interviews • arts • dining • finance • leisure • property • history • business • health
g
ibraltar magazine the
September 2009
Vol.14 No. 11 FREE
What smells so good? Who let the dogs out?
Jack of All Sports Behind the Scenes at Chelsea FC
Tax Refugees Stoke Property Prices
Red Arrows on the Rock
and much more...
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interviews • arts • dining • finance • leisure • property • history • business • health
g
ibraltar magazine the
September 2009
Vol.14 No. 11 FREE
features 26 Eva Carneiro: Behind the
What smells so good? Who let the dogs out?
Jack of All Sports Behind the Scenes at Chelsea FC
Tax Refugees Stoke Property Prices
Red Arrows on the Rock
and much more...
Red Arrows over the Rock (see page 67) Photo: Corporal Andy Benson Crown Copyright
Volume 14 No. 11 • September 2009
The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Limited, PO Box 561, PMB 6377 113 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel or fax (+350) 200 77748 E-mail: gibmag@gibraltar.gi www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Managing Editor: Andrea Morton Design Studio: Jonathan Bull Copyright © 2009 by Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine. Subscriptions £35.00 per year.
Magazine & website archived by the British Library
scenes at Chelsea FC € What Smells so Good? Memories are Made of This Louise Peach: Voicing her ambition Jazz Dentist and Gibraltar Patriot From Hair to History Driving Mr Baldrick
32 34 48 54 68 71 leisure & activities 20 Win Win with We Care 30 Jack of All Sports € 44 Who Let the Dogs Out? 46 Have Camera Will Travel 52 Shopping & Beauty 53 Head South for Squash 62 Putting on a Show 64 Dance On € 66 What’s On September 74 Travel: Medieval
Marvels Leisure & Tuition Plays: Happy Endings? Clubs & Activities Guide
77 78 94 food & drink 80 Gib, Brownies & Gazpacho 82 Morcels from Morocco€ 86 Wine Column 87-91 Restaurant & Bar Guide 91 A Good Sport
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36 Bathrooms: All Together Now 38 Don’t Do Drab Do Drama€ 40 Size Matters & other things... 96-97 Property Directory business & finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 UK Tax Refugees Stoke
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Offshore Property Prices Upholding Our Reputation € European Funds for Local Businesses What Lies Ahead? Gib in 25 years’ time
health 56 Cartilage Damage: The options € 58 Health & Medical Directory history & heritage 42 Times Correspondent
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72 regulars 80-91 70 Puzzle Page 92 Around Town information 60-61 City Centre Map 98 Gibraltar Information
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
business & finance profile business & finance
by Ian Le Breton
UK tax refugees stoke offshore property prices In several columns over recent months, I have highlighted the different forces at work driving the Gibraltar and Spanish residential property markets. We all know that prices in Spain — particularly the Costa del Sol — have plummeted as a result of the global financial crisis. It is also clear that prices here in Gibraltar whilst not perhaps rising are at least holding steady in most cases. This month, I take a look at one of the reasons why this might be so — using as the basis for my thoughts a survey that has just been conducted by The Sovereign Group.
The survey’s main conclusion was that most offshore tax jurisdictions within easy reach of Britain are bucking the European property market slump as wealthy Britons prepare for an exodus from harsh UK tax rises. In particular, property values in Gibraltar and Monte Carlo, two of the most prominent European destinations for “ex-pat” money, are holding firm or increasing while prices around them on the Costa del Sol and Cote d’Azur have plunged by up to 50%. Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Geneva are also enjoying trendbucking strength in their housing markets. “The facts speak for themselves here,” said Howard Bilton, Chairman of The Sovereign Group when the results of the survey were published. “Property prices in the south of France and southern Spain are languishing in the worst slump they’ve seen in many years but on their outskirts are two smaller jurisdictions — Gibraltar and Monaco — where the market is extraordinarily resilient.” So why might this be? One answer can be found by considering the forthcoming tax hikes already announced by the UK government. These will start to take effect from next year and will mean that anyone earning over £150,000 will
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
be paying income tax at the rate of 50%. Add to that the cost of National Insurance and other taxes and the percentage starts to look frightening. Remember also that VAT in the UK will be increased back to 17½% in December following the temporary reduction to 15% this year aimed at stimulating demand. I have spoken to a number of UK based advisory firms — concentrating on those involved in relocation. They tell me that many wealthy UK-based individuals are actively considering a move overseas to escape what they expect to be increasingly harsh tax rises in the coming years. Very often, these individuals are not ready (or willing) to retire; and where entrepreneurs go, business will surely follow. Is it any wonder
Increasing globalisation means that everyone has to compete these days — tax authorities should not be any different
that the offshore locations are benefitting from healthy property markets? On the other side of the coin, it is a very sorry situation for the UK and for those taxpayers who aren’t able to go offshore. This might all sound like a return to the 1960s when many famous British actors, musicians, writers and artists went into tax exile — often to Switzerland. In those days, currency controls and limited communications made it far more difficult to relocate, both personally and for a business. Today we live in the broadband age, when voting with your feet where tax is concerned is a viable option for many. Increasing globalisation means that everyone has to compete these days — tax authorities should not be any different. So let’s accept that there are (potentially) many more British residents looking to re-locate. What might attract them to a particular jurisdiction? It’s a well-rehearsed argument perhaps but the classic ingredients are still important. These include lifestyle (whatever that means to an individual), reasonable living costs, good communications and infrastructure and, of course, a benign tax environment. Gibraltar has all these things, particularly where the “high
business & finance net worth individual” is concerned. Moreover — and this must not be overlooked — we have the language. Not only can British people speak their mother tongue, but the “system”, whether it be buying property, dealing with lawyers or the bank, is very familiar. There isn’t even an exchange rate risk. In addition to all these positive reasons to consider Gibraltar, several major new residential property developments have recently been completed. Developers say they have been finished “in the nick of time” to satisfy a wave of new residents and this is set against a backdrop of prices on the neighbouring Costa del Sol continuing to plummet by record levels. Justin Bray of Bray Properties told me “recently we have noted a marked increase in interest for Gibraltar properties and a greater proportion of these enquiries are leading to actual sales, allowing us to be even more confident for the future.” Good news for all of us I hope. To give some balance, the situation is similar in Monaco (which, significantly, now boasts 100% broadband coverage). For instance, there have been reports that property prices have risen by as much as 30% — the same amount that even the most optimistic observer would acknowledge they have fallen in neighbouring Provence. One leading Monte Carlo estate agent said in a recent report that Monaco’s “tax haven status ensures the market remains buoyant and prices stable so investment in Monaco property continues to be attractive.” In Geneva, housing demand hit a new peak when the apartment vacancy rate fell to between 0.25% and 0.5% last year and it will continue to
hold firm this year, according to Swiss Issues Real Estate 2009, a report on Swiss housing published by bank Credit Suisse earlier this year. Extensive research on the residential market in Geneva, recently published, concludes that the Geneva market is expected to plateau, but not decrease during 2009. Closer to Britain, and concentrating on the English speaking islands, a few dozen miles from the English South Coast’s languishing property market, Jersey’s property prices have risen 7% in the past year and the worst scenario to which homeowners and investors in Jersey might look forward in the coming months would be a period of “stabilising” house values. A stone’s throw away from Jersey, residential property prices in Guernsey were mixed, with small apartments falling in value by up to 17%, according to the island’s Policy Council. However, at the same time the price of houses — representing 60% of residential property sales — were up a fraction at 0.1%. Again, it is obvious that the buoyancy at the wealthier end of the market comes from a steady stream of new interest from the UK mainland. The most
prominent new arrival is Guy Hands, head of the Terra Firma private equity group with a fortune estimated at £200m, who moved to the island in May. In the Isle of Man, property prices last year increased by 4% and this year are “holding steady” according to the leading commentator on Manx property trends. All this should be positive for the smaller jurisdictions I have looked at above. As a Jerseyman who has made his home in Gibraltar, I am of course hugely biased. True Gibraltar is two hours from the UK as opposed to Jersey’s 30 minutes. But come on! Who can resist the attractions of living here or at least in this region? Great people, the weather, culture, cuisine, not being an island, Spain and Morocco on our doorstep — and you can still get a pint of warm beer if you really want to. Many of us who have made the move here years ago are already convinced. It is pleasing to see positive stories appearing in the international press. Let’s do all we can to encourage more people to visit Gibraltar and hopefully more of them will want to stay — to the benefit of us all. n
One leading Monte Carlo estate agent said in a recent report that Monaco’s “tax haven status ensures the market remains buoyant and prices stable” gibraltar airport flight schedule
Day Flight No. Airline Arr. From Dep. Flight No. To Mon Andalus 08.25 EA2101 Madrid ZB574 Monarch 10.55 Manchester 11.40 ZB575 Manchester EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.40 EZY8902 Gatwick ZB068 Monarch 11.55 Luton EA2102 Andalus 12.00 Madrid 12.35 EA2103 Barcelona Monarch 12.40 ZB069 Luton EA2104 Andalus 17.00 Barcelona BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2105 Madrid EZY8905 easyJet 18.10 Gatwick 18.50 EZY8906 Gatwick EA2106 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Tue Andalus 08.25 EA2201 Madrid EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.40 EZY8902 Gatwick EA2202 Andalus 12.00 Madrid BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2205 Madrid EZY8905 easyJet 18.10 Gatwick 18.50 EZY8906 Gatwick EA2206 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Wed Andalus 08.25 EA2301 Madrid ZB574 Monarch 10.55 Manchester 11.40 ZB575 Manchester EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.40 EZY8902 Gatwick EA2302 Andalus 12.00 Madrid BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2305 Madrid EZY8905 easyJet 18.10 Gatwick 18.50 EZY8906 Gatwick ZB062 Monarch 18.55 Luton 19.40 ZB063 Luton EA2306 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Thu Andalus 08.25 EA2401 Madrid EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.40 EZY8902 Gatwick EA2402 Andalus 12.00 Madrid BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2405 Madrid EZY8905 easyJet 18.10 Gatwick 18.50 EZY8906 Gatwick ZB062 Monarch 18.55 Luton 19.40 ZB063 Luton EA2406 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Fri Andalus 08.25 EA2501 Madrid ZB068 Monarch 10.40 Luton 11.30 ZB069 Luton ZB574 Monarch 10.45 Manchester 11.40 ZB575 Manchester EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.40 EZY8902 Gatwick EA2502 Andalus 12.00 Madrid 12.35 EA2503 Barcelona EA2504 Andalus 17.00 Barcelona BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2505 Madrid EZY8905 easyJet 18.10 Gatwick 18.50 EZY8906 Gatwick EA2506 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Sat EZY8901 easyJet 11.00 Gatwick 11.35 EZY8902 Gatwick ZB068 Monarch 11.35 Luton 12.35 ZB069 Luton BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Sun Andalus 12.35 EA2703 Barcelona EA2704 Andalus 17.00 Barcelona BA2494 British Air. 17.25 Gatwick 18.10 BA2495 Gatwick Andalus 18.20 EA2705 Madrid ZB062 Monarch 18.10 Luton 18.55 ZB063 Luton EZY8905 easyJet 18.15 Gatwick 18.55 EZY8906 Gatwick EA2706 Andalus 21.50 Madrid Brian T Richards, Air Travel Consultant - info@briantrichards.com www.briantrichards.com
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www.gibraltarlawyers.com
Ready for take off ? Photo: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Is your business ready to make the most of the economic turnaround? For ideas and advice on how best to prepare for the next period of growth, please contact Selwyn Figueras at selwyn.figueras@isolas.gi Portland House Glacis Road PO Box 204 Gibraltar Tel +350 200 78363 www.gibraltarlawyers.com
Heidi Bocarisa
Photo: John J Wood
Upholding Our Reputation by Brian McCann
Protecting the public and Gibraltar’s reputation is the aim of the Financial Services Commission, with Heidi Bocarisa heading the Banking and Investment Services Supervision division. Heidi is a bright and friendly 34 year old who was born and educated in Gibraltar, only leaving to go to Hull University where she read Business Studies and Languages — Spanish and Portuguese, specifically — and obtained a first class honours degree. Returning to the Rock, she worked at Lloyds TSB for a while but then saw an advertisement for a banking analyst at the FSC. On being appointed she also became the first woman to hold a responsible position — other than receptionist or secretary — at the commission, and over the following ten years has risen to the top of her department, with a staff of eleven to help her cope with an increasing workload as Gibraltar’s finance centre expands and international regulations and standards make more and more complex demands. There are other female regulators there now, but Heidi remains, so far, as the only woman who heads a department. “My team is primarily made up of women,” Heidi says; “and I would say that the FSC is now
12
about 50-50 male/female.” Heidi’s initial appointment had nothing to do with any policy of positive discrimination though — the commissioner at the time, John Milner, simply needed the right person for the job, and Heidi had all that was required. John was leaving just as Heidi started, so her first experience was under Martin Fuggle, followed by the current commissioner Marcus Killick
“
My team is primarily made up of women, and I would say that the FSC is now about 50-50 male/ female
”
who brought with him a style of supervision that encouraged friendly (but firm) cooperation with the industry rather than a draconian approach. Heidi is now in charge of the supervision of just under 150 firms — including banks, investment firms, life assurance intermediaries fund administrators and funds. All of these have been licensed after an exhaustive process and Heidi’s main concern is to see that they continue to follow all of the procedures that are required of them. “Instances of fraud tend to come from firms that are not located here but pass themselves off as being in Gibraltar,” she told me. “In some cases they have tried to set up a Gibraltar bank account to receive payments but we’ve been able to stop them.” She explained that when a case of suspected fraud, or even lesser infringements, are detected she liaises closely with the FSC’s Enforcement Manager, who takes the lead in dealing with enforcement cases. Quite often a warning is sufficient to get things back on track, but action can
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
regulation be taken if the warnings are ignored. Heidi’s department comprises a deputy head, a manager, two senior regulatory officers and seven regulatory officers, as well as herself, of course. “The team is mostly Gibraltarian,” she told me. I asked Heidi how she would describe her style of staff management: she laughed and modestly said that it might be more accurate to ask the staff what they think. But she told me she sees herself as a fair person, “although I also have high expectations of performance and quality of work.” She added that she only expects people to do what she is capable of achieving herself. “I explain clearly what I want; and internally we have good on-the-job training. New members of staff are assigned a mentor to show them the ropes within the FSC.” Did that suggest there was a big turnover of staff? “No, but there has been a gradual turnover over the years, as there would be in any similar organisation; in my department it tends to be fairly stable,” she clarified. I asked her the potentially difficult question as to whether she could aspire to being the commissioner one day, or is the top job always filled by someone from outside? “Historically, the commissioner and even heads of departments came from outside,” she replied. “But now the majority of heads of department are Gibraltarian, so a future commissioner could well be a Gibraltarian and already be working here.” What exactly does her department do, in practice?
“We’re involved with licence applications, and risk assessments, so we carry out regular visits to the licensees’ or applicants’ premises to check on their systems and controls,” she said. “We also have to analyse the quarterly financial returns that they are required to submit. We are very much hands-on with the licensees, but it’s all carried out in a friendly way. We try not to be antagonistic, but there can be times when we have to be very firm; though you can come across difficult people in any walk of life.” She amplified that by saying, “some people don’t like rules; and in the current economic crisis some people are under more stress and pressure, which can come across as more con-
“
In the current economic crisis some people are under more stress and pressure, which can come across as more conflictive; but we look at it all in context and deal with it accordingly
”
flictive; but we look at it all in context and deal with it accordingly.” Heidi, who has travelled all over Europe attending seminars in connection with her work, is married to Edgar, a firefighter with the City Fire Brigade; they have one-year-old twins and Heidi is expecting a third child next month, October. She finds reading helps her relax, and she used to dance a lot — she was the first pupil at Danza Academy in 1992 , “but I don’t really have time for that anymore!” she said. Does she think she might move away from Gibraltar one day, perhaps for career reasons? Absolutely not: “All my family is here — I have no reason to leave,” she said, and looked very happy to be able to say it. n
A’Level Results It’s been another year of excellent ‘A’ Level Examination results for Gibraltar with the pass rate at Bayside School being 99%, 98% at Westside School and 95% at the Gibraltar College. 13 students obtained 3 or more ‘A’ grades. At Westside the number of ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades exceeded the 60% mark in the following subjects: Economics, English Literature, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Spanish. At Bayside the number of ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades was 60% or over in the following subjects: French, Geography, Physics, Mathematics, Religious Studies and Spanish. Well done to all students who passed.
AI International Couriers Ltd 11 Engineers Lane PO Box 532 Gibraltar Tel: (+350) 200 73775 Airport office: (+350) 200 41076 Fax: (+350) 200 74389 email: gibsn@dhl.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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update
Barclays upgrades Customer Service at Main St branch Barclays has recently completed an upgrade to its customer service offering at its branch on Main Street. The moves are to ensure all Barclays clients, whether retail or corporate, can derive the full benefit of all of the bank’s suite of products and services. These are part of ongoing upgrades in Barclays’ service offering in Gibraltar following last year’s significant investment in refurbishing the public areas of the Main Street branch. The new facilities include a self service drop off for paying bills or depositing cheques removing the need for customers to queue up. The bank has also installed freephone connections to its call centre if customers have an account enquiry. Barclays has introduced a new account servicing kiosk which is a first for Gibraltar customers. And of course there are even more personal bankers available who can deal with specific customer queries. Commenting on the improvements, Derek Sene, Head of Direct Business at Barclays Main Street branch said: “The whole emphasis is on improving customer service in terms of dealing with customers directly or sim-
Barclays has introduced a new account servicing kiosk which is a first for Gibraltar
CHARLES GOMEZ& COMPANY
ply by speeding up service delivery. Although Barclays is the largest bank in Gibraltar we are by no means resting on our laurels. Our customers, both retail and corporate, have been a key part of our continuing success in Gibraltar through the years and these recent innovations are a testament to Barclays continuing commitment to Gibraltar.” n
Chess Festival Appoints New Press Officer Brian Callaghan the organiser of the Gibtelecom International Chess Festival is pleased to advise that Alice Mascarenhas has accepted the position of Press Officer to this prestigious world chess event. Alice will join a secretariat team of 15 officials responsible for the technical direction of the tournament drawn from some six different countries. Alice has over 30 years’ experience in the media working as a broadcaster and journalist in Gibraltar. She is currently the Features Editor of the Gibraltar Chronicle, and presents a weekly programme, ‘Centre Stage’, on the local station Radio Gibraltar now in its 13th year. She will be supported by others reporting for various countries including the UK, Germany, France, the USA, and the Indian continent. The tournament, to be held in 2010 starting on 26th January and finishing on 4th February, is already attracting a strong entry. Humpy Koneru, the second highest rated woman player in the world and only the second female player ever to obtain a 2600 rating, has confirmed her attendance. Alice can be contacted at chesspressoffice@caletahotel.gi
Barristers & Acting Solicitors C o m m i ss i o n e r s f o r o a t h s c o n ta c t u s : P o b o x 6 5 9 , 5 S e c r e t a r y ’s L a n e , G i b r a l t a r Te l : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 4 9 9 8 F a x : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 3 0 7 4 email: charles@gomezco.gi w e b s i t e : w w w. g o m e z c o . g i
C l e a r S imple Legal Advice 14
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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finance point of contact for clients with international interests. To further enhance its international capabilities, STM Group’s International Tax Division, STM Fidecs Advisory Ltd., based in Gibraltar, will be seconding one of its International Tax Managers, Oncke Kipperman, to STM Swiss for an initial three month period starting on 1st September 2009. Oncke has been working in Gibraltar for over three years dealing with HNWIs who are resident in Gibraltar under the Category 2 regime and their international operating businesses. Oncke is a specialist in international tax and is multi-lingual. He can be contacted for any international tax matters you or your clients might have, including Swiss, Luxembourg and Gibraltar matters or visit him at the Zurich office during your next visit to Switzerland. Oncke can be contacted via e-mail oncke.kipperman@stmswiss.com and oncke.kipperman@stmfidecs.gi in person at STM Swiss Dreikönigstrasse 45, 8027 Zürich, Switzerland or by telephone: + 41 44 206 60 70 Fax: +41 44 206 60 70. www. stmswiss.com
The Swiss Advantage STM Fidecs Advisory Ltd’s International Tax Manager, Oncke Kipperman is based in Gibraltar
● Central location in Western Europe allowing easy access to about 500 million people ● Financial, political and social stable jurisdiction
STM Swiss:
Oncke Seconded to Switzerland
● Efficient and pro-active government institutions ● Highly skilled, multi-cultural and multilingual workforce
With the recent confusion concerning banking secrecy, it is easy to overlook the many advantages Switzerland still has to offer as a global financial centre. Having considered the many benefits Switzerland has to offer, STM Group PLC established STM Swiss A.G., located in Zurich, Switzerland’s financial centre, in March 2009. STM Swiss provides assistance with organising and overseeing legal entities as part of a Swiss based structure designed to suit the particular requirements of each client.
● Moderate tax rates and tax incentives can result in low effective tax rates for companies
STM Swiss also assists High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) with taking up residence in Switzerland under the attractive tax lump-sum regime and the tax planning opportunity following such residence. Furthermore, as part of the STM Group, with offices in a number of the main financial centres throughout the world, including Jersey, Gibraltar and Luxembourg, STM Swiss operates as both an initial and main
● Tax lump-sum basis for Qualifying High Net Worth Individuals ● Double taxation agreements in force with around 80 jurisdictions ● Large presence of private banks, investment managers and other financial services providers ● Over 700 headquarters of multi-national corporations located in Switzerland
GII Barbecue Over 60 Gibraltar Insurance Institute members and their guests enjoyed a relaxed open-air barbecue at the Savannah Restaurant, Ocean Village, in August. Lorraine Moberley, who organised the event for the GII commented, “This is the third social event we have held this year and the feedback was very positive. It was fantastic to see so many of our members support the event”. Andy Baker, the current President of the GII added: “We are after all a members association and whilst our primary focus is to provide access to high quality learning opportunities through our programme of training courses, breakfast seminars and ‘learn as you lunch’ events, our second objective is to have some fun along the way”.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
fund-raising Giving to charity can be more than donating a coin and sporting a sticker for the day, as the 41 participants of the RifCom Charity Challenge Event discovered on their trip to Morocco in mid-June.
the rifcom challenge This was a different sort of giving, where time, energy and enthusiasm was required, not to mention a desire for adventure. The challenge came in two parts. For the first part, each participant was asked to climb out of their comfort zone, use their imagination and inspiration and raise a minimum target of £500 for the RifCom cause. The second part consisted of a five day trip to Morocco for participants who had managed to raise the minimum funds. The participants were involved in community projects around the Rif mountains and made valuable connections with the impoverished communities in the area. n
running the great north road for leukaemia research Local business woman Janine Benneworth will be doing the Great North Run with four other participants on 20th September to raise money for Leukaemia Research. A charity close to her heart since her own recovery from the illness. After being diagnosed with Leukaemia in 2005, Janine underwent intensive chemotherapy and multiple blood transfusions. Two years later she was given the all clear thanks to the medical staff at Jerez’s hospital. Her own experience with the illness has led her to take part in this half marathon run from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields accompanied by her husband Zane, employee Paul and good friend Yvette to raise money for Leukaemia Research. “Fundraising is essential for the advance in medical treatments,” explains Janine. “As well as for raising public awareness of blood cancers and the simplicity of blood donations and bone marrow donations too.” All contributions to the funds are welcome, both beforehand and after the event, so there’s
Janine and Yvette
plenty of time to add your pennies to the pot. If you already know Janine or Yvette, you can make out a cheque directly to them (J Benneworth or Y Gomez), or if you prefer you can log in at www. justgiving.com/janinebenneworth. If you’re down Main Street, you can also pop in to the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society where their account is set up to receive funds:Account No: 034637241, Name: Mrs J M Benneworth & Mrs Y L Gomez (North Run account). We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing the results of their efforts. n
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17
photo: John J Wood
finance
Charles Collinson, EU Programme Manager, and Desiree Viagas, EU Funding Advisor
European funds for local businesses If you’re in business in Gibraltar, or you’re about to start one in the near future, there might be considerable financial help available.
18
“
We had one fast-track application approved in just three days — we try to keep the bureaucracy to a minimum to speed everything up as much as possible
“
“11.6 million euros is the total amount that is available locally for the period 2007 to 2013,” said Charles Collinson, EU Programme Manager. “Half the money comes from the EU via the British government’s own allocation, and that amount is matched by the government of Gibraltar.” There are some exceptions, and an important thing to be aware of is that it’s not a free advance to help you start or expand a business. You have to pay the money out first, and then claim it back; but as long as it is an eligible operation you
will probably be surprised at how quickly you can get approval. “There are two schemes for businesses,” Charles explained. “If the project is to cost up to approximately £65,000 then we can fast-track it and you can probably get the goahead in a couple of weeks. If it’s for larger sums, it has to go through local committees, and our department’s minister, Mr Holliday, has to sign it before it is sent for approval by the EU.” That sounds like several months or perhaps a year, I thought, but Charles surprised me: “In those cases it could take around four weeks,”
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
finance
by Brian McCann he said. “We had one fast-track application approved in just three days — we try to keep the bureaucracy to a minimum to speed everything up as much as possible.” So, which are the areas that are not eligible? There are four groups: wholesaling, retailing, financial services, and investments in moveable assets such as motor vehicles which could easily be taken out of Gibraltar and never seen again. Charles, assisted by EU Funding Advisor Desiree Viagas, has been running the department since he was transferred there from the government secretariat at No 6 ten years ago. The scheme had been in existence for five years at that time, since 1994. The father of two boys aged 10 and 11, Charles is active in the Gibraltar Ivanhoe charity and is the branch training manager for the Gibraltar Boys Scouts Association. He and Desiree are responsible for the other parts of EU Funding which are mainly the concern of the local authorities, covering such projects as the beautification of Main Street, the Orange Bastion and other touristic and heritage works, as well setting up training schemes to encourage employment. Major international partnerships can also be assisted by Charles’ department, such as AquaGib working with overseas companies for the benefit of the public. “The EU is very much into e-government projects so that all systems can be put onto the internet,” said Charles. “There are two such projects under way at the moment with EU funding assistance: one is e-procurement, meaning that suppliers can tender for government contracts
on-line; the other is helping the whole of the GHA to become paperless, with all records being computerised. It means members of staff will simply access the records they need from a palmtop computer they will carry with them.” So, what is the process? He explained that they encourage people with ideas to come and see Desiree, who can give them an insight into the requirements, which aren’t necessarily complex. If it’s the occasional hare-brained idea, the department will try to show them it’s not realistic. They also work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, who refer suitable applicants. If it’s a project that can be fast-tracked then no professional assistance, such as an accountant, is needed; but for the larger schemes then additional help is likely to be needed to draw up business plans, for instance. But, initially, all that is needed is the completed application
If it’s the occasional hare-brained idea, the department will try to show them it’s not realistic. They also work closely with the Chamber of Commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses
Micro Business Systems Ltd
PO Box 661, Unit 102, New Harbours Walk, New Harbours, Gibraltar Tel: (+350) 200 42723 Fax: (+350) 200 40612 Email: sales@mbs.gi www.mbs.gi
forms, the business’s certificate of registration in Gibraltar, and two quotes for the works. That means usually two quotations from builders or suppliers of machinery; the EU requiring two so they can see that the best value is being obtained from their funds. Charles emphasised that the applicant will be required to finance the works initially, receiving the EU funds as they proceed with invoices to back up the claim. The agreed grant does not have to be spent all at once, though, as it can be reimbursed through interim payments. The grant does cover most businesses expenses, in general, and even includes a budget for an advertising campaign; but the full story can be obtained by looking at the website www.eufunding.gi. It contains just about everything you might need to know, and you can print the application forms from the site. Charles and Desiree are very friendly and approachable, and are also flexible in their office hours. At the moment, until 14th September, summer hours mean they should shut at 2pm, but they are often there until 5.30pm for the convenience of the business community. “We are aware that owners of small businesses can find it difficult to get out during the day, so we are always willing to arrange to meet after hours,” Charles said, adding that a personal meeting is essential before an EU grant can be considered. n From 14th September, the normal hours at the European Funding Secretariat are 8.45 to 5.30; the email address is dtibusiness@gibtelecom.net and the telephone number is 200 73255.
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charity projects
Children helping a lady find her way around her mobile phone
win win with We Care The Bonita Trust ‘We Care’ Children’s Project has been running since April 2007 and will now re-start in full swing in the new school term in September. It has already been hugely successful with over 1,050 children from all Middle Schools in Gibraltar taking part to date.
By performing kind deeds and helping those who needed it, the children raise money for Gibraltar charities. They help with shopping, washing cars, taking out rubbish, voluntary work in schools, visiting the elderly and so on. All strictly voluntarily. The children earn points for performing these deeds and the Bonita Trust converts these points to money for a charity of the child’s choice. The ethos behind this project is to encourage children in Middle Schools in Gibraltar to give of themselves and to give back to society. It is ultimately a way of educating our children to be kind and thoughtful to others. In so doing, and by actively participating in good deeds, it promotes a ‘way of being’. The children are given small gifts with the ‘We Care’ logo (yo-yos, caps, pencil cases, school
A selection of “We Care” gifts
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bags, torches etc) for finishing their booklets. At the end of each school year the children with the highest points are given prizes at a special reception. The schools also benefit by receiving IT equipment. Local charities also benefit from this project. It is about education and charitable giving — both vital to promote good quality individuals and a first class society. The public are asked to support the children. You may be approached by a child, from the ‘We Care’ project, offering to help you in a variety of ways, please encourage our young to be kind, to be generous with their time and to learn how to give back to the Gibraltar community. At the same time we are helping our young to collect and donate money to charity. It is, in essence, an all rounder.
