DIARY THROUGH THE YEARS

A look at the diary of activities throughout the first 15 years of the Association’s existence bears tribute to the untiring efforts of the members of the various editions of the Council of Administration. There are no records of how well each and every activity was patronised by members and friends, but it would not surprise anyone to say that attendances could always have been better!
1994
March
20
Foundation Meeting.
April
Pasta Night during the 50-hour Bicycle Marathon by Lyceum
Students, with proceeds in aid of Caritas Malta.
May
Foundation Meeting. Courtesy call on President Ugo Mifsud
Bonnici, who accepted to honour ALPS with his patronage.
June
17
Social evening at Qawra Palace Hotel. Education Minister
Michael Falzon accepted Honorary Presidency of ALPS
July
1
BBQ at Marsa Sports Club.
1, 22
Two ALPS-sponsored Fora for Local Councils on the establishment
of Neighbourhood Watch and Victim Support.
September
First issue of ALPS News, edited by Founding President
Guido Saliba, with the draft Statute in supplement.
17
Evening excursion to Gozo with buffet supper at Arzella
Restaurant, Marsalforn
18
Cultural tour of Fort St Elmo and visit to The Malta
Experience, with coffee break at Officers’ Mess,
Police Academy.
October
Group blood donation to SMOM Blood Bank, Floriana.
First Annual General Meeting, approval of Statute and
election of first Council of Administration.
November
20
Extraordinary General Meeting to elect Second Vice-
President.
1995
(fourth centenary of Collegium Melitense)
January
21
Day’s outing to Ghajn Tuffieha Barracks, organised
by the Civic Affairs Commission especially for children
of St Therese Home of Zurrieq, co-sponsored by YSO (Education),
Rotary Club Sliema, Bernard Own Scouts and Simonds Farsons
Cisk Ltd
February
Fourth issue of ALPS News under the new
editorship of Joseph S. Abela
March
3
Dinner-dance at Marsa Sports Club.
19
Cultural visits to Hal Millieri, Bir Miftuh
and San Girgor Churches.
25
Bicycle Marathon and Pasta Night at The
Lyceum, Hamrun.
April
30
Family Picnic at Ghajn Tuffieha Barracks.
Cultural visit to the Maritime Museum and Vittoriosa.
October
2
Soirée Lyrique at The Lyceum, Hamrun
6
Third Annual General Meeting
8
Celebration Mass on the fourth centenary
of the Collegium Melitense.
November
4
Get-together, reading and presentation
of prizes for Essay Competition for current Lyceum students.
11
Cultural visit to the Aquaculture Centre
at St Lucian’s Tower and Marsaxlokk.
Reunion for all past students who entered The Lyceum up
to and including 1950, at the Lancer Hotel, Salini Bay.
30
Night of Neapolitan Songs, Wine and Pizza
at the White Rocks Complex, Bahar ic-Caghaq.
1996
November
Education and National Culture Minister Evarist Bartolo
accepted Honorary Presidency of ALPS
1997
February
23
Luncheon at the Park Hotel, Sliema
March
“Youth in Music”, Foundation Day Concert
at The Lyceum Theatre, Hamrun.
April
6
22
Cultural tour of Fort St Angelo.
27
Luncheon at Paradise Bay Hotel, Cirkewwa.
May
Cultural tour of Fort Rinella, Kalkara.
July
19
Barbecue Supper at Park Hotel, Sliema, in honour of
outgoing ALPS Spiritual Director Fr Salvino Azzopardi
SJ and his brother Fr Anton, former ALPS Spiritual Director,
before the former’s departure to the missions in
Sri Lanka. ALPS donation of Lm70 for the missions. Fr
John Zammit introduced as new Spiritual Director.
October
5
Fourth Annual General Meeting.
25
Pasta Night at Park Hotel.
November
Five-day tour of Morocco with Sullivan & Sullivan
Ltd.
1998
February
9
Fenkata at Tas-Soldi Restaurant, Mgarr
Malta.
Sub-committee formed to study feasibility of setting up
Victim Support Scheme in Malta (pilot project with Gzira
Local Council).
March
28
Cultural and social day’s tour of
Gozo.
