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.

**********************

Monday, September 19, 2011

Calamity Jane

Monday, April 18, 2011

* IL - MUZEW TAS SUBIEN c1940s *

The Muzew building as it stands today June 2010. It seems the old building is not safe and presently it is closed and barricaded.


Photo shows the intersection of St Paul's Street and St Michael's Street. The old Muzew building can be seen in the photo taken June 2010.



Going back to the late 1930s and during 1940s when all the Birzebbuga boys attended Religious classes at the Muzew in St Paul's Street.
Dun Gorg Preca used to make special visits in the evenings and every young boy and teenagers used to be present to hear him tell us stories and other Religious matters. He always used to give us a few lollies / confectionery on arrival. I sure remember those days.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Qajjenza and nearby localities

A very good aerial picture showing all of Qajjenza. Part of Marsaxlokk, also Zejtun in the background. A small part of Birzebbuga and the Enemalta ex Shell Co. pier. A nice view of the bay with some sail boats.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Monday, February 7, 2011

THE BRINCAT BARBER SHOP AT PRETTY BAY


I have already posted this photo here a good while ago but I'll show it again and below you can see two views of the interior of this well known barber shop that has been run by the Brincat family of Birzebbuga for the past 75 years. Still in operation today 2011 and hardly changed over such a long period of time.



Took these two photos of the interior of this barber shop during my visit in July 2010 by permission of Mr Brincat. As one can see, it looks just about exactly as it was in 1950. The small shop holds so much history and can tell many thousands of stories about the village and its people.



The display cases on the wall have been replaced / updated, Where the waiting chairs are shown today, there used to be one long bench, if my memory is correct and I don't remember a large electric fan in the shop during the 1940s.

Monday, January 17, 2011

WHO IS THIS YOUNG MAN AT BIRZEBBUGA?



A few weeks ago a friend of mine at Birzebbuga sent me these two small photos. He asked me if I knew the young man. I do not. Does anyone recognize this young man? Photo taken c1960s, I think,
Please leave reply in Guestbook. Thanks.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

CHURCH STREET BIRZEBBUGA



Church Street looking down towards Addolorata Street. The old Church of Our Lady of Sorrows was in use from about 1913 to about 1938. This photo was taken about half way down the street.




On the left hand side of the Church was the Nuns Home c1938. Shown here at right of picture. My parents lived two doors down, the house where the large balcony is shown centre of picture and exactly where the STOP sign is located. We lived there from 1934 to 1938.