I was delighted and honoured to be asked to say a few words today. (I can hear Clive saying keep it short and to the point). I would like to highlight some of the things Clive was involved in, and share a few memories with you.
Clive was a colourful character with a positive attitude to life. He lived life to the full, he had a wonderful sense of humour (sometimes mischievous), he cared about people, he was a great organiser and delegater and he held strong views on a number of subjects. He was very good company.
I first met Clive in the early 70s. I had been appointed teacher of music at Magdalen College School in Brackley, Northants, where Clive was Head of Department but he wasn’t present at my interview as he was away. A few weeks later, I rang the Headteacher and arranged a visit. I arrived to find Clive in the office going through final details for a summer school holiday. He was surprised to see me as he had no idea I was coming. Hah.
This did not phase Clive at all. He welcomed me, introduced me to several members of staff, and then continued where he had left off and said “You can help me if you like”. This was the start of things to come. Once he had finished in the office, we had a chat and he explained that he had an appointment at the Horton Hospital, Banbury (10 miles away) in the afternoon. Would I like to have a ride with him or stay in school? - I chose the ride.
We had a good chat on the journey and in the hospital waiting room. After his appointment, we returned to Brackley. Clive never stopped talking. On my journey home, my first impression was, ‘Hmm – I think I can get on with this chap.
One of Clive’s passions was brass band music. He started a school brass band with Pat Carthew in the early 60s. One of the pupils who played in the band was John Greaves and I would like to quote from a recent email he sent me.
“Over the years the band became well known for its high standard of playing, performing outside school at many important local functions including welcoming foreign dignitaries, performing at the Mayors Parade in London and playing for Remembrance Sunday. We even auditioned for Opportunity Knocks with Hughie Green in Birmingham”.
John continues, “Looking back, Clive was my one true mentor. From school through college and then later when I returned to Northamptonshire he was always supportive and most of all never changing. Always the same Clive, fun, intelligent and strong of thought and view but considerate and helpful to both myself and my family. He always has a place in my heart because among other things he was such a good friend to Mum and Dad.”
At the school in Brackley, Clive worked closely with Colin Woodward, who was a very good friend. He remembers organising dances and discos with Clive in order to raise money for the school to buy an Eb bass (a large brass instrument). He and Clive would take the band down to the bottom of Brackley and practise marching up and down the street. Not many school bands can march!!
I must mention the Wassail evenings, which were Christmas entertainments with audience involvement. This was Clive at his best, directing from the front. He encouraged the audience to participate and join the spirit of the occasion, but he always had his audience under control.
Working with Clive was special. He was a natural teacher and I learnt such a lot by just watching him teach. He had a sense of proportion, sense of humour and an excellent rapport with all pupils. He never used punitive punishment and he seldom raised his voice. His discipline was first-rate and he kept control by the strength of his personality. (I think he would have made an excellent Head Teacher).
However, he left Magdalen College to take up a post as advisory teacher for music in Northamptonshire and spent the next 15 years visiting schools and advising teachers. Clive also ran the County Youth Band, organised concerts and acted as compere, working with John Berryman for a time.
John remembers the Band playing in Vienna at the Golden Hall and on another occasion the band visited Yugoslavia. They arrived late at night, but the place they had booked wasn’t ready, so the coach took them to an alternative venue. It wasn’t until the following morning that they realised they had spent the night at a nudist colony. After Clive and John had finished breakfast they walked down to the beach to find the band members huddled at the waters edge. A kind lady informed them that they could stay on the beach, but they would have to remove their clothes!! (embarrassment)
I would like to go back and mention a few things that Clive was involved in, that you may not be aware of, but I think this really shows the diversity and character of the man.
As a student, for a number of years, he played hockey and occasionally refereed matches. (He told me he was a very good player!)
During his student years, in the summer holidays, he worked on the buses as a conductor in Scarborough, including the tourist buses along the front and I can hear him saying ‘welcome aboard’.
