The Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi last Friday paid a visit to Hapton Primary School in Lancashire and presented certificates to the best performers of the week and the “tidiest class” during their weekly assembly.

The Prime Minister and his wife were welcomed by a loud “bongu” and the pupils in Class 4 gave a presentation on Malta and Gozo and the 10 things they liked best about the islands.

Dr Gonzi was in Lancashire to open the new headquarters of Fraser Eagle.

When the headmistress, Kate Marney heard that the Prime Minister was visiting the area and Fraser Eagle was looking for a school, she immediately volunteered.

Even though they had little more than a week to prepare everything, the pupils rose to the challenge and they used the internet to look up things on Malta, including the music and lyrics – in English – of the national anthem, which they sang at the end of the assembly. The also learnt how to say Grazzi hafna and Sahha.

The Prime Minister was presented with a large “thank you” card by Joshua Denney while Mrs Gonzi received a bouquet and a teddy bear keychain.

Dr Gonzi’s visit to the school was given quite a lot of coverage on BBC Lancashire radio before and after the visit.