Gillian Clarke was born on the 27th January 1941 in Sidcup, Kent.

Gillian was educated at Lamorkey Church of England School and Chislehurst and Sidcup Girls' Grammar School. She then went to Newham College Cambridge where she received a degree in history and later a M. Lilt postgraduate research into Edward I.

In 1964 Gillian married Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP, who later became Chancellor of Exchequer. Since marrying, Gillian has concentrated on her home, family and supporting her husband's political career. They have two children; a daughter, Esther Susan (1968) and a son, Kenneth Bruce (1965). Gillian has been involved with Oxfam since 1970, both as a trustee and a manager of an Oxfam shop in Birmingham. Currently she is working in an Oxfam book shop in Nottingham. Her hobbies include patchwork, quilting, wild flower photography and historical architecture.

Gillian is a member of the Conservative Party, and active in the Women's Committee; Secretary of Ward Committee in Nottingham and has been the Co-Chairman of Blue Ball. She also takes on speaking engagements on topics such as 11 Downing Street, Life as a Minister's Wife, Travels of a Minister's Wife and Making Quilts. All Gillian's fees are donated to Oxfam for their work combating poverty.