April
18
Luncheon at the Coral Reef Restaurant,
Qawra, in honour of Mr Justice Giovanni Bonello on his
appointment as Resident Judge of the European Court of
Human Rights.
May
16
Kanzunetti, Operetti u Spagetti, a musical
concert and dinner at The Lyceum.
16
Launching of the first edition of The Chanticleer.
30
Cultural visit to Mediaevel Times and Knights
of Malta, Mdina, with lunch at Palazzo Notabile
July
25
Evening trip to Comino on “The Buccaneer”,
complete with swim and snack.
August
10-day Russian Waterways Tour with Cosmos
of UK.
October
4
Fifth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum.
Statute amended to include Regular, Life, Associate and
Honorary membership of ALPS.
17
Dinner-dance at Paradise Bay Hotel, Cirkewwa.
November
ALPS branch established in USA.
29
Requiem Mass at St Aloysius College, Birkirkara,
for the repose of souls of deceased past students and
teachers of the Lyceum and relatives of current members.
1999
April
President of Malta Guido de Marco accepted
to be the Patron of ALPS, as per the Statute.
16
Patronage and Foundation Day dinner at
the Victoria Hotel, Sliema.
May
22
Cultural tour of Upper Fort St Elmo and
visit to The Knights Hospitallers Exhibition, Valletta.
June
1
ALPS group participated in John Suda’s
TVM live programme “Kieku Tajjeb” with a donation
for the Eden Foundation.
29
Fenkata ta’ l-Imnarja at Freddie
Formosa’s villa at Ta’ Giorni.
July
Cultural visit to Birgu.
Cultural tour of Fort St Angelo.
August
28
Barbecue at Water’s Edge, Marsascala.
September
Round Malta Day Cruise with Captain Morgan.
Second issue of The Chanticleer published.
October
ALPS branch established in New South Wales,
Australia.
3
Sixth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum.
Special Concert with Enzo Gusman and Friends.
Pizza-Pasta Night at the Alexandra Palace Hotel, St Julian’s.
November
28
Requiem Mass at St Philip and St James
Chapel, San Gwann.
December
Christmas Party for families of ALPS members.
21
Special Dinner in honour of Past Patron
and Honorary Presidents, at Coral Reef Restaurant, Qawra.
2000
January
24
Grand Millennium Celebration Reunion at
Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort
March
First AGM of ALPS NSW Branch.
Sixth anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving at Ss Philip and
James Chapel, San Gwann.
April
8
Cultural tour of Senglea with lunch at
Manchester Bar and Restaurant.
24
Lyceum Scouts Group Easter Camp at Fort
Mellieha, with non-scout members attending the Campfire.
30
Visit to Rinella Movie Park, Kalkara, with
optional lunch.
July
22
Barbecue evening on The Terrace of the
Coastline Hotel, Salina.
September
Cultural tour including Rhine Cruise with
Hix Travel.
October
Seventh AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun.
2001
January
Fr Paul Zammit SJ resigns as Spiritual
Director after being posted to Gozo. Succeeded by Fr William
Bartolo, OFM Conv. (already Spiritual Director of The
Lyceum and the Lyceum Scouts Group).
Agreement reached with the Conventual Franciscan
Community of St Paul’s Bay for ALPS to restore and
take care of St Anne’s Chapel at Pwales Valley.
February
9
Pasta Night at the Park Hotel, Sliema.
March
19
Family Picnic at Buskett.
April
Day of Spiritual Recollection at St Anne’s
Chapel, Pwales.
20
Concert of Classical and Nostalgic Songs
at The Lyceum.
May
9
Dun Gorg Preca, one of the most illustrious
of Lyceum Past Students, beatified by Pope John Paul II
during his Papal Visit to Malta.
ALPS publishes booklet, “Dun Gorg
u l-Liceo”, for the occasion.
26
Walking tour of Mqabba, organised by Local
Council
July
Cultural tour of Gozo, with lunch at Martin’s
Diner, Nadur.
August
Feast of St Anne celebrated at the chapel
in Pwales.
September
Tahlita Sajfija, an evening of songs and
delicious food by the seaside at Marsascala.
October
7
Eighth AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun. Blessed
Gorg Preca declared Patron Saint of ALPS.
