Patricia Watkins of Chester, UK, donated her late husband's war medals and his Certificate of Service to Heritage Malta.

Mrs Watkins' husband, Sgt Edgar Fraser Watkins, was stationed with the British Forces in Malta during World War II between 1942 and 1944.

The medals will be on display at the War Museum in Valletta.

The donation came about as a result of an exchange of correspondence between Mrs Watkins and the chief executive officer of the Malta Tourism Authority, Leslie Vella following Mrs Watkins' first ever visit to Malta in 2002.

In one of her letters to Mr Vella, Mrs Watkins said that this was not only her first visit to Malta, but also her first ever plane trip as she is claustrophobic.

However, she said, her desire to come to Malta helped her overcome her fear. She said that her husband would have loved to see Malta once more but, sadly, he passed away last year.

Mrs Watkins was full of praise for Malta and its many attractions. She particularly treasures her visit to the War Museum, which houses the Gloucester Gladiator, called 'Faith' which her husband had helped to restore in 1943.

Sgt Watkins' war medals and Certificate of Service were presented to Heritage Malta CEO Antoinette Caruana in the presence of Mr Vella and members of Mrs Watkins' family.

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