The avid card player turns 100 today and has no complaints about his life: ''I suppose luck's played a big part, but I've always managed to play my cards right.''
He was born in Oamaru, shifted to Central Otago aged 4 ''and I've never been too far from a creek ever since - Moa Creek then Chatto Creek, Spottis Creek, Omakau, Galloway, Alexandra and now Roxburgh''.
The sprightly centenarian looks decades younger than his age and keeps active with swimming and daily walks, taking a walking stick ''even though I don't need one''.
''I'm in good health and have no pain at all - that's the biggest thing ... and I don't even get toothache,'' he jokes, flashing a wide smile which displays his false teeth.
Although he has difficulty hearing, his eyesight is ''spot on'' and he's quick to demonstrate how well he can read fine print without glasses.
Mr Clare has some advice for those hoping to copy his longevity.
''If you want to live a long life, start early looking after yourself. Get plenty of early nights' sleep and exercise every day. No gluttony, but good meals.''
He has never smoked and won't be drawn on any vices - ''any vices I have are hidden - not for publication''. However, he will admit to a love of chocolate and says he eats some every day.
''I don't think a few little squares do me any harm.
''My favourite used to be milk chocolate but now I eat the dark chocolate, a few little squares at a time. I don't sit there and eat a whole block at a time, though.''
His mother was from Moa Creek and his father, from the Omakau area, was a blacksmith before establishing a farm in the Crawford Hills.
He and his two siblings attended school at Galloway then Alexandra and Mr Clare was dux of both his primary and secondary school.
He worked on the family farm until World War 2 and was one of the first volunteers to enlist, as a member of the mortar platoon, serving in Egypt and Greece, until being captured on Crete.
From there he was taken to northern Germany by cattle truck and spent four years as a prisoner of war in Stalag V111B.
Memories of his ''escapades'' during that time remain vivid for him.
''I like to go back over them because I'm proud of what I've gone through.''
He marches proudly in Anzac Day parades in Alexandra but said ''they went too fast for me at the last one ...
but I stuck at it''.
After returning home from the war, he married Jean Rickman and the couple brought up a family of three children on their Galloway farm.
Mrs Clare died 20 years ago and her husband retired to Alexandra, where he lived independently until late last year, when he shifted in with his son in Roxburgh.
Mr Clare has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Cards has been a passion since he was at primary school and he enjoys a three-hour session every week, playing 500 at the senior citizens rooms at the Alexandra Community Centre.
''I am quite serious about cards. I like to win and have my share of wins but my share of losses too.''
Mr Clare's close friends and family will gather in Dunedin tomorrow to celebrate his birthday and another celebration will be held at the senior citizens rooms in Alexandra next Wednesday before the regular card session.
