ABOUT MABEL STRICKLAND
- The Hon. Mabel Edeline Strickland, (born 8 January 1899 - died 29 November 1988) was an Anglo-Maltese journalist, newspaper proprietor and politician, and was the daughter of Sir Gerald Strickland (later Lord Strickland), Prime Minister of Malta from 1927-1932.
- Gerald Strickland became 1st Baron Strickland in the UK in 1928 and was the 6th Count Della Catena in Malta. He had previously served as Governor of the Leeward Islands, Governor of Tasmania, Governor of Western Australia and Governor of New South Wales. He served as an MP in England from 1924-1928. The son of a Maltese mother and an English father, he was brought up primarily in Malta.
THE HON MABEL STRICKLAND, O.B.E.
- Mabel founded Allied Newspapers Ltd – publisher of The Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta – in 1935. She did this with her father, Lord Gerald Strickland, G.C.M.G., and her stepmother, Lady Margaret Strickland, D.B.E. (nee Hulton). Mabel was the editor of The Times of Malta and Il Berqa before taking over as Managing Director of Allied Newspapers Ltd on the death of her father in 1940. The paper never missed publishing an issue throughout the Siege of Malta in World War II, despite its building taking direct hits on several occasions.
- Mabel formed and led the Progressive Constitutional Party during the 1950s and was one of Malta’s principal political leaders of the 1950s and 1960s. She always fought passionately for a free and independent press and for maintaining Malta’s ties with Britain and the Commonwealth.
The Hon MABEL STRICKLAND, O.B.E. with HRH Princess Elizabeth and Rev. J McLaughlin at the Palace, Valletta 1951 . Picture courtesy Times of Malta.
- Having never married or had children of her own, in 1975 Mabel Strickland chose her great nephew, Robert Hornyold-Strickland, as her sole heir. She never wavered from this decision.
- Mabel died 29 November 1988 and is buried in the family crypt in the Cathedral in Mdina, Malta. Her tombstone lies next to that of her father, who was always the principal influence in her life.
- The Strickland family seat in the UK is Sizergh Castle in the Lake District. Mabel's mother was Lady Edeline Sackville, eldest daughter of Reginald Sackville, 7th Earl de la Warr, of Knole, in Kent.
Mabel had a huge, formidable personality, and an infectious sense of humour. Described once as "an active volcano"' she was unquestionably a force to be reckoned with. With an impressive range of contacts, she was equally at ease with Royalty, her employees or the man in the street.
Mabel as Editor of the Times of Malta. Photo courtesy Times of Malta
Lord Strickland, GCMG - Mabel's father