The letter titled “George Cross Island Association Malta GC turns a new leaf” by Peter Robinson (TMIS, 8 June), who signed as chairman of GCIA Malta GC is, in a way, most misleading when claiming that the branch had turned a new leaf. No reason was given by Mr Robinson why the previous committee of Maltese members had resigned en masse at a time when I was chairman.

The reason for our resignation was because Malta branch and its members were being ignored and unjustly treated and against the Aims and Constitution of the GCIA at the annual general meeting held in Ipswich on 11 October. Due to health reasons I was unable to attend. However, at a time when I was still national chairman and due to hand over the chairmanship at the end of my three-year term of office, not only did we receive the agenda four days after the meeting ended, but it later transpired that the national secretary, Julia Gaw, had misled the members at the AGM when she claimed that the GCIA’s patron, the Duke of Edinburgh, had nominated Dr Michael Refalo to succeed Dr Censu Tabone as the new national president of the GCIA. Malta Branch was never consulted about this appointment, nor were any details given to the members attending the AGM

In the circumstances, Malta branch wrote to Buckingham Palace to verify the claim made by Mrs Gaw.

It transpired from this correspondence that Prince Philip had made no such recommendation at all, resulting in the conclusion that the recommendation for the post was that of Mrs Gaw.

Recently, when newly elected national chairman Frank Thompson was in Malta, attempts were made to rectify the situation with a meeting at the Preluna Hotel on 21 April, which was unsuccessful. After this meeting I was accosted in public by the secretary of South East Branch Michael Gaw, husband of Mrs Gaw, who insulted me and even threatened me saying: “If you were 20 years younger I would smash your face in!” As a result of this final insult, the Branch committee resigned and an extraordinary general meeting was called to form a new committee. I personally resigned from the GCIA.

At the EGM held on 7 May, a number of members of the British Residents Association stepped in to form a new committee, one of whom was Peter Robinson who, it appears, blocked a motion to seek redress for the actions of the National Council against Malta Branch and also for the threat of violence made by Mr Gaw against me.

In his letter, Mr Robinson smoothly praises my over 20 years’ service to the GCIA. Then, in the heading, he claims that Malta Branch is turning a new leaf, without realising that it is now being run by a body that is a stranger to the Maltese war veterans and the people of Malta who by their sacrifices earned the George Cross – truly now the forgotten breed!

Stanley J. A. Clews MBE, MBIM, MIPM

SLIEMA