Continuing our series about Haslemere Volunteer Award winners, we met Mike Clarke for a coffee at the Lion’s Den as he reflected on his life and what he now gives back to the Haslemere community. It seems his citation on the night of the 2026 volunteer awards only scratches the surface of everything he does for Haslemere.

Mike was born an Army Brat in 1947. His father was in the army for 34 years and this meant Mike lived in many countries as he grew up.  Mike himself worked for the NAAFI at the age of 13.5 years, working in the distribution centre, when his father was posted to Dortmund. When his father took up his last post in Malay, Mike, aged 15, decided he wanted to join the Army. At 15.5 years, he joined the Junior Leaders’ Regiment, Royal Artillery in Warwickshire. Mike stayed with the Army in different roles and regiments and handed his gear in leaving the Army altogether in 1985 after 22 years’ service.

After the Army, Mike went from job to job for a couple of years. He landed an estate management job in East Grinstead where he stayed for five years, His next job as a head gardener in Chiddingfold brought him close to Haslemere. He worked 17 years as a chauffeur for the co-owner of a headhunting firm in London and Guildford before taking up an office manager position in Guildford. Mike’s wife sadly passed away in 2017 and that was when he downsized and moved to Haslemere.

New to Haslemere and in his bereavement, Mike told us, “I started joining organisations as a way to meet people and to keep myself occupied. I couldn’t sit at home doing nothing. I thought I had retired but the volunteering began. I am busier than ever! I really enjoy it. People need help and assistance and need to get things done.”

Since 2017, Mike has volunteered for the Rotary Club of Haslemere and became a Rotarian in 2020. He first met the local Rotary branch at the Charter Fair where they had a stall. He met some of their volunteers and signed up to get involved. He has been a council member since 2024 and has put up his hand to be their webmaster. He has stood outside in all weathers collecting money for disasters, the most recent one being the Venezuelan earthquakes. He has been involved with Santa’s Sleigh Run and has been a parking volunteer at Undershaw and the Ripley Steam Rally. Mike said, “I loved being an Elf on the Sleigh Run. Every time I volunteer with Rotary, I have a great day out. We are a bit like the fire service, we get a callout to help and we just go!”

Mike has been a member of The Royal British Legion (RBL) since 1962 and here in Haslemere he is a poppy appeal organiser with Jim Edwards. Between them, they raised £41,184 in 2023, £44,000 in 2024 and £50, 165.67 in 2025. He is currently organising volunteers for the 2026 collection which will take place over 15 to 17 days in October and November. Mike said, “It is heartwarming that so many RBL volunteers come back again and again and the people of Haslemere are so generous.”  This fundraising involves 100 plus shops collecting in Haslemere, along with all our local churches, schools, care homes, and Haslewey doing their bit. More than 100 volunteers shake buckets at static locations at Waitrose, Tesco, M&S and Haslemere Station, with door to door collections in Chiddingfold and Grayswood. Mike and other RBL volunteers have also recently been involved with Haslemere’s 2025 D-Day Celebrations, Armed Forces Day and the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and church service. He is quick to point out that they always need more volunteers!

Mike also volunteers at Haslewey community centre. When he first began volunteering there, he was a volunteer driver three days a week for their Meals on Wheels service. He is now a trustee and a very active one at that. He is a pan washer from 10am to 2.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays, he helps with maintenance, either fixing things himself or coordinating more specialised help where necessary. Mike also supports fundraising as well as giving his time and expertise to help with gardening. His gardening also extends to supporting Weyhill in Bloom at Junction Place.

The Haslemere Fringe is a nonprofit bi-annual event that relies on over 150 volunteers. Mike has volunteered at the last three fringe festivals. He started as a volunteer steward and loved being involved. His involvement has grown over the years. Mike is the volunteer coordinator with Ginny and Karen managing where the ticket sellers, bar tenders, little pickers, stewards, hospitality volunteers all need to be over the three days of the event. He is there for the days before and after helping with set up and clearing up. Mike told us, “I block out seven days in my diary where I am on hand to volunteer for the duration. It’s hard work but I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s brilliant.”

This year and previous years, Mike has helped out at the South Harting feed station for the legendary charity sportive, Little Lumpy. He is also a member of the Haslemere Signal Box, Haslemere Museum and Haslemere U3A.

Mike is rightly proud of his volunteering. He shared, “I feel I can make a difference as an individual. I can get on with anyone. I learnt in the forces that it is best to get on with people. I bring the discipline of the Army into my volunteering but of course it’s very much toned down. I like it when things are organised and you make things happen.”

Mike said he was amazed to win a Haslemere Volunteer Award. From his service in the forces, Mike has a Campaign Medal, a General Service medal (four tours in Northern Ireland – 1971, 1973, 195, 1977), a Cold War Medal (service in Germany during The Cold War), a BOAR medal, Queen’s Commemorative medals (4 medals, 1963 – 1985). “I wear my Haslemere Volunteer Award Medal with a chain in the middle of my other medals. I am proud to wear them all. It was an emotional night at the Haslemere Volunteer Awards and I had a tear in my eye. It was not something I expected and it was a bit of a shock. It is the people you meet who volunteer with you. They care. If you don’t care, there’s no point in putting your hand up.”