November
24
Requiem Mass at the Chapel of the Assumption
Taz-Zellieqa, Gharghur, while St Anne’s Chapel was
under restoration.
30
Dinner-dance at Radisson SAS Bay Point
Resort, Pembroke. Part of proceeds (Lm150) donated to
Eden Foundation.
18-day Cruise and Stay Holiday in Dubai.
December
15
Christmastide Dinner at Imperial Hotel,
Sliema.
2002
February
15
Valentine’s Day Dinner at Ta’
Marija Restaurant, Mosta
March
16
Anniversary Concert and Reception at The
Lyceum, Hamrun.
April
20
Cultural tour of Mdina followed by lunch
at Xara Palace Hotel.
Third edition of The Chanticleer launched
May
11
Weekend of Recollection at Manresa Retreats
House, Rabat, Gozo.
25
Social activity at St Anne’s Chapel,
Pwales.
June
1
Full day’s tour of Gozo.
July
6
Summer BBQ at Paradise Bay Resort Hotel,
Cirkewwa.
20
Feast of St Anne celebrated at the chapel,
Pwales.
September
AGM of ALPS NSW Branch.
21
21 Ikla Sajfija bil-Kant u l-Poezija on
Marsascala coastline
November
2
Requiem Mass at St Anne’s Chapel,
Pwales.
9
Special excursion to Siggiewi and The Limestone
Heritage, with lunch at Hagar Qim Restaurant
December
5
Christmastide Buffet Dinner at the Four
Seasons Restaurant, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
2003
January
11
Conducted tour of Casa Rocca Piccola and
visit to The Great Siege of Malta and The Knights of St
John walk-through exhibition, followed by lunch at Inspirations
Restaurant, St James Cavalier, Valletta.
28
28 Ninth AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun.
February
14
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Diplomat
Hotel, Sliema
March
29
Foundation Day Concert and Reception at
The Lyceum, Hamrun.
April
26
Full day’s tour of Gozo with lunch
at St Patrick’s Hotel, Xlendi.
May
10
Feast of Blessed Gorg Preca at St Anne’s
Chapel, Pwales
24
Cultural visit to Casa Bernard, Rabat Malta,
with lunch at The Grotto Tavern.
June
Day of Spiritual Retreat at Manresa House,
Rabat Gozo.
July
Feast of St Anne at the chapel in Pwales.
August
31
Barbecue with a Difference at Inspirations
Restaurant, St James Cavalier, Valletta, with ALPS Founder-President
Guido Saliba celebrating 80th birthday.
November
15
Requiem Mass at Chapel of the Assumption,
Taz-Zellieqa, Gharghur, while St Anne’s Chapel was
being repaved.
December
12
Christmas Dinner at the Coastline Hotel,
Salina Bay.
2004
January
Tenth-anniversary logo starts appearing
on ALPS News.
25
Tenth Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum,
Hamrun.
February
Stickers showing anniversary logo start
being used on all ALPS stationery and correspondence.
Special, full-colour issue of ALPS News
to mark the Association’s 10th anniversary.
26
News conference for all local media to
launch anniversary activities.
26
Interview on PBS cultural programme “Meander”
regarding the cultural side of the anniversary activities.
March
4
Concert of Compositions by Charles Camilleri
at Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, in association with
the Malta Tourism Authority’s “Windows on
Music” series at 5-star hotels.
20
ALPS 10th anniversary day.
Thanksgiving Mass at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort.
Celebration Dinner, with presentation of mementoes to
ALPS’s first Honorary Life Member Winston V. Zahra
and all founder-members who kept up their membership.
ALPS website www.alpsmalta.com officially inaugurated
during the dinner.
27
Rally for Lyceum Past Students at The Lyceum
as part of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon in aid of the Malta
Community Chest Fund. ALPS participated in the organisation
and presented a sponsorship of Lm100.
May
5
Cultural tour of San Anton Palace and Private
Gardens at Attard, guided by Brig. Claude Gaffiero, by
courtesy of President Edward Fenech Adami. Lunch at Saracino’s
Café, Attard.
19
Cultural tour of “Caravaggio
– Una Mostra Impossibile” at the restored
Caraffa Stores on the Vittoriosa waterfront, guided
by Fr Marius Zerafa OP. Lunch at the Caraffa Stores.
