Over the past 23 years, Kenneth Link, a British national, has visited Malta 90 times.

The love story with the island began in 1983, with Mr Link and his wife coming back year after year.

In an interview with The Malta Independent, Mr Link said he and his wife had always wanted to come to Malta because they knew that the Maltese had a strong Christian faith.

“We fell in love with the island on our first visit and never stopped coming over,” Mr Link said

He turns 71 next month and for over 30 years worked as a machine manager with the Yorkshire Post.

Since their first visit in 1983, they have been coming over three or four times a year and considered Malta to be their second home.

In the beginning of October 1997, Mr Link had to undergo a quadruple heart bypass operation and the surgeon had told him he would not be able to travel for at least three months. He entered a home to convalesce in the north of England but the cold weather did not help.

“It was too cold for me and on 3 February I flew to Malta,” he said.

Their visits to the island are not limited to long weekend breaks but the British couple often stay over for long periods of up to three months.

To celebrate his 54th visit in 15 years, Mr Link and his wife had featured in an interview with this newspaper back in February 1998.

Mr Link, a lay preacher and an active member of the Evangelical Church in Malta, often gives sermons here or hands out leaflets at City Gate.

Each part of the island revives memories for Mr Link.

“One time, I remember it was pouring with rain while I was driving along Mosta Road. However, the road I had to take was closed and two policemen redirected me. This particular road was not resurfaced and was flooded with water.

“Eventually the car stopped and water began seeping inside the car. Eventually a tow truck came along and offered to tow the car for Lm20! We waded out of the car and he towed the car home.”

Mr Link has stayed at the Palm Court Hotel in Bugibba 25 times. “It is excellent value for money and we are really taken care of here.”

He loves using public transport when he is here on his own, but hires a car when his wife joins him. There is no particular time during the year when they travel here, although Mr Link makes it a point to come over in September, just in time for the lampuki season.

Although he does not speak the language, he carries with him a little black book with Maltese words and phrases and their English meaning. Whenever he can he always tries to throw in a word or two in Maltese in his conversations.

“There are so many English people who visit Malta over the years and yet their Maltese is very limited,” said Mr Link. “You need to make the effort to learn the language.”

Mr Link and his wife have made friends all over the island and always meet them when they are here.

He has also learned to steer clear of Maltese politics.

“Whenever anyone asks me for my opinion on Maltese politics I jokingly tell them the same thing. When walking in Vittoriosa I tell my wife to wear a red dress, and in Sliema I tell her to wear a blue dress.”

Bird hunting seems to be the only fault he finds with the Maltese. “It is very sad and people don’t see all those birds flying around anymore.”

“The timeshare operators are also annoying,” he said. “However, since they have been licensed the situation has improved.”

According to Mr Link Malta is a very hard destination to sell in the UK. “Many people want to go to countries which use the euro because they believe they will get more value for their money.

“However, I believe that more can be done to promote Malta.

There is so much competition for other destinations that you really can’t let it go,” said Mr Link.