Lino Bugeja passes away

Veteran journalist and former Ramblers’ Association president Lino Bugeja passed away yesterday, aged 86, the Institute of Journalists said.

Mr Bugeja was the author of several analytical contributions on education, culture, sports and the environment.

The IGM had recognised Mr Bugeja’s work by awarding him for the best entry in the cultural journalism sector in last year’s journalism awards.

He was awarded the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika award in 2013.

Born in Vittoriosa, he studied at the Lyceum and Malta College of Education, where he qualified as a teacher in 1949.

He held several posts in the Education department including that of headteacher in various government schools.

A fine athlete, Bugeja was national champion in the 440 and 880 yards and was for many years the holder of the 400 metres national record.

In 1972, together with Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, Bugeja set up the Educational Sports Centre. He was secretary general of the Malta Olympic Committee between 1972 and 1980, and in 1985 became the first director of the Malta Olympic Academy.

He was inducted into the Malta Olympic Committee’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

In a statement, the Ramblers’ Association of Malta said it is deeply saddened to inform the public that its Honorary President Lino Bugeja has passed away.

“He was one of the country’s most respected environmentalists, and was amongst the first to become concerned about the fact that access to the countryside was becoming gradually denied to the public. Lino had a notable career in education, but was also a renowned athlete, and one for whom the promotion of sport became a lifelong passion. In 2005, Lino Bugeja combined this love of sport with his desire to safeguard the countryside for public enjoyment, and founded the Ramblers’ Association of Malta.

“Lino Bugeja’s historical and cultural erudition is widely acknowledged and his remarkable articles on Maltese newspapers were highly sought after by public. He was also the author of several significant books, such as ‘Vittoriosa, An Ancient City of Culture’, ‘AGON, Ġabra ta’ Studji dwar l-Isport matul iżŻmien’ and most recently, ‘A Maltese Odyssey, The Historical, Artistic and Architectural Heritage of the Maltese Islands’,” the Ramblers’ Association said.

Front Ħarsien ODZ saluted Lino Bugeja and thanked him for his dedicated commitment to the environment. “It was an honour to have him as one of the speakers in the Save Żonqor protest, Malta’s largest environmental protest ever, in 2015”.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists also saluted Mr Bugeja’s passing.