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Shirley Ray MMC is a third generation magician following in the footsteps of her mother Ray Silver, father Johnny Neptune and her grandfather Jack Silver. Jack, an inventor, magical dealer and manufacturer, ran the Scottish Magic Studios in the late 1940’s. He was known for his craftsmanship, many of his props being beautifully crafted in glitter plastic perspex - or “bakelite” as it was then known. Ray and Jack later started the Edinburgh-based business “The Silray Magic Co.”
Shirley, who was brought up in the world of magic tricks, performed her first magic show at her own 8th birthday party on leaving school she worked alongside her mum and grandfather in the Silray Magic Company where she found an outlet for her creative and artistic side helping to make props and designing the artwork for many of Silray’s children’s effects. Shirley went on to take up magic professionally in her late teens. Since then, she has never looked back.
Shirley entered her first magic competition at the SAMS Convention in 1992 in which she scooped both the Harold McMillan Scottish Shield and the Murray Wand awarded for Showmanship. With a new act entitled “The Prince of Humbug”, Shirley was invited to compete in the 1994 Blackpool Magical Championships which was to win her the title “British Ladies Magical Champion.” Then, later the same year, she went on to compete in the IBM British Ring Shield Competition winning the “Craig Trophy.” Shirley is currently the organiser of the British Ring Shield Competition and knows from first hand experience how the competitors feel.
Shirley Ray is also an international award-winning balloon artist and entertainer who has received worldwide acclaim for her incredibly detailed and creative balloon sculptures. In Phoenix, Arizona 2007 at the Diamond Jam Balloon Convention, Shirley was the first lady and the first U.K. balloon artist to win the Twister of the Year award. In 2008, she became a CBA ( Certified Balloon Artist ) and in 2009 qualified as a QAI ( Qualatex Approved Instructor ).
Shirley is passionate about magic and is honoured to represent the members of the British Ring as their President and ambassador over the coming year. She and her husband Dave ( who is also a very talented musician and the British Ring Musical Director ) are enthusiastically looking forward to visiting many magical societies and conventions and to making many more friends through our wonderful art of magic.
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