One of Malta's most renowned comedians and radio personalities, Charles Clews, who started his long-spanning career during the war, passed away yesterday.

Mr Clews, who would have turned 90 in September, has entertained the Maltese both locally and abroad, travelling to Australia twice to crack his jokes.

The Senglea-born father of eight started his career as a comedian by accident, during World War II, when he used to entertain his colleagues at the Shipyards, where he worked as a surveyor.

"During the rest hour he used to tell his colleagues a couple of jokes. One day he was called into the admiral's office," his friend and fellow actor Charles Thake said, recalling the young Mr Clews.

Somewhat frightened, he went expecting a telling off. Instead, the admiral thanked him for the comedy, which relieved the workers' minds, at the time inundated with work.

According to radio personality Frans Said, Mr Clews then started organising entertainment for the workers during air-raids.

"That was the day that The Stage Commandos was born," Mr Thake said. The stage company was formed in 1945 and its repertoire included sketches, plays and musicals. Mr Clews was also highly involved in Radju Muskettieri and he used to keep locals laughing during a time when they had little else to smile about.

His inspiration for jokes was quintessentially Maltese. His mother-in-law in particular, whom he depicted as a monster - even though in reality, his friends agree, he loved and respected her - was often the butt of his jokes. Other popular jokes revolved around his large family.

He was the brains behind the comical soap opera Karmena Abdilla, which ran for around two years and ended with a wedding played out on stage, which was repeated in almost all theatres around the island.

The comedian also helped in children's programmes and, Mr Said recalled, invented the character Fredu Frendo Sghendo, a mischievous boy who used to amuse the young with his adventures.

Mr Clews also regularly performed at parties organised by Mr Said for needy children. "Whenever I asked him, he always came, without asking for any payment despite needing the money."

The comedian served as chairman of the Stage and Film Censors Board between 1955 and 1958. He was awarded the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in 1996 and two years later an award for a lifetime of entertainment to the nation.

Both the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party saluted Mr Clews. The PL said the comedian will undoubtedly be remembered as a man with a constant smile on his face.

The funeral will be held in Senglea tomorrow morning.