Wish fulfilled

Mrs Jenny Sims and her husband Roy have fulfilled the wish of Mrs Sims' father, that his ashes would remain in Malta - Charles Jones' ashes were buried yesterday at the Sta Maria Addolorata Cemetery.

Mr Jones, who spent about two years in Malta during the last war as a soldier in the First Platoon of the Buffs, had expressed a wish to have his ashes scattered in Grand Harbour.

But Mrs Sims was refused permission to do that, being told that this was a bathing area, but was pleased to obtain a permit for the ashes to be buried at the cemetery.

"Charles Jones held many memories of the kindness shown to him and his fellow soldiers in Malta," she said.

Mrs Sims said that in 1994 her father had been very proud to accept the Malta George Cross 50th anniversary medal by Malta's High Commissioner in London.

She said that her father, who lived in Kent, had always wanted to return to Malta, but never did.

So when she first came to Malta with her husband 15 years ago, they took pictures of the barracks where he had been stationed and showed them to him on their return.

Mr and Mrs Sims' visit here is also coinciding with their 33rd wedding anniversary.