The state funeral of former President Censu Tabone was held in Valletta this morning. The coffin, draped in the Maltese flag, was carried out of the Palace and mounted on a gun carriage for the cortège to St John's Co-Cathedral, where the funeral Mass was held.

The coffin was carried by six army pall bearers in ceremonial dress. The scorching sun helped the events proceed smoothly and a substantial number of people gathered to pay their last respects.

The mourners were led by Dr Tabone's wife Maria - who looked pale but was composed throughout the activity, and his family, including his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, most of them carrying flowers. The police band played funeral marches along the route while the public who gathered clapped as a sign of respect.

On arrival at St John's, the family members were greeted by the Cathedral Chapter and the coffin was carried inside the church.

President George Abela led the congregation, which also included Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, Speaker Michael Frendo, President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami and President Emeritus Guido de Marco's widow Violet.

Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

In his homily, Archbishop Paul Cremona, who led the Mass, said that thehe people’s consolation for their loss was that Dr Tabone lived surrounded by Christian values. His faith was strong and made him who he was.

He attended Mass daily, prayed and was devoted to Our Lady and did his utmost to live close to her.

He loved the people and managed to combine his political career to the values of honesty, respect, love and justice. He combined his marriage to love, which remained strong to this very day.

Dr Tabone, the Archbishop said, lived a long life and left behind pleasant memories giving relations a new life.

Mgr Cremona was assisted by, among others, Gozo bishop Mario Grech and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca.

The Pope's blessing and condolences were read at the end of the Mass.

Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

The cortège then proceeded out of the Co-Cathedral and along Merchants'  Street, escorted by a smart detachment of soldiers and the army band. People lined the route and applauded occasionally.

Walking behind the family were the President and Mrs Abela, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice and the Speaker. A soldier carried President Tabone's decorations which were presented to Mrs Tabone in front of the War Monument.

The cortege then proceeded to Gozo.

President Censu Tabone was laid to rest at Xewkija this afternoon.

The former President, who died on Wednesday two weeks short of his 99th birthday, has been praised for his values, his service to the country and the way be brought people together.

He has been lying in state at the Palace in Valletta where politicians and the public have been paying their last respects.

Dr Tabone was born in Victoria on March 30, 1913. His father was Gozitan while his mother was from Cospicua.

He was the only minister to have served under both Dr George Borg Olivier (as minister of Labour) and under Eddie Fenech Adami, as foreign minister. He was the first Nationalist Party politician to become head of state.

An ophthalmologist by profession, Dr Tabone won international acclaim for his research into trachoma. He was the first ophthalmic surgeon to be engaged by the World Health Organisation and worked in Taiwan, Indonesia and Iraq.

He founded the Medical Officers' Union, now the MAM and entered politics in the 1960s, contesting his first election in 1962 when he was nearly 50 years old. He was first elected in 1966.

Last November Dr Tabone celebrated the 70th anniversary of his marriage to Maria. They had eight children, 19 grand children and 24 great grandchildren.

Dr Tabone had a mania for being punctual and a hobby of repairing clocks. He also attended daily Mass for most of his life.