Anthony A. Miceli-Farrugia: Random Reflections And Memories – 1914-2002
Malcolm J. Naudi
The Farsons Foundation pp186
ISBN 978-99932-0-738-2

No one knew him as Antonio or Anthony; everyone knew him as Ninì. For many years he was one of Malta’s foremost businessmen, remaining upright and conscientious to the very end.

I knew Ninì quite well. In spite of the age difference I always felt at ease in his company. Perhaps it was because he was a great friend of my uncle, Godfrey Randon, but in reality he was essentially easy to talk to. One cannot forget his deep, throaty voice and his strong Italian accent, which I imitated in his presence a couple of times, attracting a sweet remark: “Oqgħod ja xifajk!” (Quiet you devil!)

While reading this book I could hear Ninì himself narrate his story. Mr Naudi has done a great job in relating the life and experiences of a commercial giant while retaining a fresh approach of a raconteur. He worked on interviews and notes taken during many sessions with Ninì and has retained the first person singular, thus asserting Ninì’s continuous contact with us.

I found the early life very interesting. Ninì came from a family which had been in the shipping business as owners and shipmasters for quite some time. The Miceli family moved from Riposto to Messina, which enjoys a more sheltered port. Antonio Matteo Filippo Miceli, captain and shipowner, often stopped at Senglea to unload his cargo from the east. He married a Maltese, Susanna Consiglio, who was a commercial wizard in her own right, setting up the first private credit institution in Messina. The story continues with Luca, Ninì’s grandfather, who spoke six languages including his native Maltese and expanded the fleet considerably. Luca too married a Maltese, Francesca Ellul. He sold all his vessels and retired after investing in real estate. In 1908 there was a terrible earthquake, which literally devastated Messina, and Luca lost all his property.

The narration recounts Ninì’s summer holidays as a child with his cousins in Sicily, and describes his gruff unsociable grandfather who used to dip his thick beard at the end of a meal into a basin brought by the maid to rinse his fingers after he peeled fruit. He contrasted strongly with his sociable father. His maternal grandfather, Luigi Farrugia, was originally also in the seafaring trade but then changed to wholesale business, dealing inter alia with wheat and flour. With his stepbrother Paolo he formed L&P Farrugia and established the Victoria Mill at Ħamrun. This later changed to L. Farrugia & Sons, which made giant leaps with the latest technological advances. The Farrugia Mill was ransacked and set on fire during the Sette Giugno riots. At that time Ninì was still a very young boy in Messina but recalls clearly his mother sobbing as she received the bad news.

Ninì’s childhood is dotted with continuous trips between Messina and Malta, so his early recollections of life in Malta at that time makes very interesting reading, such as the cinemas in Valletta, including what is now Caffe Cordina, the steamships which connected Sicily with Malta and served as postal service, contact via sea with London.

Ninì’s father, Marc’ Antonio, had a most peculiar habit: He always carried in his pocket a small bottle of pure alcohol and one of iodine to immediately clean his wound if he ever hurt himself! Also, he always wore black ties; never a coloured one. His father married his Maltese cousin, Erminia Farrugia, and Ninì was born in 1914. The maid who was besotted over him used to call him Ninì instead of Antonio… and it stuck.

In 1932 his parents settled in Malta and this fact again serves as a background for Ninì to describe life in Malta at the time: Strade Reale, International Café, Casino Maltese, ladies meeting for shopping, social life and entertainment. He recounts in some detail the opera seasons managed by the Impresa Farrugia, the engagement of Maestro Botti and Walter Mocchi, the operas of those seasons, the attendance and much more. Very interesting reading!

After the war the Mrieħel brewery was built and Ninì was entrusted with the accounts of the project, which was one of the first buildings in ferro-concrete in Malta.

In 1943 he met the love of his life, the woman who would accompany him to his end – Lilian Bartoli, now known to all in Malta for her unstinting voluntary work as Lilian Miceli Farrugia. He recalls, “She was beautiful and intelligent.” I must confess, she still is. They married. During the honeymoon in Malta they had to visit Aunty Mary and Uncle Edgar every day; must have been breathtaking! Children followed in quick sequence: Erminia (known as Mimici, one of the most straightforward characters I know), Mark (now ambassador of Malta in the United States and old friend of mine), Hélène (very enterprising and efficient), Alberto (a neighbour/friend, successful and artistic architect), Marina and Francesca who also hold high the family hallmark.

The book sees us through the SFC Brewery story, which opened in 1950 – a white elephant according to some at the time but an astounding success in reality. We read through Ninì’s gradual growth within the company and his brainchild, Kinnie. Gigi Farrugia, Ninì’s uncle, died prematurely at the age of 55 and Ninì was voted in his stead.

We see Ninì and the company grow and read some interesting business anecdotes and some recollections of the Mintoff era such as the National Bank saga, the strange Mintoff suggestion to produce bicycles or nougats to repay a $30 million loan made by China to Malta, the bulk buying epoch, the Buttigieg speech at the opening of Verdala Hotel, and other episodes. He was also irregularly arrested for a non-happening.

Ninì was present in various fronts, such as president of the Chamber of Commerce, founding president of Rotary, founder of the Maltese-Italian Chamber of Commerce, a Knight of Malta (SMOM), director of the National Bank and many others.

One thing struck me. After he was released from his irregular arrest, a police official had the gall to tell him: “We know you didn’t do anything.” But he had done. No crime, of course, but much to see his name sail through with honours for a life so well spent and much deserving this book, which I entreat all to read.