Bernard William Clarke

Bernard's story

BERNARD WILLIAM CLARKE KNOWN AS BUN OR BUNNY TO MOST PEOPLE WAS BORN ON 20 DECEMBER 1945 IN VICTORIA ST, WEST BROMWICH TO THE LATE IRENE AND WILLIAM CLARKE. ONE OF 7 CHILDREN PAM, CAROL, DIANE, STEPHEN AND THE LATE SANDRA AND JEAN. A HAPPY CHILDHOOD WAS SPENT PLAYING IN THE STREETS & SWIMMING IN THE LAKES WITH HIS MATES, AROUND HAMPSTEAD, BIRMINGHAM. AS A YOUNG MAN BUN WAS A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, PLAYING THE GUITAR AT SUNDAY SERVICES. HE LOVED BEING A TEDDY BOY AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT HIS HAIR STYLE; HE COULDN’T PASS A MIRROR OR SEE A REFLECTION WITHOUT GETTING HIS COMB OUT. HE LOVED GARDENING AND HIS GARDEN ONCE WON FIRST PRIZE IN A LOCAL COMPETITION, DIY, STRIPPING CARS AND THEN REBUILDING THEM. WORKLIFE STARTED AT BAILEY & MACKEY LTD IN HAMPSTED AS AN INSTRUMENT MAKER WHERE HE SPENT 4 1/2YEARS BEFORE LEAVING AND WORKING AT THE BRICKYARD UNTIL IT CLOSED DOWN AFTER 5 MONTHS, SO BUN WENT BACK TO BAILEY AND MACKEY WHERE HE SPENT 54 YEARS IN TOTAL WORKING FOR THEM - COLLECTING A GOLD WATCH FOR HIS SERVICE. BUN MET HIS LOVING FUTURE WIFE CHRISTINE THROUGH HIS MATE BILLY’S SISTER. THEY MET COURTED AND MARRIED ON 24 APRIL 1971 WHEN BUN WAS 25 AND CHRISTINE WAS 19YRS. MUCH LOVED CHILDREN JUSTINE, NADINE AND LIANNE CAME ALONG AND IN LATER YEARS GRANDCHILDREN SHAY AND AVA-MAE CAME ALONG TO COMPLETE THIS HAPPY FAMILY. HE LOVED BEING A DAD AND GRANDAD.  BUN WAS VERY MUCH A FAMILY MAN, WITH A HEART OF GOLD AND A VERY PLACID NATURE.  LET US REMEMBER THIS LOVING HUSBAND AND FAMILY MAN AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE THAT WAS FULL OF LOVE, JOY, COMPASSION AND WAS A LIFE WELL LIVED. 

Remembered by Lianne Clarke