Revered Maltese naturalist Guido Lanfranco passes away

Revered Maltese naturalist Guido Lanfranco has passed away at the age of 90.

Born in Sliema on 18 October 1930, he was educated at Stella Maris College and St. Michaels College of Education. He pursued other courses at the University of Malta and Dale Field Studies Centre in Wales.

Lanfranco was a teacher in various schools and a member of many educational boards and committees as well as local and foreign scientific societies.

He was for a number of years the president of the Malta Geographical Society, Old Michaelian Association, Science Teachers Association, Cactus and Succulents Society of Malta, Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor, the first president of the Malta Ornithological Society (now Birdlife Malta), the International Council for Bird Preservation (Malta), the University Biological Society, the Għaqda Dilettanti Mudelli ta’ Knejjes, and the Natural History Society of Malta which he founded in 1962 and which later became the Society for The Study and Conservation of Nature (S.S.C.N.) and is now known as Nature Trust.

BirdLife Malta were in fact amongst the first to pay tribute to Lanfranco, saying that he was “admired by many for his knowledge and passion for nature. Those who were lucky to meet him would have experienced his unique skill of explaining many technical issues in the simplest of ways, captivating his audience with immense passion.”

He was awarded the Bronze Medal of Merit by the Conference of Civic Councils in 1969 and the Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in 1996.

In 2004 Lanfranco won the annual Literary Prize on Folklore awarded by the Maltese National Council of Books.

Lanfranco has organized various exhibitions, mostly on flora, fauna, geology, science and folklore. Many of his publications and articles, illustrated by himself, have been published in local and foreign papers, magazines and journals. He has also written and lectured on Maltese history. He has organized many exhibitions and given numerous lectures on natural history, archaeology, and geology.

Among his publications were: Guide to the Flora of Malta (1955, 1960); Maltese Mammals (1969); Field Guide to The Wild Flowers of Malta (1969, 1977); Complete Guide to The Fishes of Malta (1958, 1965, 1974); Il-Ħut Madwar Malta – The Fish Around Malta (2009); Duwa u Semm filĦxejjex Maltin (1975); The Fish Around Malta (1993, 1996); Ħxejjex Mediċinali u Oħrajn (1993, 2000); L-Istorja tat-Trasport F’Malta (1999,2002); L-Istatwi Titulari u l-Istatwarji Tagħhom (1999); Drawwiet u Tradizzjonijiet Maltin (2001 (twice), 2002, 2012); Mediċina Popolari talImgħoddi fil-Gżejjer Maltin (2001); Xogħol, Ġaħġiħ u Snajja’ li Spiċċaw (2002, 2003); Ħajjitna fl-Imgħoddi (2004); Folklor, ġabra ta’ kitbiet minn membri tal-Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor (edit.) (2004); Drawwiet u Ħajja mill-Istorja ta’ Malta (2005); Logħob, Taqbil u Ġugarelli tatTfal Maltin (2006); Malta: Bejn Storja u Drawwa (2007); Nagħrfu l-Leġġendi Maltin (2008); Fjuri Slavaġ Maltin (2007); Ċajt bil-Limerikki (2008); Il-Ħut Madwar Malta / The Fish Around Malta (2009); Żwieġ, Twelid u Mewt… Drawwiet u Tradizzjonijiet (2011).

He also co-authored other books such as: Red Data Book for The Matese Islands (1989), Flora u Fawna Ta’ Malta (1995), Wildlife of the Maltese Islands (1996, 2002), Mosta: The Heart of Malta (1996), Naxxar, a Village and its People (2000), Ex Annalibus Mustae (2005), ĦażŻebbuġ, Storja, Memorja u Identità (2006), and Il-Flora Maltija (2003).