June
5
Cultural tour to San
Anton Palace and Private Gardens.
19
Cultural visit to
“The Impossible Exhibition” of Caravaggio’s works and
luncheon at Caraffa Stores, Vittoriosa.
26
Weekend spiritual
retreat at Manresa House, Victoria Gozo, with former
MUSEUM Secretary-General John Formosa
July
17
Reinauguration of St Anne’s Chapel
at Pwales Valley, featuring new flagstone paving and polishing,
new pedestal for the statues of St Anne, St Joachim and
the little Virgin Mary, a commemorative plaque unveiled
by Tourism & Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech
and the first-ever presentation of a newborn baby to St
Anne by a Pwales family.
September
25
High tea at Charles Il-Barri Restaurant,
Mgarr, with guided visit to the wartime shelter beneath
the restaurant. Mass at St Mary Parish Church, Mgarr,
followed by buffet dinner and cabaret show at Paradise
Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa.
October
30
Cultural visit to Vittoriosa, starting
with an informative talk at Couvre Porte and continuing
with visits to the Inquisitors’ Palace, the exhibition
“The Art of Pain”, Vittoriosa Parish Church and Museum,
the Collachio and lunch at Il-Forn.
November
Requiem Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales.
30
St Anne’s Chapel features prominently in
PBS cultural programme “Meander”.
December
7
Dr Guido Saliba, Founder and first President
of ALPS, passes away at the age of 81.
9
Funeral of Dr Guido Saliba with important
role by ALPS.
11
ALPS Yuletide Dinner at Radisson SAS Bay
Point Resort.
2005
January
30
11th AGM at The Lyceum, Hamrun.
George Stagno Navarra confirmed as President of ALPS.
February
10
Group of ALPS members and spouses leaves
for four-day tour to Nice and the Côte d’Azur.
March
5
Foundation Day Concert at The Lyceum, Hamrun.
11
Opening of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon.
ALPS donated Lm100.
12
Official unveiling of a plaque in the foyer
of The Lyceum to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
school in its present location.
April
23
Socio-cultural tour of Fort Mosta guided
by ALPS member Brig. Claude Gaffiero, a Maltese artefacts
exhibition at Ir-Razzett tal-Markiz, a visit to the Nicolo
Isouard Band Club and luncheon at Pjazza Café, all at
Mosta.
May
12
Following the resignation of Treasurer
Joe Mallia, ALPS Council of Administration appointed David
Abela as Treasurer. Dr Nazareno Azzopardi was entrusted
with the Association’s Philanthropic Projects.;
20
Start of three-day annual ALPS Spiritual
Retreat at Manresa House outside Victoria, Gozo. Reflections
led by Prof. Stanley Fiorini and Manresa House Rector
Fr Paul Zammit SJ.
June
15
Inauguration of ALPS office at Dar Guido
Saliba, Pietà, former legal office of late Founder-President
Dr Guido Saliba. The office was officially opened by Dr
Saliba’s widow Irene, who had first broached the idea
to her husband. The Council of Administration held its
first meeting in the new premises.
24
ALPS joined Friends of the Manoel in “Help
Amanda Smile”, organising a buffet BBQ dinner at the Coastline
Hotel to raise money for facial reanimation surgery on
seven-year-old Amanda Attard.;
July
9
Feast of St Anne at the Chapel in Pwales
Valley, with the participation of the Choir of the University
of the Third Age under Mro Joe Fenech.
October
1
First ALPS-organised Grand Reunion of Lyceum
Past Students in the Main Hall of The Lyceum, also commemorating
the school’s 50th anniversary in its present location.
The occasion was marked by the unveiling of a plaque with
the names of all past Headmasters of The Lyceum, and an
exhibition of photographs covering the Association’s activities
over the first 11 years of its existence. Education Minister
Louis Galea briefly attended the occasion. By the end
of the reunion, ALPS membership had swelled by 10%.
22
Socio-cultural visit to Mdina Glass,
the Malta Aviation Museum and Bristow Potteries – all
at Ta’ Qali – with lunch at the Potteries.
“The Chanticleer” 2005 was issued and very well received.
November
19
Mass for the repose of the souls of ALPS
members, other past students and teachers at The Lyceum,
relatives and friends, at the St Anne Chapel in Pwales
Valley.
