To say that Malta has a rich history is an understatement.

Walk the streets and clifftops of this Mediterranean archipelago and you’ll discover layers of history that go back hundreds and even thousands of years.

Below, we peel back the centuries and unveil some of the islands’ most spellbinding historic treasures.

One is the capital city, the entirety of which has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. Within is one of the most opulently decorated cathedrals you’ll ever set eyes on, picture-postcard townhouses and the former headquarters of the order that built the city in the 16th century — the Knights of St John.

The island’s old capital, Mdina, is similarly hypnotic, but far more tranquil – a car-free, walled city infused with thousands of years of history.

For a sense of Malta’s military struggles there are epic forts to wander, vast displays of armour to gaze at, and a citadel to visit that was a place of refuge for locals against raiding parties for hundreds of years.

Delve even deeper into the past with a visit to Malta’s ancient subterranean cemetery and megalithic temples, Unesco-listed sites predating the Pyramids that reveal how the island was once home to a remarkably advanced prehistoric society.

Valletta — the Baroque capital built by the Knights

Perched on a rocky peninsula between two natural harbors, capital-city Valletta is tiny, covering just 60 hectares, or about one-fifth the size of Central Park.

But it packs a historical punch.

Built in 1566 by the Knights of St John — who came from noble families around Europe and ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798 — the honey-colored city is laced with stunning 16th and 17th-century townhouses, many of which now house atmospheric restaurants and bars, and jammed with around 320 monuments.

One of the most important landmarks to visit is St John’s Co-Cathedral, which was built by the Knights in the 1570s.

On the outside, it’s unprepossessing, but step inside and you’ll be greeted by a riot of lavish decorations that unambiguously signal power and wealth. There are carved stone walls, floors covered with marble tombs and a beautiful, painted vaulted ceiling. The eye will also be drawn to Caravaggio’s oil-painting masterpiece, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

The Grand Master’s Palace, in the heart of Valletta, is another can’t-miss landmark. This former Knights nerve-center is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of arms and armor — underscoring the order’s military prowess — and rare French tapestries.

One of the best vantage points from which to drink in the city’s splendor is the 16th-century Upper Barrakka Gardens, originally a place of repose for the Italian Knights of St John.

Great place to stay: The Barrister (rooms from $245) sits right in Valletta’s historic core and features a bijou rooftop terrace with skyline views.

Read more: Malta’s coastline is one of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular — here’s why

Mdina — Malta’s ancient ‘Silent City’

Mdina is a spellbinding journey through thousands of years of Maltese history, and a truly tranquil experience.

This incredible walled city — Malta’s old capital — dates back to the Bronze Age, after which it was ruled by the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and eventually the Knights of St John.

Wander its labyrinthine streets and you’ll feel the depth of that history with every step — and you’ll hear every step. Mdina, car-free and with a population of just a few hundred people, is so quiet that it’s been dubbed Malta’s “Silent City.”

One of the key photo opportunities is the city gate, which you may recognize from Game of Thrones — it was used as the entrance to King’s Landing in the hit HBO series. The stone portal was built in 1724, and with its intricate carvings, makes for a suitably theatrical entrance to the city.

St Paul’s Cathedral also delivers drama, with an elegant dome that dominates the skyline and stunning painted ceilings inside.

Don’t leave without walking the perimeter walls, which offer impressive views of the maze-like city interior and out across the surrounding patchwork fields to the Mediterranean beyond.

Great place to stay: The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux (rooms from $320) is one of the few hotels set inside Mdina’s walls, and the converted 17th-century palazzo delivers a lost-in-time-and-space atmosphere, with antique-festooned rooms.

Read more: 10 best hotels in Malta, from Valletta to St Julian’s

Vittoriosa (Birgu) — where Malta held the line

Vittoriosa — also known as Birgu — offers further, fascinating immersion into the world of the Knights of St John, for this Lilliputian city — which sits directly across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, forming part of the so-called “Three Cities” (Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua) — was the Knights’ headquarters before Valletta existed, and helped ensure victory in the Great Siege of 1565.

The part of the city that bore the brunt of the onslaught from Ottoman forces was the formidable Fort St Angelo, which served as the nucleus of the Knights’ defense.

The fort was opened to the public in 2015, and stepping inside is an eye-opening glimpse into Malta’s military past. Interactive exhibits tell the story of the siege, and you can explore the former residence of the fort commander and see the Guva, the 16th-century oubliette accessible only by a trapdoor in the ceiling where the artist Caravaggio was held in 1608.

