Malcolm Murdoch, a great-grandfather from Liverpool, will celebrate his 101st birthday on July 19. He still lives independently in the three-bedroom home in West Derby he shared with his late wife, Ethel, for 66 years.
Early Life and Wartime Memories
Born in 1925, Malcolm grew up on Chilcott Road in Knotty Ash as one of five children. He attended Knotty Ash Village School on Thomas Lane alongside comedian Ken Dodd. During World War II, he recalled nights interrupted by air-raid sirens and rushing to shelters. "The nearest a bomb came to us was about 200 yards," he said.
After leaving school, Malcolm trained as a cabinetmaker before moving into sheet metal work, manufacturing parts for ships during the war. He later served in the King's Regiment from 1945 to 1948 as a physical training instructor.
Meeting His Wife and a Life of Dance
Malcolm met Ethel when they were teenagers at The Murren School of Dance on Derby Lane in Old Swan, where they learned ballroom dancing. "That's where I met my wife. We used to do a lot of dancing," he said. The couple married at St Mary's Church in West Derby on June 11, 1949, and enjoyed 73 happy years together before Ethel died in 2022 at age 97.
Malcolm credits dancing for his long life. He said, "We worked hard, but we played hard." After their sons Ian and Robert grew up, the couple bought a caravan in Anglesey and traveled extensively, including a memorable Christmas voyage on the QE2 to New York.
Community Service and Family
Malcolm dedicated many years to Woodlands Members Club in West Derby, serving as treasurer from 2003 until 2024. He oversaw refurbishments and kept the club's social atmosphere thriving. "I wasn't a yes-man. I was a doer," he said.
He is a proud grandad to Andrew, Claire, and Amy, and a great-grandad to Lewis, Jacob, Eliza, Kaya, James, and Albert. "The family has been a lovely family," he said.
Advice for Long Life
Malcolm believes Liverpool's friendly people contribute to longevity. "Everybody's so friendly in Liverpool. You don't stand for two minutes before someone speaks to you," he said. His advice to younger generations: "I think they should all work hard. If you work hard, you get it."
