After working and travelling around the world with Prince Philip for just shy of three decades, Major David Clarke, a key figure in the Duke of Edinburgh’s global youth programme, declared Wednesday that with his passing “an era has come to an end”.
Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband of 73 years, died last Friday, aged 99.
In 1956, along with his former headmaster Kurt Hahn and Lord Hunt, he founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a non-formal education programme for young people.
Major Clarke, the Barbados Defence Force officer who co-manages the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, began working with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Foundation as Caribbean Consultant from 1988. In 1992, he became an International Field Officer with special responsibility for the Americas until 2000 when he was appointed the programme’s Regional Director for the Americas.
The positions gave him opportunities to travel extensively with Prince Philip on royal visits to conferences, award ceremonies or establishing the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme in various countries.
“It would be difficult to quantify his contribution because he has made a contribution in so many areas of society,” Major Clarke declared.
Describing him as “an excellent employer” who valued honesty and integrity very highly, Major Clarke said the Duke of Edinburgh “appreciated when people spoke the truth and were factual. Even when you didn’t know something he preferred you to say so, rather than be inaccurate. He didn’t suffer fools and was extremely well-read”.
“He was all about learning,” Major Clarke continued, “whether it was formal, non-formal or informal education.”
“He was very jovial and had a quick wit. On many occasions, we spent time telling lots of stories and jokes. He always saw the funny side of most things.”
One of the most important things Major Clarke said he learned while working with Prince Philip was “the importance of being as accurate as possible in what you say, to avoid being misunderstood”.
Based on the programme’s longevity and the continuous interest shown by participants worldwide, Major Clarke remarked that Prince Philip “hit on a formula which works for young people”.
“He used to say the award was like a do-it-yourself growing-up-kit for young people, where they learnt a lot of things along the way,” he added. “I believe the Duke of Edinburgh thought that young people should have the same kind of experiences, be able to share the same values and attitudes across the world, to make societies better.” (SD)
