HISTORY buffs descended on Cliffe Castle Museum to hear local celebrity Malcolm Hanson give his last-ever talk.

The historian, walks leader and ghost hunter performed his popular talk about the English Civil War in the Keighley museum’s historic Bracewell Smith Hall.

The talk attracted 90 people, with 25 of them having to stand in the hexagonal gallery space as Malcolm recounted the stories of people from the district who were involved in the 17th century war.

Malcolm, a former chairman of Keighley Festival, focused on the part played by Bradford and the wider district in the Civil War’s bloody battles.

Over the past few months he has given the 75-minute talk – in which he plays various figures from the war – to packed audiences at museums and libraries across the district.

One notable venue was Bolling Hall in Bradford, the focus of a siege.

Malcolm said that at Cliffe Castle he was introduced by Simon Booth, who succeeded Malcolm as chairman of Keighley Festival.

Malcolm said: “When at the end I announced it had been my last public speech I received a long ovation. People queued up to sign their names in the comments book.

Malcolm, a rock musician in Keighley during the 1970s, has worked as a tour guide in Skipton in Keighley, and written books about gruesome crimes and hauntings in towns along the Aire Valley.

He has worked extensively with primary schools across Bradford district, working with pupils to create heritage trails for more than 100 schools.

Recently decided to give up public-speaking, he decided to draw on his heritage trail research by creating a Civil War tour.

He had uncovered what he described as “a story of unparalleled heroism” as ordinary folk from villages and towns came together to take on the king’s armies.

Malcolm said: “The upshot was Bradford – against overwhelming odds – beat King Charles’ soldiers on two occasions, obliging the king in the end to send over 12,000 to take the town.”