Denis Clarke No.6/3657
Denis Clarke was the son of late James Clarke, late of Hokitika, and of Margaret Clarke, living in Auckland and later in Hastings. He was born on May 31, 1876 at Waimea, Westland. Denis was educated at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Boys’ School, Hokitika.
In October 1887 his father, James, died. James Clarke was one of the pioneers of the West Coast and identified with the advancement of Westland from its earliest days. He was a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and had gone to the Victorian goldfields before moving to Otago and then the West Coast where he engaged in carting and carrying the mail. After her husband’s death, Margaret Clarke and family moved from Hokitika to Westport.
In November 1900, Denis Clarke, a pupil of the Sisters of Mercy at Hokitika, was successful in the Trinity College senior pianoforte examination, which he passed with honours. In June 1901 he became the conductor of the newly formed church choir at Hokitika. In addition he played the organ.
Clarke played a significant part in the celebrations on December 29, 1903 to mark the silver jubilee of the founding of St Columbkille’s Convent at Hokitika. The choir under his leadership sang Turner’s Mass. Later in the day he was one of the accompanists for the concert items. And in March 1904 he was again to the fore at the St Patrick’s night concert – encored for his song The Irish emigrant, and again providing accompaniments.
By 1905, Clarke was residing at Fairlie where he was a teacher of music. He immersed himself in local life and in teaching and sharing music, again frequently providing musical items and accompaniments and guiding students through their examinations. It was at Fairlie in November 1905 that he obtained his teacher’s diploma. Two years later he was one of the most successful Catholic music teachers in the district, four of his pupils gaining senior honours.
Clarke was also a golf player, being a member of the Fairlie Club and serving on the committee. Just a few weeks later, at the Fairlie Orchestra and Dramatic Society concert, he gave vocal solos and led operatic choruses by the Operatic and Glee Club. In October 1913 the members of the Glee Company presented their leader, Mr D. Clarke, with a small token of their appreciation of his services.
At the beginning of August 1914, Clarke secured rooms in the Herald