THE LIDO THEATRE / CINEMA AT BIRZEBBUGA

Many of you may still remember the LIDO CINEMA in St Edwards Street / Triq San Edwardu in Birzebbuga. The building of this Theatre began towards the end of WW2, about 1945. At that time the only other Cinema was the BELLE ISLE Cinema which was situated further up at the top end in Edwards Street. The LIDO was a much larger then the BELLE ISLE and one can say it was a proper modern Cinema.
On every Saturday and Sunday it used to be packed with Cinema goers and one needed to book early to secure seats especially on Sunday evenings. I believe it was operating till about 1980. Today in 2010 the place is locked up and deserted. Maybe one day it may come back to its glorious past which was a place for entertainment to the locals at Birzebbuga. (Photo taken July 2010)

The very last show that I remember seeing at the LIDO Cinema was a 1949 Hollywood Western film called " Calamity Jane and Sam Bass " This western featured Yvonne De Carlo - Lloyd Bridges and Howard Duff and it was shown on Sunday evening in July 1950. A few months before I left Malta.

THE OLD " WARSPITE " VALLETTA - KALAFRANA BUS

Bus No. 3289 Valletta -- Kalafrana and Valletta - Birzebbuga route bus that for many years carried many thousands of locals up and down from Birzebbuga to Castilja and Putirjal bus terminus. It was in daily use during WW2 and survived the bombing.

TANKS STREET -- TRIQ IT - TANKIJIET

This is a section of Tanks Street Birzebbuga, As you know this street is one of the longest straight roads at Birzebbuga. In this photo taken from the beach end of the street you are looking up towards Birzebbuga Road.

In this photo, you are looking towards the Bay. Photo taken July 2010.

BIRZEBBUGA VIEW OF 1948

A scene of many years ago. Birzebbuga 1948 with Pretty Bay beach as it used to be before the sand that is seen today which covers all the part of the bay as it is today. The old WW2 gunpost opposite the Smiling Prince Bar (today Labour Party Club) can clearly be seen. No TV antennas in sight. Click on photo to enlarge.

L'ARBLU TA WIED IL - BUNI ~ THE POLE AT WIED IL - BUNI

That's what all the locals used to call it, 'L'Arblu ta Wied il - Buni'/ the pole at Wied il - Buni.
It was situated about directly in line with Triq San Frangisku Saveriu / St Francis Xavier Street.
As you can see from the photo.
It was approx 40 feet up from the waters edge and on the left hand side of it there was a tiny inlet, always with sparkling clean seawater that used to be called 'IL - Lembijja "
It was a favourite swimming spot for young children.
The Pole was also a challenging structure for young boys and men to climb up on the steel frame.

During WW2 when all of Wied il - Buni was occupied by the Military and totally out of bounds to civilians the area where the Pole was located was used by English servicemen for nude swimming.

When the Military moved out from Wied il - Buni c1944 the area by the Pole was always a favourite spot for beach goers.
The square concrete block at the base of the Pole was an ideal spot to sit down.
The Pole is now gone but a small section of the concrete base can still be seen.

BY THE SIDE OF THE WATER-POLO PITCH

A pretty picture taken from the side of the water-polo pitch. Part of Pretty Bay in the background. Photo taken July 2010 on a lovely summer day. Click on photo to enlarge.

THE WW2 ARMY GUNPOST AT WIED IL - BUNI

This is a very rare photo showing part of the WW2 Army gunpost at the entrance to Wied il - Buni. The concrete gunpost was built c1939. It was manned by the English Army, the Devonshire Regiment. It was very close to the bus terminus and Kalafrana Road. Close by there was a searchlight post right on the edge of the seashore. A short distance away was an Army BOFORS gun. One evening, the BOFORS gun received a direct hit and 5 Maltese gunners were killed. Photo taken 1949.

THE NEW LANDMARK AT PRETTY BAY

Due to be completed by end of 2010. This is the new six storey building that is replacing the previous South End Guest House and previous to that the old Claridge Hotel that was built during the early 1930s. Photo taken July 2010.

St Francis Xavier Str - Triq San Frangisku Saveriu - Birzebbuga

This is Triq San Frangisku Saveriu, Photo taken from the Wied il Buni side of St Patrick Str or as it was always called 'it Triq ta - Kalafrana'. During WW2 c1941 at approx 10pm while an Air Raid was on, two bombs were dropped by Italian bombers and landed on the houses shown on the right hand side of the photo. Four houses were destroyed and other houses on the opposite side were very badly damaged. No civilians were injured as everyone was in the Air Raid shelter that was at the top end of St Philips Str. Another bomb dropped by the same Italian aircraft landed a direct hit on an anti aircraft gun at the entrance to Wied il - Buni. Five Maltese Army gunners tragically lost their lives. Photo taken June 2010.

ST GEORGES BAY. ~ THE NEW COLOURFUL ROUNDABOUT

The newly built roundabout at St Georges Bay. A lovely creation by the Local Council. Constructed during June / July 2010. An excellent design to match with the name of BIRZEBBUGA.