An important part of this project is the involvement of everyone in the community; otherwise the children are unable to perform these kind deeds. We therefore urge the public to “get involved pro-actively” — be a part of this process! ‘We Care’ is an important project, in which public awareness, help and participation is essential. The Minister for Education and Department of Education have given their full support to this programme and their help, as well as the help given by the head teachers of all middle schools has been invaluable. You win, they win, we all win. n For more information contact info@wecaregib. com or Tel 200 46822 or go visit the website www. bonitatrust.org
Middle School kids helping the elderly with their shopping GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • AUGUST 2009
events
Default declarations pave way for Gibraltar consumers to claim compensation from FSCS Consumers could claim up to £48,000 if they have lost money as a result of their dealings with the firm in Gibraltar that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared in default. The FSCS is the UK’s statutory compensation scheme for customers of regulated financial services firms and does not charge individual consumers for using its service.
Leeds fun day a great success
The kinds of investment claims the FSCS handles usually relate to advice. For example, if somebody was advised to buy an investment product, such as an endowment policy, but it was unsuitable for them and they lost money as a result of the advice they received, they may be entitled to make a claim.
Leeds Building Society recently invited Gibraltar residents to join them for their third annual fun day at the Piazza. Entertainment included a puppet show, face painting, arts and crafts and lots of balloons and other freebies. The event enabled people to meet the friendly team from the branch. Simon Murphy, Gibraltar Branch Operations Manager said, “Our third annual Fun Day kicked off around 10am and we immediately started the lengthy task of blowing up masses of balloons for the lines of kids who wanted one. “There was also a lot of entertainment available on the day for youngsters via face painting, a puppet show and arts and crafts. Our regular puppeteer came along and entertained some large audiences with her ‘Shirley Bassey singing crocodile’ the ‘Slinky Ostriches’ and the ‘Silly Skeleton’ all making an appearance. “We raised over £120 for Childline Gibraltar through donations for the balloons... We also had 125 entries for our ‘Win an MP3 player’ free prize draw. It was a successful day with positive feedback received from the public. We look forward to the fourth annual fun day in 2010.” n Visit www.leedsbuildingsociety.com/gibraltar.
Declaring a firm in default is the final part of a process in which a firm regulated by the Financial Services Authority has been found by the FSCS to be unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it. This means that customers who have lost money as a result of dealings with one of these firms might be able to make a claim for compensation to the Scheme. The FSCS covers investments, deposits, insurance, home finance advice and arranging (from 31 October 2004), and advice about general insurance and the arranging of policies (from 14 January 2005). Details of the investment firm the FSCS has recently declared in default can be found below. Consumers who believe they may have a claim should contact the FSCS on 0800 678 1100 or 020 7892 7300, or by email at enquiries@fscs. org.uk. More information about the FSCS’s work and how to claim is available on its website at www.fscs.org.uk/consumer. Declarations by FSCS August 2009 Eurolife Assurance (International) Limited, Suite 2G, Eurolife Building, 1 Corral Road, Gibraltar
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22
December 2008
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
associations The Association of Pension Fund Administrators (APFA) was recently formed in Gibraltar to provide a forum to promote best practice amongst local firms that are involved in the administration and operation of pension schemes. David Erhardt of STM Fidecs Life, Health & Pensions Ltd has been appointed Chairman, Steven Knight of Castle Trust & Management Services Limited Vice Chairman, and Jane Caulfield of STM Fidecs, Honorary Secretary.
Association Committee: David Erhardt and Jane Caulfield of STM Fidecs, and Steven Knight of Castle Trust (standing)
Association of Pension Fund Administrators formed in Gibraltar
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
David Erhardt commented “We are keen to maintain the reputation of Gibraltar as one of the leading financial centres. Gibraltar has seen a rapid increase in the demand for pension schemes and related services and we are keen to ensure that we fully comply with all necessary standards and regulations, both locally and internationally. We need to self- regulate where necessary and liaise with Government bodies both inside and outside Gibraltar in a seamless way.” Hassans, Capurro Insurance, London and Colonial and ECS are the companies who have currently joined STM Fidecs and Castle Trust as members of the association and have participated in the initial meetings regarding the setting up of the association with great enthusiasm. Those wishing to join APFA, which is intended for operators of pension schemes and any other interested parties, should contact Jane Caulfield, STM Fidecs on +350 200 45877 email: jane.caulfield@stmfidecs.gi. n
23
opinion
?
What Lies Ahead by Paul de Beresford
Gibraltar in 25 Years’ Time Even governments cannot predict economic performance, or even trends, accurately and certainly not incomes, taxes or deficits. Can we, through guess work, do any better? Here’s an attempt to pretend I am reporting to you in 2034:
Unlike after the Second World War when all Britons had been used to deprivation, unemployment and danger so that they were able to endure continued rationing and shortages for another decade, the recent generations were used to an easier life and did not want to lose out completely on the gains of the turn of the century. Those in the UK did therefore have to work harder and longer for more years to produce tax revenues to extremely slowly repay the National Debt. This was looking impossible in 2009 when the welfare expenditure actually exceeded the income tax take in Britain. There was never again the number of well paid of jobs in Britain to support its then fast rising population and, therefore, it explained why there was some considerable migration of that population taking place in search of continued prosperity. Africa is in no better position
24
with its unsustainable population growth despite not having been cushioned as much as before with western food aid, and its natural resources have been plundered more quickly (and to extinction) by China, as that country reached its peak of economic success. South America is starting out now on the crest of a massive wave as it learns to enjoy more stable governments and stronger demands from its population to ape the western life styles they see on television. Asia continues to assume the role of the world’s dominant, if
not only, workshop. But it is not doing so for peanuts. Goods now sell there at increasing prices as the population has aspired to become a consumer society, so the rest of the world now pays considerably more for those goods to cause their diversion to us. Russia again used its vast size and resources to supply expensively the rest of Europe with many essentials (even food) that are now missing elsewhere, such that their standard of living has soared ahead of many others. Britain has finally admitted that its influence in the world had fin-
Asia continues to assume the role of the world’s dominant, if not only, workshop. But it is not doing so for peanuts. Goods now sell there at increasing prices as the population has aspired to become a consumer society
ished. Like some empires before like Turkey and Spain, the steady decline was hard to bear, let alone adjust to, but the impossible debts have forced it to reduce its role in the world as Sweden did more willingly and quickly in Europe over a hundred years ago. The military role has disappeared into a contribution to a European defence system and Gibraltar has become nothing more than a tiny part of it without any permanent manned facilities. The relationship with Britain has become largely historical and less formally structured as Gibraltarians became more willing and able to relate to others in and beyond Europe and do business with the world generally rather more than now. The developing closeness to Spain parallels the closer integration of all things European, rather than anything specific to this area. The economy of Gibraltar
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
opinion changed. Belatedly, more is actually executed on computers, rather than them being used for mere records of manual tasks performed at the same time. The number of public servants required for past services was far less, but the opportunity was taken to have more done by government to improve the quality of life in such a small place where, inevitably, the public are more in need of shared facilities, as so many here cannot confine themselves to their houses and gardens behind closed doors and gates, as elsewhere. We all lost confidence in the free market to deliver everything at reasonable price (without government subsidy or low wages) to everyone everywhere, safely and sustainably. The public sector survived and developed led by non-corrupt politicians and controlled the cost of its pensions (by a longer period of service to qualify) and instigated agreements for more multi-tasking and longer hours. Certainly, the present in 2034 is not all bleak. The days of mass multi-trips to far flung places may have become less, so that cruise ships have been seen even more again in European waters. Hotels here have become of a better standard for tourists. They are not cheaper, but are of better value
than in 2009 as they now serve the huge number of remaining retired fat cats who robbed us all in the past and who have continued to spend, spend, spend with their illgotten gains. Social change was hardest to predict. But with several generations by then brain-washed to copy each other from M-TV in attitude, it is doubtful that the young of the world will be able to be told apart in taste, appearance, views or behaviour. n
PAUL de BERESFORD is a UK-qualified tax practitioner specializing in tax, domicile and residence relocation. He can be contacted by email to beresford@gibtelecom.net or on 200 40093 (from UK on 020 8144 1249), or (by appointment) at his Main Street office.
SEPTEMBER 2009
Date Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Mon 07 Wed 09 Thu 10 Sat 12 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30
Vessel ETA Oriana 1230 Coral 1430 Sea Cloud II 0800 Arcadia 0800 MSC Lirica 1900 Sea Cloud II 0000 Princess Danae 1200 Artemis 1330 Pacific Dream 1300 Discovery 1500 Coral 1430 Bleu de France 0800 Azamara Journey 1000 MSC Orchestra 1800 7 Seas Voyager 0800 Grand Princess 1200 Pacific Dream 1300 Queen Victoria 0800 Indep. of the Seas 0900 Celebrity Century 0700 Oceana 0800 Coral 1430 Queen Mary 2 0900 Zenith 0800 Thomson Destiny 0900 Pacific Dream 1300 MSC Orchestra 1500 Funchal 0800 Coral 1430 Thomson Spirit 0800 Bleu de France 0800 Costa Magica 1300 Zenith 0800 Pacific Dream 1300 MSC Orchestra 1500 Oceana 0800 Coral 1430
ETD 1800 1730 2359 1330 2359 2000 2359 1900 1900 1900 1730 1300 1800 2359 1300 1900 1900 1330 1600 1700 1330 1730 1600 1500 1800 1900 2000 1230 1730 1800 1300 1900 1500 1900 2359 1330 1730
Pass British International German British Italian German International British Spanish British International French American Italian American American Spanish International International American British International International Spanish British Spanish Italian International International British French Italian Spanish Spanish Italian British International
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Capacity From To 1975 S’thampton Palau 756 Tangier Ibiza 96 1968 Corfu S’thampton 1600 Lisbon Malaga 96 420 Leixoes Tangier 1200 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 751 Lisbon Almeria 756 Tangier Ibiza 600 Malaga Ajaccio 700 Vigo Palma 2550 Lisbon Malaga 714 Cadiz Valencia 2600 Lisbon Barcelona 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 2000 Corfu S’thampton 3600 S’thampton Cagliari 1778 Cadiz Palma 1950 Barcelona S’thampton 756 Tangier Ibiza 2620 Lisbon Civitavecchia 1375 Malaga Lisbon 1595 Portimao Malaga 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 2550 Lisbon Alicante 439 Cadiz Lisbon 756 Tangier Ibiza 1214 Portimao Malaga 600 Malaga Ajaccio 2720 Lisbon Alicante 1375 Malaga Lisbon 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 2550 Lisbon Alicante 1950 Cartagena S’thampton 756 Tangier Ibiza
25
sport
interviewed by Jonathan Bull
photography courtesy Chelsea Football Club
On pitch assessment
eva carneiro behind the scenes at Chelsea FC
Born in Gibraltar with a Spanish father, Eva Carneiro wanted to be involved in treating sports injuries from the age of 16. As an adolescent, deciding what she wanted to do with her life wasn’t the problem, but at the time there was no formal specialist training in Sports Medicine in the UK. The Gibraltar Magazine put her on the spot to find out how she managed to find herself in the enviable position of treating some of the top sports personalities in the world at Chelsea Football Club. 26
E
va has fond memories of her childhood. “We used to spend long hot lovely summers in Spain when I was free from school,” she told us. “This was during a period when the frontier was still closed so I guess I was brought up with a different perspective quite early in life. Even at such a young age it opened up the possibilities of a different and exciting world out there with different beliefs and points of view. I think even then I knew I wanted to travel someday. “I always loved my sport, my problem was I wanted to do them all. So I was always suffering some sort of delayed onset muscle soreness of one muscle group or another. There was no such thing as conditioning or recovery in my life. Riding and ballet were my favourite and I remember my ballet teacher and riding instructor always complaining. I was sore and stiff in dance classes after riding and too externally rotated for riding after ballet. With the onset of adolescence I was suffering the common anterior knee pain problems and despite however many weeks doctors told me to rest the pain always came back on my return to sport. This made me think there had to be more than rest to treatment of sports injury and this process sparked the evolving fascination with sports medicine.” Following her basic medical training in Nottingham, Eva moved to the Scottish Highlands to work in surgery and emergency. After advice from her Orthopaedic consultants she completed orthopaedic training with a view to developing it into a specialist interest in Sports Medicine. “I completed some of my surgical exams and training but I knew that I wanted to work in Sports Medicine with more than just a special interest. So I moved to Australia where they have had a Sports Medicine Specialist Training programme for over ten years. There I pursued formal training at the Australasian College of Sports Physicians,” Eva explained. Unfortunately, due to registration restrictions she was asked to apply as an overseas candidate. There was a three year waiting list, and so, after two years in Australia, Eva returned to the UK to complete a Master in Sports Medicine. But Eva still has fond memories of Australia. “I really fell in love with Sydney. It’s a perfect combination of beach and city. It has a quality of life not unlike that we are used to in the Mediterranean, great wine, amazing coffee, and high quality restaurants representing any cuisine in the world. I learned how to surf there and those moments on the surf in the early mornings and evenings I can honestly count amongst the happiest in my life.” After completing a Masters in Sports Medicine she was then fortunate enough to be one of the first eight Registrars appointed nationally to the UK Sports & Exercise Medicine Specialist Training Programme. “It has been quite a journey with a lot of interesting experiences!” She recalls. Her appointment to the Specialist Training Programme in the UK stood her in good stead. Her work included working at the Olympic Medical Institute in the build up to the last Olympics. She also worked with England Women’s football in their training camps and UK Athletics and England Athletics. “It was a busy summer in the build up to the
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
sport
Olympics and I was very fortunate to work at the Aviva National Athletic Championships and Olympic Trials,” Eva told us. “The position at Chelsea Football Club was then advertised and it really was a dream come true to be selected following the interview. “My real interest in football started with the 1998 world cup. Brazil was playing Mexico I was travelling through Mexico and we stopped at a town which was a popular honeymoon destination for Brazilians. They boasted a huge sports arena and had a world cup party to celebrate Brazil’s first appearance. At the time I was particularly interested in learning how to Samba to be absolutely honest. The Brazilians danced on the bar after every goal and during half time. By the end of that game I was hooked on both samba and football.” Eva certainly made a point of fulfilling her childhood ambition to travel and has found herself in some interesting situations. “I remember literally having finished my last exams at medical school, I went off on my elective to Brazil. I had not even attended my graduation ceremony. I was flying to the Amazon from Brasilia when a lady went into labour on our plane. In remember thinking that my Portuguese was very bad because they couldn’t possibly be asking if there was a doctor on the plane over the speakers. Surely those things only happened in movies. Luckily there was a lovely Brazilian doctor there too and the baby was born healthy after the quickest labour I have ever seen. I remember standing there trying very hard to stop myself from taking pictures of mother and child thinking ‘no-one is ever going to believe this’ Unfortunately the national press reported it as doctor and nurse deliver baby on plane. I was not happy with the female stereotype.” Eva now works for Chelsea full time which leaves her little time for anything else, including her passion for dancing. “Latin dance competitors generally make a living giving lessons and are then free to dance into the night,” she explained. “It’s a little bit harder to do that when you are up at 6am for a full day at Cobham or travelling with a team. I did it for a while and ended up quite fit but very tired. I unfortunately also carry an injury which limits what I can do when I have an exacerbation. I really miss salsa in particular.” In addition, she does have a role as a medical advisor for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Rowing. “This group has pioneered the use of FES to produce a rowing motion. Following a spinal cord injury individuals may not voluntarily exercise enough muscle mass to gain the full benefits of a regular whole body workout. However, paralysed muscles can be made to contract by applying electrical pulses through skin electrodes,” she qualified.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
“This opens up all the health benefits of exercise to individuals with restricted mobility secondary to their disability which is an incredible development so for me a very worthy cause.” As a doctor with Chelsea FC, Eva is involved in the management of all the sports injuries. Assisting doping control, medicals for signings and cardiology and other screening is also a part of the job. “My work routine usually involves a daily 9am First Team medical meeting which involves reviewing the injury board and treatment plans with Physiotherapist, physiologist, strength and conditioning coaches and massage therapists. This is usually followed by review of Reserve Team players. After we make decisions on who’s fit to play and report this to the manager I move to the Academy building and review injuries and/or illnesses there. I then cover the training session. “In the afternoon I may have to attend other specialist appointments with players or review others and perform therapeutic procedures. I then catch up on paper work until 3pm when we have a Reserve Team meeting. “In elite sport, daily development becomes crucial so this is usually followed by a 4pm First
“
The Brazilans danced on the bar after every goal and during half time. By the end of that game I was hooked on both samba and football
“
Describing injuries during Chelsea TV interview
Team multidisciplinary meeting. Match days are obviously different, where we might have to travel to a game or there might be pre-match fitness tests to attend as well as acute treatment and investigations of injuries sustained during a game.” Eva said “You get to know players quite well when you’re travelling with them. This makes the Team Physician job interesting for me as you get to know the individual and feel you are working with them to achieve something. It also intensifies the emotions you feel during matches although if I work at a match I might never get to enjoy the game. I have a lot of emergency experience and you get to share extremely significant moments of a patient’s life and then you never see them again. I enjoy the ongoing relationship you develop with the players and staff.” Eva is a Real Madrid supporter, but she has found that by working with players you end up liking and supporting them too, so it’s no surprise that she’s a Chelsea supporter now too. “Interestingly my mum used to support Chelsea when she lived in London too!” Eva told us. “Yes, please don’t mention my last experiences around FC Barcelona I will collapse into a heap and burst into tears.” You would have thought that treating public figures with large incomes based on their fitness would put you under serious pressure, but as a true professional, Eva put the record straight. “When working at the Olympic Medical Institute so close to the Beijing Olympics I was fortunate to have Richard Budgett as a trainer who is not only an Olympic Gold Medallist, a great doctor and Chief Medical Officer to the London Olympics but also one of the most humble persons I know. He made me feel at ease with elite athletes who were building up to the culmination of four years hard work and personal sacrifices. This experience taught me how to feel at ease when so much is at stake. “At Chelsea I am also very fortunate in working with a Chief Medical Officer who I have a lot of personal and professional trust in. Bryan English is one of the pioneers of Sports Medicine in this country and was previously Chief MediMedical cover of training session
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sport
“
You get to know players quite well when you’re travelling with them. This makes the Team Physician job interesting for me as you get to know the individual
cal Officer of UK Athletics. It helps when you can discuss the decisions you are making with someone you have a lot of respect for. It has not always been this way so I really appreciate what I have at the moment. “I am grateful for my experiences in the resuscitation rooms of the emergency departments I worked in. Leading in multi-trauma situations and being affected by them has helped me maintain perspective in what I do today.” Many of us would relate Sports Injury with physiotherapy, but Eva’s role with Chelsea is a little different and more diagnostic. “We interpret and collate all the information from sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists and football coaches and biomechanists to make decisions regarding
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I am grateful for my experiences in the resuscitation rooms of the emergency departments I worked in
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the state of an injury,” Eva said. “Sports physicians make predictions regarding return to play and performance or what procedures and interventions may help to accelerate return to play or achieve a better result for the player at a particular point in time. We request and interpret radiological investigations like MRI and CT scans with the information following clinical assessment of the player. When required we might perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures like ultrasound guided injections to musculoskeletal areas of pathology or injury. We are obviously trained to treat illness and prescribe medication with an awareness of its effect on performance as well as an athlete’s general state of health. We also have the responsibility of treating on-field emergencies and have a big role in interpreting the research and applying not only for the treatment of injuries but in their prevention. “In an ideal world an exercising individual would have access to both a Sports Physician and a physiotherapist because we can complement each other very well.” With the establishment of the specialty of Sports Medicine, Eva feels the awareness of Sports and Exercise Medicine is slowly increasing amongst the general population. “The philosophy should centre around helping individuals achieve their exercising goals whether this is to climb Mount Everest, win a particular competition or to decrease their cardiac risks. ”Exercise can lower your blood pressure, raise your good cholesterol, decrease your bad cholesterol, treat mild/moderate depression, decrease your risks of developing breast
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Stamford Bridge
and colon cancer, prevent falls in the elderly, decrease your cardiovascular risks, make you less likely to develop type 2 diabetes and even if you have type 2 diabetes it helps you achieve better sugar control. “It also prevents obesity, improves circulation and boosts self esteem. What is there not to like? Individuals suffering medical problems can be exercise tested by a sports physician and have graduated exercise recommendations. In the UK the government is implementing strategies to use exercise to treat the obesity epidemic which I think is a very positive change. A focus on prevention and not on treatment alone. With the millions of pounds that the stretched NHS spends on treating the conditions that exercise can prevent the argument that we should not invest in sports and exercise medicine because sports injuries are self inflicted no longer stands. We now acknowledge how funds could be best invested if prevention with exercise were successful. “I also hope that with the creation of Sports and Exercise Medicine consultant posts within the NHS those individuals involved in sports at an amateur level will now have access to specialist investigation and rehabilitation without having to turn to the private sector. I have come across so many athletes who invest so much time and energy to have their performance nipped in the bud through injury before achieving their full potential — athletes from very humble backgrounds who will never be able to afford private specialist services. I think the emergence of the specialty is triumph for the athletes of the future and a necessity in the developed world.” Eva tries to get back often to see her family. Usually about three times a year. ”It’s generally for long weekends during which I tend to concentrate on my family. I think living abroad makes you appreciate how privileged we are in Gibraltar. “I grew up riding horses in the south of Spain, surrounded by the sea, sunshine and music with people who are generally open and friendly. We also have so much history and I find it impossible to divorce the south of Spain from this heritage. “I often observe kids in other parts of the UK and I am reminded just how fortunate I have been. Sometimes in Gibraltar we can take all this for granted.” n GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
education
InterHigh Spain:
A New Way of Learning on the Coast InterhighSpain.com will open its brand new facility on Monday 7th September 2009. Interhigh Spain offers high quality online education to the British National Curriculum with students taking GCSE and A level examinations at a nominated examination centre on the Coast. The school is a partnership with Interhigh UK which has grown rapidly since its inception in 2005 due to its high quality and low cost product. Apart from the excellent results that an online education method offers, Interhigh Spain will include sports, art, drama etc in an on site, controlled and supervised environment. Parents can also log onto their child’s ‘personal portal’ to check on progress and to ensure homework is up to date. It must also be considered that simple IT lessons are not sufficient for a child to progress to total computer literacy which will be absolutely essential in the world of commerce in the very near future. Interhigh Spain will allow each child to develop swiftly in their core academic subjects with the benefit of complete proficiency in computer and software utilisation that no conventional secondary school can currently provide. InterHigh Spain feel that, plus large class numbers with one teacher, are a thing of the past and not the way forward as they often
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
make a child feel nervous and exposed. It must also be acknowledged that disruption in large classes does cause concentration problems. The ‘one to one’ basis that Interhigh provides in a virtual class room eradicates these negatives and this has been proven by results achieved. This type of education is becoming very popular in the UK and USA. An added benefit is that children can continue with their academic subjects during absence from school providing there is an internet connection. From the launch of Interhigh Spain many families have already secured their place for a very affordable alternative, providing a high quality product that can be closely monitored by the school and parents on a regular basis and allowing the interaction and activities of children of their own age within the school day. Interhigh UK has already received highly complimentary editorial in the British Press namely the Daily Mail and Independent and is accredited by ODLQC (Online Distance Learning Quality Council). Please call 952884789 or email info@interhighspain.com for further details or visit www.interhighspain.com
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S
jack of all
sports
There aren’t many people in Gibraltar who know as much about local sports as Tony Avellano. Best known these days for his bi-monthly publication, Gibsport, Tony’s involvement in sport goes back 50 years, to when he first took up athletics and football at St Anne’s School, aged 9. 30
ince then, he’s always had the sports-bug and has been continually involved in sport for as long as he can remember. “I was never the best in any sport, but I ran to a pretty high standard. Unfortunately, there was always someone who was just that little bit better than me,” said Tony. “But that doesn’t matter, I think of sport as an enjoyment and over the years I’ve tried about all of them.” At the age of 15, he started to take football and hockey quite seriously and the latter, he played with Calpe GCC in the GHA First Division. As a career, Tony joined the Gibraltar Fire Brigade and there he took a liking to basketball and volleyball. In 1975 he organised the first local volleyball tournament, forming the Gibraltar Volleyball Association along with Joe Bemrimoj, and three years later, Gibraltar joined the International Volleyball Association. You could say that this was the start of Tony’s future — on the side-lines, but at the same time in the thick of sporting events. His enthusiasm and love of the sport opened the doors for him to push for Gibraltar to compete internationally and with more than considerable success. Just talking to Tony is a whirlwind of events, dates names and places, but it would would be suffice to say his input to Gibraltar sports has taken teams to play in the Volleyball European Cup, was a founder member of the Small Nations Association firstly as Vice-President and then as President and was heavily involved in the Gibraltar Island Games Association back in the late 70s and early 80s. “The idea originally came from Sir Peter Terry, as we found that although we were accepted to be involved in volleyball internationally on a higher level, we found we were up against teams in a totally different league. Although I must say that although we got absolutely hammered, our players did extremely well to be lasting for about 15 minutes per set,” Tony smiled. “There was a little opposition to us joining the Island Games, mainly as Gibraltar is not actually an island, but with the support of Sir Peter Terry, we were granted membership and in the first games in Guernsey back in ‘87 the Gibraltar Volleyball team took their first bronze.” Tony’s involvement with volleyball has taken him on travels to many venues. As coach he tried to be innovative with the team and was always looking for new tactics. “I tried my hand at basketball once — it wasn’t for me, but I did learn that jumping was different between the two sports. Basketballers jump from one foot, whilst in volleyball it’s normally two feet. I tried to incorporate this idea with some of our volleyball players with a degree of success and actually managed to put a few better teams off their guard with some of the jumps. Unfortunately, the better teams worked out quite quickly what we were doing and then we’d had it. But it did result in a conversation with one international coach who was earning a six figure sum who was impressed by the tactic and felt he had learned from it,” Tony smiled. “As with anything, we can always learn from each other.” Apart from his involvement in organising events, Tony took coaching courses back in the UK to become a qualified instructor in his quest to keep is involvement in sports to an absolute maximum. However, in 1991 he was so scared of
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
sport
Tony’s involvement with volleyball has taken him on travels to many venues. As coach he tried to be innovative with the team and was always looking for new tactics leaving active sports, the idea of the local magazine, Gibsport came about after a conversation with his dad. At the same time, he had what he describes as his biggest achievement ever and the culmination of his career, the formation of the Schools’ Athletic Championships. “The first year we organised the event, we had the support of four local schools, and it was a huge success. Now all nine schools are involved, and it’s an amazing feeling when you see all those kids and nearly 100 teachers helping to make the day a great success,” Tony explained. “The Schools’ Athletic Championships and Gibsport are my two babies now which I give all my time to. Gibsport is a way to keep in touch and help promote sport in general in Gibraltar — and it gives me a great feeling to be giving something to the community. I am quite hard sometimes with what I write, but I think people have come to understand where I’m coming
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Tony, bottom left with the Lourdians Athletics team which travelled to Tangier in 1964
from. I would never say anything malicious, and when I do have a dig at someone or something it is always with the idea for better sport in Gibraltar. Sometimes you need to say hard things and I’m not the sort to beat around the bush, but as I say, people know me by now.
“I love journalism, but as with many of us in this trade, I like to think we are professional amateurs, always learning and always improving on what we do, but I must say that when I go, the best way to go would be with my camera in one hand, a pen in another.” n
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by Mark Montovio
Our childhood memories are as diverse as we are, some are wonderful, some are painful, some best forgotten and the only commonality is that these childhood memories lie within each of us. A single smell or sound has the power to conjure up entire scenes from the past. We all have some memories of our childhood and we are truly lucky if we have many to treasure.
What Smells so Good? I really believe that a childhood memory is a moment of real magic — nothing mystical or supernatural, just an emotional and cognitive kind of magic. Childhood memories can surface, even if they are imbedded deep in our minds, our hearts or our spirit, and they can transport our souls to a time when we lived in our own world and not in someone else’s. As we come to the end of the summer and I sit here going through my thoughts, I can quickly pinpoint one of the main highlights of the day. I am walking down the hill towards Catalan Bay and the beautiful fig tree which must have been standing there for over 30 years giving off that magical scent takes me back instantly to a childhood that would be difficult to match in my books. The fig tree sets it off, and my mind recreates one of the most treasured memories I hold of my childhood. The days at the beach with my brothers, sister and cousins, fishing boats, tin baths warming in the sun ready for the end of the day, ice-creams and my Aunt Pepi’s pine-
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apple upside down cake! So as I approach and see my family sitting in exactly the same place 30 years on, my nephews and my son running around gathering shells and sitting on the few fishing boats left, and I hear the familiar and reassuring accent of the Catalan Bay villagers, I feel privileged that my son can have the same opportunities I had to gather and store treasures that will serve him well in the future. Understanding just how much a child remembers and how soon a memory can begin is fascinating and some researchers say that babies begin to form memories before they are even born. They can actually remember sounds,
voices and smells from outside their womb and this is why a baby will sometimes respond so quickly to the sound of the mother’s voice as it is the sound heard the most. It is believed that the hippocampus orchestrates this trigger and according to researchers in London, odour memory seems the most resistant to forgetting. Odour linked memories can last for ever with evidence that patients with damage to their hippocampus can have amnesia stretching back several years but still recall smell from childhood. Veronica Clancy who is currently living in the UK still associates many smells with her childhood in Gibraltar. “The smell of the salty sea air takes me back to the days when my father used
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Ever since then, this smell has evoked emotions in me of happiness, laughter, genuine sharing, and even a sense of expansion which I find quite difficult to express. All this from a bar of soap!
