Robert Samut

His eldest brother, Lt Col Achilles Samut, was in the Army Ordnance Corps and later became a Malta Senator 1921-29 and served in Sir Gerald Strickland's government 1927-29.

He was also nominated specialist of Pathology at the Central Civil Hospital in Floriana (a building which now houses the Island's Police HQ).

His meritorious service was recognised by the King of Italy, who named him Cavaliere Ufficiale della Corona d’Italia, and also by the award of the Red Cross Diploma.

Prof Robert Samut pioneered the first tests (although primitive) on certain sexually transmitted diseases on the Maltese Islands.

The period following the First World War, and even more so with the events that led the 1919 Sette Gugnio riots, many of the Floriana residents were poor and he would treat them for free.

It is reported that Dun Karm had stated that this was not the usual practice, as normally music was composed to the verses and not vice versa.

All the people of the Maltese Islands soon accepted the "Innu Malti" and it was customary that it be played on all occasions in conjunction with the "God Save the King".

Thus finally, the music, written with the passion of a patriot, a hymn made into a prayer by a national poet, was crowned with the highest glory.

On 26 May 1968 Dr Giorgio Borġ Olivier, then Prime Minister of Independent Malta, in the presence of the Governor General and Lady Dorman, of His Grace Mgr Michael Gonzi, and many other personalities, unveiled a marble plaque on the façade of the Lion House to commemorate the birthplace of Prof. Samut.

Nearby, on Triq Sarria, the old Wesleyan Methodist Chapel has been refurbished and renamed as the Robert Samut Concert Hall in his honour.