Dr Vincent Tabone, more affectionately known as Censu by locals, was a former doctor and politician who served as the islands’ fourth president (not including Dr Albert Hyzler and Mr Paul Xuereb who both served ad interim).
Dr Tabone was born in Gozo in 1913, an island he held dearly in his heart. He kicked off his political career in 1961 and acquired quite the list of appointments including being a Minister and a Member of Parliament for five terms.
Interestingly (in our opinion at least), Dr Censu Tabone was at the forefront of the anti-Trachoma campaigns lead by the World Health Organisation. Other fun facts about this extraordinary person include his obsession with time and clock repairs, he was the youngest of 10 siblings and the fact that he lived to be nearly a century old! Oh, and he even met the Queen!
Tabone actually brought a motion to the United Nations in 1968 to form an action plan regarding the world’s aging population. Reportedly, later in 1988 he brought forward another motion that called for global climate to be declared as mankind’s common heritage. Seems like he had his hands full!
Dr Tabone officially took office on 4th April 1989 up until 1994. During his time as president, he managed to win over the Labour Party that had initially boycotted his appointment.
Once he passed in 2012, the lovable doctor left behind his wife Maria (who died in 2018), eight children, 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Censu and Maria had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary together.