Person DS/UK/3 Clemo; Reginald John (1916-1994); poet and novelist Clemo Reginald John 1916-1994 poet and novelist Male Jack Clemo DS/UK/4 Born 11 March 1916, Goonmarris, Cornwall

'Jack' Clemo, poet and novelist, was born in Cornwall, where he remained living for much of his life in the shadow of the clay pit which influenced much of his work. As a child he began to lose his sight and hearing, and he left school at the age of twelve. Clemo began to write at the end of his schooldays, but for many years his only vehicle for publishing his verse and stories was a local newspaper. In 1948 he published a novel, 'Wilding Graft', and this was followed in 1949 by an autobiography, 'Confession of a Rebel', and in 1951 by his first volume of poetry, 'The Clay Verge'. Further volumes of poetry in 1961 ('The Map of Clay') and in 1967 ('Cactus on Carmel') extended his reputation as a poet. he also published a theological volume, 'The Invading Gospel', in 1958. His later works include 'The Echoing Tip' (1971) and 'Broad Autumn' (1975). By 1955 Clemo was totally deaf and blind. Before he married, his mother Eveline had sometimes helped him set down poetry, but his marriage to Ruth in 1968 changed everything. As well as providing the inspiration for love poems like Wedding Eve, she assisted him with the process of committing poetry to paper. It was not until his mother's death in 1977 that Jack Clemo left Goonamarris, where he was born in 1916, to live outside Cornwall, in Weymouth in Dorset. He died in 1994. poet and novelist Married 1968 Ruth Peaty. 'Modern Literary Papers in the University of Exeter Library; A Guide'. Gardner and Mortimer (2003) International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes Cjf202 01/08/2007 Cjf202 13/08/2009 c3b0743e-c2b0-4171-a740-a930d975b936