UK Veterans Return To Assist With Fort Delimara Restoration Works

A group of veterans from the United Kingdom have returned to Malta to take part, for the second consecutive year, in voluntary work at Fort Delimara in Marsaxlokk, in collaboration with Heritage Malta and the Armed Forces of Malta. This contribution forms part of ALABARÉ’s “Boots on the Ground” initiative and complements the restoration works being carried out by the agency.

ALABARÉ is a charity operating across England and Wales that provides support to people experiencing homelessness, veterans, young people, individuals facing mental health challenges, and people with learning disabilities.

During an official visit to Fort Delimara, Heritage Malta’s Chief Operations Officer, Kenneth Gambin, welcomed the team and emphasised that initiatives like this highlight the important role of volunteering in preserving and protecting the country’s rich heritage. The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, and the United Kingdom’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malta, Tristan Gilchrist, were also present.

Minister Bonnici stated that this initiative forms part of the “Heritage That Heals” programme, which offers veterans an opportunity to contribute to heritage conservation as a means of healing and renewed purpose. He noted that the initiative is particularly important for this fort in Marsaxlokk, which for many years required greater care and attention. He added that the project not only strengthens the protection of Malta’s historical heritage but also creates a space for inclusion and social value, where the contribution of veterans has a positive impact on the wider community.

This year’s programme builds on the valuable work carried out last year, including cleaning, rust removal and painting, and complements the restoration undertaken by Heritage Malta at Fort Delimara. The most recent work completed was the careful conservation and restoration of the main gate of this Victorian fort, using archival references. The gate is 145 years old.

In addition to their work at Fort Delimara, participants this year also explored Heritage Malta’s site in the capital, Taħt il-Belt. This experience provided insight into the extensive underground network beneath the city, where tunnels, reservoirs and wartime shelters tell a compelling story of survival, resilience and adaptation from the time of the Knights to the Second World War.

#MaltaDaily