Late John Clarke honoured for his passion for nature and Struben Dam
"He was passionate and deeply motivated to improve the dam and throughout the years he has done a fantastic job."
A Tshwane resident was honoured for his tireless dedication to conserving the Struben Dam Bird Sanctuary, with a bench bearing his name at the sanctuary’s entrance on Friday afternoon. John Clarke, a husband and father of four, died from cancer at his home on 22 January 2021.
He was chairman of the Friends of Struben Dam (FSD), within Lynnwood Glen estate, and the driving force behind the Friends of Struben Dam, which was officially recognised by the metro. Spiros Sdralis, acting chairperson of FSD said that the committee wanted to emphasise their deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Clarke for their great loss.
“This bench is an appreciation of John. Thanks to all those who were involved in putting it up. “This is a small token for a large character. “I got to know John seven years ago when I joined the FSD. “The one thing I noticed about John was his passion for nature and the dam, but especially for the history of this area. “He fondly spoke about the history and how the Struben family-sponsored this land to the council.
“The booklet he produced was something he worked on for quite a while. “I am glad he got to complete it. “My fondest memory of John is when we used to meet for a quick coffee. “It was more than just that as I got to interact with this wonderful person. “He was passionate and deeply motivated to improve the dam and throughout the years he has done a fantastic job. “With his leadership and commitment, he turned what was an unpleasant park into an unbelievable tranquil and natural space and bird sanctuary. “I understood his vision for the dam and with all the support we will continue to take his legacy forward,” said Sdralis. Clarke’s son, Frederick, wanted to thank everyone involved to continue his father’s legacy. “Some years ago now, in the late 1980s, my father would take me walking along a river close to our home. “His feet made the gravel crunch under his weight as he led us to an embankment of clay next to a quiet brook. “There we would sit quietly, pulling chunks of clay from the moist earth, moulding little animals and people.
“I remember the excitement of this new ability he was sharing,” Frederick said. “This feeling of unlimited potential, in realising that we could create things, shape them into being, give them names, discuss, reform and merge them back into abstract handfuls of matter to leave by the water. “In his death, we honour and celebrate the plume of smoke he leaves us; a lifetime of carefully drawn marks, his love and respect for nature and heartfelt connections with family, friends and strangers, whose lives he has enriched with his presence.” Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