December
2
Bumper Yuletide Dinner at the brand-new
Central Ballroom of the Golden Sands Resort & Spa Ghajn
Tuffieha, which had just played host to the Commonwealth
leaders for CHOGM 2005. Over 300 guests attended, and
scores of couples took up the opportunity of a whole package
including dinner, accommodation and breakfast.;
ALPS launched its first philanthropic project for 2006:
Pitazz u Lapes, with students being asked to
each donate an exercise book and a pencil in aid of schoolchildren
in the Arequipa Mission run by the Missionary Society
of St Paul. Collections were augmented by individuals
who no longer had any relatives in school, or who had
no children at all.
2006
January
27
12th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum,
Hamrun. Election to all Council posts except President
and Secretary-General, and a review of the ALPS Statute.
Oscar Galea was elected as the Council’s new member, eventually
being assigned the chairmanship of the Civics Commission.
February
14
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Coastline
Hotel.
ALPS Philanthropic Commission Chairman Nazareno Azzopardi,
helped mostly by Council member Anthony Aquilina, officially
handed over thousands of exercise books and pencils, as
well as other stationery and toys, to Fr Louis Mallia
of the MSSP’s Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja for shipping
to Peru in a container.
March
17
Sixties Night at the Hotel Bella Vista
in Qawra.
23
Start of Lyceum Bicycle Marathon with the
full collaboration of ALPS, in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy
Group and the Dar tal-Providenza.
April
1
Foundation Day Concert at The Lyceum, Hamrun,
with the participation of the Choir of the University
of the Third Age, the Junior College Instrumental Ensemble,
harpist Esmeralda Galea Camilleri, soprano Claire Caruana,
tenor Andrew Sapiano, baritone Louis Cassar, pianist Yolanda
Micallef and Lyceum Fourth-Former Waylen Dimech and his
dancing partner Annalise Zammit. Certificates of appreciation
were presented to Heads of Schools and individuals who
had contributed to the Pitazz u Lapes campaign.
May
19-21
Annual ALPS spiritual retreat at Manresa
House in Victoria, Gozo, highlighted by a visit by new
Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech who was made Honorary Life
Member of ALPS.
June
19
BBQ at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, with
ALPS Canada Branch President Milo Vassallo and his wife
Rita as guests of honour.
July
15
Feast of St Anne at Pwales Chapel. ALPS
USA representative Fr Albert Felice Pace OP concelebrated
with Spiritual Director Fr William Bartolo OFM Conv.
September
15
Multi-Trade Ltd and Michael Debono Ltd,
both of Zebbug Malta, became official sponsors of the
ALPS website along with Elmo Insurance Agency and Studiomoda
Group, which had supported the website since its inception.;
October
7
Grand Reunion of Lyceum Past Students at
The Lyceum.
20
Talk by Joe Fenech at the St James Cavalier
Centre for Creativity, Valletta, on the background to
the three one-act operas to be performed at the Astra
Theatre in Gozo.
November
25
Annual Mass for the repose of deceased
ALPS members, Lyceum masters and students, and relatives
of ALPS members and the Pwales community, at the St Anne
Chapel at Pwales.
December
02
Annual Yuletide Dinner at the Coastline
Hotel, Salina.
2007
January
20
Dinner with live cabaret show at the Paradise
Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, to enhance proceeds from the
Lyceum Bicycle Marathon 2007. This was ALPS’s best-attended
event ever with over 330 patrons and 142 rooms taken up
for overnight stay.
24
13th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum,
Hamrun. Elections to all Council posts, including President
and Secretary-General. Leo Scicluna was elected as the
Council’s new member, eventually being assigned Project
Coordination.
March
2
Second fund-raising dinner at the Topaz
Hotel, Bugibba, to enhance proceeds from the Lyceum Bicycle
Marathon.
24
24 ALPS President George Stagno Navarra
presented a cheque for Lm1,700 from ALPS fund-raising
events to enhance the proceeds of the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon
2007. All marathon proceeds, totalling Lm12,000, went
for the complete refurbishment of the main kitchen at
Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi.
