Who is Olive Lawrence? My mother asked me this while studying the guest list for our wedding 45 years ago. Open up the “O” and the question should of course, have been, “Who is Clive Lawrence?” 

Simply answered, Clive Lawrence was one of the kindest, funniest, most thoughtful and genuine people I have ever known. I have known Clive almost as long as I have known Ben. Sometimes wives don’t get along with their husband’s friends or with the friend’s wife, but with Clive and Marie this was absolutely not the case. Although we were not able to meet up regularly, each time we visited each other we immediately picked up where we had left off, as if we had never been away. 

Clive was an usher at our wedding in a morning suit and a pink shirt (!)-he had forgotten his white one! He was the most incredible Godfather to Thomas, following his life from a small baby to attending his defense of his PhD dissertation. He was so loved and admired by both Tom and Sam and was a very important part of their lives. 

In all the years we have known Clive I have never seen him angry or pessimistic. Even if he was feeling low he never showed it and was always positive and upbeat. Indeed, he “always looked on the bright side of life”. 

Ben and I have spent several memorable holidays with Clive and Marie. I have never laughed as much as when Clive tried to maneuver his caravan through the narrow streets of Blaye in France while Marie and I leapt in and out of the car moving the “No entry” bollards and then replacing them! Then there was the time in Maine when the “chaps” (Clive, Geoff and Ben) travelled in one car and the “girls” (Marie, Carole and I) in the other, communicating with “the chaps” via walkie-talkie radios which Clive, always one for gadgets, had brought along for us. (This was obviously pre-cell phone!).

Another holiday was spent together visiting the 1st World War battle fields in Belgium and N. France. I remember having to park the car right on the edge of a river, as this was where Clive could get the best reception to tune in to the cricket scores! Whenever we visited Clive and Marie in England there was always a new pub Clive wanted to show us even if it meant driving for miles down the narrowest lanes! 

Clive has also touched the lives of our extended family. Through his work with Rotary he has arranged trips for terminally ill children at Demelza House. One of these children is my niece, Anna. 

I am still finding it very hard to accept that I will never again hear Clive’s cheery voice on our answer phone. “Hi chaps. This is London calling”, but the countless wonderful memories of Clive will forever be with me. He has played a huge role in my life and in the lives of our family. Thank you Clive, for all you have been to us. I truly believe we are better people for having known you.

By Janet Ward