VIVA SAN PIETRU





BIRZEBBUGA PEOPLE

This photo was taken by reporter of The Times of Malta on Monday 10th Sept. 1951. The day I left Birzebbuga for Melbourne Australia on the English liner SS Asturias.

Five men from Birzebbuga migrated to Australia on that day.

1. Myself. William J. Coxhead. - Melbourne

2. My brother Johnny Coxhead who played football with St Peters of Birzebbuga 1953, 3rd Div Champions. Migrated to Aust 1954.

3. My father. William N. Coxhead. He was in charge of the Power Station at R.N. base Kalafrana (Passed away 1953. RIP)

4. Joseph / Zeppi Cutajar of Birzebbuga, nickname ' ta - Fidiel '. Migrated to Melbourne but returned to Malta a few years later. (RIP)

5. Frankie Borg Falzon of Birzebbuga. Also played football with St Peters of Birzebbuga 1953, 3rd Div Champions. (RIP)

6. Tony Camilleri of St Georges Bay / Birzebbuga. Migrated to Melbourne. Lived and passed away in NSW Australia.(RIP)

7. Tony Camilleri's friend from Birzebbuga.

8. Mikiel Farrugia of Birzebbuga. Migrated to Melbourne. Passed away in Melbourne (RIP)

9. A Maltese migrant to Australia. No name

10 Lolly Savona. Migrated to Melbourne. Lolly's parents operated the Belle Isle Theatre at Birzebbuga during the 1940 - 1950s. Lolly lives in Melbourne.

11. Baby Joseph Calleja. My nephew. Son of Ninu Calleja (of Zurrieq Road) and Emily Calleja nee Coxhead. Joseph and his parents migrated to Melbourne March 1958 on the ill fated MS Skaubryn. The ship caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean, April 1958. Joseph lives in Melbourne.

12. Anthony / Toni Gauci of Birzebbuga. His family nickname 'ta - Beccuna' He was a Sgt in the Army. (Passed away. RIP)

13. Eddie who owned and drove the Birzebbuga Bus No 1212. The bus was named VICTOR and he was known as 'Eddie tal Victor' (RIP)

14. This person was from Birzebbuga. He was called ' it - Tunezin '

15. A Maltese migrant who sailed on the SS Asturias.

16. A friend of Lolly Savona. Both of Birzebbuga.

17. A Maltese migrant who sailed on the SS Asturias.

The other persons are relatives and friends of the persons who were leaving Malta.

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Friday, November 28, 2008

The 'Villa l ' Hamra' ~ 'Cherries' at Pretty Bay


The Villa as it looked c1900.


The Villa l'Hamra now Cherries as it looks in 2008. (Photo above and below taken by Laetitia Agius of Birzebbuga)

" The Villa " That's what it's been called by the locals at Birzebbuga for over one hundred years. A very prominent building situated in the heart of Pretty Bay Birzebbuga. Today, in 2008 and going back a few years its been called 'The Cherries'.
It's a fairly large property facing the beach in the most prominent part of Birzebbuga. I cannot write about all the history of the place cause I can only go back to the mid 1930s. When WW2 started in June 1940 the British Army occupied the Villa. It was used as Headquarters for the Devonshire Regiment, the West Kent Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment. During those days c1941, military cars belonging to officers of these regiments used to be lined up, parked outside the main entrance. Some Maltese civilians used to work there with the military.

Going back before the Marsaxlokk Bay breakwater was built, the small sandy beach that used to be created during the summer months used to disappear during the winter months as the sand used to be pushed out into the bay. When the sea was rough the large waves that used to batter the wall at the edge of the roadway used to end up hitting the entrance door and the wall of the Villa. The locals who had to walk past the Villa during a sea storm had to make a quick dash so not to get wet with the sea spray. It's a much different scene today with no more waves hitting the road and the sandy beach staying there during the winter months.
Today the Villa / Cherries is owned by the Mifsud family. Marlon Mifsud has contacted me, saying his father has owned the Villa for the past eighteen years.

Maybe he can tell us some more history about the Villa at Pretty Bay.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet / The smoke stack at the Shell fuel depot.


This photo was taken during WW2, early 1942 by Flt Sgt Thomas Barker RAF.

A local police officer standing duty on the Shell oil tankers Pier. The Shell chimney can be seen in the background at left of picture.

Not many people living today at Birzebbuga would remember the old smoke chimney / ic - cumnijja that was situated at the Shell oil fuel depot at Birzebbuga. Today called Enemalta Fuel Depot. Many years ago we used to call it '' ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet ''.
It was inside the Depot, situated at the end of Triq it - Tankijiet and Sacred Heart Promenade and in line with the Shell Pier as can be seen in the lower picture.
I used to live very close to this chimney during the 1930s / early 1940s. It was very close to the small area that used to be called '' il - Gzira ''.
Close to the chimney there used to be a large uncultivated field that the local soccer team players used to do their training and practise.