Alfred Douglas Clare was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England in 1889. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1919. It is not known, however, where or with whom he trained as an architect.
By 1913 he was already in partnership with John Stanley Coombe Beard (1890-1970) as J Stanley Beard & Clare. They remained in partnership until Clare's death in 1936.
During World War One Clare served with distinction in the Royal Berkshire Regiment and was awarded a Military Cross.
His address was given as 37 Dalebury Road, London in 1919; Jesmond, Woodside Grove, London in 1920 and 1924; and 19 Holly Park, Finchley, Middlesex in 1926 and 1936. He died on 8 July 1936.
J. Stanley Beard & Clare specialised in cinema architecture. Among these were Palace, Kentish Town (1913); Majestic, Clapham (1914); Palace Theatre, Wandsworth (1920); Palmadium Cinema, Palmers Green (1920); St. James' Picture Theatre, Westminster (1922); Prince of Wales Cinema, Lewisham (1922); New Palladium, Shepherd's Bush (1923); Picture Playhouse, Gerrards Cross (1925); Walpole, Ealing (1925); Capitol Cinema, Walton-on-Thames (1927); Capitol, Forest Hill (1928–29); Royalty Cinema, North Kensington (1929); Luxor, Twickenham (1929); Golden Domes, Streatham (1929); Forum Theatre, Fulham (1930); New Palace Cinema, Kensal Rise (1931); Queens Cinema, Bayswater (1932); Morden Cinema, Morden (1932); Plaza, West Wickham (1933); Forum, Ealing (1934); Forum, Kentish Town (1934); Astoria Cinema, Ruislip (1934); Prince of Wales' Cinema, Paddington (1934); State Cinema, Dartford (1935); and Classic Cinema, Baker Street (1937). The practice also designed private residences, offices, factories, hotels and other buildings.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
‘Obituary’. Building vol. 151, 17 July 1936 p. 120