Heard in the Hive

AT A private investiture ceremony on Saturday, October 26, Professor Victor G. Griffiths received from the hands of Mr Vincent Fean, the British High Commissioner, the insignia and royal warrant of Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Before pinning the decoration on, Professor Griffiths, Mr Fean referred graciously to features in a long curriculum vitae, with special emphasis on work in promoting relations between the UK and Malta in medicine, education and culture.

Professor Griffiths expressed profound thanks to Queen Elizabeth for the great honour conferred upon him. He augured that this Jubilee Year should continue to prove for Her Majesty, together with HRH Prince Philip, Grand Master of the Order and all members of the Royal Family, an annus mirabilis.

He went on to thank Vincent and Anne Fean for graciously hosting members of his family and distinguished friends. In thanking Mr Fean for his kind words, he wished to recall what he owed also to Howard Pearce, Graham Archer and several other former High Commissioners.

Professor Griffiths movingly said that he acknowledged his dear wife Mary (also a medical doctor) as the source of all the happiness and good fortune that had brightened his life.

He also wished to put on record that genes inherited from his British grandfathers and Maltese grandmothers accounted for his Anglo-Maltese identity, while it was his revered father who had imbued him with undying devotion to the most excellent and noble concept of the British Empire.

Finally, Victor Griffiths asked leave to adapt a Shakespearean phrase by saying he had tried to do some service to some people.

Malta Embassy in Paris hosts "Business to Business" event

A "Business to Business" networking was recently organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Malta External Trade Corporation and held at the Malta Embassy in Paris. This activity was organised to coincide with the visit of a business delegation that was participating at the SIAL Exhibition (International Salon of the Food Industry) held in Paris.

The "Business to Business" networking event was well attended by Maltese entrepreneurs as well as by French business people. Also present for this activity was Mr Ninu Zammit, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, who briefed those present on Malta's agricultural and fisheries credentials, emphasising the opportunities offered through EU accession.

The Ambassador, Professor Salvino Busuttil, also made a succinct presentation on the business investment and exporting opportunities in Malta, in addition to explaining Malta's potential to act as a platform for doing business within the Euro-Mediterranean region.

During their stay Mr Zammit and the Maltese delegation were hosted by senior officials of the Pomona Group, one of the largest French companies, with Malta connections in the distribution of agro-industry and agriculture products. Roger Jaillet, communications director of Pomona, gave a global presentation to the group.

The Maltese delegation consisted of representatives of the forthcoming companies: Borg & Aquilina, Chef Choice, Consolidated Biscuits, Discus Products, Foster Clark Products Ltd, HH Ltd, Madlien Ltd, Magro Brothers (Foods), Tea Breaks and Vernon's Food Mfg. & Trading.

People

CHRISTINE VELLA, B.Ed. (Hons), AMBDA, re-cently returned from the UK where she was awarded a Master's degree (MA) in Special Educational Needs (SpLD) from the University of Wales.

Ms Vella was presented with the Helen Gilder prize by the University of Wales College Newport in recognition of outstanding research for her dissertation entitled "Dyslexia in my classroom? A study of the inclusive culture in a Maltese secondary school."

During her stay in Wales, Ms Vella also qualified for professional specialist teacher status awarded by the British Dyslexia Association.

Ms Vella is the daughter of Mr and Mrs E. Vella of Mellieha. She graduated from the University of Malta in 1998.

PAMELA CUSCHIERI, MSTI, ALCM, was judged the candidate who passed the Business Environment examination with the greatest merit worldwide and was awarded the 'Worshipful Company of Insurers' prize by John Greig, on her exceptional performance in the October 2001-April 2002 examination year.

Business Environment is one of the compulsory subjects towards obtaining the ACII insurance degree.

Ms Cuschieri is currently em-ployed with SMS Insurance Agency Ltd.

Briffa - Micallef

The marriage recently took place at Or Lady of Fatima church, Guarda-mangia, between Yanika Briffa, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Briffa of Guardamangia, and Duncan Micallef, son of Mr and Mrs Vincent Micallef of Pembroke.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Camilleri. The ceremony was witnessed by the groom's brother Stephan and the bride's brother, Stefan.

The bride was attended by her sister Alexia and by the groom's sister, Pamela. Lara Drago, Roxanne Magri and Paula Cassar were flower-girls. Cane Grima acted as pageboy.

A reception was later held at Villa Mdina, Naxxar.

The couple are spending their honeymoon in Italy and the US.

