The friendly generosity of the many

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the people of Malta and Gozo who were on the ferry boats on the morning that the Gozo SPCA's annual fund-raising week started. We rely very much on the generosity of ferry passengers as we go around the boats with our collection boxes.

I would estimate that at least 90 per cent of all Malta and Gozo residents put their hands in their pockets cheerfully and that includes the Bishop of Gozo and several priests and nuns. They set a wonderful example to the visitors to these islands. Many of these are equally generous but I am still left to wonder why about half of the tourists from northern Europe (and I exclude those from the British Isles) do not respond. Very often, when I approach politely to explain who we are and what we do, I am met with blank stares - no words and not even a shake of the head. Surely their understanding of English is not that bad! One is left with an abiding memory of the friendly generosity of the many and the meanness and unfriendliness of the few. We are happy to receive just 5c as a token of goodwill.

I emphasise that I am writing this as a private individual, a volunteer as we all are, and not as an official representative of the SPCA.