Social and Personal

BARTOLI. On January 20, at Gozo General Hospital Maternity Wing, to Daniela and John, God's precious gift of a son - EDWARD-MARCUS, a most welcome brother to Amy-Casilda. Many thanks to midwife MaryRose Grech, nurses and staff for their excellent care and dedication.

BUGEJA. On January 31, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Daniela née Cuschieri and Joseph, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - MIREYA. Deo gratias et Mariae.

CASSAR. On January 31, at St James Capua Hospital, to Marlette née Gatt and Joe, God's precious gift of a son - FRANCESCO, a most welcome brother to Damian and Chiara. Thanks to midwife Lilian Azzopardi, Carmen Scerri, obstetrician and theatre staff.

CAUCHI. On January 29, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Vanessa née Cordina and Jean Pierre, God's precious gift of a first-born son - BENJAMIN. Special thanks to all the dedicated staff for their excellent care.

CAUCHI. On January 29, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Maria née Bonavia and Raphael, God's precious gift of a daughter - MAYA. Special thanks to the midwife and all the dedicated maternity staff for all their care.

MIFSUD. On February 4, to Caroline née Chetcuti Ganado and Andrew, God's precious gift of a son - MATTHEW, a most welcome and awaited brother to Cristina and Andrea. We thank the Lord and Our Lady of Ta' Pinu for this little miracle.

MIZZI. On January 28, at the Edith Cavell Hospital, Brussels, Belgium, to Isabelle née Bugeja and Leonard, God's precious gift of a first-born daughter - JULIETTE. Deo gratias et Mariae.

ZAHRA. On January 30, at The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge, to Sharon née Piscopo and Mark Anthony, God's precious gift of a first-born son - MATTHEW MARK.

ZAMMIT. On January 22, at Karin Grech Hospital Maternity Wing, to Annette née Higgins and Colin, the precious gift of a daughter - MORGAN ANNE, a most welcome sister to Caden James. Deo gratias et Mariae. Special thanks to the obstetrician, midwife Marcelle Cipriott and the staff of the post-natal ward for their expert care and attention.

Engagements

Mr ALEXIS CACHIA and Miss KYUNG HEE LEE
The engagement is announced between ALEXIS, son of Mr and Mrs Alex Cachia, and KYUNG HEE, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ki Chang Lee.

Obituary

CARUANA. Suddenly, on February 5, at her residence, SAVERIA née Cassar, aged 84, widow of Salvu of Caruana's Garage, Birzebbuga. She leaves to mourn her loss her daughters Vivien, wife of Joe Attard, Lydia, wife of Joe Camilleri, and Gladys, wife of Charlie Briffa, her dearest grandchildren Denise and her fiancé James Sacco, David and his wife Annette, Marco, Jacqueline and Elaine, Kristian and Lara, her sisters Mena and Zina, residing in England, her nephew Paul Sapiano and his wife Jane, other relatives and numerous friends.
The funeral took place on February 6 at St Peter's parish church, Birzebbuga. Lord, grant her eternal rest.

RHODES. On February 6, at her residence in the UK, Mary (k/a Nini), née Abela, aged 80, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband George Alexander, her children Alexander, Peter and Yvette, her grandchildren Helen, Paul, Patrick, Olivia and Isabelle, her only sister Yolanda Micallef, and her nephews and nieces Philip and his wife Angele, Christopher amd his wife Roberta, Bridget and Theresa, and their respective children. - R.I.P.
The funeral will take place in the UK. Arrangements for a memorial Mass will be announced later.

Appreciation - Keith Goodwin

Mr ERIC MONTFORT writes:
Keith Goodwin, who passed away two weeks ago aged 68, was a music publicist for all seasons. He was also a jazz and classical music expert, and a critic of refined tastes, especially when it came to big band, be-bop and fusion.

In classical music, he had a keen ear for new talent and encouraged many newcomers, especially in his regular write-ups of lunchtime concerts for The Sunday Times (which he signed off with his initials).

Moreover, Keith was one of the first professional music publicists in the UK.

Initially he was hooked on big band and jazz, but eventually came to love and also worked incessantly in rock and roll.

It is indeed significant that Keith switched from being a jazz critic (it wasn't initially his intention to become a critic - he wanted to be a trombone player) to being a reviewer of the nascent British rock and roll scene. He was sympathetic to Johnny Kidd just as he was to Johnny and the Hurricanes and Eddie Cochrane.

Keith's move to music publicity was astute and gave him much greater satisfaction, also financially. He worked very hard but he also became very successful, not least because he was persevering. He first workedfor Kenny Ball, then a highly-rated artist in the UK Trad Jazz years, who had three No.1 records while under Keith's guidance.

