A photo of present-day St Julians' Bay - Malta

Grazia Balzan

Grazia’s age is a matter of mystery since she married in her 30s, and 2 years later claimed to be in her 20s.

She is one of my maternal great-great-grandmothers.

A photo of the church of St Catherine of Italy - Valletta, Malta

Florentina Farrugia Gay

Florentina is one of my maternal great-grandmothers. Her life spanned the end of the 19th century and most of the 20th. Her official documents show the slow change in Maltese life from Italian to British influence.

A photo of the church of St Catherine of Italy - Valletta, Malta

Giuseppe Felice

Giuseppe is something of a curiosity because almost all official documents about him contradict each other.

He is one of my maternal great-grandfathers.

A photo of the Balluta parish church - Sliema, Malta

Paolina Bonnici

Paolina lived to the ripe old age of 95, and outlived her husband by almost 40 years.

She is one of my maternal great-grandmothers