(21.9.1946). Botanist and ecologist.

Born in Sliema, Lanfranco was  educated at  St Elizabeth School, Stella Maris College, and St Michael’s College of Education. He furthered his studies at the University of London from where he  graduated in botany (1973).

Min kien EMILIO LOMBARDI?

Emilio Lombardi twieled fl-1881 u sa minn meta kellu ħmistax-il sena beda jħarreġ it-talent tal-kitba.

Kienu bosta l-kotba li kiteb u varji fis-suġġetti tagħhom. Kiteb kotba b’suġġett reliġjuż u oħrajn b’suġġett profan li fil-maġġuranza tagħhom huma rumanzi bbażati fuq fatt fl-istorja ta’ Malta jew ta’ pajjiżi oħra tad-dinja.
Fost il-kotba reliġjużi nsibu L-Istorja Sagra, miktub bħala rakkont tal-Bibbja, mill-bidu nett tal-ħolqien tad-dinja sal-miġja ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu. Insibu wkoll fost il-kotba reliġjużi Il-Ħajja ta’ Kristu u l-Passjoni ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, L-Istorja tal-Knisja u L-Ħajja ta’ Missierna San Pawl.

Emmanuel Portelli twieled nhar it-tmintax ta’ Mejju tal-Elf, disa’ mija, ħamsa w tletin fil-Ħamrun. Huwa ħabb l-iskola sa minn ċkunitu bl-aktar suġġett għall-qalbu jkun l-Ingliż. Dejjem kellu namra kbira għall-kitba.

Fl-età ta’ ħmistax-il sena, huwa daħal bħala apprendista fit-Tarzna bħala Engine Fitter, fejn kompla wkoll bl-iskola.

Emmanwel F. Attard

Twieled Ħaż-Żebbuġ (Malta) fl-1931, iżda issa ilu jgħammar Birżebbuġa sa mill-1979. Skola Primarja Ħaż-Żebbuġ u ssokta l-istudju tiegħu fil-Kulleġġ Flores, fil-Kulleġġ għat-Taħriġ tal-Għalliema, u għal xi żmien fl-Universita`.

Born in Birkirkara on 22 February 1928, he started writing short stories in his teens winning prizes in literary competitions organised by Il-Moviment tal-Malti (Ghat-Tfal), Il-Pronostku Malti and newspapers. He contributed a regular article on current world news in the newspaper Ghawdex. In later years, his short stories appeared in Leħen il-Malti, while he had radio plays as well as short stories broadcast on the local radio station Rediffusion.

His commitments in a teaching career and as a council member of the Malta Union of Teachers, (1946-65) redirected his writings into a different channel, and more so when he joined the newly formed Foreign Service of independent Malta (1965-2003).  His writings remain anonymous in official documents and public statements. Two spells in retirement, (1985-87) and (1996-2000), freed him from the constraints on civil servants and he contributed to the media in particular on foreign affairs.  His main contribution was a fortnightly opinion piece to The Sunday Times (of Malta) under the title As I was Saying…

FIONA VELLA is a Maltese story-teller renowned for her writing in the fields of culture, anthropology, archaeology, history and travel. Her works are extensively published in Maltese and English, both on local print and online media. Her research and writing have also contributed to a number of local socio-cultural TV programs.

She has been twice awarded the coveted Prix D’Honneur for Built Heritage Journalism by Din L-Art Ħelwa for her articles related to the preservation and conservation of historical sites.

Francis Galea twieled il-Mosta fit-28 ta’ Jannar 1953. L-aktar xogħlijiet bikrija tieghu dehru fil-kotba Żerniq u Għabex (1971), Fid-Dlam id-Dawl (1971), u Dilemma (1972) kif ukoll fi ktieb ta’ poeżiji t’awturi barranin Kaleidoscope of Verses 1974, fl-Ingilterra. Fl-1975 ħareġ ir-rumanz Bugħawwieġ u t-tieni rumanz Erba’ Snin fl-1998. Fl-1983 daħħal xogħlijet fl-antoloġija Turġien waqt li fi tmiem l-istess sena ippubblika l-ktieb tal-poeżiji Kronokoppja bid-disinn tat-tpinġija ta’ Twanny Darmanin meta ż-żewġ artisti għamlu wirja. Galea u Darmanin reġgħu tellghu wirja bl-isem Elevation of Culture/Se Nwasslu fi Frar 1996.

