Charles Arrigo dies, aged 76

Veteran broadcaster Charles Arrigo, whose distinctive voice has narrated news, novels and national events on radio and television in a career spanning nearly 60 years, died yesterday morning aged 76.

Mr Arrigo, who has been described as "the dean of broadcasting", collapsed at Public Broadcasting Services where he was carrying out the job to which he had dedicated a great part of his life. He passed away in hospital.

Mr Arrigo's career in broadcasting started in 1947 when he became the first Maltese male-announcer to be employed with Rediffusion, the cable radio network.

Throughout his career he worked closely with a number of people who could easily sense his passion for the airwaves and his respect for the public.

PBS Head of News Silvana Christina worked with him on a daily basis as he analysed television programmes for TVM and read novels broadcast on Radio Malta.

"He was very professional to work with. What I liked about him is that he always shared his experiences. He was a treasure-trove of anecdotes which helped people in broadcasting enrich themselves," Ms Christina said.

Yesterday, Mr Arrigo went in to PBS at about 6.30 a.m. to work on his programme analysis and on the recording of a new novel.

His death was announced a few hours later before the scheduled last episode of the novel Qalb Ta' Omm (A mother's love) was broadcast. His colleagues at PBS expressed the depth of loss that they felt - he had been a friend, a colleague and a consummate professional of broadcasting.

Broadcaster Charles Flores looked back at Mr Arrigo - his "mentor at Radio Malta" - as a well of experience.

"Charles was always willing to offer advice, which he gave with a sense of loyalty and much courtesy. Quite frankly, we made a very contrasting couple at Radio Malta - he was a mountain of experience with conservative ideas, while I was an eager newcomer intent on change. But it worked for a good number of years," Mr Flores said.

Another former colleague was Norman Hamilton. While recalling how he first met Mr Arrigo when he was a child, he said: "He was an excellent man, a gentleman and a fine broadcaster.

"Broadcasting will be that little but poorer without him... Of course, as colleagues we had our ups and downs, like all colleagues, but he truly was the dean of broadcasting - a field which has a lot to learn from him."

Radio and TV producer Lino Farrugia described Mr Arrigo as a most professional and serious producer.

"I joined Rediffusion when I was 21 and Charles was one of the worst critics one could have as a mentor.

"I say worst critic in the sense that he was extremely disciplined and professional and expected others to reach a certain standard.

"Together with Maurice Tanti Burlo, Mannie Spiteri, and Charles Abela Mizzi, Charles was one of the senior producers and as such they were responsible for passing on their experience to the younger team of producers. He was the ultimate professional broadcaster in radio and TV," he said.

Apart from a dedication to broadcasting, Mr Arrigo also had a passion for acting - and there too he left a mark in the hearts of those around him.

Mr Farrugia said that when Mr Arrigo was cast in a play where Mr Farrugia was the director, the roles were reversed.

"But being the professional actor that he was, he never queried or opposed my direction in any way but respected my decisions."

Roles that Mr Arrigo played in TV series directed by Mr Farrugia included Wirt, Triq Wahda and Villa Sunset.

Veteran actress Karmen Azzopardi, evidently emotional, said over the phone that the loss of Charles Arrigo was everybody's loss, describing it quite eloquently as "Malta's loss".

Ms Azzopardi had known Mr Arrigo throughout her adult life. She had been in the theatre scene for the past 52 years and said his death was devastating to all those who knew him and those who were especially close to him.

"He was a gentleman par excellence, a man who kept his word and without being bossy or overbearing, he made others feel a great deal of respect for him in their hearts.

"He was a role model for actors and broadcasters with his total dedication to his profession and to work," Ms Azzopardi said.

Even the two opposing political parties felt they had to sing Mr Arrigo's praises.

The Nationalist Party described his death as having left a "deep void in the field of broadcasting" as Mr Arrigo was followed by thousands of people.

Labour leader Alfred Sant also expressed his grief at the loss of a "big talent" and a pioneer in the field of broadcasting.

Brilliant career

Born in Valletta on April 6, 1929, Charles Arrigo studied at the Lyceum and at Perugia University.

During an interview four years ago he had explained how he fell into the profession of broadcasting "by chance' when he applied for a post as a broadcaster with Xandir Malta to earn some money while he awaited results.

The rest is history.

In 1947, a young Mr Arrigo, with his impeccable accent, became the first Maltese male-announcer to be employed with Rediffusion Limited - imprinting his voice into the minds of the Maltese public.

A distinguished career in broadcasting followed. In 1950 he was appointed producer of drama and documentaries, in 1971 he became the assistant head of radio programmes and, three years later, he was appointed head of drama and documentaries. Then, in 1987, he was promoted to deputy head of Xandir Malta.

In 1991 he was appointed executive director on the board of Public Broadcasting Services and Manager Television Malta.

Mr Arrigo was given the opportunity to attend a BBC production course as announcer and newscaster on the BBC World Service in 1959. He returned to the BBC for training for television in 1962.

The veteran was best known for his commentaries on state and religious occasions and for his dramatized readings of Maltese novels on radio.

Young TV viewers know him as Il-Kurunell in the TV Series Villa Sunset. His last live commentary was the installation of Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

Throughout his career, Mr Arrigo was also involved as an actor with the British Institute players and the Atturi Theatre Group.

In 1995 he was awarded the Midalja Ghall-Qadi Tar- Repubblika.