April
28
Foundation Day Concert: La Danza delle
Libellule, in concert version produced by Joe Fenech,
staged at a packed Salesian Theatre, Sliema. The proceeds
of Lm452 were later presented to Fr Joe Forte to help
fund works at the theatre
May
12
Cultural tour of Zurrieq followed by light
lunch at Wied iz-Zurrieq.
23
New sub-committee appointed for St Anne’s
Chapel, headed by Dr Nazareno Azzopardi with Leopold Scicluna
and Oscar Galea as members.
Ad hoc committee formed to work with President
Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, himself a Lyceum past student,
on the restoration of the Lyceum Archives.
25
Start of three-day annual Spiritual Retreat
at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo.
July
14
Feast of St Anne at Pwales Chapel.
August
28
Group of ALPS members and spouses, led
by ALPS President George Stagno Navarra, Secretary-General
Alex Borg and Treasurer David Abela, left Malta for three-week
tour of Canada and Grand Reunion with Lyceum past students
settled there.
31
The Grand Reunion was held at the exclusive
Ontario Club in Toronto. ALPS Canada Branch President
Milo Vassallo was made Honorary Life Member of ALPS, while
the remaining 31 “Canadian” members were presented
with certificates of Honorary ALPS Membership. The tour
was a resounding success throughout.
October
12
The Lyceum Grand Reunion in Malta was held
at The Lyceum, with Archbishop Paul Cremona, a 1956 entrant,
as the guest of honour. He concelebrated Mass with a number
of other priests, including ALPS Spiritual Director Fr
William Bartolo, and then joined his former classmates
and schoolmates for the reception. Scores of satisfied
past students joined ALPS as new members.
November
3
Thirty-six ALPS members and friends planted
olive trees at the top end of Kennedy Grove, Salini, as
part of the 34U Campaign. The site will eventually be
identified as the ALPS Grove.
17
Annuel Mass at St Anne’s Chapel,
Pwales, for the repose of the souls of Lyceum past students
and masters (foremost among them Founder-President Dr
Guido Saliba) and relatives and friends of ALPS members
and the Pwales community.
December
7
Annual Yuletide Dinner-Dance at the Paradise
Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa.
7
Launching of ALPS tie for members.
2008
January
19
Foundation Day Concert brought forward
from April. A concert version of La Principessa della
Czarda, also featuring the debut of the ALPS Choir, was
presented to a packed audience at the Salesian Theatre,
Sliema. Proceeds of €1,000 went to the Salesian Youth
Centre.
26
14th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum,
Hamrun.
February
Contributions to the ALPS philanthropic
project Pitazz u Lapis jew Gugarell by far surpassed all
expectations. They went beyond just exercise books, pencils
and hard and soft toys, and included crayons, chalk and
school haversacks. Contributions were turned over to the
Mission Fund (Mosta) for shipping to the Maltese Franciscan
Sisters at Mwanza, Tanzania.
April
26
The ALPS Choir notched up another great
success with just its second public appearance. This time
it was a very-well-attended Serata all’Operetta
at the Casino Maltese, during which the ALPS Choir accompanied
mezzo-soprano Connie Frances Zerafa, tenor Bernard Busuttil,
soprano Karen Camilleri, baritone Lewis Cassar and soprano
Louiselle Pace Gouder in an enjoyable evening of 20 popular
excerpts from the best-known operettas. The evening was
organised and directed by ALPS Choirmaster Joe Fenech,
with Cynthia Genovese at the pianoforte.
May
30
The annual ALPS spiritual retreat at Manresa
House in Gozo was an inspirational success, with the biggest
group ever attending. The retreat was ably led by Fr Mario
Jaccarini SJ. ALPS presented Manresa House with two linen
and lace tablecloths, made by Mrs Therese Calleja, for
the assembly hall.
June
27
The traditional end-of-season ALPS Barbecue on the weekend closest to L-Imnarja was held on the swimming-pool area terraces of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija, Marsascala.
July
12
Feast of St Anne at Pwales chapel. After Mass, two researchers gave short speeches about the chapel. ALPS also issued an eight-page booklet in Maltese to mark the eighth time the feast was being held by the Association.
September
20
The first cultural visit of the 2008-9 season: a visit to Palazzo Falson in Mdina and the Domus Romana at Rabat. After an optional light lunch, several members took a 30-minute ride on the scenic Chuc-Chuc Train around Rabat and Mdina.
