In the tributes to Charles Grech-Orr, former editor of The Times, among other things it was stated that on that fateful day of the burning down of the Times building (October 15, 1979), Mr Grech-Orr “fled the building from the back entrance in St Ursula Street”.

As night editor at the time, may I point out that Mr Grech-Orr was in conference with my deputy, Joe Said, preparing the next day’s paper; I was in my office attending to my duties.

Mr Grech-Orr and Mr Said managed to leave the building through the main staircase before it collapsed. The remaining staff and myself, together with the sports editor, were caught in my office with no way of escape due to the collapse of the main staircase.

Eventually, Mgr Philip Calleja, director of the Emigrants’ Commission, spotted us in thebalcony at the back of the building overlooking St Ursula Street; he alerted the police who then brought us a fire engine ladder that enabled us to climb down.

We met on Castille Square, and the late Guido de Marco, then deputy leader of the Nationalist Party, offered Mr Grech-Orr the use of the Nationalist Party’s printing press.

It was an unforgettable night. We finished at about 8.30 the next morning – proud and happy that after all, The Times had kept up its tradition of never missing a single issue, and was out on the newsstands. Being the last one to leave, as night editor, I framed the very first copy of that issue. The copy that is normally posted to the editor, I believe, was given to Prof. de Marco by Mr Grech-Orr.