Edward Clarke

The son of a Nottingham-born soldier, Edward Clarke was born in India while his father was on a tour of duty. Clarke initially followed his father into the Army and joined the East Surrey Regiment, where he became a lieutenant. He then transferred to the newly-formed Royal Air Force (RAF) at the end of World War I and became a squadron leader. He returned to the Army in 1921 and rose to the rank of colonel, and was decorated with the Military Cross (MC).

Clarke was an excellent revolver shot and foil fencer. He finished a creditable 11th in the modern pentathlon at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics, and in 1924 won the Army foil title. Until 1935, when he was appointed appeals secretary of the Royal Eye Hospital in London, Clarke was the manager of the King’s Heath greyhound racing track in London. For a short while, he was also secretary of the Midland Greyhound Racing Tracks Committee.

After World War II, Clarke was the development secretary of the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship. In the 1962 Birthday Honours list he received the OBE for his work with the League.