From Mr P. Wirth
The news of the sudden death of a relative or friend is one of those experiences in life when I feel time freezes for me in order to reminisce about my own life and to appreciate more what I have other than crave for what I don’t or can’t have! This feeling is amplified even further and goes deeper when the person that has suddenly passed away happens to be one that has made a very positive impression on my life. I experienced this feeling very intensely when I heard about the sudden death of dear old Harry Zammit.
I consider myself a very lucky man that over the years I became acquainted with and befriended Harry Zammit’s entire family. It all started when I was still a young teenager and got to know Bernard who used to invite me over to his house to play Subbuteo. Bernard’s elder brother Ignatius (better known as Iggy), used to join in the fun while younger brother Simon used to try to take part in the game but we didn’t let him, poor chap.
The occasional appearance of their only sister, Nella, was inevitable but, for a change, the presence of a girl during this boys’ game was, surprisingly, not annoying at all. It was then that I first met Harry Zammit and his darling wife Rose. A wonderful couple that made me feel so welcome in their home.
After these first encounters with Mr Zammit, I always enjoyed meeting him from time to time, either in the streets of our neighbourhood in Sliema or after Mass, or at his shop in Prince of Wales Road. Wherever it was, it was always a pleasure meeting this gentleman. His positive approach to life, his clean and enjoyable humour, his lovely contagious smile and his evident inner goodness made me feel so privileged to have known him. Very few people manage to leave such an impression on me and this is why I felt I simply had to show my appreciation to the entire Zammit family for having given me the opportunity of getting to know “il-Capo”, a term Mr Zammit himself often used when addressing me and so many other friends of his. In fact, I ended up addressing him as “Capo” myself!
I recently got to know Mr Zammit’s daughter, Nella, better and many of my last meetings with her father were dominated by his pride in his daughter’s achievements and his display of his very intense love for her. An example of what Mr Zammit was all about. An exemplary father, a perfect husband (I am sure Mrs Zammit agrees with me 100 per cent!) and a true and genuine friend.
It was an honour knowing you, Capo!
Patrick Wirth
SLIEMA