Hello.

Malta means all things to all people, ranging from the days of sacrifice and suffering in WW2 from the bombs dropped by German and Italian aircraft through to recent prosperity brought about by virtue of full European Community Membership.  It is above all else a 'jewel' in the Mediterranean Sea, blessed with a moderate climate in the early and later parts of the year, and with long beautiful summers which stretch on for ever and ever.

Britons have much to thank dear Lord Nelson for, and we must not overlook that it was he who saw the great potential of these islands which together form Malta for all pragmatic reasons. Lord Nelson defeated the French and supplanted the tricolour with the union jack and from the very beginning of the 19th century Britons have been visiting, working, home making, protecting and holidaying in lovely Malta. 

It hasn't always been easy though, and there have been several times when we fell out with one another.

Throughout the greatest part of this period, certainly from 1803 until 1976 [173 years] the majority of Britons on the Island were,  in some way or other, directly associated with defence.  The Royal Navy once had a very high profile and used Malta as the base for their Mediterranean Fleet. Malta was also a much valued port of call for warships travelling between the United Kingdom and Near/Far East bases. 

Inevitably, after all those years, the Royal Navy had a significant presence on the Maltese coastal infrastructure and used many areas/buildings to house and support their vast and complicated hierarchical system of command and control.  When the British left their Malta bases, they left behind a massive portfolio of real estate, which was largely inherited by the Maltese Government.

All buildings/facilities no mater where sited geographically, are but mere artefacts, but the use of them and the incumbents who work or live there,  animate them and add a soul to the bricks and mortar.  Whilst the British, who, in many cases had inhabited buildings which were centuries old, past back the rightful ownership to the Maltese people, they didn't pass back the 'soul of their tenure' and therefore, in several cases, they handed back soulless artefact.

That brings me to the reasons for this page. 

The Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet had four direct areas of influence.  These were his residence at Marsa; his office Admiralty House in Valletta's South Street <which, having passed through the arch leading into Valletta from the bus station and entering 'Kingsway' now called 'Republic Street' is the second turning left {opposite the Old Opera House}>; his yacht {permanent Flagship} HMS Surprise, and Valletta's Lascaris as his Operations Room <Ops Rm> when required.

We are going to concentrate on his office, Admiralty House, South Street, Valletta.

I have received a correspondence from Matthew ELLUL in Malta.  This is what he said:-