Azzopardi - Mallia

Married recently at St John of the Cross Church, Ta' Xbiex, were Sue Azzopardi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Walter Azzopardi of Swieqi and Etienne Mallia, B.Com, son of Mr and Mrs Neville Mallia of San Gwann.

Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Stefan Attard. Mrs Yvette Said, the bride's sister, and Mr Roland Cachia, MIA, witnessed the wedding ceremony. Mr Kevin Abela, B.Com (Hons), carried out the duties of best man.

Ms AnnMarie Coppola, Ms Bernadette Azzopardi, the bride's sister, Ms Felicity Dougall and Ms Rachel Wain attended the bride.

A reception was later held at Villa Oriana, Buskett.

The couple spent their honeymoon in Florence and Venice, and cruising the Greek Islands.

Soroptimist International resumes calendar of events

Soroptimist Inter-nationAL of Malta is resuming its calendar of events with a social gathering after a short summer break.

Mrs Janatha Stubbs, a founder member, who will be greeting both present and prospective club members, will be hosting this event.

Throughout the evening, general information about the club will be delivered in order to make new members aware of the functions of Soroptimist International. This club is a worldwide organisation working to enhance human rights and the status of women. Over the past nine years, various social events have been organised to raise funds for several local charitable institutions, as well as international projects.

Lupus Support Group coffee morning

Earlier this month, the committee of Lupus Support Group (Malta) held a coffee morning at St Paul's Garden, Ix-Xwieki, the residence of Mr and Mrs Ian Lochhead, chairman and secretary of the group.

Besides the coffee, the committee provided delectable things to eat, and the 60 or so guests were generous in their support of the raffle. Over Lm180 was raised, which makes a good start to the group's promotion of the International Lupus Awareness month.

The major event of this promotion was a candlelit dinner on October 19 at the Hilton.

For more information on lupus and the group's activities, contact Mr Lochhead on 2137-0234, Mrs Tony Bonello on 2131-1310 or Mrs Vivienne Buhagiar Said on 2143-5647.

Mangion's The Maltese in Paris and Venice next year

TONY MANGION presented his book The Maltese with the illustrative photographic exhibition of 32 Maltese personalities from the worlds of visual and performing arts, sport, literature, medicine, law and politics, at the De Porres Cultural Centre in Sliema on October 29.

Former President Dr Censu Tabone expressed his delight in discovering almost "speaking" portrayals of these personalities, reminiscing, to everyone's delight, about "lively" conversations with some of them!

Dame Françoise Tempra, president of the Malta International Art Biennale, after referring to Mangion's portraits as most psychological, impressively theatrical and Caravaggesque, announced that in the Photographic Section of the 2003 Biennale (June 14-October 1) some of the Maltese personalities by Mangion will be shown at the simultaneous Malta Biennale in Paris (June 30-September 1).

This will be as for the 1999 and 2001 Malta International Art Biennales at the Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot, a few metres from the Arc de Triomphe.

Christiane Peugeot, of the famous French car manufacturing family, has been a familiar figure in Malta - where she has always been a guest at Villa Tempra in Mgarr - as an artist, a writer and a lecturer.

The Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot is organising a competition in its 350-square-metre halls in April 2003 for painting, sculpture, photography and graphic arts on the theme L'Enfer (Hell): the prize winners in the four sections will be awarded a one-week personal exhibition in the centre (entry forms are available from Dame Françoise Tempra, Villa Tempra, Sir Harry Luke Street, Mgarr MST 10; e-mail: damefrancoisetempra.onvol.net or from the Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot, 62 Avenue de la Grande Armée, 75017 Paris) and also an exhibition - the dream of all artists - of large scale paintings and sculptures (length: six metres for paintings - height two metres for paintings and sculptures, entry forms as above). This will be held from June 5 to 12.

As international president of the Grolla d'Oro di Treviso Art Competition in Italy, Dame Françoise also announced the inclusion of the photographic works of Tony Mangion in next year's exhibition.

The photographic book The Maltese, including package and posting for Malta, Lm10 soft cover and Lm15 hardback, can be ordered from Tony Mangion Studio of Photography, 9a Naxxar Road, San Gwann SGN 08 tel: 2138-3251; fax: 2138-3251. e-mail: mangionstudio@mail.global.net.mt.

The Tony Mangion photographic exhibition at the De Porres Cultural Centre is open daily from 6.30 to 9 p.m.

