manager in a Glasgow Branch of The Trustee Savings Bank until his retirement.
EDUCATION
Billy was educated at William B Barbour Academy/Paisley Grammar School from 1943-53.
Billy became a Paisley Abbey Choirboy at the age of 8. He entered 50 talent contests and won every one of them! From Paisley Grammar School he went on to study drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (RSAMD, Scotland’s equivalent to England’s RADA) and at Glasgow University, where he took a teaching course in Drama. However, as young Raymond was already taking part in professional productions, a practice which was seriously frowned upon by the RSAMD, Raymond decided to leave to avoid trouble.
So, after leaving his course at Glasgow University, in a show at the Edinburgh Empire, week commencing 24 October 1955, Billy Raymond appeared as ninth turn on the bill as an impressionist. It is not known which personalities of the time he was impersonating! Then, on week commencing 19 December 1955 for one week only, he appeared in the pantomime at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock and the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen called “Little Bo Peep and her Real Live Sheep” as “Dog Tray”, Mother Hubbard’s Sheep Dog! The show starred the late, great, Tommy Morgan, with Margaret Milne, Anne Fields, Charlie Sim and Danny Reagan (who was also the choreographer).
EDUCATION
Billy was educated at William B Barbour Academy/Paisley Grammar School from 1943-53.
Billy became a Paisley Abbey Choirboy at the age of 8. He entered 50 talent contests and won every one of them! From Paisley Grammar School he went on to study drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (RSAMD, Scotland’s equivalent to England’s RADA) and at Glasgow University, where he took a teaching course in Drama. However, as young Raymond was already taking part in professional productions, a practice which was seriously frowned upon by the RSAMD, Raymond decided to leave to avoid trouble.
So, after leaving his course at Glasgow University, in a show at the Edinburgh Empire, week commencing 24 October 1955, Billy Raymond appeared as ninth turn on the bill as an impressionist. It is not known which personalities of the time he was impersonating! Then, on week commencing 19 December 1955 for one week only, he appeared in the pantomime at the Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock and the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen called “Little Bo Peep and her Real Live Sheep” as “Dog Tray”, Mother Hubbard’s Sheep Dog! The show starred the late, great, Tommy Morgan, with Margaret Milne, Anne Fields, Charlie Sim and Danny Reagan (who was also the choreographer).
1938 - 1950s
