Clive Brian was born on 13 December 1939, the son of Frank Brain (1909-1969) and Nora Maude Brain née Fairweather (1907-1976). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1940 in the Surrey South Eastern registration district. The 1939 England and Wales register shows that his parents were living at 31 Coulsden Road in the Caterham & Warlingham registration district and that his father was a mental nurse.
He began his career as an assistant lecturer at Bromley College of Technology in the early 1960s. He progressed through the South East London Technical College to Barnfield College in Luton, as head of extra-mural and general studies. He joined Cassio College, in Watford, in 1974 as head of the department of academic and social studies, before moving to Southampton Technical College as vice-principal two years later.
His first principalship was at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology for four years from 1980. He joined Swindon College as principal in 1984 and was made an Officer in the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in the 1992 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to education.
On 24 June 1993 he was appointed as a director of Learning South West. He and his partner Gillian, the principal of Salisbury College, had three children: Rebecca Ann Brain (b.1974), Sally Louise Brain (b.1976) and Alexander Clive Brain (b.1980).
He was on his way to a meeting with the Association of Colleges’ chief executive Roger Ward when he died, aged 57 years, on 19 September 1997, whilst travelling in Coach H, the front carriage, in the Southall rail crash.
He was buried on 30 September 1997 in Christ Church Burial Ground, 26 Cricklade Street, Swindon, SN1 3HG where his headstone may be seen.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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