Ray Mangion’s article on Albert Ganado (December 2) gives credit to this great researcher and scholar and his incredibly prolific list of achievements. May this list continue to grow.

Allow me to add a characteristic of this good old friend of mine, which distinguishes him from many other researchers. Albert is blessed with the rare gift of sharing his knowledge.

Researchers are always ready to publish with their name inscribed on the front page but many fear intruders. They very often commit the sin of jealously holding on to their knowledge and find it hard to assist others in the course of some study.

Sometimes, they do not only fail to assist but they actually try hard to stifle those who in some way may dare to trespass into what they consider to be their reserved area. They encircle themselves and their knowledge with bold capital letters RTO.

It is with great pleasure that I can personally vouch for Albert’s generosity whenever I resorted to his invaluable assistance. He was always so forthcoming. Perfect gentleman.

Allow me to repeat what I wrote in the preface to my book Turner’s Malta Watercolour: “Dr Ganado is a walking encyclopedia who is blessed with the rare gift of being always prepared to share his knowledge with others.”

I also reiterate what I wrote in my review of one of his books: “Albert Ganado has once more proved himself a treasure trove of information and has re-asserted himself as one of Malta’s most generous spirits, always ready to share what he knows with utmost ease. This is first class material from a first-class scholar and an outstanding man.”

The true scholar is the one who perceives knowledge as a treasure to be shared magnanimously, not a hoard to be jealously and selfishly guarded. I know a few that fit this definition but we certainly need many more.