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Salute to a Very Special Man:

Henry Cecil Clark.
(Known to all as ‘Nobby’)
Born 9th DECEMBER 1919   -   Died 20th MARCH 2001
AN APPRECIATION.

A man of Faith and Generosity. whose amazing sense of purpose was to benefit so many. ‘NOBBY” Clark endeared himself to all that were fortunate enough to know him. He was born in London on the 9th December 1919, spent most of his life in Langport, and learned the craft of “Bespoke Shoemaking” from his father.

At the outbreak of World War 2 he joined the RAF as a Radio Mechanic. He was posted to the newly formed 656 Air Observation Post Squadron early in 1943. A unique unit of its time, with mixed Army and RAF personnel, the Squadron saw action in support of the 14th Army throughout the Battle for Burma. Nobby’s skills as a Radio Technician became greatly important to the effectiveness of 656. The absolute need was for reliable communication both in the air and on the ground. The Squadron was equipped with the notorious Army Number 22 Set. A radio that had been designed to operate over a distance of 12 miles under “normal” conditions.  Nobby contrived modifications to the sets carried in Aircraft and also on the ground that enabled the Squadron to be in full communication at all times. At the height of the Campaign, all three Flights were operating at distances in excess of 350 miles from Squadron HQ. Nobby was made up to Corporal, and he said of this time--- “Conditions in Burma were hostile and often very difficult, but it was just a question of, Make-do and Mend”. His contribution had been vital. His reputation among his Comrades, many of whom remained close friends over the years, showed strong qualities of leadership. On hearing of his death, one of them recalled, “Nobby was a One Off, ----he got us all together”.

Soon after the War, Nobby married Claire and returned to his Craft of Bespoke Shoemaking. He spent 23 years with Clarks of Street, where he held various Managerial positions. Even before retirement, he had begun a whole series of undertakings in which he displayed a tireless determination to reach his objectives. He saw the need for a 656 Squadron Association. At the outset it was a daunting task for anyone, but from a frustrating start his Association today thrives with a membership of 520. These include Serving members as well as Veterans, with an enthusiastic commitment by the Squadron itself. Those who witnessed the Association growing soon realised that this was a team effort. It was indeed Claire and Nobby together who achieved such a fine result.

His energies were at the same time being applied in other directions. For 40 years he has worked for the Royal British Legion. With a few others his persistence resulted in the opening of the Langport Branch Club, of which he has been both Chairman and President. He has been Honoured by the RBL several times, including their Gold Badge, RBL Life Membership and the Poppy Merit Award for 30 years collecting.

Endless hours spent in his greenhouse have yielded a never-ending supply of plants that he has sold in the street outside. The proceeds have come to many thousands of pounds, which have benefited many organisations, including The Red Cross, The Gurkha Welfare Fund, RBL and Local Hospices.

As a Freemason he has been able to extend still further his involvement with the welfare of others. A prominent member of his own Lodge, he was a regular visitor to others. It was during a visit to the small Lodge in Guildford, which had been formed by Veterans of the Burma Campaign, that he died.

Nobby had completed an incredible Journey, during which he had set the highest standards in all that he did and without, it seems, wasting a single moment. In his later years he would on occasion say to his friends, “When He wants me, He will call me.”

His wife Claire, with whom he recently celebrated their 53rd Wedding Anniversary, survives him.

E.W.  Maslen-Jones. M.C.  D.F.C.

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Huish Episcopi Church, 28th March 2001
St Mary’s Church at Huish Episcopi lies in a peaceful Somerset setting less than a mile from Nobby’s home. It is where each year at its war memorial, the 656 Association has placed their wreath in remembrance to our past colleagues in arms.

By 13:30 cars were vying for places in the normally empty church car park, and soon overflowed into the adjacent roads and side turnings. There was a huge gathering of representatives from all of Nobby’s supported organisations, as well as a large number from the village.

The church bells rang out muffled peals to welcome them to this solemn occasion. By the time the service was due to start all 250 seats were taken, and mourners were standing at the back. In the choir pews were representatives of the 656 Squadron Association, the Royal British Legion and the British Red Cross, as though waiting to guard the coffin when it arrived.