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to take me fishing in his boat and the smell of warm bread takes me back to Line Wall Road when on Sunday mornings after church mum and the rest of the family would go to buy bread from the bakery before going home.” Jim Wright often recalls the times when he went with his father to fill up his motorbike. “The smell of petrol always reminds me of my father filling up his scooter and I still remember this vividly. As he rode to the garage to fill up I often stood in front of him on the bike. Of course you wouldn’t be allowed to ride like that today, but even though I was only about six years old then, I still think about it when I fill up my car with fuel.” Sonia Golt is still taken back to childhood when she smells Chanel No5. “It was on the tip of my nose constantly as it was my mother’s favourite and now it is mine after all those years as I associate it strongly with my parents’ love for me. Music from the ’50s always brings up memories of my father arriving home from work and dancing around the house with my mother and classic cars are still a big trigger as I travelled much in my father’s Morris Minor.” The smell of fresh coffee and toast in the morning takes Albert Borrell straight to his school days. “As a little boy I was woken up really early for school whilst my parents calmly discussed the day ahead in the kitchen. It still gives me that sense of warmth and belonging today.” Jessica Garcia is often transported back to her childhood. “When I smell washing hanging on the line it always reminds me of the plot of land just off Cumberland Road where my aunties lived and our favourite pastime was to run through all the washing playing catch. We just loved the smell of newly washed sheets and this remains a pleasant memory despite the fact we were always told off.” Peri Martin, who is an aromatherapist, feels that smells play an important part in her life and could come up with many examples. “A strong aromatic trigger for me is the smell of apple soap. This instantly takes me to a very happy time in my life — my first term at 6th form college. The memories that I associate with this smell are strangely difficult to describe in terms of visual images. I think they would best be summed up with the word ‘belonging’. This had been sadly lacking in my experience of school. I had needed to travel 12 miles daily and had not found it easy to make friends (with one notable exception) or to maintain a social life. To
take my A levels, I moved to the 6th form college which was within walking distance of home. From the first day, I made really good friends and immediately felt I had found a place where I fitted in. The contrast in the way I felt about myself was dramatic. For my birthday, one of
my new friends bought me some bathroom goodies, and amongst them was a refreshing apple soap which I particularly loved. Ever since then, this smell has evoked emotions in me of happiness, laughter, genuine sharing, and even a sense of expansion which I find quite difficult to express. All this from a bar of soap!” So we just cannot underestimate the impact different experiences will have on our senses and our memory. Childhood is such a precious time in life to value. “Daddy smell this,” could be thought to be quite an insignificant exchange... but I know better. I came across this quote by J M Barrie in Courage, published in 1922, which reminded me of the late Lucy Denham, whom I had had the privilege of interviewing for this magazine, months before she passed on. “God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December.” Lucy felt that in her later years all she had left were many fond memories which kept her going. She could look back and value a life full of rich moments. What a small investment with such huge gain watering that garden must be! n Editor’s note: The smell of tomato leaves remind me of my mother, as she used to have a greenhouse full of tomato plants. The smell of donkey pooh brings back happy memories for Jon at the Gibraltar Magazine of his childhood in Mexico!
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book release
Michelle at Whiteland’s College Campus
Michelle posing for the first Calendar Girls calendar in Gibraltar, in aid of breast cancer charities (produced in 2006 by the Bosom Buddies team, photo by Mark Montovio)
Memories are made of this
Life is full of sad and happy events and these events often make us reminisce. Joe Gingell is soon to publish a book in memory of his late daughter Michelle Parody. The idea behind this book, We Thank God and England — memories of the wartime evacuation from Gibraltar — is to donate money to breast cancer charities as Michelle died from this disease. 34
“I went to visit my daughter after she had been treated for breast cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital. While convalescing, we visited the Whiteland’s Training College [where Joe and his family were evacuated to during the war]. There we found out one of the students’ charitable activities included donating money for ‘Breakthrough in Breast Cancer’. After pondering for a few days, it occurred to us to compile a document about the Whiteland’s College as an evacuation centre and donate it to raise funds for cancer research. Since then we were on this mission and up to her very last few days Michelle was constantly inspiring and advising me despite her own struggle with cancer, to complete this document which encompasses the whole subject of the evacuation.” Although Michelle will unfortunately not be present to see its completion, it was her wish that her father Joe did in fact, complete it, and therefore obtain proceeds for cancer related charities. Joe is very appreciative of the help he has received from various sectors of the community and his gratitude is shown on his acknowledgment page in his book. “The help I have received to complete this document has ranged from very casual conversations to that of more detailed written and pictorial information. I also received help from various organisations, institutions, associations, historical studies offices, archives, libraries, muGIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2008
book release
by Sonia Golt seums and newspapers in Gibraltar, the UK and in the USA. Acknowledging every person or place individually would be totally impossible and I would certainly run the risk of omitting or erroneously naming people and places.” The book (Joe likes to call it a document) mainly comprises a collection of memorabilia about the evacuation of the Gibraltar civilian population during the Second World War. “When I initiated my research, my intentions were to prepare a document exclusively about the Whiteland’s College. I suppose, like many of those who were evacuated, I always had a desire of one day visiting the place where my family were accommodated during the evacuation. Although I had visited London on many occasions, I was unable to fulfil this desire until the summer of 2001. As soon as my daughter and I entered Whiteland’s I had very vivid memories of my childhood as I played with other children in the beautiful surroundings of the college. This prompted me to research the evacuees at Whiteland’s.” In November 2002, Joe held an exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall. This was a prelude to the book and gave him the opportunity to meet others with personal knowledge which was invaluable for his project. Joe became immersed in many aspects of the evacuation he had never known about before. “Equipped with more information, I visited the College on two more occasions in 2004. These visits coincided with the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Whiteland’s — quite an experience for me. After these visits I decided to go ahead with the preparation of a draft which
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
interview given to the Gibraltar Chronicle by the first evacuee to be repatriated. I am not totally convinced about the title but I do not want it to have the word ‘evacuation’, so this seems a good alternative!” In the past few years, while doing his research, Joe has written articles for various historical websites on the evacuation. “The response to my articles has been encouraging as nothing was known so I hope that with their inclusion on these websites they will serve to make some historians and researchers aware of the plight of the Gibraltar evacuees.” The book will soon be released and sold at all leading bookshops in town. n Joe at the exhibition held in 2005 with Mr Lionel Massetti who served on the Resettlement Board at the time of the repatriation
helped me to become more knowledgeable about the evacuation.” Why have you called the book We Thank God and England…? “I obtained this title from an extract of an
The book mainly comprises a collection of memorabilia about the evacuation of the Gibraltar civilian population during the Second World War
Do you want to be the next Supernannie? Are you a grandmother? Do you wish to participate in the Supernannie Competition and have lots of fun? A meeting takes place on Tuesday 22nd September at 7pm at the John Mackintosh Hall for grandmothers wishing to enter. Suppernannie will be staged on 26th November at 7.30pm at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. For information call Sylvia on 200 42301 or Sonia on 56449000. The Show this year is in aid of the Psychological Support Group.
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at home
IN GIBRALTAR
Photos: Roman bathrooms at D&H Ceramics
Bathrooms: All Together Now
Until recently the bathroom comprised three pieces of white porcelain tucked away in a cramped, rectangular room. The design was austere but functional — bath, toilet, sink and a tiled floor. If you had more space and money you could have a corner bath and a glass shower cabinet and the avante garde might stretch to a bidet. But now the simple bathroom is turning into an oasis of sensory pleasure... In the ‘80s and ‘90s bathrooms started to evolve with jacuzzis, power showers and about everything else you could squeeze into a rectangular room being squeezed in as our expectations of comfort levels rose. Designers are now adding shaped-space and unique fixtures which provide style and additional function. This lowliest of rooms is no longer an inconvenient necessity carved out of an unused space on the plans. Like bedrooms, kitchens and other living spaces bathrooms are being designed to encompass other activities such as reading, watching television and relaxation. Imagine a large, glassed-in shower providing a steam bath, sauna, rain shower and an audiovisual system. Adjacent there is a spacious bath offering more massage jets and the same audiovisual amenities. Sensory effects
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enhance the ambience and luxury of personal wellness and private spaces. The modern approach encompasses the minimalist ideal, letting neutral colours define simple architectural shapes. But this does not mean stark. The simplicity is natural, colour and form play vital roles, some designs containing gentle water falls, wood textures and smooth rock. The colours are light, neutral or natural resembling beach and riverbeds. Stone is becoming a popular choice for walls and floors and even vanity tops.
Mirrors have changed in size and scope. They are smaller than the huge vanity mirrors of the past but now you can get a television built in! If you don’t like what you see in the mirror change the channel. The sustainable approach to natural resources and energy conservation are paramount in the modern bathroom and this marks probably the strongest and most influential bathroom trend. Waterwise, and water is expensive in Gibraltar, technology combines with natural and environmentally friendly
Waterwise, and water is expensive in Gibraltar, technology combines with environmentally friendly materials and design practices to meld wellness, economy and a sense of ecoconsciousness into a durable oasis
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
ral u t na nds tre materials and design practices to meld wellness, economy and a sense of eco-consciousness into a durable yet design-oriented oasis. The Hansgrohe Crometta 85 Green series, for example, uses only six litres of water per minute using EcoSmart Technology — incorporated into some of the Raindance overhead and handheld showers, when combined with Hansgrohe’s unique AirPower Technology, performance is amplified. Energy-wasting single bulbs are gone and are being replaced by incandescent and halogen down-lights which provide whiter, more attractive lighting. Sexy electronic fittings, contactless operation and push button control of showers and other features dominate the hi-tech bathroom of today and tomorrow. Of all the rooms in the house where design expertise and professional fitting might be needed, bathrooms are at the top of the list, especially in Gibraltar where space is usually premium and apartments with shared services are the norm. Find a qualified contractor and set about creating a relaxing space for you and your family. Today’s bathroom goes beyond a room for the chaste purpose of cleansing and is now a space, purpose-built to reflect our individual needs, tastes and desires. n
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at home IN GIBRALTAR
T
o be honest, rather than just a decorative protection for your walls, paper has become an art-form which can transform any room, creating some quite stunning effects. Brash and bold is what you’ll be looking for if you’re about to do some redecorating now the kids are back at school, but you’ll have to take into account the size and light in the room before you make your decisions for colours. Deep reds work well with light ochre or pastel pink, but as darker colours soak up the light you’ll need to be sure you have plenty of it or balance the tones so they work with the light you have available. Dark is also synonymous with hot, and even though we’re heading towards winter, the local climate will be warm for some time yet so be extremely careful when choosing your colour schemes. Because you’re looking for drama, you won’t want to decorate your whole home with paper unless you generally go for more subtle tones. One good tip is to choose a wall which becomes the centre-piece for effect and paint the other walls in a secondary tone which contrasts with the paper. You’re imagination is the limit. Think of your paper as a canvas that covers the wall — it’s an artboard and many designers have gone to great lengths to produce a massive range of designs and colour schemes to make the most of this space and you’ll find many of these ranges ready available in decorating shops and boutiques around Gibraltar. One interesting collection, available from Denville Designs is Graham & Brown — a company which looks first and foremost at the artistic feel and the up and coming trends. “Walls prefer pattern. They don’t want to be lifeless, plain and boring,” comments Andrew Graham in the introduction to the company’s brochure. “They want to be wrapped in pattern and smothered in art. If wallpaper is the stuff that surrounds you, then it should be beautiful to look at, tactile and personal to you and your home.” It’s quite impressive to see how this company in particular has thought the whole process through. Having produced their wallpaper
don’t do drab — do
drama
Wallpaper has been coming back into fashion for some time now and it’s slowly creeping back into our every-day lives, but not quite as we used to know it.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Photos: Graham & Browns newest collection Essence, available from Denville Designs
ah
at home IN GIBRALTAR
Photos: Graham & Browns newest collection Essence, available from Denville Designs
ranges, they immediately turned their eye to items which complement them such as pictures and mirrors for hanging as well as a glassware range which reflects the pattern designs in their different ranges and complements the overall effect. Unfortunately for many of us, the furnishings and fittings are already in place. Before you head out to search for patterns and colours, take a good look at the different items which make up your room and the colours involved. In many cases you can still go for the paper you really like with just a few adjustments by way of lamp-shades and throw-overs whilst a quick change of pictures or possibly just their frames can make all the difference.� n
ah
Before you head out to search for patterns and colours, take a good look at the different items which make up your room and the colours involved
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turn to pages 96-97 for property directory
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size matters This is especially true if that shelf is just a little bit out of your reach or you can’t quite stretch to the light bulb. With the JML Pink Step there’s no need to stand on your tiptoes or balance precariously on a chair: it’s a safe sturdy step that gives you an extra foot in height. The Pink Step is also slimline for storage. Its compact design means that it can fold down in next to nothing so you can store it next to the fridge or under the sink. It’s hard to believe that this slight step can comfortably handle 136Kg of weight! Its non-skid surface makes it great for kids too — it will help them reach up to the sink to brush their teeth! It also makes an excellent outdoor seat. Put some height back into housework with the Pink Step. It’s available from BIA on Irish Town for only £7.70. n
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have a
quick-cup
Tefal’s Quick Cup does exactly what it says on the box – dispensing hot, fresh, filtered water in just three seconds – perfect for busy mornings and people on the go. Pressing a button pours a cup of hot water, which heats only as it travels around Quick Cup’s hot water heater system. Consequently you only heat the water you use, leading to faster cuppas and energy savings up to 65%! The quick cup is available from Argos through Shop Direct, New Harbours.Tel: 200 71076. n
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homein centre the town centre
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Lal Jeswani Well known for fair prices and honest advice, Lal Jeswani has now opened his new shop in the Don House Arcade, just off Main Street where he offers a wide range of home electronics from excellently priced cordless phones through to kettles and iPod accessories. While having a browse around we came across the Philips Nivea shaver, which is specifically designed to handle all the contours of your face. To top that it has a moisturiser dispenser for a smooth and close shave too. The shaver is totally submergable which means you can use it in the shower and a quick rinse under the tap while switched on will unclog the blades. It comes with a small, neat recharger stand which takes a little under
an hour to charge up. Once fully charged it can last for weeks. Small and stylish, Lal’s got it on special offer, so call in and he’ll tell you more about it and much more. n
We liked... the Philips Nivea shaver
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turn to pages 96-97 for property directory
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history
by Dave Wood
Gibraltar-born Times Correspondent leaves his mark on China In a truly civilized society, the parameters of what constitutes child abuse would be widened to include the gratuitous saddling of offspring with patently ridiculous names. Not only would many present-day celebrities find themselves rightfully hauled before the courts; they would join a long list of offenders, both famous and obscure, who across the years have condemned their children to inevitable schoolyard humiliation out of a wish to appear wackily sophisticated, or a desperate desire to perpetuate family titles in the face of heartfelt disappointment. Take as an example the case of Major General William Balfour, erstwhile Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick. When his wife presented him with a daughter, he was distraught. He had been hoping for a son to whom he could bequeath his name, but old Bill Balfour was not a man to be easily thwarted. The child may be inconveniently of the wrong sex, but by Jupiter he would have his way! He instantly invented a new name and dubbed the unfortunate infant, “Williamina”. Even so, his venom was unspent. His intention had been to perpetuate, via his frustratingly non-existent son, the name of his own father, and whether she liked it or not (she probably didn’t), his daughter would have to do the job. No doubt the vicar choked back a censorious rebuke as he held the squirming child over the font and dutifully, but reluctantly, burdened her for life with the brutally unjust name of Williamina Martha Arnold Balfour. The lady’s shame would today probably have melted into merciful obscurity had she not met, fell in love with, and married Captain Thomas Bowlby of the Royal Artillery and in 1818, in Gibraltar, presented him with a son. Had she taken sweet revenge and named him Martharo, the chances are that a century and a half later Johnny Cash would have sung a song about him, but she did not. Thomas Bowlby had been luckier in life’s lottery than his father-in-law. He had wanted a son to carry on his name, and he got one. The boy was named Thomas, after his dad, and finally (he should have had more patience), Grandad also got his wish. “Thomas William Bowlby” passed the font test with smiles all round. Names matter. As “Martharo”, the lad’s confidence might have been crushed in infancy by the merciless taunts of his peers, but with a no-nonsense name like “Thomas”, Bowlby could stride the world with his head high and his fists unclenched. This was of particular importance since, when he was very young, his parents moved to Sunderland — a town not noted for the shy effeminacy of its menfolk. There, Thomas’s father set up business as a timber merchant. His education was entrusted to an expatriate Scotsman, Dr Cowan, who did a decent enough job, but left his ward with no
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clear idea of what he wanted to do with his life. A cousin, Russell, practiced in the town as a solicitor, and since Thomas was of a bookish nature it seemed he might take the same path. After completing his training, and looking to broaden his horizons, Tom left Sunderland for the gold-paved streets of London and took a job as a salaried clerk with a law firm. He did well enough to become, by 1846, a junior partner, and had the satisfaction of seeing his name painted on the door alongside his colleagues, Messrs Lawrence and Crowdy. It wasn’t quite the same as seeing his name in lights above the entrance to a West End theatre, but it was surely a proud enough moment to be captured by the fashionable new wonder of photography. Surely the Bowlby family album once contained a snapshot of a suitably dignified, bowler-hatted 28-year old Thomas standing beside the impressively decorated office door. But the young man remained restless. Ability is seldom married to desire. The fact a person can perform a job well does not necessarily mean he or she wishes to devote a lifetime to it. The most talented juggler eventually tires of tossing balls into the air. Tom Bowlby had an easy grasp of the law, but what he really wanted to do was write. This is roughly equivalent to a wealthy man yearning to take a vow of poverty. Without entirely giving up his day job, Bowlby somehow managed to get himself sent to Berlin in 1848 to write dispatches for The Times about the growing revolutionary spirit that was
For everyone else on board, the sinking of the Malabar was at best a damned inconvenience, and at worst a horrible tragedy, but for an enthusiastic reporter it was, well, a godsend
blazing across Europe. To his satisfaction, and perhaps his surprise, things turned out so well that, in 1854, he was able to ask Lawrence and Crowdy to call in the signpainter again to have his name erased. During this time he married, and chose as his life’s companion his father’s second wife’s sister. Within those stark facts lies the kernel of a first-rate Music Hall song, but sadly, no-one had the presence of mind to write it. In time the lady bore him five children, and when her father died she and Thomas inherited a considerable fortune which Bowlby rapidly lost in wild stock market speculation on the new-fangled railways. He fell into such great debt he was forced to flee England and allowed to return only after formally pledging that all his future earnings would be used to pay off his creditors. Ironically, he spent some time in Turkey, building railways. By 1860 he was The Times’ correspondent of choice when it came to wars and similar unpleasantness, and they packed him off to China, where the British and French had just declared one of their regular wars in the pursuit of trading privileges. With him on board the SS Malabar was a clutch of distinguished passengers including Lord Elgin (the 8th such — not to be confused with his notorious father, the 7th, who chiseled the infamous marbles from the Parthenon). En route, Bowlby had an amazing piece of luck. The ship sank! Yes, we can envision the dedicated reporter sinking to his knees during the storm that preceeded the disaster in Galle harbour (then Ceylon, now Sri Lanka) on 22nd May with his hands clasped in prayer crying above the howling of the wind, “Oh, thank you Lord, thank you, thank you! I owe you a drink!” For everyone else on board, the sinking of the Malabar was at best a damned inconvenience, and at worst a horrible tragedy, but for an enthusiastic reporter it was, well, a godsend, and it was the least Thomas could do to fervently thank the God who sent it. Before his feet were dry, he grabbed pen and paper and scribbled (no, let us be generous to the fortunate bounder, “crafted”), while still divinely inspired, what was universally agreed to have been one of his finest pieces.
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history
The fortnight-long looting of Beijing’s Old Summer Palace by Anglo-French forces in 1860 during the Second Opium War was sparked by the death of Gibraltar-born Times correspondent Thomas William Bowlby
“When the morning of the Sunday broke, the Malabar had entirely disappeared, with the exception of the top of her funnel and masts. She has not swung broadside to the swell, and, as the weather is squally and threatening, she will probably soon break up. The poop deck has gone, and the main deck threatens to follow its example. Should the ship go to pieces, great difficulty will be experienced in recovering the bullion buried in the deep and shifting sands. Curiously enough, the Colombo has brought a new diving apparatus from England, and an instruction in the art of recovering lost treasure will follow by next mail. He will have ample opportunities of exhibiting his skill and so farewell to the Malabar! For many a day under the burning sun of North China shall we regret the necessary comforts lost in that ship. But it is simple justice to the passengers to declare that they have acted with exemplary patience, fortitude, and good-humour, under circumstances which prove of what metal men are made.” “For many a day shall we regret the necessary comforts lost in that ship.” Ha! Come off it, Tom. For a scoop like that you would have volunteered to spend a month in the Black Hole of Calcutta. Having survived the shipwreck and written about it in such stirring and memorable terms, Thomas Bowlby must have arrived in China light of step with a smile on his face, a song in his heart, and his pencil resting at the jauntiest of angles behind his ear. God had proved to him in Galle harbour that he was one of His favoured
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immortals, granted not only the ability to walk on water, but also to stride imperviously into battle brushing bullets aside with his notebook as another man might swat an irritant fly. The Lord had chosen him as the channel through which the truth might reach the world. He was not a priest, but they had the same boss, and a shared employee insurance scheme. But God, if He exists, is either notoriously fickle, with a wicked sense of humour, or meticulously fair, with none at all. He knows the value of dispensing His miracles sparingly, for if everything is miraculous, nothing is miraculous. Consequently, in order that they should remain remarkable, His miracles are few, and if the recipient of one begins to get ideas above his station, believing the Lord has chosen him
Thomas Bowlby swept through China like thistledown borne lightly on the wind, divinely protected from harm and inspired to write probably the best reports of his life
as an Earthly emissary, He feels duty bound to put the record straight, either by bestowing his next miracle on the occupant of an adjacent chair, or balancing the first miracle with a spot of bad luck. Thomas Bowlby swept through China like thistledown borne lightly on the wind, divinely protected from harm and inspired to write probably the best reports of his life. On 23rd August 1860, the British captured the city of Tientsin, and Bowlby joined a team of four, headed by Admiral Sir James Hope, who travelled to Tungchow for the formal surrender. Hope was charged with humiliating the Chinese, and Bowlby with writing glowingly about it. It was a trap. The quartet was promptly captured by a Tartar general whose name (possibly another of the Lord’s little jokes) Bowlby found it almost impossible to spell. Here are two approximations: San-kolin-sin, or Senggelinqin. Both look wrong to me. Bowlby and Hope, solid sons of the Empire, considered it the height of impudence to be arrested by such a person, and instantly created the phrase “Tartar sauce” to describe it. Still fuming, they were dragged away to Tungchow prison where Bowlby’s treatment was so harsh that he died on 22nd September. If that represented God’s evening of the scales after the miracle of Galle harbour, it seems a little extreme. His body, oddly enough, was handed to the Russians, who buried it in their cemetery at Peking (Beijing) on 17th October 1860. The one great story he never got to write. n
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events
who let the
dogs out
?
The weekend of the 19th & 20th sees the annual dog show organised by the Gibraltar Kennel Club which will be taking place at the Victoria Stadium, and although it’s well known for a light hearted atmosphere and a fun day out, there’s a dedicated team of professionals behind the scene making sure the two day event runs smoothly. Lawrence Llamas, Vice Chairman of the club, has been involved for the past 12 years since the age of 17 and gave us a little insight into what goes on behind the scenes. “Although the public see a two day event, for the club it’s an all year project,” he explained. “Once the show is over, there’s a paper-trail for qualifying winning dogs which gain points from the show towards entrance Crufts. By the time that is over, we’re busy working on putting on the next show.” This year the show will be attended by 16 judges from eight different countries, from Europe and as far away as India, and although dog shows have been held on a local level since 1986, it was only in 1991 that the club was
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associated internationally meaning winning entries could gain points towards participating in Crufts, possibly the most famous dog show in the world. The first international show in Gibraltar had 553 dogs participating and over the last 15 years the numbers have grown to include 900 dogs each day last year. Expectations and standards are high. Held over two days, the event is actually two separate shows. For entry to Crufts, two points are needed meaning a new dog could actually gain the necessary credentials in the same weekend, and far from being only Gibraltarian participants, owners travel from across Europe to enter their dogs and take part.
Lawrence himself has experience not just organising, but presenting dogs for shows for breeders too. Showing a dog is a skill on its own which is down to handling and knowing how to position the dogs correctly for the judges. “Local breeders have asked me in the past to exhibit their dogs for them, and it’s now something I’ve been doing quite regularly for the last six years,” he commented. “Last year we took Shy Girl, one of Josie Requena’s Chihuahuas back to the UK to compete.” Josie is well known in Gibraltar for her Chihuahuas, which apart from their home name have stage names for competitions. Shy Girl’s is Gibeltarik Happy Go Lucky. “We booked her in for two shows at club level GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • AUGUST 2009
events Participants (opposite) and Winners (below) at last year’s show
four legged
fashion in the UK with the idea that if she didn’t get the points necessary for Crufts in one, she would in the second,” Lawrence explained. “We were quite surprised when she won her class, then Best Bitch and went on to win her group in the first show, and even more surprised when she did exactly the same in the second show too. “That gave her an automatic passport into Crufts where again she won her Class, Best Bitch and then the Chihuahua group and the Toy Dog group too. She then went on to be included in the final seven dogs overall in the competition which is a major feat and she now has the status of Champion, meaning she can participate automatically in Crufts each year without needing to qualify beforehand.” The judges take a lot into account when selecting the best dogs, and along with the obligatory health tests, they also look at movement, structure, proportions, temperament and attractiveness along with the comparison of what the breed should look like. The factual observations are laced with a spice of personal preference which always gives an edge of uncertainty to the final results. Lawrence explained that breeding is an extremely professional and dedicated task. “Unfortunately some people think it’s a good way to make quick money, but breeding is much more than that,” he explained. Back at the Gibraltar show though, entrance for visitors will be free, but the club does need to cover the costs involved.
“The Gibraltar Tourist board sponsor the show to a certain extent,” Lawrence told us, “but the majority of our funding comes from the participating entrants, advertising in the catalogue for the show and banners on display on the day. “For participants, fees are between £20 and £32 depending on the dog and how many dogs a particular person in entering. The categories are now closed and full details of what time each will be shown is on our website for anyone who wants to be well informed before heading down. “The finals start at 3pm on each day although the show kicks off at 9.30 each morning, so there’s plenty of time to look around and see some of the events and extra activities which will be happening. “We’ve tried to add a touch of fun to the event too, and there will be a Junior Handler competition which anyone can compete in by just turning up on the day with their dog — and it doesn’t have to be a pedigree either. One of the other events we have in store for the public is a fashion show for dogs which has been organised by Fiona at Accessorize.” There’ll be a lot happening during the two days, so check out the website www.gkc.gi to find out what’s going on and when. The kennel club is always looking for enthusiasts who’d like to get involved. If this sounds right up your street, drop Lawrence a line at llamas@ gibtelecom.net or call him on 20041791 to find out how you can help out on the day. n
You’ve often seen dogs with woolly jumpers or interesting trinkets bought for them by their doting human, or maybe you’re one of those who does the doting? Well, the fashion show which Fiona from Accessorize has put together for the dog show is an absolute must see. Fiona herself breeds gun-dogs and has been competing in shows for the last two years, and this occasion gives her the opportunity to put her love for animals together with her fashion know-how to bring a mixture of fun, unusual and practical garments for your four-legged friends. Whilst canine fashion is not in huge demand during the summer months, Fiona told us that jumpers and other paraphernalia such as rain coats for example are a big hit in the winter months as many breeds do actually have special needs. A short-haired dog may just need that extra warmth in our winter climate, and if you’ve ever been through the chore of trying to dry out a long haired Afghan Hound after a walk in the rain you’ll see the sense in buying him a plastic raincoat — it can save you hours (or a very wet house)! The dogs, showing off a mixture of fun and formal wear, will be walked by local children and visitors will be given the information on each child, dog and the garments as they are presented. It’ll be an event not to be missed and you can guarantee we’ll be there with the camera to immortalise the occasion. n
Lawrence showing Shy Girl at Crufts last year where she finished in the top seven GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• SEPTEMBER AUGUST 20092009
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budding photographer — Ali Sanchez
have camera will travel Highly influenced by his mother, also very good photographer, Francis Alistair Sanchez wants to take the art a step further by making it his career. Ali, as he is knows to friends, was just 16 when he picked up a camera and decided he would never part with it again. Ali’s very first snap won him the ‘Beginner of the Year’ award at the Gibraltar Photographic Society and he went on to win two more awards in the ‘Human Condition’ section with exceptionally good photographs from India. He has also been finalist in the Guardian Travel and the Opodo Travel competitions, has won a series of competitions on the internet and in Morocco and recently been selected to exhibit for the Centre for Crime and Justice photos under the heading of ‘What is crime?’— an exhibition supported by the Independent newspaper. He has also exhibited his work in Lisbon at the Voyeur Project View Gallery for curator Rodrigo Vilhena. Alistair has also exhibited his photographs at the Foundry in London under the ‘Secrets exhibition’ section and later he worked freelance for the London Development Agency.
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“While I was at uni I was given the opportunity to work on a freelance basis for the London Development Agency by photographing the away day function of their employees and to produce three artistic montages that included over 150 employees. I found this a very rewarding challenge.”
