Remembering Michael Clarke

Michael (7.48-51) entered Malvern College in House No.7, where he met Clyde Neale House (7.48-53d), a lifelong friend. After leaving Malvern he attended Birmingham University. After University, he joined the family business White & Clarke a country-wide stationer headquartered in Birmingham. He would also regularly operate as a special police officer on the streets of Birmingham in his spare time, as well as publisher and printer of the Old Malvernian magazine.

In 1980, the Headmaster of Malvern, Mr Martin Rogers, asked for an OM to fund a scholarship for a 15-year-old boy from Barbados.

Michael came forward. In his words, in the 60s and early 70s, he had holidayed at the Coral Reef Hotel in Barbados yearly and had become very fond of the Island and its inhabitants. It was an opportunity to give back.

That 15-year-old was Ricky Ellcock, a young aspiring fast bowler from Combermere School in Barbados.

Ricky Ellcock (SH.81-82):

“I met Michael on the 19th of April 1981. From that day until the day he died, he had been a constant in my life and my legal guardian. After my dad died in December 1981, he took on the role of my dad and would refer to me as “my young son”. That phrase would cause great hilarity amongst strangers and even his nurses during his final stint in hospital.

He never saw colour; in fact, he was quite oblivious as to why waiters, nurses or business partners were chuckling. His interest was in making sure he looked after me.

He was there for every school game, I would stay with him at leave out weekends, my first class debut as a 17-year-old for Worcestershire CCC whilst still at school, he was there, my debut for Middlesex CCC, he was there, selection for England, he was first to call, he had booked to watch that 1990 West Indies cricket series, he met me at the airport when I returned injured. He visited me constantly during my frequent and prolonged stays in hospital. On the day I received my commercial pilot license at Prestwick Airport Scotland, he was there. He even sat in the back of a light aircraft with a newly qualified Ricky Ellcock with only 230 hours total time.

Michael has been warm, generous, compassionate, supportive to us all and, of course, a major influence on all that I have done and the man I have grown to be.”

Janet Hayward (Partner):

“I know that Michael saw one of his greatest achievements as supporting, caring for, and most of all, helping to further the education of those he loved.

He loved to be involved with us all, attending cricket, rugby matches and even spending cold days on a lake or river watching rowing, always with some very enthusiastic shouting. In his later years, he equally enjoyed reading about or getting news from all.

We all know how Michael loved his food. Many of his visits involved a very good pub lunch somewhere.

I will always be grateful to the kind, compassionate, and caring man I met all those years ago at White & Clarke, and most of all, for loving me; I will miss you, darling, as I know we all will.”

Michael leaves his partner Janet Hayward, her sons Luke, Johnathon (Uppingham, School House) and godson Patrick Neale (7.78-83); he was also incredibly fond of Clyde’s wife Margaret (deceased) and other siblings, Paediatric Consultant Alastair Neale (7.77-82) and Catherine Neale (Malvern Girls College).

Michael Clarke: Born 29/05/1935. Died 03/12/2024.