The following are Doreen Clarke's notes about AHC:

"Albert Henry Clarke was born in Crabbs Cross, Redditch on 22 June 1899,  later the family moved to 66 Lodge Road Redditch.

He wasn't over robust as a child but became stronger as he grew older.  Joining the cubs, then the scouts (St Stephen's), he achieved many merit badges in the time that he spent with them.

On leaving school at 14 years, he entered industry but was not over keen on this, so when he was old enough he joined the Royal Navy, becoming an artificer and then Petty Officer (see note 1 below) - he was on a minesweeper in the North Sea and was at the Battle of Jutland (see note 2 below).

He met Mother when he was 15.  He was taken home and introduced to her parents and Grandmother said,

"Come in young man, let's see what you are made of!"

Things were different in those days, when a young couple started to go out together, their parents would visit each other to ascertain the backgrounds of them.  They did a lot of cycling together.  Mother was very good and would cycle along not holding the handlebars, Father tried it and ended up in a heap!  They had a courtship of about 5 years, before being married.  The wedding took place on 3 July 1920. 

Father joined the police force in 1920 and had to live as a single man for 12 months in quarters at Halesowen Police Station.  At this time he played a lot of football and was accidentally kicked in the face during one of the matches - he got over it, but was uncomfortable for a while.  At this time Uncle William Thomas Clarke was married to Elsie Bennett - Father was due to be his best man, but couldn't get the time off. 

He was a Police Constable and after the 12 months they moved into a house in Laurel Lane, Halesowen and later to the Police Station at Romsley, where he walked the country beats and upheld the arm of the law, out in all weathers.  The duty diary had to be kept and handwritten (no typewriters then).  In 1930 he was moved to Stourbridge to a house at 33 Clark Street, cycling to the Police Station there every day.  About 1933 he was promoted Sergeant, in charge of the mobile patrol cars.  He enjoyed that very much and we moved to a house at the Police Station there, which was very roomy and light."

Note1 - AHC's service papers only show him as being an artificer.

Note 2 - AHC joined the Royal Navy on 2 April 1918, the Battle of Jutland was fought 31 May to 1 June 1916.

A few photos of Albert's tomatoes.  He loved to grow tomatoes!

An article published in the Black Country Bugle Annual 1980 in which AHC gives some anecdotes from his police career!  In two files below, apologies about the quality but this is to keep the files at a reasonable size.