Phillip Clancey

Phillip Alexander Clancey (26 September 1917 18 July 2001) was a leading authority on the ornithology of South Africa.

Background and education

Phillip Clancey was born, brought up and educated in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art where his artistic skills were developed.

Military service

Clancey served in the 51st (Highland) Division with the Allied forces in Sicily and Italy during World War II, narrowly escaping death and being deafened in one ear by an artillery explosion.

Following his death in 2001, Clancy's military medals, together with his "Gill Memorial Medal" were auctioned by City Coins, Cape Town, in 2006, on behalf of the Clancey Estate. These medals, including the Gill Memorial Medal were purchased on the auction by David R. Bennett - Chairman of the Durban Natural Science Museum Trust, and the medals now form part of the Bennett Military Medal Collection. The Gill Memorial Medal, first awarded in 1960 by the South African Orinthological Society (now Birdlife South Africa) is awarded for 'Services to Orinitholoy South of the Zambezi' and has only been awarded nineteen times between 1960 and 2012. Clancey was the fifth recipient of the award, in 1972.

Clancey's group of six military medals are to (Service Number) 913613 Gunner P.A. Clancey, Royal Artillery: 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; 1939-45 Defence Medal; 1939-45 War Medal; Efficiency Medal, Territorial (GviR, t.B) and the Coronation Medal, 1953, (EiiR).

Expeditions

In 1948-1949, he accompanied Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen on an ornithological expedition to Yemen, Aden, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa.

Museum posts

Clancey emigrated to South Africa in August 1950 to take up the post of Curator of the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg.

He was Director of the Durban Museum and Art Gallery from 1 January 1952 until his retirement on 25 September 1982.

Clancey also served as President of the Southern African Museums Association, President of the Southern African Ornithological Society and President of the Natal Bird Club.

Books

Clancey wrote extensively about the taxonomy of African birds, naming some two-hundred sub-species of Southern African birds.

ISBN 0-947464-65-4 ISBN 978-0947464653

2 Rev Ed edition (January 1996) ISBN 0-620-19918-0 ISBN 978-0620199186

Other publications number approximately 600.

Awards and honours

Collections

Later life

Phillip Clancey continued as a Research Associate of the Durban Museum and Art Gallery until his death in 2001, aged 83.

References

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