At 81 years of age, Julia and Oscar Sammut share a love story that stands the test of time, for this will be their 57th Valentine’s day together. However, due to enduring multiple strokes five years ago, Julia now resides in a Floriana residential home. Oscar spends every hour of the homes permitted visiting time by his wife's side, a few streets from their family home.
“I have never missed a day visiting in 5 years, I know she has the best care, but still at night I miss her terribly, I do get lonely” Oscar adds. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the stroke, Julia is unable to talk but she comprehends well. Her face lights up at the sight of Oscar arriving at the home, her eyes remain fixed on him and she giggles throughout his account of their romance.
The love-struck couple's story began during World War 2. As a five-year-old boy Oscar’s family home in Floriana was bombed heavily, consequently, his family moved to the nearby town of Hamrun. It was here he first met Julia, as next-door neighbours and with just a 6-month age gap between them. Their mothers were the best of friends, and as children, the pair went everywhere together, from school to Church “We even had the Holy Communion together” adds Oscar.
At the age of 10 Oscar’s father, serving in the Royal Air Force, moved his family to the U.K where Julia and Oscar lost touch. Oscar remained in the U.K and served two years in the Suez Canal. 10 years later his family holidayed to Malta, where by chance he stumbled across Julia again.
“I will never forget that evening, it was the feast of San Gaetan, and I bumped into the mother of Julia, she remembered me as a boy and told me to come to the home and meet Julia, I went along and that was it, our eyes locked and we never looked back.
“We spent two weeks courting, and I proposed, back in those days Julia went to her family to request permission, and fortunately they were over the moon! We married two years later in St Publius Church, Floriana, Julia was the most beautiful bride -can you believe she made her own dress! She is incredibly talented with sewing. After the wedding, we had a big party in Sliema and then the honeymoon in Mellieħa. Things were very different back in those times, Julia’s brother had to accompany us on every date until we married. Julia also stopped working and she devoted herself to the home, and our family” The couple went on to have three children, and now have eight grandchildren who are a big part of their lives.
When asked the secret to long-lasting love Oscar was quick to reply “We do everything equally, whether that’s decisions or choices we have always involved one another. We never forget about the small things either, such as making a cup of tea or helping each other. I still buy her flowers because she adores them. Love is not always in the big grand gestures, it takes time to make it work. These days people give up quickly, everybody wants everything instantly, whether it is success, a job or love, but love is a seed you have to grow and nurture.”
Photos Alenka Falzon
