Robert was born in April 1942, eldest son of Robert and Bunty Clark. He was followed by a sister, a brother and another sister – Jean, Alan (deceased) and Nancy.
His family moved to the new “Wimpy” housing estate in 1953 and he lived in the same house until his death on 26 October 2009.
A brand new church was built or this new housing estate in 1956 – named St Ninian’s -and this became the focus of Robert’s life. He took Sunday School and Bible Class classes and started a Youth Club in the “basement” where countless children passed endless evenings dancing, singing and playing table tennis. He later went on to become an Elder in the Church he loved so much.
In 1956, a concert was held in the Church Hall in aid of charity and was so successful that Robert and some of his friends decided they would like to make this an annual occasion. After much planning, knocking on doors and dropping off leaflets, the St Ninian’s Junior Concert Party was born in November 1959. The first show for the public was put on in the summer of 1960. More than 100 children from, in the main, Wimpy and Pinkie estates took part in this show and it was a huge success with audiences of well over 100 each night. The Concert Party has now had many families, with three generations having taken part in the shows.
The organisation has gone from strength to strength and this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Although we do not have over 100 children these days, we do regularly have a cast of 30 + and the audiences are still as large as they ever were.
Robert’s ethos was always a simple one – all children aged 8 and over were welcome – it did not matter if you could sing, dance or act – he always found a suitable part for every child - and no child would ever be charged for attending the organisation. All the funds needed are raised from the shows he put on. An ethos that we still follow to this day – and will continue to do so.
By day, Robert was a chemistry teacher and taught at both Musselburgh Grammar and Newbattle High Schools. He was extremely popular with both pupils and his colleagues and it was he who always arranged extra curricular activities for the children.
Week in, week out, for 50 years, Robert led rehearsals on 3 nights per week – and took every child home to their front door in his car – again, without charging a penny for his time or petrol. Not only did he see children all day and 3 nights a week, he also gave up his Saturday mornings to take them swimming to the Commonwealth Pool – always letting them go for a “chip buttie” on the way home. He knew the best chip shop in Edinburgh!! He took kids ice skating, hill walking, to concerts, to theatre, fireworks displays and even on holiday. Kids were taken as far afield as Tunisia, Romania, Euro Disney and France with him. If he was doing something interesting, he seldom did it alone – he always invited a gang of children to go with him! His commitment rose to 7 nights a week when the Concert Party performed smaller shows around the Lothians, and Fife to people who were in Sheltered Housing, Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Senior Citizen Clubs.
The Concert Party, as well as being totally self funded with no help from grants or lotteries, also supports the Save the Children Fund which Robert instigated over 30 years ago. Every child who receives a lift home is asked to donate 20p and these are collected and given to Save the Children on an annual basis. We have raised thousands of pounds over the years. He also masterminded a huge fund raiser for the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami Disaster and was a proud man when he handed over £1300 to the church for onward transmission in the Concert Party’s name.
Robert’s last words were – “Please see that the 50th reunion goes ahead and try to keep the Concert Party going” we will endeavour to see that it does. A choir has already been formed consisting of all generations from the local community including many ex members of St Ninians Junior Concert Party, which will be called “The Clark Community Choir” and our ages range from 81 down to 8. We shall continue his legacy for the up and coming generations and will continue to “sing his praises.”
He was an inspiration to all who had the great privilege of knowing him - he always saw good in people – and never ever “gave up” on any child. He kept thousands of children “off the streets” in their formative years and has given generations a love of music, song and dance which will never leave them.
Robert – from all at the Concert Party over 50 years, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES and THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC.
