Former diplomat, journalist and broadcaster John Manduca, who has been described as “an absolute gentleman”, passed away on Thursday evening aged 87.

“He had a good life and contributed to Malta in lots of different ways. He will be greatly missed,” said his childhood friend Martin Scicluna.

Mr Scicluna was seven years old when he first met Mr Manduca, who was then head boy at St Edward’s College.

“We absolutely adored him because he was a natural leader. He was just one of those people you always looked up to.

“As life went on we kept very closely in touch,” he said, adding he had succeeded Mr Manduca as chairman of the college’s Board of Governors.

He was always extremely frank and direct but had this ability to inspire loyalty in people

“The striking feature about John was he was always extremely frank and direct but he had this ability to inspire loyalty in people and to lead.

“My memories of him are of an absolute gentleman,” he said.

Mr Manduca’s son, Anthony, described him as “an absolutely great father who was extremely dedicated to the family”.

“As a child I used to discuss international politics with him. I learnt so much from him,” he said.

Mr Manduca followed in his father’s footsteps and is The Sunday Times of Malta executive and an international affairs columnist.

John Manduca, left, being made a member of the National Order of Merit by then president George Abela on Republic Day 2010.

John Manduca, who was made a member of the National Order of Merit on Republic Day 2010, was also a published author and editor.

He was the chief executive of the Broadcasting Authority between 1963 and 1968 and was later appointed managing director of the Rediffusion Group of Companies, which ran broadcasting in Malta.

In 2003 he was presented with the Gold Award for his contribution to professional journalism.

In 1983 Mr Manduca was appointed director general of the Confederation of Private Enterprise, which grouped together all the different business organisations in Malta.

Louis Farrugia, former president of the confederation, recalled how Mr Manduca played a “fundamental role” in drawing up and ensuring the publication of an important document on the revival and increased participation of the private sector as the motor for economic growth.

“He was a man of principle and an honourable gentleman,” Mr Farrugia said.

On the diplomatic level Mr Manduca was Malta’s High Commissioner to the UK between 1987 and 1990 and concurrently Ambassador to Norway, Sweden and Denmark and also to Ireland in 1990.

He played an important part in improving relations with the UK in the aftermath of the Labour government years, when Anglo-Maltese relations were rocky.

Recalling those times, President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, who was the prime minister that appointed Mr Manduca to his London post, said: “He was a respected High Commissioner at a time when he was really needed for Malta.

“We were trying to re-establish credibility in the Maltese nation as a whole and, I think, he performed admirably.

“I would describe him as a perfect gentleman and you could trust him to do whatever you expected him to do.”

The funeral will take place today at Mdina Cathedral at 1.45pm.