Thanks to Norman Burchfell for putting together this ‘life story’. Our subject this time is: Clunky Clarke.
Living in Lesser Tarring Clunky and his wife Vicky have 3 children – Jamie, Daniella and Hayden and to date one granddaughter.
Clunky was brought up locally and firstly attended Rustington County Primary School followed by Angmering Comprehensive School. It was here that he received the nickname which has remained with him throughout his entire life. His P.E. Teacher was in the habit of giving nicknames to the pupils and with the popular seatbelt slogan ‘’ Clunk Click Every Trip’’ being on everyone’s lips at that time Clarkey became Clunky and it has stuck with him.
Upon leaving school Clunky gained an apprenticeship in the printing industry learning both lithographic and letterpress printing – thus following in the footsteps of his father. Following on from his apprenticeship he had a spell labouring on building sites before starting his highly successful career in retailing food. Starting as a market trader he quickly progressed to owning a fleet of shops on the south coast named ‘County foods’ selling general grocery products. Next came a franchise with Eissman Frozen Foods and when that company ceased trading he set up his own frozen food company – Phoenix Quality Frozen Foods’. They trade out of an outlet on the Riverside Trading Estate, Littlehampton. It’s regular van home delivery service extends from Kent to Dorset and from the Isle of Wight to Berkshire. Their Simple Ice Cream is to die for !!
Sport has always played an important part of Clunky’s life. Football was his first love – playing for Arundel in his younger days and then managing their Under 18 side and even getting them to a cup final in Italy – only to lose the match on penalties! A lifelong supporter of Leeds United Clunky and younger son Hayden visit Elland Road as often as possible and Clunky cherishes the memorabilia he gathered during the great Don Revie era. Following a skiing accident Clunky was forced to give up football so turned his attention to Bowls. And what a bowls career he has had – spanning over 30 years at Arundel, Tarring Priory, and finally for the last 4 years outdoors at Worthing Pavilion. 
Thanks to Clunky’s guidance and support his young teenage son Hayden has already become an outstanding bowler. He is very proud of Hayden’s achievements thus far in reaching the finals at Bowls England skills at Melton Mowbray, he already holds senior county badges for both outdoor and indoor bowls. If Hayden carries on progressing like this Clunky might just have a future international on his hands.
A very popular mem
ber of the WSBTC, Clunky is an Honorary Life Vice President of the club (as is his father-in-law Peter Chiffins). He has 12 tours under his belt, one always knows whether Clunky is on tour by the banter and raucous laughter that he always emanates from the back seat of the tour coach! Long may it continue!