Clifford's love of the sea – later pursued in sailing - took hold there as he traveled by boat (no roads, only footpaths and the sea) exploring one of the most unspoiled regions of BC. To reach his one-room, one teacher, six grades school , Cliff - in yellow slicker and gumboots - traveled by boat picking up the aboriginal and white pupils who shared his tiny school, with its stern teacher, pot-bellied stove, world maps (complete with chocolate bars ads) and, typically, its atmosphere of damp, and usually smelly clothing. Smelly because it was so often damp from the constant rains

After the war Clifford's world changed again when, from his isolated West Coast idyll, he returned to the more urban east – to Greenfield Park, then St Lambert, and to school, in the Annex, then in the grand old St Lambert High building where he remained, until 1954 and its transfer to a bright, spacious, spanking new CCHS.

Clifford's father began early to teach him that “The world doesn't owe you a living”, and Cliff recalls “when money was needed, he worked for it. Whether assisting the milkman on his horse drawn route, shoveling snow, selling Christmas cards or managing a large Montreal Star newspaper route. I remember well the pressure to work outside of school.”

Clifford knows he was "never high on the Dean's list". In part he blames outside activities – work and play and the fact that he "wasn't that enamoured of school or the work associated with it" and had a "tendency to daydream and to procrastinate". And there was the problem of giving excessive attention to girls. On top of all else there was church…and choir practices!

He remembers high jinks and clowning about, to the exasperation of teachers but always, he hoped, “to the amusement of fellow students”. “EY Templeton (Principal) took a dim view of many of my antics and, in addition to reprimands and occasional corporal punishment, made dire predictions about my future. Handling students could be a lot tougher in those days”.

Despite best efforts of “some pretty fine teachers” in various areas, French, a prerequisite subject would be his downfall. 'Not Promoted' on a Grade Eight Report Card was followed by a similar judgment in Grade Eleven. Thus, despite good marks in most other subjects in his final years (Cliff recalls being “encouraged, even inspired, by teachers such as Mrs. Rosevear, Mr. Orr, Mr. Dowd, Mr. Hume, Miss Montgomery, Miss MacKay, Miss Cockerline and others), he did not graduate from CCHS.

He says that: “while hardly an exceptional athlete, my 6'-4” gave me an edge in some sports.” “Playing center on the CCHS basketball team usually meant at least initial possession!” This was one activity he did well, likewise swimming – especially water polo - under the tough guidance of coach Somogavari. Clifford jokes: “long legs may have helped in basketball however they were no advantage in hockey, which I abandoned early as a 'hopeless cause'!” (However, he says tennis, skiing, sailing, biking, canoe tripping have been “relentlessly pursued since CCHS in the battle to keep girth and weight in check”).

With high school finished, in 1957 Cliff packed his bags and, as in previous summers, headed to BC in search of farm labour, this time with CCHS school friend, Ross Green, driving a 1949 Morris Minor convertible across Canada, loaded down with all Cliff's worldly possessions.

During 1958 –'59 Clifford held a variety of jobs, from real estate agent (the youngest in BC), to door-to-door Watkins salesman (“surprisingly lucrative”), to an HFC management trainee. Often mistaken for a student working his way through university, he decided to do just that and, disregarding the lack of French required for university entrance in Quebec, took the courses needed for UBC entrance.

Four years (working at the Vancouver “Y”) and a BA later, and having served in West Africa on a Peace Corps operation (he first met President John F. Kennedy at the White House), he accepted a scholarship in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). With his new wife, Clifford first set off aboard a Japanese freighter to Japan to spend a year teaching at university. He traveled the length and breadth of the country, coming to understand more of that complex land and people. After exploring other parts of Asia he sailed on to Ceylon to study the political developments which ultimately resulted in the civil war now gripping that island.

Clifford was encouraged to enter a Ph.D. programme at Cambridge, but “cash poor” he opted instead for London School of Economics and a shorter MSc. He taught school in a depressed district of London and then, hoping if successful to have his passage home paid (!), applied for and was admitted into External Affairs. A career beckoned.

For over 30 years Cliff served in various capacities: during the Indo-China war in Laos; in The Netherlands; in London (twice); in Jamaica; in Washington.

1977 - Representing Canada, Cliff attends a Paris Conference on The Environment. This is within the framework of the OECD.

Meeting with local citizens in India – 2002

While in India, Cliff travelled to a small, remote village East of Cochin, Kerala (reached by a 2-3 hour narrow boat trip), to tour a rubber and spices plantation. Cliff is seen here being welcomed by a few local junior citizens.

His Laotian work, as political advisor to the military, led to a string of sometimes hair-raising activities in the field as Canada sought to maintain the neutrality of that war-torn country.

Other assignments included Cultural Attaché in Britain (where, in the course of “rebranding” Canada House as a cultural center, he worked with a wide variety of personalities from all the arts) and Director, Middle East Division (where he helped develop Canada's Middle East foreign policy). Latterly, he directed the Foreign Intelligence Assessment Division, then went to London for a 4-year intelligence-related tour working out of the UK Cabinet Office.

For five pre-retirement years, as Chief of Staff to General de Chastelain, Cliff laboured – ultimately to positive effect - on the Irish peace process. Work involved interaction with the full range of local politicians and para-military entities, including the IRA, and culminated in an agreement which, having brought relative stability to the Island, ended one of the longest conflicts in Europe.

Cliff lives with wife Felicity in Ottawa and Dorset, England.
Seen here: Gregory (Bath Spa University professor, living on a houseboat). Adrienne (Sinologist) living in England, Christopher, just graduated from Queen's, presently travelling Europe and expects to return to Canada for teacher training, Margaret, a McGill graduate and post graduate, produces conferences in Britain, Felicity and Clifford.