OCTOBER 2008

2008 LYCEUM GRAND REUNION

The 2008 Lyceum Grand Reunion was held on Saturday 4th October in the Main Hall of the Dun Guzepp Zammit (Brighella) Lyceum at Hamrun, as has now become customary, with the willing collaboration of Headmaster Tony Caruana Smith. It was attended by more than 220 Lyceum Past Students of varying ages, many of them with their spouses. It was a good number, given that there were three major crowd-pullers going on at the same time: the Notte Bianca in Valletta, Voices at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, and Michael Bolton singing to an audience of 6,000 at Ta’ Qali.

The proceedings were set rolling by ALPS President George Stagno Navarra, who in a welcoming speech said that The Lyceum had turned out thousands of students, hundreds of whom had made it to the highest echelons of Maltese society and given Malta a great name both at home and overseas. He also accorded special recognition to all those present who had come to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when they had first entered or left The Lyceum at the end of their secondary studies.

There were still many who remembered the old Lyceum in Merchants Street, Valletta, a place now housing the headquarters of Heritage Malta. It was so precious and close to the hearts of all Lyceum past students that the Association had decided to affix a marble plaque there in honour of all who had studied at The Lyceum, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of its foundation in March 1994. More details would be forthcoming in future issues of ALPS News.

The President exhorted all ALPS members to get in touch with other former schoolmates and entice them to join up and enjoy the various activities organised by the Council of Administration. Following the great success of last year’s tour to Canada, a group of 60 ALPS members, friends and spouses would be leaving for a Mediterranean cruise on 10th October on the mv Costa Concordia. Needless to say, the ALPS banner would go with them.

George announced that the Council of Administration had unanimously decided to appoint HE President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici an Honorary Life Member of the Association of Lyceum Past Students. He was a Lyceum past student who had occupied with dignity several important positions, represented Malta overseas and proved that the country’s small size should not stand in the way of its achievements. The apex of his career had been his full term as Head of State. Unfortunately Dr and Mrs Mifsud Bonnici were unavoidably absent. The certificate was therefore awarded in absentia, but it will be handed over to Dr Mifsud Bonnici on a first occasion when he can honour us with his presence.

WELL-ATTENDED CULTURAL ACTIVITY

A good-sized crowd gathered in Cathedral Square, Mdina, on the morning of 20th September for the first cultural visit of the season: a visit to Palazzo Falson in Mdina and the Domus Romana at Rabat.

They all enjoyed the guided tour of the renovated Palazzo Falson, a great achievement by Heritage Malta, and marvelled at the collection donated to the nation by Chev. Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher OBE (1889-1962). No less interesting was the refurbished Domus Romana, with many who had already been there before the refurbishment appreciating the change even more.

Many of the group took the option of a light lunch at the Peristyle Restaurant, just opposite the Domus Romana.

After the meal, a sizeable number of members and guests took a historical and cultural tour on the Chuc-Chuc Train, visiting the Mtarfa Clock Tower, Mosta View, Mdina Bastions View, Bridge View, the Old Notabile Train Station, Mdina Greek Gate and finally returning to the Domus Romana after a most enjoyable 30-minute ride.

TURANDOT PERFORMANCE

ALPS Cultural Commission Chairman Joe Fenech is offering for sale a handful of tickets for the performance of Turandot, by Giacomo Puccini, at the Astra Theatre, Victoria, on Saturday 25th October at 7.30 p.m. The tickets have become available after a small number of unavoidable drop-outs.

Please call Joe Fenech on 21 634034 or 21 410632.

DON’T MISS THE PUCCINI CONCERT!

The Association of Lyceum Past Students, nudged on by the indefatigable Joe Fenech, is now well into the final stages of organising a Grand Vocal Concert to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The concert will be held on Thursday 30th October in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana.

Members of the ALPS Choir have been rehearsing hard for the concert under Joe Fenech himself and choir trainer Yolanda Micallef. All in all it should be a very enjoyable concert which will give great value for the €10 price of each ticket. Advertising posters are already out, and booking is open with Secretary-General Alex Borg or Joe Fenech.

PHILATELY, ANYONE?

ALPS member Carmel Bonello, who is an avid stamp collector, has written to the Association with a suggestion to start up an ALPS Philatelic Club. Members of such a club could meet regularly and discuss or exchange stamps, or both. Mr Bonello may be contacted on mobile 7937 4242 or e-mail nichtan@maltanet.net.

PENCIL IT IN …

The customary ALPS Yuletide Dinner this year will be held on Thursday 11th December 2008 in the Ballroom of the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St George’s Bay. More details in the next issue of ALPS News, but please pencil the date in.

| THE CHANTICLEER READY TO GO, BUT …

There is a lot of material ready to go into print for the next edition of The Chanticleer magazine, but the tremendous costs to produce this publication have not yet been covered and we desperately need to collect more adverts.

The Council of Administration is confident that through a concerted effort among ALPS members, more adverts can be booked and that would enable us to ensure a launching before the end of 2008. Please help us to reach the target and cover most if not all the costs, in order to produce the long-awaited new edition of The Chanticleer.

There have been many times when ALPS members rose to the occasion and showed their generosity with those most in need. This is a time when members can show how close to their hearts they hold the Association of Lyceum Past Students. Thank you all.

HELP THE K.G.H. CHILDREN’S LIBRARY

The appeal is still ongoing for the donation of suitable books and videos to the child patients receiving medical care at the Disneyland Ward of Mater Dei Hospital. These unfortunate children certainly deserve all the help they can get to while away the long hours in hospital – not to mention the physical pain of the treatment in some cases. Please give all the help you can. Telephone 2545 4920.

Books have already started pouring in from a good number of ALPS members to help in this noble cause. One of our colleagues residing in USA sent a parcel of books for forwarding to the ward. Please continue to spread the word among family and friends.

Click to download!
Lyceum Grand Reunion application form
(Kindly dowload and send to ALPS)