Borstal Boy is a Punk Rock Opera telling the true story of Michael and David Clarke originally told in, "Converted on LSD Trip". It tells the story of two brothers, Michael and David Clarke, who grew up in Aylesbury in the 60's. They were Mods but Michael spent two spells in Oxford Detention Centre and then Rochester Borstal, during which time David inherited his brothers Lambretta TV 175, in 1966. It was then he lived in the light and fame of his brothers notoriety with the Aylesbury Mods. On Michael's release from Borstal they teamed up together and were soon sent to prison for malicious wounding and carrying a fire arm without a license. Michael was sent to Maidstone Prison and David to Dover Borstal. On leaving Dover Borstal in 1968 Dave had a three year career of undetected crime until he was arrested but not by the police. He had a bad experience on LSD on the 16th January 1970 and called out to God for help. As a result he became Christian and turned from crime, overnight and went on the straight and narrow. His brother Michael however was unaffected and continued his flamboyant and criminal life style and ended up in prison, in the Philippines 25 years later, serving a 16 year prison sentence. David learned to read, as he was virtually illiterate when he left school, educated himself, went on to Higher Education and became lecturer and taught electronics of over 20 years, in colleges of Higher and Further Education. He joined the Bierton Strict and Particular Baptist Church, became a baptist minister in 1982 and preached the gospel in many churches in England. When David got news of his brothers conversion from crime to Christ in 1999, which was 5 years into his 16 year sentence he wrote his book Converted on LSD. He then went on a mission of help to the Philippines and assisted Michael. The story continues telling how they helped other notorious criminals on their road of reformation in New Bilibid Prison, which is the national penitentiary of the Philippines. This part of their story is told in their joint book Trojan Warriors that contains the Testimonies of 66 convicted criminals who too turned from crime to Christ. This is an extended version of Converted on LSD Trip telling the good that has come out of Michael and David's work in seeking to prompt the gospel of Christ to prison inmates.
About the Author: David Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire, in 1949. He was educated and trained as a lecturer, at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, and graduated with a Certificate in Education, awarded by Birmingham University, in 1978. However his earlier life had been rather different. He and his brother Michael were both convicted criminals and were sent to prison for malicious wounding and carrying a fire arm without a license. They grew up in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, during the 60's, and they were MOD's where they became criminals. On the 16th January 1970, David had a bad trip on LSD, during which time he called out to God to help him and Jesus spoke to him. He learned to read to educate himself and went on to Higher Education and for the next 14 years read the bible, various classical Christian literature and joined the Bierton Strict and Particular Baptists, in 1976. He became a lecturer in electronics, the church secretary and was called by the Lord, and sent by the church to preach, in 1982. The Bierton church became a Gospel Standard listed cause on 16th January 1981, Michael, David's brother was unaffected by David's conversion and continued his flamboyant style. Due to errors in doctrine and practice David withdrew from the Bierton church and wrote his first book, "The Bierton Crisis"', that explains the reason for his secession and with a view to help others. In 1995, David got news of his brothers arrest and later imprisonment in the Philippines and his conversion from crime to Christ, in 1999, that was 5 years into his 16 year prison sentence, he published their story in, "Converted on LSD Trip". David then went on a preaching mission to the Philippines in order to bring relief and help to Michael. During this mission David and Gordon Smith preached the gospel to hundreds of convicted criminals, including many on Death Row. This story is told Michael and David's joint book, "Trojan Warriors" that contains 66 life giving testimonies, of some of the most notorious criminals in Far East Asia, who too had become Christians in New Bilibid Prison. David writes of his ongoing mission work in his other publications. "And he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken": Luke 5 verse 9.