Meet The Team
We have a wonderful gardening team working tirelessly in the gardens to keep them beautiful. Kevin, Leslie, Lynda, Cat, Seth and our fantastic volunteers Peter and Jonathan, maintain the borders and lawns. We have help from outside gardeners with the cutting of the box, yew and clearing of the autumn leaves (Alex), sweetpeas (Jim) and orchids (Andy). Machinery is looked after by ‘little’ Kevin and Jon advises us on our ever growing rose collection! Last but not least is Marian, who has been with our family for many years first as a volunteer in the garden and now as our archivist. Together they make Houghton sing, and we are so lucky to have them all contributing to the upkeep, and hardly a day goes by when we are not grateful for all their help.
Rodney Malcomber
17th April 1944 – 23rd December 2023
Rodney has been the estate joiner at Houghton Lodge for the best part of 30 years and was so much a member of the Houghton family. Wherever we go there are reminders of all the wonderful work he did for us over the years: From rebuilding the dovecot and making many ornate windows for the house to the spectacular Nikko bridge in the new Oriental Garden which he finished shortly before he left us.
It is a tribute to his skill and brilliance as a joiner that everything he has done for us has and will continue to stand the test of time. Hardly a day passes when we do not notice some failing item of woodwork, (some often dated from 1793 when the house was built), and one’s first and natural thought is to say “oh that’s alright Rodney will sort it out”. We shall miss being woken up by the hum of his saws!
Being able to see the wheels he made for the George Gun (the gun carriage that carried the coffins of Princess Diana, The Queen Mum and our late majesty Queen Elizabeth) in Woolwich in July 2023 was such a special day. I was delighted we could persuade him to make the journey and it will stay with me as one of the best memories of my life.
His passing leaves an enormous gap in all our lives which we can never hope to fill. He was a truly wonderful, thoughtful, traditional, generous and very intelligent gentle man. All of us were privileged to know him and we will miss him enormously.
Sophie and Daniel
March 2024
Good evening Sophie,
Meeting Rodney in the gun park was such a privilege, his enthusiasm and knowledge of the troop, guns and especially the wheels were amazing. Without people like Rodney, we, the troop, wouldn’t be where we are today.
Thank you again for sending the photo of Rodney. I had it framed, and he watches over the George Gun in ‘Rodney’s Corner’.
Regards,
C-C
Sgt Churchill-Coleman REME | Eng Tech MIMechE | Armourer | The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery
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