Honours awarded by SMOM

the president of the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), Dr Philip Attard Montalto, recently presented the decorations of Croce pro piis meritis dell'Ordine al Merito Melitense to Mgr Lawrence Mifsud and Mgr Carmelo Mercieca and Croce dell'Ordine al Merito Melitense to Dr Vincenzo Depasquale and Mr Lino Bugeja, who is a regular contributor to The Sunday Times on Malta's historical, cultural and artistic patrimony.

The ceremony was held at the Association's headquarters in Valletta. In his address, the SMOM president praised their achievements and contributions to the Order.

Born in Vittoriosa, Mr Bugeja is a well-known educator who has held various posts in the educational sphere. He is also a visiting lecturer in Olympic Studies at the International Olympic Academy, Greece. Mr Bugeja is also a well-known author and in 1993 he co-edited and contributed to a two volume publication Birgu: A Maltese Maritime City. In 2002 he co-edited Melitensium Amor and recently he published an interactive CD for the Vittoriosa council on Vittoriosa's rich cultural, artistic and historical heritage and another on the Bibliotheca, commissioned by UNESCO. Mr Bugeja is the author of several academic papers and is a member of the Press Ethics Commission.

Among other honours in the educational, sport and cultural sphere, Mr Bugeja was awarded Gieh il-Birgu in 2002 for his life-long commitment to his native city.