Nobby’s coffin was carried into the church behind Royal British Legion and Burma Star Association (Weston Branch) Standard bearers, whilst the coffin itself was draped with the Standard of the Ilminster branch of the Burma Star Association. The service was conducted by Rev Mark Rylands and opened with Psalm 23 (Crimond).  Rev. R. Beevers, Padre of the Ilminster Burma Star Association then gave a bible reading, which was followed with the singing of ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.
It was during Mark Rylands sermon that some of the numerous letters which Claire had received were read out, each one giving a wide and sincere commendation to the humane nature that Nobby had towards many ways of life. His ambitions and achievements are a shining example for anyone to follow.

The final hymn was ‘Guide me, O thou great Redeemer’.  A trumpeter from RBL then played the Last Post, and Mervin (Tubby) Godfrey of the Langport Branch recited the Exhortation followed by Ted Maslen-Jones reciting the Kohima Epitaph.  Reveille was then sounded and the entourage made its way out of the church to the sound of the organ playing ‘Road to Mandalay’.

The rain showers that had threatened had moved away to leave a broken sky with bright patches, and right on cue a Gazelle helicopter from 656 Squadron, piloted by David Wilkins, and an Auster Mark 5, flown by a 656 Association member Eric Downing, did a ‘Fly By’ in salute to a great man.

The coffin and family members then moved off to journey to Taunton crematorium for the interment. Other mourners were invited to the Langport Arms for refreshments whilst awaiting the return of Claire.

In the evening a final tribute was paid with the muffled bells of St Mary’s church ringing a quarter peal of ‘Grandsire’.
Nobby’s last fundraising was for the Gurkha Welfare Fund, and indeed he had personally ‘adopted’ a Ghurkha soldier. To this end a request was made for no flowers but donations be given to this fund. Claire was delighted to be passed quite a large amount of money, as well as hearing of donations direct to the Funds Head Office.

By July the total was just over  £2,300,  for which Nobby would have been truly proud. A magnificent farewell tribute to a wonderful man.

John Bennett

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"
( Kohima Epitaph.)
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To All My Friends

I wish to thank everyone for the cards and messages of sympathy, and also all who have been so kind and helpful.
Thank you for attending the service at St Mary’s Church, I know many of you travelled great distances to be with Nobby in the end. I am grateful for the splendid donations that you have made to the Gurkha Welfare Fund, which I know was Nobbys wish, and will do so much good.

Please accept this as a personal message of thanks; to the friends who arranged for the Standards, the Trumpeter and the Flypast; not forgetting 300 attendees, and having received over 270 cards it would be impossible for me to individually correspond with all of you. I’m sorry I was unable to return to the reception in time to speak to some friends who had to leave due to the distances home.

Kind regards
Claire Clark
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Some of Nobby’s achievements

Served in the RAF as a radio mechanic with 656 AOP Squadron RAF in India, Burma, and Malaya from 1943 to 1946.

On release returned to his own business as bespoke shoemaker.

Married Claire in 1948 and for 3 years worked with his father-in-law’s butchers, before returning to bespoke shoemaking.

Spent 23 years with Clarks shoes at Street in various managerial positions.
1960         Joined British Red Cross, treasurer for 28 years
1962         Joined Royal British Legion, has been Chairman & President
April 1967 One of 5 members who worked to open a British Legion Club
1969         Joined Burma Star Assn. Has twice been Chairman.
1976         Joined AAC Assn
1978         R.B.L. Gold Badge
1989         Joined R.A.F. Association
1989         Started single handedly to form Association for 656 Squadron
                    (currently 530 members)
1994         R.B.L. Life membership
1997         Poppy Merit award, 30 years collecting.

MONIES RAISED from sales of plants (Fuchsias, geraniums, etc): Street collections: Bingo etc

This list is not the grand total as there are large sums associated with the Freemasons, and others not recorded. He was currently running ‘Bingo’ sessions with Tubby Godfrey in aid of the Gurkha Welfare fund.

He belonged to the Freemasons and has been Worshipful Master of a local lodge, and belonged to the Kohima Burma Star Lodge at Guilford, where he sadly died.

Nobby’s work was never finished, selling the plants for a few pence, without regard to the cost of pots, materials, heating bills, and endless hours nurturing them. He also raised so much money in other ways for the charities.  Nobby volunteered for committees when others shied away, and gave his all, for the good and benefit of that organisation.

(This was part of my research whilst attempting to have Nobby nominated for a National Award.)