I first knew Mark as an eight-year-old boy when his father was my tutor, but we lost touch as he was growing up when I left Malta for many years. We met again in 1989 in Kensington, London, where I lived at the time. By then he was around 32 years old and had qualified as a dentist and was running a very successful dental clinic in Gloucester Road around the corner from my office. I am glad to say that we always remained close since then, although we both went through difficult times in our marriages and later our separations. We cemented our friendship further when we both moved to Malta.

At one point he told me that he had been diagnosed with a disease from which he would not be able to run away. He had started treatment and even while he was giving me this awful news he made light of it. Some time later we met in London where he was having a very special new treatment: it gave us all hope. Meantime, whenever he was in company he joked, teased all around him and made fun. No one would believe how seriously he was threatened. He always showed great compassion for others.

In 2001 I introduced Mark to Sylvia at a party after which we all ended up at Jubilee till very late where Mark entertained the whole crowd. As a group we bumped into him on various occasions and eventually, the year after, Mark and Sylvia had the opportunity to get to know each other.

Mark, Michael, Salv and I bonded further over heated games of snooker in Mellieħa. Then together with Sylvia, Christine, Pat and Elaine we formed The Corkscrew Club. We shared fabulous meals and wines and many ecstatically happy evenings and days together. We travelled together to Italy and France. He was the soul of the party especially when he started to sing; he had a wonderful voice and he remembered the lyrics of all the songs.

Everyone who ever knew him will remember him best for his sharp intellect and his never ending quest for knowledge: he read, studied and remembered. He won each quiz he ever entered. He loved a good argument and was passionate in his beliefs. He wanted to win and very often he did win.

During the last year of his life Mark suffered great pain and discomfort with great fortitude. Gratefully his sacrifices were mitigated by the love around him from his children Daniel and Charlotte, his brothers, his mother, his friends and above all his Sylvia who shared with him his most difficult days and months in the same way they had shared so much happiness.

We shall always have Mark in our lives and thoughts.

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