Gibraltar Insight™ June 2021

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JUNE ISSUE 62

Contents

16

24 38

Community Insight

Features

8 MAYOR’S AWARDS

24 DEAN CHIPOLINA: WORLD-CLASS LOCAL FREEDIVER

9 HELLO HELLO HELLO

28 WOMEN’S FUTSAL 32 DR ERIC SHAW

Business Insight 11 OCEAN VILLAGE DONATION

36 GIBRALTAR DRAMA FESTIVAL 38 CIRCLE OF LIFE FOR JONATHAN LUTWYCHE 45 PHOTOS FROM THE INSIGHT VAULT 52 MEN’S HEALTH WEEK

Football Insight 27 LYNX FC: SEASON’S END

Forces Insight 16 BASE MARKS PRIDE MONTH

59 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS: A POWERFUL PATH TO FULFILLMEN

Regular Features 15 TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT: REINVENTING HOW CARS SOUND 19 HISTORY: STAND BY YOUR BEDS PART 2 26 SPORTS INSIGHT: EURO 2020

KEY TRAINING

34 TAGORE GROUP COMPETITION

WARRANT PRESENTATION

40 MOTORING INSIGHT: ACROSS THE DIVIDE 42 ADOPT DON’T SHOP 43 A VET’S INSIGHT: SUMMER IS UPON US 47 PACS 48 HEALTH: GET SET FOR SUMMER 57 JUST MARRIED ON THE ROCK 58 HOROSCOPES 62 LIGHT & POWER CROSSWORD

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Gibraltar Insight Deputy Editor: Jean King

Gibraltar Insight - the Rock’s longest running magazine.

Accounts & Administration: Rosemary Salah-El-Din

Published by GBZ Media Ltd, WorkLab, Eurotowers Complex, WestOne, Europort Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA

Creative Director: Ben Lewis Executive Editor: Ross Ford For advertising & general queries, contact: +350 22251308

Printed by Roca Graphics Limited, 21 Tuckey’s Lane, Gibraltar GX11 1AA

Email: hello@gibraltarinsight.com

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

Web: www.gibraltarinsight.com

The names Gibraltar Insight, Bermuda Insight, Mum On The Rock, SYOG, Superyacht Owners’ Guide & GBZ Media are marks of GBZ Media (Overseas) Limited, used under exclusive licence. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Socials: @GBZinsight @MumOnTheRockGBZ @BermudaInsight @SYOGuide @GBZmedia

Gibraltar Insight places great importance on the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views expressed by contributors and/or correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Neither Gibraltar Insight nor GBZ Media Limited is responsible for any claims made, or material(s) used, in advertisements.

For permission to copy cuttings for internal or client use, contact NLA - nlamediaaccess.com or +441892 525273.

Photo: Elliott Howe

MEDIA LIMITED

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COMMUNITY INSIGHT THE ANNUAL MAYOR’S AWARDS CEREMONIES WERE HELD AT THE MAYOR’S PARLOUR ON 18TH AND 19TH MAY 2021.

FOLLOWING NOMINATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ENDORSED BY THE AWARDS COMMITTEE, HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR MR JOHN GONÇALVES MBE GMD, CONFERRED THE MAYOR’S AWARD AS FOLLOWS

For being an ambassador to Gibraltar in the football industry, through the media, overseas university lectures and other engagements, whilst also engaging in numerous charitable activities.

R: Yasmine Ben Youssef

For his support of Dyslexia sufferers and his commitment to the Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group, tirelessly organising self-help groups, conferences and talks.

L: Kenneth Asquez

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: YASMINE BEN YOUSSEF

R: Martin Lennane

For her efforts in assisting the more vulnerable members of the Moroccan community, in so doing helping them integrate into the wider Gibraltarian community.

L: Stuart Byrne

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: KENNETH ASQUEZ

For his many years’ commitment to charitable activities which he has selflessly organised, raising substantial amounts of money for innumerable worthy causes.

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: IAN EUGENE HOWES

For his instrumental and vital work, on a voluntary basis, in helping steer the huge growth of Cancer Relief Gibraltar, as well as his other charitable undertakings.

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: MARTIN LENNANE

For his tireless commitment to Gibraltar’s heritage, botany, and the Gibraltar Photographic Society.

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: LESLIE LINARES

L: Leslie Linares

For his extraordinary effort in the repatriation of Gibraltarians stranded in Morocco during the first Covid 19 lockdown in 2020, and his founding of the Gibraltar Morocco Business Association.

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: STEVEN MARIN

For ongoing initiatives in raising awareness of Mental Health in the community as well as the considerable assistance offered to users.

R: Clive Reed on behalf of Steven Marin

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: STUART BYRNE

L: Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society

For her exemplary dedication and unwavering commitment to Cancer Relief for over 28 years, on a voluntary basis and still going strong at the age of 80!

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: JACQUELINE RAMAGGE

For his inspirational and management impact on Gibraltar’s National Football Team since being appointed Team Manager, inspiring our football ‘internationals’ to achieve what no one thought possible and lifting Gibraltar’s community spirit to new heights.

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: JULIO RIBAS

R: Jacqueline Ramagge

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: THE GIBRALTAR MENTAL WELFARE SOCIETY

For his enduring and outstanding commitment to youth, charity and community service on a voluntary basis and his endeavour in producing the Gibraltar International Dance Festival, now in its 19th year.

R: Alfred Rumbo

There were three additional special awards, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely:

L: Julio Ribas

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: AYELET MAMO SHAY

R: GHA / ERS / THe Care Agency

For her enterprise in creating opportunities between Gibraltar and Israel, as well as her organisation of cultural events to further enrich Gibraltar’s community.

L: Ayelet Mamo Shay

MAYOR’S AWARD TO: ALFRED RUMBO

For the supreme and relentless effort, and personal sacrifices made, in sustaining Gibraltar’s health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPECIAL AWARD TO THE GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY – GHA

For the selfless commitment shown in the care of the most elderly and vulnerable citizens of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPECIAL AWARD TO ELDERLY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES – ERS

For its heroic support to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPECIAL AWARD TO THE CARE AGENCY 8

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COMMUNITY INSIGHT

MORE COMMONWEALTH TIES FOR UNI

THE UNIVERSITY OF GIBRALTAR’S VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR CATHERINE BACHLEDA HAS BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES (ACU)’S EUROPE REGIONAL COMMITTEE. Regional Committees aim to strengthen the ACU’s work in supporting and developing the value of regional and international collaborations across the Commonwealth, led by regional concerns but feeding into the international nature of the network.

The Committees represent ACU members across the Commonwealth in Europe; East & Southern Africa; West Africa; East Asia and South Asia.

Whilst not a Commonwealth Nation, the Europe Committee agreed at its last meeting that as an educational affiliate organisation of the ACU, and a key European territory, the University of Gibraltar be invited to join the Committee.

Speaking of the invitation, Professor Bachleda said, “I am delighted to have been invited to join the ACU’s Europe Regional Committee. I believe that Higher Education has the power to transform and improve lives and I am excited to collaborate with partner institutions, expand the University’s network and work towards achieving the ACU’s strategic aims.”

Welcoming the news, Minister for the University, John Cortes said, “This invitation to the ACU’s Regional Committee further cements Gibraltar’s links to the Commonwealth. Through this network, Gibraltar’s own University will contribute to the international higher education landscape as well as have the opportunity to form lasting relationships with member institutions.”

The ACU is an organisation where international collaboration underpins everything that it does and these Regional Committees provide a platform through which to channel the collective power of its members. The organisation is guided by a belief that working together is the best way to advance knowledge, promote understanding, and improve lives.

RGP SCHOOLS OUTREACH A TEAM OF POLICE OFFICERS VISITED STAFF AT ST PAUL’S SCHOOL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP PROTECT VULNERABLE CHILDREN. The officers spoke to 25 teachers during a 30-minute presentation to give them an insight into how departments such as the Safeguarding Unit and Designated Risk Management Team help protect youngsters.

The event was organised by the Neighbourhood Policing Unit to help build a closer relationship between the RGP and teachers, and, to encourage staff to contact the police if they have concerns about a child’s welfare.

Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Calum Bruce said, “The unique position teachers hold in the community means that they are very often the first to notice problems that affect the youngest and most vulnerable

in our community. Their insight into behavioural changes in the youngsters could lead to early intervention and if necessary, actions at the right level and by the right professionals.

“Teachers currently have an established reporting line for these concerns through their schools and the Department of Education. But by making them aware of what to look out for and how and to whom that information could be significant, will give them assurances that their professional concerns will be handled in the right context.”

He added that officers will be visiting more schools in the near future to give the same talk to more teachers.

It’s not every day you get to spend your 4th birthday at the police station. But that’s what happened today after pintsized police fan Connor Chidgey joined our Neighbourhood Police Team to help celebrate his special occasion, along with sister Miah. The youngster was lucky enough to get a tour of the police Traffic Compound and the numerous police vehicles the force uses.

An RGP spokesperson said, “Despite being a little overwhelmed by the choice of police vehicles, he eventually stopped moving long enough for PC Julian Cruz and PC Tanya Reddy to present him with an RGP hat, to go with his already made to measure uniform!

“We wish Connor a very happy Birthday from everyone at the Royal Gibraltar Police.”

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BUSINESS INSIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOVEREIGN GROUP

a proper gibraltar welcome for eastern airways EASTERN AIRWAYS OPERATED THEIR FIRST SERVICE FROM BIRMINGHAM, UK TO GIBRALTAR AND RECEIVED AN APPROPRIATE WELCOME. The new service is operating twice weekly, year round, on Mondays and Fridays and flown with Embraer E170 and E190 jets.

The Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port, the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP was at the airport to welcome the flight, along with teams from Gibraltar International Airport and the Gibraltar Tourist Board. Arriving passengers were presented with Visit Gibraltar branded gifts.

Minister Daryanani said, “I’m delighted to see the return of a service from Birmingham. This destination has always been a popular one for Gibraltar, showing very strong demand when operated previously. This new service has been made possible through my untiring efforts to deliver new airlines and destinations for Gibraltar and shows the Government’s unprecedented commitment to this task. Our tourism and business communities will no doubt welcome the service and we look forward to welcoming many visitors from Birmingham and the airport’s catchment area.”

OCEAN VILLAGE HAS KINDLY DONATED 200 BOXES OF HAND SANITISER TO GIBRALTAR'S RED CROSS. The Gibraltar Central Council Branch was established in 1948 and became an overseas branch of the British Red Cross in 1957. The Gibraltar Red Cross supports those in need in Gibraltar and those affected by disasters and crises around the world.

Lois Soiza, Welfare Officer at the Gibraltar Red Cross said, "Thanks so much to the Ocean Village team, we will be distributing the hand sanitisers they have so generously donated among those in our elderly care facilities and other local charities."

Emilia Hazell-Smith, from Ocean Village added, “We are delighted to donate these hand sanitisers to such a worthy cause, and we know they will be distributed to the people who need them most!”

MANGO HAS LANDED IN GIBRALTAR IN THE EMPORIUM

PHOTO IS OF THE GRAND OPENING. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LEGISLATION HAS COME INTO EFFECT IN GIBRALTAR..

Requests for information will be open to any Gibraltar resident who is aged 18 years or over. An initial charge of £10 will be levied per request. There will be no additional cost for tracing, compiling and supplying the information where this is calculated to be £100 or less.

A Freedom of Information portal has been added to the e-services section of gibraltar.gov.gi The portal contains a copy of the Act, application forms, and the relevant guidance notes for anyone who may be eligible to request information; and who wishes to exercise that right. This allows the system to operate digitally as information requests, replies and payments can all be submitted using the new gateway.

The dedicated email address foi@gibraltar.gov.gi has also been setup to deal with any queries.

In addition, the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) is now the point of contact for anyone who requires assistance in person with the operation of the electronic portal.

The responsibility for the disclosure or not of the information requested will rest with individual Government departments, agencies and authorities. The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) becomes the Information Commissioner under the law, will be responsible for the oversight of the implementation of the legislation and serve as an appeal body from decisions taken by Government departments and other public authorities.

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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

THE FUTURE OF MOTORING HAS LEFT VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WITH A PECULIAR DILEMMA. DO THEY MIMIC THE INTERNAL ENGINE SOUND? DO THEY MAKE CARS SOUND LIKE THE WHIRRING OF THE JETSONS? OR DO THEY DO NOTHING AT ALL? BMW has taken the artistic route in trying to arrive at a new "sound" for motoring. They've embarked on a unique collaboration with renowned and highly-regarded composer and sound designer Hans Zimmer.

“Every BMW has its own character, which is reflected in the sound it makes,” says film music creator and Academy Award winner Zimmer. “So for the electrically driven BMW M models we have developed a driving sound which accentuates their emotional driving experience particularly vividly and ensures their performance can be felt with even greater intensity.”

Zimmer had previously been involved in the development of an inspiring ready-to-drive sound for electrically powered BMWs which instils a sense of excitement at the prospect of electric driving when the Start/Stop button is pressed. The latest chapter in this collaboration covers drive sounds for the BMW iX and BMW i4, including a differentiated sound for the M-specification version of the BMW i4.

While the hush of electric driving offers an unprecedented level of comfort, the driving experience loses a degree of emotionality. This is where BMW IconicSounds Electric steps

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in to put smiles on the faces of customers keen to experience Sheer Driving Pleasure with all the senses. In the future, electric driving pleasure will be enhanced by acoustic feedback to every movement of the accelerator. Like the on-board driving modes selectable at the touch of a button, the driving sound also takes its cues from the driving situation at hand and the driver’s personal preferences.

Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound at the BMW Group explains. “When you press the pedal of an M car, you suddenly get goosebumps all over your body ... we translated this feeling into a drive sound that expresses a fusion of superior power and flowing energy.”

The new drive sounds developed as part of the collaboration with Hans Zimmer are expected to feature in the BMW i4 and BMW iX over the course of 2022. IconicSounds Electric comes as standard in the BMW iX and can be specified as an option for the BMW i4. In cars with earlier build dates, the new sounds can be imported retrospectively via Remote Software Upgrade, should the customer wish. The new spectrum includes one ready-to-drive sound and one stop sound, plus a driving sound which will be made available in the relevant version for BMW models and BMW M cars with electrified drive system.

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PARASOL_ADVERTS_26.11.2020_.pdf

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT | VENTURE CAPITAL | PHILANTHROPY ESTABLISHED 2004

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FEATURE

stand by your beds part 2

BASED ON “STANDING ORDERS IN THE GARRISON OF GIBRALTAR 1803” Most of us of a certain age will remember the ridiculous lengths to which we were made to go in preparing our beds, boots and equipment for inspection to please overzealous, tradition bound officers and NCO’s in the Gibraltar Defence Force, now The Royal Gibraltar Regiment. Many evenings were spent in burnishing our boot toecaps into mirrors and polishing our cap badges, buttons and brasses, only to be criticizes by some little napoleon for having a spot on the webbing, or a blanket not quite folded to the correct thickness.

But, if you think this was ridiculous give a thought to our predecessors in the same boat.

here is a list of items and how they are to be marked.

In the barracks, each room was approximately 18 x 36 feet and would accommodate nineteen man. Lack of space in some cases made it necessary to provide folding beds. In this area the men would also eat their meals and spend their off duty time when not in town.

With the number of the battalion and regiment and numbered consecutively from 1 to 1000, or whatever the establishment may be. Thus: "1 Bn. 24th. Regt. 297."

Each man would be issued with a straw mattress, a box for his personal articles.

Wooden tables, benches, a stove and wood would complete the barrack room.

His personal uniform and accoutrements are listed below.

Bayonets, Scabbards, Rammers, Nipple Wrenches, and Muzzle Stoppers: Marked with consecutive numbers only.

Marks on bayonet scabbard to be on button and not on the brass mouth-piece.

Following are some of the “Standing Orders“ in the Garrison of Gibraltar in 1803 during the Governorship of the Duke of Kent.

The hilts of swords and their scabbards: Ditto.

(All letters and numbers are to be ENGRAVED, and in no case punched or stamped on the arms (W.O. Cir. 582, 21st April 1860).

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FEATURE all articles of clothing To be marked with the number and battalion of the regiment, and also the name and number of the wearer.

Tunic Marked with white paint, inside across the middle of the back.

Trousers With black paint on the waistband.

