Wedding reception at Killerton September 2000

It would appear that John Discombe made early friendly advances to Killerton long before our current reunions.

John who lived at that time in Whimple, near Honiton, was looking for a venue for his daughter’s upcoming wedding.  She was getting married in Whimple in 2000 but needed a venue for the reception.  He discussed Killerton with his daughter who was very excited at the prospect.  

They decided to approach Killerton and went over to discuss the possibility with the relevant personnel. 

He met a lady there who explained that they rarely held private events in the grounds and it was not normally National Trust policy. As they walked in the garden he mentioned it would be a rather special opportunity as it was a chance to ‘square the circle’.  By this time they were on the lawn just outside the bar (sorry, National Trust Cafe). The lady asked why "squaring the circle" and John mentioned that the window immediately above them was where his room had been, a room he shared with Tom Healy in his first year at St Luke’s in 1966. 

The lady’s ears pricked up and she asked if he had been a student there. He confirmed this and she quickly changed her mind. She became really enthusiastic to make it happen,  The lady turned out to be Denise Melluish.  He further explained that he and his future wife had spent many a happy afternoons in the grounds and attended a number of dances in the house and evenings in the folk club.

Denise was interested in John’s stories and was very helpful in making the event a most successful and enjoyable occasion with the reception held in a marquee on the lawn overlooked by the window of the room which John - and Jan – had once looked out from.