An extra Killerton update November 2021
Following my last missive I received a few bits of news that may be of interest.
Martin (Monty) Hannant is now the proud owner of a new hip to accompany his replacement knees. I thought I had brief hospital visit when my hips were replaced, but Monty is clearly made of more resilient stuff. He was admitted at 7:30am, operated on, and collected by Maggie at 5:30 that evening! Two and a half weeks later and he is walking a mile a day with one walking stick. Now that's impressive!
Monty has no recollection of bonfire parties, I think they were discontinued in the very early 70s. He does recall the Christmas concerts of 71 and 73. The 72 Concert was cancelled because of the ’flu bug going around at the time. I can confirm the severity of the ‘flu bug that year. I was on teaching practice in Axminster during autumn term and was sent home – completely wiped out. I spent a week in bed - much to the annoyance of Dennis who had insisted that I needed to go into College to be looked after. However, Pat Goodall saw no reason for that and instructed Dennis to arrange for food to be delivered to my room each day.
Horace Letchford remembers the fireworks at Killerton in the later years but is fairly sure College staff paid for the fireworks and held their staff party at Killerton.
Derek Barnard picked up on the recent contact Chris Brimecombe and explained he was at Killerton at the same time as Chris. He has since been in contact with Chris after a lapse of 55years!
Another catch-up, this time in person. I heard from Brian Hunt who met up with Bob Harris, Chris Heaume, Vijay Daswani and Derek Heath. Brian hadn’t seen two of them since leaving Killerton in ‘74.
Tony and Eileen Clarke are well. Tony's best memories are of the Christmas Dinners – with the ever popular “Blue Nun”.
And that comment from Tony nudged a memory from deep in the recesses of my mind – Hirondelle. The wine of choice in the early ‘70s for the financially embarrassed. Often bought at the little off-licence by the Bridge at Pinhoe.
Apart from Taff’s recollection of a bonfire party in 1970 as related last time, it seems no one else has any memories of these events. Maybe, like Taff, alcohol induced memory loss.
Finally, some sad news. I heard from Roger Dickson that Chris (Oggie) Hoskins passed away in July. Roger and Angela had called in to see Chris and Jane on their way to the Killerton Cricket match. Only a couple of weeks later they heard the news of his death.
Charles Fear dropped me a note to advise of the passing of Edwin Crowle:
“Those who studied English at St Luke's will probably remember the esteemed Edwin Crowle (my personal tutor and an exceptional one). He died last summer, at 24 St Leonards Road, down from College Rd. A Cambridge man and academically about the best Luke's had to offer academically. Without pretension, he was a leading expert on Elizabethan /Jacobean poetry and drama (especially Christopher Marlowe) and was one of five sons born to a Cornish dairy farmer. He knew Pete Cloke's family, also from that part of Cornwall (where?). He was in his early 90s and is survived by his wife, Marie-Therese and his daughter. A fine musician, scholar, friend and tutor, and an absolute gentleman.
I fear many of the students failed to recognize his exceptional qualities and quiet kindness.”
Still hoping to hear from anyone with memories of the Bonfire Parties or indeed, any news you are happy to share. I have a feeling that we have exhausted the stories from our Killerton years but happy to be proved wrong and add more stories to the website.