The life of the late Lord Clinton, one of Devon’s most important landowners, was celebrated at Exeter Cathedral on Monday (July 15 2024) in a moving and uplifting memorial service attended by around 1,000 people.
The Lord Lt of Devon, David Fursdon, representing King Charles III, joined the Clinton family, distinguished guests, staff from the Clinton Devon Estate and hundreds of people whose lives were touched by Lord Clinton for the service, led by the Dean, the Very Reverend Jonathan Greener.
A total of 24 organisations, of which Lord Clinton was patron, processed through the nave of the cathedral during the opening hymn, reflecting his interests and the causes he supported.
They included representatives from Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club, the Devon Cattle Breeders Society, the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines, at Lympstone and the Westcountry Rivers Trust.
Gerard Neville Mark, 22nd Baron Clinton, died in April this year at the age of 89 after almost 60 years as head of the 25,000-acre Clinton Devon Estates, which has farmland, forestry, commercial property and homes for rent in East and North Devon. He leaves his widow, Nicky, to whom he was married for 65 years.
His son and successor, Charles, the 23rd Baron Clinton, paid a moving and personal tribute to his father, who he said was devoted to his family and his role as the head of the Estate. “He was a remarkable man, father and grandfather. He will be a hard act to follow – he led by example,” Charles told the congregation.
Lord Curry of Kirkharle, who as Don Curry chaired the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food and shared a passion for farming policy with Lord Clinton, paid a heartfelt tribute to his friend and colleague.
He said Lord Clinton had the vision and the energy to make improvements to Clinton Devon Estates throughout his life, creating business parks, housing developments, renewable energy projects and environmental initiatives, including the Lower Otter Restoration Project. “He definitely was a rural innovator,” Lord Curry said.
Lord Curry said he first met Lord and Lady Clinton at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh and discussed the merit of Red Devon Cattle – a passion of Lord Clinton’s. “Gerard’s interest in farming policy and politics never wavered,” he said, revealing that he read all the farming press, listened to the BBC’s Farming Today every morning and regularly sent press cuttings about agricultural issues to colleagues.
The Dean of Exeter Cathedral, the Very Reverend Jonathan Greener, who gave the address, said he regularly discussed politics with Lord Clinton over a cup of tea in the Deanery. “He was much better informed than I am,” he said.
He described Lord Clinton’s “gentle, generous and kind” nature and also his sense of fun. “People showed him respect because he was Lord Clinton,” the Dean said. “But they showed him affection because of the way he behaved – the person he was.”
The late Lord Clinton’s five grandsons, Edward Fane Trefusis, James Fane Trefusis, William Fane Trefusis, Tom Fowle and Gus Fowle all paid tribute to their grandfather, his caring nature and his sense of fun.
His youngest grandson, Gus Fowle, said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better grandpa. One of the last things I remember you saying is that life is there to be enjoyed. I truly hope we all live up to your example.”
Lord Clinton’s daughters, the Honourable Caroline Fowle and the Honourable Detta Keane, both addressed the congregation. Caroline read from the letter of Paul to the Philippians and Detta read the Patience Strong poem “If you stand very still.” Prayers were said by the Revd Preb Martin Warren, team rector at Torridge Team Ministry.
The spectacular Clinton Cross, given to Exeter Cathedral by the 20th Baron Clinton as a symbol of his gratitude for his son’s safe return from the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, was carried into the cathedral at the start of the service.
Before the conclusion of proceedings, which included the hymns, Praise my Soul the King of Heaven, We Plough the Fields and Scatter and I Vow to Thee My Country, Lance Corporal Thomson, a bugler of the Coldstream Guards, played the Last Post and Reveille.
A collection was made at the end of the service to be split equally between Lord Clinton’s Charitable Trust and Exeter Cathedral.