He put the people first

Ċensu Tabone’s neighbours gathered outside his St Julians home yesterday to bid a final farewell to “the true gentleman” and “family man” who always remained down to earth.

“He had a big heart. All his neighbours loved him... He was a politician of a different era, there to serve the people. Not like today’s politicians, many of whom are there for their personal gain,” said neighbour Silvia Schembri.

Ms Schembri, 66, lived in Carmel Street all her life and always remembers Dr Tabone and his family there.

She was among the neighbours who stood outside his green-shuttered townhouse to say goodbye as the funeral cortege set off to the President’s Palace in Valletta where he will lie in state until today.

The former President passed away on Wednesday morning while seated in his much-loved armchair; two weeks short of his 99th birthday.

“He was always smiling... He was a man of great faith and loved his family,” said neighbour Emmie Rapinet, 75.

The tight family bond was evident when Dr Tabone’s grandchildren carried the coffin out of their nannu’s house and into the hearse.

Other grandchildren, children and family members followed as the cortege drove out of the road, where Dr Tabone once celebrated his presidency with neighbours during a small street party.

Antoine Saliba, 80, got to know Dr Tabone before he got married, when he used to go to St Julians to visit his future wife Maria, his wife for 70 years.

Mr Saliba lived in Australia for over 40 years and remembered a time when Dr Tabone, then President, visited the Maltese community there.

“It was so nice to see a childhood, familiar face... He was the President then but so happy to see us and we him... He didn’t change when he became President,” he said.

Later on, at the Palace in Valletta, Dr Tabone’s relatives were given some private time to say goodbye before members of the public were allowed in to pay their last respects.

When his widow walked out of the Palace, surrounded by family, she was greeted by President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami.

President George Abela and his wife Margaret and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife Kate also paid their respects.

Members of the public then visited their “gentleman President” with many saying they felt they had to say goodbye.

Maria Muscat, 82, had tears in her eyes. She travelled from Mqabba to Valletta to bid goodbye to a friend “who worked so hard for Malta”.

“He was such a good man... I had to see him one last time,” she said.

The body of Dr Tabone will lie in state today from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. The funeral will be held tomorrow when the cortege leaves the Palace at 10 a.m. and heads to St John’s Co-Cathedral where Archbishop Paul Cremona will celebrate Mass at 10.30 a.m.