For a time, Clive held a PSV licence and he drove coaches both here and abroad in his spare time and holidays. When he organised school holidays abroad, Clive sometimes acted as the second driver to Eric Greaves. They had an excellent relationship and Clive always referred to Eric as ‘old bean’.
Clive belonged to Brackley Rotarians, including a stint as President. He was a member of Brackley Players where he was chairman for a while. He also set up a group of hand bell ringers at St Peter’s Church in Brackley, arranging their music and conducting the group.
Clive was born in Kirbymoorside in Yorkshire. He knew the area well and supported several groups attempting the Lyke Wake Walk - 40 miles along the North Yorkshire Moors which had to be completed in 24 hours. He drove his father’s van and served food along the way (and I suspect in between, he visited the pubs at Rosedale Head and other places.) I shall never forget the joy of coming down Hasty Bank to the smell of frying bacon. (Clive made a good bacon butty).
In 1979, Jennie was part of the support team. She worked for Northamptonshire as a peripatetic violin teacher and she and Clive obviously got on very well as just over a year later they were married. (October 25th 1980 – I remember it well).
In 1990 Clive began a new adventure in Honley. We were in business together for a few years (owning two fish and chip shops), and when Clive moved to the shop in Bradshaw Road, we often spoke on the phone during our coffee break. He retired in 2001 but the phone calls continued almost every morning. We would sometimes chat for half an hour – or rather Clive would speak for 25 minutes and I would speak for 5!!
As most of you know he was Church Warden at St Mary’s for a number of years. He took great pride in this position and was very dedicated to the Church. Two of his legacies were setting up the Christmas street market in Honley and starting a handchime group – both of which have been in existence for over 10 years now.
Clive was secretary of the Conservative Club for a number of years, he was a Governor at Honley Junior School, he presented programmes for Two Valleys Radio and he read articles for the talking newspapers for the blind. Clive had a wonderful resonant voice for broadcasting.
Throughout his life, Clive enjoyed a gin and tonic and a good pint of beer. One of his favourite beers was Old Mill, and he would often go to the Con Club, with Stephen on Mondays, and after handchimes on Fridays, where he enjoyed a pint (or several).
Clive also enjoyed his food, and often spoke of memorable meals which he described as ‘magnificent!’ like his 80th birthday meal with the family in Bruges.
As you may have gathered, one thing Clive really enjoyed was organising holidays – not just for students, but also for family and for friends. He often said he got as much pleasure organising the holidays as he did going on them. To celebrate Clive’s 70th birthday, Clive, Jen, Merran and I went on a trip to London to go on the London Eye and see a show. This was the first of several short holidays we took together. About 6 years ago, we liked the idea of a trip to Eastbourne, but every time we got together to organise the details, Clive would have found another holiday that he though we might enjoy more. We took trips to a number of places including Mallaig, Bruges and St Ives – but you will be pleased to know we did make it to Eastbourne in July of this year – at last!
Clive took his mobile phone on holiday. However, the phone did not always perform as Clive expected. On several occasions, it proved necessary to visit an EE store for advice or technical know-how. As a consequence, on later trips we always checked the location of the nearest EE shop.
Some of our trips were by coach, which gave Clive time to work on the Daily Telegraph crossword – which he loved doing daily.
Clive was a family man and he loved spending time with them - going to the theatre, and out for drinks and for meals. In our conversations he often spoke lovingly about Jen, and their children - Graeme, Kathryn and Stephen. He was incredibly proud of all of them and rightly so, and they brought him a great deal of comfort and happiness.
Clive has been a great help to me ever since I met him – well over 40 years ago. We had a close relationship. We were both there for one another and Clive was like my older brother. He believed in living life to the full and he did just that. I will always remember him.
Finally, Clive liked to wear bright shirts and socks – they were colourful and cheerful – just like the man who wore them.
Clive, - we will all miss you. God bless you.
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