Clyde Tavernier

**Clyde Tavernier** was the stubborn but thoughtful son of Celestine and Etta Tavernier, brother of Hattie and Lloyd Tavernier and father of Kofi Tavernier.

He moved to Albert Square in July 1990 along with his family, and initially, he often feuded with his father, Celestine. He bagged a part-time job at The Queen Victoria, but when a spate of thefts occurred after his appointment, then-landlord Eddie Royle became overly suspicious that it was Clyde who was the thief. Clyde's name was later cleared when it transpired it was Ian Beale framing Simon Wicks during a feud.

Clyde's son, Kofi Tavernier, initially lived with his maternal grandparents following the death of his mother, Abigail. However, when Clyde learnt that Kofi's grandparents were planning to take him to Jamaica, he intervened and won custody of him.

In 1991, Clyde resumed professional boxing, a career which he previously had hoped to take up. He was trained up with the help of Grant and Phil Mitchell, who had hoped to exploit his talent by unfairly matching him up against Tommy Chivers, a renowned boxer with great experience, and taking the profits from a bet against him. The Mitchell brothers were unsuccessful with their plot however, as Clyde won the match.

Clyde dated Michelle Fowler throughout 1991, and when he was framed for the murder of Eddie Royle, a criminal act which was actually committed by Nick Cotton, he fled the Square with her. However, the pair were caught trying to escape by the police and Clyde was imprisoned. He was soon released though when Nick confessed to killing Eddie. Clyde and Michelle split up in 1992 when Michelle cheated on him with college student Jack Woodman.

He formed a new relationship to Gidea Thompson in 1993 and was desperate for them to work out. His plans for a successful relationship were thwarted by Jules Tavernier though, when Gidea learnt that she was his granddaughter. Uncomfortable at the thought of dating her cousin, Gidea wanted to call things off, but she was later back around by Clyde and the pair moved to Trinidad.

## Biography

### 1990-1991: A tempestuous start in Albert Square

Clyde moved to Albert Square with the remainder of his family in July 1990, after his mother, Etta Tavernier, bagged a teaching job at Walford Primary School. His relationship with his father, Celestine Tavernier, was fractured, and they would often feud over petty things. This resulted in Etta locking them in the kitchen together shortly after they had moved into No.27 so that they could resolve their differences.

Clyde bagged himself a part-time job as a potman at The Queen Victoria in 1990, working for then-landlord Eddie Royle. Towards the end of 1990, Clyde got back in contact with his young son, Kofi Tavernier, who was living in Bristol in his maternal grandparents care. He splashed the cash on a train journey up there and also bought Kofi expensive toys, using the money he had saved. However, at the same time, money started going missing from the till. Eddie's suspicions were raised and he was convinced it was Clyde thieving the money, although it later transpired that it was Ian Beale setting Simon Wicks up due to an ongoing feud between the pair. In December 1990, Clyde learnt that Kofi's maternal grandparents were going over to live in Jamaica, and they were planning to take Kofi with them. Not wanting this, Clyde headed to the airport and gained custody of Kofi.

In 1991, Clyde decided to resume professional boxing, a career which he intended to take up previously. He was coached with the help of Grant and Phil Mitchell, who had hoped to exploit Clyde's talent by unfairly matching him up against renowned boxer Tommy Chivers and then taking the profits when bets were placed against Clyde. However, the Mitchell brothers plot was foiled, as despite Clyde being less experienced, he was victorious.

When Eddie Royle was murdered in September 1991, Clyde was, unfortunately, the one to find the body. After picking up the knife used to kill Eddie, Clyde fled and desperately tried to cover his tracks. However, police began to grow suspicious over Clyde, as he had argued with Eddie on the day of his death. They set out to find him, so he fled the Square and later returned to hide at No.55 with his then-girlfriend Michelle Fowler, who he had began a relationship with earlier in the year. Clyde and Michelle agreed to flee the UK and start a new life elsewhere with their children, but they were caught by the police at Portsmouth harbour and Clyde was imprisoned. He was soon released though, when the real killer of Eddie, Nick Cotton, confessed to his murder.

### 1992-1993: Relationship troubles

Clyde's relationship with Michelle began to hit the rocks in 1992. When Michelle left her daughter, Vicki Fowler, in his care whilst she worked, the last thing she expected was for her daughter to be left in the care of Jules. However, this was the case, and it resulted in Vicki scalding herself. Despite the scalding being minor, Michelle was unsure she could stay with Clyde. Her mind later changed though and she agreed to stay with him. Then, in November 1992, it was Clyde who ultimately finished things after catching Michelle in bed with her college friend, Jack Woodman.

In 1993, Clyde met Gidea Thompson, who he, at first, thought was a distant relative. The pair got on well and Clyde became determined to start a relationship with her. However, when Jules later revealed to the pair that they were cousins, as Gidea was has granddaughter, Gidea became uncomfortable at the idea of dating her cousin. She later came around however, and in July 1993, the pair moved to Trinidad.

## First and last lines

"How'd you figure that out?" (First line, to Jules Tavernier)

"See yas." (Final line)