Columnist James Clarke praised as one of SA’s first environmental activists

Journalist and author James Clarke, who died aged 90 on Friday, has been honoured for his long career, commitment to conservation and his sense of humour.The South African National Editors’ Forum said he had developed complications after an earlier stroke.Peter Sullivan, retired Star Newspaper editor described Clarke as a “humorous columnist, a fine conservationist, and one of South Africa’s first environmental activists”.Born in London and educated in Staffordshire, he started his career as a tea boy on a Birmingham daily newspaper. There he broke so many cups they made him a…