A GARELOCHHEAD man who crafted the cutlery to mark the christening of the now King Charles has celebrated his 100th birthday.
Robert Clark was born on November 9, 1923 in Maidstone, Kent, before joining the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
He then attended the Royal College of Art and studied silversmithing, where he won a competition to design and make a knife, fork and spoon set for the christening of Prince Charles in December 1948.
Robert was invited to Clarence House to present his creation to the then Princess Elizabeth.
In December 1955, he married Beryl in Tenterden, Kent, and they had their daughter Caroline in 1958, and son Jeremy in 1960.
After leaving college, Robert became a lecturer at Liverpool College of Art, where his pupils included John Lennon.
He then saw an ad for a job in Glasgow as chief executive of the Scottish Design Centre.
Beryl encouraged him and he was successful, going on to lead the centre from 1960 until he retired in November 1983.
The family moved to Garelochhead in November 1967, and they lived in the area for many years.
Proud daughter Caroline told the Advertiser: "During his time at the Scottish Design Centre, he had numerous meetings with the Royal Family, He and Beryl attended the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood House every year.
"The year he retired they both attended the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. They both also attended one or two parties aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia with Queen Elizabeth in attendance.
"Within the royal family he had a great rapport with Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret, meeting Lord Snowdon frequently on his many visits to the London Design Centre.
"During his time at the Scottish Design Centre, he hosted quite a few Royal visits not least of which was the Design Council Awards, which Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh was guest of honour.
"There was also a visit from Princess Anne and several from Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon."
Roberrt also advised the National Trust during their renovation of the Eisenhower Flat at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire.
In his time, he met many designers and became friends with several well known names, such as Bernat Klein (knitwear designer), Sir Gordon Russell (furniture maker) and David Mellor (cutlery designer), with whom he studied at college.
He also became friends with John Mott, who was curator at Culzean Castle and was also an engineer on the Royal Yacht before he retired.
His many friends included the then John Bute, the sixth Marquess of Bute.
After retiring, Robert and Beryl spent many happy years together, with holidays around the UK and abroad before Beryl died in 2011 at the age of 89 - 56 years after the couple tied the knot.
Robert moved in 2013 to live with Caroline and her husband George a short distance away in Whistlefield, where the family recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Son Jeremy and his wife Toni travelled from Wiltshire for the happy occasion.
Caroline and George's daughter Catriona and her husband Martin live with their younger son Archie, 11, in Kilcreggan, while their older son, Andrew, lives with his partner Katriona in Helensburgh.
Robert's grandson David lives in Bedworth, Warwickshire, with his wife Somali and their children Charlie, 11, Autumn, nine, Henry, two, and three-month-old Piper-Rose.
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