Author: Adrianus Koster
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Joseph Carabott
Mgr. Joseph Carabott, or Father Joe as I carried on addressing him with affection, was parish priest in Marsascala when I arrived there in 1975. In 1976 he was transferred to Siggiewi to become the next archpriest over there. In 1981 het was made Archpriest of Mosta. When he retited he was created a canon…
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Joseph Spiteri-Gonzi
MY GREAT FRIEND JOE SPITERI-GONZI Some personal memories (After Joe passed peacefully away on 27th March 2022 I was not able to pay him the tribute he deserved because the impact of the sad news upset me too much. I promised to do this later and found it fitting to publish it on his birthday)…
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Swimming and having lunch with Dom Mintoff
Dominic Mintoff (1916-2012) was Prime Minister of Malta when I conducted my research there. As he was one of my main research objectives I thought it proper to ask him for an interview. However, his personal secretary Mr. Joe Camilleri informed me that Mr. Mintoff was a very busy man and that we would prefer…
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Dom Mintoff: a tough nut to crack
This story was told to me at Miss Mabel Stricklands villa in Lija in 1973 by a member of the British House of Lords, who was one of the intimates of Lord Carrington, then United Kingdom Secretary of Defence. Because Jozef Luns was still very active in international politics at the time, I wrote it…
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Strait Street Valletta
25th May 1973 (on my way to meet Archbishop Gonzi) Before I arrived at the Archbishop’s Palace a rather peculiar incident took place. I was late and hurried through Strait Street (as a newcomer in Malta I did not yet know its rather questionable reputation. From a bar a scarcely dressed woman not only addressed…
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Michael Gonzi
Mgr. Michael / Mikiel Gonzi (1885-1984) Bishop of Gozo (1924-1943), Bishop of Malta (1943-1944) and Archbishop of Malta (1944-1976) My first meeting with Mgr. Gonzi took place on 25th May 1973 in the Archbishop’s palace, Valletta. Dun Charles Vella was present at the meeting ‘You are from Holland. I had a Dutch friend in Rome,…
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Emmanuel Gerada
His Lordship Mgr. Emmanuel Gerada (1920-2011) B.A., Lic.D. I.C.D., titular Bishop of Nomentum, was in those days Coadjutor to the Archbishop of Malta. He was born in Zejtun and studied in England and Rome. He was in the Vatican Diplomatic Service between 1950 and 1967. He told me he served in Egypt, India, Ireland, Japan,…
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Giorgio Borg Olivier
Politics is a risk, you have to take it Dr Borg Olivier (1911-1980) LLD. D. Litt MP was in those days Leader of the Opposition. He was Prime Minister of Malta between 1950 and 1955 and between 1962 and 1971. We met at 9th July 1973 at the Speaker’s Office during a session of Parliament.…
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Anton Buttigieg
Politics is the art of the possible Dr. Anton Buttigieg, B.A. LL.D. M.P. (1912-1983), was in those days Minister for Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. He was not only a politician, but a well-known poet as well. He was destined to become Malta’s second President of the Republic (1976-1981). We met at 26th June 1973 at…
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Mabel Strickland
Miss Mabel Strickland OBE (1899-1988) former politician and owner of several newspapers. Het father Lord Strickland (1861-1940) was a colonial governor and Prime Minister of Malta. We first met on 18th May 1973 in her Bentley. Her secretary asked me to present myself at the headquarters of the Allied Newspapers in St. Paul Street, Valletta.…