Laurence Grech, former editor of The Sunday Times of Malta and one of the country’s most respected journalists, has died at the age of 77 following a career that spanned more than six decades.
Grech’s association with The Times of Malta began in January 1963 when, still only 15 years old, he was interviewed by owner Mabel Strickland and joined the newsroom under editor Tom Hedley. In the years that followed, he was mentored by leading journalists George Sammut and Anthony Montanaro, laying the foundations for a distinguished career in Maltese media.
He rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming sub-editor of The Sunday Times of Malta and assistant editor in 1967. By 1970 he had been appointed deputy editor, and between 1976 and 1988 he served as parliamentary editor and chief parliamentary reporter for The Times, gaining a reputation for his authoritative coverage of national politics.
In 1991 Grech succeeded Anthony Montanaro as editor of The Sunday Times of Malta, a role he held for 16 years until his retirement in 2007. During his tenure, the newspaper strengthened its position as Malta’s leading Sunday publication, noted for its analytical depth and editorial rigour.
Following his retirement from the editorship, he was appointed editorial consultant to Allied Newspapers, a position he held until 2013, and later served as a director of the company.
Beyond Malta, Grech worked as correspondent for the Italian news agency ANSA and the German press agency DPA. He was also a fellow of the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies in 1981 and at one point served as Malta’s envoy to Latvia.
In recognition of his contribution to journalism, he was awarded the National Order of Merit on Republic Day in 2007. The Institute of Maltese Journalists later honoured him with its Gold Award in 2019 for a lifetime of service to the profession.
Grech remained an active voice in public discourse after retiring, frequently appearing on radio and television current affairs programmes. In a reflective article written in 2020, he described journalism as a lifelong “love affair,” a sentiment that reflected his enduring passion for the craft.
He also recalled witnessing the burning of the Times of Malta building during the 1979 political unrest, moments after leaving the newsroom on assignment—an event that left a lasting impression on him.
In a statement, the board of Allied Newspapers paid tribute to Grech as “a remarkable media professional” who served the company with distinction as journalist, editor and director. They praised his integrity, humanity and commitment to the highest journalistic standards, noting that under his leadership The Sunday Times of Malta flourished.
Grech is survived by his wife Lilian and his sons Gerald, Edward and Robert. In a tribute, his son Gerald described him as “a passionate journalist, a great communicator and, to many, a walking encyclopaedia,” fondly recalling his energy, ambition and remarkable memory for people’s birthdays.
On a personal note, Lawrence Grech was the one who started me on my journalistic career over 30 years ago. It was in August 1995 that I had written him a letter after attending a Promenade Concert in London of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony. We met a few weeks afterwards at his office and he proposed a column featuring CD reviews of classical music. This became a staple every fortnight, starting in November 1995 in the Sunday Times and continued for many years until I eventually became a full time journalist in 2004. He remained a constant communicator and we discussed many a subject over the years. Later we also met at the German Maltese Circle where he used to attend events on a regular basis.
Several persons also paid tribute including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Momentum’s Arnold Cassola.
A celebration of Grech’s life will be held on Tuesday, February 17, at 9.30am at Old Church, Birkirkara.
The family has asked for any donations to be made to Dar Tal-Providenza, Siġġiewi.
Rest easy dear Laurence.
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