Keith also set the ball rolling for the Springfields, then a young folk band, which featured Dusty Springfield. They proved to be his first success. Soon, Dusty went her own way and Keith became her publicist.

Keith also did publicity work for and helped wean off another Springfield to personal success. The artist in question was Mike Hurst, who formed a band featuring guitarist Jimmy Page and keyboards player Tony Ashton. Hurst eventually became a renowned producer who handled the likes of Cat Stevens and Paul and Barry Ryan. All these talents got their publicity done by Keith Goodwin.

Keith's next big hit was PJ Proby, an American artist who was never really big in his homeland but proved to be very influential in the UK. With the help of producer Jack Good and Keith's brilliant promotion, Proby proved to be Goodwin's next big hit.

Keith was a very hard worker and his efforts were recognised by the likes of David Swarbrick, Temperance 7, Mike Hurst, the Seekers, the Searchers, Camel, Donovan, Cat Stevens, Black Sabbath and Argent ranking among his most prestigious clients. Keith was featured on the cover of Argent's most successful album Altogether Now, which was released in 1972 and featured their huge hit Hold your head up.

In the 1970s, Keith Goodwin scored a huge hit with Yes. He handled them in their early and golden age of pomp rock. He toured with them in the US and kept a very strong friendship with Jon Anderson. Another close friendship was with the brilliant artist Vangelis and Keith was partly instrumental in bringing together Jon Anderson and Vangelis who joined forces and produced some haunting albums.

In the mid-70s Keith also handled publicity for Mud and the Darts, who both scored huge UK hits in their own right.

Keith's esoteric tastes often led him to promote a few eccentric acts. One was Magma. a French act led by Christian Vander. Keith capitalised on their eerie blend of pomp-rock and a strange self-styled language and thematic albums, culminating in their 1973 album Mekanik Destructiw Komandoh.

Keith believed in the bands he promoted and especially in symphonic and pomp rock, long after its mass appeal had faded with the onset of punk rock and New Wave. Indeed he believed that one's musical abilities could best be expressed in such a genre. In this regard, he incessantly publicised a few newcomers like Pallas, Twelfth Night, Pendragon and Marillion, the only one of these bands to enjoy some success.

There is no denying that Keith's excellent publicity was a main factor behind Marillion's popularity. Fish, their former lead singer, would testify to that. And Keith was directly responsible for Fish's strong attachment to Malta, since he visited him regularly.

However, Keith often made it a point that an artist had to work hard and not just rest on his publicity, and he would go to great lengths to see that they do play live. He kept on stressing such a philosophy to upcoming local bands.

In 1988 Keith Goodwin settled in Malta, where he devoted more time to his family. He would often counsel local jazz and classical music talents, and eventually a few rock bands and journalists, of whom I was one. Lately, he was very enthusiastic about Winter Moods and Colourblind's recent album releases.

Keith had a wry sense of humour, not least because of his Cockney background and occasionally it would also feature in his writings, although he avoided sarcasm. He may have not been a spiritual person but he was a humanist in every sense of the word.

At the Millennium Chapel memorial service held last Friday week, Fish, who had made a flying visit after hearing that his old friend was ill (through a recording he left since he could not attend the ceremony due to touring and filming commitments), aptly described Keith Goodwin's persona, calling him "a second father, a teacher and a mentor who not only gave us the much needed publicity but also guided our careers".

The choice of music, notably Jon Anderson's I'll find my way home and Eva Cassidy's Wade in the water, were not just a spiritual reflection but also a glimpse at his tastes of music and moreover, in the case of the former Yes singer, a friendship that endured.

Keith Goodwin, was after all, unique.

Appreciation - Salvina Said

Mr Joseph Muscat, of Attard, writes:
Some time ago, the Old Girls of Maria Assumpta Secondary Technical School at Hamrun organised a get-together to which they invited all their former headmistresses.

Though Salvina Said was already in a nursing home, my wife and I decided to take her to what we knew would be her last chance of seeing 'her school'. As soon as the packed hall of former students caught sight of her, they burst into a standing ovation in recognition of what she had done for them.

For Maria Assumpta School, which she headed from the time it was opened in 1959 to the time she retired in 1970, became one of the most successful schools for girls that we have had. Long before we had started talking about educational administration and management, she showed how a large secondary school could be organised along modern lines. Suffice it to say that many of the female top officials of the Education Division belonged to her staff. Her immediate superior, Margaret Mortimer, was also her best friend.