Boots and Shoes Marked by a branding iron with the number of the regiment and the regimental number of the wearer; the former on the underside of the peak and the latter inside the upper leather.

Greatcoats Marked inside the middle of the back with number or designation of regiment and also with the regimental number and name of the wearer marked with white paint.

Canteens and Squad Bags Marked with paint. Cutting, punching or branding forbidden.

Belts, pouches and slings Marked with number of regiment, battalion or corps and with date of issue on inside or back.

Blanket Field service for men (rather than horses); grey; six foot 2 inches by 5 feet; weight, 3 lbs 12 ounces.

accoutrements and appointments Sgts. and Rank and File • Pouches with swivel links • Belts, pouch, complete • Belts, waist • Frogs, sliding, with buckles and straps • Carbine slings • Plates for waist belts Greatcoats For the Royal Artillery will be furnished at the public expense to all Non-commissioned Officers and Men. Coats for Sergeants shall be furnished without cuffs and Collars, which are to be added at the headquarters of each corps and shall be made of the same quality and colour of the facings of the corps. Chevrons on the right sleeve may be added at head quarters to the great coats of Sergeants and Corporals.

• 1 Plume case • 2 towels • 1 Canteen • 1 Razor and case • 1 Pair fatigue trousers • 1 Button stick • 1 Button brush • 3 Pairs woollen stockings • 1 Hair brush • 1 Knife and fork • 1 Canteen strap Kits will be furnished upon requisition addressed to the Secretary of State for War. They will be supplied complete, with the exception of the boots, fatigue jackets and trousers. The boots will be furnished in sizes. The fatigue jackets and trousers will be issued in materials, in order that they may be made up at the Depots and fitted to the recruit.

All the following articles are to be marked with the number or appellation of the regiment, the owner's name and number and the date of delivery, before it is issued from the quartermaster's store: Knapsacks Regimental number in Arabic numerals, painted in white in the centre of the back. Number plates are to be furnished upon application.

linen and woollen articles Marks written on them in indelible ink.

Knives, Forks, Spoons, Razors Marks to be engraved.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 Canteen cover 2 Flannel shirts 1 Shaving bag 1 Forage cap 3 cotton shirts 1 Tin blacking 1 Large comb 1 Sponge 1 Pair boots 1 Pair leather gloves 1 Spoon 1 Pair Braces 1 Holdall 1 Stock 1 Knapsack complete 1 Clothes brush 1 Fatigue jacket 1 Shaving brush 1 Pocket knife 1 Great coat strap (pair) 2 Shoe brushes 1 Pillow case

In civilian life, a labourer was expected to earn £35 or £7.50 per day.

In order to earn a pension, a soldier had to serve twenty one years and even with a perfectly clean record could only expect to receive £18.50 a year or £1461.50 in today’s money. Unless the veteran had a skill he would be force to seek charity to survive.

Because desertion was endemic, troops were not allowed to retain their civilian clothes which would make them stand out if they deserted, however in places like Gibraltar where troops outnumbered the civilian population, the opposite would be more likely.

list of necessaries for the royal artillery • 1 Canvas bag and hook

maintain. Furthermore they were expected to supply their own uniforms. There were also many scams available to the officers to profit from purchasing uniforms and goods for the regiment. Even the Governors were not beyond making a profit form their position of power.

Pay Scales In order to get some idea of the money available to a soldier the following is provided based on 1861 pay scales and using a factor of 79 provided by the Bank of England.

A Sapper in the Royal Engineers would receive £22 per annum, which is approximately £4.76 per day less stoppages, a Corporal would get £40 which is £8.66 per day. A sergeant was on £52 which is equivalent to £11.25 per day.

A Lieutenant however earned £125 per annum which is £27.05, a Captain £330, or £71.42. The officers however were mostly recruited from well to do families and did not depend o their wages entirely, especially in view of the life style they were expected to

i Officers usually wore their hair short and used a powdered wig, but the troops could not afford this luxury and wore their hair long. iii Powder was either flour or chalk. During the siege General Eliott forbid the use of flour for this purpose due to the shortage of food. iii Tallow was the usual grease used. This was usually the fat from mutton or beef. iv W hat happens when it rains?

One can imagine the mess running down their faces during the parade. v In 1795, Parliament enacted a tax which required all those wishing to powder their hair to obtain a certificate from the Stamp Office at he cost of one guinea. There were some exceptions such as non commissioned officers and other ranks.

Very few people complied and the act was repealed in 1869. iv This is an 1860 standing order.

Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar. Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com

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ARMED FORCES INSIGHT

Key Training

for new Joiner A new joiner to Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, Able Seaman Carpenter, recently conducted pacing drills in the Squadron’s Pacific Rigid Inflatable Boat with HMS Pursuer, while under the supervision of the Chief Bosun’s Mate.

These pacing drills are critical as they provide key training for the coxswains to gain the necessary skills in close proximity manoeuvres, sustaining the Squadron at sea by transferring provisions, persons and stores without the need to return alongside.

This enables the Squadron to provide security to British Gibraltar Territorial Waters over a prolonged period whilst diligently maintaining UK sovereignty.

BASE MARKS PRIDE MONTH The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) raised the LGBT rainbow flag at GDP Headquarters in the Naval Base to mark Pride month. The flag will remain flying during the month of June.

The GDP Chief of Police, Rob Allen, said: “The raising of the flag marks our commitment to diversity, which is crucial within MOD Gibraltar. The flying of the flag also marks a milestone for the GDP with its appointment of the Champions. A diverse workforce provides better representation of the community we serve, ensuring the Force provides the best customer service possible”.

WARRANT PRESENTATION WARRANT OFFICER 2 SAM SNEE OF THE ROYAL GIBRALTAR REGIMENT WAS RECENTLY PRESENTED HIS WARRANT BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIMON DYSON ON BEHALF OF HIS EXCELLENCY VICE ADMIRAL SIR DAVID STEEL KBE DL. WO2 Snee joined the Army in 1997 aged 18, initially joining the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. In 1999 he deployed on his first tour to Crossmaglen in South Armagh, Northern Ireland followed by ceremonial duties in Windsor. Completing his Junior Non-Commissioned Officer course, he led of a team of 4 soldiers on his subsequent deployment to Londonderry in 2001.

Fast-forward to 2018 and he was posted as a permanent staff instructor to a Reserve unit which further broadened his skills set and professional experience. This was then followed by a second deployment to UK Strategic Command as part of the COVID Crisis Planning and Management Team. Having just returned from his latest deployment he has resumed the duties of the Regimental Signals Warrant Officer. Congratulations Sam!

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FEATURE

world-class local free diver now training here

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERY 24

JUNE 2021

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FEATURE DEAN CHIPOLINA WHO TURNS FORTY THIS MONTH IS A BREATH HOLDING FREE DIVER WHO HAS UNDER HIS BELT THE TITLE OF CURRENT UK CHAMPION AND IS STILL RANKED FOURTH IN THE WORLD SINCE THE PANDEMIC MESSED UP ANNUAL COMPETITIONS. THIS SEPTEMBER HOWEVER HE AIMS TO DEFEND HIS TITLE AGAIN AND AS HE FEELS HE HAS A GOOD FIVE YEARS STILL LEFT IN COMPETITIVE DIVING, HE RECKONS THAT HE COULD IMPROVE HIS DEPTH AGAIN AND GET INTO THE WORLD TOP ECHELONS BY REACHING 100 METRES PLUS. HE HAS AN AMBITION TO BREAK THE UK RECORD TOO. Free divers have to hold their breath for upwards of three minutes in order to descend to depths greater than ninety metres and beyond. The sport calls on the body to submit to great pressures going down a guide line to the target bottom depth and retrieve a tag as proof of the dive, then return to the surface, not in distress, but in a surface window of only fifteen seconds, recover their breathing and declare to an official “I am OK” in order for the dive to be validated.

In preparation for this interview I googled ‘free diving’ and various ‘Ted Talks’ given by champion free divers and soon discovered that you have to be more than a little bit special to take on the ocean depths in just one breath. This is where Dean Chipolina comes in. “For the last three months I have been doing depth work locally in the sea and now I have adapted my training to pool work for the next three months until August. In pool work you do not have to risk lung squeeze. It’s still breath holding but without the extreme pressure of depth. You fill your lungs with air and whilst you hold your breath your body converts oxygen to CO2, you train your body to work carrying large amounts of CO2. In another type of pool training called hypoxic training, we train to hold breath for longer periods. In pool training you have someone just a few metres away in a more controlled environment, as opposed to sea training where the next person could be up to a hundred metres above you or more.”