Stroll the ramparts for mesmerizing harbor views.

Earmark time, too, for a look around the Inquisitor’s Palace, a complex that had a dual role from the 16th to the 18th centuries as both a grand residence for Holy Roman inquisitors enforcing religious orthodoxy and a prison for accused heretics.

The streets of the city will hold you spellbound — they’re beautifully preserved and intimate.

Great place to stay: Casa Birmula Boutique Hotel (rooms from $230) is set in a restored townhouse and offers superb skyline views from its rooftop terrace and pool.

Read more: Exploring Gozo, Malta’s wilder, quieter island

Malta’s deepest history — structures that predate the pyramids

The archipelago’s history runs astonishingly deep. In fact, it’s home to seven Unesco-listed megalithic temples and an underground cemetery that are among the oldest surviving human-built structures on the planet, some of which predate the Pyramids and Stonehenge.

The society behind them was one that flourished, then suddenly collapsed. The reason why isn’t clear — some researchers believe farming and deforestation led to catastrophic soil degradation — but one thing is certain: these architectural masterpieces, built with extremely limited resources, indicate that Malta was home to an advanced prehistoric society capable of remarkable feats of engineering.

One of the most impressive monuments is Ggantija, a temple on the island of Gozo dating back to 3600-3200BC created from limestone blocks and built to a striking scale.

On Malta’s southern coast, around 1,600 feet apart on the crest of a ridge, are the similarly ancient and eye-opening temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. Key areas of Mnajdra are illuminated by the sun during the equinoxes and solstices, indicating symbolic and astronomical understanding.

The subterranean Unesco-listed necropolis of Hal Saflieni Hypogeum — on a hill in the suburb of Paola, not far from the Grand Harbour — is an even more prized sight: because exhaled carbon dioxide damages the delicate limestone walls, only around 10 people at a time are allowed inside.

Book far in advance, up to two months if possible, to view halls, chambers and passages dug in three levels that were in use between 4000 and 1500BC.

Great place to stay: Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (rooms from $200) on Gozo has gardens and multiple pools, and is within easy reach of Ggantija.

Read more: 11 of the best things to do in Valletta, Malta

Gozo Citadel — the island’s defensive heart for centuries

Gozo’s fairytale walled Citadel (known locally as Il-Kastell) crowns the island’s main town, Victoria (also known as Rabat), and occupies a site that’s been fortified in some way since the Bronze Age.

While today it’s largely a historic attraction (though there are a handful of residents), in the past it was a vital refuge for locals.

In fact, from the late Middle Ages until the early 17th century rural families would shelter nightly in the citadel as protection against pirate and Ottoman raids.

Take to the ramparts and it becomes clear why the citadel was so vital for defense — you can see almost the entire island.

Ground-level explorations unveil a world within a world, a maze of hushed, narrow lanes, tranquil squares and small museums, including the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Folklore Museum, and Nature Museum.

The early 18th-century Cathedral of the Assumption is the flagship attraction, featuring a hypnotic ceiling painting that creates the illusion of a dome.

Great place to stay: Hotel Ta’ Cenc & Spa, Gozo (rooms from $260), a short drive from the citadel, is an oasis: there are gardens, pools and countryside views. And noise pollution is non-existent.

Read more: Seven Unesco sites in Europe that are worth the hype

President Donald Trump is considering whether to launch a risky military operation to seize uranium from deep inside Iran, according to US officials, in what would represent a major escalation in the war.

The American president is yet to make a final decision on the plan as the conflict in the Middle East enters its fifth week, but he is said to be open to the idea and weighing up the danger to US troops, according to the Wall Street Journal.

On Sunday, Trump told reporters that Iran must give up its highly enriched uranium for the ongoing war to end.

“They are decimated right now. They’re going to give up nuclear weapons. They’re going to give us the nuclear dust,” he said referring to the uranium.

“They’re going to do everything that we want to do. If they don’t do that, they’re not going to have a country.”

Seizing Iran’s uranium would entail a complex operation involving American troops flying to nuclear sites while under fire from Iranian forces.

Combat troops would need to secure the perimeters of the sites, supported by highly-skilled technical staff and engineers on board to extract the radioactive material. This would need to be carried in around 40 to 50 special cylinders to be transported out of the country without incident.

