Deryck Abel

Deryck Robert Endsleigh Abel (September 1918–13 February 1965) was a British author and political activist.

Abel sutdied at Tottenham County School the London School of Economics and London University.^[1] He fought in World War II, losing a leg.^[2] After the war, Abel became active in the Liberal Party, standing unsuccessfully in St Albans at the 1950 UK general election^[1] and Torquay in 1951.^[3] He was also active in the Free Trade Union, edited and wrote for the Free Trader and authored a number of books.^[1]

During the 1950s, Abel was a leading proponent of the construction of a Channel Tunnel, linking Britain with France.^[4] From 1957 to 1959, he served as Chairman of the Liberal Party.^[5] He also stood unsuccessfully in Worthing at the 1959 UK general election.^[6]

In 1959, Abel resigned from the Free Trade Union and the Free Trader, following their takeover by supporters of Oliver Smedley.^[5] He married Betty, a lecturer and member of the editorial staff of the Contemporary Review,^[2] a publication of which he served as editor from 1960 to 1965.^[7] He died around this time, his health never having recovered from his wartime experiences.^[2]

References

1. 1 2 3 'The Times Guide to the House of Commons (1951), p.102
2. 1 2 3 Richard Mullen, "Betty Abel, 1916-1996", Contemporary Review, April 1996
3. ↑ 'The Times Guide to the House of Commons (1959), p.110
4. ↑ Books Ca-Ch, Oakwood Press and Video Library
5. 1 2 John Meadowcroft and Jaime Edwards, "Liberals and the New Right", Journal of Liberal History (2005)
6. ↑ "Obituary: Mr Deryck Abel", The Guardian, 15 February 1965
7. ↑ Magazine Data: Page 83