A life worth living

Reviews the book Me and My Mentors by

This is an autobiography with a difference. Rather than placing himself centre stage, the author, Peter Calamatta, concentrates on the mentors in his life and weaves his life-story through them. It reminds me of deflected light which creates stimulating shadows and avoids boring overexposure.

Throughout this 400-page book (so attractively designed by Maria Degabriele) Peter retains an optimistic look at life with a drive to move forward and overcome difficulties through full preparation and positive self-confidence. He is blessed with the guts to jettison what others would have treasured and clinch an adventurous and uncertain future, which he believes in.

His father, the first mentor in the book, was his ballast. His unswerving insistence on the study of the English language and education instilled in Peter and the other Calamatta children a disciplined approach to schooling. Peter carried this with him all his life, excelling cum laude in all his studies in Malta and abroad. “He taught us you cannot wait for people to make you - you make yourself with sweat and tears.” His mother, a smiling beauty, did not preach but led by example how to live a good life and share even the little one had with others.

Caring for others and treating everyone with dignity is a recurring theme in the book. These basic Christian tenets betray a deep sensitive and altruistic attitude in Peter Calamatta. No wonder the author includes amongst his mentors several religious and spiritual characters.

Saint Ġorġ Preca features early in this book. This holy priest lived in Hamrun not far from the Calamattas, and twice a day Peter watched him pass by his home. This simple soul sought and found the Lord in his uncomplicated words of love and sacrifice for the needy. He taught the Bible and religion in Maltese to children at a time when this sounded preposterous. The Church stopped him and he obeyed with utmost humility, but then the church repented...and the rest is history.

Peter later includes Christ as a leading and unswerving mentor and discusses his close and personal relation with God. He is uneasy with formulaic prayers but prefers a personal direct, fresh and unrehearsed approach. Surprisingly, he also includes a painting as a mentor. This is a life-size painting of Christ by his father-in-law, Guido Cali`. Guido was Ramiro Cali`’s son and grandson of the well known Giuseppe Cali`. Guido did not produce much artistic work, though well talented. This painting is the first thing the author sees when he wakes up and the last before he sleeps. It commands the pride of place in his bedroom and constantly imparts subliminal message. A silent mentor.

I have known the Calamatta siblings for many years - Alfred, Narcy, MaryAnn and of course Peter. All lovable characters. Peter and his wife Simone exude a sense of togetherness but are different shades of the same painting. Peter is outward going, whilst Simone is on the quiet side. Unlike her husband, she does not have an assertive thrust in life. When Peter decided to leave an established position in Government employ, leading the scene in horticulture in order to do it alone, she was not overjoyed but she backed him and showed her utmost faith in him. She never grumbled or recriminated when things went bad so she fully earned her role when success smiled very blissfully. I believe sustaining silently but assiduously is also an essential positive role in mentoring. But she did it completely different from the other mentors in Peter’s life.

Then there is Narcy, his brother. This one is larger than life. He is action, contemplation, fun, serious, army-disciplined, and unbridled. Narcy held Peter’s hand in the most pivotal moments of his life. He did the same to his other brother, Alfred, who left the bank and started the first stockbroking firm in Malta. Narcy is well-established in the theatre, radio and television scenarios. I loved reading that part on the budding local television and radio, which brought back memories I still treasure. Narcy left the bank, which he rightly considered boring for him, and worked with BBC TV and ITV, and then took up management in the local film industry with great successes. He studied communication in university when almost fifty years old and has a great passion for Caravaggio – a passion I share with him. Narcy fills the whole room when he enters but he never takes any one else’s space. That is being big.