Ali graduated with a HND in Photography excelling in black and white darkroom practice and digital imaging
At only 24 years of age, Alistair’s experience is already quite broad in this field. He studied photography in London South Bank University and took a series of Courses on digital photography to be able to enhance his photographs to a more professional status. “I completed several large projects at uni, including publishing our own photographic book and building and exporting our website.” Later at the University of Northampton, he graduated with a HND in Photography, excelling in black and white darkroom practice and digital imaging. Alistair has a very pleasant personality; he loves horse-riding, and hiking and is an open sea diver who loves to travel. During his trips abroad, especially the ones to India and Morocco, he takes photos which are unique in style
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photography
by Sonia Golt
You have an interesting job this September — tell us about it? “I applied for a job on a cruise liner. I did this over the internet and they asked me to go for an interview to Manchester with my portfolio so they could judge my style and skills. Lucky for me I was successful and in September I will be leaving for Miami where I will be taking on board training on the Bahamian Colour and Imagination cruise liner before starting our travels in the Caribbean. I will be away for around six months and even though I will be working
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long hours I will also have the time to visit all the ports and take a selection of photos to bring back an interesting portfolio just like I did when I travelled to India.” How was India for you? “After seeing films and documentaries about India on television I just wanted to go and see it for myself. I planned it with a group of friends who backed out at the last minute so I left on my
“
Photographically India has undoubtedly been my best experience up to now. It is a very different culture to the western world but as the people are very friendly, it is easy to adapt
“
and so attractive to the eye it is impossible not to notice them. “I would love to get into travel photography and my goal is to work for National Geographic although I know it is easier said than done. However, before this happens, as I hope it will, I will work for travel magazines, newspapers or any other media which will get me nearer my goal. I would love to get one of my photos published on the front cover of a local magazine, as this would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction. I want to go out and travel for a while before I take on a full time job as this will broaden my opportunities for better photography.”
own, which in a sense gave me time to stop and see and watch what was happening around me and gave me more of a chance to take photos of things I may not have noticed in a group. “Photographically it has undoubtedly been my best experience up to now. It is a very different culture to the western world but as the people are very friendly, it is easy to adapt. I am a very tranquil person, always carry a camera with me but I only take photos that appeal to me and that I know I will feel proud of. “In India people do not mind you taking photos of them but in Morocco they do not like it at all as they feel you are taking part of their soul with you, so you have to ask permission before you snap a shot if you do not want to get angry comments or actions…” What inspires you as a photographer ? “I am totally inspired by the National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry, he is my favourite photographer and I would love to emulate his style as his photographs are really incredible.” n Alistair is now working on his website and soon his photographs will be on line for all to see — we wish him good luck in his travels.
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fashion arts
photo by M Galliano
Louise Peach
voicing her ambition Big surprises come in small packages, they say. The consolation prize cliché for petite women has found the face for its advertising campaign in Louise Peach, the young and dynamic go-getter with a larger-than-life stage presence, barely containable in her tiny frame.
If you just went: ‘Louise who?’ let me ask where you have been in the past year, for she was almost omnipresent on Gibraltar’s stages, from nightlife venues to variety shows, singing at the top of her voice and making clubbers shake their bootie to chart toppers’ beats. And she so practices the moves she preaches, having proven herself top-notch and light on her feet when she swooped and swirled around in sequinned outfits her way to the finals of Let’s Dance, a charity-driven local take on the popular international TV dancing competition, where celebrities from the most diverse walks of life sweat their celluloid off on the dance floor with professional dancing
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toes in ballroom dancing, which she describes partners. Facing tough competition and winning on as “an experience and a half” because it taught a very close call, Louise enjoyed dipping her her how fun and funky it is — certainly not a caprice for nostalgic grandmas, because it demands concentration, strength, agility and commitment. Hard work and frustrating at the beginning, once she started mastering the steps, thanks to the patience and expertise of her dance partner and teacher Steven Triay, a member of the local Sequence Dance Association, she realised how the likes of cha-cha-cha, salsa and tango ought to be targeted at the teenage and young adult audience as a tasty alternative to standard club anthems.
she realised how the likes of cha-cha-cha, salsa and tango ought to be targeted at the teenage and young adult audience as a tasty alternative to standard club anthems
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music events
by Elena Scialtiel Louise has come a long way from her highschool acting exploits and baby steps on stage, to familiarise herself with performing before a real audience — many may remember her in the 2003 original students’ production the late Dr. Leslie Zammitt wrote and staged for Gibraltar’s Tercentenary. “I wasn’t such good actress,” Louise confesses. “Dancing wasn’t my forte either,” she adds modestly. But juvenile hiccups didn’t hamper her in finding her true vocation beyond stage fright — singing. That she was born to sing stood out loud and clear since her primary school days, when she and her friend called themselves the Twingos (they were so close ‘bestest’ friends they were like twins!) and sang in class during breaks, even featuring a chorus line of backing dancers! Singing is still what she does best and it comes naturally to her, just like breathing and screaming, but on tempos and melodies, although she doesn’t know how to read musical scores, nor did she take lessons, something she regrets — but she’s toying with the idea. So impatient to go beyond her classroom audience, every year she ‘bugged’ her keyboard-playing father to let her perform at the National Day concert. Eventually when she was 17, dad deemed her ready and supported her grand debut with five songs. She says it was great to sing in front of hundreds of people, nerve-wracking at first, but her stage persona took over and morphed her into an accomplished performer who “abso-
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lutely loved it”. Realistically she sees the prospect of a fulltime professional singer career as far-fetched, so she is sticking to it as a hobby — which keeps up its magic — and makes it her way to contribute to raising money and awareness for worthy causes. However, her dream is to audition for the XFactor or upgrade to songstress by writing and performing her original album with her band The Rumours (Kyle Pou, Steen Busto, Duncan Victor and Steven Belilo). Together, they surf the local nightclubs’ cir-
Realistically she sees the prospect of a full-time professional singer career as far-fetched, so she is sticking to it as a hobby — which keeps up its magic — and makes it her way to contribute to raising money and awareness for worthy causes
cuit and are regulars at the Rock on the Rock Club, covering greatest hits, crowd-pleasers and floor-fillers. What pleases your eardrums from the radio day in day out, they play live for your nights out. The Rumours guest-starred at the Miss Glamour beauty pageant held at the Alameda Open Air Theatre, shortly after Louise had flown solo on that very stage with her touching interpretation of Three Coins in a Fountain, which showcased her voice to its full melodic potential with sultry nuances, and with all the drama fit for starlit cruises. Her mentor into mature singing, Nolan Frendo, was also her hero in the mythological musical medley Heroica which Santos Productions slotted between catwalks in their Miss Gibraltar 2009 show of epic proportions. It was a challenge for heroine Louise, called to singing and acting together, but she enjoyed the four-month long rehearsals, because there was such a good atmosphere within the cast, including of course her evil nemeses in flamboyant costumes! At the moment, Louise hasn’t yet picked a music style to truly make her signature. She moves leisurely from pop to rock to rap to melodic, like her role model, Lauren Hill, an ‘amazing voice’ who also knows her rapping. Louise’s debut album would then mirror her eclecticism and, since she claims her mum to be her biggest inspiration, perhaps we must brace ourselves for an emotional hymn to the often taken for granted greatest love of all. n
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history
by Reg Reynolds
Sir Robert William Gardiner (Governor of Gibraltar 1848-1855), by William Salter
Gibraltar Governor spurned Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi was revered throughout much of the world for his heroic battles in the name of liberty but he was not well received when he attempted to enter Gibraltar. It was the fall of 1849 and the Italian freedom fighter was experiencing one of the lowest points of his extraordinary life. He had been forced to flee Italy due to the failure of the revolution of 1848 and during the escape his beloved wife Anita died of fever. He had found temporary sanctuary on the island of Sardinia but needed a more secure place of exile. On his behalf the
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Sardinian government approached the British Minister, a Mr. Bingham, at Turin. Bingham replied that, like all political refugees, Garibaldi would be free to enter England. It was suggested that he travel via Gibraltar and Bingham promised to write to the Governor there requesting assistance. Governor of Gibraltar Sir Robert Gardiner
was a crusty old warrior, however, and he had little truck for revolutionaries like Garibaldi. The 68-year-old Major-General had fought with Wellington at Waterloo and was a stern figure - a hard man with a brusque manner known for readily causing offence. A few weeks before the Garibaldi appeal he had stirred controversy on the Rock by ordering that a prisoner from one of the hulks in the harbour be given 48 lashes for insubordination even though Lord Grey, Secretary of State for the Colonies, had recommended solitary confinement as sufficient punishment. Lord Grey politely noted Governor Gardiner was “wanting” in the courtesy department. The Sardinian Consul at Gibraltar met with Governor Gardiner and presented Bingham’s letter of recommendation. But the old man would not be moved and cited as his reason Spain’s previous protestations at the presence of revolutionaries in Gibraltar. “Gibraltar is certainly no place for revolutionaries,” Gardiner wrote to Lord Grey and the Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston. But Grey could also be stubborn and after fierce debate he pressured Gardiner into allowing Garibaldi into Gibraltar. The Governor wouldn’t be there with open arms and he stipulated Garibaldi must depart on the first ship sailing for England. The US Consul at Gibraltar offered Garibaldi passage on an American warship to the United States. But Garibaldi had spent his entire life in warm countries and he entertained the idea of accepting an offer from the King of Morocco to spend the winter in Tangier before going to America in the spring. When Governor Gardiner got wind of this he wrote to the Sardinian Consul warning him that Garibaldi must be on board a boat for Tangier before the next ship sailed for England, which would be on 15th or 16th November. The Governor’s letter was abrupt in English and downright offensive when translated into Italian. But Gardiner’s decision had the approval of Lord Grey. Garibaldi’s resentment at his treatment by Gardiner comes out in his memoirs in which he wrote: “If this kick to the fallen had been given by the vile or the weak — never mind! But from a representative of England, the land of asylum for all — that knocked me considerably.” On 14th November, the day before the next ship sailed for England, Garibaldi crossed to Tangier aboard the Spanish steamer La Nerea. Some historians have incorrectly reported that Garibaldi was in Gibraltar for 15 days but actually he was only on the Rock for five days having arrived on 10th November. Garibaldi spent seven months in Tangier working on his memoirs. He did step on Gibraltar soil once more and Governor Gardiner was delighted to see him leave the same day. On 13th June 1850 Garibaldi arrived from Tangier but a few hours later sailed for Liverpool aboard the British steamship The Queen. From the UK Garibaldi travelled to New York where he would live for the next four years. Today Garibaldi is remembered primarily as the man most responsible for the creation of a united Italy but he achieved much more in his tumultuous life and has been hailed as the “Hero of Two Worlds”. A reviewer of an early book about the great man wrote: “The
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
history over-fertile imagination of a bad novelist could scarcely produce a more incredible story than the unadorned truth of Garibaldi’s life as he actually lived it.” Born to Italian parents in the French city of Nice on 4th July, 1807, Garibaldi grew up a sailor working for his father Domenico who was a fisherman and trader. By the time he was 25 years old Garibaldi was a certified merchant captain who had worked all round the Mediterranean. In 1833 he joined the Piedmont navy and came under the influence of the revolutionary Guiseppe Mazzini * [See author’s note]. In 1834 the duo were unsuccessful in trying to engineer a mutiny and Garibaldi, with a death warrant on his head, fled to Marseille and then Rio de Janiero. In South America he dreamed of one day leading a revolution to unite Italy and to this end he honed his military skills. For four years he fought for the province of Rio Grande in an unsuccessful attempt to wrest freedom from Brazil. With yet another failure behind him he moved on to Uruguay where he commanded the Italian Legion to victories in two decisive battles that insured the country’s freedom from Argentina. In1848 when the Italians rose up against the foreign control of France in the north and the Bourbons in the south Garibaldi returned and raised an army of 3,000 men. Fighting the combined armies of France, Austria and Spain his brave soldiers achieved some success but eventually succumbed to superior numbers. Garibaldi was again forced to flee and it was this escape that brought him to Gibraltar. A decade later when the revolutionary fires were stoked anew ‘General’ Garibaldi again returned to lead the fight. He commanded forces for Piedmont in the Franco-Austrian War and engineered the overthrow of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1860 he and his ‘Thousand Redshirts’ destroyed the Neapolitan army, crossed the Straits of Messina and occupied Naples. Everywhere he was greeted by the people as a liberator. By 1861 he had largely achieved his goal of forging a united Italy under King Emmanuel II. The exception was Rome. Two attempts to take Rome were turned back due to French intervention and a failure of commitment from the King. The Papal States were only incorporated into the Kingdom when the French withdrew their troops in 1870 and the Vatican remains an independent State to this day. Even these grand achievements weren’t enough for Garibaldi, who considered himself
an ‘Internationalist’. He continued to fight for freedom wherever he felt the cause was just. He commanded Italian troops to victory in the Austro-Prussion war of 1866 and as a result Austria ceded Venetia to Italy. In the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 he led an Italian volunteer force on behalf of the Republic of France. Victory in a battle near Dijon capped his military career. Latterly he served several years in the Italian parliament before retiring to a farm on the Italian island of Caprera where he died on 2nd June, 1882. Jasper Ridley, one of Garibaldi’s many biographers wrote of his subject: “He did not deny he enjoyed the excitement of war, but he never fought except for what he believed was the cause of human freedom. He declared at the Congress of Peace in Geneva that just as he would leap into their lake to save someone from drowning, so he would go to the aid of any nation which cried to be rescued from oppression.”
Was he a good soldier? Well, Ridley reckons he fought 53 major battles winning 34, losing 15 and drawing 4. I can find no record of Garibaldi ever returning to Gibraltar but he did go to England in 1866 and was given a hero’s welcome. Today he is remembered throughout the world by statues, monuments and place names in his honour. Even my home country of Canada, a country he never visited, has a Mount Garibaldi and a Garibaldi Park. n Author’s Note: Known as the ‘Soul of Italy’ Mazzini also played a major role in the unification of Italy. But he and Garibaldi fell out over policy. An early advocate of a “United States of Europe” Mazzini never accepted a monarchical united Italy and continued to work for a democratic republic. He led numerous insurrections and was exiled more than once. In 1870 he was arrested and exiled but returned under a false name and lived in Pisa until his death in 1872.
Giuseppe Garibaldi (July 4, 1807 – June 2, 1882)
“If this kick to the fallen had been given by the vile or the weak — never mind! But from a representative of England, the land of asylum for all — that knocked me considerably.” GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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Also Jewellery repairs, engraving, diamond setting, Jewellery appraisals
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAziNE • SEPTEMBER
sport
head south for squash
Not everything sport-wise in Gibraltar is in the town area. The Gibraltar Squash Association provides unrivalled facilities on South Barrack Road, bringing a social and fitness facility closer to those who live out of town. Inaugurated in 1994 by Mari Montegriffo at the old Racquets Club, the Association currently has 400 members and around 150 squash players, the club is extremely popular too. Offering four squash courts on two levels in their recently redesigned premises by architect Barry Brindle. But squash is not the only thing on offer by the club. Many of the members take advantage of the well equipped gym which offers up to date cardio and weight training apparatus and there’s a separate Spinning room with over 20 bikes which is very popular too. At the end of June, the club held their open tournament and the standard of players shows through with Joey Barrington, ranked fifth in the UK beating Ben Ford ranked 26th. But it’s not all tournaments, there’s a friendly family atmosphere about the club as soon as you walk through the door, and Heather and the team serve great food, drinks and beers on tap from their fully licensed bar. They regularly hold speciality nights such as curry nights on Tuesdays and Heather’s Sunday roast which has become so popular with families it’s a good idea to book in advance. The club also holds regular social events for members, such as barbecues on the patio and have made a success of keeping the club family orientated. Children are not only welcomed, but encouraged. Throughout the summer they have run
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
six weeks of sessions led by a UK coach where members could hone their squash skills and Friday evenings are dedicated to the kids right through the year with free coaching sessions to help them develop their game from an early age in a fun and friendly environment. The clubs dedication to promote the sport in the young is apparent in that children’s membership for under 12s is free and up to 16 years is only £30 a year. Even adult membership is a
Friday evenings are dedicated to the kids right through the year with free coaching sessions to help them develop their game from an early age in a fun and friendly environment
very reasonable £160 a year for use of all the facilities from midday through to 9pm. For an extra £30 you can get access for morning training too. Once a member, the only fee you’ll find is a small £2 fee per person for squash, and you can feel free to bring along a non-member to join in your game — they pay just £7. Monday nights are open nights, so if you want a change from playing the same partner, just turn up for their social event and play with no need to book in a advance, put your name on the board and take on the challenge of a random partner. So, if you’re not already a member get in touch with the club to find out more. Their annual league will start up again November time for members and the squad will be participating in the European Nations Cup in October. The last two years the local squad has come in second and third, so they’ve got their sights set on a first place this year. Check out their website www.gibsquash. com for more information, or contact Mike Da Silva on 200 44922, email pr@gibsquash.com. Members are accepted on recommendation from an existing member, but with a current membership list of 400 and bearing in mind the size of Gibraltar, you’ll be bound to know someone who’s already taking advantage of their excellent facilities. n
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profile
by Mike Brufal On the steps of King’s Bastion home, September 1939 - with father, mother, sister Tita and baby Freddy (who tragically died in Madeira).
At Eastman Dental Centre, Rochester, N.Y. 1958
The Jazz Dentist & Gibraltar Patriot Reg Andlaw (or Reggie as he was called as a child, and still is by many in Gibraltar) — dentist, jazz trumpeter and Gibraltar patriot — has pleasant memories of life on the Rock before the evacuation. Reggie’s father (Ernest Verano Andlaw) was deputy city electrical engineer when the family lived in King’s Bastion, which then housed the generating station. He is most impressed with the building’s recent restoration, and found on a wall in the new internet room a photograph of the family home. The house has long since gone but he was able to stand where it used to be and all the happy childhood memories came flooding back. After a brief evacuation, with most Gibraltar families, to Casablanca, and an even briefer stay on the Rock when evicted from Casablanca by the new French puppet government, the war years were spent (without father who had to stay behind) in Madeira and later Tangier. Education was somewhat rudimentary and upon arrival in Tangier he was sent to the Christian Brothers’ school. His father considered Reggie had missed out on vital years of education and decided the answer was school in England. Reggie is one of the very few Gibraltarians who have never had one day’s schooling on the Rock. Jack and Carmen Holliday, close family friends living in Leeds, arranged for Reggie to attend a nearby day school while staying with them. On his way from Tangier to Leeds in 1944 he spent a few days in Gibraltar and was probably the only child on the Rock at the time. He then flew to Bristol on a military flight and,
54
although he did not know it at the time, this city was to become his eventual home. A couple of years went by before Jack, by profession an engineer, was posted to the Gold Coast (now Ghana), so Reggie was sent to Mount St. Mary’s, a boarding school near Sheffield. After a year, for reasons unknown, his father decided to move him, aged 14, to Oundle School, where he was the first (and to date the only) pupil from Gibraltar. It was a successful move and he had a wonderful time there. Soon it was career decision time and, helped by his father, various career options were considered. One was dentistry. Reggie was one of those rare people who up to that time had never
The Andlaws were regarded as Gibraltar’s number one tennis family — his parents won countless tournaments at Sandpits over the decades, and his father acquired the nickname ‘Evergreen’
visited a dentist. Andres Danino, one of only two dentists in Gibraltar at the time, invited him to his surgery in Convent Place and gave him some idea of what dentistry is all about. Reg has always been a free spirit and he felt one of the delights of becoming a dentist would be, when qualified, he would have total freedom to set up in practice wherever he liked — he would be his own master. At the time he did not appreciate the many different career options and disciplines within dentistry. Reggie studied at Guy’s Hospital Dental School, London, qualifying in 1957. It was not all work — there was time also to enjoy rugby and develop his tennis and squash skills. The Andlaws were regarded as Gibraltar’s number one tennis family — his parents won countless tournaments at Sandpits over the decades, and his father acquired the nickname ‘Evergreen’. His sister Tita (now Stagnetto) took up the baton and became an even more successful player. Reg never planned his career and after graduation was prepared to consider any proposal or suggestion to come his way. It so happened that he met a recent Guy’s Hospital graduate who had spent time working at the Eastman Dental Centre in Rochester, New York and thoroughly recommended it. Reg went for a year to work in its children’s clinic, and enjoyed the experience so much he decided to stay on and join the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
profile
l research department. Research had not crossed his mind until the Director, Dr Basil Bibby, enthused him with the excitement and importance of research. He embarked on a two-year Master of Science degree course. In 1960 he won the Edward H. Hatton award for his research presentation at a meeting of the International Association for Dental Research in Chicago. While in Rochester he became good friends with two Americans who were excellent tennis players — one the current men’s singles champion of Rochester and the other who had played for Ohio State University — and this resulted in a great improvement in his tennis. He also played competitive squash and was in the team representing Rochester in the national championships in 1960. He later, in Bristol, gained tennis and squash coaching qualifications. His sister Tita went to Rochester to be with him during his last six months there. Together with an Irish friend they drove an old car on a six-week tour — out west to San Francisco, down south to Los Angeles, east to New Orleans and up north back to New York. A highlight was the visit to New Orleans, home of jazz — Reg had become imbued with the jazz bug while at Oundle. Returning to Gibraltar in December 1960 he spent Christmas with his family. Tita had invited a close friend from Tangier, Christine Katzaros (her mother a Gibraltarian Imossi) to spend Christmas with them. This re-ignited an earlier friendship and the couple were married in Tangier in April 1963. They have two daughters, Tina and Kathryn, who were born in Bristol in 1964 and 1965. In typical fashion Reg had no firm plans for his future employment but he decided to keep options open by going to a city with a dental school. He chose Bristol and for one year worked in a general dental practice. This did not seem destined to be his chosen career, so he thought about exploring other dental disciplines. One day in 1962 he walked past the University of Bristol Dental School and Hospital with Richard Hayward — Richard is his cousin, also a dentist, who had practised on the Rock for a few years but had to leave for family reasons and set up in practice in Bath. Prompted by Richard he went inside to see what positions might be on offer. Luck or destiny fell upon his shoulders as he met a dentist who was working in a newly established Medical Research Council Unit in the Dental School and was told there was a vacant position in the Unit. He applied and, helped by his research experience at Rochester, was appointed. Perfect contentment was found — he was awarded a PhD in 1965 and remained at the dental school until he took early retirement in December 1988, aged 55. He was Clinical Dean from 1982 to 1988. He was pleased to see Gibraltarian students at the School, including Dennis Pearce (1977), George Earle (1985), Anthony Coelho (1989), Jonathan Zammitt (1999), Daniel Borge (2000) and Natalie Olivera (2004). Although primarily an academic, he also treated patients in the hospital, supervised students treating their patients and, when appointed Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, ran clinics to which dentists referred child patients presenting special problems. He became President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Dr Reginald Andlaw
His first trumpet was bought at the age of 50 and he practised at home using mutes to avoid complaints from family and neighbours. HIs love of jazz stems from its embodiment of his two great pleasures: spontaneity and freedom in 1974 and was editor of the Society’s journal (which in 1991 became the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry) from 1970 to 1997. It was in jazz that Reg’s wild streak came to the fore. His first trumpet was bought at the age of 50 and he practised at home using mutes to avoid complaints from family and neighbours. His love of jazz stems from its embodiment of two great pleasures: spontaneity and freedom. As soon as he could blow he joined a large evening class band in Bristol. But he wanted to break away from the constraints of a big band and eventually, with like-minded members of the band, he started a New Orleans-type sixpiece band which was aptly called The Muskrats The Muskrats 2009
— a muskrat being a rodent that lives on the muddy banks of the Mississippi. The legendary trombonist Kid Ory wrote The Muskrat Ramble, their signature tune, in 1925. The Muskrats were offered their first gig in 1992. Today they play some 40 gigs a year for expenses rather than fees. It was never the intention to make money — more the pure enjoyment of playing together and enjoying the camaraderie. The band has been playing for 17 years and Reg is the only one remaining of the original sextet. Its members have always been elderly and two years ago the average age was 82, with Reg the youngest member. Today the average has been dramatically reduced as the lad playing double bass is a mere 48. In his retirement Reg was open to take on any exciting new ideas. Roger James, a friend since the days they shared a room together as dental students, proposed they should cycle to Gibraltar. There would be no timetable, so they would be able to cycle as few or as many miles as the spirit took them. The fact neither of them owned a bike or had done any cycling since their youth was not an issue. Reg accepted the challenge — his only stipulation was that the ride should start in Santander rather than Bristol. A wonderful account of the ride has been published: A Trans-Iberian Challenge — Cycling Through Spain, which is still in print and available from the Gibraltar Bookshop. After three weeks they arrived at the frontier to be greeted by a Gibraltar television camera crew who made them stars overnight. Needless to say the cycles were packed away and the return was by plane, and he has not done much cycling since. He still maintains a close connection with the Clifton Lawn Tennis Club which he joined in 1961. In 1972 he won the Club’s Men’s Singles title, and nine years ago he was appointed its Honorary Secretary, a position he holds to this day. He has been Chairman of the Bristol Dental Alumni Association for the last 20 years and is the editor of its annual newsletter. The Association encourages alumni to hold reunions and he has been pleased to meet George Earle at more than one of them. Throughout his time in the UK he has been a fierce supporter of the inalienable right of Gibraltarians to self-determination and has helped in any way possible. To this end he has had letters published in the quality national press as well as in his local press, and has presented the Gibraltar case on local television and radio. He makes frequent visits to the Rock and recently commented: “Gibraltar has changed hugely over recent years but sometimes I wonder if there will be sufficient people to buy and fill all these blocks of flats. Although all this development is undoubtedly good for the economy it has also ruined many parts of the Rock — many of the beautiful views have been eliminated from the landscape. “Gibraltar is a huge success story — it enjoys a high standard of living, a superb quality of life, little unemployment, excellent race and religious relations, little serious crime and a first-class comprehensive education. The majority of those who live on the Rock would not wish to live anywhere else in the world. There remains rock solid support to remain British and it is wonderful the way the Gibraltarian identity has emerged during the last few decades. On the whole everything augurs well for the future”. n
55
health book releases
by Dr. Allan Larsen, MD, Ph.D. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Specialist Medical Clinic, Gibraltar
Cartilage Damage:
What are the Options? Many people have problems with their knees due to cartilage damage. These people experience a diminished quality of life, as their ability to perform sports and other activities declines, some of them sleep badly at night, all of them will suffer pain, and the pain gradually increases lowering their activity level. 56
CARTILAGE TREATMENT Previously, people had to live with their damaged knees, but in the last 20 years sufferers have been offered several treatment possibilities, the less dramatic being the advice from a doctor about the positive effect on pain from weight loss, through to having a total knee replacement. Between these two possibilities there are several other options, but let us first look at why people suffer from cartilage damage. The reasons for cartilage damage can be many. About 20% of people suffering from osteoarthritis have inherited it. The genetic mechanism is still not sufficiently described, but will probably be so within the coming years. Some people experience wear and tear to their knees from being overweight, although some very obese people never seem to be bothered by knee pain! In some people the cartilage damage occurs after a trauma to their joints related to sport activities or normal daily living. The damage can be acute with a severe lesions to the cartilage which breaks off in a large piece and has to be operated on as soon as possible. Others suffer from a blunt trauma to the joint where the cartilage is torn and in the months and years to come it gradually breaks down. Some of these patients can hardly remember the trauma which initiated their cartilage damage due to the delay in the onset of pain which starts gradually, meaning many ignore it rather than going to see a doctor. Other patients who suffer from instability to the knee (especially the anterior cruciate ligament), will have a much higher risk of developing osteoarthritis than patients with a stable knee. These patients will continuously damage their cartilage during sports activities or normal daily activities due to their instability. Every time they put weight on the knees and make fast turns, twist or side shifts they will experience instability and later swelling/pain which is due to overload of the knees’ soft tissue and cartilage. So what can be done? Non-surgical treatment Includes: weight loss if needed, bandages to keep the knee joint warm, shoe insoles to reduce the load on the joint, diet supplement of glucosamine, MSM, chondroitinsulphate and ginger (when taken combined has a synergistic effect by reducing pain, swelling and the degeneration of cartilage, and when combined with treatment increases the success rate of cartilage treatment). When cycling three times a week
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
health the knee increases its production of hyoluronic acid which lubricates the joint, this can be used both for conservative and operative treatment of damaged cartilage. Surgical treatment When performing surgery on damaged cartilage one has to not “shoot crows with a cannon ball”, meaning you start the treatment with the least traumatic and less painful treatment, and if this is successful you do not need to go to a higher level of surgery. Opposite if the cartilage damage is sever it often is necessary to perform further treatment.
transplantation. This operation is normally used for patients who have had a microfracture procedure performed unsuccesfully, mostly due to the size of their lesion. Larger lesions are more successfully treated by using an ‘autolog cartilage transplantation’, which means cartilage from the patient (taken out during an arthroscopic procedure 4-5 weeks before the transplantation) is cultured in a cell laboratory. In recent years autolog cartilage transplantation has been overtaken by the use of stemcells in combination with a microfracture treatment, called a macrofracture technique, where a sponge is drilled into the damaged area when it is a localised defect, and the blood is kept within the sponge creating new cartilage over 9-12 months. All of the above described procedures are done arthroscopically.
