Reginal John 'Jack' Clemo (1916-1994) poet, was born and lived all his life in Cornwall. As a child he began to lose his sight and hearing, and he left school at the age of twelve. He began to write at the end of his schooldays, but for many years his only vehicle for publishing his verse and stories was a local newspaper. In 1948 he published a novel, Wilding Graft. This was followed in 1949 by an autobiography, Confession of a Rebel, and in 1951 by his first volume of poetry, The Clay Verge. Further volumes of poetry in 1961 (The Map of Clay) and in 1967 (Cactus on Carmel) furthered his reputation as a poet. He published a theological volume, The Invading Gospel in 1958. By 1955 he was totally blind. His later works include The Echoing Tip (1971) and Broad Autumn (1975).
From the guide to the Clemo Papers, c1940-1990, (University of Exeter)
