Many thanks to the Kidlington and District Historical Society for hosting my talk on Malcolm yesterday evening. I enjoyed delivering it, the audience was receptive and all the tech’ worked!

“While Memory Lasts – Grandfather’s Wars”

Tuesday 25th February 2025, 7.30pm

Kidlington Baptist Church, OX5 2DS

£5 on the door!

For the Kidlington & District Historical Society

Thanks to Cousin Charlie’s useful younger brother the interview with Wogan is back!

Diary extracts from Malcolm Hancock’s time as Welfare Officer in Berlin April to August 1945.

Thanks to Cousin Charlie’s useful younger brother the interview with Wogan is back!

I have been asked by the local Historical Society to give a talk covering my grandfather’s experiences in WW1 & WW2. The talk is not until the end of February but I have started putting it together and revisiting all the sources. It’s a while since I’ve been into deep research and had half forgotten how absorbing it is!

I have titled it “While Memory Lasts – Grandfather’s Wars”, taken from the title of a paper Malcolm wrote and typed, late 70s early 80s, based on his views and memoirs. Add in the 7 hours of recordings he put down with the IWM, Battalion records, diaries etc.. etc.. and there are a good few sources to refer to and re-boost my memories!

It was sad to read Major Tonie Holt’s obituary recently in The Times, Wednesday 23rd October. A friend of mine remembers his tour coaches crossing The Somme for a number of years. And of course, he and wife, Valmai, produced those iconic guidebooks and maps. He was 91, so a full life lived well and long!