In 1970, Malcolm was looking for a new job when he found a likely advert in a local newspaper, probably The Southern Evening Echo. The post was for a Measuring Surveyor at the City Engineer's Department of the City of New Sarum Council. He wrote to apply for the position on 21 February and received an invitation to interview to take place on 16 March. Malcolm was successful at that interview and started work on 27 April at a salary of £1525.

Malcolm's workplace was in an extension of temporary buildings at the rear of the council offices in Bourne Hill. He would drive to work on most days but also cycled the 20 miles each way once or twice a week.

The work culture was quite different to that which he had previously experienced and was far more relaxed. The workload for the year was known in advance and there was little difficulty in meeting the requirements. Malcolm's duties basically were to conduct the monthly measurement of progress on building sites and agree a valuation with the contractor's surveyor.

One such surveyor was John Dowman with whom Malcolm became firm friends. Besides conducting similar work, they also had similar interests such as cycling and beer. The monthly valuation usually finished quickly on site then he was invited out to a pub for lunch which usually lasted for the rest of the day.

Malcolm was eligible for a mileage allowance of 1/1½d when visiting the building sites, all of which were within the city boundary. Taking the car was pointless so he walked everywhere. He was also included on the staff pension scheme to which he contributed 6% of his salary.

One of his office colleagues was a former policeman who worked as an attendant at the swimming pool in the summer. During the winter he helped out in the office, however, in the summer he used to let all his colleagues into the pool to sunbathe at lunchtime free of charge.

Malcolm soon realised that this job was not challenging enough and consequently tendered his resignation on 25 January 1971 to leave on 26 February.