Remembering John Clare (1973 - 2023)

John Clare always believed there was a story to be told - and he used his tremendous powers to help others tell theirs. 

As an education, crime and local government reporter, as a press officer, as a punk rock musician, and as a friend and colleague, his warm personality, incessant curiosity and generosity brought out the best in others.   

Empathy and integrity 

John's journalistic skills, humble persona and sense of fairness and humanity meant that victims of crime, local officials and voters, conservationists, distinguished academics and authors alike all had their voices heard clearly and in ways they could not achieve alone. 

John's talent for bringing clarity and a sense of fun to complex ideas can be seen in his entertaining explainers on the nuts and bolts of academic research journals, the digitisation of historic works, and what happens behind the scenes in publishing. 

His last piece of written work was typically creative: using 'Twelfth Night' to take a fresh and accessible look at the past, present and future of Shakespeare publishing at Cambridge. 

Mandy Hill, Managing Director of Academic Publishing at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, worked closely with John through his four and a half years at the organisation: 

Everyone who worked with John is going to miss him terribly. He was brilliant at his job and a joy to work with. His ability to distil our thoughts and ambitions into a clear story or announcement never failed to impress me. I have worked with John on some extremely challenging issues and will always be grateful for the thoughtful approach he took to all our discussions. 

But it will be the loss of him as a person, his humour, candour, empathy and integrity, that will leave the biggest hole. 

Cool head, quick thinking 

John Clare, who died unexpectedly in early January, grew up in Barking, London. He read History and Politics at Exeter University, graduating in 1994, before training as a journalist in Preston, Lancashire. 

His reporting career included stints at the Surrey Advertiser, Stockport Express, Cambridge Evening News and Masons News Service, which included reporting work for ITV Anglia. He covered everything from homelessness to the Soham murders. 

As the RSPB's conservation and policy media officer, John helped national and global audiences better understand climate change, wildlife and efforts to save endangered species. 

As Anglian Water's media manager, John's cool head and quick thinking made him indispensable during the 2012 drought and hosepipe ban. Ciaran Nelson, Anglian Water's Director of Brand and Communications added: 

John had built up quite a fan club within Anglian Water - colleagues who highly respected his professional expertise, enjoyed hearing his amusing anecdotes from his hugely-varied life experience, or were fascinated by his activities outside work. John was an exceptional writer and talent, as valuable in front of the camera as he was behind the scenes. Yet there was much, much more to the man beyond his work. It was this rich tapestry behind his understated exterior that had us all enthralled - as he often did while regaling us with stories from his tour as frontman with punk band, xBomb Factory and as a reporter early in his career. 

The communications and writing community has lost a fantastic talent, and we all have lost a hugely intelligent, decent and funny man who will be forever sorely missed. 

Devoted family man and friend 

He often spoke with pride of his son William's achievements in and out of school. John and his wife Karen were inseparable at Cambridge events, laughing and joking together, with John beaming as he told friends and colleagues about Karen's own accomplishments as a communications professional. 

John's storytelling prowess hit another level at any social event. Whole rooms would pause in delicious anticipation as John, with a twinkle in his eye, said: "When I was a junior reporter..."

Many Cambridge colleagues' last experiences of John were suitably joyous at a work Christmas Party in Madingley Hall on 16 December. Donning fancy dress, Adam Ant style glittery paint and belting out 'Parklife' with a gaggle of new and old friends. 

For anyone who wishes to donate to a good cause in John's memory, there is a JustGiving page in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices. 

Colleagues and friends can write in a book of condolence in the reception of University Printing House, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, or by emailing press@cambridge.org with 'Remembering John Clare' in the subject line, until Friday 10 February.