10 years ago - The Sunday Times

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Young MP walks on

The symbols of Karl Chircop’s passions in life – a Liverpool FC scarf, a stethoscope and the robe he wore every Good Friday procession to carry the crucifix – were yesterday presented as offerings during his funeral Mass. His wife Adriana and children Jan, Francesca, Christian and Keith, offered their dearest’s favourite belongings on a silver tray with the traditional offerings.

“You were the greatest gentleman I knew. You were fun to be with. You’ll be sorely missed and never forgotten... You’ll never walk alone,” Francesca told her father, as she tried to put a brave face on tragedy during the bidding prayers. The youngest son, Keith, added his message after his siblings, and in a low mumble said: “Have a good time in heaven... He was the best father.”

The 43-year-old family doctor died in a London hospital last Sunday when the machines that were keeping him alive, after he fell into a coma following cerebral haemorrhage on August 3, were switched off. Dr Chircop’s organs will be living in three other people, redeeming his inner traits to help people throughout his life, right until the very end. Thousands lined the streets of Paola and packed the Christ the King parish church to pay their last respects to the likeable Labour MP who warmed hearts with his ready smile and charisma.

25 years ago - The Times

Tuesday, October 19, 1993

Church insists on right for own judicial system

The Catholic Church has a right to its own independent and autonomous judicial system that is separate from that of the State, Mgr Arthur Said Pullicino, judicial vicar, said.

And it can never forfeit this right as it is derived through Christ, he told lawyers, legal procurators, law students and other members of the legal profession at the inauguration of a “Diploma course of studies in canonical marriage cases, jurisprudence and procedure,” at the Archbishop’s palace in Valletta.

Commonwealth leaders on short stay in Malta

More Commonwealth leaders arrived in Malta with their delegations yesterday to enjoy a short stay here before attending the Commonwealth summit in Cyprus, which opens on Thursday.

Visiting heads of government paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister at Castille while their spouses visited St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Crafts Centre in Valletta, the Cathedral Museum in Mdina, the Mdina Experience and the Zammit Clapp Hospital for the Elderly.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Saturday, October 19, 1968

Hilariously happy

In a programme note, the Ariel Players admit that “this is the first time for many years that this society has staged a play at the Manoel Theatre”.

Their first play of the season, As Long as They’re Happy, a farcical comedy by Vernon Sylvaine, produced by Bill Bailey, had its first night last Thursday. It will be presented again tonight and tomorrow evening.

Preserving the ‘Pharaoh Hound’

Strolling around in Nadur, Gozo, while on holiday, Mr Lionel Hamilton-Renwick, a well-known painter of horses and dogs, came across a dog, the pure species of which he had been seeking for some time.

At the entrance to a farmhouse, Mr Hamilton-Renwick saw the dog known as ‘Pharaoh Hound’, known as ‘Kelb tal-Fenek’. He had combed various parts of England and other places for a dog of this breed.

 The fight is said to have started when The Warners were dancing at the discotheque and Xuereb asked Grace to dance with him. When Grace refused politely Xuereb told her that he was astonished that she preferred a “coloured” to him.