I have just finished reading Eddie Fenech Adami’s autobiography EDDIE My Journey, published earlier this year by Allied Publications after numerous interviews with editor-in-chief Steve Mallia. This book can be described as a compendium of political events.

When Fenech Adami was about to start his political career, someone referred to him as just a village lawyer, but he proved himself to be a statesman with many added virtues such as honesty, sincerity, integrity and never one to compromise with his religious beliefs. He always stood up to be counted and climbed the political ladder on his own steam.

He fought mature political adversaries during which certain events happened which cannot be forgotten: his house was broken into and ransacked and members of his family beaten, ever since referred to as Black Monday; the political meeting at Tal-Barrani, when Labour thugs with the help of police officers threw what came within their reach, injuring many; the shooting at the Gudja PN club killing Raymond Caruana. It was an admirable gesture on the part of Fenech Adami to visit and pray on Raymond Caruana’s grave on May 9 – Raymond’s birthday – just as he was elected Prime Minister.

Hopefully, these shameful events and others which left an indelible mark on our history will never be repeated. Fenech Adami never shirked his duty, not even when ordered by his doctor to slow down. He writes that when he addressed meetings, he was always full of energy. I remember very vividly his late wife Mary saying that his mother used to bless him before addressing a political meeting. He preached and practiced reconciliation and asked his followers never to retaliate to violence, not even when provoked.

Undoubtedly the signing of the Accession Treaty remains the highlight of his career.

He is now less publicly involved but more present for his children and grandchildren, while not forgetting what a staunch supporter his late wife was, also remembered for her joyful character.