1 Converted on LSD Trip 3rd Edition 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 NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER 3 Note From The Publisher This story was first published under the title, “Converted on LSD Trip”, on 11th February 2001. Please excuse the typo’s, errors in grammar and spelling. I was virtually illiterate until the age of 21 after which I learned to read and educate myself. Please take time to understand what I am trying to communicate as to get proof readers to work for love is very difficult. I am sure the New Testament writers, some of which were unlearned men, had the same difficulties. 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 Bierton Particular Baptists went to the Grammar School. Our worlds collided though when through 11 Hayling Close, mutual acquaintance I found the R & B band he played for “Fowler Mean”. I Fareham, joined as the singer. We became firm friends, the other band members were Hampshire, 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 PO14 3AE UK. was also an entrepreneur and extremely intelligent. On a different path Mike could have succeeded in any field. E mail: [email protected] Website: www.BiertonParticularBaptists.co.uk 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 4 FOREWORD FOREWORD 5 B Foreword Dr Philip Fleming C Foreword Gregg Haslam By Dr Philip Fleming MA. BA, Bch. FRCPsych. DPM Rev. Gregg Haslam Senior Minister Westminster Chapel, London “Converted on LSD Trip” This book, the personal testament of David Clarke, 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 Gregg Haslam to many other crimes and was fortunate in receiving three years conditional “David Clarke tells the story of his troubled violent past and his extraordinary discharge and not a prison sentence. life, in such a way that it re-tells the story of Jesus’ love that’s available for us all. Since then David has combined his work as a lecturer in electronics with Christ has the power to renew and reclaim anyone’s wasted years, no matter his mission of spreading the word of God. This is a scrupulously honest book we’ve done, or how deep our shame. He can re-launch our lives on a brand new recording both the difficulties he has faced as well as the successes in his life future that we could never have planned for ourselves.” 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. Westminster Chapel “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 London SW1E 6BS misuse. 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. “ 6 CONTENTS CONTENTS 7 A Foreword by Malcolm Kirkham 3 My Visit to Soho 47 B Foreword Dr Philip Fleming 4 5 Our Move To Wilstone 48 Keeping Myself Busy 49 C Foreword Gregg Haslam 5 I Ride A 350 cc Triumph 50 D Foreword Samuel Ntoyimondo 5 The Big Freeze 1962 52 Short Stay Back To Watford 52 E Fifty Years On; A Celebration 20 My First Matchbox Radio 53 About The Author 22 6 Aylesbury: Our New Home 53 1 Confession to 24 Crimes 23 I Steel Push Bikes 55 (The court case) 23 What To Do With Stolen Goods After One Becomes A Christian 7 I Meet Mrs Grace Knight 56 24 My teenage years leaving School 56 The Problem Was Solved By A Visit From The C.I.D. 24 Conversation On The Intercom 57 Testimony of Barry Crown 26 A Confident 15 year old 58 Testimony of Cyril Bryan 26 A Holiday in Newquay 59 Testimony of Mr E Connet 27 The Headlands Hotel 59 I Speak In Court 27 8 Our Rock Group 60 The Bucks Herald Weekly Paper 28 Steal An Amplifier Catholic Church 60 Seeking Truth 28 The Fowler Mean our Rock Group 61 Voice Of Christ 29 A Secret 62 Difficulty 30 Oxford Bags 66 I Tell My Story 30 My First Girl Friend 67 2 My Early Life 31 Carknapping (Steeling Cars) 68 St Barnabas