Jimi Busuttil reading the line ‘It’s time to be dead’. Photo: Daniel Cardona

It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing away of Jimi Busuttil, the star of Simshar. Although I only met him once, in February, when he read my poetry for the President at San Anton Palace, I have a vivid mental picture of him. His strength of character and his experience of life as a fisherman were etched in his face.

I did not know he had cancer or that he was aware that this would probably be his last stage performance. When he read my poem, ‘No time to die’, the line “It’s time to be dead” must have resonated strongly for him, and this upsets me greatly.

Although his acting career was short, he was a true professional and he took the stage as an equal with Clare Agius, Alex Manché, Xandrija Violin and Tricia Dawn Williams. The loss to his family, friends and fans is severe and I bitterly regret not having got to know him better, for he still had a great deal to offer.