1 And Such Were Some Of You 1 Corinthians 6:11 David Clarke Luke 5. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draft of fishes which they had taken. 2 Bierton Particular Baptists 11 Hayling Close, Fareham, Hampshire, PO14 3AE UK. E mail: [email protected] Website: www.BiertonParticularBaptists.co.uk FOREWORD 3 AUTHORS NOTE Please excuse the typo’s, errors in grammar and spelling. As hesays he was virtually illiterate until the age of 21 after which he learned to read usinge the bible and classical Christian literature to educate myself. Please take time to understand what he has written as he trying to communicate with you as to get proof readers to work for love is very difficult. Davis says he is sure all the New Testament writers, some of which were unlearned men, had the same difficulties. AUTHOR’S FOREWORD When I first published my story of conversion from Crime to Christ I thought every one would be delighted to hear all about it so I asked my boss the principal of Fareham College to write a foreword to my book. I was very disappointed, surprised and hurt at his answer. He said he would have nothing to do either privately or publicly with a book that overlay refers to drug taking. I understood he was a Christian and thought that he would have been delighted and pleased to hear my story and have it told to all the world. You see I had written all about my past criminal life as a youth, my imprisonment for violence and drug taking that led to my downfall. It was when I was down and at rock bottom that I cried out to God for help asking Jesus please help me. He answered me on the 16th of January 1970 saying He was with me and would never leave me and that what I had been going through was nothing compared to what hell was like. You see title of my book was, ‘Converted on LSD Trip’ and on its front page was a write up of the court case where I confessed to 24 crimes and a three year career of undetected crimes and my former profligate life. So this time my book has a different title and written to remind my readers, religious and none religious friends, family and acquaintances that we have all sinned and cannot throw stones at others thinking we are better than them and that such were some of you. I other words we are all in need of the salvation I write about and have experience. I was saved for a life time of crime immorality and drug taking and live to tell the story. This tells true story and reason for Christmas. 4 FOREWORD A Foreword by Malcolm Kirkham I first met David Clarke around 1965 in Aylesbury, a town just north of London. David went to the local secondary modern Grange school and I went to the Grammar School. Our worlds collided though when through mutual acquaintance I found the R & B band he played for “Fowler Mean”. I joined as the singer. We became firm friends, the other band members were very straight and po faced but Dave and I connected I was aware of his older brother mike he was notorious in Aylesbury and no one messed with him. He was also an entrepreneur and extremely intelligent. On a different path Mike could have succeeded in any field. Dave and I had many adventures during our times together. He was naturally inclined to steal however and his brazen nature astounded me. If he saw something he wanted he just took it. This is something he shared with his brother. Dave and I drifted apart when he was incarcerated along with is brother in one place and I in another for separate crimes. After 50 odd years we are in touch again. This book get details the life and times of a criminal, his redemption and his present day mission. It is also a snap shot of a period time and a place. End Of. Malcolm Kirkham 06 May 2017 FOREWORD 5 B Foreword Dr Philip Fleming By Dr Philip Fleming MA. BA, Bch. FRCPsych. DPM “Converted on LSD Trip” This book, the personal testament of David Clarke, was first publshed as Converted on LSD Trip but now, ‘Let Chrisitan Men Be Men’ in an autobiographical style. It charts his life, which became one of criminality and drug taking though an experience in 1970 of finding God whilst under the influence of LSD. Cynics may say that this was just an effect of drugs, but it is clear that the experience changed his life. Later when in court facing charges he admitted to many other crimes and was fortunate in receiving three years conditional discharge and not a prison sentence. Since then David has combined his work as a lecturer in electronics with his mission of spreading the word of God. This is a scrupulously honest book recording both the difficulties he has faced as well as the successes in his life since 1970. A continuing worry is the fat of his brother, currently serving a long prison sentence in a Philippine jail who himself has recently found God. “This is an inspiring story of a life that has been turned from crime to a positive account and may be of help to others who find them selves directionless and involved in crime and drug misuse”. Dr. Philip M. Fleming. MA. BA, Bch. FRCPsych. DPM. Consultant Psychiatrist with special responsibility for drug and alcohol misuse. 