Not a sport for the faint hearted or the unfit, it’s only for the elite divers who can will their minds to be completely relaxed in a harsh, dark and cold environment with pressures of up to twelve times the surface pressure acting on their bodies trying to squeeze their chest cavity. “Relaxation is the key to a successful dive and I will train to relax totally for up to ten minutes on the surface before I take a deep breath and submerge.

In pool training I only need to relax for two or three minutes as it’s repetition and high volume training. When I want to go deep I need to find as much relaxation as possible and will only do one deep dive a day or even two days.”

“We all have to train hard to ‘not worry’ and detach ourselves from the reality of needing to breath. If you are tense your body quickly uses up oxygen. We have to alter our perception of time so that we come back to the surface after three minutes and on a good day you can feel like you’ve only been down there for thirty seconds.”

A simple breath hold challenge of thirty seconds in water at the surface is enough to make anyone realize how difficult it is to not breathe underwater. Multiply that exercise by twice the time and a normal person is really struggling and panicking. No time for that in free diving where panicking can cause a blackout and carries with it the potential to drown.

“Some free divers practice Yoga and meditation to improve their relaxation technique as you need to learn to ‘bend time’ because your perception of time changes and that’s a skill that we use constantly. During a long

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dive you have to be mentally detached so that you don’t panic and use up oxygen with the tension and mental anxiety. A lot of repetition training allows the diver to do it without thinking, like riding a bicycle without thinking of falling off it”.

Dean Chipolina was always keen on spear fishing since the age of nine and scuba diving since the age of fifteen. Octopus hunting and feeling comfortable under water came naturally to him so as a diving enthusiast it was inevitable to take a trip to the Galapagos and snorkel there in what many describe as a huge aquarium teeming with life. “I very soon found myself diving to thirty metres without prior training and realized that I still had it. It was a natural ability for me I found and add to that a great love for the sea which fascinates me to this day.

So it became a passion for free diving in spite of a family tragedy which might have stopped any other person in their tracks”.

“Some years ago my cousin Kyle Bagu drowned in a spear fishing accident which made me decide not to go spear fishing again but helped to push me to go to Tenerife on a free diving course and learn all about techniques and safety. That qualification made me more confident and later in free diving circles I met many top competitors including the current Russian world champion Alexey Molchanov (34) and we became friends. This man has reached 130 metres in one breath and holds the current world record.”

Dean’s girlfriend is Nicole Endesbo the current Swedish free diving champion (personal best 85 metres) so in training they support themselves by looking out for each other and improving their skills in order to continue competing at top level. It struck me that as a local sportsman competing abroad Dean is unsupported by any Government sports grant and he tells me that as he is not associated here he doesn’t qualify.

I thought that perhaps a gaming company might wish to sign him up to a sponsorship deal which would help him with training expenses and travel costs to competitions etc.

Dean has had professional coaches and continues to use one online but he now designs his own training programme and religiously logs his progress every time he trains. Each time he ticks more of the target boxes and is confident that he knows his strengths and weaknesses too. His main aim is to continue to improve but still enjoying himself and always leaving something in the tank. He doesn’t see the need to beat yourself up if you do your best and then fall short of the glory on competition day.

His philosophy is to be always humble and above all enjoy diving ‘because that is what is going to make you better at it’.

He has beaten some of the top names that I checked out on my Google trawl, even though some are not too helpful he insists that the majority of free divers at top level are quite open and happy to pass on tips and encouragement. He did say that the British UK free diving team were happy to have him on board even though he’s not

from mainland UK but would prefer to compete as a Gibraltarian carrying his Gibraltar flag. Hopefully under a different organisation (CMAS) Dean will be able to compete as Gibraltar instead.

With his impressive attributes he has been used by scientists for dive studies in Croatia and as he is well known in the Tenerife diving fraternity he will be commuting once a week from here regularly in a couple of months, when he has finished all his pool training to concentrate only on deep sea dives in the ideal conditions that Tenerife presents. A far cry from Atlantic diving, his local diving is more problematic to plan.

“Here we have surface and underwater currents, poorer visibility, very large patches of tall algae in the bay (at around 60 metres) and also changing water temperatures during a dive (thermocline), where colder water meets warm water and the shock to the body can ruin concentration and considerably lower the chances of a good dive.

“Sometimes I go 4/5 miles out on the Eastside to avoid all that and the police patrol launch comes out to investigate, which is also a nice reminder I have someone looking after my safety locally. I would like to say thanks to local maritime authorities. It’s a delicate balance as always but safety is always paramount. The Watch Clinic looks after my equipment maintenance and Oxy Ltd supply me with emergency oxygen for my needs.”

“In competition diving there is a team of safety divers beside the guide line to the target depth and safety boats, so that takes care of the pre-dive stress and enables better relaxation build-up for us competitors.

After 50 metres of descent you are on your own and freefalling. You have set an audio alarm to alert you a couple of metres before you reach the target depth so you can get ready to retrieve your proof tag and then start your ascent.”

“You can’t afford to burn yourself out while coming back and only your repetition training allows you to remain relaxed until you surface. Your heartbeat has slowed down to 15/20 BPM at the bottom and now shoots up to 180 BPM and you only have fifteen seconds to get it all under control and declare to the dive marshal “I am OK.” I wind up our chat in the noisy Casemates ‘al fresco’ bar and proudly wish Dean Chipolina all the best of Gibraltarian luck for his next competition in September, when he hopes to attain a new PB depth and retain his ranking in the world’s top breath holding divers. These athletes are the champions of inner space and have superior skills. They actually enjoy the dangers of diving like porpoises and challenging the great pressure of a column of water taller than 100 metres above their heads.

I hope that this time round Dean can obtain a sponsorship deal for his troubles and can continue to compete at top level for the next five years that he hopes for. Watch this space in the October Insight Magazine and we shall let you know the results of his efforts at top level free diving.

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SPORTS INSIGHT

EURO 2020, DELAYED FOR A YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, WILL NOW KICK OFF ON 11TH JUNE, SPARKING A MONTH LONG CELEBRATION OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, WITH THE FINAL SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT WEMBLEY ON 11TH JULY. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FINALS WILL BE SHARED BETWEEN 11 COUNTRIES, ORIGINALLY A ONE-OFF IDEA FROM UEFA TO HONOUR THE COMPETITION'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY BUT, OF MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANCE NOW AS EUROPE SLOWLY EMERGES FROM THE RAVAGES OF THE PANDEMIC, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD THE LOVE OF THE SPORT THAT SO UNITES THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FAMILY. Twenty-four nations are divided into six groups of four in the pool stage, with the winners and runners-up in each group, plus the four best third-placed teams qualifying for the last 16 knockout stage. With Wales, Scotland and England having qualified for the much anticipated and long-delayed extravaganza, Euro 2020 promises to be a blockbuster event for UK expats and tourists here in Gibraltar, evoking cherished memories of previous tournaments, particularly in this correspondent, when fondly remembering magical moments sitting in sun-baked Casemates Square, sipping cider in front of the Big Screen and letting tribal passion run free, unfettered, if only for an hour and a half!

Scotland and England have been drawn together in Group D and their pool clash promises to be a juggernaut affair, definitely not one for the faint-hearted, an irresistible force crashing against an immovable object, evoking memories of past epic football encounters between these footy-mad nations, the drama still powered

by lingering echoes of centuries-old battlefield conflicts – think Braveheart, think Bonnie Prince Charlie, think Bannochburn and, on 18th June, think Wembley, when, pandemic permitting, tens of thousands of tartan-clad, kilt-wearing, wild-eyed, hairy-legged Scots, all united in single purpose – the rout of the Sassenachs - will march on England's premier stadium to the haunting backdrop of Flower of Scotland and the intoxicating swirl of bagpipes. England, be warned, the Tartan Army is on the march and defeat is not an option.

