Arthur Leaver

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Arthur J.Leaver was a freelance sports journalist and chronicler.

Arthur was born in Sliema on Christmas Eve 1918 to Frederick Leaver and Maria Concetta nee’ Bonello. He was educated at The Lyceum and joined the Malta Civil Service as a Clerical Asstistant. He remained a civil servant until retired as Administrative Officier III.

During his career he served at Office of Prime Minister, the Public Works Deparmet, the Medical and Health Department, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Education, among other government department.

As a young man, Leaver began writing about his favourite sport: waterpolo. He was always to be seen at the Sliema pitch supporting his team. Once he established himself as freelance sports journalist he wrote for local as well as British and American papers. For many years he reported for the The Bulletin and later for the Times of Malta. He also appeared on Rediffusion cable radio with Lewis Portelli, and served as the Malta correspondent of the British sports magazine World Sports.

He specialized in the editing of official programmes published by various local sports bodies during international tournaments for archery, badminton, judo, shooting and of course waterpolo. He edited several official programmes for the Aquatic Sports Association, serving as the ASA’s PRO between 1987 and 1988. His History of Waterpolo in Malta, which he started writing in 1975 at the request of the ASA to mark its first 50 years, appeared in several issues of the Maltese encyclopedia Civilization, published by P.E.G. in the mid-1980s.

Always a keen football lover, he also had a long-term association with the Sliema Wanderers Football Club, editing the club’s annual Blue Review.

Arthur Leaver married Josephine Gaffiero on 12 August 1951 and together they had two daughters: Catherine and Jennifer.

He died in October, 2003 at the age of 84.