Michael Mifsud Canilla

MICHAEL MIFSUD CANILLA is a member of the noble Maltese family which has given Malta Heads of State in practically every century. He was born in Jamaica in a refugee camp and climbed to world attention via a rags to riches to rags to riches again after the major recession of the early nineties. He became a Commonwealth Parliamentary Correspondent at the age of sixteen, he was the youngest full member of the highly influential Commonwealth Press Union which harnessed the power of the Press Barons of the day. He published Britain's first trade journal for professional drivers and created the chauffeuring profession, including a much complimented Chauffeur Academy. Commercialisation of the new industry led to millions as every major conference and high profile establishment, including the diplomatic world, chose The Link Organisation as their official supplier of this type of personnel.
Born of Maltese and Spanish parents, based in Gibraltar, he took a special interest in the siege which affected the country during Franco's blockade and fought the issue through Parliamentary and press attention including the infamous Iberplan which technically sought to annex the two territories without Gibraltarian consent. To consolidate and validate the political contribution, he set up a national airline via his own organisation, calling it the Gibraltar Group and made all seats at zero profit, available exclusively to the members of the Association of Gibraltarians in the UK, a factor which alienated the Civil Aviation Authority which constantly threatened to close him down despite the important social contribution. The fact that it was specifically designed for natives of the besieged Rock did not deter him from including as full registered members of the latter institution, Spanish citizens who had critical needs to meet their expatriate families in the UK and who could not afford the extremely expensive Spanish National Airline. He also opened up an important travel facility for the also besieged military personnel unable to fly to the homeland within a budget. The airline led to the acquisition of the Theatre Royal to provide entertainment, with both Helen Shapiro, Bernie Sharpe of Will Scarlet and Talk of the Town fame, Angela Bailey of Covent Garden and leading members of the Black and White Minstral show. The major social events on both sides of the London/Gibraltar run were of considerable consequence labelling the Gibraltar Group as an historical event and its leader a social benefactor of incalculable contribution. Gibraltar´s Governor General at the time, Sir Varyl Begg, lent every support to the movement which inspired him to continue with what appeared at the time to be a lost cause. The British army under his instigation poured every physical effort to carry out a temporary restoration of a building which has been lying in disuse for over a quarter of a century.
The successful exercise led to the creation of the first international publication for Gibraltarians and supporters throughout the world which Michael called The Link after his own company logo.
Michael was a millionaire by the age of 27 and became an overnight international bombshell when his godson and protegee, Farshad Bazoft, the Observer journalist stranded in the UK after the fall of the Shah in Iran, fell foul to Saddam Hussein who hanged him after the most cruel captivity imagined, to spite Margaret Thatcher. Michael was tagged Thatcher's Spymaster because of his attempts to free his godson in concert with his then girlfriend and professional colleagues. He received the body after weeks of attempts to have him repatriated and the British Government gave him an almost civic funeral in Fleet Street and buried him alongside Karl Marx in Highgate cemetery. The tomb stone carries his last brave words “What a pity I should have to die before the world knows the truth....”
Michael travelled with the British Royal family for many years on their foreign tours and has lectured, written and broadcasted on this and other subjects extensively both in Britain and Spain, where he went after the 90´s recession. He was Director of Propaganda of the illustrious Monarchist League of Great Britain and established the first press and public relations office for Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyen´s Incorported Association of Architects and Surveyors which revolutionised the modern approach to Institutional publicity. He was therefore one of the first members of the newly installed Institute of Public Relations, under the name of Charles Michaels, He is a direct descendent, through Princess Bernarda of Moctezuma, to the last emperor of Mexico.
He has just published his first book on Southern Spain, entitled Al Andalus - A Trail of Discovery and is building up a long series of controversial articles on Articlesbase.com which will cover most aspects of his extraordinary career.
He was admitted into the Freedom of the City of London and became one of the leading lights of the modern Order of the Temple with international responsibilities involving hundreds of thousands of knights throughout the world. His studies of the Order´s archives have given him a much envied body of knowledge which he will put to use when time permits. He was also partially responsible for awakening public interest in the dying Channel Tunnel concept with a major exhibition on the issue at London´s Earls Court.
He is a now a hotelier, restaurateur and pioneered the first long term private carpark at Malaga airport which is running into its 25th. Year.
He is unmarried and has an heir from a long term relationship with whom he has lost contact.

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