I first met Peter Cloke in September 1967 at Killerton, when he and I were just 18, part of a cohort of about 20 First Years, new boys at Killerton joining Saint Luke's. He was three weeks younger than me, but in terms of confidence and maturity, very much a young man, whilst I was still a nervous adolescent, untutored in the trends then booming in the youth culture of the '60s : while he wore wrangler blue jeans , white trainers and Ben Sherman shirts with button-down collars, I was stuck with Harris Tweed jackets , grey flannels and black Oxford toecaps (my parents were very disapproving of anything trendy!). Where Pete was sporty and like one of the Beach Boys, a Cornish/ Californian glamour about him, I was more Gilbert and Sullivan! (I still like both but have moved on since those repressed days!).
Pete shared a room with a lad called Andy Gordon: they both studied English Main; their big room was on the main thoroughfare between the foyer and the bar and dining room, as I recall. Pete, son of Primary Head, from Kingsland Cawsand just over the Tamar, had attended The famous boys Grammar (...............), while I, a very studious Sec Mod 11+ failure from near Burnham on Sea, Somerset, felt very inferior, and to be honest, massively jealous of this golden, Apollo-like guy. Added to which, he was both sporty and massively attractive to lots of young ladies (all seemingly called Sue, like the lovely lady he actually married!) Pete had a natural charm - what the French, I believe, term 'Savoir faire', and seemed to glide through life (I now have a son like that!). I recall on our first TP, in Plymouth, (I at the dire Camel's Head Sec Mod, lodging in awful digs in St. Budeaux (sic.)). Pete and some buddies took me across to Kingsland and Cawsand one sunny day for a pint and pasty. I don't recall to which school he was assigned, but he did well, I struggled!
For Study Practice, 2nd year, about eight of us were bussed down to Exmouth Comprehensive every Wednesday, to take over a mixed ability 1st year class, under the supervision of Brian Merrick, the much-admired English Drama tutor. I recall, with horror, the ordeal of having to take the whole class under the critical eye of student colleagues and then be formally appraised by Merrick. Pete showed no apprehension, but I’m sure we all felt it!
I had left Killerton by then and was in South Cloisters, dining in “The Elephant House "...... Benedictus, benedicat, passim Christum Nostram..."etc. while Pete remained at Killerton. Lost touch with him. I know he took up rowing (fours and eights) on the Exe, in a Saint Luke's Boat (the Club near The Port Royal?). Sue Cloke has a marvellous photo of his Four, in front of North Cloisters- Bill Hunt, Music Student, being one of them.
In his Third Year, although we both did excellent English in the wonderful Dept run by Cambridge Freddy Smith though we never seemed to take the same termly course. I was sorry that Pete had elected NOT to do the Final year of the concurrent BEd because he had interviewed and secured his first post as assistant English Master and Rowing Coach at the prestigious HMC Wycliff College in Gloucestershire. I lost touch with him completely, until 2015!
One winter's day, tooling aimlessly though my computer, I started recalling names from my era at Luke's - Killerton in particular -Howard Cowley, Bob Windsor, Dave George. John Pountain, Fred Sedgewick, Stewart Wimms, Gerry Humphries, Alan Halliwell etc. The only one to sail into view on screen was Peter, very impressive looking suited guy, Educational Consultant, ex Head, OBE living in Ide, Exeter. The apple had not fallen far from the tree, so to speak!
I made contact and through the good offices of Steve Hatton, met up at a wonderful Killerton reunion, part hosted by Pete and Sue at their lovely place in Ide. I remember going to the Ghandi Street Indian, so popular with Lukies in !970. I met him on subsequent occasions whilst on holiday in Sidmouth where he met my wife and sons, and dinners at his favourite restaurants in Exeter He became a cherished, dear friend, retaining all the charm of his youth - a superb human being people were lucky to know and now, are devastated to have lost, and in such terrifying circumstances.
A true Cornishman and a kindly fisher of folk: a terrible loss to us all, and especially his lovely wife and family: one Saint Luke's, and Killerton's, best sons.
Miss you, Buddy.
Charles Fear
Saint Luke's, !967-1971
Campsea Ashe, Suffolk