A man that even tourists will miss

I just felt I had to pass on some personal memories about Joe Bonnici from a tourist's point of view.

I first met Joe more than 20 years ago and we, along with his lovely wife Lilian, have been great friends for all those years. Sadly, for my past three visits Joe was not in the best of health, but he never lost his wonderful sense of humour.

We first met at the old Fortina Hotel when he came to give one of his selection of several wonderful film shows. We hit it off immediately.

I loved to witness the wonderful reactions from the tourists to his lovely sense of humour and his attempts to re-tell the jokes I had told him! I learned a lot about Malta too.

In those early days, it was impossible to buy Cadbury and Mars products in Malta and he would ask if anyone had some he could buy.

Needless to say, every following year that I visited Joe would get a supply of his favourite goodies!

As the years passed, the friendship grew and I was honoured to be invited to his house to share a meal with him and Lilian. I really looked forward to those occasions.

One thing that Michael Cassar didn't mention was his and Joe's magnificent series of books on the various aspects of Malta and its history. I have them all, except the last one of which only two copies have been produced, and they are some of my greatest treasures.

To Joe, I apologise for writing this appreciation, I just know he will chastise me when we meet again! The tourists will miss him and Malta is the poorer for his passing. I will miss him, but most of all Lilian, Keith and his family will miss him.