A Record of the CLASPER Family History

Barry - the dancer and the caller

Barry resides in Toronto, Ontario with his wife, Pam. They started dancing in 1973, just two weeks after the birth of their youngest son. Barry started calling in 1984 when a local C2 tape group asked for help with some things they couldn't find on teaching tapes. He figured if he was going to write material to help them, he might as well call it. Since then he has expanded in both directions and now calls from MS through C4.

As a dancer, Barry loves choreography that is smooth and flowing yet also provides some mental stimulation and the occasional surprise. When calling, he strives to create this effect through smooth danceable choreography flavoured with a bit of unusual positioning to create a dance experience containing both physical and mental elements.

Barry's "day job" with IBM limits his ability to travel regularly but over the years he has managed to call at weekends and conventions in 5 provinces and 11 states, as well as Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Japan.

Barry's parent's 60th Anniversary, June 21, 2001

Back row (L-R):  Marilyn Clasper, Brian Clasper, Bill Murray (William Charles, Andrea's husband), Barry Clasper (James Barry), Tom Clasper (Thomas William), Bob Clasper (Kenneth Robert), Pam Clasper

Front row (L-R):  Andrea Murray (nee Clasper), Doug Clasper, Olive Clasper, Bill Clasper (William), Kimberly Clasper, Ken Clasper.

The picture was taken on June 21, 2001, Olive & Bill's 60th wedding anniversary and was the last time that all of the family was together.
 

(Ed: The above photos and information were taken from Barry Clasper's Web-site with their permission). The web-site is at ;-

www3.sympatico.ca/clasper/contact.htm

Barry owns the Clasper domain name www.clasper.ca

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ALTHOUGH their house was bombed out during the war, the 60-year union of an Eltham couple has never collapsed. Henry, 84, and Olive Clasper, 80, who got married in Birmingham on June 5th 1938, have celebrated their diamond anniversary with a garden party outside the house they had to rebuild 50 years ago.

In September 1944, their two-bedroom home in Daisie Road, Eltham, was completely destroyed by a V2 rocket which left a 40ft-wide and 20 yards-deep crater in their property. When Mr Clasper, a Royal Navy veteran, came back from the Middle-East in 1946, he was met with disarray, finding an underground cave in place of his house and beloved family. "I knew where they were straight away", he said. His wife and his six-year-old daughter had left for the safety of Birmingham and when they met again, they decided to return to Eltham to rebuild their house.

"The best moment of our lives was when we both walked into our rebuilt house and started our new life together...in peace", said Mrs Clasper.

9:30am Saturday 13th June 1998

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