Deryck Abel
Encyclopedia
Deryck Abel was a British
author
and political activist.
Abel sutdied at Tottenham County School the London School of Economics
and London University. He fought in World War II
, losing a leg. After the war, Abel became active in the Liberal Party
, standing unsuccessfully in St Albans
at the 1950 UK general election and Torquay
in 1951. He also was also active in the Free Trade Union
, edited and wrote for the Free Trader
and authored a number of books.
During the 1950s, Abel was a leading proponent of the construction of a Channel Tunnel
, linking Britain with France. From 1957 to 1959, he served as Chairman of the Liberal Party. He also stood unsuccessfully in Worthing
at the 1959 UK general election.
In 1959, Abel resigned from the Free Trade Union and the Free Trader, following their takeover by supporters of Oliver Smedley
. He married Betty, a lecturer and member of the editorial staff of the Contemporary Review
, a publication of which he served as editor from 1960 to 1965. He died around this time, his health never having recovered from his wartime experiences.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and political activist.
Abel sutdied at Tottenham County School the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and London University. He fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, losing a leg. After the war, Abel became active in the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, standing unsuccessfully in St Albans
St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)
St Albans is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Established in 1885, it is a county constituency in Hertfordshire, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.From 1554 to 1852 there was a...
at the 1950 UK general election and Torquay
Torquay (UK Parliament constituency)
Torquay was a county constituency in Devon, South West England, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1951. He also was also active in the Free Trade Union
Free Trade Union
The Free Trade Union, later known as the Free Trade League, was a British trade organization extant between July 1903 and the 1970s. It was founded in response to the campaign for empire preference which had been launched by Board of Trade chairman Joseph Chamberlain in May 1903...
, edited and wrote for the Free Trader
Free Trader
Free Trader was a political label used by several candidates in the 1906 general election and January 1910 general election. Its candidates were in university constituencies, led by John Eldon Gorst, who had been previously elected as a Conservative Party but had split from the party in 1902.The...
and authored a number of books.
During the 1950s, Abel was a leading proponent of the construction of a Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
, linking Britain with France. From 1957 to 1959, he served as Chairman of the Liberal Party. He also stood unsuccessfully in Worthing
Worthing (UK Parliament constituency)
Worthing was a parliamentary constituency in West Sussex, centred on the town of Worthing in West Sussex. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
at the 1959 UK general election.
In 1959, Abel resigned from the Free Trade Union and the Free Trader, following their takeover by supporters of Oliver Smedley
Oliver Smedley
Major Oliver Smedley MC was a British businessman involved in classical liberal politics and pirate radio. He was acquitted of the murder of a business rival on the grounds of self-defence.-Military:...
. He married Betty, a lecturer and member of the editorial staff of the Contemporary Review
Contemporary Review
-Foundation:It was founded in 1866 by Alexander Strahan and a group of intellectuals anxious to promote intelligent and independent opinion about the great issues of their day. They intended it to be the church-minded counterpart of the resolutely secular Fortnightly Review, which was founded by...
, a publication of which he served as editor from 1960 to 1965. He died around this time, his health never having recovered from his wartime experiences.