For more photos of St Georges Bay ~ Click *HERE*

THE OLD " TANKREDI BRINCAT " SHOP.

Situated in New Street off Pretty Bay main road and Zurrieq Road. This little shop is surely one of the most known shops at Birzebbuga. Been open since the early 1940s and still operated by the same family in 2010.

TOP END OF ADDOLORATA STREET

The top end of Addolorata Street where it crosses St Michael Street. Photo taken June 2010. A very tidy looking street. My parents lived in this street from 1935 to June 1940. Our house was on the right hand side about four houses from the top end. In the background are the ex Shell Company fuel storage tanks, now Enemalta Depot.

The old red Mail Box at Pretty Bay

The old red mail box that many years ago, going back to c1930, was used by all the locals at Birzebbuga is today in 2010 broken and deserted. Most likely vandalized and abandoned. A pity it was not preserved and displayed as an item of history.


How the red Mail Box once looked.

A view of the very well known corner at Pretty Bay, shows where the Mail Box used to be.

BIRZEBBUGA BOY SCOUTS 1944

A group of Birzebbuga Boy Scouts camping at Ghadira Bay 1944.

Not all names remembered

Rear row from left: Rover Scout Cikku Azzopardi and Fava - next three names unknown.


Centre row from left: William Coxhead - no name - Joe Fenech - Paul Bonavia 'tal - landier'

Front row from left: Johnny Coxhead - Cilia - Sunny Vella 'tat-Titu' - Cilia - Abdilla 'tas Surgent'. The Cilia brothers lived in main road Pretty Bay.

If someone can remember the names of the others in this group, please contact me.

The Group Scoutmaster was Pawlu Ciantar and Assistant Scout Master was Johnny Mamo 'tal hajjat' of Pretty Bay.

THE FESTIVE SEASON

* WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR *

Main road at Pretty Bay

Main road at Pretty Bay looking towards the bus terminus end and St Phillips Street.

BIRZEBBUGA SCHOOL

The sandy beach at Pretty Bay

Birzebbuga - Church Street

A photo of Church Str Birzebbuga. My parents lived there during 1934 - 1936. Only one house away from the Maria Addolorata Church which at that time was still used as the main village Church. Shortly after the new St Peters Church became the main Parish Church. Opposite our house was a small triangular square and the street on the right hand side was Addolorata street that ended up at Tanks street. The Degabriele family / Mikiel and Kelina operated the local bakery which was always a very busy shop.
Our house was on the 1st floor and the Roberts family lived below us on the ground floor. A bunch of local kids used to play football in the small square.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Floodwater and local kids having fun.

A group of young kids having fun in the rainwater that always flooded parts of Birzebbuga / St Georges Bay main road.
This is an old photo taken many years ago. Sent by Joseph Camilleri (ex Birzebbuga) now of Sydney NSW Australia.

Birzebbuga of many years ago

Upper photo. This location is most likely near Borg in Nadur by the old Chapel.

Lower photo taken in the 1950s showing part of Pretty Bay. The old WW2 gunpost can still be seen opposite the Smiling Prince Bar.
Photos sent by Joseph Camilleri of NSW Australia.



The above two photos were taken by Kenneth Incorvaja Oct 2009. Shows the same location near Borg in Nadur by the old Chapel.

Photos sent by Kenneth Incorvaja of Malta GC.

A group of men from Birzebbuga at Kalafrana

This photo was taken about 1951. Most of the men are from Birzebbuga and worked at the R. N. base Kalafrana Power station. My father No 13 was the foreman. I knew most of them. I have numbered them so hoping anyone who remembers the ones that are unnamed can send me the names and I'll update the photo. Click on photo to enlarge.

As far as I know No 8 Simiana and No 17 Vella are still alive. No 6 Borg and No 16 were men from Sliema. Both of them were motor mechanics at Gasan Ford at the Gzira workshops during 1947-48. No 6 Joe Borg, I met him in 1996 when I visited Malta. He has passed away RIP. Everyone at Birzebbuga knew No 4 Cikku Frankalanza ' is sagristan ' at the Parish Church. No 15 is Johnny Vella (not sure) I think he was the Cubmaster of the Birzebbuga Scout Group during c1946.
No 11 is Victor Borg-Falzon used to live near the bakery of ' tal fattu', his son used to play with the St Peters FC during the 1950s. No 3 is Guzeppi Vella his family used to operate the butcher shop a short distance up from the Police Station.
No 12, I think this man was Karmnu Casha from Bir id Deheb or Tarxien. No 17 is Guzi Vella, I last met him during 1999 when I visited Malta. He lives in Addolorata Str. Anyone knows Guzi, please pass on my best wishes.

The Toni Brincat barber shop at Pretty Bay

A view of the shop 2008 -- Photo by Laetitia Agius
The location as seen in 1900.

