Wilfred the Diver, Malta
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sun 2 Jan 2011 12:32
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The great thing about travelling is the characters
you meet.
If you have ever visited Malta you would have seen
all of the vintage cars still driving around. In 1989 we stayed in Malta on
holiday for the first time. There were many old English right-hand drive cars—of
course for the Maltese who drive on the left--- a legacy left by the British
Empire.
Old cars in the late 80’s were 1950/60/70’s --
Morris Marinas, Cortina's, Austin A40’s to name a few. Sadly now many have
‘retired’ but you occasionally see the odd A40 and Marina.
However, around the Yacht marinas we have seen a
really old scooter. Hand painted in cream with the name Thomas C Smith and
Co.
I said to Tony, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to meet who
ever owns that scooter, I bet he or she would be interesting and have a story to
tell ‘.
Well a week later we found out. The scooter turned
up on the dock near us complete with rider and huge diving tank resting between
his knees on the foot rest. The gentleman proceeded to strip to his
bathers, put on flippers and used the parked scooter to hold his heavy air tank
whilst he wrestled into the straps.
He wobbled to the waters edge and jumped off the
wall into the water. 30 minutes later he returned after fitting a new
mooring line to the sea bed for a neighbours winter stay.
Once out of the water we offered the diver a hot
drink and heard his story.
A very fit looking, Wilfred said he was 74 years
old and had been diving for 60 years since he was only 14. We laughed with
him about the precarious air tank resting on the rusted floor rest between his
legs--- he’d done it for years. We didn’t comment upon the fact that we
could see daylight through the floor near his pedals !! The scooter wasn’t
new when he bought it but he said he’d only had it for 38 years !!!
Great character................
Photos below... Vintage red car and Wilfred
and his scooter.
Love
Tina and Tony x x
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