Personal Life
Clarke married Gillian Edwards, also a Cambridge graduate, in November 1964. They have two children — a son and a daughter. He is well known for his enjoyment of cigars, jazz and motor racing. He also likes birdwatching and reading political history, and is popularly known for his love of suede Hush Puppies, a brand of shoes, which have been his "trademark" since his early ministerial days.
He also likes watching sport. He is a supporter of Nottingham Forest and is a former President of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He is currently president of Radcliffe Olympic F C. He is a keen follower of Formula One motorsport. He was involved with tobacco giant British American Tobacco's Formula One team British American Racing and has attended Grands Prix in support of the BAR team. BAR was sold to Honda in 2005. He was also on the podium of the 2012 British Grand Prix to present the first place trophy to Mark Webber.
He attended the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final and claims (with a little jest) to have been influential in persuading the man known vernacularly as "the Russian linesman" Tofik Bakhramov (who was actually from Azerbaijan), to award a goal to Geoff Hurst when the England striker had seen his shot hit the crossbar of opponents West Germany, leaving doubt as to whether the ball had crossed the line. Clarke's position in the Wembley crowd was right behind the linesman at the time, and he shouted at the official to award a goal.
Clarke is a lover of Real Ale and has been a member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
His wealth is estimated at over £1m.
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—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)