David Raven, who was better known as Maisie Trollette and was believed to be the oldest drag performer in Britain, died on Wednesday in Brighton, England. His death was confirmed by a friend, Scott St. Martyn, who said that Mr. Raven had been living in a nursing home. Mr. Raven performed as Maisie Trollette for over half a century, wearing a blonde wig, a thick layer of makeup and long sequined dresses while singing old show tunes and cracking naughty jokes. He became a mainstay of the British drag circuit, a regular presence at the Brighton and Hove Pride event and a mentor to younger drag queens. Mr. Raven began performing in drag as the form became popular with the rise of Danny La Rue, a famous British drag performer (who was, according to Mr. St. Martyn, a big fan of Mr. Raven’s).

Source: The Times March 14, 2025 13:36 UTC