Appreciation: Paul Cardona

None of us are under the illusion that life on earth is forever. It isn’t and we know it. We know that our physical presence is ‘on loan’ and our faith teaches us that it is our ‘next’ life that is actually eternal! It is this idea of meeting up in the next life which sweetens the bitter pill of an end-of-life experience, especially when it is premature.

And Paul Cardona’s passing was, to those who lived with him, worked with him and shared their personal and professional life with him, terribly premature because at 72 Paul was full of the best life had to offer. 

Focusing on Paul’s professional life and achievements, Paul was not only a master technician. He combined his vast knowledge of marine engineering with an incredible ability to connect with people at all levels. 

It was his hands-on experience as an apprentice at the Malta Drydocks run by Swan Hunters in 1966, through his progression to ship repair manager at the yard, accompanied by his academic qualification in mechanical engineering, through to his  experience as a superintendent engineer  with Southern Steamships (London), giving him the opportunity to supervise the company’s  ship building programme in Japan for a...