Interview with a Maltese Noble or of Noble Descent.

 

Dr Steve (Scott-) Ellis PhD

 

We hope you can be as detailed as possible in this questionnaire. We aim to publish about once a month with a photograph of each interview upon publication. Ensure that you can send a photograph. The aim of providing a standard questionnaire associated to the Maltese nobility, which will form part of our living history. Use as much space as possible and ensure it is not highlighted. Thank you

 

                                                  

Date: 13^th September 2005.

 

Link: Counts Fournier and Sant. - Click to view Genealogical Connection.

 

Name (Include titles, knighthoods, styles): Dr Steve (Scott-) Ellis Ph.D

 

Age                            30, married to Belinda Vassallo, a Maltese descendant, with a son.

 

Do you live in Malta?   Never been to Malta. I live on the North Shores of Sydney Australia

 

Your profession?        Research Consultant

 

Your association to the Maltese Nobility?    No association with those in Malta, other then by descent to the Count Fourniers and the Count Sant. Of course, my father’s family are closely connected to the Lords Scott-Ellis (Seaforth of England). I have dealt with the odd descendant with a Noble surname which proved to be an oddball. Though over all, I’ve kept a distance. My interest is purely English Nobility, hence the family surname.

 

Do you consider your noble connections of any essence today?  Is yes, why?         Only for historic purposes and ancestral connections; it doesn’t play a part in our lives in Sydney.

 

Today, do your noble connections prove to be a hinder or a benefit?          A benefit mainly at dinner parties and a family tree in my living room to show off. I certainly don’t have any coronets, coats of arms or even letters from a Governor or a Sovereign.

 

Do you know your family history, its rise to nobility and thereafter?           Yes, in fact we are quite aware of our ancestors and their rise to fame with both English and Maltese connections. We have met the present Lord Scott-Ellis but never met the Count Fournier as yet.

 

Do you believe that under the Republic of Malta, the nobility were considered as high-class trash?  When did life improve?   Have no association to Malta nor my parents. But in England a surname proves a bonus for employment or gatherings. I’ve heard of Euro Trash is that the same thing. Meet many of those, all cashed up and nowhere to go.

 

Do you believe in a class system today? Totally yes, as there will always be a class system, no matter what the Governments try to do. We will always have the rich and the poor (working class).

 

Do you believe Malta should pride itself in our glorious past? Naturally it should as its one of the key features to tourism. Never forget ones past to help improve ones future.

 

If not why?

 

For our future, do you consider the Nobility in Malta to become an essential tool to our heritage, especially under EU? Can the Nobility as a whole serve any purpose?  I believe the nobility should serve as a historic and heritage basis only, but not like the glory old days. Times have changed, I am afraid.

 

In your view, generally-speaking, how are the Nobility accepted by the general population? Those I’ve met in my travels and in Sydney have respected the nobility as normal people with an added edge. Some do show off but a rarity in Sydney. Though the general public assumes the nobility are super rich and money to burn, but overall most are simply comfortable or making ends meet. The world we live in today has certainly changed to the so-called glory days. The Nobility in the past days had been a class on its own and were privileged to have known the best that society presented. That was the difference.

 

Do the Maltese politicians respect the Nobility? Should the Nobility be given similar rights to the pre-republic times?  I’ve never been to Malta, so I am really unaware. Again the nobility should carry a tradition but not for abuse. It should be controlled and recognised even if it were by the Government as there are many faux titles and chivalry orders. One clear example is the Malta year book.

 

What other benefits do you believe, in today’s terms, the Maltese government should give the Maltese nobility? Rights for the Title holders to use officially but not those siblings or descendants to style the following: Most Noble, The Noble, Dei Conti, Marchesi, Baroni, hereditary knighthoods and patrician ships. That should be kept with the title holders only. Keep it unique and to a minimal.

 

Do you pride yourself in your families past? Of course. Any family would.

 

Do you ensure that your family are aware of its past? Yes I have managed to put together a family tree and a book as a heirloom.

 

Do you have any family heirlooms which associate with the glorious past? My parents have the odd heirloom from the Scott-Ellis family, but nothing from our distant Fournier or the Brignone families.

 

Any interesting stories of your family that you can recite here? We are connected to the Counts Fournier illegitimate line. That’s interesting in itself. Luckily my father’s side is pure and within wedlock.

 

Any other details you like to add? Keep up the good work, pity I don’t have the time to help out as I used to.

 

Best Regards,

Steve, Belinda and Gavin.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards

Charles Said-Vassallo

www.maltagenealogy.com

 

Home