Long-serving staff photographer dies aged 47

Media staff are in shock after the sudden death of The Times photographer Alfred Giglio, one of the most experienced and highly respected individuals in his profession.

The 47-year-old photographer had just returned to Strickland House yesterday morning after an assignment when he suddenly collapsed and died on the spot.

Mr Giglio, or Giglio, as he was affectionately known, died after returning from a coverage at Wied Qlejgha, limits of Rabat, along with journalist and friend Michael Testa.

He is the second prominent media member to die in less than a week. Julian Manduca, 46, consultant editor with MaltaToday, passed away suddenly last Tuesday, a couple of hours after leaving his desk.

Mr Giglio joined the Allied Group in June, 1971. His eye for a story yielded some of the most memorable news pictures of the last three decades. He shot many of the major events that shaped Malta's history, from Dom Mintoff's days as Prime Minister to the political turbulence of the 1980s and on to Malta's EU accession.

Mr Giglio was known for his loyalty and modesty and for going about his work with the utmost dedication. Only his love for football, fishing, and his family matched his professionalism.

He was lauded for his quick thinking, which often spawned the photos everybody spoke about the next day. I recall the infamous clashes between detained immigrants and the Armed Forces at the Safi barracks last January - Mr Giglio slipped through the mass of onlookers and clicked away, swiftly swapping his camera's memory card just in case somebody confiscated his equipment.

The Times editor Ray Bugeja recalled that once the inquiry into the Safi incidents had started, Mr Giglio wanted to make sure we cooperated in the best way possible - but also underlined that we would be fair with all parties involved.

"That was the professional and the gentleman in him," Mr Bugeja said.

"He felt at ease working with both saints and sinners and that gave him that extra advantage as he was able to adapt and secure sympathy and cooperation even when the going was tough."

Mr Giglio went out of his way to accommodate both his colleagues at work and his many friends. It was not unusual for The Times editors to show him a blank space on the front page and ask him to fill it. And he would always come up with the right picture that would tell the story.

"We shall all miss him but his lively spirit will continue living in us, encouraging us in our work. Freddie proved we journalists can do our work diligently without the need to make enemies," Mr Bugeja said.

The Sunday Times editor Laurence Grech described Mr Giglio as a modest photographer, yet full of skill and initiative.

"We'll miss him terribly because he was such a cheerful guy, always ready to crack a joke," Mr Grech said.

The Times sport editor Jesmond Dalli said Mr Giglio's love for sport was perfectly reflected in his photography.

On Fridays, Mr Giglio used to go to the sports department and practically assume responsibility for the weekend fixtures.

"He was so renowned in the sport field that team representatives sometimes used to specifically ask for him to cover some event," Mr Dalli said.

Being the shy type, Mr Giglio was actually uncomfortable in front of the lens but could not contain his emotion when the Fifa World Cup came to Malta four years ago - and requested a photo of him holding it.

He recently perfectly captured the altercation between Sliema president Robert Arrigo and Malta Football Association President Joe Mifsud during the cup-presentation ceremony.

That day, he took one of his proudest photos when he shot a picture of his nephews Stefan Giglio and Matthew Camilleri, both Sliema Wanderers players.

Former President of the Republic Guido de Marco expressed his shock that The Times had lost such a prominent permanent fixture.

"Alfred was a very competent photographer who captured everybody through his lens... and what's more he had no pretensions at all," Prof. de Marco said.

In fact, journalists often insisted on putting Mr Giglio's by-line to the remarkable photos, despite his reluctance to do so.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi remarked: "In the space of a week, the media community in Malta has suffered a second loss. Alfred has covered me on a number of events, during which we informally chatted and joked about the situations we found ourselves in and the photographs that covered those events.

"He has followed us politicians for a good number of years and his flashgun in our press conferences was a regular reminder of his presence among us. His dedication to his work and his pride in what he used to do, are something that I will continue to cherish and that will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and worked with him."

Deputy editor Christopher Scicluna recalled the way Mr Giglio had risked life and limb and tore his jacket as he perilously stretched over the bastions shortly after the Um El Faroud blast which left nine people dead.

Allied Group consultant Ronnie Agius, who affectionately referred to Mr Giglio as is-Sajjied (the fisherman), said The Times had lost one of its most loyal members.

Former photographer Frank Attard, who taught Mr Giglio his trade, said Malta had lost a real gentleman.

Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier described Mr Giglio as a real photographic journalist who injected real human meaning into all his works.

"I've known Alfred not only as a journalist photographer but also as a keen Valletta man, positively sensitive to the city, its people and its needs and highly respected in all the quarters of Valletta."

He was always keen to keep close to his roots in Valletta and used his photographic talent to transmit all that was needed in Valletta for its people.

"I remember Alfred capturing on 35mm things that bothered people on a daily basis and which needed an immediate remedy. The camera was a proficient tool to spur all those responsible to take action."

Mr Giglio's last photographs, taken only minutes before his death, appear elsewhere on today's issue.

The Allied Group expresses its condolences to his parents, brothers and sisters for their inconsolable loss.

The funeral Mass will be held at St Paul's Shipwreck church, Valletta today at 2.15 p.m. As a sign of respect the Allied Newspapers offices will be closed between 1.30 and 4 p.m.