The Malta Judo Federation and the Malta Judo Foundation have lost their patron, Andrew Bertie, 3rd Dan (black belt). He passed away in Rome last week.

Fr?Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie was the 78th Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta.

Andrew, as he was known by the local Judo family, started practising Judo in Great Britain. When he took up residence in Malta, he immediately made contact with the local federation, and never missed an opportunity to step on the mat and help the instructors in the teaching of the sport he loved so much.

The federation has been organising the popular Judo Festivals in Christmas and Easter, under his patronage, and just last Christmas, he was to be seen among the hundreds of Children at St Aloysius College.

The Judo fraternity will greatly miss Andrew.

The Malta Judo Federation will dedicate the Under 20 International Judo tournament organised yearly to him, naming it the Andrew Bertie Memorial promotional tournament.