Temple was born in Ealing, London,[3] the son of science fiction author William F. Temple and brother of Anne Patrizio MBE, a leading campaigner for the rights of LGBT people and their parents.
In 1993 Cliff Temple began an investigation into conflicts of interest in the business affairs of Fatima Whitbread, the former world record-holder in the javelin and, at the time, mistress of Andy Norman, an influential promotions officer at the British Athletic Federation (BAF).
Norman threatened that if Temple did not stop asking awkward questions about Whitbread's business with the Chafford Hundred athletics club, he would spread unfounded allegations that Temple had sexually harassed a young woman athlete whom he coached.
In January 1994, at age 46, Temple took his own life; his body was found on the railway line at Sandling, not far from his home in Hythe, Kent.
Peter Radford, then Executive Chairman of the British Athletic Federation, said in April 1994: "So [that] there is no doubt in anyone's mind, I have never heard any evidence of any kind that Cliff Temple ever engaged in any practice which could be construed as sexual impropriety.