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Emeritus Professor ALAN MAXWELL CLARKE (1932-2007)13 February 2007
After the war the family moved to Auckland where Alan went to King’s College. He was awarded a RNZAF flying scholarship, however his Father insisted he apply himself to medical training, graduating MBChB in 1956. He met and wed arts student Jane Malloch of Waikouiti, who was to become his constant companion and support for life. He took up surgery and his initial training was in Auckland and Dunedin. Later he trained in Glasgow under Sir Charles Illingworth. He then returned to general and vascular surgery in Dunedin. In 1970 he was appointed Ralph Barnett Chair of Surgery, with research interests in intestinal absorption, liver regeneration and peptic ulcers. Alan, Robin Irvine, John Hunter and Tom O’Donnell emerged as “Four
Young Turks” at a time when the Dunedin School of Medicine was
experiencing chronic under-resourcing. This association resulted in the
Christie Report which proposed staff and curriculum restructuring, and
foreshadowed the establishment of the clinical schools at Christchurch
and Wellington. Professor Clarke was appointed Dean of the Christchurch School of Medicine in 1986, a post he held for eight challenging years. He saw the benefits of self-directed learning in small groups within clinical situations and gained support to abolish the poorly attended clinical science lecture course. These were the turbulent times of the health reforms and he described his task as “educating” new and too often transient managers. Nevertheless he still found time edit the book “Understanding Cancer”. Then in 1991 Professor Clarke fell from his porch roof and suffered serious spinal injuries. Now wheelchair- bound he returned in record time to his role as Dean. His new trick was “wheelies” – precariously balancing his wheelchair on only its two big wheels for minutes at a time. His friend Tim Wallis helped him to import a simple T-bar connecting his wrist to the pedals of his plane. Alan again soared! His contributions to medicine were recognized in 1995 with the bestowal of the Companion of the Most Excellent Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). He became Director of the Burwood Spinal Unit in 1994. This specialty was seen as lack-lustre so he set about raising its profile. An early outcome was the Burwood Spinal Trust which evolved to the New Zealand Spinal Trust. He spearheaded the Allan Bean Centre for Research and Learning, and set up the Burwood Academy of Independent Living. Prof Alan Clarke was as a “surgical consumer and survivor”, characterized by good humour, a sense of fairness for all, and the ability to be seized by a passion backed up by a determination to enthuse and harness the expertise and energy of others. He was also a keen family man, who enjoyed his family’s support in return. His outlook on life is epitomized at the end of his CV. ‘In December 1991, eight months after my accident, an old lady said to me “At your age you are very lucky to become a paraplegic – you can start your life all over again.”’ Alan Maxwell Clarke (1932-2007), CMG(1996), MBChB(Otago 1956), ChM(Otago 1969), FRACS (1961). Survived by his wife Jane, sons Richard, John and Alistair and daughter Fiona.
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On
Sunday 21 January, Professor Alan Clarke died following surgery in Christchurch.
Prof Clarke was born in New Plymouth where his father Mr Marcus Clarke
was a general surgeon. When Marcus went to war Alan’s mother took
him and young brother John to her brother’s Manawatu farm. Alan
dreamt of flying because the farm was within biking distance of Ohakea’s
RNZAF base.