October
10
A 60-strong group of ALPS members, friends and spouses left Malta for a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on board the m.v. Costa Concordia. The cruise was very successful in all aspects and culminated in a general request for ALPS to start thinking about another cruise in 2009.
30
Great organisational success achieved with the Grand Vocal Concert, held at the Hotel Phoenicia Ballroom, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The concert featured seven of Malta’s best soloists and the ALPS Choir.
November
15
Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales, for the repose of the souls of Lyceum past students and masters, members’ and friends’ relatives and relatives of the Pwales community.
December
11
ALPS Yuletide Dinner at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, St George’s Bay.

Launching of the BOV Visa Flypass credit card scheme for ALPS members.

The ALPS Choir visits old people’s homes, singing Christmas carols and other popular tunes, to mark its first Christmas.

2009
January
26
News conference at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort to launch the year-long programme of celebrations for ALPS 15th anniversary.
January
30
15th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Ħamrun.
February
13
Friday-to-Sunday Leisure Weekend at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, including Valentine’s Night Dinner-Dance.
March
20
ALPS Foundation Day. Start of 15th anniversary celebrations with
Holy Mass at the Jesuits’ Church, Valletta, followed by unveiling of commemorative plaque, reunion and reception in the first building ever to have housed Il Liceo (now Heritage Malta Head Offices).
ALPS magazine The Chanticleer officially issued. Sent to all members during March and April.
March
27
50 hours Lyceum Bicycle Marathon in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. ALPS helped organise and run the event, and donated €1,000.
April
02
Farewell visit to outgoing President of Malta Dr Eddie Fenech Adami at The Palace, Valletta.
April
24
Foundation Day Concert: Souvenir d’Italie at the Salesian Theatre, Sliema.
May
08
ALPS Council formed part of a large official Lyceum delegation paying a courtesy visit to incoming President of Malta Dr George Abela.
May
09
Feast of San Gorg Preca, Patron Saint of ALPS. Holy Mass at St Anne’s Chapel in Pwales Valley.
May
24
Three-day spiritual retreat at Manresa House, Victoria, Gozo, led by ALPS Spiritual Director Fr William Bartolo, OFM Conv.
June
13
Holy Mass as part of new efforts to make more extensive use of St Anne Chapel in Pwales Valley.
June
26
ALPS end-of-season BBQ at The Edge Open-air Restaurant, Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort.
July
11
Feast of St Anne at chapel in Pwales Valley, with the ALPS Choir singing during and after Holy Mass, and light refreshments.
September
24
Opening of a seven-day ALPS Exhibition of Arts, Books & Crafts at the Old Liceo Building, Valletta, with the participation of 56 established artists, authors and photographers, current and just-past Lyceum students and their Art teachers.
October
13-20
Seven-day Western Mediterranean cruise on m.v. Norwegian Gem by group of ALPS members, friends and spouses, led by President George dei Conti Stagno Navarra.
30
Lyceum Grand Reunion at the Main Hall of The Lyceum, Hamrun.
November
07
Annual Mass at St Anne’s Chapel, Pwales Valley, for the repose of the souls of deceased ALPS members, Lyceum past students and masters, and relatives of the Pwales community.
December
04
Traditional ALPS Yuletide Dinner at Corinthia San Gorg Resort Hotel, St George’s Bay. The occasion also served to mark the conclusion of a successful calendar year of ALPS 15th-anniversary activities, and featured the introduction of the revamped ALPS website..
January
22
16th Annual General Meeting at The Lyceum, Hamrun..
30
Gaetano Donizetti’s opera L’Elisir d’Amore in concert version at the Hotel Phoenicia Grand Ballroom, Floriana, with the participation of the ALPS Choir and soloists.
February
06
“Valentine Weekend with a Touch of Carnival”: a weekend break at the Paradise Bay Resort Hotel, Cirkewwa, including a Valentine’s Night Dinner the week before Carnival, all in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza through the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon.
March
05
Presentation to the winners and runners-up of the ALPS Shield at the Liceo San Gorg Preca, Hamrun.
April
09-11
Traditional very active participation of ALPS in the Lyceum Bicycle Marathon.