Bookmakers appear to have dismissed any chance of tournament victory for either Wales or Scotland, as derisory odds of 200/1 and 300/1 respectively would seem to indicate, with England currently available at a very skinny 6/1 to lift the Trophy. Let’s take a look at how the three home nations have performed in past Euros, and run the rule over the chances of an at-long-last home victory in Euro 2020.

WORDS BY LIAM BEGLAN, SPORTS WRITER 26

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SPORTS INSIGHT

Wales will be hoping to repeat or better their outstanding performance in finishing third in Euro 2016 in France when agonisingly going down 2-0 in the semi-final to eventual champions and Ronaldo-inspired Portugal. This time round the Taffs booked their ticket for the finals as runners-up behind Croatia in qualifying, but the Group A travel itinerary could have been kinder for the Red Dragons, with two tough but winnable games awaiting in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country that spans both Europe and Asia. First up for the Welsh come the cuckoo-clock men of Switzerland, followed four days later when Gareth Bale's boys will be hoping to taste some Turkish delight in the form of three points against Turkey, and then it’s on to Rome to take on Italy, ranked 7th in the world. Let us pray that points gained in the earlier games mean Wales won’t require a miracle at the Vatican to stay in the tournament.

12 JUNE - KO 15:00 CET WALES V SWITZERLAND (BAKU) 16 JUNE – KO 18:00 CET TURKEY V WALES (BAKU) 20 JUNE – KO 18:00 CET ITALY V WALES (ROME)

A

England have never won the Euros, a quite surp ing fact given the hall risowed hall of fame tha t have graced the Three Lions shirt over the past 60 years, and Euro 2020 provide s to right that wrong, wit the perfect opportunity h their three Group D tures taking place at fixWembley and, should pro ress be forthcoming in the knockout stages, Gar gSouthgate's boys could eth look forward to playing semi-finals and final at the headquarters as well.

England, world ranked 4th, cruised through qualification series und the er Soutgate's skilled stewardship and there is realistic expectation tha t talented young squad can end the frustrating his often heartbreaking 60and year wait to finally win Battle of Europe. the World No.1 Belgium may prove to be an insurmo able obstacle should unttheir paths eventually cross, but with dazzling you ngsters, Foden, Rashfo rd and Grealish, hungry to per form on the biggest stag England should fear no one, and come Final Day e, Three Lions may well roa the r loudest.

13 JUNE – KO 15:00 CET ENGLAND V CROATIA (WE MBLEY) 18 JUNE – KO 21:00 CET ENGLAND V SCOTLAND (WEMBLEY) 22 JUNE – KO 21:00 CET ENGLAND V CZECH REP UBLIC

D

D

SCOTLAND have endured a barren 23 years of disappointment and heartache since they last qualified for a major finals, but Euro 2020 promises to restore tartan pride as Steve Clarke's warriors embark on the far-from-impossible mission of qualifying from Group D to the knockout stage. Two Hampden Park home games against Czech Republic and Croatia and, in between, a little domestic spat with the ‘auld enemy’ at Wembley, are surely capable of harvesting sufficient points for the Scots to advance to the shootout stage.

Scotland possess two world class defenders in Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, the tireless John McGinn and classy Scott McTominay in midfield, while in attack, yes there’s no King Kenny, Denis Law or Alan Gilzean, but step forward ex-rugby league star Lyndon Dykes who can cause chaos in any defence, allowing seasoned performers, Celtic’s David Turnbull and James Forrest, to reap the benefit. The Czech Republic are certainly beatable at Hampden, while tired-looking Croatia, heavily reliant on the ageing Modric, now 35, can also contribute to the Jocks' tally and, sandwiched in between, it’ll be a dash over Hadrian's Wall to pinch a point at Wembley, and cause Saxon outrage.

14TH JUNE – KO 15:00 CET SCOTLAND V CZECH REPUBLIC (HAMPDEN PARK) 18TH JUNE – KO 21:00 CET ENGLAND V SCOTLAND (WEMBLEY) 22ND JUNE – KO 21:00 CET SCOTLAND V CROATIA (HAMPDEN PARK)

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FEATURE

Just what is futsal and what are the differences between the game and football?

The main difference is that futsal is usually played indoors while football is an outdoor sport. There are 5 players on each team and the game is known to be fast and intense and has a very different set of rules than 11-a-side football.

Head of Women’s Football at the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) Laura McGinn explains how futsal came to Gibraltar. “It all started a couple of years ago when I went on a UEFA course and met the head coach of the Northern Ireland Futsal team who asked if we would be interested in having a friendly international fixture,” she explains. “At the time we didn’t have a national futsal team but we did play a futsal cup competition, so I came back and spoke to the board and the technical director and asked them if this was something we could do.” This resulted in the setting up of a national futsal team that went on to play Northern Ireland in two friendly matches, once in Gibraltar in 2019 and the other in Northern Ireland in January 2020. “We were performing well and could see a lot of potential in the squad,” Laura states, adding that the standard is very high in women’s five-a-side futsal.

Laura came to Gibraltar in the summer of 2018 having done Sports Science and Physiology at university and then working for three years at Worcestershire FA in England where she was Football Development Officer. “I helped them to develop women's football, walking football and veteran’s football and then I saw this job advertised

Women’s

Futsal

is on the

up in Gibraltar There was huge excitement on the 5th May when Gibraltar played its first ever official UEFA Women's Futsal International match against Belgium. The Tercentenary Sports Hall was buzzing and packed full of raucous fans with nearly 600 spectators, including lots of young girls, watching the Gibraltar National Women’s Futsal team make history by becoming Gibraltar’s first ever Women’s National Team to take part in an official competitive International match since joining UEFA and FIFA. The young players, many of whom are still in their teens, put in a superb performance against Belgium, only being denied a win on penalties after a 3-3 draw after extra time. Although it was initially scheduled to be played as a group qualifier with Belgium and Kazakhstan as opponents, the departure of the latter from the group meant that Gibraltar’s match against Belgium became a knock-out contest.

Gayle Langtry, Europa FC women’s player coach, and national team coach for the futsal squad, has been the manager since the futsal team started. “Gayle knows a lot of the players and had played and coached with them, so she had some ideas about who would be a good fit for the team,” Laura states, adding that in 2019 Jamie Bosio joined the coaching staff. “Jamie is assistant coach with a good background in futsal, and he has really helped to develop the team.”

Laura says that although the National Women’s Futsal team technically lost their match to Belgium, it was a still a triumph and a huge achievement. “One of the reasons that we wanted to host here in Gibraltar was so that the youngsters could come and watch some role models. Belgium is a big footballing nation in futsal so it was a really exciting game and it means that futsal is going to become more widely known in Gibraltar, and in a few years’ time there will be even more players for our national team,” Laura says.

Inspiring the next generation of players is hugely important and some of the futsal team players went along to watch the younger girls training sessions after the tournament. “The girls had come along to the tournament with their faces painted and waving banners so some of the team went to thank them for their support and signed a few autographs, and the girls were totally in awe to be able to meet their heroines.”

Laura says that this will spur them on and help them to see the opportunities that are

on Twitter and thought it sounded like a great opportunity, and as it was the first time someone would be heading up women’s football full-time it was very exciting, particularly as there is so much potential here.”

available to them. “It is not just a case of always seeing men playing football because they can actually watch women play now, so the more we raise the profile, the more that parents will think it is natural to take girls to football.”

Still now only twenty eight years old, Laura didn’t know anyone when she came here and had to quickly learn about women’s football in Gibraltar and started by getting involved in the programmes that were already running and helping to set up new ones. “We have managed to get younger girls involved with the Fun Fridays programme which are turn-up-and-play sessions for 4-10 year olds at the Victoria Stadium.”

If you have budding futsal players between 9-12 years of age, as of the 23rd May, Girls Futsal Sessions are starting at the Victoria Sports Hall (Old Sports Hall) every Sunday from 10:00 – 11:00 am. The sessions are free of charge and will be coached by players and staff from the Women’s National Futsal Team.

