Andrè Zammit’s highly interesting article (December 30) on his professional career exemplifies the best aspects of a professional life as lived by a very talented Maltese architect specialised in road engineering.

Mr Zammit received his basic training in architecture and civil engineering in our long-established Alma Mater and as one would expect in an enterprising young graduate, never hesitated in pursuing further studies abroad in bigger countries more advanced than ourselves. In the UK he came across some of the best brains responsible for creating the road and rail infrastructure capable of moving vast quantities of people and goods in a megapolis, and this smoothly in a routine manner.

Mr Zammit was obviously fired by such an achievement and by the calibre of his mentors who had a hand in this marvel. I was at this time a postgraduate student myself, living in London and using London Transport to frequent the Royal College of Surgeons and Guy’s Hospital. I confess at the time I did not appreciate the engineering feats behind London Transport that made possible my regular attendance at these institutions.

Mr Zammit returned to Malta eager to put to use the expertise he acquired abroad. As is not uncommon, as a bright junior architect employed by the government, he is subjected to much red tape and not a few spokes in the proverbial wheels until a wise and benevolent director, Salvu Mangion, takes note of his talent and gives him head.

The result of this was the ideation and prosecution of a considerable number of mega road, flyover and tunnel projects which have changed the face of Malta, bringing the island into the modern era of road transport.

And all this coupled with a most fertile and continuing association with the most notable road engineers in Europe.