WHAT A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION!
The
As pointed out in the September issue of ALPS News, participation in the exhibition well and truly surpassed all expectations, to the tune of no less than 56 exhibitors with paintings, books, crafts and photographs. With the preset venue being the Old Liceo Building (now Heritage Malta head offices) in Merchants Street, Valletta, we had a veritable “problem of success”. The great number of exhibitors dictated restrictions on the number of items that each of them could show. But the success could not have been what it was without the unstinting help and support of Heritage Malta staff.
At the exhibition’s inauguration, also attended by most exhibitors including current Lyceum students, ALPS President George dei Conti Stagno Navarra spoke with obvious pride of this long-held dream come true, as well as the nostalgia brought on by the venue itself, which was historically the first-ever location of The Lyceum from 1592.
A.L.P.S. YULETIDE DINNER ET AL
This year’s customary ALPS Yuletide Dinner will also serve to mark the end of the association’s 15th-anniversary celebrations for this calendar year, although more events are in line for early next year because Foundation Day is 20th March.
The dinner will be held on Friday 4th December in the Fortress Suite of the Corinthia San Gorg Resort Hotel at St George’s Bay (8 for 8.30 p.m.). For the 5-star venue and the fare that will be on offer, the price tag of €30 per person is a modest one indeed.
With the menu at the end of this edition of ALPS News, readers will find an application form complete with space to indicate choice of main course. This procedure is being adopted for the sake of better and more efficient service all around.
The booking form, with complete pre-payment, is to be sent to ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg or Social Activities Commission Chairman Robert Ferrante by not later than Tuesday 1st December.
At the end of the dinner all will be asked to rise for a mutual toast to the support and success of the ALPS 15th-anniversary celebrations during calendar 2009, and a memento will be distributed to all ALPS members present.
OCTOBER QUITE A FULL MONTH OF ACTIVITIES
Month for month, October this year will certainly be remembered for the number of ALPS and associated activities. And a common trait running through them all was the success each event achieved.
Pride of place, of course, goes to the Lyceum Grand Reunion which was held on 30th October in the Main Hall of The Lyceum in Hamrun, with the always-willing help of Headmaster Tony Caruana Smith. Hundreds of Lyceum past students and spouses attended and had a very good time meeting and chatting with old classmates and other acquaintances made later on in life. The event also yielded a number of new ALPS members.
Just before the reunion, a group of 38 ALPS members, spouses and friends enjoyed a week’s Western Mediterranean cruise on the m.v. Norwegian Gem, local agents SMS Travel Ltd. The participants really enjoyed their visits to interesting and memorable places of interest in all the ports of call.
Although Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto was not an ALPS production, the group of 50 participants who put their trust in Cultural Affairs Commission Chairman Joe Fenech for the weekend visit to Gozo based around the opera cannot have had cause to be sorry for it. The feedback on Joe’s organisational acumen has been simply great.
NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT …
After the great success of the ALPS Arts, Books, Crafts & Photography Exhibition a number of members and exhibitors alike came up with a very interesting suggestion.
Based on that general suggestion, an appeal is hereby being launched to all Lyceum past students who have ever published a book or books (and there are several of them!) to donate a copy of each publication to build up a specialised library that will be located in a prominent place at the Lyceum Library. Each book so donated would preferably include a signed message. A plaque with the names of all those authors who donate books will be installed as part of the library.
Come on, all you authors out there with a Lyceum past. Let us have your reaction to this very valid suggestion. If you do decide to contribute to this project, please get in touch with ALPS Secretary-General Alex Borg (see masthead for details) to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up of books.
MAKING GREATER USE OF ST ANNE’S CHAPEL
The new efforts by ALPS to make greater and more effective use of St Anne’s Chapel in Pwales Valley seem to have met with success. On 7th November there was good attendance for the annual Holy Mass for the repose of the souls of departed Lyceum past students and teachers and relatives of the Pwales community.
Morally strengthened by such success, there will be Holy Mass and Christmas Carol Singing in the chapel at 11 a.m. on Sunday 13th December (Republic Day, a public holiday), for a good, early feel of the impending festive season with families and friends.
Please take note of date and time so that as many as possible can attend. Besides doing one’s religious duties for the weekend, attendance at St Anne’s Chapel brings with it the added bonus of camaraderie that is always so tangibly present among members and friends of the Association of Lyceum Past Students.
GETTING THE 2010 BICYCLE MARATHON UNDER WAY
The organising committee of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2010 invites ALPS members and friends and their families to visit The Lyceum in Hamrun and watch the Football Tournament among Lyceum Form 2 students on 6th December 2009 from 9 a.m. onwards. There will be an open bar and pasta will be served at lunchtime at greatly-reduced prices. So let us all meet and share a day at the Liceo, and have fun together.
Members and friends and families are exhorted not only to visit but also to donate money to give an early start to the proceeds of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. ALPS is represented on the LBM organising committee by Council of Administration member Oscar Galea. ALPS Deputy President George Grech is also the vice-president of the organising committee.
FOR YOUR DIARY …
- Requiem Mass in English for the repose of the soul of ALPS Founder-President Dr Guido Saliba, at 11.30 a.m. on 6th December 2009, fifth anniversary of his demise, at the Church of Divine Mercy, Birguma, San Pawl tat-Targa.
- ALPS Annual General Meeting at 6.30 p.m. on 22nd January 2010 at The Lyceum, Hamrun.
- Concert version of the opera L’Elisir d’Amor at the Grand Hotel Phoenicia Ballroom on 30th January 2010.
- Weekend stay with special dinner from 5th to 7th February 2010 at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, to raise funds for Id-Dar tal-Providenza through the 2010 Lyceum Bicycle Marathon.
- The weekend stay will also be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a touch of Carnival with a week’s anticipation because Valentine’s Day proper will coincide with Carnival weekend.
- ALPS Annual Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo, from 21st to 23rd May 2010, led by Fr Charles Tabone OP.
Further details will be forthcoming in ALPS News, but with so many members and friends of ALPS known to use their diaries with long-term foresightedness, it is felt it would only be fair to let them know as soon as date or dates for any event are finalised.
AN APPEAL FOR SPECIAL PRAYERS
ALPS member Salvator Mousù has recently undergone a very serious operation and is now convalescing at home. He has written to ALPS President George dei Conti Stagno Navarra with a request for special prayers for his complete recovery.
IN MEMORIAM
This edition of ALPS News is asking readers to remember in their prayers Mrs Gladys Souness, mother of ALPS member James Souness, who passed away peacefully on 24th August at the age of 81. James still remembers how proud she was when he first entered The Lyceum so many years ago.
It would equally be nice to remember Walter Glynn, who also passed away in August. Although not an ALPS member, Walter was instrumental in helping Roderick Busuttil of the Kappelli Maltin website to research the history of St Anne’s Chapel in Pwales.
Our deep condolences to the Souness and Glynn families. May the souls of their dear departed rest in peace.
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
ALPS members can still pay their subscription fees for 2009 and qualify to attend the Annual General Meeting on Friday 22nd January 2010. Fees are to be addressed to ALPS Treasurer David Abela at “Juniper”, Triq Ganni Vella, Tal-Qattus, Birkirkara.
Join the
Association of Lyceum Past Students
in its
Yuletide Dinner
and conclusion of a very successful year of
15th-anniversary celebrations
Friday 4th December 2009 at the Fortress Suite
Corinthia San Gorg Resort, St George’s Bay
€30 per person
please download and fill in the PDF below