There is no doubt that with the expertise of Laura, Gayle and Jamie, the future of women’s futsal in Gibraltar is very bright. www.gibraltarfa.com/women

WORDS BY JO WARD 28

JUNE 2021

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

FOOTBALL INSIGHT

season's end SO HERE WE ARE, THE 2020/21 SEASON HAS COME TO AN END. IT WAS CERTAINLY ANOTHER SEASON WITH MANY CHALLENGES, BUT THE LYNX FAMILY SPIRIT CERTAINLY MANAGED TO SHINE THROUGH. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PLAYERS ALL PLAYING THEIR PART TO ENSURE IT RAN AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE. We had the strongest start to a season that we’ve had in many years, winning our first 4 matches and scoring 18 goals. After those 4 matches came a draw and then a loss at the hands of Europa FC. You would think that would’ve knocked our confidence, but then next time out we won against Lincoln Red Imps.

Could it be the year we challenge to break back into the top three...? Something we have not achieved since the 2014/15 Premier Division season. Alas it wasn’t to be. We even missed out on 4th position (where we finished last season) which would’ve seen us playing European football for the first time.

Obviously there is disappointment, but in saying that, there were many positives to take from the season and we must all still be proud of all we did.

We never stop learning, and we need to use that disappointment as a driving force to improve next season.

Live streaming all of our matches was a massive part of our season and gained us exposure across the globe. We had viewers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Poland, Russia to name but a few. The requests to buy replica shirts came in, and we sent out gifts of badges to fans in many of these countries to thank them for their support. A stand out moment was a fan in the Netherlands

telling us he was supporting Gibraltar when they played the Netherlands in the World Cup Qualifier, all because of Lynx. As we and many others have said before, football without fans is nothing. They are a clubs most important asset. So we thought it would be a nice touch to run a competition and have the fans design our kit for the 21/22 season. We have had some incredible submissions so far, and the committee will certainly have their work cut out agreeing on the design we use. For me personally, my goal is to raise the profile of Lynx FC, but I also want people to fall in love with Gibraltar and the football in Gibraltar as I have.

I can’t sign off without giving a mention to our ladies team who have recently started their league campaign and I wish them the very best of luck.

Finally I would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting us for another season, without whom we wouldn’t be able to exist. To Gibraltar Insight Magazine... thank you for giving us another platform to write on. Your online magazine allowing fans overseas to read, and of course the traditional magazine which can’t be beaten.

FOR FURTH ER INFORMAT ION, PLEASE CO NTACT THE CLUB ON LYNXFC@M AIL.COM OR 200 69 695.

WORDS BY SCOTT HOUGHTON GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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31

FEATURE EVERYBODY NEEDS A HELPING HAND NOW AND AGAIN, BUT ITS NOT JUST HUMANS THAT NEED HELP, ITS UP TO US TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE OUR WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. Founder of The Helping Hand Trust Dr. Eric Shaw explains how, as a child in Congleton, Cheshire he was always interested in wildlife. “Like most people in those days I did a stint in the military, eventually coming to Gibraltar, and because this place was a paradise for diving back then and because I was a diving instructor and professional diver, when I left the military, I stayed here.”

During the early 1970s when taking groups of members from the joint services on diving expeditions, Eric noticed that when spearfishing in deep waters and around wrecks, some of the fish were up to fifteen or twenty years of age. “Fish are territorial,” Eric says. “When you take fish from inshore waters, especially around Gibraltar, they don’t return.”

Eric realised that the depletion of stocks of fish seemed inevitable and came up with a plan that was ahead of its time. “My idea was to build things under the water to create artificial reefs,” he states. “This wasn’t a new concept because I knew that back in 1888 they were building artificial reefs for the cotton plantation owners on the Mississippi River, and I was also very fortunate to know about the ships that sank during the Second World War.” It was the realisation that these large under water structures were supporting a thriving marine life that led to the formation of the first artificial reef in Europe in Gibraltar waters.

Previous attempts to create an artificial reef from tyres and old cars were, in the long run, unsuccessful, but in 1974 Eric bought for the princely sum of £1 two redundant barges that Gibunco had been using to carry out works at the water intake within the jetty in Camp Bay. In those days it was common practise to dispose of waste such as barges in the sea far out in the Strait, where they would not get in the way of sea traffic. After some research and enquiries, Eric convinced Gibunco to scuttle the gravel filled barges closer to the shoreline at Camp Bay, which they did with the help of many divers. However, during the winter of 1976 and 1977, storms destroyed all the divers' efforts and after over 700 diving hours had produced little or nothing, an alternative had to be found.

Eric explains they had to re-plan and try to obtain vessels that were surplus to requirements whilst they were still floating and take the divers out of the equation. “What people didn’t understand was that we were doing this for life in the sea, not for divers to explore,” he states.

“If someone wanted to get rid of a barge, I was your man.” It wasn’t all plain sailing as the vessels had to be prepared beforehand. “You have to take away all the loose stuff and get rid of it, remove the asbestos, take away the fuel and then fill the vessel with salt water to make the boat heavy.” Navy divers were brought in to cut holes in the decking to let the air out to ensure that the boat would sink quickly.

The Camp Bay site has been added to over the past 40 years by purposefully sinking a number of smaller vessels to create the artificial reef and encourage marine diversity. There are now 11 wrecks in one area, including the 482M, a 100 foot (30 m) long Royal Navy mooring vessel, which sits upright in 56 feet (17 m) of water. “When the MOD offered me the 482 for the reef, I gratefully accepted and told them that I knew where I would like it to be sunk, but that I didn’t have the means or the people to actually sink it,” Eric says. “So with the help of Navy personnel and others who came to help, we had a fantastic sinking.” Eric says that the most memorable part of the day was the sight of hundreds of people on the beach watching the vessel go down. “When I got back down to the beach a young boy came running up to me: “Mister, mister,” he said, “the boat out there - when it drowned did everybody get off?” Eric laughs as he relates this anecdote. “Boats drown as well!”

That was in 1999 and 482 was the first MOD vessel to be sunk. “After that things started to take off,” Eric comments. “Where there was just sand before, there is now an oasis of highly diverse marine life.”

There will be many people living in Gibraltar who are either too young or who won’t know about the formation of the artificial reefs. “We are still sinking boats,” Eric says. “I have got two at the present moment waiting to go under water, but we are not here to yell about it, the Helping Hand is here to help protect the sea.”

Passionate about science and research, Eric has always wanted to try and get more people into science, bringing in researchers from universities and colleges from the UK and giving them projects to do, one of which focused on seagrass meadows, something that Eric has produced scientific papers on. “We used to have very good seagrass meadows here, but we destroyed them,” he says. “It was a nursery for all things within the sea itself and every year when pelagic species like

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FEATURE sprats and sardines come on to the continental shelf to lay their eggs, they stay in inshore waters until they are big enough to go back to open water.” Explaining that it is very important for these fish to have somewhere to hide, just as they do in wrecks, Eric says that Posidonia, a seagrass species that is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and critical to the ecosystem, has been killed off. “We want to reintroduce Posidonia in the waters here,” he says gesticulating to the Queensway Quay marina where his office can be found. “All we need to do is control the speed of the vessels so that they don’t disturb the sea bed and cloud it up and create silt, so we are still working on that.”

The Helping Hand Trust was founded in 1994 as a response to the frequency of mutilated dead dolphins being found on the shores of Gibraltar. Eric started to collect data and found that post-mortem markings on the dolphins suggested that they had been caught in fishing nets or lines, but it wasn’t clear who was doing this. The UK media picked up on Eric’s findings and as the news spread worldwide, it was decided to start a charity for the money that was being raised by the newspaper campaigns which then allowed a vessel to be purchased to go out to sea in the Bay and surrounding areas to find out who was responsible for the dolphin mutilations. The charity made it known that they would record all activities with regard to dolphins by taking photographs of the fishing boats and their crews and expose them to the media. The good news is that the dolphins are now mostly saved, evidenced by the fact that they don't get mutilated anymore. However, together with the assistance of Minister Dr John Cortes, protocols have now been put in place regarding dolphin tours to make sure that the dolphins can live freely and without harassment from boats.

Dr. Shaw is also known to many television viewers as Gibraltar’s Monkey Man, having featured on programmes all around the world. “I have been working with monkeys since the 1980s,” Eric says, “but in the 1990s Gibraltar’s first primatologist Dr. John Fa managed to convince the Government that what we wanted to do was to have a nature reserve, which we do now, but instead Apes Den was created.” Eric and Dr John Fa founded Medambios Environmental Consultants, and turned Queen’s Gate (now Ape’s Den) into a tourist attraction within the MoD restricted area of the Upper Rock, employing five wardens, at least two of whom were on site seven days a week, to guide tourists and stop illegal feeding. Wanting to take people on trips to explain about the monkeys, Eric says that they had calculated it would cost about £80,000. “Although nobody had faith that we could make that money, we convinced ourselves we could, so the Government put up a box at the top of the hill and Helping Hand made £600,000 for them in the first year - all out of 50 pence pieces.”

