JUSTICE Neville Clarke, who has been ailing with cancer for several months, died at his home at Grosvenor Terrace in St Andrew yesterday, his family announced last night. He was 63.

His funeral arrangements will be announced later, the family said.

Justice Clarke, who was last year appointed to act as the Senior Puisne Judge and as Court of Appeal Judge, was on the bench for nearly 17 years.

Born in Smithville, Clarendon in October, 1939, Clarke, a brother of former industry and commerce minister, Claude Clarke, received a his law degree at the University of London in 1965 and also studied at Lincoln Inn and Inns of Court Law School before returning to Jamaica to start his legal career.

In 1967 he was made a deputy clerk of courts and was appointed clerk of courts two years later. But in 1970, Clarke went onto private practice as a criminal lawyer before joining the Caribbean Cement Company as its legal officer. But his stint in the corporate world was brief.

In 1978 Clarke was appointed a resident magistrate, based at the Sutton Street Court in Kingston and in 1982 was made resident magistrate for the parish of Westmoreland. Between 1986 and 1987, he acted as a puisne judge and was appointed to that position in 1988.

A highly respected judge who delivered several important decisions and was an associate tutor at the Norman Manley Law School, Justice Clarke had interests outside the law and the courts.

For instance, he was an Elder at Grace Missionary Church and a member of the Board of Governors of the Jamaica Theological Seminary, and the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology.

He was also a member of the Kingston Cricket Club.

Justice Clarke is survived by his widow Mary Clarke, unit manager at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), daughter Dr Tanya Clarke, sons Dr Nigel Clarke, Dale Clarke and Trevor Clarke, brothers Claude, Keith and Lloyd, as well as sisters Winnifred, Shirley and Joyce.