School 33 The Great Train Robbery 69 Oldham 38 The Kray Twins 70 Kray’s Imprisonment 71 3 Garston Infant School 38 Mods Scooters, Bikes Bubble Car 71 German Teacher 39 Pete Townsend Gives Us A lift 71 David And The Hamster 39 Congregational Sunday School 40 9 The Bubble Car 72 Cecil The Sissy And Air Pistol 41 Dr Clarke’s Case 73 Wrexham Holiday 42 Off To Margate 74 The Fair Ground, Stolen Bike 43 Caught By The Police 75 A Stolen Crystal Set 44 Bubble Car Blows Up 76 Stealing Radio Equipment 45 I Get The Sack 76 A Visit From The Police 46 Plan A Break In 77 The Break In 77 4 Senior Secondary Schools 46 Michael and Boxing 46 10 Canterbury Prison 78 Canterbury Prison together 78 8 CONTENTS CONTENTS 9 Canterbury Prison in Kent 78 Hippies In The Shed 103 Hair Style Change 80 The Shed at Mount Street 103 What Sentence Have You Got? 80 15 Going to Church 103 Wormwood Scrubs 81 I Attend Various Churches 104 Dover Borstal (The Citadel) 81 Giving A Testimony 105 Borstal Boy 82 I Am Baptised 105 Electrical Installation Course 82 Mormons and Baptism 107 Paternity Suite 83 Baptism In The Spirit 108 11 My Release From Borstal 83 The Christian Life 108 Mods, Skinheads, Greasers at Yarmouth 85 The Divine Nature of Jesus Christ 108 Newquay Here We Come 86 Preaching Not Musical Entertainment 109 The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour 87 Giving My Testimony 109 Our Holiday A Place of the Sun 88 Every Day The Sabbath Day 109 I Am A Waiter At The Gull Rock Hotel 88 Authorized Version of the Bible 109 We Return Home To Aylesbury 89 Giving Money 110 Our Trip To Shoreham 89 Doing The Work Of An Evangelist 111 The History Of The Jews And 1967 89 I was a Hyper-Calvinist 112 Pat Jones And The Bully 90 Doctrinal Summery 112 12 Conversion from Crime to Christ 91 I Hear Dr Martin Lloyd Jones Preach 112 A Bad LSD Trip 91 16 Getting a Job 113 Dave I Am With You 95 Acting Foolishly 114 All I could Do Was Tell Them 95 Working For Self 114 Why Boast 96 Delivered from fire Morgan Sports Car 115 13 What after Salvation 96 Sally The Oil Burning Goose 115 I Find Work In Lowestoft 116 Evidence of the New Birth 96 The Elim Pentecostal Church 116 What To Do With Stolen Goods 97 I am a Calvinist I Speak To The Elders 116 Seek To Tell Others 97 I Speak At The Factory 116 My own ignorance never read the Bible 98 Difference at College 98 17 Pentecostal Holiness Bierton 117 I Tell Rupert 99 Five points of Calvinism 117 Turning From The world 99 Working for Mr C J Ward and Son 118 Religious And None Religious Persons 99 City and Guilds London Institute Award 118 Kept By The Power And Grace Of God 100 Dr Gill’s Doctrinal Divinity 118 14 What To Do With Stolen Goods 100 My Theological Training 119 Michael Goes To Spain 119 My Citroen DS Car 100 My Visit To Spain 120 Stolen Mini from Hemel Hempstead 101 I Leave The Pentecostal Holiness Church 120 Returning The Trolley Jack 102 A Denial of Imputed Righteousness 120 Dealing With Sin and Temptation 102 10 CONTENTS CONTENTS 11 Scripture Should Guide Us Not Feelings 120 Not All Preaching at Bierton Good 144 Arminian Righteousness 121 A Range Of Doctrinal Differences 145 I Am Made Redundant 121 I Am Appointed Secretary 145 18 Working for Granada TV Rentals 122 And Correspondent 145 Church Minutes A Cause Of Concern 146 I Am Promoted To Service Manager 123 My visit to Northern Ireland 123 21 Caterham Strict Baptist Holiday 146 I Seek Ian Paisley 124 I Meet Other Evangelicals 146 Suspicious Looking Suit Case 124 Preparation For Marriage 147 The Wrong Part of Belfast 125 Regarding Marriage Counselling 147 We Go To The Reformation Conference 126 Marriage 147 We Employ Michael Nicholson 126 Our move to Luton 148 I am Poached by C.