12th April - Valent Azzopardi - (RIP 8-4-07).
On Easter Sunday at around 4.30pm, the death of Valent Azzopardi was announced.  He was the Licensee’ of the St. Gabriel Fireworks Factory and member of the St. Gabriel Band Club Central Committee.  Valent was involved more than 60 years in the manufacturing of fireworks.  His first aim was to manufacture fireworks for our feast, the festa of the Annunciation of Balzan.  Then, as he was very popular of the good work, a lot of other localities used to order fireworks from this gentleman especially those colourful ones as he was one of the top.

Born on 8^th  March, 1929 in Balzan.   From a very young age he involved himself in the St. Gabriel Band Club and helped Gabriel Caruana MQR in 1952 to form the St. Gabriel Band and 50 years ago (in 1957) to buy the actual premises.  But Valent’s number one hobby was the manufacturing of fireworks.

Then, Valent’s dream came through.  In fact in 1963 was formed the St. Gabriel Fireworks Factory in the limits of Iklin.  This place gave all the pyrotechnic lovers to work fireworks under the supervision of Valent Azzopardi.  Yes, the group used to work all year round waiting the second week of July where they can exhibit all their work during the festivities of the Annunciation in Balzan.  But Valent best moment used to be on the eve of the festa when around 10.00 in the evening, the St. Gabriel Fireworks Factory will hold the annual splendid and colourful fireworks display.

Last Thursday 12^th April 2007 funeral showed that the people of Balzan and other local pyrotechnics loved Valent for all the works he did during his life.  Obviously the St. Gabriel Band accompanied the funeral with funeral marches along the Main Street to the Parish Church.  And as the coffin arrived next to the Club’s premises, the Central Committee gave the last tribute to this great gentleman.

During the mass praesente cadavere, the Parish Priest Fr. Kalcidon Vassallo said that Valent should be an example for us as he was a very hard working man.  He continued to say that although Valent had a busy schedule, his day used to start with a mass because God, the Annunciation and fireworks were everything in his life.  Finally, the Parish Priest said that the poster in front of the St. Gabriel Band Club with the 2 words reading GRAZZI VALENT which means THANK YOU VALENT did make sense.

The Central Committee together with all the members and their families would like to say THANK YOU VALENT and pray for us so that we can have more energy to work harder in what you worked hard in your life, the St. Gabriel Band Club.

8 ta' April - On Easter Sunday at around 4.30pm, the death of Valent Azzopardi was announced.  He was the Licensee’ of the St. Gabriel Fireworks Factory and member of the St. Gabriel Band Club Central Committee.