COMEDIAN Al Murray got serious to give a talk about his interest in military history yesterday.

Hours before his show as the Pub Landlord at the New Theatre, George Street, last night, Mr Murray called in at Oxford University’s Officer Training Corps centre at Falklands House in Oxpens Road.

The St Edmund Hall history graduate spoke to about 120 guests supporting The Rifles’ charity Care for Casualties, which supports injured servicemen and their families. His talk also raised money for the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. Mr Murray’s father, retired Lt Col Ingram Murray, 77, who served in the Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers, is a volunteer at the museum.

He invited him to give the talk, which is expected to have raised about £1,200 in total, split between the two organisations.

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The 46-year-old comedian, who is standing against UKIP leader Nigel Farage in Thanet South in the General Election, said: “My grandfather was in the 1st Battalion (TA) of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry and was killed in fighting as part of the action around Dunkirk in May 1940.

“My father then got very involved in investigating that battle and has been intensively involved with the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. I grew up in Buckinghamshire so the Ox and Bucks is very resonant. I’m not getting paid here but I will be at the theatre.”

Mr Murray senior added: “I asked Al to give the talk – it has all tied in very well.”

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum director Ursula Corcoran said: “We were very glad Al Murray agreed to come and talk about his interest in military history.”

The museum, in the grounds of the Woodstock Museum, opened its new £3.2m base, last year.

Terry Roper, chairman of the Oxford branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association, said Care for Casualties helped wounded servicemen and their families. He added: “We are thrilled Al could come and talk.”

Mr Murray’s Road to Berlin documentary, about the Second World War, was broadcast on the Discovery Channel in 2004.