They would also need to assess the territory for mines and other explosive devices designed to ward off security breaches.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the president has made a decision,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The Pentagon have not commented on the reports and a spokesman for US Central Command declined to comment when approached by the WSJ.

Last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran has 1,000 pounds (400 kilograms) of uranium enriched at 60 per cent. Iran is also reported to have nearly 200 kilograms of 20 per cent fissile material, which can be easily converted to 90 per cent weapons-grade.

Experts say that levels that high are not required for nuclear reactors or medical reasons and could likely be for weapons.

Nuclear weapons require 90 per cent enrichment, while the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 included material that was 80 per cent enriched. A nuclear bomb could still be developed at 60 per cent but wouldn’t be deliverable by missiles.

In June 2025, Israel and the US said they had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, but it is unclear whether the Iranian establishment transferred the material prior to the bombing or if it remains underground.

IAEA director General Rafael Grossi previously said he believes the uranium is at two of the three sites that were attacked last year including an underground tunnel at a nuclear complex in Isfahan and a cache at Natanz.

Iran is not currently enriching uranium, according to expert assessments, and had previously agreed to give up stockpiling enriched uranium as part of nuclear talks in February, according to Oman’s foreign minister.

Tehran has warned against a ground invasion and said Trump is leading US troops into “the swamp of death”.

Psycho Path at Lintz Hall Farm in Burnopfield has announced that an Airbus A330 will be the latest twist to the annual event, set to kick off on September 26.

While details about how the plane – which normally seats around 300 – will be used, the spectacle will sit alongside Psycho Path’s 11 other terror mazes.

This includes Dolls House, Crawl Space, IScream, Cutthroat Island, The Hunt, Psycho City, The Darkness and Psychotorium, which was added to the list last year.

Since it was launched in 2018, the event has grown year on year, creating more ambitious and terrifying scare attractions.  

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“This is something that I have had at the back of my mind for some time and now we have managed to purchase a plane, we will be creating something that not only has never been seen in the UK before but we believe will be a world first,” director Christiano Crawford said.

Psycho Path is working with a leading company in the USA to bring the idea to life.  

Phase one tickets are already sold out, with phase two now on sale at psycho-path.co.uk 

Christiano believes that once the full details of the new attraction are known, the event will be even more in demand.  

Every year we sell out and have to add extra dates,” he said.  “This time round we’re introducing a very different kind of scare – and it will be one that nobody will want to miss.”

Psycho Path is scheduled to run until November 1 this year.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump openly mused about seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal in the Persian Gulf and the United States and Israel kept up their attacks Monday on the Islamic Republic, even as there were signs of progress in nascent ceasefire talks. Tehran, meanwhile, struck a key water and electrical plant in hard-hit Kuwait, part of its campaign targeting the Gulf Arab states.

As a diplomatic effort being facilitated by Pakistan toward ending the war moved ahead, Trump said Iran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday as “a sign of respect.” At the same time, with 2,500 U.S. Marines now in the region and a similar sized contingent on its way, he raised the idea of taking Iran’s Kharg Island.

“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t,” he told the Financial Times in an interview published early Monday. “We have a lot of options.”

Iran launches attacks on Israel and hits more infrastructure targets in Gulf states

Sirens sounded at dawn near Israel’s main nuclear research center, a part of the country that has been targeted repeatedly in recent days. Israel’s military also said it had taken out two drones launched from Yemen, where the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels entered the war on Saturday with their first missile attack.

Iran kept up the pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbors, as Saudi Arabia intercepted five missiles targeting its oil-rich Eastern province, Bahrain sounded a missile alert, and a fireball erupted over Dubai as an incoming missile was taken out by defenses.

In Kuwait, an Iranian attack hit a power and desalination plant, killing one worker and injuring 10 soldiers, the state-run KUNA news agency reported.

Desalination plants are crucial to water supplies in the Gulf Arab states, and an Iranian attack previously damaged a desalination plant in Bahrain during the war. The facilities are typically paired with power plants, because of the large amount of energy required to remove salt from the water to make it drinkable.

Israel’s military launched a new wave of attacks on Iran, saying it was striking “military infrastructure” across Tehran, and explosions were heard in the Iranian capital. Iranian state media reported a petrochemicals plant in Tabriz, in the north, sustained damage after an airstrike and firefighters had to put out a blaze.

