I suppose it happens all the time, but I never felt as I felt last Saturday at Robert Gauci’s funeral in Hamrun that not enough was being said about him to describe his life and times.

I know that a funeral is not supposed to be an eulogy but the presence of so many friends and relatives show how much he meant to all of us and how sorry we all were to see him go in such a short time, possibly with many of us wishing there had been the time and opportunity to take leave.

Bobby was a man who wore many hats.

One hat he kept on for many years was that of secretary of the St Gaetan band. In a band club, the President is the one who makes speeches and who represents the club, but it is the secretary who is the real motor of the club, the man who organizes every little activity that takes place.

Within the context of Hamrun, then, the secretary of one of the two main bands has a very tough and responsible role which calls for patient diplomacy but also for leadership.

Another hat Bobby wore was as Hamrun’s second mayor. He gave his all to see what improvement he could bring about and it was in his time that the St Paul Square (mistakenly called by many Fra Diego Square because of the statue in the middle) was given a thorough overhaul. It is a pity it has been allowed to fall back into the neglect it was pulled out of by Bobby.

All through this, Bobby was always Bobby – rumbustious, funny, courageous, loving his family and especially his grandchildren.

In my present job, then, I can never forget one of Bobby’s worst days – the wanton killing, in a shop just across the road from this office, of his Italian employee on a dark and cold night.

The people I met last Saturday all agreed on one thing: Bobby is now resting from the pain his illness procured him.

Rest in peace Bobby.

Noel Grima