Philip Farrugia Randon writes:

I do not recall when I first got to know Maurice but I surely started appreciating his talents when, a long time ago, he worked as producer and director for several years at Malta Television. I have vivid memories of his professional judgement and gusto, which certainly betrayed his artistic flair.

Certainly very good company during and after work, he almost always displayed an open and welcoming smile, thus managing to get the best from his assistants.

I remember his eye for detail and his mastery in shedding the extra to get at the essential without forgetting the detail. No small task! This was later portrayed in his cartoons and nature drawings. In the former he abstracted everything and concentrated on a portrayal of one line or message. In the latter he excelled in his bravura to reproduce detail with a master’s touch.

Maurice worked quietly. I cannot forget one incident. I had written and presented a series of television programmes on Leonardo da Vinci. I confess I was rather elated when I read a very favourable review of these programmes by a certain Scanner on Times of Malta. It was only years later during a very casual discussion about art that I mentioned the review in question in his presence and he chuckled. He confessed in his typical masculine deep voice he was Scanner. I admired him. During those years he had never tried to disclose this fact to further endear himself with me (not that he need to do so). His cartoons will remain an X-ray of contemporary Maltese political and social history. He mastered the line: in his drawing and in his words. Many desired to be included in his cartoons and I know several who tried their damndest to obtain the original drawing. Very often he refused. They were his babies.

Memories flow about the early years when he met Elena, later to become his incessantly loving and caring wife. I was so glad for them. Even though there were difficulties, I was so sure they were made for each other and, in a small way, my wife and I did help. And they surmounted all hurdles.

Maurice was so gracious in those trying days that I got to love and admire him more – this time as a person with refined and altruistic feelings. And the sun shone brightly when they had the greatest treasure of their life, Sebastian, a fine child who is also blessed with several talents. As usual, I am guilty of not keeping contact with persons I like and admire. I always loved meeting this fine gentleman and friend but I did not visit him. This guilt is the price I have to bear whenever I remember Maurice with his infectious smile and gleaming eyes.

The Lord has certainly prepared pen, ink and paper for him with a note: “Maurice, look around and comment but this time I hold the copyright.”

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