Interview
“ The Island is a very special place , one where you can still leave your keys in the door . I ’ ve absolutely loved living here and , given another chance , I ’ d do the same again .”
A familiar face
During his time in the Household Cavalry , part of Malcolm ’ s training involved caring for the horses ’ teeth – a role now considered strictly the preserve of vets – and he was sent to the USA to learn the subject in greater depth . Later , after he came to settle on the Island in 1971 , he would use that expert knowledge in lectures to local riding schools and fun events for pony clubs . Events such as that have made him a familiar face on the Island , and he says he still regularly gets into chats with people in the street who say they remember him from their childhood pony club camps .
He ’ s also well known in local Hunt circles , and was Joint Master of the IoW Hunt for a decade until two years ago . These days , he describes himself as a ‘ happy hacker ’ on his 17.2h Warmblood , Tristan . He also works a Springer Spaniel during the shooting season , picking up pheasants . At 71 , he says he doesn ’ t want to stop living the kind of life he loves : “ I ’ ve always thought it ’ s better to wear out than to rot out ” he laughs . Now semi-retired , he picks and chooses when to work on the farriery , but there will always be horse owners for whom nobody but Malcolm the Master will do . When he ’ s not working or hacking , he can usually be seen behind the wheel of his latest four-wheeled acquisition . He admits to a weakness for motors , and for a year or so , was the owner of a head-turning green Aston Martin . Having got that little beauty out of his system , he ’ s currently driving a Lexus . Married for 51 years to Sandra , the couple have a son Nathaniel , who works in the film industry , and daughter Debbie , a phlebotomist and also a passionate rider . There are also two granddaughters and a great-grandchild on the way . The Purcells moved to the Island to build a better future for them and the children , and Malcolm says : “ Looking back , it was definitely the right decision .” “ The Island is a very special place , one where you can still leave your keys in the door . I ’ ve absolutely loved living here and , given another chance , I ’ d do the same again .” Some of the lads Malcolm has trained are now working all over the world - “ doing better than I ever did ” he quips – but many of them still keep in touch . It ’ s a different world these days , with paper qualifications and certificates assuming much more importance than ever before . “ I always think that my best qualification is that I ’ ve stood the test of time ” says Malcolm . And long may that continue ...
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