Leonard Zammit writes:

The death of Alex Vella came as a complete surprise to all who knew him. I could not believe what his son, Norbert, wrote on Facebook and had to read it again in disbelief.

I knew Alex, a year my junior, since the 1950s. During our early years we ate, drank and joked together, attended football and waterpolo matches. He was a helping hand when the Neptunes annual magazine was compiled.

I remember with pride when I introduced him to journalism, inviting him to start reporting football matches for the Times of Malta where I was deputy sports editor. Alex was a teacher by profession but proved to be an absolute professional in everything he did. His football and waterpolo reporting in the Times of Malta was second to none, always accurate and fair.

He was a very meticulous person.

In view of his connection with the Malta Football Association, he had to give up on football reporting but still ventured on most of the other sporting disciplines. He excelled in whatever he did.

Readers of the Times of Malta, especially the waterpolo and swimming fraternity, will most definitely miss his regular comments.

Alex, may you rest in peace. You will never be forgotten.

Condolences to his family and friends in this moment of sadness.