Mad dogs and Englishmen
Long before the discussions on the depletion of the ozone layer, UV level reports and sun block, G.N. Goodwin in his 1874 Guide to Malta wrote: "Only newly arrived Englishmen and mad dogs expose themselves to it". Could Noel Coward have read a copy...
Long before the discussions on the depletion of the ozone layer, UV level reports and sun block, G.N. Goodwin in his 1874 Guide to Malta wrote: "Only newly arrived Englishmen and mad dogs expose themselves to it". Could Noel Coward have read a copy when he penned the 1931 song Mad Dogs and Englishmen?
Coward had a long and amicable association with Malta. In fact, a photograph of him still hangs in one of the bars at the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana, presumably as a famous past patron. In 1937, he wrote the music to a song which he entitled Malta but unfortunately, he never set the lyrics to it and it was never released.
Few people realise that besides Coward's talents as an author, playwright, composer, actor and film director, he was also an artist and his paintings form part of many famous collections worldwide, including London's Tate Modern.
Perry Ltd will continue this famous association with Noel Coward by featuring a painting of his entitled The Bay on the front cover of its property magazine, out with The Sunday Times next week. This picture forms part of the collection of Francis Spiteri Paris and will be exhibited at the Perry office at 197, Tower Road, Sliema.