AFN Clarke is a former officer in Britain elite Parachute Regiment who served with 3 Para in Cyprus with the UN peacekeeping force in 1972; two tours in Northern Ireland in 1973 and 1976; with the French Airborne gaining French Parachute wings. He holds a Private Pilot's Licence; a yacht skippers certificate and designed, built and raced Formula Ford racing cars after leaving the Army. He has written seven other books.