WHAT A MEMORABLE OCCASION!
If there could ever be any doubt about the success of the
Grand Reunion of Lyceum Past Students at the Main Hall of
The Lyceum on 1st October 2005, it was put to rest by the
enthusiastic comments received by almost all participants.
Well before the appointed time of 7.30 p.m., the school foyer
was packed with past students, many hugging long-unseen former
schoolmates – and there were even a number of glistening eyes.
Then everything fell into a hushed silence as ALPS President
George Stagno Navarra made a welcoming address and explained
the main aims of the reunion – besides, of course, getting
“old” schoolmates together. The date was exactly
50 years to the day when the present Lyceum premises threw
open their doors to their fist students in 1955. It was felt
that the occasion warranted some lasting memento left by ALPS,
and the choice fell on a large board, complete with the Association’s
logo and names, showing the complete list of Headmasters of
The Lyceum to date.
The President pointedly remarked that the last name on the
board was that of outgoing Headmaster Godwin Zammit, who has
been such a staunch supporter of ALPS involvement during his
tenure.
It would have been such a pleasure to show off the new issue
of The Chanticleer, and we almost made it, but some unforeseen
technical hitches unfortunately cropped up to let us down.
Lyceum historian Winston Zammit, who provided the material
for a leaflet published on the day, explained why the first
Headmaster shown on the board went back only to 1913 – because
that was when the post was first established! That makes the
ALPS board historically complete.
Minister for Education Louis Galea joined the reunion and
after a few words was ushered into the Main Hall by George
Stagno Navarra to see an exhibition of photographs showing
a cross-section of ALPS activities throughout its first 11
years of existence, with pride of place going to the 10th
anniversary celebrations.
Given the thousands of surviving Lyceum past students, the
reunion could have been much, much bigger, but the Council
of Administration is confident that this year’s success
will make for a bigger reunion next time around. The last
student left at almost 11 p.m., by which time paid-up membership
had swelled by 10%. And if that’s not a tell-tale sign
of success, one wonders what is!
SOCIO-CULTURAL EVENT FOR OCTOBER
The socio-cultural event for ALPS members for this month
will be a multiple visit to Ta’ Qali, finished off with
a light lunch.
We will meet at 9.30 a.m. on 22nd October
at the entrance to Mdina Glass for the first guided tour of
the day, to see expert craftsmen blowing glass and then tour
their showrooms (with reasonable shopping time, of course).
At about 10.30 a.m. we will proceed to the Malta Aviation
Museum, where we will be taken around the museum itself and
the brand-new Air Battle of Malta Memorial Hangar, inaugurated
on 28th September. If the group is large enough we can be
subdivided into two groups and shown around by Director-General
Ray Polidano and PRO Tony Spiteri.
From the Aviation Museum we will proceed to the nearby Bristow
Potteries, arguably Malta’s leading ceramics manufacturer.
We will be given a short talk on the making of pottery and
the meticulous hand-painting of every single piece produced,
and a tour to see it all in practice. After the tour we can
sit down in the “Ta’ Franci” Cafeteria,
inside the Bristow Potteries place itself, to a light lunch
of a Maltese platter, complete with one glass of Maltese wine
or soft drink or water. There will be plenty of ftajjar, cheeselets,
onions, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes and olives, for everyone
to eat to their heart’s content – and apple pie for
dessert.
The all-inclusive price of the day will be just Lm3 per person.
Any extra drinks will be charged individually and the cash
collected by the waiters.
Please book by sending cheques to ALPS Secretary-General
Alex Borg at “Alson”, 82 Naxxar Road, San Gwann,
preferably not later than lunchtime on the previous Thursday.
Any queries can be answered on 21 386812 between 9 and 11
a.m. and between 2 and 5 p.m. Pre-booking by cheque will avoid
the “spectacle” of ALPS officials going around
tables and collecting money.
GHAR-RAZZETT U GHALL-HBIBERIJA
Readers of ALPS News this month have a rather unusual invitation:
to go for a walk with a purpose. Mrs Janatha Stubbs, President
of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija (Park of Friendship) has written
to ALPS with an inviting request to participate in the annual
sponsored walk in financial aid of the project.
The sponsored walk this year is taking place on 5th November,
starting at 9.30 a.m. sharp. Registration starts half-an-hour
earlier. The walk will take approximately two hours at a rather
leisurely pace (less for anybody wanting to really work out)
on a circular 4-to-5-mile scenic route starting from Ir-Razzett
in Marsascala. Participants are encouraged to ask family,
friends and sports and work colleagues to sponsor them in
this event, and can then present the sponsor sheet and funds
collected at the time of registration. Refreshments will be
provided for all walkers.
Come on, especially the younger ones! Show the mettle you’re
made of! Sometime, somehow you will be handsomely rewarded
for your efforts.
| For those who have not yet paid their ALPS membership for 2005, the address of Treasurer David Abela is “Juniper”, Triq Ganni Grima, Tal-Qattus, Birkirkara BKR 13. It’s late, but not TOO late! |