IN REMEMBRANCE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR MALCOLM METCALF
We would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to our dear English neighbour in Pueblo de la Luz, Malcolm Metcalf, who passed away on 29 May at Marina Salud Hospital in Dénia, aged 78. May he rest in peace.
We also hope that Malcolm’s passing will be a gentle reminder of the many elderly international residents of Cumbre del Sol who live alone. We encourage anyone who needs support to ask neighbours or the council’s social services for help. We also ask all residents to keep an eye out for those around them, as some elderly people may be quietly struggling and in need of care, company or assistance.
After the death of his beloved wife, Maureen, four years ago, Malcolm lived alone with his dog Sam, who also passed away two years ago. Maureen’s death affected him deeply, and life became much quieter for him. Malcolm increasingly chose a life of solitude, softened by brief but warm chats with neighbours and friends he met on the staircase. He often declined our invitations to spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve together, preferring to stay at home.
In the 1980s, Malcolm and Maureen came from England with their six poodles and settled first in Cumbre del Sol, then in Benitatxell, and later returned to Cumbre del Sol. They were entrepreneurs who built several second-hand furniture shops in the village from scratch and made a success of them through hard work and dedication. There was little time for leisure in those days.
Their hard work gave them some security, which they later used to help Malcolm’s sister with medical treatment at a specialist cancer centre in the USA.
After they retired, Malcolm and Maureen lived in Pueblo de la Luz, in a mid-floor apartment of one of the housing blocks, which meant climbing many stairs. Malcolm used to joke that not even burglars would be interested in breaking into a place like that. In recent years, we helped him carry his shopping and gas bottles upstairs. Over the
past few months, his condition had been getting worse, and he had to sit down on
the steps to rest on his way home
They had no close family, only a few English friends whom they saw occasionally when they came on holiday. We have informed them of his passing.
Maureen and Malcolm always remembered our birthdays. At Easter and Christmas, we would find little surprise gifts waiting at our front doors. They were always thoughtful towards our pets, too.
Malcolm enjoyed playing the organ and the guitar, although his fingers had not allowed him to play for several years. A few years ago, he donated his electronic organ to the municipal music school. When the mayor came to thank him and asked whether the donation could be made public, Malcolm declined. That was very much his way: quiet, generous and modest.
He was very dear to us, a loyal donor to Cumbre Cats and a supporter of One Voice for Cumbre del Sol (OVFC).
As next-door neighbours, we kept a close eye on him and helped him however we could. He never wanted to be a burden to anyone and only asked for help when it was absolutely necessary.
On 25 May, we called the police and an ambulance after he had not collected the shopping left outside his front door and did not answer. He had not been seen for several days, and we then realised how serious his condition had become.
At Marina Salud Hospital in Dénia, the doctors confirmed that he was gravely ill. His liver had been failing and he was suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer. At that stage, nothing could be done except keep him comfortable.
In his final days, Malcolm received palliative care. He was unconscious for much of the time, breathing slowly and appearing peaceful. Tuesday 26 May was the last day we were able to speak to him for a few minutes. He recognised us and thanked us for looking out for him.
Malcolm was not formally religious and did not want a funeral to be held for Maureen, so we believe he would not have wanted one for himself either. For that reason, there will be no public funeral. Anyone who would like to express their condolences is welcome to leave a comment below this post.
We have notified the council’s social services, the local police and the British Consulate of his passing. Social services are in contact with the hospital and the funeral parlour. Any further updates of interest will be posted at the end of this post.
Dear Malcolm, we are grateful that our paths crossed. We will miss you. You are gone, but you will always be in our hearts.
A big hug to Maureen and Sam.
Your neighbours,
Marianne and Pepe, Alexandra and Rafał, Clémence and Sacha
Malcolm, Maureen and Marianne © Pepe Blas
Sam © Bill Knight
Burial in the cemetery © Pepe Blas
Burial in the cemetery © Pepe Blas
Burial in the cemetery © Pepe Blas
Latest updates:
- 01/06/2026 - We have been informed by the Council’s social services that, until it is determined whether there are any relatives or whether there is a will, the protocol to be followed by the funeral home is to bury him in the Benitatxell cemetery. The exact location of the burial plot will be announced once we are notified.
- 09/06/2026 - We have been informed by the Council’s social services that Malcolm Metcalf’s funeral will be held on June 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Benitatxell Municipal Cemetery
DESCANSE EN PAZ
ReplyDeleteNos sincère condoléances repose en paix
DeleteWhen Malcolm and Maureen first moved to the Pueblo de la Luz, I visited their home every week for Spanish lessons. In the darkness—back then—I walked down the stairs to their house, and I hadn't even knocked on the door before the concert of the six poodles began. Unbelievable, that noise!
ReplyDeleteAfter a while, Malcolm gave up and eventually decided to dedicate those hours to watching Sky News, while Maureen updated me on her family circumstances. Their Spanish never really improved, but the friendship was born.
Maureen and I went to a Julio Iglesias concert at the Benidorm Arena back then, and I can still see Malcolm shaking his head when we asked him for his opinion.
Malcolm also regularly told me about his dream of starting a second-hand furniture business, and a few years later, he was as proud as a peacock when his dream came true following the release of start-up capital, for which he had to wait until he was fifty.
Over the course of the following years, we often ran into each other in the village, at the Chinese restaurant, or in the supermarkets. Malcolm always modestly withdrew when Maureen updated me on the latest news.
After the passing of his dearest buddy, Malcolm increasingly withdrew into his smaller world. Over the last year, we ran into each other quite often; he wore a distinctive cap that allowed me to recognize him immediately in the car or in the supermarket, because his posture had changed to that of an elderly man.
The last thing I discussed with him was just this spring, when he was sitting on a few boxes at Mas y Mas reading the newspaper because he needed to rest while shopping. We made a joke along the lines of: We need to stop meeting each other this way, because it is starting to become noticeable.
Malcolm, I miss your presence in the neighborhood and in my life. Thank you for your inspiration, your kindness, and especially your sense of humor.
Rest in Peace
Trudi
We weren’t able to ease his pain after Maureen and Sam passed away. We were on his contact list, and he left half-written WhatsApp messages, without being sent, asking us to get ready. He knew the end was near and he accepted it. During his final days in the hospital, he seemed at peace with himself. He’s leaving with no regrets nor attachments. Now that the veil of ignorance has been lifted, his spirit has returned home and will be welcomed with open arms.
ReplyDeleteGracias a Miguel Ángel García, Raquel Dominguez, a la policía local y al cuerpo médico del hospital Marina Salud por la ayuda prestada.
ReplyDeleteMalcom having known you for over 20 years you brought a warm, calm and familiarity to our neighbourhood, Pueblo del la Luz that will be sadly missed!
ReplyDeleteWe’ll miss your gentle spirit and neighbourly friendship.
Whenever we visited Cumbre your daily routine of going to Benitechell for breakfast and returning with a newspaper and your daily shopping, often stopping to say hello and having a chat whilst catching your breath walking up the steps was a calming presence. Your dog Sam saying hello and getting dog biscuits from us.
Thank you for the kindness and small gesture of putting the previous day’s newspaper in our doorway.
Your absence will be felt by those who knew you.
Rest well. Your memory will live on in our lives.
Bill and Sandra Knight.