Ron Clarke
Page 46
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ONE shipping man who regards the possible advent of the Channel Tunnel with equanimity is R. G. Clarke, the newly appointed group freight coordinator of European Ferries Ltd. As Ron Clarke has been in shipping all his working life and associated with the roll-on roll-off concept since it began to expand just after the war, his opinion on the subject is probably worth a great deal.
After beginning his pre-National Service career with one of the shipping companies in the City, Mr Clarke re-entered civilian life, after service with the Royal Marines, with Transport Ferry Services Ltd just as the roll-on/roll off services from Tilbury began to take shape and expand. He became the freight shipping manager for that organization in 1962 continuing in that position till his recent appointment at group headquarters.
He sees the Channel Tunnel as an adjunct to the present ferry services rather than a replacement for them. Freight traffic to the Continent has been growing quite quickly over the past few years and, in Ron Clarke's opinion, most of the traffic which will gravitate to the Tunnel will probably be additional rather than existing traffic. His own company plans to continue to provide ferry services for freight vehicle operators according to a growing demand.
A genial six-footer, Ron Clarke regrets that business commitments prevent him from taking as active a part in the work of the Royal British Legion as he would like. However, this is one of his main interests which include sea angling and supporting the Arsenal.
Married, with a grown up married daughter and a young son, he says that he manages to get all the exercise he needs playing garden badminton in response to his son's exhortation.
J.J.