Mr Douglas (Nobby) Clarke, the RI teacher who started at Downer in 1954, died Friday 17th October 2003 following a long battle against heart disease and oesophageal cancer.

After Downer he worked at Lascelles, headmaster at Blackwell and Harrow Weald County to set it up as a "new" Sixth Form college, before retiring with his wife Jean to Bampton in Devon.

I think everyone will remember Nobby Clarke with fondness, as RI teacher and, with others, the organiser of the successful Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.  He really did his best for us, you cannot ask more.

So sorry to hear the news re Nobby Clarke.  I have very fond memories of him as a free thinking RI teacher and as the instigator of the Duke of Edinburghs Award at Downer.  I participated in four hiking trips to N Wales with Nobby as our leader.  He led by example and certainly made a difference to my life.

We were indeed fortunate to have Nobby as a teacher.

Tony Lancelot

I was sad to hear of Mr Clarke's death as I also greatly enjoyed the activities he encouraged us on.  My memories are of DoE in Wales sleeping just below the snow line and getting a 'brisk' reply when I complained.

In the light of current attitudes to teaching, he was one of a rare breed of dedicated and inspiring teachers.

Frank Ferrett

Nobby Clarke was indeed a remarkable teacher.  He was very inspiring and even motivated myself and contemporaries to form a choir singing "student songs" under his direction.  We even sang in concerts.  This was truly amazing as few of us had much interest in music or could sing!

He was also involved in sports coaching I remember.  He was a great bloke.

Duncan Brodie 1951-1958

The only teacher I ever saw that compelled a class of 30-odd people to go quiet the instant he entered the room.  We had respect for him - simple as that.