Meeting Peter Van Wood again after so many years was a moving event. Together with the Net TV crew of Opinjonisti, Roberto Runza, Anna Maria Grima and Sergio Mallia, I travelled for a day and a half to Rome to be able to interview this international master of the guitar and astrologer extraordinaire.

As Rediffusion’s Head of Programmes in the early 1960s, when Peter Van Wood was a top international guitarist with millions of records to his name, I recorded several radio programmes with him as well as the performances he gave at the Radio City, now the MLP Headquarters.

Van Wood was brought to Malta on several occasions by the then top DJ in Malta Victor Aquilina.

In the 1960s Peter Van Wood ranked with the top recording artistes of the time. Crowds idolised him wherever he went.

Hundreds of people turned up at the airport to greet him and his shows at the Radio City were a riot.

Peter Van Wood is best known as an internationally renowned guitarist for having invented a way of writing music in which he seemed to be conversing with his guitar.

Some 20 years ago, Peter decided to leave his music career behind and start anew as an astrologer.

In Italy he became instantly popular and for several years Van Wood was a constant fixture on RAI together with Fabio Fazio. Van Wood is still Rai’s favourite astrologer, having seen his predictions realised time and time again.

He now lives in a house in an area on the Roman hills with his wife Laura. Talking to Peter Van Wood about his visits to Malta was like taking the fast track back some 45 years.

In spite of his advancing years there are two things about Peter that still distinguish him. His memory is still as sharp as ever. He recalls instances, events, names and locations in Malta, that remain pleasurable memories for him, as if those events happened last week. The second is his mastery of the guitar at which he excels to this day.

After my interview I asked him to give us the horoscopes of President Eddie Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Leader of the Opposition Alfred Sant. The raw material for his readings were internet pages I found for the three men of politics. We also added a few singers that are well known here.

He surprised us all with his insight into the personalities we had suggested to him and the realism with which he drew their horoscopes.

That also applied to the singers whose names we had suggested to him.

Then Peter drew up his predictions for 2005 for each and every sign in the Zodiac.

In Italy he has published his book of horoscopes for 15 years and this year’s edition is particularly smart. Unfortunately the publication is not sold in Malta.

That and much more will be the subject of today’s Opinjonisti (Net TV 8.30pm). At the time of writing we have not edited the material we brought with us form Rome but the likelihood is that the last programme of 2004 dedicated to Van Wood, his music and his astrology will only produce the first part of the show.

The probability is that the second part will be broadcast on January 6.

Tonight at 8.30pm switch on to Net TV. You will find nothing better.