Alfred Clare

Alfred Clare was born in Bedford on 17 September 1851.^[2] He was the son of John Clare, who died when Alfred was young, and Emma who later married as her second husband, Mr. J. C. Conquest, a solicitor of Bedford.^[2]

Clare was educated at Bedford Modern School and left with a leaving exhibition, joining his step-father's firm as an articled clerk and later becoming a partner practising as Conquest and Clare.^[2] Clare established his reputation in the Petty Sessional and County Courts of Bedford and neighbouring counties while also earning a good reputation in the family courts.^[2] In one of his obituaries he was described as a 'shrewd and honourable practitioner, and an eloquent and successful pleader'.^[2]

Clare rose to prominence and was for nineteen years District Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Registrar in Bankruptcy,^[4] and County Court Registrar in the districts of which Bedford was the centre.^[1] He also held the clerkship to the burial board and served for six years as a borough alderman of Bedford.^[1] He also served as a Governor of the Harpur Trust.^[1][2]

Clare married Miss Mary Catherine Hensman in 1882.^[2] He died on All Saints' Day in Muswell Hill on 1 November 1912 and his funeral took place in Highgate.^[1][5] He was survived by his wife and four children.^[2]

• Obituary in The Bedfordshire Times And Independent, Friday, November 8, 1912