We were very sad to learn of the passing of Clive Wilmer in March 2025.
During his time at Emanuel School, Clive was a tremendous supporter of the arts who won a host of school prizes from 1959-63 in English, History and Reading. Clive loved the stage and performed in many school productions, including The Browning Version where he “gave a fluent performance as the fresh-faced schoolboy.” He was also in The Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet, Julius Caesar, The Dumb Waiter, The Insect Play and The Rivals. By the time Clive appeared in The Rivals he had graduated to leading roles and The Portcullis frequently noted what a strong actor he was. Clive backed this up by winning reading competitions, speaking in literary debates, reading scripture in chapel and inter-school competitions for Greek and Latin.
By 1961 his interest in acting saw him take over as Secretary of the Dramatic Society. When he left school in 1963 The Portcullis noted “It is with great regret that we say goodbye to one of our very best actors, Clive Wilmer. He has been with the Society since it was re-formed in 1960, and, both as an official and as a leading actor, has been an inspiration to all of us. Perhaps it is some consolation to reflect that Emanuel’s loss is Cambridge’s gain (scholarship in English, King’s). Clive was part of a highly academic cohort of boys, of which record numbers attended Oxford and Cambridge.
Many years later, Clive returned to Emanuel, with a beautiful tribute poem in hand, for the retirement of one of his favourite teachers, Charles Cuddon. Sadly but poignantly, this was used for a second time when Charles passed away a few years later.
Tony Jones, Archivist
As Emeritus Fellow in English at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, the college has posted a tribute to him which can be viewed here.