In Lebanon, which Israel has invaded by ground, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and three others were wounded when a projectile exploded near a village in the south.

Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military will widen its invasion, expanding the “existing security strip” in that country’s south as it targets the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant group.

Oil prices rise again as concerns of global energy crisis grow

Iran’s attacks on the energy infrastructure of the region and its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped in peacetime, has sent oil prices skyrocketing and given rise to growing concerns about a global energy crisis.

In early trading, the spot price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, was around $115, up nearly 60% from when the U.S. and Israel started the war with attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

As pressure has grown on Trump to bring an end to the conflict, the U.S. has presented Iran a 15-point plan that includes it agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Iran, meantime, has produced a five-point plan with its own terms, including maintaining its sovereignty over the key waterway.

Pakistan announced Sunday that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions on the monthlong war would be direct or indirect.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar the talks would be held “in the coming days.”

Trump says diplomatic approach going well but suggests military expansion is possible

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday that the U.S. was negotiating “directly and indirectly” with Iran, though Iran has insisted that it has not been in any talks with Washington.

“We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,” Trump said.

Earlier, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the talks in Pakistan as a cover to get more U.S. troops into the area. He said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to state media.

In the interview with the Financial Times, Trump suggested it could mean a longer-term commitment if the U.S. decided to try and take Kharg Island, saying “it would mean we had to be there for a while.”

“I don’t think they have any defense,” he added. “We could take it very easily.”

The U.S. already launched airstrikes once that targeted military positions on the island. Iran has threatened to launch its own ground invasion of Gulf Arab countries and mine the Persian Gulf if U.S. troops land on its territory.

To get an amphibious invasion force to Kharg would mean transiting the Strait of Hormuz and most of the Persian Gulf. Experts say that holding the island would also be a challenge, because in addition to its missiles and drones, it would be well within artillery range from the Iranian mainland.

Iran on Monday confirmed that the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s navy, Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, as Israel claimed last week. The Republican Guard praised the admiral’s efforts in statement, particularly in helping Iran keep its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

“Every fighter is a Tangsiri, and we will see what surprises they will bring in the days and months ahead,” it said.

Death toll climbs

In Lebanon, officials said more than 1,200 people have been killed and more than 1 million have been displaced. Five Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives.

In Iran, authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel.

In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups have entered the conflict, 80 members of the security forces have died.

In Gulf states, 20 people have been killed. Four have been killed in the occupied West Bank.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in the war.

___

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One, Giovanna Dell’Orto in Miami, Florida and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this story.

Beyond Paradise star Kris Marshall has opened up about his family life as the BBC drama returns for series 4.

Beyond Paradise star Kris Marshall has shared his family’s response to the BBC show, which is returning for its fourth series, revealing his son’s “heartbreaking” viewing habit.

The former Death in Paradise lead continues his portrayal of DI Humphrey Goodman in the spin-off, which resumes following his character’s marriage to Martha Lloyd (played by Sally Bretton).

As they adjust to married life, the new series presents Humphrey with an “impossible decision” and a fresh set of cases to solve.

Ahead of the new series, Kris, who shares two children, Thomas and Elsie, with his wife Hannah Dodkin, confessed that he’s “losing” his son’s interest in the BBC crime drama.

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Speaking to Hello! Magazine, he disclosed: “My son, who is the eldest, is now a teenager, and he’s starting to drift away, towards things like Stranger Things,” reports the Express.

“I’m sort of losing him to the darker side of things, but he watches [Beyond Paradise] a lot when I’m away, which is kind of heartbreaking, but also I love it.”

Kris has previously discussed juggling his demanding filming schedule with family life, after relocating from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, where Death in Paradise was shot, to Bath in 2017, so his children could attend school in the UK.

The family initially made Bath, Somerset, their home before relocating to the New Forest. Kris later explained: “My wife and I moved back to Bath when we had kids, but we relocated to the New Forest last year, basically as a lifestyle choice.

“When I’m not working, I’m all about just enjoying myself as much as possible – I’m big into sailing, surfing and skiing… oh, and Scrabble! All the S-words, really. As much as I love Bath, there’s not much in the way of coast there! So now we’re a 10-minute drive from the beach and a five-minute drive from the forest, and I love it.”

His work now requires him to spend considerable periods away from his family while filming in Devon and Cornwall. Speaking recently to The Daily Mail, he revealed that following 14-hour days across five days weekly, he doesn’t return home every weekend – a four-hour journey.

