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Bitter Clarke

Few were spared in Allan Clarke's best selling Diaries. Among those who were scorned was Evelyn King the headmaster l935-50, the man who created "modern" Clayesmore. His daughter Jenny married Sir Robert(Robin) Cooke MP for Bristol West (57-79). Talking of Robinís death (9/1/87) Clarke says,

"His wife Jenny was bright and bird like. And with his sardonic interrogatory style he could sometimes, on returning for the weekend reduce her to tears. Jenny was nee King and her father, a nasty old buffer who in former times had been a member of the Labour party and a headmaster (it always shows),had changed sides and got elected for the safe seat of Dorset South. When he retired (far too late; he was the same age as my father) it was intended that Robin should slip 'sidewaysí' out of the clutches of the Bristol Conservatives and start again. But the plan went wrong-they always do- and Robert Cranborne was selected. Probably better, all in all. But for Robin it was a bitter blow"

NB Evelyn King served as Labour MP for Falmouth 1945-50 and Conservative MP for Dorset South 1964-79.

Allan Clarke is at present MP for Chelsea and recently won a case against the Evening Standard.