The passing away of our friend Charles Borg has brought back many childhood memories. Decades ago I got to know him at Xlendi where I used to spend some days with my family. Alas, those were the good old days of Xlendi! Then for a long time, I lost track of Charlie, as he was fondly known. I knew that he and his family lived in Birkirkara, but Gozo, and especially the suburb village of Fontana, remained always in his heart. As indeed was Xlendi. In fact, after several years I accidentally met him again, and his wife Doris, at Palm Bookshop in the  heart of Victoria, searching for the publication Xlendi by Rev. Albert Curmi, which at the time happened to be out of print. This rendered our meetings more frequent.

Charles was a joyful person, humble and positive, who liked to weigh his words. It was easy to make friends with him as he was very approachable.

Charles was born on 18 April 1931 and was brought up in Fontana. Like most of the children and youths of that village, he used to pass the summer months, with his family, fishing and swimming at Xlendi when that beach was still truly a "sandy" one. He made a career as an educator in Physical Education with the Education Division, first in Gozo and then in secondary schools in Malta and the Technical Institute in Paola. In the early 1960s he served as vice-president of the Gozo Football Association.

Charles did not disdain to be of service to others even at a personal cost. This characteristic was a reflection of the Christian spirit of the family in which Charles was born and bred and it remained an imprint which marked him throughout life.

From now on, whenever I visit my late parents, interred at the Santa Maria Cemetery, I will stop for some minutes of reflection and prayer at Charlie's resting place.

I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife, Doris and all the family.

Charles Spiteri