A tribute to a Europeanist

Victor Spiteri, honorary treasurer of the European Movement (Malta), passed away last week. The loss to the European Movement (Malta) is enormous and expressions of grief have been flowing in from our colleagues since news of his passing spread.

On June 30 (L-Imnarja) three of us had met him informally over a beer at his home for a routine brainstorming session, this time to start hammering out the draft programme for next year's activities. As always, with Vic around it was indeed a fruitful session.

It hardly crossed our mind that would be the last meeting in which he would participate. A couple of days later he was no longer with us.

Victor was a firm believer in European unity. For many years he worked constantly and consistently in promoting Malta's membership of the EU. For him, the values of the European Union were paramount.

Next to European peace and stability came the welfare and prosperity of its peoples. He was equally concerned about the environment, energy alternatives and global warming; in short, the need for Europe to make a qualitative leap for the good of all.

In the past couple of years he constantly urged the need of transmitting to the younger generation the horrors of the Second World War and the difference which European unity has succeeded in bringing to the Continent by helping it overcome war and construct a permanent peace.

He firmly believed that Europe could show by its example how other troubled continents could find an exit out of their misery.

A self-educated man, a highly skilled worker who lived for more than 30 years in the UK before resettling in Malta, Victor had a strong command of the written word. He frequently brought this talent to the fore when writing in this and other newspapers on subjects that were of concern to him. He often lent a hand in polishing the final draft of this column.

In internal discussions his clarity of ideas was evident, frequently keeping everyone with their feet firmly on the ground, ensuring that they remained sensitive to public concerns. His fairness and sense of justice were incomparable. He was a political nonconformist seeking what was worthy in all political movements.

Victor was also strongly committed to his family, ever respectful of his wife Doris, his two children and three grandchildren whom he leaves to mourn him. He frequently talked about them fondly while we were driving back home from some activity or meeting.

He loved them as much as they loved him. In such conversations he never failed to enquire about my own younger children and how they were faring. He rarely spoke of his health problems but soldiered on despite them.

News of his passing away came to me last Wednesday while I was attending a session of the Study Days held in Malta by the European People's Party. It arrived via a message left on my mobile by a mutual friend.

I cannot explain in words how devastating the news was and paradoxically how thankful I was for it afterwards since it alerted me in time to enable me to rush to his funeral and bid him a last farewell.

The least I could do for such a decent man of principle and, above all, a balanced, unwavering believer in European unity.