Photograph of Malcolm Titcombe in National Service army uniform, c1958

Malcolm Titcombe of Hook, Lydiard Tregoze, pictured in uniform while undertaking his National Service (1957-9). The camp where he was based was close to Aldershot, on the edge of Farnborough opposite the Queen's Hotel, a popular evening destination for the young men.

Malcolm who described himself as 'the least army sort of person you can imagine' was glad to be given a job as a Sergeant Major's clerk, using the typing skills he had learned at evening classes at Purton School. Unfortunately he found shorthand a lot more difficult, recalling ' .. had I conquered shorthand I would've been posted to London and given a suit!'