Kris reflected: “My kids are growing up. They’ve got their own lives.”

He continued by saying he “loves” the arrangement, appreciating the “beauty” of reuniting with his family fortnightly while also valuing the “solitude” of personal time following demanding filming schedules.

Discussing the challenge of readjusting to domestic life, he noted: “You have to relearn each other’s ways. It’s difficult. Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s an extremely blessed job when you’ve got your own show, you’re looked after and solitude is something you turn to.

“Time on your own, not having to do school drop-offs and all the things that come with family life. But you always have to remember how to be a parent when you come back, which is difficult because to me it is all about a light touch on the tiller.”

The synopsis for the new series of Beyond Paradise teases: “Fact and folklore blur as they investigate the death of a novelist who predicted their demise, a magical night of Dark Morris that soon turns sour, a stolen treasure map that suddenly reappears, and the alleged sighting of a vengeful mermaid lurking out at sea.

“Humphrey (Kris Marshall) and Martha (Sally Bretton) launch into married life as they search for a new home, whilst Humphrey wrestles with an impossible decision that may change the lives of everyone at the station forever.”

Beyond Paradise continues on Friday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

The Yorkshire Craft Festival, organised by Made in Yorkshire, will take place on Parliament Street in York from April 7 to 12.

The six-day event will feature a large marquee filled with handmade goods from makers across the region, including art, homeware, gifts and traditional crafts, alongside live demonstrations and interactive workshops.

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Tracie Jarvis-Post of Made in Yorkshire said: “Yorkshire has an incredible community of skilled makers, artists and craftspeople.

“The Yorkshire Craft Festival is all about bringing those makers together in one place, giving visitors the chance to discover locally made products, learn new skills and enjoy a creative day out in the heart of York.”

The tent at previous festivals (Image: Provided)

The workshops throughout the week will let visitors try their hand at stained glass making, blacksmithing, felt making, willow weaving and paper craft.

Families can enjoy dedicated children’s activities such as pot painting and paper crafts, while adults can participate in pot throwing and other hands-on sessions led by experienced artisans.

Artists at a previous event (Image: Provided)

The event aims to highlight the skill and creativity of Yorkshire’s independent craft community.

Entry is free and open to all with more information and workshop bookings available at https://madeinyorkshire.org.uk/events/yorkshire-craft-festival-spring-26 

MELBOURNE, Australia. (AP) — Australian police said they believe they shot dead a suspect Monday accused of killing two police officers and seriously wounding a third in a remote forest region seven months ago.

There had been no confirmed sightings of Dezi Freeman, 56, since he allegedly opened fire on police officers who came to serve a warrant at his home near Porepunkah in Victoria state northeast of Melbourne on Aug. 26 last year, Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush said on Monday.

A man believed to be Freeman was fatally shot by police on Monday at a remote location near Thologolong, around two hours’ drive north of Porepunkah, a police statement said.

“We believe it is Freeman, but we have to go through a formal identification process,” Bush told reporters in Melbourne. Identification could take up to 48 hours through processes including fingerprinting.

Heavily armed Special Operations Group tactical police were involved in a standoff for three hours before the suspect was shot. He had been inside a shelter like a shipping container and did take up a police offer to surrender, Bush said.

“This was all about bringing this to a conclusion as safely as possible. Our ultimate goal was to arrest the person there … as peacefully as possible,” Bush said.

Bush said he “strongly believed” the suspect was armed. Bush could not say whether the suspect fired at police.

Australian news outlets widely reported that Freeman espoused co-called sovereign citizen beliefs and had grievances with police. He had wilderness survival skills that police feared could sustain him living in the open indefinitely.

The shooting of three police officers led to a massive search across Victoria’s heavily forested alpine region. In recent months, police said they suspected Freedman had killed himself.

“We have to follow every avenue of inquiry and there was a lot to suggest that Freedman had taken his own life,” Bush said.

Bush would not say whether a tipoff led police to the suspect on Monday. Police had offered a 1 million Australian dollar ($678,000) reward for information.

Police said they continue to investigate whether others had helped the suspect avoid arrest.

The Making Every Moment Count Campaign managed to raise over £214,000 to help the hospice run its vital services, more than double the £100,000 goal.

The campaign was ‘match funded’, meaning that for every £1 raised, a local business or organisation would donate another £1, effectively doubling the total raised.

