4,000 scouts, guides in Valletta parade

Some 4,000 Maltese and Gozitan scouts and guides yesterday marched along the streets of Valletta in the traditional annual parade.

The parade yesterday included the participation of the Scout Fellowship and the Island Trefoil Guild. Members of the fellowship joined the 40 scout and 30 guide groups in the parade from near the former Opera House in Republic Street.

The parade, led by the Gozo District, left the Granaries in Floriana and moved on to Palace Square where President and Mrs de Marco, patrons of the respective associations, were given the salute.

The parade continued through Archbishop Street and Merchants Street, falling out near Castille.

The parade also saw a reappearance of air and sea scouts after an absence of 30 years and 36 years respectively.

The Sea Scouts, members of the Msida Sea Scout Group, marched within the North District and the Air Scouts, from the St Augustine Air Scout Group, marched at the end of the Central District. The parade was escorted by three microlight aircraft.

In the morning, a Thanksgiving Mass was said by Fr Anton Briffa OFM Cap and Fr Marcellino Micallef OFM, at the grounds of Scout Island Headquarters in Floriana.