This obituary summarises the life and work of Roger Christopher Clarke BSc CChem FRSC (1934-2021). Roger studied BSc and PhD Chemistry at Queen Mary College between 1953 and 1958.
I am sorry to let you know of the death of my father Roger Clarke, suddenly of heart failure on 27 November 2021 at the age of 87. Dad studied Chemistry at QMC, as it then was, between 1953 and 1958. His very happy time there was to have a lifelong influence and his whole family feel they know the College now, despite many never having been there. Chemistry was with him for his whole career as a science teacher, and he also met his wife Joan – Mum – while studying. Many of his enviably close group of friends (‘the QMC lot’) supported each other, attended weddings and christenings, and planned dozens of weekends away together over more than sixty years. The old black and white photos look dated now but watching the gang together the years just fall away, and they remain tight-knit, young at heart and ready for anything, just as they were. The family are very grateful for their continuing support and friendship.Roger was born in Redhill, Surrey on 27 October 1934 to Cyril, also a teacher, and Olive Clarke. His Aunt, Ivy Gough, also lived with the family and her work as a private tutor enabled her to encourage his interests and academic pursuits. He studied at Reigate Grammar School and was very proud that, years later, his granddaughter did the same. As a boy Roger also began his lifelong interest in trains, planes and automobiles and Redhill was the ideal setting – a railway town under the skies of the Battle of Britain. Roger began his student life at QMC in 1953 as the first person from his family to go to university, commuting into London every day by train. He kept the friends he met on that first day for the rest of his life. Roger gained his BSc in Chemistry in 1957. He had hoped to study for a PhD and began work as a chemistry research assistant in 1958. Sadly, he was unable to complete this due to lack of funding, but (as so often) this apparent setback brought two benefits. It kickstarted his teaching career, and it gave him a further year in London during which he met and began courting his future wife, Joan. Joan was studying Physiotherapy at the London Hospital in Whitechapel and they met at a mutual friend’s wedding. They made the most of everything East London had to offer, attending the (very cool) Theatre Workshop in Stratford, racing around the Square Mile on car rallies in a way which would not be allowed (or possible) now, and eating slap-up meals at the Terminus Café, Mile End. It is hard to find part of East London now that doesn’t feature in one of his stories. Roger and Joan got married in 1961 and were delighted to reach their 60th Wedding Anniversary in April 2021.
In 1959 Roger began his first teaching job at Crawley Technical College. His friend, first boss, and mentor Ted Crunden said he took to it like a duck to water. In 1960 he took up his post at Hove Grammar School, later to become Blatchington Mill School. Roger guided the science department through many challenges including the merger of three schools as part of the switch to comprehensive education, the IT revolution, and countless education reforms before retiring as Head of Science in 1995. Roger was able to support numerous new teachers as they came through the school. After retirement he worked for the University of Sussex, working with PGCE students as they began their own teaching careers. The family was very touched to hear from many of Roger’s colleagues after his death.Dad never stopped loving Chemistry and education and wanting those who came after him to get everything they could from it. He loved teaching. He was especially delighted when pupils embarked on journeys toward careers in Chemistry, Medicine, Engineering and related disciplines. He always went the extra mile to support them finding the qualifications and careers they aspired to. He remained in touch with former pupils for many years and took enormous pride in their accomplishments. It is a great comfort to his family to think that they have gone on to save lives, make discoveries, lead construction projects, and motivate others to study and work in the sciences, because of the influence of a man who always had his mind on the next generation of scientists.
Roger used his retirement well and brought his investigative and analytical skills to his family history, where he made great progress and discovered new family members as he went. He is much missed by his wife Joan, children Jan, Rosemary and Chris and grandchildren Tom, Alice and Emily, together with countless family members, friends, colleagues and pupils.