Derek Stanley Clarke (11 May 1937 – 7 June 1997), was a male athlete who competed for England.
Biography He was born and grew up in Ipswich, England. In 1962 he was a corporal technician in the RAF, working with guided missilesNottingham Evening Post Monday 13 August 1962, page 8 By July 1966 he was a sergeant.Nottingham Evening Post Monday 4 July 1966, page 10 He left the RAF in early 1968.Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 1 February 1968, page 11Nottingham Evening Post Tuesday 19 July 1966, page 12 and was also a Methodist preacher.Newark Advertiser Wednesday 1 May 1963, page 1
Clarke was selected by England to represent his country in Athletics events. He was a two times National champion.
On Friday 24 July 1964 in Nottingham, he broke the UK record of George McLachlan by 68 points with 6252.Nottingham Evening Post Saturday 25 July 1964, page 12 Just one month later on 7 and 8 August 1964 Clarke became the British decathlon champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1964 AAA Championships in Loughborough.
Clarke regained the AAA title at the 1966 AAA Championships. Shortly afterwards he represented the 1966 England team in the decathlon, at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. He also competed in the 1966 European Athletics Championships – Men's decathlon.
Personal life He lived on Welbeck Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent.Newark Advertiser Saturday 27 May 1967, page 23 With wife Joyce, he had four children, including son Tim.Nottingham Guardian Wednesday 7 December 1966, page 12
References