Obituary I

MR. DERYCK

ABEL

JOURNALISM AND

POLITICS

Mr. Deryck Abel, who died on Saturday, had been editor of the Contemporary Review since July, 1960. He was 46.

Deryck Robert Endsleigh Abel was born in September, 1918 at Salisbury, and educated at the Tottenham Secondary School and the London School of Economics. During the war he served in the 69th Searchlight Regiment R.A.. until he was seriously wounded and lost a leg.

Abel had two consuming interests in life: his work as journalist, editor. and

writer. ana Lne

advancement of the Liberal Party. Until 1960 he was able largely to combine these interests. He belonged at first to the diminishing free trade wing of the party. He was directing secretary of the Free Trade Union, 1954-57, and editor of the Free Trader, 1951-58. He wrote A History of British Tarifls, 1923-42.

Within tne Liberal Party hierarchy he made steady progress, becoming chairman of the National Party Executive, 1957-59, and vice-president of the party in 1960. He contested St. Albans in 1950 Torquay in 1951, and Worthing in 1959. Abel came to recognize that the future of the party did not lie in a doctrinaire approach to free trade but in the far broader base of radical and social reform combined with private enterprise.

During these years he was a prolific freelance writer, with a particular concern for econtomic affairs and personal liberty. It was thus appropriate for him to write the biography of Sir Ernest Benn in 1960. Ernest Benn, Counsel for Liberiy, was certainly his most important book, being a thorough, understanding, and workmantike study of the great libertarian. This book was followed in 196f by a penetrating historical survey of the Channel tunnel projects in Channel Undera'ound.

It is, however, as editor of the Contemporary Review that Abel will be most widely remembered; this became his overriding interest and indeed passion. It was a difficult task to succeed Dr. G. P. Gooch, who had edited and directed the Review for 49 years and had built up a world-wide circulation and established for it the highest standing, especially in the fields of public and foreign affairs and of historical study.

Abel did maintain this reputation of the Review, and at the same time he added a new degree of freshness and vigour. He widened the scope of contributions, especially on travel and literary subjects. He attracted new contributors from both sides of the Atlantic and encouraged younger writers. During his editorship the Review was brought more up to date with a new cover and modern layout. He frequently contributed to the Review. As in most of his literary work, his style if not inspiring was solid, penetrating, and dedicated. He wrote with erudition, a high regard for details, and always with complete integrity.

Abel was twice married, his first marriage having been dissolved in 1962. He is survived by his widow and a son and...