A lot has already been said about Francis Zammit Dimech, a politician who stood out from the rest, in his unique way. I wish to dedicate this article to his memory but also reflect on what he meant for many of us in the political as well as the artistic field. I am honoured to have known Francis for many years, having worked with him under completely different circumstances at the different stages of my career - getting to know the different sides of him. He will dearly be missed.

I met Francis for the first time when we had won the Song for Europe Contest back in 2004. Back then he was Minister for Tourism and Culture, and I was an aspiring singer. I recall attending meetings at Casa Gasperi ahead of our Eurovision performance in Istanbul and getting to know Francis the patron of the arts. During those incredibly exciting and hectic months, I witnessed his unrivalled passion for the arts, and his drive to assist artists the best way possible.

Meeting the man, he always struck me as a jovial, good-spirited, incredibly erudite yet gentle soul who always had the perfect approach for everyone. From my point of view, I was drawn to his style and saw how politics could be a force for good and could drive the necessary change even in the field of the arts.

Perhaps he was the politician who inspired me most. Certainly, he was one of those who encouraged me to take the plunge and put my hat in the ring. In fact, I always considered him my mentor in politics.

I feel I learnt a lot from him during my time in politics, as I actively sought his counsel. We would meet in Valletta in a coffee shop or other, and I would share with him my thoughts about upcoming legislation, research or any project I would be working on in the field of the arts and culture. I always sought advice from him, and in his inimitable way, he was always generous to dispense it freely.

Like he always did himself in his long political career, he would always advocate for fair debate, making arguments in an ethical manner, and never attacking the person. I knew this was great advice, because I saw him practicing it in the first place. That is perhaps why his demise has unleashed such a flow of beautiful sentiments from both sides of the political divide - he was a truly respected and well-loved politician from all sides of the spectrum.

He was a deeply profound man. His thirst for knowledge about anything under the sun was immense. His interests were boundless, and very rarely could you approach him with a topic he would find himself unprepared for. Conversations with him were a font of knowledge like no other.

In the past months, we stayed in touch and exchanged greetings on the important occasions, though his health had started to show signs of distress. Last we spoke was last month. Brief messages of encouragement, from both sides for immensely different reasons, which I will cherish for ever.

I will miss Francis.

As politicians we ought to seek to honour his memory by striving to be politicians who are dedicated to being a force for good. That, after all, is what politics is all about.

I offer my deepest condolence to all of Francis' family and friends.

Julie Zahra is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Cultural Heritage, Arts, and Culture