Malta League diamond jubilee

The Malta League celebrated its diamond jubilee with a series of very successful festive events in London. On October 8 around 100 guests enjoyed a splendid reception in the Cholmondeley Room, followed by dinner on the terrace at the House of Lords.

Brigadier Alastair J. McD Clark, on behalf of Mrs Rosalie Rivett, chairman of the Malta League, hosted this occasion. The High Commissioner, Dr George Bonello du Puis, welcomed Presi-dent Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and Mrs Gemma Mifsud Bonnici.

Mrs Rivett thanked and welcomed the guests of honour and all present for their support. She spoke of the League's founders and of continuing its spirit of Anglo-Maltese friendship and collaboration. Dr Mifsud Bonnici thanked and congratulated his hosts and wished the Malta League every success in the future.

On October 9, Fr Victor Camilleri, OFM, celebrated thanksgiving Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Mayfair and soloist Sophie Grech gave magnificent renditions of Panis Angelicus and Ave Maria.

Guests were then entertained to a generous lunch at the Royal United Services Institute in Whitehall and this was followed by a public lecture by Dr Mifsud Bonnici on "The Insecurity of the Mediterranean Region." The host and chairman for this event was Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Julian Oswald, GCB, who thanked Dr Mifsud Bonnici for his eloquent speech and Mrs Rivett for enabling the event to take place.

Malta's foreign policy was the topic of another lecture by Dr Mifsud Bonnici on the evening of October 9 at the Diplomatic Aca-demy of London. The chairman and host was Professor Nabil Ayad, MA, Ph.D, director and chairman of the Diplomatic Academy of London, the University of Westminster.

Professor Ayad then treated the students and Malta League guests to a lovely buffet reception at the University and then to a sumptuous dinner in the Memories Restaurant at the Langham Hilton.

Appreciation: Tony Zammit

John A. Mizzi writes:

Few journalists in their time have influenced Maltese public opinion as Tony Zammit, who died last Sunday at the age of 89. He was editor of Il-Berqa between 1946 and 1958, when it was highly influential, the only daily in Maltese avidly read by the popular classes not only for its local news and gossip, but also for the sobriety of its views and its excellently written articles.

Tony was a stickler for the truth and knew what his readership wanted, based on his background as a knowledgeable worthy citizen of Zurrieq.

Tony was a stalwart of the Maltese language as it is written and expressed. He had in fact joined Allied Newspapers in 1935 not as a journalist but to vet all the Maltese text in the Strickland House publications, and particularly since many had still to come to grips with the new orthography promulgated by the Ghaqda tal-Malti.

Maltese, one has to remember, had only become an official language a year before, replacing Italian.

This devotion to Maltese endured all his life and Tony frequently dedicated long hours to teaching, without any remuneration, the rudiments of the vernacular to students and others.

After he gave up the editorship of Il-Berqa in 1958 (the newspaper ceased publication about ten years later), he took up a number of appointments at Allied Newspapers, and served for nine years as a senior member of the Sunday Times staff.

Tony was a personal friend besides a journalistic colleague. He was unassuming by nature, the epitome of kindness, never argumentative. He was highly respected by his staff and the employees of Allied Malta Newspapers.

His only weakness perhaps was his mania for crossword puzzles - in both English and Maltese (for years he compiled one for Il-Berqa). He would spend hours filling in the answers and at times would even phone me to help him find the correct word.

Men like Tony live their lives behind the scenes but exert through their profession a wide-ranging influence that works unseen.

For your diary

The Malta Historical Society is launching its 1999 Proceedings of History Week on the French Period tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Green Lounge of Le Merien Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana.

Birthday celebrations are being held by Ward u Zghar on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at St Joseph's Social Welfare Centre, St Venera.

Caritas co-operators are holding a day at the Coastline Hotel, Salina, on Wednesday. The programme will start with coffee at 10 a.m., followed by a talk on "The pleasures of cooking with Maltese olive oil" by Matty Cremona at 11 a.m.

Mass will be said at noon, followed by lunch and tea at 4 p.m. Cards may be played during the day.

For more information and bookings phone Marielouise Mifsud on 2133-0471, Mary Darmanin Demajo (2131-3486), Josephine Farrugia (2132-0016) or Phyllis Ciappara (2134-2910).

S.I.C.E.C. is organising a video presentation about Roswell and Area 51, followed by a discussion chaired by Timmy Zammit on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Youth Travel Circle, Merchants Street, Valletta.

The Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Handicapped at Corradino, Paola, is organising a coffee morning and tombola on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. at the Best Western Les Lapins Hotel, Ta' Xbiex. Tickets at Lm1.20 may be obtained by phoning the centre on 2169-3863 or 2143-6421.

A bargain sale will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Villa Lija Hall, Main Street, Lija, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Proceeds are in aid of restoration of paintings at Lija parish church.

Special attractions are genuine home-made sweets and cakes, antiques and other furniture, ganutell items and a wide selection of plants, books, clothes, toys and groceries.

The annual Christmas Sale in aid of the Dar tal-Providenza, the Residential Home for Persons with Disabilities at the Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a shuttle bus service every half an hour from 9 a.m. from Siggiewi to the Dar tal-Providenza and back during the sale.

Stalls will include toys, cakes, ceramics, plants, cosmetics, haberdashery, new clothes, including wedding gowns, shows, woollens, stationery, books and philately. Persons wishing to donate goods for this sale can phone the home on 2146-2844 or fax 2146-7925.

A fund-raising event in aid of Step by Step, a foundation set up by parents to help children with special needs, is being held from 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard. Entertainment will be provided by Lawrence Gray, Renato, Helen Micallef, MaryRose Mallia, Chiara, Claudette Pace, Fabrizio Faniello, Break a Holics, Water for Dancers, the European Institute of Music and many others.

Tickets cost Lm2 for adults and 50c for children. Contact Mr K. Caruana Cremona on 9940-7670 or get your tickets at the door.

A grand fayre will take place on Sunday, December 1, from 9 a.m. onwards at St Dorothy's Junior School, Mdina Road, Zebbug. This is a chance to save money on Christmas shopping. The fayre will include a selection of Christmas decorations, toiletries, groceries, toys, costume jewellery, sterling silver, books, home-made wine and cakes, preserved fruits, plants and flower-arrangements. There will also be refreshments, snacks and lunch in a friendly atmosphere. Entertainment for children will also be provided.

President and Mrs de Marco's engagements - November 11-17

Tomorrow
10 a.m. The President receives Mr Richard Muscat, Ambassador to Ireland, at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President is presented with a copy of the book The International Dictionary of Artists who painted Malta by Nicholas de Piro.
8 p.m. Mrs de Marco meets the organisers of L-Istrina at San Anton Palace, Attard.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President receives Mr Joe Camilleri, chairman National Commission Persons with Disability and Mr Fred Bezzina, executive director.
11 The President receives the executive committee of the Maltese Association of Social Workers on the occasion of Social Work and the Right of the Child Day.
7 p.m. The President presides over the launching of the book The International Dictionary of Artists who painted Malta by Nicholas De Piro.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President receives Mr Alexei Lautenberg, Ambassador of Switzerland at the Palace, Valletta.
8 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host a reception on the occasion of the meeting of the Social Cohesion Committee and Conference on Access to Social Rights - Council of Europe at Verdala Castle.

Thursday
9.45 a.m. The President is presented with the Letters of Commission by Mr Muhammad Farooq Qari, High Commissioner of Pakistan.
10.45 The President is presented with credentials by Mr Nikola Ivanov Kaloudov, Ambassador of Bulgaria.
11.45 The President is presented with credentials by Mr Song Young-Oh, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.
1.15 for 1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited High Commissioner of Pakistan and Ambassadors of Bulgaria and South Korea at San Anton Palace.
7.30 The President presides over a literary evening organised by the Akkademja tal-Malti.

Friday
10 a.m. The President attends Mass on the occasion of the graduation ceremony of the University of Malta at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
Noon The President receives participants of the Euro-Med information and training seminar hosted by the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies at the Palace, Valletta.
4.30 p.m. The President delivers the closing speech of the meeting of the Social Cohesion Committee and Conference on Access to Social Rights at Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St Julian's.
6 The President receives Mr Dimitris L. Avramopoulos, mayor of Athens, at the Palace, Valletta.
7 The President receives delegates of the European Conference of Christian Radios (CERC).

Saturday
10.30 a.m. The President addresses the Extraordinary General Assembly of the European Youth Forum at the Hotel Riviera, Marfa.
12.30 p.m. The President visits the Free Blood Sugar Monitoring initiative by the Maltese Diabetes Association on the occasion of World Diabetes Day at Bay Street, St Julian's.
1.15 for 1.30 The President and Mrs de Marco host a luncheon in honour of Mr Avramopoulos the mayor of Athens, at San Anton Palace.