Honorary Corps Padre
Padre Larrett was born in what was then the British colony of Southern Rhodesia to a father who was a Royal Engineers WW2 veteran and a mother of pioneer stock and of Scottish descent. He was educated at the High School, Marandellas and began his National Service when he left school.
Realising that conflict with communist insurgents opposing the government was imminent, he joined the regular army, serving initially in the Rhodesian Light Infantry and subsequently in a special forces regiment called the Selous Scouts. As a result, he saw active service throughout the bush war of the 1970’s, with periods training recruits in the RLI, and Officer Cadets at the School of Infantry - eventually becoming the CSM, Training Group, Selous Scouts.
After leaving the army, Padre Larrett became a believing Christian and eventually an ordained minister in the Methodist Church. Trying to make sense of his past, he soon realised, and accepted, a call into Armed Forces Chaplaincy. He became the Padre at Chicksands in September 2007, and following the funeral of Corporal Sarah Bryant, he was invited by the then Director Intelligence Corps, Brigadier Ewan Duncan, to become the Honoury Intelligence Corps Chaplain towards the end of 2008. Although he retired from Chicksands at the end of September 2021, Clive remains in role as the Honoury Corps Chaplain and is a member of the Corps Council.
Padre Larrett initially studied with the Theological Education by Extension College (TEEC SA) earning a Diploma in Theology with Distinction. He then completed a postgraduate Honours Bachelor of Theology degree in Theological Ethics with the University of South Africa, which he also passed with Distinction and was awarded the University’s Senate Medal for best academic performance in the degree. He then studied at Cliff College and was awarded a Master of Arts Degree with Distinction by the University of Sheffield. However, he fervently believes that there are only two qualifications needed to be an effective Army Chaplain. They are firstly, to love God and, secondly, to love soldiers (and, of course, members of the other services too).
Padre Larrett is married to Brenda, and together they have six children and eleven grandchildren. They live in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland and are both delighted to still be actively involved with the Intelligence Corps. He is a passionate photographer, has a small freelance photography business, and enjoys taking photographic holidays around the UK in their camper van.