Ken Clark 1924 – 2009

Ken Clark.

Ken Clark grew up in Watford and spent most of his career working at the Odhams printing company. In the 1950s he was a founder member of the well known amateur animator’s group “The Grasshopper Group”. The group produced a film called Battle of Wangapore, which won several awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

In the 1960s Ken began to researching the history of British animation, interviewing many of the animation pioneers. When he retired he devoted most of his time to the project. His ambition was to get his book on the subject published. Sadly it never came to pass but his research was donated to the British Film Institute archives.

Ken was also well known as a “song and dance man”. He loved tap dancing and for many decades appeared on stage in numerous productions with the Cassio and Watford Operatic Societies.

Ken passed away on 5 December 2009, at the Peace Hospice in Watford.

There is more information in his obituary in the Watford Observer.