Giovanni was born in Alexandria, Egypt of Maltese parents, Carmelo Ellul and Guiseppina Debono. He was the third child in a family of 10. One of his brothers died still a baby, and another brother (France)died in his early twenties. His surviving brothers and sisters were: Mary, Dora, Rita, Tony,Carlo,France, Lucy and Joe. He met and married Catherine Harfouche in Alexandria in August 1947 and were soon had two sons. A daughter follwed a few years later but sadly so to did the 1956 suez canal crisis which saw all all British citizens repatriated. Being Maltese, and a British subject he, and his family had to leave the country they knew and loved,their families, and friends and set sail upon the SS Corinthia for England. They were housed intially with all the other refugees in a hostel in Kiddiminster. Giovanni soon managed to secure a job and a house for himself and his family in High Wycombe, indeed he was the first person to leave the camp and do this. The Ellul's settled in Flackwell Heath a village just outside High Wycombe. Giovanni's father lived with them till shortly before his death and was buried in Slough, Berkshire. This saddness was tempered for them with the arrival of another daughter. The British weather did not agree with Giovanni and his health was also affected by the fact he had suffered from bouts of malaria and plurasy as a young man. In 1966 Giovanni suffered his first heart attack. He also suffered from many respiratory diseases and other conditions. Giovanni was frequently hospitalised over the next 14 years, usually in the 'Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital' in Taplow, Berkshire. At the age of 64, his body could take no more and sadly he died of a massive stroke in the early hours of the morning of the 25 August 1980.