OBITUARY MR GEOFFREY CLARKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR GEOFFREY CLARKE

Mr Geoffrey Clarke, who died suddenly at his home at Woodhaugh on Sunday, was one of the pioneers of the motor car industry in Otago, and an enthusiast in the many aspects of life in which he became interested. His association with the motor trade was through the firm of Messrs Cooke, Howlison and Co., Ltd., which he joined as a boy when it was founded in 1895. In 1916 he was made a director of the company. In a lifetime as a salesman Mr Clarke sold thousands of cars. He was associated with his firm in the sale of the first Buick car sold in New Zealand, the purchaser being the late Mr William Kirkland, of the Taieri. He was an ardent photographer and was also deeply interested in the early history of the province. For many years he had been organist and lay reader of Holy Innocents’ Church, which is situated near his home at Woodhaugh. Mr Clarke took a prominent part in the annual motor outing for children from the local orphanages, a movement later adopted by the Automobile Association. He passed through the various chairs of his lodge, and in 1927 was provincial grand master of the M.U.1.0.0.F. At the time of his death he was trustee to the Hand and Heart Lodge the oldest lodge in the district. His sporting activities included angling and, in his younger days, Association football. There was no more enthusiastic supporter of cricket in Dunedin than Mr Clarke, and one of his self-imposed duties on a Saturday afternoon was to visit the various cricket grounds in his car and supply spectators with the scores a*t the other grounds. He is survived by his wife, 7 children and 21 grandchildren.

Reference to Mr Clarke’s death Was made, by the president, Mr A. H Cameron, at a meeting of the management committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night. He said Mr Clarke had taken an active part m sport in Otago, and a motion of sympathy with the relatives was carried