Back to the present day and the monkeys are currently being monitored and looked after by The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) and although Eric no longer works with the monkeys, they still have students and researchers contacting them to come out here. “What people have got to understand is that no one owns these monkeys - they are wild - and as long as you are not invasive and don’t touch them, it is a good thing to have students coming here because I am interested in people on the ground sorting out Gibraltar.”

The reason that we need active minds to come in is that, according to Eric, they can ensure the right studies are being done. “I am interested in the rest of the world, but the only thing that I can remain totally focused on is Gibraltar, and for every discipline Gibraltar is such a perfect situation that it doesn't matter what the study is, you can do it and you can show the rest of the world how it’s done in less than three months, where it will take the rest of the world to find out in three, four or even five years.”

Eric says that there is a huge network both locally and internationally of people who are experts in their own particular field, but the nice thing is that if a primatologist notices that a monkey is eating a new kind of plant, they can immediately put them in touch with people from, for example, Kew Gardens. “We noticed that one of the female monkeys was eating a plant that in the Middle Ages women were using as a contraceptive, so we wondered if it had the same effect, if the female monkey knew to eat it and who told her,” Eric says, going on to say that there is still so much that we don’t know and that we can still learn.

From dolphins, to monkeys and then to bees, something that started by accident when it was noted that bee swarms were exterminated when they were close to populated areas. “Now when swarms are seen we get called by Environmental Health to collect them and re-hive them.”

There is no doubt that Dr. Eric Shaw is providing a helping hand for future generations in their quest to conserve, protect and monitor our natural heritage.

For more information, go to www.helpinghand.gi GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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FEATURE

ELOQUENCE AND FLAIR ON DISPLAY AT THE GIBRALTAR DRAMA FESTIVAL

The 2021 Gibraltar Drama Festival had arrived and this Journalist could NOT wait for it to start. The excitement was building up and as soon as I walked into the Ince’s Hall, I got a little emotional. It has been a rather long year and the lack of cultural events such as this one made me wonder how long it would be till I covered an event or events of this magnitude but thankfully we are able and the first Drama F estival of any kind in the world was finally upon us.

MONDAY The first night was definitely one to look forward to. Three plays, one original and two when performed abroad have received high acclaim. ‘Chatroom’ by Enda Walsh and performed by Bayside & Westside Drama Group was the first one on and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I am all for plays, TV shows or movies of the topic at hand and I must say I was heavily invested and drawn to the characters as well as the script. The fact that it is about a troubled teenager who is contemplating suicide is a surreal experience, even if on a stage. Any parent will probably tell you how worried they become or are whenever their children “surf the web” and understandably so. Jim, played

by Nikolaj Forrester.did a fantastic job as did the rest of the cast.,especially Jake Hancock as William and Jasmin Jarman as Eva. We were off to a good start and Chatroom definitely ticked all the boxes for me.

Up next and after Chatroom I guess we all needed a chuckle and Hannah Mifsud’s ‘Can I Count On Your Vote?’ by GAMPA Juniors did just that. The elements and little things were enough to make this one of my favourites of the week, it was quick witted and excellently cast, especially Krsna Gulraj as Chloe. The premise of it all is quite funny and its simplicity proves effective throughout as the play goes on. Michael Cortes playing Peter was just as excellent. The support roles played by Joseph Cortes and Isabella Azzopardi were sublime. It was a great one and I laughed a lot, so always a bonus, eh?

The last play of the evening ‘Four Minutes Twelve Seconds’ by James Fritz and put on

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FEATURE

by Santos Productions was on a different dimension compared to what we had just seen and rightfully so. The play dives into the tale about a leaked video and of course the ordeal one or their families go through. Amee Freyone playing Di was really good, as was Julian Felice as David.Aaron Mosquera playing Nick was particularly believable throughout and did a fabulous job. Hats off to Celine Azzopardi playing Cara as well, she has a bright future ahead if she continues this path.

TUESDAY

THURSDAY

Another evening of Drama awaited and this one was to deliver, especially the first one of the evening in Girls Like That by Evan Placey and put on GAMPA Teens. I must say the girls put on a spectacular performance.

It tackles a lot of important issues aside from the uncomfortable obvious one but to dive in head first and tackle feminism was really good. Major props all around girls, you should be very proud.

Next up was Carol Ann Duffy’s Grimm Tales performed by Bayside & Westside Group. There was a lot of funny dialogue and performances. I must commend Miguel Caballero for his hilarious performance here, he was excellent. Same goes for Ella Burns, the witchy voice was spot on and made for excellent theatre. Overall it was a fun watch and one of my favourites of the week.

WEDNESDAY Wednesday was going to be interesting, especially with two dramas and a comedy. I am more of a comedy buff but I love a really good drama and the first of Wednesday’s performances did that for me. DNA by Dennis Kelly by GAMPA Seniors was mesmerising I must admit and it took me by surprise. All performances were excellent but my absolute commendation goes to Mikey Piris in the role of Brian. He was believable and excellently cast in a role that suited him immensely. Aaron Mosquera as Phil and Mei Liu as Leah were really good too.

Next up was a dark comedy written by Julian Felice titled ‘I Ate All The Bourbon Creams’. A two man show if you like here which featured Chris Ablitt as Mark and Sam Bush playing the role of Dan. Two roommates who discuss a lot of topics in very little time, it was alright admittedly and did a fine job for what it was

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The Exam by Andy Hamilton and performed by The Magazine Studio Theatre was rather entertaining.

Some good laughs and delivery especially by Gino Ochello playing the role of Chas. His one liners made him a natural, almost as if he had ad libbed his lines himself!

He was hilarious, really was. Nyree Robinson as Miss Baxendale was well cast as was Julian Felice playing the role of Dad. In reality only Chas could see him as he is a ghost, high marks to the girls Mireille Hook playing Bea and Danielle Fernandez playing Andrea.

When I arrived at Ince’s Hall on Thursday, I was amazed as to how quick the week had gone and it is definitely true when they say.

“Time flies when you are having fun”. Another three plays were on the agenda and off we went.

Kicking off the night was Bayside & Westside Drama Group’s ‘Ten Minutes’ a tragicomedy by Julian Felice. He would play John and alongside was Chris Ablitt as Peregrine.

Considering the play is only ten minutes, it doesn’t give you enough time to really grasp anything but if there is anything to take away, it is definitely that it was rather humorous and enjoyed by those in attendance. I found myself chuckling a few times at the delivery of some of the lines. Short but excellent.

Next up we had Peep by Jodi Gray as performed by The Magazine Studio Theatre. Britney Parody plays May and Hannah Mifsud plays Caitlin in this two woman show. I rather enjoyed this one and the performances were captivating from start to finish. I had never seen it so it surprised me. A dark horse of the week, in my eyes.

Lastly we saw what ended up winning the Drama Festival in Fade To Light by Bayside & Westside Drama Group. It is very easy to say that their win was justified but it truly was. The cast was incredibly well put together and nailed their roles to perfection, Julian Felice plays an astrophysicist in Professor Docherty who goes all over the world to explain that an imminent supernova is about to hit Earth. The rest of the cast, notably Kaigan Garcia did a great job as did Sylvana Felice, Nikolaj Forrester and Natalie Bonavia. My stand out of this production was definitely towards the end when Carmen Anderson belted out and acapella the popular Streets classic Dry Your Eyes. She nailed it and was incredibly fascinating to hear.

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FEATURE

Circle r of Life FOR JONATHAN LUTWYCHE WORDS BY JO WARD 38

JUNE 2021

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FEATURE THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE DAYS OF A DANCER’S LIFE IS WHEN THEY HEAR THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CAST IN A WEST END SHOW, BUT EVEN MORE EXCITING WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE MAKING THEIR DEBUT IN THE ICONIC MUSICAL THE LION KING. The last time Insight caught up with Jonathan he was just about to start his third year at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and hoping to graduate in the summer of 2020.

