It was 40 years ago that London club Penguin SC paid a visit to Malta to play some matches. It was an initiative of Carm Borg, then president and also a player of the local Balluta Waterpolo Club.

Their visit here coincided with a tournament which included the participation of the ASA Selection, Neptunes, Sliema ASC and RAF Cyprus. The tournament was held at the old St Julian’s pitch and it was well attended by the numerous followers of this sport on this island.

After that tournament, the Balluta club organized an evening ‘floodlit tournament’ between local clubs Balluta, hosts, Sliema and Neptunes, as well as two English clubs, Penguin and Otters.

Since those days Charlie Mock, the former Balluta and Malta keeper, maintained constant contacts with Penguin SC old boys, through Malcolm Cromer and the late Terry Bushell, the Londoners’ goalkeeper, both of whom frequently returned to Malta for a holiday. One of their youngest players was Jack Neivens who was around 16-17 when the club played here in 1967.

The latest re-union brought together, among others, the likes of Ron Turner (Penguin SC) and Anglu Tonna, a former Balluta stalwart, who are now octogenarians.

During the reception hosted by San Giljan ASC at their club last Saturday, former Balluta players Carm Borg, Charlie Mock, Anglu Tonna, Freddie Grixti, Peter Bonello, presently the Mayor of St Julians, David Martin, Charlie Galea, Eddie Xuereb, Norman Vella and Joe Debono, again mingled with Terry King, Malcolm Cromer, John Whelan, Gerry Jarrett, Lewis Blomfield and Johnnie Lake who joined Valletta WPC in 1968.

It was a memorable and enjoyable evening where past memories were revived.