[3] Early in his time at Oxford he met Tony Nuttall who was to become a lifelong friend, and the pair changed their studies to English Literature and were tutored by Hugo Dyson and taught by Iris Murdoch among others.
[3] Taking up his post as an assistant lecturer in the School of European Studies, Medcalf thrived in the multi-disciplinary approach fostered by David Daiches, Asa Briggs and Martin Wight.
[3] Medcalf's memory[3] and his intellect were admired by his colleagues and friends, Gabriel Josipovici wrote: Not only could he recite reams of poetry in Greek, Latin, English and Anglo-Saxon, and whole stories by Kipling and PG Wodehouse, but - and this is what really marked him out - whatever he said about literature immediately struck one as true, fresh and profound.
[2] The true story, described as a "modern fairy tale"[3] tells how Medcalf had found in a Lewes telephone box, a newborn baby girl crying inside a paper bag.
He remained a bachelor and was a devoted Christian and lay preacher who frequently spent time in religious retreat,[4] and organised a popular annual University Christmas Carol service.