New distinguished president for GCIA

The national chairman of the George Cross Island Association, Frank Thompson is pleased to announce that Michael Refalo has accepted the invitation, with immediate effect, to become the association's next president due to the retirement of President Emeritus Vincent Tabone.

Dr Tabone has been president of the GCIA since his appointment on September 25, 1999 and the association is most grateful for the support, advice and help during his term of office.

We well remember the times and help he so generously gave to us, especially at our re-unions in Malta and during his tenure as President of Malta together with his Lady Wife Maria, which they continued to do until he retired. As High Commissioner for Malta in the UK, Dr Refalo has supported the GCIA at all national AGMs and re-unions in the UK during his term of office, travelling the length and breadth of England with his Lady Wife Blanch.

At the dedication of the Malta Siege Memorial in London on August 15, 2005, at which the Duke of Edinburgh and President Eddie Fenech Adami were present, Dr Refalo attended as the High Commissioner for Malta and has been present at each of the annual commemoration and remembrance services since. We sincerely hope he will join us again in 2009 as president of the GCIA. His association with the GCIA goes back to when he was Minister for Tourism and Culture and we appreciate the assistance and friendship he has shown to the association over those many years, especially through the initiation of the re-enactment of the award of the George Cross to Malta in 2008 at which many UK and Malta GCIA members were present, so keeping the memories of the second siege of Malta alive.

The patron of the GCIA, the Duke of Edinburgh and President Fenech Adami have been duly advised of Dr Refalo's appointment.