No matter how hot it gets, a cup of tea is offered the minute you walk into a Maltese household - with milk, the British way. I remember my mum and aunties drinking tea in glass cups at the very traditional Crystal Palace cafe, and that is how tea is still served. Lion tea is a famous Maltese brand; they do Earl Grey and English Breakfast too.

The British ruled Malta from 1813 to 1974. During World War II, Malta’s strategic position and British naval and air bases, put it in the firing line. Malta held out against German and Italian attacks, despite intensive bombing and a severe shortage of food.

My father was in the RAF in Malta in the 1950’s, when he and my Mum met. Retired, they now live between Malta and the UK. If you ever travel to Malta, you will see the limestone two storey barracks that the British ran at Luqa airport - where my father was stationed. He always points to the rooms he worked in when we land.

There are still signs of the British everywhere - red letter and phone boxes dotted across the island and driving on the left.