April 2008
Dear Members/Friends,
Ten Years of Maltese Culture
Ten years ago when the Maltese Culture Movement was launched as a new Maltese association, we were very excited and had high hopes for the prospects of the organisation. Little did we anticipate the overwhelming response that would follow. It was Easter Sunday the 12th April 1998. The venue was the Packington Hall in Islington. We had prepared about one hundred figolli to give to all who attended. Of course figolli was the theme being the tradition associated with Maltese Easter. We also had made a big cake for the launch and lots of traditional Maltese delicacies.
After the Easter Mass at St Boniface church in Aldgate East, we made our way to the Hall. We anticipated a good turnout and low and behold a good turnout it was indeed. The hall was packed with Maltese; people spilled out to the forecourt, the backyard and outside. In those days the community we knew was only a few friends, the size of a small church congregation but the word spread and Maltese were turning up from every corner of London and beyond. We almost ran out of food and drink. Never mind, this was all new to most of us and nothing like this had ever happened before, so there were good reasons to be excited. There was a sense of euphoria and anticipation, which for us as the organisers, was thrilling and very encouraging.
The very next day we immediately started to think the way forward. In particular, the aims and objects of the Movement were formally established and the people who attended signified their intention to become the first members. With such a positive response we embarked to organise other events representing highlights from the Maltese lifestyle and culture. Amongst these were the Carnival Dances, Imnarja Celebrations, Christmas and New Year’s Eve Parties.
Our excitement culminated when on the 8th September 2001 we celebrated the first Malta Day-UK. As the proud owners of our Bambina statue, specially made for the Maltese community to venerate, we could now parade to the British public our Maltese traditions and culture. The Malta Day-UK celebrations have now become the pinnacle of all Maltese celebrations in the United Kingdom.
As with most things in life, they just don’t materialise by themselves and there has to be the right initiative behind any organisation in order for it to flourish. Success is usually gauged by the response from the people’s attendance. During the past ten years your response has been tremendous and the attendance immense! Today the Movement with the ever continued increasing membership enjoys great success for which we are sincerely thankful.
The Movement, however, is not just all about parties. Throughout the decade, we have acted as a springboard to many other concerns. We are here for our community. Whenever we helped or comforted someone, when we brought people together or pointed them in the right direction, when we listened, or handed advice, this made our purpose even more worthwhile. We trust that through our approach we have instilled a seed with the values that our forefathers had taught us, and managed to generate recognition and identity for our culture as Maltese nationals living outside our Maltese Islands. To date we are satisfied that our role has been truly fulfilled.
The past decade has had its effect on our community. Looking at some pictures from the last ten years, the children then are now teenagers; the teenagers are now young adults, some of them with children of their own; while some of the very first members and very dear friends, have sadly passed away.
There is no doubt that the next ten years will bring change. However strong the convictions and beliefs are, cultures do change. These results are from the social development in the people, especially the young generations who bring about transformation in any nation. We have noticed this phenomenon and the Movement has to adapt to these changes. As we welcome the many Maltese nationals who are currently coming to the UK, we endeavour to implement changes from the traditional activities that we held so far. Perhaps blending more of the British way of doing things within our Maltese culture is the way forward; after all, we are in Britain. Nevertheless, when we are together, the warm and generous hospitality of the Maltese still prevail; that is what sets us apart from other nationalities.
I shall end by thanking all those who at any time supported us endlessly and all who were instrumental in our success. Our heartfelt gratitude goes especially to you, our members, who supported us continuously for keeping up with the membership and for the many donations you kindly sent, without which the Movement would have not succeeded.
We take the opportunity to invite you and your friends to come and celebrate with us our 10th anniversary at the Sailing Club in the Isle of Dogs, Millwall on Saturday 12th April 2008 from 4.30pm. All those who attend will have a chance to win two flight tickets to Malta courtesy of the national airline Air Malta.
