Claire or Clare
Claire or Clare is a series of portraits for the exhibition “The Walthamstow Tapestry after Grayson Perry”. Grayson Perry is famously known for having an alter ego named Claire. The Claire’s / Clare’s in the series all live or work in the borough of Waltham forest. The portraits were photographed where and when the sitter specified within the borough.
Deborah Claire Cross
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Claire?
A: My mum wanted a name that couldn’t be shortened, I’ve always been called Claire rather Deborah as it sounded better.
Claire Gilbert
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Claire?
A: I was meant to be called Nicola. But on the way to the hospital dad heard the Gilbert & Sullivan song ‘Clare’ and decided to call me that instead.
Claire Mathews
Clare Tomlinson
Q: Any stories or interesting things that have happened to you because of your name.
A: My father always used to sing ‘Clare’ by Gilbert O’Sullivan my nickname by him was Clara Cluck.
Claire Gayle
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Claire?
A: My parents went through the book of children’s names and it was the only one they didn’t laugh at or go yuk.
Clare Hibbert
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Clare?
A: My parents wanted a short unusual name! obviously everyone else in 1970 decided on that too. I remember listening to ‘Clare’ to Gilbert O’Sullivan aged about two which is one of my earliest memories.
Clare Coghill
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Clare?
A: My mum’s middle name is Clare and my paternal grandfather was Sinclair Coghill.
Q: Any stories or interesting things that have happened to you because of your name
A: My best friend is called Claire and when we lived together in France we were called Les Claires.
Clare Juhasz
Q: Is there any reason why you are called Clare?
A: When it came to registering the name, it was the name I had that day! Previous names had been Joanna, Chloe and Samantha.