photographer info please

[cuffie81]

This isn't as simple as it looks.

Cyril's brother was Augustus Arthur and there's no birth registrations for either. And their birth years differ slightly over the records.

Back tracking Raymond May, he's in Kensington in 1891, with a married couple George and Fanny Randall (nee Gould), who looked to have six children between 1876 and 1891.

The youngest two children being Arthur Augustus (born 1890) and Cyril Edward (born 1891), for which there's birth registrations and baptisms. But they do look very much like A A May and C E May, so was George Randall the father or possibly Raymond May?

By the 1901 census, Fanny is no longer with George and in 1911 George is recorded as being a widower, although it looks more like Fanny left him and was living with Raymond May.

There's a news item for George Randall's death in 1927, which states he is survived by one son, Herbert, but there is a Mr May amongst the principal mourners.


Augustus Arthur May:

GRO BMD references:

1924 Q2 Marriage - Augustus A May & Beatrice L E Brown; Wokingham; 2C; 962
1968 Q1 Death - Augustus A May; age 77 (born c1891); Reading; 6A; 213

Reading Standard
28 June 1924
page 5
[photo of Augustus and Beatrice with photo caption]
- Mr A A May, Photographer, of Reading,
- and Miss B Brown,
- who were married at St Peter's Church, Earley?,
- on Wednesday, June 18th
- Photo by C E May


Reading Evening Post
27 Jan 1968
page 7
Reading's Mr Gus May dies aged 77
- pioneer in the home cinema business in Reading,
- Mr Augustus May,
- known affectionately throughout the area as Gus,
- died this morning in the Royal Berkshire Hospital
- he opened his shop in London Street in the early 30's
- after working a number of years with his younger brother,
- the late Mr Cyril May,
- in his news and photography business
- Mr Gus May, who was 77,
- has been ill for about a fortnight
- Few knew that Mr May won the Military Medal in Egypt
- during the First World War when,
- disregarding the enemy's fire,
- he rescued a man by tying him to a shovel
...
- Mr May is survived by his widow, son and daughter


Probate
Augustus Arthur May
of 31 Southampton St Reading
died 27 Jan 1968
Probate
£983
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=may&yearOfDeath=1968&page=2#calendar


George and Fanny Randall:

GRO BMD references:

1876 Q2 Marriage - George Randall & Fanny Gould; Chelsea; 01A; 467
1927 Q4 Death - George Randall; age 75 (born c1852); Fulham; 01A; 380

1876 Q3 Birth - Emily Louisa Randall; Chelsea; 01A; 312; [not found on GRO]
1878 Q4 Birth - Susan Ann Randall (mmn: Gould); Chelsea; 01A; 312
1880 Q4 Birth - George Frederick Randall (mmn: Gould); Chelsea; 01A; 322
1882 Q4 Birth - Herbert Thomas Randall (mmn: Gould); Chelsea; 01A; 350; A
1890 Q3 Birth - Arthur Augustus Randall (mmn: Gould); Kensington; 01A; 161
1891 Q3 Birth - Cyril Edward Randall (mmn: Gould); Fulham; 01A; 325

Marriage
married: 17 Apr 1876; St Luke, Chelsea; banns
groom: George Randall; 24; bach; labourer; 79 Oslow? Dwellings
bride: Fanny Gould; 20; spin; -; 47 Cole Street
grooms father: Thomas Randall; labourer
brides father: John Gould; labourer
witnesses: William Henry Randall, Sarah Ann Roberts?

Baptism
name: Arthur Augustus Barndall (Randall?)
baptised: 03 Aug 18990; St Mary, Bollons?, West Brompton, Kensington
father: George; labourer
mother: Fanny
abode: 4 Clifton Place
born: 18 Jun 189_

Baptism
name: Cyril Edward Randall
baptised: 24 Jan 1892; St Peter, Hammersmith
father: George; labourer
mother: Fanny
abode: 195 Danes Rd
born: 08 Aug 1891


1881 Census
Onslow Dwellings, Chelsea, London
George and Fanny Randall
+ children
Ref RG11; Piece 84; Folio 24; Page 41; Schedule 187
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-HPZH

1891 Census
Clifton Place, Kensington, London
George and Fanny Randall
+ children
+ borders, including Raymond A May
Ref RG12; Piece 31; Folio 18; Page 31; Schedule 210
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3T2T-ZZM

1901 Census
Jerdan Place, Fulham, London
George Randall
+ Herbert Randall, son
+ Eliza Randall, sister
Ref RG13; Piece 59; Folio 109; Page 12; Schedule 84
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9HM-2P1

1911 Census
Jerdan Place, Fulham, London
George Randall
+ Herbert Randall, son, and Nellie Randall
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWLC-MK9

[cuffie81]

Westminster & Pimlico News
21 Oct 1927
page 8
Death of Mr G Randall
Jerdan Place Eel and Pie Shop
- a well known and highly esteemed Walham Green resident,
- Mr George Randall,
- proprietor of the eel and pie shop
- at 16 Jerdan Place, Fulham,
- passed away on October 13, aged 75
- he was one of Fulham's most popular traders,
- having been in business at the above address for 35 years
- his wife died about 20 years ago
- he is survived by one son, Mr Herbert Randall
- the deceased was born at Trowbridge
- and his parents came to London when he was nine years old
- as a youth he worked for Mr Dancocks, dairyman,
- Fulham Road, Chelsea
- about forty years ago he started an eel and pie business
- in Dawes Road, near "The Wilton"
- several years later he started the business at Jerdan Place
...
- the funeral took place on Monday
- a service was held at St John's Church, Walham Green
- so large was the concourse of onlookers outside the Church
- that police had to direct the traffic
...
- the internment was in a private grave at Fulham Cemetery, Sheen
- principal mourners were:
- Mr and Mrs H Randall (son and daughter-in-law)
- Mrs Thirtle (sister)
- Miss Nellie Randall (niece)
- Mrs Tom Randall (sister-in-law)
- Mr Ted Randall (nephew)
- Mrs Seex (niece)
- Miss Clark (niece)
- Mrs Jarrott (niece)
- Mr May
- Mr and Mrs Brown
- Mr Burgess
- Miss Keen
...
[has photo of George]

[Girl Guide]

Ah, so what likely occurred was that Fanny left George for whatever reason and lived with Raymond.  That would explain why I couldn't find any marriage as Fanny was already married. 

Cyril and Augustus took on the May surname, which again explains why there were no birth records under the name May.

Would you agree with that cuffie?

[cuffie81]

Yes, that's what it looks like to me, GG.

I think there could be some doubt as to who was the actual father of Cyril and Arthur/Augustus. Raymond was certainly regarded as their father based on the various news items in later years.