6 CONTENTS C Foreword Gregg Haslam Rev. Gregg Haslam Senior Minister Westminster Chapel, London Gregg Haslam “David Clarke tells the story of his troubled violent past and his extraordinary life, in such a way that it re-tells the story of Jesus’ love that’s available for us all. Christ has the power to renew and reclaim anyone’s wasted years, no matter we’ve done, or how deep our shame. He can re-launch our lives on a brand new future that we could never have planned for ourselves.” Westminster Chapel London SW1E 6BS D Foreword Samuel Ntoyimondo Chaplain HMPS Nottingham “ This moving story demonstrates the goodness and mercy of God and it is a clear proof that no one is beyond God’s grace, mercy and love. Whatever wrongdoings we do, God continues to call us back to Him and if we accept, He fulfils His plan for us to give us hope for the future. “ CONTENTS 7 Contents AUTHORS NOTE 3 AUTHOR’S FOREWORD 3 A Foreword by Malcolm Kirkham 4 B Foreword Dr Philip Fleming 5 C Foreword Gregg Haslam 6 D Foreword Samuel Ntoyimondo 6 E Fifty Years On; A Celebration 21 About The Author 23 1 CONFESSION TO 24 CRIMES 24 What To Do With Stolen Goods After One Becomes A Christian 25 The Problem Was Solved By A Visit From The C.I.D. 25 Testimony of Barry Crown 27 Testimony of Cyril Bryan 27 Testimony of Mr E Connet 28 I Speak In Court 28 The Bucks Herald Weekly Paper 29 Seeking Truth 29 Voice Of Christ 30 I Tell My Story 31 2 MY EARLY LIFE 32 St Barnabas School 34 Oldham 39 3 GARSTON INFANT SCHOOL 39 German Teacher 40 David And The Hamster 40 Congregational Sunday School 41 Cecil The Sissy And Air Pistol 42 Wrexham Holiday 43 The Fair Ground, Stolen Bike 44 A Stolen Crystal Set 45 Stealing Radio Equipment 46 A Visit From The Police 47 4 SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS 47 Michael and Boxing 47 My Visit to Soho 48 8 CONTENTS 5 OUR MOVE TO WILSTONE 49 Keeping Myself Busy 50 I Ride A 350 cc Triumph 52 The Big Freeze 1962 53 Short Stay Back To Watford 53 My First Matchbox Radio 54 6 AYLESBURY: OUR NEW HOME 55 I Steel Push Bikes 56 7 I MEET MRS GRACE KNIGHT 57 My teenage years leaving School 57 Conversation On The Intercom 58 A Confident 15 year old 59 A Holiday in Newquay 60 The Headlands Hotel 60 8 OUR ROCK GROUP 61 Steal An Amplifier Catholic Church 61 The Fowler Mean our Rock Group 62 A Secret 63 Oxford Bags 67 My First Girl Friend 68 Carknapping (Steeling Cars) 69 The Great Train Robbery 70 The Kray Twins 71 Kray’s Imprisonment 72 Mods Scooters, Bikes Bubble Car 72 Pete Townsend Gives Us A lift 72 9 THE BUBBLE CAR 73 Dr Clarke’s Case 74 Off To Margate 75 Caught By The Police 76 Bubble Car Blows Up 77 I Get The Sack 77 Plan A Break In 78 The Break In 78 10 CANTERBURY PRISON 79 Canterbury Prison together 79 Canterbury Prison in Kent 79 CONTENTS 9 Hair Style Change 81 What Sentence Have You Got? 81 Wormwood Scrubs 82 Dover Borstal (The Citadel) 82 Borstal Boy 83 Electrical Installation Course 83 Paternity Suite 83 11 MY RELEASE FROM BORSTAL 85 Mods, Skinheads, Greasers at Yarmouth 86 Newquay Here We Come 87 The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour 89 Our Holiday A Place of the Sun 89 I Am A Waiter At The Gull Rock Hotel 89 We Return Home To Aylesbury 90 Our Trip To Shoreham 90 The History Of The Jews And 1967 90 Pat Jones And The Bully 91 12 CONVERSION FROM CRIME TO CHRIST 92 A Bad LSD Trip 92 Dave I Am With You 96 All I could Do Was Tell Them 96 Why Boast 97 13 WHAT AFTER SALVATION 97 Evidence of the New Birth 97 What To Do With Stolen Goods 98 Seek To Tell Others 98 My own ignorance never read the Bible 99 Difference at College 99 I Tell Rupert 100 Turning From The world 100 Religious And None Religious Persons 100 Kept By The Power And Grace Of God 101 14 WHAT TO DO WITH STOLEN GOODS 101 My Citroen DS Car 101 Stolen Mini from Hemel Hempstead 102 Returning The Trolley Jack 103 Dealing With Sin and Temptation 103 Hippies In The Shed 104 10 CONTENTS The Shed at Mount Street 104 15 GOING TO CHURCH 104 I Attend Various Churches 105 Giving A Testimony 106 I Am Baptised 106 Mormons and Baptism 108 Baptism In The Spirit 109 The Christian Life 109 The Divine Nature of Jesus Christ 109 Preaching Not Musical Entertainment 110 Giving My Testimony 110 Every Day The Sabbath Day 110 Authorized Version of the Bible 110 Giving Money 111 Doing The Work Of An Evangelist 112 I was a Hyper-Calvinist 113 Doctrinal Summery 113 I Hear Dr Martin Lloyd Jones Preach 113 16 GETTING A JOB 114 Acting Foolishly 115 Working For Self 115 Delivered from fire