Dr. Clement Knight was born on August 2, 1950 in Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti region, during the colonial Gold Coast era of Ghana where his British father, Brendan W. A.T. Knight and Ghanaian mother Felicia Agnes at the time resided. His father as the British colonial District Commissioner for Ashanti and mother are the first recorded inter-racial couple in the history of Ghana. Clement was named after British Prime Minister at the time, Clement Attlee, prime minister who ushered in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK after the end of World War II.
Clement attended primary school in Accra where he and his siblings were the first pupils at Christ the King International school from 1955 to 1962. He then attended secondary school at St Augustine’s College (High school) in Cape Coast, Ghana from 1962 to 1969 where he completed his General Certificate of Education, Ordinary and Advanced levels. From 1969 to 1973, he attended Medical school at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he earned his MB ChB (MD) degree. After graduating, he worked as an internist (house officer) in the Volta (Ho) and Northern (Tamale) regions of Ghana.
In 1977, Clement left Ghana for the UK to continue advancing his medical career, climbing through the professional ladder in a series of hospitals, Royal Marsden Hospital (Oncology), Royal Free Hospital (Haematology- Bone marrow transplant team), Guys Hospital (surgical oncology), Mount Vernon hospital (Internal medicine). Finally, Clement progressed to become the senior registrar, and clinical consultant hematologist at Addenbrookes’s hospital, in Cambridge, England. At the University of Cambridge, he was a fellow at Christ College, where is father, and Uncle had attended before him.
In 1978, Clement married his wife, Mathilde (Matty) Dyson, who he had met in 1974 at Tesano Sports Club in Ghana. The marriage was blessed with two children, both born in London: Nicola (April 22, 1981) and Jonathan (March 18,1986). In 1987, the family moved to the USA where Dr Knight earned his Oncology Fellowship at the National Cancer Institute. In 1993, he joined the Oncology practice in Columbia MD, becoming an attending physician at the Howard County General Hospital.
Dr. Knight was Board certified in Internal Medicine, and Oncology. He was also a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a member of the Royal College of Pathologists, and was recognized in the “Guide to America’s Top Physicians” from 2003 to 2011. He maintained a strong interest in the biology of cancer, staying abreast with current literature and new forms of therapy for all types of cancers (e.g breast, lung, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, prostate etc…), as well as hematological disorders (lymphomas, leukemias etc…). He also had a specific interest and specialty in coagulation/bleeding disorders and in the research and treatment of rare blood disorders.
Dr. Knight was an avid gardener and came up with his famous quote “nature is my cathedral.” He enjoyed watching his favorite team, Chelsea FC, play soccer as well as good food. He played golf occasionally but not consistently enough to become a good golfer, more a social, gregarious gentleman who enjoyed spending times with colleagues and people from all walks of life. His infectious big laugh and presence is legendary.
Dr. Knight is survived by his wife, Matty, children, Nicola and Jonathan, grandson (Sebastian Adriano Sarfati), brothers (John and Peter), and sister (Mrs Angela Amarteifio).