After obtaining a scholarship, Whittle Agricultural College in UK was Peter’s entry in the horticulture world. But first he attended an experimental station in Lymington, where on his first day he attended class in open fields dressed in Bertie Wooster attire. Needless to say, he stuck out like a sore thumb so he quickly entered a nearby army supply shop and purchased more proper garb. It is hilarious reading how he had got a drive to this farm by a disheveled gentleman. On the way, Peter spoke of his plans to skive in abundance, but was shocked to learn on his arrival that the unkempt character was the director. We read of several funny episodes, such as being made to hold a pipe, which spat pig dung under great pressure for a whole day. At College, Peter managed to get elected secretary of the students’ union within a short time. I loved reading about the hoax he and his group played on the general public by con- vincing the press and even being interviewed on BBC Panorama about their experiments to finally detect the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. A whole set of cameras and equipment created a realistic scene, which turned up to be a hoax, devised to collect funds for charity. It was a success; £25,000 was no small joke then!

He excelled in his studies there but the treasures he took with him were life-lasting lessons on camaraderie, how to lead, listen and balance life in all its subtleties.

Malta Broadcasting Authority is included as mentor. There he started programmes on gardening in a most nouvelle manner. I remember them well. He was introduced to the small screen by Lino Spiteri (not the politician but the broadcaster), the same fine gentleman who scouted and launched me on TV and radio when I was still barely sixteen. Those were the days where all TV programmes were live; no recording no editing. It’s fun to read some of the live impromptu solutions Peter propped up to save a disaster. Peter had become a household name. Meanwhile he was also actually building a department of horticulture in Malta.

Mons Charles Vella is deservedly included. A life-long friend, Mons Vella is a living legend. He created the Cana Movement in Malta with its fresh new approach to prepare newly weds to the realities of married life. He managed to do what others would have certainly failed. He then made San Raffael Hospital in Milan his home for 40 years and now resides in Malta, still endowed with a fresh and alert mind and pen. He guided Peter and Simone through many years and actually celebrated their marriage ceremony but mostly he is a friend who held their hands in many circumstances.

Naturally the UNDP and FAO projects could not be missed in such a book. Peter created the horticultural industry in Malta. A true first! It is exciting to read about these times, his adventurous tasks, his team colleagues, the doubts, the results, and the success through sales to hotels, which were sprouting in Malta. Local farmers have much to thank this man for.

Cal Poly University of the USA earns a chapter on its own. Here we meet another mentor – Dr. Howard Brown. How Peter got there is an unbelievable round about adventure, which you must read. I limit myself to state here that it is a story of its own, which shows that when Peter believes in something, he will mange with the help of angels, saints, perseverance, prayer, intuition and plains guts. Read it.

Peter Calamatta is an established household name also for the success he managed to reap through his drive to embellish Malta with greenery and nature’s colours. His private business has been a success but his national imprint is even more.

I cannot fail to mention Fr. Hilary Tagliaferro, a prominent mentor. A man who needs no introduction. A priest who made football his passion and Christ’s message his burning vocation. He is essentially a man of God. He has helped many find the lost way. And he does this without fanfare. Christ is there waiting in the form of a lonely candle in the Millennium Chapel (an oasis in a desert of sound), the voice you hear calling you when you move away from the one who needs you, the deafening whisper in the cacophonous silence of this modern world. He introduces Christ as a friend who speaks plain language and reaches out in our solitude of indifference. I have known Fr. Hilary since I was a very young boy. May his guiding light never falter and his message never fail. Peter has helped Fr. Hillary’s dreams in various innovative ways, including writing and producing books, recording music Cd’s etc. That is Peter. He is still 77 years young and looks at life as an ongoing exciting experience, which he enjoys with his wonderful family and mentors.

There are many other mentors but space is tyrant. One cannot do justice to a packed 400-page book through a short review but I am so glad I have jotted down a few poor words to entice you all to read this adventure of love, prayer, hard work, suffering, laughter ...in short, a life worth living.

Caring for others and treating everyone with dignity is a recurring theme in the book. These basic Christian tenets betray a deep sensitive and altruistic attitude in Peter Calamatta. No wonder the author includes amongst his mentors several religious and spiritual characters.