1st step/operation: People suffering from minor cartilage damage will often benefit from ‘arthroscopic debridement’ meaning the wear and tear to their cartilage is trimmed, all flaps removed, and if the menisci is torn or degenIf patients do not achieve any pain relief or erated it needs trimming as well. Often the capsule needs trimming due to the persistent better quality of life when treated as described the only surgical solution is to have a total knee irritation and overload. replacement. n 2nd step/operation: When patients suffer from severe/deep cartilage defects trimming is often not enough. These patients are very often treated successfully by a so-called ‘microfracture treatment’. This treatment will create cartilage-like tissue after 6 to 9 months but initially, after the operation, the patient uses crutches for 6 weeks and follows an intensive rehabilitation programme. 3rd step/operation: If eventually the microfracture treatment fails patients can have cartilage
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
start the treatment with the least traumatic and less painful treatment, and if this is successful you do not need to go to a higher level of surgery
Christian Comes to the Rescue GSP’s PC Christian Hermida ran a one-week course for 6 children wanting to complete their St John’s Ambulance, Young First-Aiders’ course last month. The children were presented with their First Aid certificates by Superintendent Rob Allen of the GSP. “Christian leads on our First Aid training within the Force,” said Rob. “And this was an opportunity to use his skills and put something back into the community.” “We were grateful to the GSP for helping out,” said Joe Chiara, Commissioner of St John’s Ambulance. “These children were on a waiting list as they hadn’t been able to get on our two earlier courses.” And what did the children think of the course? “I’m sorry it’s all over,” said Emma Jimenez. “I’d like to have done more.”
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health & medical directory
health& fitness Bell Pharmacy
CHEMISTS Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989 Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
McTimoney Chiropractor
Your Family Chemists
Consult us at 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989
STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS
Chiropractic Health Clinic
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC
Dr Steven J. Crump B.Sc, DC, MCC Open: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.30pm
Member of the British Chiropractic Association
Back to better health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries. College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777
Chiropodists
Gentle holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems and sports injuries Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Floor, 58 Main Street Tel: 200 41733 or after hours: 200
Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions
John W Miles BSc (Podiatry), MChS College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777
ChiropraCtors
PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists
Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries Tel: 200 44226
ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor, Casemates, Gibraltar Member of British Chiropractic Association
The Health Store
5 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 20073765 Suppliers of Glucosamine, Ginkgo Biloba and all vitamins. Body Building Products (Creatine etc) Open: 9am - 1pm & 3pm - 6pm
For all your Pharmaceutical needs
Louis’ Pharmacy Open: 9 - 7 Monday - Friday, Saturday 10 -1.30pm, Closed Sundays Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
JOHN W. MILES BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S
STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Treatment of all Foot Problems • Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Removal • Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotics including Children • Wart (Verruca) Clinic • Diabetics
Tel: 200 77777
College Clinic, Regal House, Queensway TEL: 54029587 FOR HOME VISITS
Need somebody to talk to?
38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi
completefitness
Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC ICC F5C 1st Flr, Casemates. Tel: 200 44226 Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Flr, 58 Main St Tel: 200 41733 After hours: 200 40026 Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal Hse Tel: 200 77777
DentAL SURGEONS
Sports Massage Therapy & Personal Training Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Gibraltar Tel: 200 51113
Daniel N. Borge BDS MSc MFDS RCS(Eng) Borge Dental/Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel: 200 75790 Keith J Vinnicombe BDS (Wales) LDS RCS (Eng) MFGDP (UK)
GUARANTEED
You pre-pay at today’s prices, we provide your chosen service whenever it is eventually required and whatever it eventually costs Brochures on Pre-Paid Funeral Planning Available from:
11 Convent Place Tel: 200 75747
Codali Funeral Services
Primary Care Centre
Unit F5B ICC, 2a Main Street Tel/Fax: 200 40747 Emergency: 200 78756
ORTHODONTISTS Dr Hasse Lundgaard DDS Borge Dental & Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790
Physicians Dr Norbert V Borge FRCP (London) 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790
Health Stores The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 200 73765
Opticians / Optometrists Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757
2nd Flr International Commercial Centre
L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544
Weekend and Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance)
PERSONAL TRAINERS Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113 Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) 3/8 Turnbull’s Lane Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com
Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm
SPECIALISTS
Sunday & Public Holidays : 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm GP Clinics: 8am - 5.20pm
7 days a week 6-10pm
64 whataapage pageturner! turner!www.thegibraltarmagazine.com www.thegibraltarmagazine.com 58 what
Specialist Medical Centre Unit F7 ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 49999 Fax: 200 49999 Email: info@smg.gi www.smg.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
l
wellbeing
make your nominations for
The JM Memorial annual awards
Mark Montovio with previous winners
The JM Memorial Foundation will be presenting its annual award to individuals in the community who make a difference to others on Monday 21st September. The foundation, which was registered as a charitable institution in 1996 and is now in its 13th year, is run by a trustee committee with the help of many other volunteers. It is involved in projects of a cultural, educational and social nature, and its underlying philosophy is that it can make a difference by helping empower individuals or groups into action in a way which then creates the support necessary for these individuals to continue assisting others. “In celebration of its tenth anniversary in 2006 it was decided to present the awards for the first time to five individuals in memory of the late Gladys Martinez who touched the lives of many with years of dedication to the Health Service as a midwife,” said Mark Montovio. “Last year we publicly recognised the contribution that four members of our community had made through their dedication to others and their commitment to ideals and important values. The award recipients for 2008 were Jose Netto, for his contribution to the Trade Union Movement and for the
way he stood up for others showing commitment to equality, respect and dignity. Myra Zayas, for her untiring dedication to fundraising and voluntary work in particular in relation to Cancer Research. Aurelia Beiso, for her contribution to the Elderly Day Care Centre, Mount Alvernia and the community at large. John Morris, for his dedication to Childline Gibraltar, and for his support with issues related to children in the community. The foundation is now seeking nominations from the general public which should be in by Friday 11th September. A nominee should have contributed to the community in a significant manner and the proposer should be able to detail how the person has done this and why they deserve recognition. Nominations should be sent to Mark Montovio, Trustee, The JM Memorial Foundation, c/o 502/3 Watergardens, Waterport Wharf, or emailed to support@jm-foundation.org. You can also visit www. jm-foundation.org n For further information contact Mark on 20040338
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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Mount Productions’ Festival of Fashion — an enormous amount of hard work goes into local productions like this
Putting on a Good Show It must be uppermost in any producer’s mind, when planning a show of any kind on stage in Gibraltar, to book the theatre of choice as soon as possible. Such is Gibraltar’s enthusiasm for ‘putting on a show,’ that demand for these venues high. Gibraltar is awash with productions of every kind!
As you stroll along Main Street, glance at the variety of posters adorning the façades of businesses along the way. We have fashion shows, musicals, dance academy performances, special DJ nights, plays and so much more happening on many nights, not just weekends. Whether for charity or profit and funds to plough into more ideas for future presentations, Ince’s Hall, John Mackintosh Hall and the Alameda Open Air Theatre, in summer, rarely go through a quiet night. Audience attendances at these shows are often full houses with some productions adding more nights if theatre bookings allow. Some performances are sold out long before the actual show dates. The majority of shows are of mainstream appeal, hence their popularity. But if they’re less so, and scores of children make up most or all of the cast, family members and friends will see to it all seats are kept warm for a couple of hours on any given night! There are many dance academies and groups and drama-cum-musical production companies on the Rock. GADA, Stage Musicals Productions, the recently reformed Dramatis Personae, the Alpha Group made a comeback recently staging Jesus Christ Superstar for a third time and other individuals seem determined to keep the drama flag flying on the local stage. Talent contests and beauty pageants of one type or another are regularly presented, and
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the popular pantomimes make their yearly appearance without fail. We went through a long period when the established dance groups ruled the roost. They were forever staging pieces that were in the main, dance performances. In recent times there seems to be a little less of that and some dance groups are being presented in other productions and are taking more of a supporting role. Stagecoach came on the scene a few years ago and opened up opportunities for youngsters with a creative inclination to explore and cultivate their acting, singing and dancing abilities. So what demands are placed on the individuals who decide to take on the many tasks required, and headaches endured, in the process of setting up one of these groups or companies and staging subsequent productions?
“
One of the first things you need to think about is your audience. It’s important to know who you’re performing for
”
These days, two other general production groups frequently present their work for the local community to enjoy: Santos Productions, headed by Christian Santos, has taken on a lot since Christian’s return to the Rock after spending eight years working for Disney in Japan, the States and on cruise ships. He has produced two or three productions every year and was responsible for bringing international stars Kool and the Gang to the Rock. He has also rekindled interest for Spanish Operetta amongst the older generation. Zarzuela has been staged at John Mackintosh Hall a number of times for a couple of years now and judging by its success, I can see more of the same in months and maybe years to come. Christian is also keen on encouraging and fostering local talent through his Santos Academy — a number of youngsters are already developing their ability and strutting the stage in local musicals. The other outfit producing highly commendable performances is Stage One. They have been going for a number of years now led by former Rumores dance group leader, James Neish. Having spoken to James many times about his shows it is clear it’s no mean feat staging one of his productions. “One of the first things you need to think about is your audience. It’s important to know who you’re performing for. For a start, choice of
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
performance
by Richard Cartwright
material should be of a popular nature.” James was quick to point out, however, that less known or experimental works should be given a chance also. “Yes, especially by those of us who are in the local theatre scene. Just recently Jonathan Bonfiglio’s play When Trumpets Cry was staged and fewer than 20 people turned up. Bonfiglio is a Gibraltarian who has been abroad for many years and is a great playwright and producer. He brought out a couple of actors to perform his work and although the work may have been perceived as a little high-brow by some, it was definitely worth going to see the play to support him and learn from those who are more experienced and professional.” I also think it’s probably more difficult to bring off a play convincingly than song and dance routines, so attending these plays when they’re staged locally should be an opportunity for local drama groups to pick up a few tips and learn more about the ins and outs of acting. James is of the opinion that drama requires more dedication and we need to foster it. “Certainly, the fact is we need to encourage bona fide theatre goers, be it drama, musical or whatever.” That point brings us to the subject of audiences. I was interested to hear James’ take on productions in which loads of children perform as mums, dads, brothers, sisters, grannies, granddads, aunties and uncles, cousins and friends flock to the venue where the `kids’ are performing. “That is fine, but you need to put on a production that is accessible to all the community and of as high a standard as possible and not just for families. It’s important to choose a popular
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Stage One’s James Neish works behind the scenes at a recent production for TV
“
a labour of love is the
”
best way to describe the work involved in all of these productions
work that will attract the attention of a nine year old and a 79 year old.” Cutting corners is something else James is not too happy giving in to. Foresight is vital, he tells me. With proper planning a good production could be in the making and in that way ensuring the return to the theatre to a future production, by a contented audience. But there’s lots of work to accomplish when taking on the task of producing a show starting with choosing the theme or show and acquiring rights to perform the work. Who is to act in the show? Musicals require singers to act and actors to sing. Planning and constructing the set. Making the costumes. “Yes, and finding sponsors, publicising the show, organising backstage staff and other helpers, lighting and sound requirements and a long list of other ‘must dos’ you can’t even imagine are necessary.” Regardless of any profits, ‘a labour of love’ is the best way to describe the work involved in all of these productions. In recent times I have been invited to a number of local productions and, from what I remember, there’s no doubt things are improving. Many of a very young age are already showing great promise and it’s up to tutors, production directors and producers to nurture natural talent clearly developing in these young performers. ‘Performance’ is very alive on the Rock. The participants are hungry to act in drama, musical, dance or whatever. There’s plenty to get into if you feel you have that performing streak lazily lurking somewhere in your brain. Be brave, force it out, there may be a talented, shining star hiding from us all! n
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activities
by Sonia Golt
Curro & Ana Maria — close to four decades on the dance floor
Dance on if music be the food of love...
Having had the opportunity to train under the expert tuition of dance teachers of the caliber of those who took six local dance contestants, including me, onto our television screens for the Let’s Dance competition, I decided to find out more about their dancing careers.
The couples who showed us the steps and moves are all members of the Catholic Community Centre Sequence Dance Club — Norman and Ann Santos, Stephen and Gisella Triay and Michael and Margaret Vella whose patience and hard work deserves an Oscar. The couple behind the scenes who taught overall style and gracefulness was Ana Maria and Curro Morro. Ana Maria started dancing in 1973 and her husband Curro in 1971 — close to four decades on the dance floor. “In 1971 the late Bishop Rapallo asked some dancers to start a sequence dancing club at the
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Catholic Community Centre. A local couple together with some friends met up and decided to try it out. Gradually people heard about us and more couples started joining explains Ana Maria. In 1975, the instructors, Joe and Wendy Bonici, decided to leave Gibraltar for good. Curro attended dance classes in London during his four months working there and this was invaluable when the time came to become the instructors. We have been teaching for 35 years now.” The club has grown over the years, staging many successful events, bringing famous people
from abroad and organising special functions for members to show off their abilities as they glide across the polished floor of Central Hall where they practice. “We have brought World Champions on numerous occasions, which is delightful for all our members to see. Our annual events include a fancy dress dance, a Christmas ball, an end of season ball, anniversary ball, a series of fund raising party nights, red and white (pre-National Day) dance, barbecues, and dances at the fair pavilion, as well as our weekly Monday dances, when we teach a new dance every month. “We have 170 members and a regular attendance of 120-130 each Monday evening. In 2007, we had to leave the Catholic Community Centre premises as it was going to become a pastoral centre for the Christian community. It was a very sad occasion for us but we moved to Central Hall, thanks to the Ministry of Culture, and have been dancing here since. “New members are always welcome to come. They usually come along for a few weeks and when they are sure they enjoy this type of dancing, they join. The membership for a couple is £32 per year. We work free of charge for the community and so does our committee. Any profits from raffles and other events are used to invest in dance equipment, CDs and anything that enhances the quality of our club.” There is a lot of interest from single people wishing to join but this is not permitted. Why not? “We’ve had a few single ladies asking for help in trying to find partners for them to join. The problem is finding a man who is interested in ballroom dancing. Here in Gibraltar single women are more prone to enjoy most types of dancing. On the other hand, men find it hard to socialise in this field. They prefer to go to local pubs and bars with friends than to start dancing classes. Usually the women bring their partners to a dance lesson. Most of the club’s members joined because the wives encouraged them and not the other way round. We are open to suggestions and if there are single men out there who wish to join then we could find them a partner for the dance classes.” How did you get involved with the very popular GBC TV programme Let’s Dance? “In 2005 James Neish, the producer, asked us if we could help GBC with his very first programme of Let’s Dance. It was a great success and in 2006, another series followed.” The competition returned in 2009 and it has again proven very popular. What does dancing mean to each of you? Curro answered first: “I have always enjoyed dancing and being the leader/instructor of the CCC Sequence Dance Club has been a very rewarding experience of my life. The challenges I have come across have been awesome and I enjoy being able to pass on to other couples the knowledge I have so they can enjoy dancing as much as I do. “Dancing is an important part of my life. It is a hobby but teaching and running the club is a great responsibility and it gives us both a great sense of satisfaction when we see how successful our club has been over the years. We are backed by a hardworking committee who also love dancing and are prepared to work hard behind the scenes just for the love of dancing.” Ana Maria says “I was brought up in a very
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
activities
t
what I enjoy most “ is... watching the crowds
dancing the steps we have taught them over the years. The happy faces and the enjoyment dancing provides for them is the most rewarding feeling of achievement
”
musical environment. My mother studied the piano from a very early age, my father studied the violin as a youngster, and they both loved good music. I loved singing and dancing from a very early age. Since we became leaders of the CCC Sequence Dance Club, I have found every minute rewarding. “I love dancing but, to tell you the truth, what I enjoy most is standing in front of our table at our club and watching the crowds dancing the steps we have taught them over the years. The happy faces and the enjoyment dancing provides for them is the most rewarding feeling of achievement we could ever experience in dancing. “We provide this service to the community without any financial gains and giving our time to them fulfills us spiritually as well. I cannot
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
couples from the CCC Sequence Dance Club
imagine our lives without being leaders. I am always looking out for new tunes so that I can adapt to certain dances we may teach. When the time comes for us to retire it will certainly be a very sad moment for us. I hope we will continue as leaders for many more years and for as long as we are both fit and healthy. Retirement is still not in our plans! “We found it difficult to continue our commitment as leaders when our children were born. There were many times when we were tired due to sleepless nights but my mother kept on
encouraging us to continue, as she felt happy we were doing a good job and so the years passed and next year we will be celebrating 35 years as instructors.” This couple not only has what it takes to be dancers but their commitment surpasses any expectations. They dance nearly every day and, although it may seem like a hobby because they have full time jobs too, their dedication and hours immersed in dancing seems to take up more energy than a full-time job! It is their goal to spread the art of dancing to others. n
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what’s happening on the Rock during September
National Week Events are highlighted in red. For further information contact Ministry of Culture Tel: 20048063 email: minculture@gibtelecom.net Tuesday 1st to 5th September Santos Productions presents “El Cuento” comedy at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre from 8pm. Tickets £10 from the Nature Shop, Casemates Square. For info Tel: 58008448 Thursday 3rd Play Party Night - Farewell Party at Savannah, Leisure Island Friday 4th September Glamour Creations presents Wedding Dress Competition 2009 at Alameda Open Air Theatre 9pm. Tickets £15 from Blossoms,1st Floor ICC. For info Tel: 54000377 DJ Rookie at Savannah, Leisure Island Beer Festival organised by Lewis Stagnetto. For info Tel: 200 78666
Tuesday 8th September National Week Classical Concert ‘Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2’ and ‘Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5’ at St Michael’s Cave 9pm. Arranged on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar by the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society.
8.30pm. Contact Albert Yome Tel: 200 78333 email: bat@gonhs.org
Tuesday 8th - Friday 18th Gibraltar Photographic Society Exhibition at John Mackintosh Hall weekdays 10am -10pm. Friday 18th 10am - 5.30pm. Entrance free. Wednesday 9th September Rock Concert. Waterport Coach Park 9pm–1am. Free entry. Wednesday 9th September Leeroy Thornhill (Prodigy) DJ Set at Savannah, Leisure Island Thursday 10th September GIBRALTAR NATIONAL DAY
Sunday 13th September Arts, Crafts & Collectors’ Fair at Leisure Island, Ocean Village 11am- 3pm. Free entry to the public. Parking in Ocean Village. For info email john. wood@oceanvillage.gi Friday 18th DJ Rookie at Savannah, Leisure Island Friday 18th & Saturday 19th The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows will arrive in Gibraltar on the afternoon of Friday 18th September. They will be giving a spectacular air aerobatics display on Saturday 19th September at lunchtime.
A public holiday when everyone hits the streets dressed in red and white to celebrate. Live music, fun and food is the order of the day and everyone is welcome to join in. Saturday 5th September Charity Cardboard Boat Race in aid of Cancer Research & the GBC Open Day at 11.30am Casemates Square (judging of boats) 12 noon Leisure Island, Ocean Village (launch of boats). Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place and best under14 years. Entry & registration forms from Tel: 200 40048 email: Sandra.lamplough@oceanvillage.gi or rogervasselin@hotmail.com Saturday 5th September Arts, Crafts & Collectors’ Fair at Leisure Island, Ocean Village 11am- 3pm. Free entry to the public. Parking in Ocean Village. For info email john. wood@oceanvillage.gi Monday 7th September Gibraltar Photographic Society Exhibition official opening & prize giving at John Mackintosh Hall 7pm Classical Concert at the Convent Ballroom 8.30pm. Anthony Roper (counter tenor), Judy Davis (soprano) & Peter Blackwood (pianist).
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Children’s Fancy Dress Competition held by the Lobby of the Parliament. Open to everyone aged 15 and under. Registration on the day starts 10.30am and closes 11am, when the judging will commence. All entries should display the red and white colours prominently if not exclusively. Originality of design, creativity and costume impact will form the criteria upon which the judges will select the three winners. The three winning entries will each receive a trophy and gift vouchers.
Saturday 19th September The Gibraltar Heritage Trust — The Great Siege Tunnel led by J Rosado. Meet at entrance to The Great Siege Tunnel 10am. Tel: 200 42844 Gibraltar Botanic Garden Tour. Meet George Don Gates (at the south end of Grand Parade) 10.30am. No fee, donations welcome. Tel: 200 72639 email: alameda@wildlife.gib.gi Saturday 19th & 20th September The Enviromental Safety Group “Clean Up the World”. For info Tel: 200 43156 or visit www.esggib.net Gibraltar International Dog Shows organised by The Gibraltar Kennel Club, at Victoria Stadium,
National Day Party from 4pm at Savannah, Leisure Island Rock Lounge presents Status Quo at Ocean Village 7pm. Tickets: presale £35/40, door £40/45 VIP £75/85. Ticket hotline: 00 34 633 327 722 Friday 11th September DJ Rookie at Savannah, Leisure Island Saturday 12th September Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society - Bat Night at The Alameda Open Air Theatre
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Red Arrows on the Rock from 9.30am (finals from 3pm each day). Visitor entrance free. Saturday 19th September - GCC – CACIB – Crufts 2010 Qualifyer, Sunday 20th September - GCC - CACIB. www.gkc.gi Sunday 20th September Battle of Britain Remembrance Service at King’s Chapel 10.30am. Tel: 200 55083 RAF Band concert at the Alameda Open Air Theatre 8pm. For info Tel: 200 55083 Arts, Crafts & Collectors’ Fair at Leisure Island, Ocean Village 11am- 3pm. Free entry to the public. Parking in Ocean Village. For info email john. wood@oceanvillage.gi Wednesday 23rd & 24th September Stage One Productions presents “Magical Showtime” at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. Tickets £10 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital (from MH Bland-Cloister Building) Friday 25th September Irish Treasure Hunt in aid of Childline Gibraltar at O’Reilly’s, Ocean Village from 7.30pm. For tickets & info contact Gloria Stimson Tel: 54020844 DJ Rookie at Savannah, Leisure Island Sunday 27th September Calpe Rambles meet Spanish side of Frontier, just to the right of the Aduana vehicle exit at 8am. Contact Ray 200 71956 or John 200 74645 Arts, Crafts & Collectors’ Fair at Leisure Island, Ocean Village 11am- 3pm. Free entry to the public. Parking in Ocean Village. For info email john. wood@oceanvillage.gi Charity Golf Day. ‘’Raise a smile’’ for Cancer Research UK with the Morrisons’ charity golf day at La Cañada Campo de Golf. 9.30am shotgun start individual stableford event. Golf, buggy & three course meal with wine & beer for only 70 Euros per player. Totally sponsored event with all fees going directly to charity, Great prizes on offer including a hole-in-one prize of a car on the 17th. All welcome. To reserve a place please contact Dave Pinniger on +34 634685865 or +34 956794901 or at Morrisons on 200 41114 Email: davepinniger@btinternet.com.
Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 1pm Tel/Fax: 200 74982 Email: tourism@gibraltar.gi Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows will arrive in Gibraltar on the afternoon of Friday 18th September. They will be giving a spectacular precision flying aerobatics display over the Rock on Saturday 19th September at lunchtime. The Red Arrows are renowned throughout the world as ambassadors for both the Royal Air Force and the United Kingdom. Since the Team was officially formed in 1965, the Red Arrows have completed over 4,000 displays in 53 countries. The Red Arrows’ reputation is built on the commitment and professionalism, combined with Royal Air Force skills, training and equipment. Many of the Red Arrows’ pilots and support staff have recently returned from Afghanistan and Iraq and many will be temporarily detached on operations overseas during their time with the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows took delivery of the British Aerospace Hawk trainer in the autumn of 1979 and during that winter the pilots converted from the Gnat and worked up a display using the new aeroplane in time for the 1980 display season. Since being introduced into service with the Red Arrows, the Hawk has taken the Team on tours of eastern and western Europe, the USA and Canada, the Middle and Far East, Africa,
the formation.
The Red Arrows flew nine aircraft in displays from time to time from mid-1966 onwards, but it was not until 1968 that the Team was officially increased in size to nine. Although there was nothing new in flying nine aircraft in a diamond-shaped formation, the Red Arrows’ perfectly symmetrical Diamond Nine quickly came to represent the peak of precision flying and it was eventually registered as an official trade mark. The 4000th display flown in the Hawk was at Royal Air Force Leuchars’ Battle of Britain Airshow in September 2006. The Red Arrows act as ambassadors for Great Britain when displaying overseas. They also support UK industry by demonstrating the capabilities of British equipment and expertise. n
Each display pilot flies with the Red Arrows for three years, ensuring that expertise is passed on from year to year. On completion of their three-year tour of duty, pilots return to their primary Royal Air Force role with front line or instructional squadrons. Therefore each year, three new pilots join the Team and, with the exception of Red 1, all other pilots change the position they fly within
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Gibraltar’s Siege Tunnels - image courtesy www.gibraltarstockphotos.com
from hair to history Scouring the libraries, talking to people in the know and reading books are just some of the ways to find out some of the titbits of Gibraltar’s more than extensive history. But up until recently there’s been little in the way of a one-stop website which digs deep into the roots of the Rock. Jim Crone, better known in the fashion and hair photography world has been working on his hobby project, www.discovergibraltar.com, for the last seven years and it has now grown to be an amazing reference, in words and images, for Gibraltar’s past. The site, dedicated to history and heritage, has become a reference point online for anyone interested in the Rock’s past, and comes from the fascination Jim deveolped for the Rock after marrying his Gibraltarian wife. Based in Belfast, they regularly visit Gibraltar, and on his quest to find out more, he discovered that although there were many commercial sites attracting tourists to the Rock, there was very little online which covered the history — discovergibraltar. com was born. It started with just a few pages in 2002 and by 2003 it had grown to around 100 pages with the help of a local web company. Now with over 400 pages of information on our history and heritage, the site has become a tool for locals and
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thousands abroad interested in finding out more about Gibraltar through images and words. “My profession is hair and fashion photography,” Jim told us. “Which is very different from the record photography you’ll find on the site, although I have come up with a few gems which are available for purchase through one of my other sites, www.gibraltarstockphotos.com which is another small project I have going on at present.” Jim started his career originally as a production engineer in the aircraft industry, but was always interested in photography too. And in 1985 he decided to take the plunge and set up his small studio just above a hairdressers in Belfast.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
heritage
Between glamourous photo-shoots, Jim has flurries of activity on the discovergibraltar site
Dr. Cooper of Operation Tracer with Jim Crone on his visit to Gibraltar last October
fashion images courtesy www.jimcronephotography.com
“My opportunity to get into the world of fashion photography was quite accidental really,” he explained. “I knew the hairdresser downstairs by sight, but we’d never actually met until one day he called up to my studio to see if I could help him out. “It turned out he wanted to enter the UK Cut & Blow-Dry championships, which is based on photography of his creations and he had the opportunity of a model who was convalescing with a broken leg at her home in Belfast too — would I be interested in doing the shoot?” Jim took on the job without realising this was a moment which would change his life. “He presented the shots at the awards and I was quite surprised that he actually won! And from that, there were questions raised as to who had handled the shoot.” Jim’s portfolio now regularly includes names such as Wella, Swarskov and L’Orielle and just a quick peak at his website shows the incredible skill he’s achieved in the hair, beauty and fashion industry. Between the routines of glamorous photoshoots, Jim has sporadic flurries of activity on the discovergibraltar.com site and updates can usually be found on a monthly basis. And as the site has grown, so has its following. One of Jim’s favourite recollections is when Dr. Cooper visited Gibraltar as probably the last survivor of Operation Tracer. “I received an email one day from a lady who explained that her father, who had never talked about the war and was getting on in age was starting to mumble things about an ‘Operation Tracker’ in Gibraltar. I made some enquiries and it turned out to be the well known ‘Operation Tracer’ or ‘Stay Behind Cave’ designed during the Second World War in case Hitler managed to take the Rock. “Martin Nuza of Gold Production Studios was key in arranging the visit in October of last year which was quite an historic occasion and it gave me great satisfaction to have been involved.” But there’s no point us telling the full story here, you can read it along with literally hundreds of other articles of interest on the site along with many photos depicting the Rock from here back into history. n www.discovergibraltar.com www.jimcronephotography.com www.gibraltarstockphotos.com www.panoscene.com
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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puzzle page
by Alan Gravett
SUDOKU No prize for these two — you’ll be doing them for the glory!
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medium 9
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Send completed crossword to: The Clipper, Irish Town, Gibraltar. One entry per person.
FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper
Closing date: 18th September 2009 Winner notified in next issue of The Gibraltar Magazine. Last months winner: Louis G Diaz, Knights Court
Across 5) Walt Disney creation, originally named Mortimer, who debuted with sound in the 1928 Steamboat Willie (6,5) 7) Unruly child (4) 8) Plan; cook up (8) 9) E.g. Waterloo (7) 11) Edible part of bush; Chuck the singer (5) 13) First name of London’s Lord Mayor (5) 14) Mockery (7) 16) Avoirdupois is so named; type of mint (8) 17) Type of saw; worry (4) 18) Collector of coins and/or medals (11) Down 1) Rabbit’s tail (4) 2) Where nuclear fission might take place (7) 3) Correct (5) 4) 25 cent coins (8) 5) 1976 film starring Sir Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman (8,3) 6) Surroundings in which plants or animals live (11) 10) Jokily invented word meaning a situation offering 3 choices none of which is desirable (8) 12) Launch (a boat) again after being grounded (7) 15) Position of the gold medal winner (5) 17) Blonde; just (4)
Jotting Pad ...
LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Commercial, Lion, Error, Mummifier, Stallion, Khaki, Onassis, Crosses, Confuse, Refunds, Later, Inflight, Antonioni, Sushi, Eels, Stone Mason Down: Cher, MarkTwain, Errol, Commies, Almanac, Ibiza, Narcissism, Conciliate, Squaring, Synthesis, Edit Out, Ruffian, Total, In sum, Finn
Contact us: ICom House 1/5 Irish Town Gibraltar Tel: 200 73158 or 200 76216 Fax: 200 48697 email: steven@icom.gi stef@icom.gi
Official office 70
(0034) 952 905 167 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
personality
by Bernard Capurro
driving mr baldrick The other day I had the good fortune to give Tony Robinson a lift to Gibraltar airport. Not wanting to miss this opportunity for an impromptu interview I asked him how he got into acting. “It all started 50 years ago with an advertisement in The Daily Express, looking for boys to perform in a new stage production: Oliver! My parents reckoned I was quite eloquent so they took me to an audition. I was picked out for a minor role, and subsequently got promoted to the Artful Dodger. I loved acting from the start and did not want to do anything else.” Artful by name… the job gave Tony “an ideal opportunity to bunk off school.” His teachers assumed he was rehearsing and his parents thought he was at school. “In spite of my predilection for reading I only managed to get four O levels.” I suggested there are many other successful people who did not do well at school. But, notwithstanding the Einsteins and Churchills of this world, Tony would not want his grandchildren to take a leaf out of his book; not as far as school attendance goes, anyway. I was driving slowly, listening to him talk, and hoping we would get stuck in traffic. For once the traffic did not materialise, so I tried to think
up a cunning-plan to stay in the company of my prisoner... err... passenger. He is still eloquent, but while I had expected to hear about the roles that made him famous, he spoke about the importance of education. He also mentioned his involvement in politics; something that seems to have more to do with his need for self-actualisation than monetary reward. I dropped him off at the airport and drove straight home to Google him. Up came stories about his impending marriage to ‘a glamorous brunette 35 years his junior.’ In amongst these were biographical pieces. Older readers will
I was driving slowly, listening to him talk, and hoping we would get stuck in traffic. For once the traffic did not materialise
remember The Lenny Henry Show, Alas Smith and Jones and The Young Ones. It turns out Tony made appearances in all three. He was well into his 30s when he was approached to play Baldrick in Black Adder. And the rest, as they say, is history. Talking of which, he was presenter of a series called The Worst Jobs in History. You can imagine what that was about. Maybe some of us should watch it next time we want to have a moan about our jobs. One of Tony’s passions is archaeology, so when he was asked by a friend to present a pilot archaeology series for Channel 4 he agreed. That was 15 years ago. Time Team is still going strong. And what was he doing in Gibraltar? Not an episode of Time Team, but an interview with Clive Finlayson on the subject of climate change and how it has affected us humans in the past (rather than the other way around). This is for an upcoming four part series on Channel 4. Tony’s next location is in the steppes of Siberia. n
Irish Town Antiques Antiques & Collectables Irish Town Gibraltar Tel: 200 70411
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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history
by Reg Reynolds
HMS Broke
Who was that Gibraltar Sailor? It was one of the most daring sea rescues of World War II and a sailor from Gibraltar was one of the brave lads aboard the destroyer HMS Broke who did his duty and helped save dozens of lives.
HMS Broke (formerly HMS Rooke) was a Shakespeare Class Flotilla Leader with a complement of 134 men and she was sleek and fast with a top speed of 38 knots. From the outbreak of war she was a very busy ship almost constantly on submarine patrol or escorting convoys. From October 1939 to October 1942 she escorted 63 convoys and 36 of those involved Gibraltar as a destination. Her crowning moment came in early April 1941 when she sailed out from Gibraltar to meet Convoy HG 057. A strong south-east gale was blowing when at 1600 on 6th April the Broke’s skipper received a signal ‘HMS Comorin seriously on fire’. Broke responded immediately but it was 8 o’clock at night by the time she reached the distressed armed merchant cruiser. By then destroyer escort HMS Lincoln (an old American lend-lease four stacker) using Carley floats (a type of life raft) in a ferry system had already rescued a good portion of the crew of the Cormorin. The Cormorin was a P&O Liner conscripted and converted for the war effort and in his book on the history of P&O These Splendid Ships David Divine described the scene that greeted Broke’s crew: “Comorin, with flames belching from her afterfunnel and beginning to break through on her super-structure, was lying out of control, beam on to the sea and rolling heavily… it rapidly became obvious that the ferry system was too slow and in darkness and with a rising wind Broke’s captain, Commander Scholfield, determined to take his ship alongside.” It was an incredibly risky maneuver. Lieutenant-Commander Peter Scott, who was aboard Broke at the time, later wrote: “To go alongside Comorin seemed an impossibility. The waves were 50 to 60 feet from trough to crest and the liner’s cruiser stern lifted high out of the water at one moment showing rudder and screws and crashing downward in a cloud of spray the next. I thought a destroyer could
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not possibly survive an impact.” Broke did survive several impacts as Commander Scholfield courageously steered her alongside time and time again so that crew from the Comorin could jump from deck to deck. With both ships rolling crazily the jumps had to be timed to the split second. Broke’s foredeck had been covered with locker cushions in an attempt to soften the blow as the sailors thumped down and her side was festooned with fenders to provide some protection from the hull of the much larger cruiser. About half a dozen men would jump each time and Commander Scholfield would pull Broke away in order to assess damage and get the injured below before returning for more. Some of the Comorin crew managed to land unhurt or suffering only minor cuts and bruises but many were badly injured and a few mistimed their jumps and went over the side never to be seen again. Wrote Lt-Com. Scott: “By now some of the injuries appeared to be pretty bad. There were a good many broken legs and arms and one chap fell across the guard-rail from about 25 feet.” According to Scott’s report at least one injured jumper disappeared in odd circumstances. “Letty [Navigating Officer Angus Letty] came aft to me and said, ‘That fellow’s finished — cut his guts to bits.’ It appears that Able Seaman George, a young Gibraltar seaman who was doing excellent work on the fo’c’sle, had put a
Able Seaman George was a young Gibraltar seaman who was doing excellent work on the fo’c’sle
hand on his [the jumper’s] back — felt what he thought to be broken ribs and when he withdrew his hand it was covered with blood. No such case ever reached the doctor and although there is a possibility an injured man could have gone over the side owing to the heavy rolling, I am inclined to think that the account was an exaggerated one.” It was past midnight when Broke was finally able to signal: “Ship now clear of officers and men.” By brilliant seamanship, which included an astonishing 685 engine-room telegraph orders, the captain and crew of HMS Broke had saved 180 of Comorin’s crew. The Lincoln had rescued another 121 and the merchant vessel Glenartny 104 for a total of 405 saved out of the 426 on board. Following this dramatic rescue, which earned Commander Scholfield an OBE, Broke underwent repairs — one bashing from Comorin had stoved a hole in her side and her skin plating was battered and twisted — and returned to convoy duty. Her valiant career came to an end during Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa) in November 1942. Typically she went down fighting. She was allowed one last day at Gibraltar before sailing in the dark of night on her mission to offload US troops near Algiers. Under fierce bombardment Broke made three attempts to break through defensive booms before finally succeeding on the fourth try. The troops disembarked successfully and reached their objectives but Broke was disabled by gunfire and sunk under tow with the loss of nine lives. In praising Able Seaman George, Lt.-Com. Scott doesn’t say if it that was his first or his last name and no other names are given. Hopefully a Gibraltarian can remember a brother, father or even grandfather who served aboard HMS Broke and can solve the mystery and contact Gibraltar Magazine with the information. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
history
HMS Broke named after courageous captain by Reg Reynolds
HMS Broke seems an unlikely name for a warship until you learn the tough little destroyer was named for one after the boldest captains in the history of the Royal Navy. Philip Bowes Vere Broke was captain of HMS Shannon in a famous naval battle of the War of 1812. Broke was known for his strong faith in the benefits of gunnery practice and it was due to this devotion to duty and his own personal bravery that fired the Shannon to a comprehensive victory over the USS Chesapeake off the northeast coast of the United States. This particular sea battle drew more interest than many of the others because in a rare occurrence the two sides were evenly matched and the fight between the frigates was one-onone. Both captains sought to engage and both crews displayed immense bravery. Shannon was taking part in the blockade of Boston harbour when on the afternoon of 1st June, 1812 the Chesapeake, under Captain
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Captain Broke about to suffer severe head injuries at the hands of the Chesapeake crew
James Lawrence sailed out to meet her. It was quite a gentlemanly affair as the Shannon slowed to await her opponent before the two warships engaged — Chesapeake’s port guns against Shannon’s starboard armoury. The Shannon’s superior gunnery soon took a heavy toll and Capt. Lawrence was among the mortally wounded. As he was being taken below he famously gave his final order “Don’t
This sea battle drew more interest than others because the two sides were evenly matched and the fight between the frigates was one-on-one
give up the ship”. To their credit his men fought on, by now though, the Chesapeake was seriously damaged and out of control. The crew of the Shannon secured her opponent with grappling hooks and Captain Broke personally led a boarding party of 20 men. The hand-to-hand combat was fierce during which Broke suffered severe head injuries. Within 15 minutes of the onset of battle the Chesapeake was captured and her crew surrendered. Casualties were heavy on both sides but the Chesapeake lost 60 to the Shannon’s 23. The Shannon’s triumph was a great morale booster for the Royal Navy and Broke returned home a hero. He never fully recovered from his injuries but he remained in the Service, was knighted and held the rank of Rear Admiral upon his death in 1841 aged 65. n
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M
edieval
Taking a city break must be one of the best ways to spend a long weekend. You get to see and experience a new set of culture, taste new food (and beer) and, more importantly, get to unwind.
Two cities that come to mind are Prague and Brussels. Prague must be one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe with regular flights available from London and Malaga. It’s increasing popularity (especially for stag and hen parties) brings its own problems but there is a good reason for its popularity — it is an extremely beautiful location. On the other hand, mention Brussels and few people would use the term “beautiful” for what is primarily known as the centre of European bureaucracy! Let’s begin by travelling to the former Eastern Bloc and the capital of what is now known as the Czech Republic. Despite its location in the middle of Europe it was largely unaffected by WWII and hence its architecture was preserved making this one of the most picturesque capitals . Cobble-stoned streets, red roof tiles and church steeples dominate the landscape. Thankfully you are spared the atrocities of the Soviet architectural nightmares that are to be found in the dome of the former Soviet bloc states. If you only have time for one thing in Prague it must be a visit to the Charles Bridge. That is if you can negotiate you way through the throngs of tourists, hawkers and orchestras plying for your attention. It is supposed to be a romantic location but with the exception of the early hours of the morning on a rainy day it is quite difficult to find the space to be romantic
text and photos by David Parody
marvels
&
Prague
and steal a kiss from your partner! But it has to be done. If you are staying for more than a day sooner or later you will have to cross it. Swimming across the river (not recommended) can sometimes feel like a preferred option to battling the crowds. Overlooking the whole city is Prague Castle and its St. Vitus Cathedral. Both of which are worth a visit. When buying tickets for these
you can choose the “full length” or the “express” ticket. The second of these offers you access to only the major sites of interest within the complex. Recommended unless you are a real history or art freak. With the two major sites out of the way you can now get to enjoy the real Prague. Essentially the city is divided up into smaller districts each with their own unique character. The Old Town (Staré město) is the city’s historic centre and includes numerous historical buildings and monuments, most notably the famed Astronomical Clock and the old town square. Sit here for a drink whilst waiting for the bells to ring. Try to avoid all the souvenir shops that are found around this area an especially on the streets leading up to Charles Bridge, they are a rip off. Across the river you find the Lesser Town (Malá strana) which leads to the castle, this quarter also offers beautiful streets and churches (of which St. Nicholas Church is the most renowned). Walk around the Venetianlike canal with water wheel and close to the Charles Bridge. For a more modern Prague visit the New Town (Nové město). The main attraction here is the Wenceslas Square, which has many stalls, shops and restaurants. Midway down this historic Boulevard, one finds trendy discos and Art Nouveau hotels, as well as quaint parks and arcades. Avoid this area on Friday and
Prague
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
travel of churches, castles and monuments there are many day trips available to neighboring towns which are worth a visit. Personally, I went for a morning balloon ride across some spectacular scenery which is highly recommended. You will, however be very spoilt for choice of food and your research here is essential. Firstly, to avoid eating at the obvious tourist traps but more importantly to ensure that you truly experience what Prague has to offer. Food tends to be of a very high quality and reasonably priced (the Czech Republic is not within the Euro zone!). For a special someone try Kampa Park with its superb location and
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Prague
Saturday nights as they tend to fill up with Stag parties, usually very drunk, on the lookout for the more seedier aspects of Prague’s red-light night-life. Almost wherever you go in Prague there is a church and almost without fail there will be some form of concert taking place in it that night. If you are into classical music, you could not have found a better place to visit. Take your pick of any of the best (and some of the lesser) known composers and spend a couple of hours in some truly spectacular surroundings. For a guaranteed night of culture try anything on at the State Opera House. There is little incentive to learn the tram, metro or bus schedules or routes as all the interesting bits of the city are well within walking distance. If you haven’t had enough
a morning balloon ride across some spectacular scenery is highly recommended great food or Gordon Ramsey’s Maze at the Hilton. If you are a beer connoisseur then you will be in heaven due in no part to the huge selection of offer. As for when to visit I am told that it is always high season in Prague with May-June being the best months (although expect rain!). It can get quite hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. With so many visitors from so many countries you will find it very easy to communicate in English with practically everybody. When thinking of a place in Belgium to visit
most people will come up with Bruges as the obvious choice. Brussels is seldom high on a visitor’s “to do” list but this need not be the case. Some bad planning in the 19th century meant that most of the Old town was torn down with little left for the modern day traveler but what there is is superb. The best place to start is Grand Place (Grote Markt) — 300 year old buildings which at night are illuminated in a co-ordinated light and sound show which you can enjoy whilst sampling a “gaufre de Liège-Luikse wafel”(Belgian waffle with caramelized sugar). One word of warning here, if you are a chocoholic, this is not the place to be, you will overdose from all those shops selling you the most delectable selection of hand-made chocolates. The more you wonder around the little cobble-stoned streets, the greater the temptation will be. And if the chocolates don’t get you, those pesky street sellers making those to-die-for crepes will. And on the subject of eating, the must have food in Brussels is going to be the “moules et frites” or mussels and fries. These can usually
Brussels
Brussels
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Hercules Climb for Alzheimer’s On 26th September 2009, a group of 12 local volunteers will begin the unique challenge of climbing the two Pillars of Hercules in a mere 12 hours in aid of the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Group.
Brussels
be best obtained from one of the “fritkots”. Usually served up with mayonnaise they are a must have as would be mulled wine in the winter months to accompany them. Another warning here, the mulled wine is particularly strong so good thing that you are walking everywhere! After you have stuffed yourself with chocolates, crepes and moules the next thing is to wander off the beaten track in search of authentic Belgian locales to savour French style dining at its best. Although French and Dutch are the official languages of Brussels, you will find that French influence is very dominant both in terms of language but also culturally. As when visiting France if you at least make an effort to speak French (even if it just a bonjour, merci, au revoir!) you will get a smile and English spoken back at you! To avoid or to visit only AFTER you have had dinner is a walk through Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat. This is the classic tourist trap street. Narrow street with restaurants on both sides of you whilst waiters tempt the punters with all sorts of offers for food. Bright neon and tacky decor are the order of the day but must be seen to be believed. You will be better off at any other restaurant away from this area. When walking around these streets it might be easy not to see the famous Manneken Pis. This tiny statute of a little boy literally taking a piss is one of Brussels landmarks and is said to commemorate a child who, by going for pee from a tree, discouraged invading troops. Believe that if you want. Depending on the occasion, you may find him dressed up in one outfit or another. Get on the metro to visit the Atomium which was built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair. This is a representation of a unit cell of an iron atom. Nine steel spheres connect via tubes with elevators. Windows in the top sphere provide a panoramic view of Brussels. Originally planned to last only six months, the Atomium is still today the most popular attraction in Brussels. I was lucky to visit Brussels in December and to my amazement found the Christmas market in full swing. A large open air ice rink and ferries wheel were accompanied by every type of stall imaginable and snow falling made this an authentic Christmas fair. Both of these cities offer enough for more than just a day trip, a long weekend, good walking shoes and a healthy appetite is all you need. n
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The 12 taking part (Eddie Lucas, John Montegriffo, Ian Torrilla, Frank Da Costa, Adrian Moreno, Willie Linares, Tony Loddo, Joe Norton, Danny Gabay, Paul Maclaren and two young determined ladies, Nicky Patterson and Rosemarie Peach) hope to raise awareness (and money) for their hard work and will be lobbying for sponsorship across all sectors of the Gibraltar business community. By coincidence, 21st September 2009 is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day. The group will sail across the Strait of Gibraltar in Hire-U-Shop Mark Reid’s luxury yacht on Friday 25th September, arriving in Ceuta where they will spend the night before departing by minibus early the following morning to the foot of Jebel Musa. Mark is providing his services free of charge which has meant the volunteers do not need to rely on taking a scheduled ferry crossing to Algeciras but instead will depart in their own time and return as soon as they complete the climb and descend Musa. Interbuild is covering the cost of a trained guide, the minibus and insurance cover for all those involved. Amco Gibraltar is sponsoring the Tshirts for the participants. The trek will start by 8am and the volunteers expect to be back and at the Top of the Rock by 8pm. Jebel Musa, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Atlas or Mount Abyla, is 860 metres in height, almost exactly twice the height of Gibraltar (426m) and its north face is dry and devoid of vegetation. The final meandering goat’s path
leading to the summit is of loose rock and poses the biggest challenge but the prospect of getting wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and of Gibraltar will make the attempt well worth the effort. Once they descend, the group will take a light lunch before embarking for an exciting 2 ½ hour return sail back to Gibraltar where, it is planned, they will be dropped off in Rosia Bay. From here the final leg to the top of the Rock begins and, all going to plan, the participants will celebrate their achievement with a waiting crowd of family and friends. The Gibraltar Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Group is a recently established charity and is run by a very hardworking group. A lot of time and effort is given freely so others who follow do not experience what they have had to endure dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient in one’s own family. This support group will do everything in its power to support these patients and their families. The stigma attached to Alzheimer’s needs to be eradicated and this can only be done with public awareness campaigns and in this respect, the group is focusing on and relying on the upcoming World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September 2009, when the group will be in town to help and advise anyone affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. All monies raised by the Pillar of Hercules Challenge 2009 will help towards the realization of the aims and objectives of the Support Group. n
Sunset in the mountains we can see from Gibraltar
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
pets&accessories Protect Your Dog Against Fatal Summer Diseases Heartworm, Leishmaniosis, Tickborne Diseases Phone Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for details 200 77334 Emergency: 8977
www.medgolf.gi medgolf@gibraltar.gi Tel: 200 79575 Fax: 200 44307
newsagents
hobbies&pastimes
Sun Daily Mail Star Express Mirror Available Daily on the Rock Every Morning from
L. SACARELLO 96 Main St Tel: 200 78723 Fax: 200 78723 Booksellers, Newsagents & Stationers
HORTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Tel: 200 43134 Fax: 200 50648 Convent Gardens, Convent Garden Ramp
leisure & tuition
photography
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Gibraltar Connections by Reg Reynolds
60 riveting true stories of people and events connected to the world’s most famous Rock.
lessons&tuition Frost Language Centre
GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830
• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers
(Co. Registered in Gibraltar)
Spanish lessons. Private Tuition. If you would like to learn Spanish or improve your knowledge of the language, please contact Margaret for more info
on 956 173384 or e.mail rmf2@telefonica.net
266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757
Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant
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The Flowers of Gibraltar by Leslie Linares, Arthur Harper and John Cortes
Book on sale at Gibraltar Book Shops GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009 77
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009
Prince Charming (Richard Mor)
Cinderella (Vanessa SacconeRecagno)
Tinkerbell (Minerva Santini)
Happy Endings? It’s all… un “Cuento”!
by Elena Scialtiel
Snow White (Janine Pons-Busto)
Once upon a time, in a faraway land disturbingly like the Rock of Gibraltar, the Wicked Witch and the Big Bad Wolf stole the Happy Endings and captured the last kid interested in reading fairytales… So Peter Pan, the boy who didn’t wanna grow up, suddenly grew old with his Tinkerbell, and Cinderella was forever left alone in her ‘own little corner’ sweeping the fireplace. What a tragedy! It could be the end of our fantasy world as we know it, but luckily playwrights/actors/directors Richard Mor and Christian Santos are trumpeting to the rescue, starring in their original comedy based on the successful formula of their past Miss Yanita and El Susto. Flashing the limelight on Gibraltarian idiosyncrasies, their musical El Cuento parodies twitches and grandeur of a unique culture, using the very tongue-in-cheek slapstick humour so innate in it, swirling the audience into the plot, for everyone will recognise a bit of themselves or
Belle (Melissa Galliano)
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Gordilocks (Sue Anne Avellano)
their entourage in the warped characters populating this fun glorification of Yanito-ness. Arrested while she was breaking into the Tree Bears’ house, the curtain goes up on the tribunal of Gordilocks — yes, just like Goldilocks, with a sprinkle of ‘gordi’ (fat) and a pun on the tendency in our speech to roll Ls into Rs before some consonants. The King sentences her to retrieving the lost Happy Endings, with her rickety posse: Prince Charming (Richard Mor), the polygamous beau who has married in turns every princess in every story, and ageing pair Peter Pan (Christian Santos) and Tinkerbell (Minerva Santini). A home-grown Snow White (Janine PonsBusto) joins them in their quest, as Gordilocks (Sue Anne Avellano) & Co. bump into an array
of staple and minor characters, whose lives are shattered by the disappearance of their poetic licence-bestowed ‘happily ever after’. Belle (Melissa Galliano), Cinderella (Vanessa Saccone-Recagno), and La Fea Durmiente (Rebecca Figueras) — with an important lesson to teach us on how ugly endings can tarnish any respectable Sleeping Beauty — complete the main cast, while Little Bo Beep, Red Riding Hood and Ariel make guest appearances. Their journey is the perfect scenario for darting some poison-arrow gags and jokes over the audience, who will have a hilarious time identifying in the coarse ways of their childhood heroes, morphed into mighty Xoxis and Pichones determined to make some noise, indeed to get back what’s theirs. Peter Pan (Christian Santos)
La Fea Durmiente (Rebecca Figueras)
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
entertainment Eventually they get to the lair of the Wicked Witch (Charlene Figueras) and the Wolf (Charles Linares), where they accomplish their mission, after acing three tests, like every respectable happy ending demands. Expect fast-paced action interspersed with original songs in English and Spanish, or twisted lyrics sung to well-known tunes: we all know only too well that any reputable fairytale character has lots of soliloquy to sing before earning the crown! Hopefully destined to be saved for posterity in some library as testimony of the way we were in the Noughties, as much as Elio Cruz’s work is for the post-Evacuation society, but written and performed with the sole aim of having fun on both sides of the stage, this kind of much specialised ‘dialectal’ theatre doesn’t seem to stand a chance beyond the local audience that can understand and appreciate self-parody shenanigans and the code-switching crescendo. Then again, that’s exactly its aim: the local audience. Or is it? The unexpected ticket to stardom, or the backstage pass to become at least a footnote in the history of anthropology, came last year when an American student attended Miss Yanita to record it on video, and made it the subject of his post-graduate dissertation. “He studied us like we study Shakespeare,” Christian says. “He scientifically dissected the script, the acting, the way we improvised and personalised our code-switching, he analysed the characters and how they mirror our society.” And so, the spoof of one of the most talked about events in Gibraltar’s glamour calendar became first-class academic material, the pot of gold for Spanglish researchers, hunting in un-chartered territory after having ridden the Puerto Rican and Texan highways. Socio-linguistic oddity or psycho-semantic specimen, one must be proud of Yanito culture. El Cuento moral is: the apprehension about vanishing Yanito mores, levelled into English and Spanish lifestyles by satellite television and frequent trips abroad, isn’t just an old people’s cuento. Live the funky fairytale that Gibraltar is, by attending the show, staged at the John Mackintosh theatre from 1st to 5th September. And whatever you do before entering the auditorium, go to the loo! This production is PG rated: ‘PottyGoer, watch out for serious tummy-tickling guffaws’. n
Counter Tenor’s debut performance in front of home audience Local counter tenor, Anthony Roper, together with soprano Judy Davis from the Bath Opera, accompanied by pianist Peter Blackwood, will be performing at the Convent Ballroom as part of this year’s National Week celebrations (Monday 7th September). This will be Anthony’s first public performance in front of his home audience and will help launch his singing career locally. Anthony started singing at the age of 12 and went on to study music at Bath Spa University specialising in ‘performance’ under the tuition of Judy Davis where he gained a B.A. (Hons). During this time Anthony took part in many productions as a soloist including 1st Monk in Tim Rice’s Blondel, 3rd lady (cleric) in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Athamas in Handel’s Semele. He has also taken part in various concert performances which include alto solos in Handel’s Messiah, and Moteverdi’s In Ecclesis. During his time in Bath Anthony took part in many productions with Bath Opera including Puccini’s Tosca and Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman. For Bath Opera he has sung the roles of Young Isralite in Handel’s Esther and 3rd Spirit in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
their home base of the Wroughton Theatre, he was responsible for the music for The Force of Destiny and The Jewels of the Madonna amongst others. In musical theatre, he has directed over 100 productions including Chess, Carousel, West Side Story, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and all the familiar Savoy operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. The event at the Convent Ballroom is nonprofit with all proceeds from the concert, once expenses have been met, donated to the Breast Cancer Support Group (Gibraltar). Tickets (£15) are on sale from the following establishments: Anglo Hispano Co Ltd (5/7 Main Street, Tel: 200 77210); S.M. Seruya (165 Main Street, Tel: 200 78806); Hearts Boutique (250 Main Street, Tel: 200 79822).
Anthony is currently studying with local tenor Nicholas Martin as part of the Nicholas Martin Signing School in London. In London Anthony has sung in various performances in the Royal Albert Hall with the London Philharmonia chorus including a celebration concert for Classic FM Live, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff and Foulds’ World Requiem. Judy’s operatic roles include Lady Macbeth (Macbeth) and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and the title roles in La Gioconda, Carmen and Aida. Peter Blackwood is based in Bath where he has established himself as a pianist and musical director. Although his early training was as a classical pianist, he entered the world of orchestral and choral conducting after studying with George Hurst. For over 30 years he was a pianist and teacher at Bath Spa University. He has been the musical director for The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, The Barber of Seville, Falstaff and, most recently, La Boheme. For Bath Opera, in
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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food & drink
by Reg Reynolds
Alice B. Toklas, Gibraltar, Brownies & Gazpacho How could you not become famous with a name like Alice B. Toklas? Initially Alice’s fame came from being the partner, secretary and chief cook and bottle washer for the literary giant Gertrude Stein who cheekily titled her autobiography The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas. Later, however, Alice reaped fame in her own right through the publication of The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book. But even then the recipe that caused sales to rocket was provided by another artist/ writer. It was Brion Gysin’s recipe for hash brownies that created a sensation and made the name Alice B. Toklas synonymous with the hippy movement of the 1960s and 1970s. And it was because of a trip to Gibraltar that Alice met up with Gysin in the first place. Alice and Gertrude were travelling through Spain in the summer of 1912. They were in Seville, the heat was scorching and Alice was distressed. Gertrude, however, loved the heat, as she noted in her falsely titled autobiography: “Gertrude Stein [she refers to herself by both names throughout the book] adored heat and sunshine although she always says that a Paris winter is an ideal climate. In those days it was always at noon that she preferred to walk. I, who have and
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had no fondness for a summer sun, often accompanied her. Sometimes later in Spain I sat under a tree and wept but she in the sun was indefatigable. She could even lie in the sun and look straight up into a summer noon sun, she said it rested her eyes and head.” Ironically it was the overwhelming heat that would force the pair to travel to Gibraltar. In her Biography of Alice B. Toklas, Linda Simon writes: “Seville was no cooler than Cordoba, and Alice and Gertrude tried to keep comfortable by eating ices all day. Gertrude’s sensitive stomach was disturbed and after a few days she succumbed to a violent attack of colitis. “They had barely had time to see the cathedral, stroll along the Calle de la Sierpes, and walk down to
the Guadalquivir, when Gertrude’s illness frightened Alice enough to cause a quick departure to Gibraltar, where Gertrude found sufficient medical help to recover in a short time.” It’s nice that the couple recognised Gibraltar for its fine medical care, even as far back as 1912, but I have been unable to find any mention of what they thought of the Rock or their impressions of the people. When Gertrude had recovered, she and Alice spent a few days in Ronda and Algeciras and then sailed for Tangier where they met up with Gysin. On a website dedicated to him Gysin is described as a “…a multifaceted artist whose fertile mind and wide range of original ideas were a source of inspiration for artists of the Beat
With the deadline approaching and her book only half complete, she turned to her artistic friends for help. The second to last chapter of the book is filled with their recipes
Generation in Paris.” Gysin claimed to have submitted his recipe for ‘marijuana fudge’ as a joke. But did Alice have fond recollections of munching scrumptious brownies amidst gales of laughter on a moonlit Tangier terrace? From the point of view of sales and notoriety it turned out to be, whether intentional or accidental, an inspired choice. One story has it that Alice was under pressure from her publisher to get the book finished. In 1952 she had signed a contract to write a collection of recipes along with her remembrances. With the deadline approaching and her book only half complete, she turned to her artistic friends for help. The second to last chapter of the book is filled with their recipes. In her biography of Alice, Simon writes: “Having already decided not to go to the expense and bother of testing recipes, Alice naively slipped Gysin’s entry into her manuscript when she sent it to Harper’s in May (1954). The editors, however, noting that the recipe featured marijuana, cautiously advised that it be dropped.” [Author’s note: It was included in the 1960 edition].
