Captain John Ian Clucas (MNret'd) Extra Master MSc (23 Sep 1938 - 29 Nov 2020)

In loving memory of Ian Clucas who sadly passed away on 29th November 2020

We kindly ask anybody who would like to send flowers to instead please make a donation, using the link, to the RNLI which was a charity very close to his heart.

IF YOU WISH TO VIEW IAN'S FUNERAL LIVE ON 30TH DECEMBER AT 12PM, OR UP TO 28 DAYS AFTER, PLEASE COPY THE LINK BELOW INTO YOU BROWSER TO VIEW THE WEBCAST, AND USE THE FOLLOWING USERNAME AND PASSWORD:

www.obitus.com

Username: Somu0335
Password: 996285

In the summer we will be interring Ian's ashes in the Parish Burial Ground at Ash.

IAN'S BIOGRAPHY IS BELOW.

Captain John Ian Clucas (MN ret’d) Extra Master MSc

He was born in East London, South Africa on 23 September 1938 to William Joseph Clucas and Doris Clucas and was an only child. His Father, after years as a Merchant Naval Officer had gone to work for the Docks and Harbour Board there. In Summer 1939 his Mother took him home to England to meet the family. When war broke out, his Father obtained a commission in the RNR and Ian’s war years were spent either with relatives in York or the Isle of Man, or near various ports where his Father was stationed. Ian remembered watching air raids over Southampton and being brought hastily indoors by his Mother. He had some time in York with grandparents where, as a 6-year-old, nobody seemed to mind him wandering round on his own looking at the bomb-damaged station etc.

After the war, his Father returned to the Merchant Navy and spent the rest of his career as Captain of a Collier, bringing coal to London Power Stations from S Wales or the North East, which is why they settled in Barry in S Wales, where Jill lived.

In 1949 he went to Barry County Grammar School for Boys, where he excelled academically, but instead of doing Latin he did O levels in Woodwork and Metalwork; skills he found very useful and passed on to his sons.

He first met Jill when he was 12 and they were both Cadets at Barry Yacht Club, which was a family club right by where he lived. They had very happy teenage years with a group of friends, spending a lot of time on the water both in dingy races or just sailing in the holidays. They both cycled to school and Ian often caught up with Jill on her way to the girls Grammar School.

He wished to follow his Father’s career at sea, but there was no degree in Maritime Studies in those days, so no point in doing A Levels. Instead, he went to the School of Navigation at Warsash, Southampton which was the premier College in the country. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there and when he and Jill went on holiday alongside the Solent last year, told some tales of then, honing his small boat skills and as a 16-year-old being amused at being saluted by naval ratings, when going on a gunnery course.

Next, a Cadet with T & J Brocklebanks, a Liverpool Company where his Father had also served his apprenticeship. He served 9 and a half years with them. In August 1961 when 3rd Officer, he and Jill got married and eventually bought a flat in Cardiff. On his last voyage in 1964, which was as Second Officer, Jill went with him. This at 9 months was a much longer trip than normal and a very eventful one, with opportunities to do sightseeing in Ceylon as the Docks were on strike for 3 months. They also rescued the crew of a sinking ship in the Indian Ocean and later, off the Southern states of America, 4 yachtsmen adrift in a life raft after their yacht had sunk.

After they returned home in August Ian did his Masters and Extra Masters Certificates in record time, receiving his results just before Michael was born in July 1965. There were no promotion possibilities with Brocklebanks, so Ian resigned, did some coastal trips and then joined Bank Line as Chief Officer. He loved this, as it involved overseeing the running of the ship and he had a suite instead of a cabin. The problem was that he was away for 16 months, which is far too long when you are a family man. They docked in the Royal Docks, Jill drove up from S Wales in their old Morris Minor and stood on Gravesend Prom watching the Tweedbank sail upriver. Little did they know than that they would soon live near there! It has remained a favourite place ever since and Ian’s last trip out was in August to the socially distanced Town Twinners picnic there.

He now decided to take up nautical education and in Sept 1967 he joined King Edward V11 Nautical College in Commercial Rd, which was preparing to eventually merge with HMS Worcester as Merchant Navy College at Greenhithe. He started on the Training ship called the Glen Strathallen, which had been a private yacht and bequeathed for nautical training. This he did until 1969, during which time Richard had been born and they had moved to New Ash Green when their house was built. That Easter the ship was found beyond repair, the engines were given to the Science Museum and as Captain, Ian went on the tug that towed her to Plymouth, when he opened the stopcocks to sink her where the diving school wanted her, so that they could train divers. Then he was temporarily at City of London Polytechnic, where he had the opportunity to learn some computing, which was pretty new at the time. Adrian was born then in November 1969.

Eventually he started in the new college as a lecturer. In 1971 he commenced a part time degree in Astrophysics at Queen Mary College, which he obtained in 1973. In 1975 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer and they moved to a larger house on Lambardes New Ash Green. The Merchant Navy fleet declined, the College was closed in July 1989 and the staff were pensioned off. In January of that year his mother had joined the family as she could no longer cope on her own. She died 5 years later, during which time all the boys had left home. Her downstairs bedroom was ideal for Ian years later.

Retirement was not for Ian as he was only 51, so he got a job problem solving for a shipping container company, then trained to run their Unix Operating Computer System. In 1997 he was made redundant and then did contract work all over the country as a Unix System Operator. By then all 3 sons had got married. Adrian to Debby, Richard to Naomi and Michael living in Australia to Linda. There were 3 grandsons David, Joshua and Dylan, all in this country.
In December 2000 Natalie, Michael’s first child was born in Melbourne, so Ian decided to finally retire, and they did a 3 month round the world trip, with all the family meeting up in Melbourne for Natalie’s christening. Since then, Roan, Lily, Ben and twins Emily and Fifi have been added to the family. Naomi’s extended family have always been very welcoming and they are Grandpa Ian and Grandma Jill to the children.

They bought a caravan in 1998 ready for their retirement, and made many happy trips in this country, France and Germany, where they once timed it to be in Neumunster for the 2 yearly town twinning visit and Cambrai when the Association went over with a choir. They often took the grandchildren caravanning, which was hugely enjoyed by all.
Ian had a stroke in 2006 but managed to recover, live a normal life and to make a 5th trip to Australia. Unfortunately, another stroke in 2015, put him in a powered wheelchair and he developed other medical problems. However, the house and garden were adapted, Carers engaged, and a hoist put in the car for his scooter. Ian always made the most of what he could do. He did all the family finances, wrote computer programs and researched his family history. Never once did he complain and was very grateful for everything done for him, liking nothing better than having the family round or going out. His health worsened in Spring this year with failing kidneys and he grew frailer but remained cheerful to the end when he got pneumonia.

He and Jill have been involved members of the Gravesham Town Twinning Association for nearly 30 years and have made many wonderful friends in England and abroad, who are a great support to Jill now.