Joyce Guillaumier, the well-known radio broadcaster has been involved in broadcasting since the Broadcasting Authority launched its own Radju Malta in the early 1970s. In fact she was one of its earliest contributors and possibly the first and only woman to produce and present classical music programmes on radio – at least for many years until another female presenter had her own music programme for a while on Radju Bronja.

The first programme Joyce produced and presented was a live weekly

60-minuter and she recalls being so worried about the technical side of it. All those faders and buttons used to drive her crazy as she used to be on her own without the assistance of a technical person and would get hoarse before going on air. When Radju Malta joined Xandir, she went along with the rest of the crew and never missed a programme, not even when she was pregnant with her second son. This went on until one fine day just a few years ago she received a polite note from PBS telling her that her services were no longer required. However, they still transmit her programmes, which she records for Campus FM possibly because there is some agreement between the two stations, but she was never consulted about this. Joyce also presented programmes on TVM. She now has a weekly programme, Giren with Tony Terribile on E22. She also has two weekly productions on Campus FM. One is Prizma and the other one is a programme on classical Maltese music.

How old are you? Star sign and date of birth?

I’m 63 years old. I’m a Virgo and I was born on 14 September 1944.

What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

I would like to be travelling to see the world.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Is there such a thing as perfect happiness? I would have to be dead and in Heaven for that but I’m not ready to die yet.

What is your favourite occupation?

Being a mother to my two sons, Jeremy and Jean-Paul.

Significant other?

My sons of course and the memory of my late husband who died in 1990.

What is your greatest fear?

Falling prey to insincere and unscrupulous

persons.

What is it that you most value in your friends?

Sincerity and kindheartedness.

How would you like to die?

Hopefully quietly in my sleep.

What is your greatest

extravagance?

I don’t believe anything I’ve ever bought or did is an extravagance. If I felt that something was worth it, I just went ahead and obtained it. I never bother about money. It’s there to spend, no?

What is your greatest regret?

Not giving enough time to my sons, although did my best. As they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I have always been so very, very busy…

What is your most treasured possession?

As I said earlier, my sons and the memory of my husband, also of my parents, both long gone.

What talent would you most like to have apart from the ones you already have?

I would have loved to study voice seriously.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of

misery?

Being on bad terms with people I love and respect.

Where would you like to live?

I have lived in Malta all my life. Now I would like to live in Australia or New Zealand or perhaps Canada.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I’m quite short-tempered although I’m mellowing with age.

Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

My parents. They were absolutely marvellous!

What is it that you most dislike?

I abhor dishonesty and corruption, even in small measures.

What is your motto?

Always do your best, whatever it is that you are doing.