Kitbiet oħrajn ta’ Galea dehru fil-ktieb Il-Gżejjer Tagħna (1987), fil-ktieb ta’ novelliTlaqna Għal Rasna (1989) u fil-ktejjeb ta’ poeżiji Disgħa għal Disgħa (1995). Poeżija ta’ Galea ġew mitbugħa fl-antoloġijaIl-Poeżija Maltija (1996) u novella fil-ktieb L-Ambjent tal-Pinna (1996). Mill-1990 ħareġ diversi kotba ta’ riċerka fosthom Ma’ Sebħ is-Seklu(1990),  Is-Sedizzjoni(1999), u fis-sena 2000, il-ktieb dwar personalitajiet politici, Mexxejja, Ħassieba u Deputati Laburisti (1920-2000). Francis Galea huwa l-awtur tal-ktieb-manwal, Koperattivi – Twaqqif u Tmexxija li gie mitbugħ fl-2002. Fl-istess sena ppubblika l-ktieb ta’ riċerka Malta fdal Atlantis, studju dwar l-arkeologija, l-geologija u l-geografija tal-gżejjer Maltin sa minn żmien il-qedem.

Francis Xavier Aloisio was born on the island of Malta but spent more than half of his life abroad, first in Perù as a missionary priest and then in England where he eventually settled after resigning from the Church.

Whilst abroad, he realised that not many people knew about Malta, its glorious history and its prehistoric temples. During his short time in Canada, he started to write an Overview of his life with no broad details. Then, on his return home, he had a strong urge to find a way to promote this history and the unique wealth of its prehistoric culture.

Comm. Prof. George Cassar holds a B.A. (Educ.), M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Malta. He is an associate professor in the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture of the same University.

Prof. Cassar is a historical sociologist and a pedagogist who has published extensively in a number of areas namely: History, Education, Social Studies, Sociology, Heritage and Culture. Recent books authored include: “Onwards Mosta” The life and times of the Mosta Scout Group 1916-2008 (Malta, 2009); Inside the Malta Union of Teachers 1919-2009: Ninety years of active trade unionism and professional development (Malta, 2009); Student representation at the University of Malta – A history: 1901 – 1971 (Malta, 2011); The Emergence of a Maltese Teacher Corps: From modest origins to strength in unity 1800–1919 (Malta, 2012); Exploring the heritage around us in Mosta, Rabat, Mdina … and much more (Malta, 2013); Qrendi its people and their heritage (Malta, 2014); Life in Mdina: from Punic times to the present day (Malta, 2015); What they are: food and footways in Mdina and beyond – From Roman times to the Middle Ages (Malta, 2015).

George E. Kissaun was born in Sliema at the advent of World War II, on 24 June 1938. His whole family had to leave their residence in Sliema, when it became clear that Germany was going to pound Malta until it surrenders in 1941-42. The family took refuge in Attard and later transferred to Fleur-de-Lys in Birkirkara, before returning to Sliema at the beginning of 1945. He was educated at the Montessori Junior School and St Anthony’s private school in Sliema. At the age of eleven years, he sat and was successful in the Lyceum entrance examination and started his adult education at the Lyceum in Ħamrun. He transferred to Valletta in 1953 for his final three years up to Sixth Form or “Sesta”, as it was popularly known.

His first job was as a Clerk at the General Retailers and Traders Union and then successfully started his short Government career, also as a Clerk. His Army career started after his mother refused his successful application to join the Royal Air Force for a commission in Her Majesty’s Services. George was commissioned in the British Army in 1962, an ambition that satisfied his mother’s traditions. In 1970, he was selected to join the Palace staff as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General Sir Maurice Dorman and promoted to Captain in 1971. After his service at the Palace came to an abrupt end, he went on to pursue a highly successful career in aviation. His mentor was Rigas Doganis, a Professor at Cranwell University, well known for its aviation specialisation. George participated in very important conferences and spoke on General Aviation in Austria as it celebrated 25 years of flying since the first flights were permitted after the war. In 1984, he was appointed to the Administrative Board at the National Tourism Organisation Malta (NTOM), and also a member of the Air Terminal Committee. He was appointed Head of Administration and deputy Chief Executive at NTOM, and later head of the first Environment Department. George’s expertise saw him involved directly with the extension of the old Air Terminal and a member of the Committee that built the new Air Terminal. He served as Executive Secretary of the Airport Users Committee, and from 2005 to 2013 as Chairman of the Airport Council. His skills in financial and organisational matters saw him part of a team that built the dual carriageways and the University Complex Pool.