Among the laity, pride of place goes to Amabile Cauchi
(better known as Mabbli), a noted political figure, who
advanced the village's interests in a career which
spanned four decades. He was born in Ghajnsielem on 5th
March 1917 and is the son of Angelo Cauchi and Natalina
nee Cassar from a family of five. Mabbli’s family
nickname was ‘ta’ Anglu Bellu’, a name synonymous with
his father Angelo who used to work as a hairdresser in a
small room in Zewwieqa, Mgarr. Amabile married Stella
nee Said (who was born and raised in Nadur) on the 30th
of April 1940 and had ten children: Joseph, Carmel,
Loreta, Lina, Francis, Tony, Teddy and three children
who died at a very young age. Mabbli was a humorous
person who also possessed a very artistic talent. Dun
Karm Cassar in one of his articles for the ‘Ghajnsielem’
magazine recounts how he always used to find Mabbli
laughing with his friends while telling one of his
famous jokes. And it was not the first time that Mabbli
made a prank on someone!
He started his political career in 1948. In 1946 he joined
Jones’s Gozo Party as a party member and was elected in
parliament for the first time in 1948. He was always elected in
parliament except in 1962. When the Party of Jones came to an
end Mabbli contested election and was elected with the party of
Paul Boffa (then, Prime Minister). In 1955 he contested for the
first time with the Nationalist Party and was elected. He ended
his career with the Nationalist Party as a member of parliament
in 1981. Mabbli was remembered as person you could always count
on.
Due to his sense of humour, Mabbli was loved from all members of
parliament. Although ex-Prime Minister and Leader of the Malta
Labour Party Dom Mintoff had a different political ideology, he
was a close friend with Amabile. During his trips to Gozo, Dom
Mintoff regularly met with Mabbli where they used to dine and
share jokes with each other.
Mabbli worked hard to advance Ghajnsielem’s interests. The
‘Pjazza tad-Dehra’ was completely upgraded and a nearby playing
field (which today bears his name) was inaugurated. Many streets
were widened, opened and resurfaced. The open layout of the main
square surrounded by the main clubs and church is also credited
to his planning.
During his youth, Mabbli used to work as an usher (sangristan)
at the old Parish Church. One day he fell seriously ill.
Fortunately, he survived, but he kept telling until the last
days of his life that it was the intercession of Our Lady of
Loreto that kept him alive. It is worth noting that Mabbli was
part of the squad in
1936, the year when Għajnsielem Football Club was born. He also
used to coach the team from the 1948/49 to the 1952/53 season
and was also active as a member and supporter during the latter
years.
Archpriest Espedito Tabone (center)
with Dun Joseph Zerafa,
Hon. Amabile Cauchi, Amabile Xuereb and Joseph Cauchi
Mabbli Cauchi is here shown in
the middle, standing during the 1938/9 season
In
1966, when the St Joseph Band Club was resurrected, Mabbli
offered his services as a secretary for the Society and a few
years later, together with Joseph Attard, they opened the new
premises of the Club in the main square adjacent to the new
parish church. He was also President of the Society from 1973 to 1988 and
than as Honorary President until he passed away.
Mabbli Cauchi (middle in black shirt)
during a St. Joseph Band Club social event
Mabbli possessed a very artistic talent. During the last years
of his life, he managed to create an incredible collection of
mini-sculptures from cattle bones which his wife Stella used to
throw away after boiling the beef for soup! Mabbli also built a
model showing the interior of a typical Maltese church and
crafted several home decorations and gypsum statues.
The
church model that Mabbli built
Amabile Cauchi
passed away on Tuesday, 10th October 1995.
