Maurice Xiberras

Maurice Xiberras GMH (14 November 1936 – 19 March 2017) was a Gibraltarian teacher, trade unionist and politician.[3] He was regarded as being a strong defender of British sovereignty, who believed there was no future for Gibraltar without the continuing close relationship with the United Kingdom.[4]

The Hon. Maurice Donald Xiberras MHA, GMH
Maurice Xiberras teaching Latin at Hampton School, London in 1981.
Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar
In office 1969 – 1972
Leader of the Opposition
In office 1972 – 1979
Personal details
Born	14 November 1936[1] The Rock, Gibraltar
Died	19 March 2017 (aged 80)[2] Surbiton, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Political party	Integration with Britain Party Democratic Party of British Gibraltar
Alma mater	University of Bristol University of Edinburgh
Occupation	Politician, teacher
Website	SurbitonCounselling.co.uk

Education and teaching career

Xiberras began his professional career as a teacher. He obtained his Teaching certificate from the University of Bristol, where he later became Assistant Lecturer at its Department of Hispanic Studies from 1961 to 1963.[3] In 1964, prior to becoming a politician, he became one of the top Gibraltarian teachers assisting the Christian Brothers[4] as teacher and Head of Department at the Gibraltar Grammar School.[3] He maintained this position until 1979.[3] The change would mean great sacrifice for him, however, he was encouraged to make the move by UK MPs who reportedly told him that "although he had a great future as a teacher this must be given up for the greater good of Gibraltar!"[4]

He returned to teaching after retiring from politics in 1979. From 1980, he taught history, Spanish, politics and Latin, coached football and cricket and was Senior Counsellor at Hampton School in London, famed for splitting his Latin classes into 'Pansies' and 'Daffodils' for vocabulary tests. He retired from teaching in 2002.[3] Xiberras also holds a first class Master of Arts with Honours from the University of Edinburgh.[3]

In 1995 he also obtained a Diploma in psychotherapy from the British Association of Analytical Body Psychotherapy (BAABP) in London.[3]

Political career

An integrationist from the outset – he was involved in the drafting of the Pro Integration Movement's manifesto in 1967 – Xiberras sat alongside Major Robert Peliza as a member of the . As a member of the Integration with Britain Party (IWBP) team at the Constitutional Conference chaired by Lord Shepherd[5] in 1968 that drafted the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution.[4] He entered the House of Assembly after the 1969 elections, becoming the Minister for Labour, Social Security, and Housing[3] under the IWBP Government and by 1970 he was the de facto Deputy Chief Minister, deputising for Major Peliza as Chief Minister in his absence. In the 1972 elections he renewed his seat, but upon the victory of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACR), he moved to the Opposition seats along with his six IWBP colleagues. Almost immediately, in October 1972, he succeeded Major Peliza as party leader and therefore as Leader of the Opposition.[4]

Leader of the Opposition

As leader of the Opposition during early 1976, he took part in a Gibraltarian inter-party Constitution Committee which began to work on a proposal of constitutional changes that involved a further integration of Gibraltar with the United Kingdom. Xiberras and the then Chief Minister, Joshua Hassan, travelled to London in June 1976 but were unable to convince the Government of the United Kingdom which, in response issued the Hattersley Memorandum which rejected the proposals. This effectively caused the IWBP to disband. Xiberras also accompanied Chief Minister Hassan, in his position as Leader of the Opposition, as part of the British delegation to Strasbourg, France for meetings with Spanish Foreign Minister Marcelino Oreja. This was to be the first official Spanish Government recognition of Gibraltar's elected representatives.[4]

Xiberras renewed his seat in the 1976 elections again, this time as independent,[6] as he had already resigned as leader of the declining IWBP. In 1977, he again took over as Leader of the Opposition, after the decline of the Gibraltar Democratic Movement bench, led by former IWBP member Joe Bossano.[6] However, Xiberras resigned from his seat in the Gibraltar House of Assembly in 1979, due to family commitments and relocated to the United Kingdom.[7][8] He was succeeded by Peter Isola.

Further involvement

Although absent from Gibraltar, Xiberras continued his involvement in the politics of Gibraltar by authoring various articles and letters in the local press, opposing the 2002 Joint Sovereignty Deal between the British and Spanish Governments[9] and also the European Constitution, on the ground that it would "make Gibraltar a disputed territory 'in perpetuity'".[10] Xiberras also contested the 2003 elections, obtaining 1,395 votes and therefore not winning a seat at the House of Assembly.[11]

Other work

Xiberras also represented Gibraltar in a variety of sports and was the National Hockey Manager who led the Gibraltar XI to success across Europe.[3]

He offered professional counselling and psychotherapy from his own practice, Surbiton Counselling, in Surbiton.[3]

Honours

Maurice Xiberras was one of the four recipients of the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour in 2009 "for his exceptional service to the political interests of Gibraltar and its people"[4] and was therefore recorded in the Gibraltar Roll of Honour.[12]

Death

Maurice Xiberras died suddenly over the weekend of 18–19 March 2017.[2]

See also

• List of Gibraltarians
• Politics of Gibraltar

References

1. Maurice Xiberras: Political Evolution, The Gibraltar Magazine May 2009
2. Maurice Xiberras, a pioneering Gibraltarian politician, dies at 80 Archived 24 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Gibraltar Chronicle, 22 March 2017
3. Surbiton Counselling and Psychotherapy – About Maurice Xiberras
4. Gibraltar Chronicle – Netto, Canepa, Gaggero and Xiberras Awarded Gib Medallion of Honour Archived 27 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine 10 July 2009
5. The Gibraltar Constitution – 1969 Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
6. Finlayson, Thomas James. "The Struggle for Democracy". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 April 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
7. Jackson, William (1990). The Rock of the Gibraltarians. A History of Gibraltar (2nd ed.). Grendon, Northamptonshire, UK: Gibraltar Books. p. 323. ISBN 0-948466-14-6.
8. Obituary of former governor John Grandy, by Maurice Xiberras
9. "Letter to the Hon Peter Hain Minister for Europe". Gibraltar Chronicle. 8 October 2001. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
10. "Gibraltar: of Celebrations and Political Time Bombs" (PDF). The European Journal. Volume 11, number 8. European Foundation. September–October 2004. pp. 6–8.
11. Results of the 2003 Gibraltar Elections Archived 31 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
12. "Gibraltar Medallion" (PDF). Government of Gibraltar. July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2010.