Charles Arrigo - a tribute

I had Never met Charles Arrigo face to face, and had little knowledge of his background, mainly due to the fact that we were not Rediffusion subscribers. So my first visual encounter was rather awesome, because I had put in an application for the post of a continuity announcer, and Charles was the examiner when I was ushered into a studio at Rediffusion's Britannia Street, Valletta, offices in June 1950.

The audition was successful, and I started training on July 1, 1950, and this was the beginning of a 32-year association with Charles who was already considered then the 'doyen' of broadcasters and responsible for teaching the tricks of the trade to aspiring announcers.

After two months of strenuous coaching in microphone techniques, delivery, scripting, voice intonation and modulation, and the handling of equipment, I was finally launched into a long, satisfying and successful career, thanks to the late Effie Ciantar and my mentor Charles Arrigo.

Following in the shadow of Charles, I could do no wrong, for he was a broadcasting model par excellence, in every facet related to on 'on-air' transmissions. His voice was most suited to the narration of novels, and he could adapt himself with ease according to the mood and circumstances of the characters of the story.

Though this was one of his strong points, he had no equal in the broadcast of commentaries of state and religious occasions, profane and sombre events, news and current affairs which all reflected his profound knowledge of Maltese customs, traditions and history.

He was the perfect question master, always in control during quizzes and other parlour games.

His superiors over the years - Effie Ciantar, Louis Pace Bonello, John Colley, Richard Darmanin, Fr Austin Born, Joe Grima and the undersigned - took full advantage of Charles's all-round broadcasting qualities, all of which put this important medium on a solid footing.

There were many attributes we could relate to Charles Arrigo like acting and producing for radio, the stage and television, which make him very difficult to replace as he was still very active and will be sorely missed.

A Christmas card he sent me a few weeks ago was the last I heard of him and from which I learnt that he was living in Naxxar, helping out in the church there, and just been appointed "extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist".

May he rest in the peace of the Lord. We send our condolences to his family.