Kathryn Willet offering thanks to backers and champions (Image: Dan Dougherty)

This was something the hospice had never tried before, and the success took them by surprise.

Kathryn Willett is the relations manager for the hospice.

“What you have all achieved is amazing,” she said, in a speech at the event.

“I couldn’t wish for better supporters – from the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you enough.

“I still can’t get over it!”

The celebration event brought together donors and matchers for the first time, giving them the chance to meet the generous people who helped double their generous donations.

Hospice exec Leigh Vallance giving a speech thanking everyone for their generosity (Image: Dan Dougherty)

The donations were made over a 36-hour period.

They thought they’d be ok with four people on the phones, but this turned out to be an underestimation of local generosity.

“We were on the phones from nine o’clock to four o’clock,” said volunteer Anne Davison, “and we were dumbstruck with how many calls we were getting and how much money people were donating.

“We raised £214,000, and that doesn’t even include Giftaid.”

But this is not the only money the hospice will raise this year. In fact, £5.5m of the hospice’s annual £7m running cost comes from donations.

This is why the hospice is always thankful to the people that help keep them afloat, people like the Cunningham family, who estimate they have raised over £10,000 for the hospice over the years.

The celebration evening took place on March 26 (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Mark Cunningham and his daughter, former Miss Northwest Christina Cunningham, have been raising money for the hospice for years.

The two said: “It’s something we’d done for a long time, but we never expected we’d have to use it.

“It’s one of those things where you don’t think about it, but when you need it, you can’t live without it.”

It wasn’t until last year that they had to use the service themselves.

The evening’s spread (Image: Dan Dougherty)

“It was grandpa Joe,” Christina said, referring to Joseph Cunningham, her paternal grandfather, and Mark’s dad.

“None of us knew he had cancer at the time, it was all so quick.”

Joseph – a former member of the Cottontown Chorus – was moved quickly into the hospice.

“At first he was unsure about it, but soon he was moving things around, reorganising things, putting up pictures.”

Muntazir Dipoti, who volunteers for the hospice, trying to raise its profile amongst the Muslim community (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Although suffering from dementia, Joe was still able to remember the words from his old Cottontown Chorus performances after an old choir buddy came to visit.

They played a Youtube video of their MGM Grand performance in Las Vegas.

Mark said: “His voice wasn’t quite there, but he still had the rhythm of the words.

“Any time his friend made a mistake, Joe would raise his hand telling him ‘stop!’”

The Cunninghams were extremely grateful for how the hospice allowed them all to navigate Joe’s last days.

“We can’t thank the hospice enough – they made all of us feel at home,” said Christina.

Muntazir Dipoti and hospice relationships manager Kathryn Willett (Image: Dan Dougherty)

“He could see his great-granddaughter playing outside his window in the garden – you wouldn’t really get that in a hospital, where it’s more regimented.

One of the family’s last acts was to visit Joe to let him know that Christina was pregnant, and that he was about to have a great-grandson.

“We went to see him at the weekend,” said Christina, “and on Monday he died.”

Christina’s son’s was named ‘Joseph’ in his great grandfather’s honour, making him Theodore Joseph Cunningham-Jones.

“The important thing is that it allowed him to die as himself – he didn’t die as sick Joe, he died as Joe Cunningham.”

Two different roads have been closed this morning due to downed trees

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Fallen trees have caused problems for motorists this morning, (Monday) as two different roads were closed. Drivers are asked to find alternative routes while work to clear debris is underway.

The Ballygowan Road, Saintfield is currently closed due to a fallen tree and damaged NIE cable. Northern Ireland Electricity have been informed and according to Traffic Watch NI are due to respond. Road ahead closed and road closed signs are currently in place.

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The Pinehill Road in Drumbo is also currently closed in both directions close to the Mill Road due to a large tree blocking the road.

Elsewhere, traffic is currently flowing well in the greater Belfast area.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A 50-year-old man will face court later today

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A 50-year-old man has been charged with murder following an incident in Portadown last week.

The charge follows the death of Rolandas Kvederis, aged 49, at a property in Ranfurley Road on Thursday night, March 26.

Police attended the scene following reports that a man had been injured in an altercation. Mr Kvederis was pronounced dead at the property.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident, and the other has since been released unconditionally.

The charged man is due to appear before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court later this morning, Monday, March 30.Police said that, as is standard procedure, the charge will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.