In Memoriam
Malcolm McMahon
Malcolm McMahon, known affectionately as Mackie or Mac, was a well-known and respected resident of Walkhampton and had lived there all of his life. He was a real character, with a love for life, a wicked sense of humour and a countryman through and through. He was often seen propping up the bar at the local pubs enjoying a pint of Legend, striking up a conversation with friends and visitors after a morning of walking on Dartmoor. He featured in the BBC TV Inside Out programme in 2012, about the pros and cons of social drinking and his love of the country life.
He was born in Newmarket in 1936 where soon after his mother died and he and his 6 siblings were transported to Walkhampton and were raised by relatives. Mackie was brought up by Eliza and Fred Nicholls, a childless couple who doted on him. He was introduced to the country life by Fred and other relatives. He soon began rabbiting with ferrets, shooting pigeons and pheasants and fishing for trout and salmon (often using dubious techniques), he was recently described as ‘the best poacher I have ever known’. All was for personal consumption and in his generous nature, shared amongst his neighbours, family and friends.
He was a keen football player with a nifty left foot and many over the years have said that he could have pursued a professional career. Mackie spent many hours walking on his beloved Dartmoor accompanied by his various Spaniels and Retrievers; he took a great interest in the history of Dartmoor and had many local yarns about the people that lived there.
He developed his great love for vegetable growing during his early years at Walkhampton school. This became his long-term passion, spending many happy hours tending his huge vegetable garden and honing his expertise to grow the longest parsnips, carrots and runner beans as well as perfectly shaped shallots and onions. He kept his techniques a closely guarded secret. He was famous for his long runner beans and almost always won the annual runner bean contest at the Rock Hotel, bizarrely measured against the leg of a lady propped on the bar, Mackie’s record was 28 inches. He was especially proud of this and in recent years he has generously given his seeds to budding rivals.
Mackie entered the Walkhampton Show since its reappearance in 1972 until 2019. It was a great family affair and always eagerly anticipated by his family. He was famous for sweeping the board clean, winning most of the top prizes and trophies in the vegetable classes and the best kept and cropped garden. His proudest moment was when he was presented with a lifetime achievement award from the Walkhampton Cottage Garden society.
Mackie was a great family man and a true friend to all that knew him.
Jim Knight
James Knight, known to everyone as Jim, was born in Stalybridge near Manchester in 1946. He was married to Ros & they had two daughters Catherine & Philippa.
Jim arrived in Walkhampton in the Spring of 1987 when he took on the role of Teaching Headmaster at Lady Modiford’s Church of England Primary School in the heart of the village. He remained in this position for 19 years until his retirement in 2006. During that time the number of pupils rose from around 40 to well over 100. Whilst at the school Jim was a keen supporter of the PTA which he considered to be most important, he also started a chess club for the pupils & helped organise an annual Summer Fair.
Jim regarded the school as an integral part of the community & as such became involved in village life, he was an active member of St Mary’s Church sitting on the PCC. He also volunteered for Yelvercare & played cricket for the Church Team &, on occasions, for the Walkhampton Village Team. Jim embraced the school community links with the Burrator Parish Council involving himself & his family in the Twinning Association of Walkhampton with Mathieu in France.
Football was one of Jim’s favourite sports & he was an enthusiastic supporter of Blackpool & Plymouth Argyle which made life a little difficult when both teams were playing in the same division! He enjoyed playing Crown Green Bowls & whatever he did he tried to give it 100%.
Many people remember Jim fondly for the inevitable jokes he told, he had a joke for every occasion, the difficulty being that as he knew the punchline he would start chuckling before he got to the end!
Jim was a “man of the community” who inspired a generation with his wisdom, humour & kindness. His legacy lives on in all who were lucky enough to know him.