Born Jacqueline Boiteux, her father, Robert Boiteux, was a hero of the French Resistance during World War Two, for which he was awarded the Lé-gion d’Honneur. Jackie was very proud of the fact that her father came from France especially to see her first performance at the Beresford Street theatre.

 

Jackie trained and graduated from R.A.D.A. and worked professionally in London, including live television productions at Alexandra Palace. Whilst living in the capital she met artist, and future husband, Paul Clarke. In 1949 they moved to a farmhouse in Rudyard when Paul accepted a post at the Burslem School of Art. Jackie settled for domesticity and focused on bringing up their two sons, Robert and Nicholas.  
 

Jackie was introduced to The Rep by Vera Baxter and she was initially cast playing a succession of eccentric old foreign ladies. She was initially told she was difficult to cast due to being small. Jackie consequently used her size and vocal contortions to develop a tremendous sense of comedy to which audiences responded with warmth and affection, and yet she was never self-indulgent.

 

She firmly believed in self-discipline and team work, which she underlined both as a teacher at the Sixth Form College and with the revival of the Young Rep, which she undertook with Lou Sassi.

 

Jackie was fully committed as a working member of the Rep, both in front of house activities and public relations. She took on unglamorous tasks with determination and had no time for people who wanted to use the Rep for personal gain. Over the years, Jackie did lots of voiceover, radio and television work and she also appeared in a number of student films and educational videos.
 

Paul was a great support to her and used his considerable talents designing and painting sets for the Rep and arranging art exhibitions in the Beresford Street foyer.

 

Jackie passed away on the 1st September 2014 in a care home in Luton. She will be remembered with admiration and love by a group of loyal friends to whom she turned in her later years.

 

We shall no longer hear her laughter, but for those who loved her, it will never fade from memory.

Tribute by Peter Dutton