Gentleman of the road.

Just over 20 years ago when I was running a restaurant in London, we were visited now and again by a tramp. There was always a disturbance amongst the staff when he was seen coming up the steps. It was up to me as the person in charge to come forward and greet him.

It was not an easy task, as his appearance and odour were not favourable. We had a policy in the restaurant of treating each person with dignity and service, no less `our tramp'. He always paid his bills. We trust he never felt unwelcome although some were critical and told me not to encourage him.

Some years passed and we wondered what had happened to our tramp as Tony didn't visit us anymore.

To our surprise, on 12 January 1998 his photo appeared on the front pages of a number of daily papers with the title `Old Man of the Sea'. He was photographed hand in hand with a nun, Sister Rosina Apollonia from Malta. She said she felt that Tony could be her long lost brother, Georgio Borg. It was thought he had been in the Merchant Navy and that when his ship sunk, he had suffered brain damage and memory loss. Little is known about how he arrived in Britain and lived as a vagrant for 35 years.

This `reunion' happened because Tony was befriended by a Sidmouth lady, Joce Prosser. She saw him on a bitter November day in a shop doorway and asked him `Are you hungry?' He answered `Yes.' She and her friends cared for him on the streets and got to know him during the next eight years. Joce said he was often confused but did show some recognition when they spoke about Malta. They asked him if he was Maltese and he said `Yes'.

Tony was afraid of anything to do with blood and refused a DNA test. It took three weeks of patience to persuade Tony to show his tattoos. From these, his true identity was to emerge. A video with these further facts was sent to Malta.

By this time Sister Rosina was in Sidmouth on her second visit. She was filmed as she left Malta and appeared on TV with an inset photo of Tony. Tony's real sister saw this and went straight to the police. Seeing his tattoos the forensic team said they needed no better evidence and faxed the Prossers in Sidmouth about Tony's sister.

Of course Sister Rosina was saddened that he was not her brother, but she has kept in touch with events and helped when needed. His real sister came twice during the summer to visit him.

All these happenings stirred even more interest from the press and TV. Did Tony want to go back to his homeland? He had no passport but he said he was dreading another winter on the streets. He couldn't wait to be reunited with his family and Joce was to accompany him on the flight to Malta.

The air carrier discovered Tony's fear of flying and set up a special reconnoitre to give him a tour of an empty plane. They also insisted that a nurse fly with them.

In Malta he met up with the rest of his family and was very happy. He tried to get adjusted to sleeping indoors at his new home. Friends and family kept an eye on him until he got settled, and he became quite a local celebrity.

I have followed this story of human kindness, commitment and giving in these modern times, so often thought of as materialistic. I wonder what commitment followed for the Good Samaritan in the Bible who crossed over the road to help the man of another race who had been attacked?

On 31 January 1999 friends realized that Tony was ill. They phoned his family and Joce. He died the next day. He was not alone. His family and friends were with him. He knew Joce was coming from England.

At Tony's memorial service in Sidmouth, the priest said, `Christianity is all about being concerned for those on the margins and left out.' Tony's story touched people throughout the community and, through the press, the world. Unconsciously, he brought out the best in people, and through helping him, many experienced God's love.