This little shop on the main road at Pretty Bay must be rated with other places of history that belong to the town of Birzebbuga. It was operating in the early 1930s and most likely even before that period of time.
Used to be called ' il hanut ta Toni l' barbier '. That was Toni Brincat.
What is special about this little shop is that during the years of WW2 it stayed open every day even during the peak of the German blitz on Kalafrana RAF base and Hal Far airfield. Of course there must have been other places that stayed open during the days of WW2 but what stands out in my memory is that a small group of Birzebbuga men who had absolutely no fear of the bombs that rained on and around the village, they used to gather every day near the shop and while the air raids were on and bombs were being dropped by the German bombers this small group of men never went down in the air raid shelters. Luckily no bombs fell close by that location. The bar / coffee shop next door was a handy place for them to enjoy a glass of tea or coffee.

St Peter

Visit Site *Here*

H.M.S BRECONSHIRE at BIRZEBBUGA -- March 1942 -- 1954

March 26th 1942. HMS Breconshire badly damaged and on fire is towed into Marsaxlokk Bay.
THE STORY & PICTURES OF HMS BRECONSHIRE * HERE *


Map showing Marsaxlokk Bay and the position where the ship sank after being attacked by German dive bombers on the 27th March 1942.

The ship was refloated during 1954 and towed to Italy where it was eventually scrapped.

HMS BRECONSHIRE as it looked just before WW2 started.
THE STORY & PICTURES OF HMS BRECONSHIRE * HERE *

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STORY & HISTORY OF THE SHIP * HERE *

THE SMALL SHIPS AT BIRZEBBUGA BAY - The locals called them ' tal - bagi '

Many old timers at Birzebbuga may remember these R.N. vessels that were always part of the harbour scene at Marsaxlokk Bay - Birzebbuga Bay. The locals used to call them (in Maltese) ' tal - bagi '.

The names of these vessels were 'HMS Bardolf' -- 'HMS Barcroft' and 'HMS Moorstone'. These small ship were always seen at work in Malta's harbours. We always had them at Birzebbuga Bay during the 1930s, during WW2, the 1940s and even after that period.

The crews of these ships used to do work / maintenance on bouys. Lifting bouys and cleaning them and painting them. They changed bouys and installed new ones for the hundreds of ships that berthed at Malta's Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk Bay.
They were always part of the Birzebbuga harbour scene.

Back in the 1940, about the last years of WW2, I used to have a little boat and I used to row out in the Bay at Birzebbuga to these ships at the end of their working day when they used to come in very close to the Birzebbuga shores and drop anchor for the night.

I got to know one of the crew. He always wanted a copy of the Times of Malta. So we made a deal. I give him the newspaper and he used to give me some food, like bread and biscuits and some fruit. During 1943 - 1944 food was still scarce and rationed so the food he gave me I used to take it home.

This went om for many months. Every day at about 5pm I used the jump into my little boat and taking with me a copy of the Times of Malta and row over to the BARDOLF. It was good fun for me and I was always on time by the side of the ship.

I believe the Bardolf and the Barcroft both surived the War, although I do think that one of them was hit by a bomb in Grand Harbour. They were put up for sale by the Admiralty in 1961.

The HMS Moorstone was hit by a bomb near the Suez Canal and sank. It was later brought up from the sea and towed to Gibraltar. It was repaired and later sold.

The little RN ships that were part of Malta and Birzebbuga for many years.

The WW2 Gunpost and the Rock

One of the many WW2 gunposts / pillboxes that are still in existance scattered all over Malta. This one is very well camouflaged with rubble stones cemented all over. In the background is the well known rock called Filfla which was used by the military as a target for practice shelling for many years.


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VIEW OLDER POSTS *HERE*

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A GIANT CALLS AT BIRZEBBUGA

The CMA CGM Andromeda became the longest vessel to enter a Maltese harbour when it berthed at Malta Freeport last week.

The huge container ship was guided in by Chief Pilot J.Mifsud and Pilot Anthony Chetcuti. The vessel was assisted by three Tug Malta tugs, Pawlina, Wenzina and Mari.

The Andromeda is brand new, having been built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered in March. It has a gross tonnage of 131,332 tons and is 363.6 metres long (the length of four football grounds). The ship has a beam of 45.6m and a draft of 15.5m (max). Its height from keel to the top of the mast is 70 metres.

Photo: Pilot A.Chetcuti.

JOE'S BAR AT PRETTY BAY BIRZEBBUGA c1958

A photo of JOE's BAR at Pretty Bay Birzebbuga. The popular Bar was situated on the corner of New Street and next door to Tony Brincat's barber shop. Above these two shops was the billiards Club, today the St Peters FC Club. Back during the 1940s and 1950s the Club was operated by Joe's brother Carmelo / Karmnu. The photo of JOE's BAR was taken c1958 by Bill Gutsky an American serviceman who was stationed at Hal Far. Today Bill Gusky lives in Florida USA. He sent me the photo.

Marsaxlokk Bay / Kalafrana Freeport

Kalafrana as seen from across the Bay in 1942.
Kalafrana Freeport as it looks today from about the same location at Birzebbuga.