Sky TV recently showed the Joseph Calleja 2013 concert at the Granaries and brought back a flood of memories for me.

I was in the Royal Signals when I was posted to Malta in 1947. I left in 1949. At that time, Mgr Michael Gonzi was archbishop, Sir Francis Douglas was the governor, Mabel Strickland ran The Times of Malta and the Phoenicia Hotel had just been completed.

I was stationed in St Francis Ravelin and walked across the Granaries every day to the Army Cipher Office based on the roof of the Auberge de Castille.

I later moved to the Sergeants’ Mess, which was located at Falconers House, in Valletta.

Every day, a young boy with a tray of pastizzi (cheesecakes) on his head would stop by. The routine was always the same: “Tnejn pastizzi grazzi.” “Int miġnun.” “Le, int miġnun.” (Two cheesecakes please. You’re mad. No, you’re mad.)

No doubt, he is a grandfather by now.

At the time I was seeing with a young lady from Floriana. It was all very innocent but her family got to hear about it and she was ‘gated’ for three months and I was instructed not to write or telephone her.

I’ve often wondered what happened to that girl.

Many evenings were spent at an outside restaurant with a band opposite the Manoel Theatre. A slice of cassata was 2/6p.

After 60 odd years, presumably the band has changed.

It was a pleasure to hear the delightful Philharmonic Orchestra, especially the violin playing by its leader, Marceline Agius, and the delightful first flutist – they were both excellent.

Malta was a delightful island and my two years there were among the happiest of my life. Such happy memories.