I first got to know her when I started going out with her niece 40 years ago and I still cherish the long and stimulating conversations we used to have about schools and education. Till her last lucid days, she was still talking about her school and her girls. Scrupulously professional, she had a strong belief in the goodness of human nature and always refused to believe that people's actions could sometimes be motivated by evil intentions. I have never heard anyone speak ill of her.

The school as she knew it is now gone, though the building is still there, housing a different kind of school. Her greatest legacy is the large number of women who still treasure the happy days they spent at her school when they were girls. May she now get the eternal reward she deserves.

Appreciation - Rita Coleiro, B.Sc., Ph.C.

Ms Mary Rose Grech, of Balzan, writes:
I have known Rita Coleiro since I was a little girl. My late father introduced her to us as the pharmacist of Hamrun. Everybody knew her and went to seek her help whenever needed without fail. Being a pharmacist she was a dedicated lady to all concerned, besides caring for her very dear family whom she loved so much.

She was keen to help those in need and worked very hard as a volunteer for charitable organisations. This was really a full-time job for her.

Together with my husband we miss our dear friend Mrs Coleiro as we always used to call her, however, we remember the good old times we shared together.

She was a woman of substance. Our sincere condolences go to all the family.

Requiem Masses

Masses for the repose of the soul of IRENE LUCIA will be celebrated tomorrow at 6.30 p.m., being a month from her death, and on Tuesday, March 9, at 8.45 a.m. at St Gregory's parish church, Sliema.

In Memoriam

AGIUS-GILIBERT - LUCY. Treasured memories of our dear mother, especially today the 13th anniversary of her death. Gladys, Wilfred, Lina, Lilian and Marionne and their families.

APAP - RUBY. Loving memories of our dearest mother on the sixth anniversary of her demise. So sadly missed by her sons and daughters and their families. Lord, grant her eternal rest. Please remember her in your prayers.

BORG-PANDOLFINO - ALDA. In ever loving memory, on the 28th anniversary of her demise. Fondly remembered by her children, brothers and sisters, in-laws, other relatives and friends. Remember her in your prayers.

BUSUTTIL. In ever loving memory of my beloved mother RENA who walked into eternal life six years ago. So loved and so missed by her daughter May and her husband Joe, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

CEFAI. In loving memory of RAPHAEL, today the sixth anniversary of his death. Always in our thoughts and prayers. His family.

DE BONO. Cherished memories of a loving mother, HILDA, on the seventh year of her meeting with the Lord. A prayer is solicited. Her children Maurice, Herbert, Mario, Ivy and Suzan and their families.

DUNBAR SMYTH - DES. One year has passed and we love and miss you, Des. Remembering the good times and the happy hours. Sheila, Tara, Jamie and Sean.

ELLUL - VICTORIA (Buba). In loving memory of a dear mother and grandmother who died 26 years ago today. Marie, Ria and Didi.

GALEA - JOSEPH. Loving memories of a dear brother, tomorrow the fifth anniversary of his demise. Lord, grant him eternal rest. Cettina and family.

MANN BORGESE. Cherished memories of ELISABETH, founder and honorary president of the International Ocean Institute, today the second anniversary of her demise. Fondly remembered by the staff at the International Ocean Institute offices in Malta.

MICALLEF. In loving memory of LINO, today the seventh anniversary of his demise. Never forgotten by his father Carmelo and his brothers and sisters. Please remember him in your prayers.

MICALLEF-BUSUTTIL - EMMANUEL. Remembering him on his 18th anniversary. Mabel, Ray and Kim, Diana, Douglas, Stuart and Ryan.

NAVARRO. In loving memory of HAMILTON on his 19th anniversary. Remembered by his wife Alice.

TABONE FERRO. Treasured memories of ERIC, today the first anniversary of his sad demise. So fondly remembered as such a loving husband and caring father by his wife Mary, his children Joanna and Mario, their respective spouses and his grandchildren as well as by his sister Anne. May Our Lord grant his soul eternal rest. Amen.

ZERAFA - Major VINCENT ZERAFA, BEM. Remembered with much love and affection, today and always. Karmen, Wilfrid, Fiona, Godwin, David and Chiara. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

Visitors' Books

Visitors' books during funerals, with or without photos. Same day service. Phone Palmyra 2149-7335.

Personal

Emmanuel Mifsud and family would like to thank the Rev. Clergy who concelebrated Mass, relatives and friends who attended the funeral service and expressed sympathy on the loss of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who passed away on February 1, aged 82. Thanks also go to the Reverend Mother Superior, Sister Raffaela, sisters, helpers of Pax et Bonum, Mosta and Reverend Mother Agnesina.