Charles Farrugia. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Charles Farrugia remembers the very first time he waved the Maltese flag when the island gained independence 50 years ago.

And he was not alone. Hundreds of other children around him enthusiastically waved the red and white cloth that had now taken on a whole new meaning.

Before that day he never had a reason to wave the Maltese flag, which only replaced the British one 50 years ago.

“It was a bright and sunny day. It was so hot, I remember wondering how long we were going to have to stand there,” the 63-year-old from Paola recounts.

Mr Farrugia, then prefect of his Grade 3 class, was one of a group of students dressed in white who stood in formation to outline the words Malta Indipendenti during the children’s rally in Independence Arena, Floriana.

We even had a greater sense of pride in our schoolwork… I remember looking forward to go to school

“I was the second one in the first D… I had to be careful, as there were two Ds. After finding our position we sang the Maltese anthem.”

The Times of Malta had reported that on September 23, several thousand schoolchildren took part in a rally held at the Independence Arena. About 1,100 boys and girls representing various schools marched past and were addressed by Prime Minister George Borg Olivier.

Eight-year-old Charles (right) with his brothers George (left) and Mario. Right: Charles Farrugia was one of those who took part in the children’s rally marking Malta’s Independence 50 years ago.

The schoolchildren were each given a small cloth flag to wave during the rally. It was the first Maltese flag Mr Farrugia held in his hand and he took it back home with him.

Despite his age, Mr Farrugia understood to some extent that the country was changing hands, and at school, although talk about politics was nearly nonexistent, the children had been briefed about the historical moment.

Raised in Paola, Mr Farrugia eventually joined the Royal Air Force and Navy, and later started his own business and raised three children of his own.

Comparing today’s Malta with that of 50 years ago, Mr Farrugia speaks of discipline; an aspect of the Maltese culture he attributes to the British rule, which he says has, unfortunately, fizzled out over the years.

“Etiquette – the way we dealt with people, spoke and dressed – was totally different. We even had a greater sense of pride in our schoolwork… I remember looking forward to go to school,” he says.

And when he later worked with the British Services, he had to always be clean-shaven and combed. “They were so strict with us at work that back then we were already prohibited from walking on grass or throwing cigarette butts on the ground.”

“At Mass you would not see anyone in flip-flops and shorts… people were very different then, and so was the lifestyle.

“I remember my parents would even manage to save up some money despite the little they made, while today you can barely make ends meet. Back then people would even make their own clothes for example, while today we have everything but we are never satisfied.

“Progress is important, but we cannot forget our parents’ sacrifices, as they were the ones who made this progress possible,” Mr Farrugia added.