Fareham's '˜Borstal Boy' preaches at Pakistan peace conference

Dave Clarke is the author of Converted on LSD – a book based on his real-life experience of finding religion and putting crime behind him while on a bad trip of the 
drug.

He has even turned his story into a punk rock opera, with the help of Gosport band The Asylum Seekers, called ‘Borstal Boy’, which follows his life from staying in a youth detention centre to him learning of his brother’s death in prison.

After posting his work on a Christian author’s Facebook page, he received a call from Anil Anwar, director of Christchurch Peace Council, who invited him to speak at the Pakistan Conference which takes place later this month.

Dave, of Hayling Close, Fareham, said: ‘I wanted to tell our story to help others.

‘I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. Now this Borstal boy will be in Pakistan preaching to others.’

Dave’s book, which also tells the tale of Dave’s life growing up and committing crime in Aylesbury before he moved to Fareham in 1988, will be translated for the conference.

Arrangements are currently underway for visits to the local prison where he will be preaching the gospel to prison inmates.

The 63-year-old former Fareham College electronics lecturer goes to Pakistan on February 21 and returns on February 29.

For more information about his journey in Pakistan go to Biertonparticularbaptists.co.uk.

Dave also says that plans for his punk rock opera, which was meant to be shown at the Kings Theatre in Southsea but had to be cancelled, are still underway and he is lining up dates for it be performed in prisons.

Dave has also been getting some acting practice, as he is playing the role of Rev Johnston in a play called Our Country’s Good, which is due to be performed from February 10 until February 20 at The Titchfield Festival Theatre in St Margaret’s Lane. For tickets call 01329 556156.