The son of the Rev. John H. Clucas (1884-1963; e.m. 1909), he was born on 18 November 1921 and educated at Kingswood School, but became a humanist in his 20s. Following wartime service in the Royal Signals, he read English at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and had a distinguished career in rhe Civil Service and after retirement in 1982. He was appointed CB in 1960 and KCB in 1976 and died on 27 August 2010.