Tony Clarke

When I first went to Killerton in 1966 the Head Proctor was Bill Hembry. Bill came from South Wales, and I remember that soon after the term started he had to rush home. I think he lived close to the village of Aberfan, where the slag heap slid onto the local school.

I don’t clearly recall other names from his year, but being a singer, I joined with some of the “God Squad” who helped out at services at Broadclyst Church and at Exeter Catedral. It was year three students who led that group.

There were some second years that I remember clearly though, as they ran the Folk Club and were very talented performers. Pete (Holman) and Dave (Treharne) were well known in the South West and Dave Pope was a vey fine guitarist. They formed the basis of the New Killerton Mountain Boys Jugband, which I joined as a singer and kazoo player.

Names from my own year- 1966 are easier to remember. I shared a room in year one with Pete Chivers from Gloucestershire. I went on to share with him and Gordon Fulfitt from Plymouth in year two. He had shared with Frank Curnow. Jim Brock from South Wales was hooker of Cross Keys Rugby club. Tony Bunt was another Cornishman, along with Frank, Malcolm Carlyon and Pete and Dave. Other names from my year- Malcolm Cronshaw- who became Head proctor in my final year. Chris Davies from South Wales also became a Proctor. Hayden Donovan from Stourbridge also stayed on to year three with Dick Davies from Derbyshire and Warwick Francis from Manchester. Warwick was an exceptional table tennis player and keen snooker player. “I played to bring it across” was his comment which entered Killerton Folklore! Dick Davies was also a folk singer. Pete Cyphus from Newport and Chris Smith from Reigate also stayed on.

The group from 1967 included Dick Henley, whom you already know, Howard (Dow) Cowley, Colin Glue from Southampton (though he might have been in my year), Chris Martin and from 1968 I remember Chris Way and Dave Handyside, someone with the surname Waghorn and of course Derek Wyatt well.

In my time we did not have names for the three wings of the house, the back one was where I started- the sound of squash at all hours accompanying most of my waking hours. In year two the three of us shared the largest room off the main landing. In my final year, when I became librarian, I had the middle room of the three which later became the snooker room. (It had been of course before the College moved in!)

It was on a return visit with my family that the woodworm in the main door to this area was shown to have woodworm. I pointed out to the attendant that you could place a dartboard exactly inside the circle of “woodworm”. I don’t think she was amused but acknowledged that she would have to amend her spiel!

I stayed for three years and ended up as the Librarian.

My wife went to Rolle College and was one of the few ladies to stay at Killerton legally overnight!! In Sir Richard's flat!!

I was part of the infamous New Killerton Mountain Boys Jug band, and sang regularly at The Cellar Folk Club.

Now retired from teaching when my school amalgamated and currently live in a Derbyshire Village.