Malcolm Zucconi BSc Hons  (4th April  1952 – 11th February 2026)

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you that Malcolm Zucconi BSc Hons. an Old Camdenian,  died on 11th February 2026, aged 73 years.

Malcolm Zucconi was born on 4th April 1952, in Epsom, Surrey. He joined us at Holloway School in September 1963. We all have very fond memories of our times with Malcolm, a kind soul.

Here are a few words from Jane Johnstone Zucconi, Malcolm’s wife:-

I am Malcolm’s second wife so I only know what he told me about his early life.

Upon leaving school he started work with what would become British Telecommunications.  He started as an engineer building exchanges and helping to design the upgraded London network.  He progressed upwards in the company and when he retired he was a Manager in BT Wholesale.  Not one for being idle he found a part time job as a Business Analyst for a family owned Airport Parking Company based near Gatwick until I retired and we moved up to a village south of Grimsby.

During his time with BT he was awarded a Batchelor of Science Degree with Honours from the Open University.   He was particularly proud of this achievement as he had been unable to progress his education after leaving Holloway.

Malcolm loved the large garden that we now owned and delighted in the produce that we grew.  He maintained his love of music and set up his drums in the workshop. He bought a clarinet, saxophone and guitar and spent many hours playing and listening to the wide variety of music that he enjoyed.

He gained his RYA certificate and we bought a dinghy which we sailed at a local club.  He loved going out weekly until his diagnosis with Multiple Myeloma in March 2021. By the time he was diagnosed he had developed secondary cancer of the spine so was unable to walk for a number of months.  With the help of the Physiotherapists, a firm determination  and a back brace he was soon walking with a frame and then just one walking stick.  His spine healed and after 6 months he no longer needed the back brace.

Once again he had gained full mobility and we became involved in Village Life.  His treatment was ongoing with a few ups and downs along the way as each successive course of chemotherapy ceased to be effective and he started a new course.  He caught the flu and was admitted to hospital but while he was being treated the Myeloma returned and wiped out his white blood cells. He was admitted to Palliative Care and slipped away peacefully 2 days later on 11 February.

Malcolm’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 18th March, at 11:00, at Islington Crematorium, 278 High Road, East Finchley, London,N2 9AG. Afterwards at the The Spaniards Inn, Spaniards Road, Hampstead. NW3 7JJ

Our most sincere condolences to Jane, his wife, and family at this difficult time

Some immediate comments from Malcolm’s school friends:-

Mike Capocci

Good memories of Malcolm at school and for several years after. I don’t remember anyone ever having a bad word to say of him. Always up for a laugh and had a smile for everyone. His sunny disposition was even more remarkable given his upbringing where effectively he was his mother’s carer up until the sixth form.  Fate is so unfair for him to be taken at an age which today is considered young.

I still remember fondly at the age of 20 going on a week’s holiday to Spain with Malcom and another friend in Malcolm’s ancient Hillman Hunter and an old tent. Our mission was to meet girls. It was the ultimate cheap boy’s holiday. We had been told about Lloret de mar. No one bothered to bring a map so we navigated all the way to the costa Bianca and back to Dover using the position of the sun. As to Lloret de mar we overshot it but ended up in camping on rocks by the sea outside a family caravan park. It was miraculously that we managed to find the only part of the Spanish coast without a sandy beach.

John Fitch

I agree, my recollection is from the very start of our school ‘careers’ in class 1YL.  In those days we had a “speech training” class by Mr. Mortimer, effectively a drama class. – I recall Malcolm beginning to shine there….

Malcolm became a fine drummer and involved in the various bands/groups that started up along with John Atkins and Peter Torrance, later he took up the clarinet as well.

I’m not sure if he was part of the music team for the “Zounds” production but maybe Sydney knows.

A sad loss, and as Mike says an “unfair” departure – Rest easy Malcolm.

Nic Christofides – Cyprus

I saw Malcolm, his wife and her 2 sisters in Zorbas in Cyprus and sampled the famous Cypriot sweets whilst reminiscing our youth at Holloway! This was the first time I saw Malcolm in over 50 years

Phivos Kimonis – California, USA

I am afraid I have very little to offer, all I remember is that he was a nice guy we didn’t exactly socialize that much. I wrote to his wife, “Dear Jane, we have not met but I was one of Malcolm’s school friends at Holloway School and we are all deeply saddened by your loss. Malcolm was a kind soul, please accept our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace”.

Ray Rowe