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
food & drink The British publishers, Michael Joseph Ltd., were less reticent and included the recipe in their first edition. This led readers of Stein to believe she had been a regular marijuana user and this had influenced her writing. Alice was dismayed and protested that neither she nor Gertrude had ever used marijuana. She said she had not understood the botanical terms Gysin had used and anyway she barely new the man. In the cookbook the recipe is titled “Haschich Fudge” and Alice or Gysin (no one knows for sure) notes that “anyone could whip it up on a rainy day”, calls it “the food of Paradise”, that “in Morocco it is thought to be good for warding off the common cold,” and “might provide an entertaining refreshment for a Ladies’ Bridge Club”. How the recipe came to be in the book no longer matters but its inclusion ensures the name Alice B. Toklas will resonate for generations to come. There was even a film made called I Love You Alice B. Toklas starring Peter Sellers. The film wasn’t about Alice but the hash brownies. In one of the film’s best known scenes Harold Fine (Sellers) unknowingly serves hash-laced brownies to his parents and fiancée. Alice was born Alice Babette Toklas, appropriately as it would turn out in San Francisco, on 30th April, 1877. She died on 7th March, 1967 just as the hippy generation was coming to the fore and a year before the film named for her was
released. Gertrude had died in 1946 aged 72 while Gysin pass on in 1986 aged 70. The name, the cookbook and the brownies live on. Although Alice does not mention Gibraltar in her book she does profess her love for Spain and things Spanish and she includes many Andalusian recipes. She has four for gazpacho — Malaga, Seville, Cordoba and Segovia. As Alice and Gertrude travelled to Gibraltar from Seville I will include the Seville recipe here. Sorry I don’t do brownies. GAZPACHO OF SEVILLE In a bowl put: 4 crushed cloves of garlic. 1 tsp salt ½ tsp powdered Spanish pepper Pulp of 2 medium tomatoes crushed Mix these ingredients thoroughly and add drop by drop 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add 1 Spanish onion cut in tissue-paper-thin slices. 1 sweet red or green pepper, seeds removed and cut in minute cubes. 1 cucumber peeled, seeds removed and cut in minute cubes. 4 tablespoons fresh white bread crumbs. Add 3 cups water, mix thoroughly. Serve ice-cold.
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crusty roll. Rolls & Tortilla Wraps Leek & Potato Soup ......................£4.50 Pub Club Classic ..........................£4.75 Chef’s Soup of the Day ................£4.50 Irish Fillet Steak Roll ....................£5.50 Fish Chowder (Traditional Irish creamy fish Chicken Caesar Wrap ..................£6.20 soup) ................................................£4.50 Chicken Roll or Sandwich ............£4.75 Appetizers Tuna & Salad Roll or Sandwich (V)..£4.50 Irish Crispy Skins ..........................£4.90 Pizza Extra toppings - 50p Prawns Pil Pil ................................£5.25 Traditional Margherita ..................£7.00 Prawn Cocktail ..............................£5.25 Hawaiian ........................................£7.95 Nelson’s Nachos ............................£5.20 Three Cheese ................................£8.00 Molly’s Mussels..............................£6.20 Deluxe ............................................£8.00 O’Reilly’s Bruschetta ....................£4.25 Vegetarian ......................................£7.50 Spicy Chicken Wings ....................£4.95
Salads O’Reilly’s Salad ..............................£5.50 Classic Tuna, Prawn or Feta Cheese Salad ..............................................£7.00 Chicken Caesar Salad ..................£7.25 Cajun Chicken................................£7.25
Jackets A freshly baked jacket potato served with a salad garnish. Baked Beans & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50 Chilli Con Carne & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50 Tuna Mayonnaise ..........................£5.50 Prawn Mary Rose ..........................£6.25 Chicken, Bacon Bits & Mayo........£6.25 Bolognaise Sauce & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50
Main Meals Beef & Guinness Ale Pie ..............£7.00 Chicken & Potato Pie ....................£6.95 Cottage Pie ....................................£7.50 Fish & Chips ..................................£7.00 Atlantic Salmon..............................£8.75 Molly’s Mussels..............................£7.50 Traditional Irish Breakfast ............£6.50 Kildare Chicken (Chef's Special) ..£8.50 Drunken Swine ..............................£9.00 Gaelic Sirloin 10 oz Steak ..........£12.50 Farmhouse Vegetable Bake..........£6.75 Prime Irish Fillet Steak ................£16.50 Crab Cake Dinner ..........................£8.50 Chilli Con Carne ............................£6.75 Spaghetti Bolognaise ....................£6.75 Bangers and champ ......................£6.75 Rock Burger ..................................£8.50 O’Reilly’s Burger ............................£7.50 Vegetarian Burger..........................£7.50
Boxty Dishes A homemade potato pancake cooked on the griddle and wrapped around a variety of delicious fillings. Boxty comes from the Gaelic word “bactasi” which refers to the traditional cooking of potatoes over an open fire, which still takes place in Ireland. Ploughman’s Boxty........................£6.75 Chicken & Coriander Boxty ..........£8.00
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Rustic Rhubarb Tart ......................£4.25 Apple Pie ........................................£4.25 Baileys Cheesecake ......................£4.25 Chocolate Brownies ......................£4.25
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Choose a Scoop Choose from coffee, banana, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint-choc-chip or Smartie ice cream. 1 scoop ..........................................£1.00 2 scoops ........................................£1.80 3 scoops ........................................£2.40 Milkshakes ....................................£3.00 (also available to take-away) Just choose your flavour, coffee, banana, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint-chocchip, or Smartie ice cream. Diabetic Ice Cream........................£2.10 Vanilla & Chocolate - 100% sugar free.
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Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
81
orcels M recipes
from
Morocco
Tajine from Cornwall’s Lane
Gibraltar cuisine has been highly influenced by our neighbours across the Strait for hundreds of years, so this month we thought we’d bring you just a few of their cullinary delights to whet your appetite.
Sweet & Sour Aubergines Ingredients: Sunflower Oil, for deep-frying 1 large Aubergine 1 teaspoon Turmeric 1 teaspoon Chilli powder 2 tablespoons Tamarind pulp 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar 6 fresh Curry Leaves Salt
Heat the oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan, over a moderate heat. When it is almost smoking, fry the aubergine, in batches, until golden. Have the oil really hot, so the aubergine colours quickly without absorbing any extra oil. Put 2 tablespoons of the hot oil in a mediumsized saucepan and stir in the turmeric and chilli powder. After a few seconds, add the tamarind pulp, sugar and curry leaves. Cook for a couple of minutes over a low heat, until you get a thick, glossy sauce.
Add the fried aubergine to the pan, season with salt, and cook for a few minutes to heat through. Serve hot garnished with cherry tomatoes and Khboz bread (see recipe opposite).
Chicken Tagine with Honey & Apricots Ingredients: 2.5 kg Chicken pieces (approx) 2 large Onions 2 sticks of Butter ½ teaspoon Turmeric 1 teaspoon Black Pepper 2 Cinnamon sticks 450g dried Apricots or Prunes 8 tablespoons Honey 2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon 225g peeled Almonds 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds Vegetable Oil In a large pot, melt the butter. Fry the chopped onions until soft, and add the chicken, salt, pepper, turmeric and cinnamon sticks. Add enough water to cover the chicken, about two cups. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the chicken is done, adding water if necessary. Remove the chicken pieces.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
recipes Add the apricots and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Add the ground cinnamon and the honey, stir and cook until the sauce has a honeylike consistency. Add more honey if necessary. When the sauce is almost ready, sautee the almonds in oil. Drain most of the oil from the pan, and toast the sesame seeds. Return the chicken to the pot and re-heat. Place chicken in a serving sheet, pour sauce on top of it and top with almonds and sesame seeds. Serve with couscous & Khboz.
Khboz, Moroccan Bread
Allow to rest for 10 minutes. After the dough has rested, use the palm of your hand to flatten the dough into circles about Ingredients: 1/4” thick. Cover with a towel, and leave to rise 450g Whole Wheat Flour about one hour, or until the dough springs back 450g White Flour when pressed lightly with a finger. 2 teaspoons Salt Preheat an oven to 435°F (225°C). 1 tablespoon Yeast Score the top of the bread with a very sharp 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil knife, or poke the dough with a fork in several 1 or 2 tablespoons Honey places. Bake the bread for about 20 minutes – ro280ml warm Water tate the pans about halfway through the baking additional Flour for kneading time – or until the loaves are richly coloured and Cornflour, Semolina, or Oil for the pan sound hollow when tapped. Transfer the bread to a rack or towel-lined basPrepare two baking sheets by oiling the cen- ket to cool. n ters, or by dusting the pans with a little cornflour or semolina. Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Make a large well in the center of the flour mixture, and add the yeast. Add the oil, honey and the water to the well, mixing to dissolve the yeast first, and then stirring the entire contents of the bowl to incorporate the water into the flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and begin kneading the dough. If necessary, add flour or water in very small amounts to make the dough soft and pliable, but not sticky. Continue kneading for 10 minutes, or until the dough is very smooth and elastic. Divide the dough in half, and shape each If you’re feeling lazy, portion into a smooth circular mound. Place you can buy Khboz bread onto the prepared pans, and cover with a towel. from Mustafa’s grocery shop, 12 City Mill Lane
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Business Name: GOODS ‘R’ US Premises at which the business is to be carried on: UNIT 1, NORTH MOLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Trading in the following goods: CRISPS, SOFT DRINKS, SWEETS, CHOCOLATES, BEER Date: 19/8/09
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Christmas menu now available
Irish Town Tel: 200 51738 to reserve
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food & drink
New Flavours at the London Bar/Bistro
After 25 years in the catering trade, Pili has taken over The London Bar and is busy giving the premises a make-over. Well known locally from her days in Raffles, Pili has taken on the venture determined to turn the bar into a modern bistro and later this month the open plan kitchen will be fully functioning offering French bistro cuisine with favourites from her days at Raffles. The newly spruced up look and feel will take the bar to a new level in its long established history on the Rock, and whilst all this is going on, Pili still has the doors open to welcome customers who’d like to call in for a drink to see how she’s progressing.
Pili can now be found at The London Bar/Bistro
For National Day on the 10th, she’s planned a barbecue where all are welcome to join in the celebrations in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. You’ll find Pili and her staff smiling behind the bar at 76-78 Govornor’s Street, just around the corner from the Elliot Hotel, so call in to find out more about what they can offer. n
Pickwicks on Governor’s Parade
Tel: 200 76488 (opposite the Eliott Hotel)
The Best Sandwiches made especially for you as well as Jackets•Salads•Burgers and a whole lot more
open Monday to Friday from 9.30am
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
events
thrifty at the calpe
There’s always somehting happening at the Royal Calpe, and if you’re winding down on Friday evening after National Day you can call in for a drink and hear the tunes of Thrifty Malone who’ll be playing early evening from 6pm on the 11th. If you miss them from over-doing it on the 10th, don’t worry they’ll be back at the Royal Calpe on the 2nd October at the same time. n
Miss Motors Crowned Hannah Keble became Miss Motors Gibraltar 2009 at the contest organised by Mount Productions which took place just outside O’Reilly’s at Ocean Village Leisure Island on the day of the Harley Davison Rally. Sponsored by O’Reilly’s, with support from Ocean Village, 11 girls took part with Rosie Richardson-Jones selected as first runner up and Jade Perera second runner up. Miss Motors International will take place in the autumn of 2010 in Italy, either in Rome or Milan. n
enjoy relax
Contemporary Mediterranean Dining
14
on the QUAY
Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 43731
Enjoy exemplary food with exceptional value in the relaxed atmosphere of Queensway Quay Marina
enjoy relax delicious Grand Casemates Square
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
lunch afternoon tea dinner cocktails
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wine column
rights
&
wrongs
Ogden Nash wrote the best advice for husbands:
To keep your marriage brimming With love in the loving cup Whenever you’re wrong admit it Whenever you’re right shut up. It is, of course, very rare for a husband to be right about anything, but the advice still holds good. It should be enough to hear, very occasionally, the murmured: ‘Well, I suppose so’ from the female of the species, without seeking further clarification or rubbing in the point. The reverse situation does not apply, for some reason. That reason is one of life’s little ironies upon which further speculation is pointless. If only the wine world would pay attention to the advice, choosing and drinking wine would be simple. All the bottles on the shelves would be ‘right’. They would not trumpet the fact; their mere presence on the shelf would be enough. No producer, having got his blend of grapes wrong or who knew his grapes had had a bad year, would bother trying to sell
it except, perhaps, as vinegar. Every producer who had got it right would simply bottle it with a brief label. This is a counsel of perfection and would not work in the real world. So we are left with trying to discover what is right and what is wrong for ourselves – with the help of the supposed experts. Those experts, from wine columnists to wine waiters, will never say a wine is wrong. They may steer you away from it: ‘A good choice, Sir, but I think you may find the 2005 is a better year’; or they may damn it with faint praise: ‘Reasonable quaffing now and may possibly improve with age’. But they will never say that a wine is awful and should not be bought. Perhaps this is not unreasonable on their part because much depends on price and the personal taste of the buyer. Perhaps. This column, ever idiosyncratic and iconoclastic, proposes now to break the mould of normal wine columns and to advise you against certain wines. Yes, it may be a matter of personal taste. It is also personal taste to dislike: beer-bellied English yobs shouting obscenities; ladies of a certain age and size in micro-bikinis; noisy motorbikes; overdone beef. Those whose tastes include enjoyment of any of these need not read on. n
Having kept the attention of some 99% of you (and, frankly, good riddance to the other 1%), there follows a list of what not to buy and what to avoid when offered. 1. Cava of any description. Spain makes a lot of good wine. She can hold her head up proudly in the face of the competition in respect of most reds and whites. But the fizz is awful, however expensively packaged. It does, granted, have fizz. So does fizzy water. Fizzy water is greatly preferable because, if it tastes of anything, it tastes only watery. Cava tastes watery with a touch of sharp sulphur and some wet newspaper. Swallowing it produces the same effect as a fingernail being scraped across a blackboard. 2. Pretty well everything German. Mosels and Hocks were all the rage until Australian Chardonnay took over and now the fashion is for drier, lighter whites like Pinot Grigio. German wine has never regained its fashionability, perhaps because of its taste. Medium and verging occasionally on sweet, even the endless compound names (Trockenbeerenauslese, Liebfraumilch, Vierwaldstadterseedampschiffkapitansmutze) cannot improve it. If you ever tasted the stuff that was (and perhaps still is) marketed under the name ‘Blue Nun’, you will know what I mean. 3. Mateus Rose. If you must have a lampstand then make sure to get rid of the contents of the bottle down the sink before attaching the electrics. Actually, the same applies to most rose wines but
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not all; if approached with care some of them can be quite friendly. 4. Table Wine – vin de table, vino di tavola or de mesa etc. Fit only for mixing with something else to disguise the taste. Why else should Sangria and Tinto de Verano need to be invented? Very, very occasionally you may find a table wine which is bearable (Liria is just about possible to get down the throat) but for the saving of about £1 over a bottle of ordinary claret you are giving yourself unnecessary grief. 5. Sweet whites. Sauternes, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and suchlike (even the local Malaga concoction) are best left alone. The cost is ridiculous and the taste is of a sort of vaguely alcoholic cough medicine. The average pudding is quite sweet enough without needing a further burst of sugar. If some further wine is required with the pudding then it is far better to stick to champagne (not, of course, Cava). This list is not exhaustive and you may add to it as you wish. But it is a start. Further, I will happily admit I am wrong if you find, for instance, a decent table wine – but rather you than me in the search for such an elusive beast. This list will, however, enable you to ignore a lot of the wrong bottles in the search for the right ones. When you find the right ones then, contrary to the advice at the beginning, don’t shut up. But don’t make too much of a song and dance about it either.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits
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Full menu served inside or on our terrace including British Fish & Chips, Jackets, Salads, Burritos, Homemade Pizzas, our special Fresh Local Mussels and much more. Visit us and buy yourself a souvenir, T-shirts, beer glasses, lighters etc Live music every evening, join our Jam Sessions on Wednesday or Sunday. GLMS Music Venue of the Year. Official Home to Gibraltar Rugby Club Free WiFi
10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009
Tel: 20077446
Traditional English Pub with the best of English beers
• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams
NOW OFFERING DAILY SPECIALS Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449
restaurant bar guide & turn to pages 88-90 for full restaurant and bar listings
Ground Floor Bar open from 10.30 daily Pool Table • TV • Machines First Floor ’Hoots’ open from 1pm 2 Pool Tables • Darts • Machines 2nd Floor ‘The Nest’ open from 5pm American Pool • Card Table
Get Stuffed!
Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006 Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special EveryDay salads, quiches, pastas, pies, muffins, all home made Open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat
Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711
Wembley Bar 10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 200 78004 • Hot & cold bar snacks • Function room
BUDDIES pasta casa
Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations
now also in Casemates HOME DELIVERY
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Liverpool Bar
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Licensed Cafeteria Let the ‘A’ Team serve you up a snack or a meal. Daily Specials • Varied Menu
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UK BEERS FUll English Breakfast + much more Avenida España No 4 (400m from the Frontier) Tel: 00 34 956767770
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Open from 9am First Floor ICC, Main Street THE PLACE TO MEET
7
days a week Glacis Estate
Tel: 200 71992
Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Beers & Soft Drinks Distributors Est. 1839
35 Devil’s Tower Road, Gibraltar. Telephone: (350) 200 74600 Telefax: (350) 200 77031 e-mail: mail@sacspeed.gi A Member of The Saccone & Speed (Gibraltar) Group of Companies GIBRALTAR 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• JULY SEPTEMBER 2009
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mind. Offering contemporary European cuisine a wide selection of drinks, cool decor and good music. The venue hosts regular events with invited DJs and shows from abroad. Open: Sunday-Thurs midday-midnight, Friday and Saturday midday-5am.
restaurants l The Boatyard Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 50540 Stylish dining right on the quayside at Queensway Quay. Enjoy a cocktail or a pre-dinner drink in the lounge out onthe quayside. The menu includes dishes such as Cumin Crusted Rack of New Zealand Lamb; Grilled Prime 300g Argentinean Rump Steak; Crispy Skinned Confit French Duck Leg; Fresh Local Seafood Spaghetti; and Wild Mushroom, Gorgonzola & Baby Spinach Risotto. Open: lunch and dinner, closed Sundays. l Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449 Modern Italian eatery set in the lively Casemates square. Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Good daily specials menu on blackboard. No smoking inside. Free WiFi. l Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738 Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Red comfy arm chairs in separate area for a relaxing drink or coffee. Brunch menu (10am-12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts (chocolate mousse in a must). Lunch 12 - 3pm and dinner 7-10pm includes Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry; Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pasta dishes such as Langoustine, Lime & Coconut; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese; and Creamy Mixed Seafood; and salads such as Warm Goats’ Cheese, Fresh Spinach & Chargrilled Aubergine; and Roast Duck, Chorizo & Pancetta Salad. Open: from 10am. Closed all day Sundays, and Saturday lunch. Casa Pepe 18 Queensway Quay Marina. Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe.gib@gmail.com Situated right on the water front at Queensway Quay, Casa Pepe has a comprehensive a la carte menu which includes dishes such as melon & Serrano ham, stuffed piquillo peppers and filled mushrooms to start, followed by a choice of salads, rice and noodles and fish, poultry and meat dishes which include King Prawns Macarena (cooked with fresh ginger, tomatoes, mangos and bananas served with basmati rice, fried bread and bananas), Medallions of monkfish cooked with white wine and lobster sauce, duck breast Armanac-style (with Cognac, mushrooms and pine nuts), Medallions of pork loin cooked with Serrano ham and dry Jerez sherry, and fillet steak Malagueña cooked in creamy garlic mushrooms and sweet sherry sauce topped with prawns. Wide range of tapas/raciones also available. Open: Monday to Saturday 11am till late.
between the two pedestrian tunnels leading onto Casemates square. Large, shady terraced seating and a menu made up from local and Spanish tapas. No need to order as service is “pincho” style with different varieties of tapas brought round the tables. Just choose what takes your fancy as they come round and what you eat will be added to your tab. Private functions catered for. Open: 9.30 - 5pm, Friday ‘till 1.30am. Closed Sundays l 14 on the Quay Unit 14, Queensway Quay Tel: 200 43731 The latest addition to the beautiful Queensway Quay marina, 14 on the Quay is open for lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails and dinner. The fine dining includes lobsters fresh from the tank, and the setting with its spectacular sunsets is perfect. Open: 12.30 - 11pm (last orders 10.45pm) Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay For a reservations Tel: 200 76501 E-mail reservations@caletahotel.gi Nunos Italian restaurant and terrace at the Caleta Hotel, overlooks the Mediterranean and is extremely popular with both hotel guests and the local market. Their new Spanish chef with three star Michellin experience will always be offering something interesting and different on the menu. Recognised for its eclectic interior, atmosphere and cuisine. Bread, pasta and desserts from the a la carte menu are all home-made and contribute to create a genuine and exciting dining experience. The Mexican Grill and Bar Unit 2B The Tower, Marina Bay Tel: 200 46668 The Mexican Grill and Bar serves all the favourite Mexican dishes from Nachos, Quesadillas and Chimichangas (rolled flour tortilla with spicy chicken, chilli beef or vegetables, deep fried, served with Mexican rice and salad and guacamole, salsa or sour cream), to Burritos (like Chimichangas but oven baked), El Gringos Chilli con Carne, or Cheese Holy Mole Enchiladas. Don’t forget Big Eat Homemade Burgers (5 to choose from) and from the grill barbecue combos, steaks and chicken. Salads and sides to order. Decorated is warm Mexican colours with comfortable seating in the no-smoking, air-conditioned interior or outside on the patio, great for a fun night out. Available for private bookings and children’s parties. Open: lunch and dinner 12 noon to late
Savannah Lounge 27 Heart Island, Ocean Village Tel: 200 66666 www.savanna.gi El Cottage Aimed at Gibraltar’s dining and night-life scene, 1Y & Z, Casemates Square. Tel: 200 41611 You’ll find this cosy tapas bar tucked in the shade Savannah has been created with fun and style in
Thyme Restaurant 5 Cornwall’s Lane. Tel: 200 49199 Email: thymegib@hotmail.com Long established modern restaurant and wine bar. Serves refreshing cocktails and a wide range of New World and European wines in a cool and lively atmosphere. Now serving informal lunches from a selection of their popular dishes, with choices of light salads, Italian pasta dishes or full three course meals. During the summer months contact Steve to design your own barbecue party menu. Formal dining on the first floor serving bistro cuisine with a menu serving dishes from across the world. Try one of these dishes from the wide selection: starters include Buffalo Mozzarella, Plum Tomato, Grilled Chilli & Landcress Salad, Basil Oil & Balsamic; Crab & Coriander Spring Roll, String Hopper Noodle Salad, Cucumber & Chilli Salsa; Steamed Mussels flavoured with ginger, Lemon Grass, Chilli & Coconut Milk; try main courses such as Grilled Salmon Darne, Crisp Pancetta, Thai Spiced Lentils, Cool Mint Yoghurt Dressing; Confit of Lamb Shoulder Shank, Warm Couscous Salad, Chickpea & Coriander Salsa, Onion & Sultana Chutney; or Open Ravioli of Slow Roast Squash, Basil & Ricotta, Roast Garlic Cream Sauce. Everything made on the premises using only the best, fresh ingredients. Two separate dining rooms - smoking and non smoking. Menu changed seasonally, daily specials. Open 7 days a week. Closed Saturday lunchtimes. The Waterfront Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 45666 The Waterfront is a very popular restaurant located right on the quayside at Queensway Quay Marina. There are different areas for drinks, the main restaurant (with mezanine level seating), a large covered terrace with chandeliers and a quayside open terrace. The food is served in hearty portions and includes starters of grilled goat’s cheese, crab with lemon mayonnaise, moules mariniere, and prawn and lobster salad. There is a barbecue in the summer month and grills which include 8oz fillet steaks, T-Bone, Rib-eye and Sirloin too. Favourites are pan fried chicken with wild mushrooms and Madeira sauce, beef and ale pie with a puff pastry lid, and whole lamb shoulder. Fish dishes from grilled swordfish to salmon and crayfish ravioli, and vegetarian dishes such as mushroom stroganoff, and vegetable wellington sit alongside the menu from the Orient which includes Madras chicken or vegetables, chicken tikka masala, and crispy duck with pancakes and cucumber. Open: 7 days a week from 9am to late. The Water Margin 5 Ocean Village Promenade, Tel: 200 73668 Gibraltar’s premier Chinese restaurant serving freshly cooked traditional Chinese dishes in the beautiful Ocean Village marina. Check out the outstanding aromatic crispy duck, the special duck slow cooked with honey and chilli or the freshly caught seabass delicately steamed with ginger and spring onion, popular with families looking for a relaxing night dining. No microwave oven or flavour enhancer (MSG) used in this establishment. Home delivery service. Open: 7 days a week, evening from 6pm, lunch from 12:30pm
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
as korma, tikka masala, bhuna, do piaza... in fact all you would expect from an Indian cuisine take-away. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food is available, as is outside catering for parties and meetings. Sunday specials include all Mumbai favourites such as Dosa and Choley Bhature. Open: 7 days a week 11am to 3pm, 6pm until late.
informaleating Amin's The Office 30 Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 40932 Sit down, informal and friendly restaurant. Amin is well known in Gibraltar for his Moroccan, Spanish and international cuisine. Open early for breakfast at 7am right through the day. Try the Moroccan soups, couscous, lamb tagines and kebabs. Open: 7.00am to midnight. Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627 Tasty Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include spinnach caneloni, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and peppered steak to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines. Open: Monday - Thursday 11am - 5pm, Friday chicken and leek to steak and kidney plus a 11am-3pm and 7pm-11pm, Saturday 11am-4.30pm whole range of tasty alternatives) plus all the old favourites; jacket spuds, burgers, hot dogs, fish and Garcia’s Take-Away chips, and daily specials. Ideal meeting place. Glacis Estate. Tel: 200 71992 Open: Monday - Saturday from 9am. Open 7 days a week this good take-away also does home deliveries of tasty fish and chips, hamburg- Just Desserts ers, kebabs, donner kebabs and much much more. 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014 Make sure you have their number handy for a night Bright and airy, recently redecorated cafe on the first in without the hassle of cooking! floor of the ICC. All home-made food including daily specials, vegetarian options and desserts. Eat in or Get Joost take-away. Try their daily roast with everything on 248 Main Street & Casemates. Tel/Fax: 200 76699 or their all-day breakfast. Non-smoking restaurant Smoothies are vitamin packed super-food and with terrace smoking area. Friendly, cheerful and increasingly popular for the health concious. fully licensed with sensible prices. Get Joost makes delicious fresh fruit juices and Open: 8am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. smoothies made from natural ingredients which are a meal in a cup. The top five smoothies they sell are London Bar/Bistro wild strawberry; breakie on the run; energy blast; 76-78 Governor's Street. Tel: 200 77172 raspberry ice; and tropical surrender. Tel/Fax: 200 Tucked away on Governor's Street just opposite 76699 for delivery. the Elliot Hotel, and hosted by Pili, this pub Open: 8-7 Monday -Friday, 10-7 Saturday, 10-6 serves modern bistro food in a traditional pub Sunday. environment. Try out some of the favourite dishes from the old Raffles menu. Get Stuffed Open: 9am to midnight every day. Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006 Take-away, sandwich bar and hot food. Serving all Maillo Take Away homemade sandwiches, salads, quiches, pasta, pies, Unit F5A 1st Floor ICC Tel: 54002598 muffins, plus hot and cold drinks and smoothies Homemade Spanish food is available at this cafe and and a different special every day. Outside catering take away in the International Commercial Centre for corporate parties. near Casemates. Everything from sandwiches and Open: 8am - 6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat. panini, to soups, fish, salads, and mixed platters. Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Just A Nibble 1st Flr International Commercial Ctr. Mumbai Curry House Tel: 200 78052 Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Full licensed cafe serving English breakfast, vast Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 50022/33 range of toasties, rolls, and other snacks. Meals Good Indian cuisine for eating in or taking away, include, Bob’s famous chicken curry/chilli con from snacks such as samosas, bhajias, and pakoras carne, and a great new range of pies (from Bob’s to lamb, chicken and fish dishes with sauces such
Munchies Cafe 24 Main Street. Tel: 200 43840 Fax: 200 42390 A great sandwich bar/cafe offering an unusual range of sandwiches on white or granary bread, plus salads, baguettes, soups, desserts, homemade ice-cream and hot/cold drinks. Business lunches, parties and kids parties also catered for (for party and office platters phone or fax order by 5.30pm day before - minium orders for delivery £12). Open: Monday - Friday 8.30-7, Sat 9 - 4, Closed Sun. Picadilly Gardens Rosia Road. Tel: 200 75758 Relaxed bar restaurant with cosy garden terrace just across the road from the cable car. English breakfast, churros, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or take away. Menu of the day only £6. Open: early to late. Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625 Converted coffee warehouse, ideal for coffee, homemade cakes/afternoon tea, plus menu including excellent salad bar, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Art exhibitions. Available for parties and functions in the evenings. Open: 9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri. 9am-3pm Saturdays Smith’s Fish & Chips 295 Main Street. Tel: 200 74254 Traditional British fish and chip shop with tables/seating available or take-away wrapped in newspaper. Menu: Cod, haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish pasties, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers. Open: 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. Breakfast from 8. Located: Main Street opposite the Convent. Solo Express Ground Floor, International Commercial Centre Solo Express, located right next to Pizza Hut, serves a good variety of salads and baguettes (white, brown & ciabatta) filled with a wide deli selection of things such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or hummous, avocado and roasted red pepper. The salads are fresh and tasty and include Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta, etc and are great
To advertise in The Gibraltar Magazine call
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wide selection of drinks, cool decor and good music. The venue hosts regular events with invited DJs and shows from abroad. Open: Sunday-Thurs middaymidnight, Friday and Saturday midday-5am.
value. Jacket potatoes, quiches, tea, coffee etc plus cakes (such as flapjacks and muffins) are also available throughout the day. Eat-in available. Soups in winter months. Free Wifi.
The Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Reputedly the oldest bar in Gib, this small cosy bar opens early for breakfast (English or toast & cereal). Lunch/evening menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Home of Med Golf and Tottenham Hotspur FC supporters club. Outside seating. Open: from 7am every day. Located: first right off Main St (walking from N to S).
The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321 Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken, kebabs and everything else you can think of! Open: Monday - Saturday.
bars&pubs All’s Well Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987 Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practice of locking the Gates to the city at night when the guard announced ‘All’s Well’ before handing the keys to the watch. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast served all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod and chips and steak & ale pie are complemented by a range of salads and filled jacket potatoes. Large terrace. Karaoke every Monday and Wednesday until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm. Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288 Jane is still there and still packed out with tourists and regulars! Word has it that she nearly managed to escape, but wasn’t allowed to. The famous fish and chips, the odd French speciality, there’s always something happening in the Cannon! Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral just off Main Street. Quiz night on Tuesdays, get there early as it is definitely the place to be on a normally quiet Gibraltar Tuesday. The Gibraltar Arms 184 Main St. Tel: 200 72133 www.gibraltararms.gi Good food served all day at this typical pub right on Main Street. Everything from all day breakfast to Irish fillet steak roll, burritos, and the popular fresh local mussels. Draught lager, bitter, cider and Murphys plus free WiFi. Terrace seating right on Main Street to watch the world go by. Open: from 8am (10am Sundays) until late. London Bar 76/78 Governor's Street Tel: 200 77172 Located between the Garrison Library and the Elliot Hotel, the London Bar offers British beers, dart board, pool table and Sky TV in a pub atmosphere. Pub grub such as breakfasts, pies and fishi and chips. Open: Mon-Fri 8am-midnight, Sat 9am-midnight, Sun 10am- midnight. Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 www.lordnelson.gi E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi Attractive bar/brasserie in historic Casemates building. Done out to represent Nelson’s ship with cloud and sky ceiling crossed with beams and sails. Spacious terrace Starter s& snacks include fresh local mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, Lordy’s potato skins, spicy chicken wings and
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calamares. Main courses cover a range from chilli con carne and chicken and mushroom pie, to crispy aromatic duck burrito and British fish and chips. Try one of the salads or Nelson’s platters. Jacket potatoes, burgers and children’s menu. Credit cards accepted. Live music Venue of the Year, with live music on stage every night. Free Wifi. Open: from 10am till very late. O’Reilly’s Leisure Island, Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888 Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef and Guinness ale pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all. Pickwicks Governor’s Parade. Tel: 200 76488 Run by well-known friendly face, Mandy, this small pub with a large terrace is situated in Governor’s Parade away from the traffic and safe for all the family. Good food available including the best freshly made sandwiches and jacket potatoes, salads and burgers. Open: Mon - Fri from 9.30am Location: turn off Main St at Marks & Spencer, go up steps to Governor’s Parade (opposite the Elliot Hotel). The Pig and Whistle Unit 18, Watergardens. Tel: 200 76167 A comfortable pleasant little pub with pool table and terrace on the quayside. Big screen television for all sporting events. Open: 10-midnight (Fri-Sat 11-1am) Royal Calpe 176 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75890 Email: royalcalpe@gibtelecom.net Named after Gibraltar’s Royal Calpe Hunt, the pub is situated opposite the Cathedral on Main Street. It boasts Gibraltar’s only beer garden and conservatory for a relaxing atmosphere al fresco to get away from it all or for that private function and barbecues in the summer. Good food from traditional pub fare to salads is available throughout the day. Wide selection of draught beer and cider. Savannah Lounge 27 Heart Island, Ocean Village Tel: 200 66666 Aimed at Gibraltar’s dining and night-life scene, Savannah has been created with fun and style in mind. Offering contemporary European cuisine a
Trafalgar Sports Bar 1A Rosia Road Tel: 200 45370 Situated just past the south end of Main Street through Southport Gates, the Trafalgar Sports Bar offers a traditional British pub environment enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Serving a hot buffet Monday to Saturday and a roast carvery on Sundays they also serve many other dishes such as spare ribs, currys or lasagna. The establishment also has three large 62” screens where they cover all major sporting events. Open: 9am-1am Monday to Saturday, Sunday 9am-midnight The Three Owls Irish Town The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers. Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen TV, pool table, poker machines, games machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ — 2 match pool tables, poker machines, darts board, games machine, bar — open from 1pm daily. Second Floor ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, games machine, card table, bar — open from 5pm daily. The Three Roses Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 51614 Now under the management of Peter and Ian, previously of the Coach & Horses, this bar is fully air-conditioned with 3 plasma TVs and pool table. Happy hours Mon-Fri 5-6pm. Home of the Esteporkers Golf Society. Open: 7 days. Mon-Sat from 11am, Sun from midday. Wembley Bar 10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 200 78004 Popular bar for hot and cold bar snacks, function room, in south district. Fridays 10am for breakfast. Air conditioned. The home of the Real Madrid Supporter’s Club. Open: 11am - midnight Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 1am Friday, 11am - 1am Saturdays.
acrosstheborder The Dog & Duck Next to Plaza de Constitucion, La Linea Tel: 00 34 956173453 Little pub on the square serving British beers at great prices. Pleasant sun terrace and all live sporting events shown. Open: 3pm-late Mon - Fri, 1pm - late Sat & Sun. Located: 400m straight across from frontier (next to Taste Indian Restaurant).
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
food & drink
Aze behind the bar at The Trafalgar
spaciousness means that a broad spectrum of customers can find their own corner. The layout combines open areas with semi-private sections where groups of friends can gather around a big table and feel they have their own place. Aze told me that when the new enlarged bar opened over eight years ago it was the first dedicated sports bar in Gibraltar, “and it’s still the most popular,” he added in all seriousness. A former footballer where he grew up, in Gillingham, Kent, Aze showed me the sporting spectator facilities in the pub. There are no less than nine TV screens, of which three are full HD 62-inch plasma models; so you can watch a match from wherever you are in the pub. “We show all the football matches, boxing, rugby, all sorts of sports;” Aze told me, “and we can show four live games simultaneously.” There are also two poker machines and a pool table for those of us who like to play as well as watch games, whilst the sporting theme is enhanced by a variety of appropriate photos around the walls, but without going to excess. The Trafalgar is famous for more than all that, believe it or not. Superbly produced by longestablished cook Sally, the celebrated Sunday roast carvery at £6.95 draws in plenty of people from all around, whilst the week from Monday to Friday sees the turn of the bar’s help-yourself buffet, with such favourites as chicken tikka, curries, jacket potatoes, lasagne, assorted rices and vegetables; all for the same price of £6.95 — which even includes a dessert. Amongst the popularity of the sports and the food, we mustn’t forget that this is a pub as well, so it has a choice of drinks such as Becks, Bass, Stella, Magnus cider, San Miguel and Caffreys. As an indication of prices, Caffreys is just £2.50 a pint. As mentioned at the start, on National Day, 10th September, there will two special eat-allyou-want buffets: the breakfast buffet will be available from 9am to 11am, for £6.50; then from 11am to 4pm the hot buffet will be laid out (with desserts as well) and all for £7.95. Please note that reservations are essential for the buffets on National Day, one of the busiest days of the year. Drop into the pub or book by phone on the numbers below. When I asked Aze (it’s an anglicism of the name ‘Jesus’) if he had a happy hour, he replied, “we’re one of the cheapest bars in Gibraltar for beer — so it’s always happy here!” The happy atmosphere also attracts people who want to have a private party or a wedding reception, when they can hire all or part of the pub, including the terrace at the front as soon as the new roundabout is finished. n Located beneath the Queen’s Hotel and close to the Cable Car, the Trafalgar Sports Bar is open every day from 9am to 1am, with the food served port of call, the nearest pub to the RN docks, but noon to 4pm every day. The numbers for enquiries also because our fame has spread from ship to about parties (or anything else) are 20045370 and ship so they know about us before they even 0034 647979849; or you can email Aze on trafbar@ gibtelecom.net. reach Gibraltar.”
a good sport “
The Trafalgar is the main pub for Liverpool and Barça fans,” said owner-landlord Aze Walker; “and we’ve got great buffets for National Day Aze, son of the legendary Roy’s Cod Plaice owner Roy Walker, was telling me about the mixed clientele at his spacious bar opposite the historic Trafalgar Cemetery, but he emphasised that above all it is the spiritual home of Liverpool and Barcelona supporters in Gibraltar. “But it’s always a friendly atmosphere, so it attracts a good mix of people. Myself, for instance, I’m an Arsenal fan, but I sort of get on with the main teams’ supporters,” he said with a laugh. I also learnt that the Trafalgar is very popular with the Royal Navy, whether visiting or based here. “They initially come because it’s the first
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
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The Trafalgar Sports Bar is one of the bigger pubs on the Rock, having been formed when Aze’s father bought the Trafalgar Tavern and the adjacent Harry’s Tavern. He knocked the two into one and re-opened in April 2001. The work involved changing and renovating everything, including the cutlery, crockery and the tables and chairs. The result is the type of big bar that is to be found in every town in Britain, whose
“
We’re one of the cheapest bars in Gibraltar for beer — so it’s always happy here!
”
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A ro u n d To w n .. .
a light-he arte d look at Gibralta r soc iety
There is so much going on in September it’s hard to know where to start. We have all the National Week celebrations to look forward to (a fabulous excuse for a holiday!) including a Rock Concert and kid’s fancy dress parade. There’s the dog show weekend, two plays, a band concert, the Red Arrows display (cor!), the more low-tech cardboard boat race at Ocean Village, and, of course, the Beer Festival. It seems there just won’t be a dull moment this month. It is also a month when we bid farewell to our students (well done on your excellent A Level results) and wish them the best for their studies in the UK. And it’s officially the end of summer hours. Where did the summer go?
Drinks at the Marina
Many Happy Returns We start this month with some happy birthday wishes. Firstly to Janette Macdonald on 7th, Jane Hart of Denville Designs on 23rd, Gibraltar Radio’s Michelle Rugeroni who reaches the big 40oohh on 29th as does Lucy Felipes from Anglo Hispano on 11th September. No Man’s Land’s Corey Alman also celebrates his birthday this month. Little Islwyn will be 6 on 7th September and a hearty congratulations to Noelle Aldorino who gets the Key to the Door on her 21st birthday (16th September). Congratulations Congratulations also to Jackie and Jake who get married on 14th September, and to Lisanne from Radio Gibraltar’s Sunday Breakfast show and Nicholas Piñero who tied the knot at a beautiful ceremony in the King’s Chapel, many congrats to them! And best wishes to Stuart and Joanna Hill on the birth of their little baby boy, to be named Jack Owen. Congratulations of a different sort to Pili (well known from her Raffles days) who has taken over at the London Bar/Bistro and is planning some exciting changes. Best Wishes Get well soon to Chris Johnson, who has been a very poorly bunny recently. Last we heard he was making a good recovery at home, with Jane playing Matron... ew-errr! Distracted Annette and Luis of Cafe Rojo are back into full swing after
Claire’s birthday at Biancas
Guy feeling happy
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Edward
Mr Lockyer with a feathered friend GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2007 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
with a friend
Summer barbecue at Savannah
Summer sports tennis training, age 5s having fantastic time! Ella, Louis, Sarah, Natasha and Carla
their holiday, though Annette seems a little forgetful recently (perhaps it’s her new house that’s distracting her?). She recently spent several hours looking for her sunglasses only to find they were right there on top of her head! National Day Visit Old friends of Gibraltar Terri and Derek Booth arrive in Gibraltar on 3rd September, the excuse being for Derek to be one of the judges for the “My Gibraltar” photographic competition... but we all really know they just love our National Day. This time Derek will be accompanied by his daughter and her hubby, Karen and Mick, and granddaughter Katie (10) who fell in love with Gib on her first ever visit two years ago. Welcome snapper! Getting Crafty Anyone who’s interested in arts and crafts, should pop along to Casemates to see what Deborah Lawson’s students have been up to. They’ll be holding an exhibition of their works from 16th of this month at the Arts & Crafts Centre (above Cafe Solo). Definitely worth a look to see just what a talented lot they are.
Polly and Daisy
Heat Waves August seems to bring this part of the world to a crawl, so it’s good to see there were people spending time planning to get out there and do something exciting. Sig Haveland and Julian Bellido were selected earlier this year to participate in an attempt to break the world record for rowing the Atlantic as part of a team of 14. They’ll be setting off in January and preparations are well underway. We’ll give you more information on how they’re getting on very soon! Well that’s it for this month, get out there and support all the great events happening in September. If you are still looking for something to do? Thrifty Malone will be playing live at the Royal Calpe, Main Street from 6pm on Friday 11th September, and the Hamburger Thieves will be performing live with Forward Slash on Saturday, 19th at 10pm at the Rock on the Rock Club. Enjoy. Radio Gibraltar girls enjoying a night out!
Summer party GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2007 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Darrell of Gibtelecom
Mick of Anything Goes
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clubs&activities Arts & Crafts The Arts Centre, Prince Edward’s Rd. Art classes for children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults (Mon - Tues 6.30pm-8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm-9pm). Tel: 200 79788. The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11am - 2pm. Arts & Crafts Gallery (next door) opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer) -6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm. The Poetry Society meets on 20th of each month. Tel: Audrey Batty on 200 44355 . Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues. The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet John Mackintosh Hall Mondays. Bank holidays changed to Thursday same week. 7pm-11pm All welcome. Tel: 200 73660 or 200 75995. The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm. Dance Salsa Gibraltar Salsa classes held Tuesdays 8.30-10pm at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. £5 per lesson (all profits going to the charity Help Us To Help Them). Contact: Mike 54472000 Email: info@salsagibraltar.com website: www.salsagibraltar.com Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm (beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome. Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday. The DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, beginners 7.30pm. Tel: 200 78282 or e-mail manvio@gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome. Senior Citizens Teatime Dances at The Youth Centre, Line Wall Rd on Mondays 2 - 5.30pm. All senior citizens welcome for coffee, tea and biscuits. Entrance free. Classical Ballet classes for children 4+, Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance, 3rd floor, Methodist Church, 297/299 Main St. Classes Weds & Fri from 6pm at Chiltern Court (4Cs). Tel: 58111000. Hip Hop classes for adults Mondays 6.15pm to 7.15pm, Hip Hop classes for boys and girls Tuesdays 4.15pm to 5.15 - Urban Dance, Jumpers Dance Studio The Gibraltar Pointes Dance School - R.A.D ballet, I.S.T.D modern and tap, jazz and contempory dance. Unit 19F Europa Business Centre. Contact Cheryll or Sabina at Studio: 200 45145, Home: 200 51187/ 200 46400. History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844. The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles. Members/vehicles meet 1st Sunday of month, Morrison’s car park from 10am. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643. Music The Gibraltar Music Centre Trust Complete spectrum of instrument learning strings drums etc. Theory lessons- Five days a week 4pm-9pm. Tel: 200 75558 for details. The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Monday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm. New singers of all ages welcome. Tel: Lili 200 40035, 54006727 St Andrew ’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, musical workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc. Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Calpe Ramblers This group walks on last Sunday each month, except July and August. Meeting place is the Spanish side of the frontier 8am just to the right of and opposite the Aduana vehicle exit. For any information contact co-ordinators Ray Murphy 200 71956 or John Murphy 200 74645. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an excit-
Don’t be bored... do something fun! ing self-development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road, Gibraltar Tel: 200 59818 Reg. Charity No: 61 Quizzes Cannon Bar quizzes are held on Tuesdays starting with a warm up, then two other quizzes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm, all welcome and prizes are given. Free entrance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapas served after the quiz. The Tunnel in Casemates has a pub quiz and entertainment on Sunday nights. Social Clubs Scots on the Rock: Any Scots visiting the Rock can contact Charles Polson (Tel: 200 78142) for assistance or information. Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm. Examining Council, 3rd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm. Special Interest Clubs & Societies Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, John Mac Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome. Gibraltar Philosophical Society devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Contact 54008426 (after 6pm) or email gibphilosophy@live.co.uk for further information. The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at around 8pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc. Harley Davidson Owners’ Club www. hdcgib.com UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108. Sports Supporters Clubs The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check the game is televised. Great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For info call Mario on 56280000. Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club meet on match days at the Casino Calpe (Ground Floor). Gooners of all ages welcome. Tel: Bill 54010681 or Dion 56619000. Website: www. clubwebsite.co.uk/ArsenalGibraltarSC/. Gibraltar Hammers meet on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or e-mail gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association club for beginners, juniors and squad at Bayside School in evenings. Tel: 200 Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661. Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium. Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to IBA & EBA) has leagues and training for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 200 44045 or Linda 200 74753. Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727 or Kirsty (minis) 200 49441.
Billiards & Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) round leagues and competitions at various venues. New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 200 72142 or Peter 200 77307. Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory (200 75513 w, 200 42788 h). Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000. Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket Association (member ICC) runs leagues/competitions at Europa Point/Victoria Stadium. Junior/senior training. Tel: Tom 200 79461 or Adrian 200 44281. Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359. Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF) mens/ladies/youth leagues/competitions.Tel: Darren 54027171 “Secretary”, Dyson “Youth Rep” 54024149, Justin “President” 54022622 Email: info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association - leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 200 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 200 41515, Junior Tel: Richard 58654000, Women’s Tel: Brian 200 52299. Recreational football for over 35s Tel: Richard 200 70320. Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly. Tel: 200 79575 for tournament venues/dates. Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 200 78844. Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/ training for adults and juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730. Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 200 73116 or Peter 200 73225. Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rd). Tel: Tony 200 79855 or club 200 47259. Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradings and demos at Karate Clubhouse, 41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 200 48908. Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211. Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior / junior leagues. Tel: Moira 200 41795 or Suzette 200 41874. Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: 200 70929. Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season. Tel: Linda 200 74753. Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards weekday evenings. Tel: Christine 200 74661 or 54015533. Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct - April. Tel: James 200 72185 Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 200 48847. Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (members FIPS-M & CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs participating. Tel: Mario 200 72622 or Charlie 200 74337. Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation (over 14s). Rifle, Europa Point range (Joe 200 74973); clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Fidel 200 71990). Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey training). Tel: Eric 200 70710 (after 5). Snorkelling &
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Spear Fishing: Over 14s for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishing. Tel: Joseph 200 75020. Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/ coaching. Tel: 200 44922 or 200 73260. Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 200 44606, Noah’s Dive Club Tel: Leslie 200 79601, 888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 200 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available. Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 7-8.45am, 12- 4pm, 8- 9pm. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo (Rebecca 200 72869). Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (members ITTA) training / playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Lizanne 200 45071/54020477 or Eugene 58014000. Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: 200 Mari 44142. Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 200 77035. Ten-Pin Bowling: Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Contact Charly on 56014000 or Paul on 54029749. Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (members ITU) Chris 200 75857 or Harvey 200 55847. Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W & EVF) training, leagues, competitions for juniors/seniors. Tony 200 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000. Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome. Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street E-mail: gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 200 42237 www. geocities.com/gibdrama Trafalgar Theatre Group meet 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome. Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk Clubs, Associations, should submit details to The Gibraltar Magazine gibmag@gibraltar.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
support
sports
Support Groups/ Associations Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues and Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774. A Step Forward support group for single, separated, divorced or widowed people. Meet 8pm Mondays at St Andrew’s Church. Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 7pm - 11pm. Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@ cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge. Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial. COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease day-to-day challenges of individuals, families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meetings are held alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For more details Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465. Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August. Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8 Serfaty’s Passage Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www.gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717. Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service). Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817. Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group of those with compulsive overeating problem. Tel: helpline for details of meetings 200 42581. Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren. Tel: Richard 200 46536, Jason 200 76618, Dominic 54019602. Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Weekly Meetings Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623. SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and exService personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. E-mail olivero@sapphirenet.gi With Dignity Gibraltar support group for separated, divorced, widowed or unattached people. Meetings Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: Flor 54007181 or Marie 200 79957. Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hours).
Good luck to the Gibraltar Taekwondo Association who will be participating at the Taekwondo Open Championships in Barnsley, UK on Sunday 6th September 2009
Childline Treasure Hunt The Childline Treasure Hunt will take place on Friday 25th September, leaving O’Reilly’s Irish Bar at Ocean Village at 7.30pm and finishing there with a superb buffet. This year’s theme is “Irish” (hence O’Reillys) and all teams should wear green to gain additional points, with extra points to any team member who come along as a leprechaun, shamrock etc! There must be no more than four in a team at a cost of £20 per person and this includes the buffet. Each team visits 9 different bars after working out where to go and picking up clues plus an individual letter of the alphabet, which will eventually make up the word Childline. To pick up this letter from the bars, at least one member must purchase a drink there but we feel sure this won’t be a problem! Quiz Master once again is Colin McHard and there will be a raffle on the night. All proceeds to Childline Gibraltar. A very enjoyable night. Call 54020844 or e-mail dstimson@gibtelecom.net for details.
Religious Services Baha’i Faith Tel: 200 73287 www.gibtel. com/bahai email:bahai@gibraltar.gi Bethel Christian Fellowship Tel: 200 52002. Queensway. Sunday service 11am. Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Tel: 200 78377. Sung Eucharist, Sunday 10.30am. Sunday School. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Suite 21a Don House, 30-38 Main Street. Tel: 200 50433. Sundays 10am. Church of Scotland St Andrew’s, Governor’s Pde. Tel: 200 77040. Worship
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009
Volker Stevin Renew Under 17s Support Rugby never stops, as those now enthralled in the summer hemisphere game, or Dragons or children just getting involved in summer sports can testify. Volker Stevin Gibraltar, have shown their renewed commitment to the Gibraltar Dragons junior rugby club with a cheque presentation last month for the under 17s team. Due to the help of Volker Stevin and everyone else who helps local rugby, the sport is going from strength to strength.
ROCK GOLF NEWS Rock Golf Society have a fun tournament arranged at Casares Costa Golf for this month. Three clubs and a putter are all you’ll need on this excellent 9 hole course with a shotgun start playing the course twice, followed by an excellent three course meal. Tee-off is at 8.30am on 26th September, so if you’re interested in becoming a member of Rock Golf, please contact rockgolf@ gmail.com for further details. Happy golfing!
MED GOLF NEWS The Halsbury Travel Trophy the latest Med Golf competition took place at the super Estepona Golf Club. It was a successful day for Peter Warren who won the Halsbury Travel Trophy and pro shop voucher (30 euros) with 43 points. This was also the final round of the 2008 – 2009 Player of the Year campaign, sponsored by Estepona Golf. The top ten qualified for the Med Golf Masters at Valderrama. 1 Peter Warren, 2 Alan Sene, 3 Simon Young, 4 Denny To, 5 Tim Rickson, 6 David Liu, 7 Douglas Casciaro, 8 Joe Sanchez, 9 George Desoisa 10 Nicky Sanchez. For full schedule visit www.teetimespain.com or contact Spain 639 741 886 e-mail jg@medgolf.gi & Sunday School 10.30am. Bible Study Tues 7.30pm. Evangelical Bretheren Assembly, Queensway Quay. Sun 11am, Tues Bible Study 6pm, Thurs Prayer Meeting 6pm. Hindu Engineer’s Lane Tel: 200 42515. Jehovah’s Witness 6 Europort Avenue Tel: 200 50186. Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 200 72606. Methodist 297 Main St Tel/Fax 200 40870 email minister@methodist.org.gi Minister: Revd Fidel Patron. Sunday 11am Morning Worship, 8pm Evening Service. Prayer meetings Monday+ Wednesday to Friday
7pm and Tuesdays 8pm. Communion celebrated on 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings of the month, and other special occasions. Alpha Course: held Thursdays 8pm. House Groups meet for Christian fellowship, prayer and study on a regular basis Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Sunday School meets Sunday mornings alongside morning worship. Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned, 215 Main St Tel: 200 76688. The Cityline Church 13 Castle St Tel: 200 75755 email: citylinegib@yahoo. com. Meet: Tues 8pm, Sundays 11am.
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Pure Lighting & Electrical Trafalgar Insurance Estate Agents • Lettings • Property Consultants 1/9 Montagu Place The Tower, Marina Bay Heights• Property Management ValuationsOcean • Surveys Tel: 200 44628
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • AUGUST 2009 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER
property directory commercialinteriors
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Bridge Solutions PO Box 598 Tel: 57185000 Fax: 200 77041
Anything Goes furniture 1/5 Hospital Steps Tel: 200 45192 Email: info@any-thinggoes.com D&H Ceramics 60 Devil’s Tower Road Tel: 200 70100 Email: jratcliffe@gibtelecom.net
Space Interiors 6 Ellesmere House 29 City Mill Lane Tel: 200 73992 www.spaceinteriors.gi
Gibraltar Art Gallery 14 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 73898 Email: artgallery@gibtelecom.net Irish Town Antiques Irish Town Tel: 200 70411
Portman Ltd General Suppliers
Hire & Sale of Portable Cabin Units (Office, Toilet Units etc)
Seekers Ltd Property Solutions 10 Engineer Lane Tel: 200 44955 info@seekerspropertysolutions.com www.furnituresolutions.gi
Unit F17 Europa Business Centre PO Box 476, Gibraltar Tel: 200 73119 Fax: 200 45008 E-mail: portman@gibtelecom.net
• General Surfacing • Building • Building Renovations • Demolition • Painting & Decorating • Roadworks • Civil Engineering • Asphalt/Aggregate supplier • Comprehensive Plant Holding For prompt & competitively priced tenders contact AMCO P.O. Box 382 Tel: 200 40840 Fax: 200 40841
Bring your own fabric or choose from our range The Fashion House Ltd 85 Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 52938 E-mail: thefashionhouse@gibtelecom.net Fax: 200 52988
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Repairs, Reconditioning, Exchange or Brand New AUTOELECTRICAL SERVICES Unit 25 Rear of Block 5, Watergardens.
wastemanagement Environment and Waste Management Service E.W.M.S. Governor’s Cottage Europa Advance Road Gibraltar Tel: 200 44220 Fax: 200 44221 E-mail: ewmsgib@gibtelecom.net
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AUGUST 20092009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER
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information
A
dmission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites within the Park - St. Michael’s Cave, Monkey’s Den, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre, ‘A City Under Siege’ Exhibition and Moorish Castle). (Facilities closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.) Adults £7/ Children 5-12 years: £4, Children age 4 and under free, vehicles £1.50. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times and it’s advisable to take a Rock Tour by taxi/mini bus. The Natural History & Heritage Park is also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm).
T
he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered to be of great conservational value. It’s a perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa, but botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants, including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna is found at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate. St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall. A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used. A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide. The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary Macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it! The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to any man who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. It was a Sgt. Major Ince who suggested tunnelling and there are now over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside the tunnels.
of the earliest British building on the Rock. Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726. The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad (“Gibraltar” is a corruption of the Arabic words “Jebel Tarik” - Tarik’s mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu’l Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain. Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain. Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices. Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are currently being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking. Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free of charge with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction). Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. A narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of underground tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Once housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a
unique sandwich of armour plate and teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’. TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel. 200 44460, P. Hodkinson Tel. 200 43910. Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Closed 1pm - 2pm. Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Road, open 9am - 7pm daily (admission free).
Business Information
Gibraltar Financial Services Commission ......Tel: 200 40283/4 website: www.fsc.gi Chamber of Commerce.......Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business.Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry...............Tel: 200 78193
Useful Numbers
Airport (general info.)..........Tel: 200 73026 Hospital, St Bernards..........Tel: 200 79700 Weather information.................Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update.......Tel: 200 42777
General Information
Gibraltar Museum.............Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane Open 10am - 6pm (Sat. 10am - 2pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Special exhibitions also held at museum premises in Casemates gallery. Registry Office...................Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours of arrival. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon. Rock Tours by Taxi............Tel: 200 70052 As well as offering normal fares, Gibraltar
Emergency Services Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance.......................Tel: 190 Police...............................Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number...............Tel: 112
The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock’s many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays information on the development of Gibraltar’s military defences through the ages. A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of the civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one
History Alive
Every Saturday morning the Rock’s past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a “Ceremony of the Keys” and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.
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Gibraltar Bus Company Routes
taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock’s major features in a short time. Tourist Board.....................Tel: 200 74950 Gibraltar Tourist Board, Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square, Gibraltar. UK Tel: 0207 836 0777 giblondon@aol.com John Mackintosh Hall.......Tel: 200 75669 Centre of Gib’s cultural life, includes a cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends. Bicycle Racks Bicycle parking is provided at the following locations: Europort Road, Casemates Tunnel, Land Port Ditch, Fish Market Road, Commonwealth Car Park, Reclamation Road (by English Steps) + Line Wall Road.
Public Holidays 2009
New Year’s Day 1 January Commonwealth Day 9 March Good Friday 10 April Easter Monday 13 April May Day 4 May Spring Bank Holiday 25 May Queen’s Birthday 15 June Late Summer Bank Holiday 31 August Gibraltar National Day 10 September Christmas Day 25 December Boxing Day 26 December Spain Fixed: New Year’s Day 1 January, Epiphany 6 January, St Joseph’s Day 19 March, Labour Day 1 May, St John 24 June, St James 25 July, Assumption Day 15 August, National Day 12 October, All Saints 1 November, Immaculate Conception 8 December, Christmas 25 December Moveable: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Corpus Christi Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station..........Tel: 200 75728 Police...............................Tel: 200 72500 Gibraltar Services Police: Emergency Nos: ....Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598
The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, 1st Floor 113 Main Street, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 77748
Natural History & Heritage Park
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2009 July 2004
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