Clarence was born the only child of Wilbert Corvin and Rosemary Corvin. Whilst pregnant with Clarence, Rosemary fled the South of England after the death of Wilbert, and settled in Newcastle where Clarence was born.

Clarence was very isolated as a child with is mother insisting that none of the other children in the neighbourhood where "good enough" to associate with him. While other children attended the parent-led school that had recently been established, Clarence was taught at home by a private tutor.

As a young adult, Clarence left Newcastle for the first time to attend University in The City where he met Russell Charbonneau. The two of them began an on and off again relationship that lasted throughout their time at University.