Three quarters into his first year at Rambert, Jonathan tore the meniscus in his left knee and had to have surgery. “I couldn’t dance for about three or four months and then I had to repeat the first year, but my second year went really well.”

“My third year was really busy,” Jonathan says, “and we were preparing for a show at The Royal Opera House with past Rambert students coming from all over the world to choreograph pieces for us, but then Covid-19 hit.”

During a student’s final year they undertake auditions, the ideal scenario being that they graduate with a job to go to. “Lion King was my first audition and I got it, which was so exciting,” Jonathan exclaims. That was in November 2019 and Jonathan was supposed to start rehearsing for the show the following March and, luckily, the production kept the new people that they had taken on.

Jonathan adapted to the new normal in a world that had moved to life online. “I graduated school in July last year, but a lot of it was on Zoom,” he says. “It was a bit disheartening but I was one of the lucky ones because I knew that I had a job, unlike some of my peers.”

Of all of the subjects that were being taught online, dance must have been one of the hardest. “I did ballet in the mornings in my kitchen - luckily I had enough space - and I just danced in my kitchen all day, which was very strange and involved a lot of discipline because when you are at home, all you want to do is stay in bed,” he laughs as he says this.

Jonathan has been back in Gibraltar since March, keeping fit by training at the gym, taking classes at the Danza Academy where he began his formal training at the age of 12 and teaching a few classes there whenever he has the time. “The past year has given me time to reflect on a lot of things,” he states. “It made me realise that eventually I am going to have to stop dancing and that I won't be able to dance for the rest of my life.” The intensity of ballet training often means that a dancer’s career ends anywhere between the ages of 30 and 40. “It comes at a different stage in life for everyone, but it depends on my body and hopefully my knee won’t give out again, although everything has been really good since the surgery and I have been very lucky with that.”

Dancers often move into choreography and this is something that Jonathan has considered he would like to focus on. “I would also like to teach in a pre-professional school like the Rambert, but there is a big, wide world out there, so it could be anywhere.”

Looking to the immediate future now, Jonathan will be leaving Gibraltar to head back to the UK to start rehearsals for The Lion King in mid-June. “I have to learn the whole show from start to finish, whereas some of the other cast members have been in the show for a while, so I will do that and then as we go along they will bring in the orchestra and the rest of the cast. Rehearsals will take five or six weeks and then we open on the 29th July.”

As part of the ensemble, Jonathan will need to be able blend in with the other performers and to quickly switch between different ani-

mal characters and other natural elements as they bring the sounds of the Serengeti to life through a mix of dance, song, puppetry and masks.

“I know I open the show as a giraffe,” he says. “Just before we stopped in March last year I had a few costume fittings, but they were mainly for the under garments so I don't really know what other animals or elements I will be, but I am really excited to find out all about that.” The Giraffe has a tall headpiece which forms the neck and head of the animal, but those who may already have seen a performance of The Lion King will know that the performer is on four stilts as he emulates a giraffe gracefully walking across the savanna. “I have never danced on stilts before - so I am a little bit nervous but excited at the same time.” Something new for Jonathan will be the fact that he also has to sing in the production. He explains that attending dance schools meant that he never had any formal singing training. “I asked the head musician at Rambert if he would help me prepare a song for the audition, and I think this was the part I was most nervous about and I thought I would probably get cut, but it turns out I can hold a tune.”

West End theatres were forced to close on 16th March last year, and it is all fingers crossed in the hope that the show is able to open in July as planned. As of 17th May, theatres were permitted to open in London again under social distancing rules, which allows venues to open at either half capacity or with 1,000 seats – whichever number is lowest.

Disney’s The Lion King, with music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, is one of the West End's best-selling stage productions and the sixth longest-running West End musical of all time. The Lyceum Theatre just off the Strand in London has been its home for more than two decades where the production, with a team of more than 50 performers onstage and 100 crew backstage, has been seen by over 16 million people. The epic adventures of Simba from a young, wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands, is loved by children and adults alike.

Jonathan says that it looks promising because although a lot of other West End shows have opened or are opening up, it was the decision of the production company that the Lion King would wait to make sure that everything was going ahead and not to give anyone false hope. “The show has already opened in Australia so they are using the things they have learnt there and applying them to what is happening in London.”

Family and friends are eager to come to see Jonathan make his debut in the West End, and although he has said he doesn’t want them there for opening night, his initial contract is for one year.

“There’s no rush, and if I do a good job I hope that may be extended, so there will be plenty of time for them to come and see me in the not too distant future,” he comments. “I can’t wait to start and I am very grateful for the opportunity to debut as a professional dancer in an epic musical that has captivated audiences around the world.”

Having seen the musical as a young boy who could only wish that he would appear in the show one day, Jonathan says that the whole thing feels very surreal and he still can’t quite believe he will be appearing on stage soon.

One thing that Jonathan is looking forward to is the adrenaline rush that he hasn’t experienced for the last five years. “When I was performing in competitions in Gibraltar I used to enjoy that feeling, so I am excited for the first night when the opening bars of Circle of Life play as the curtains open – it will be an amazing experience.”

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MOTORING INSIGHT

WORDS BY MARTIN WARD 40

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MOTORING INSIGHT

The new Across is in fact a Toyota RAV4, but has been Suzuki-ised, which basically means it has had all the Toyota badges removed and Suzuki badges stuck on instead.

The Across is a medium sized SUV, but does have plenty of interior space.

It is powered

by Toyota's 2.5 litre petrol engine coupled to a plug-in hybrid system. The size of the engine does sound excessive, but it's efficient and economical. All of this goes to the E-Four electronic 4x4 system that ensures confidence and better control in slippery conditions.

The Across has the hybrid plug-in system, which means you get a cable in the boot of the car, and a plug hidden away behind a flap. If you have a home charger you can put it on charge whilst at home, but if not, I’m afraid you have to find a public charger that is working, and wait over an hour.

The Across is a good looking SUV with nice styling, crisp bold lines and looks great from every angle. It has

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

wheel arch mouldings and a large open grille which makes it look more muscular.

The interior is certainly gives you a sense of luxury and comfort with well-crafted upholstery and the cabin has high quality materials with good fit and finish, and has “soft-padding” on the dashboard and door trims, all adding to give it a premium look and feel.

Despite it being both petrol and electric you drive it exactly the same as you would any other car.

Press the start button, put the automatic gearbox into drive, depress the accelerator ... and away you go.

The car does all the thinking for you, and maximises fuel consumption and reduces petrol consumption as much as possible.

The car charges the batteries when you are slowing down or going down hills, it stores this energy, and uses it when needed.

Suzukis have traditionally been renowned worldwide for their price, and good value for money, but in the UK list prices comes out somewhat higher than expected at £45,599.

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41

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A VET'S INSIGHT

IS UPON US THE WEATHER HAS WARMED RAPIDLY AND WITH THIS COMES THE RESURGENCE OF THE INSECTS AND THE PARASITIC ONES THAT CAN CAUSE DISEASE IN YOUR PETS. PROTECTING YOUR PET IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE , OTHERWISE YOUR BEST FRIEND COULD SUFFER CHRONIC ILLNESS FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFE . TODAY I WILL REVISIT A COUPLE OF THE DISEASES. Locally the most significant problem and one that can cause serious illness in your pet is canine leishmaniasis.

This disease is caused by a flagellated protozoa that is injected into dogs by Sandflies (phlebotominae), looks like a tiny mosquito. The female of this biting fly feeds on blood that it requires for egg production, however at the same time that it feeds it can infect the host with the protozoa, in a similar way that malaria is spread by mosquitos.

depending on the your particular circumstances.

There are two ways of protecting your pet, one is to vaccinate your pet and secondly to prevent its infection by the Sandfly.

Vaccination is a fairly recent option, it is more expensive than your standard vaccine, but be aware that the manufacturers do not recommend that you stop using ecto-parasite treatment to stop the vector.

The protozoa can cause devastating damage to a dog, but the illness is a slow insidious disease that can damage pretty much any organ in the body, broadly speaking they can be divided into two types, the visceral type infecting the internal body organs, or the cutaneous one that infects the skin. This is a bit of a simplification as it can affect any body system and therefore can sometimes it can be a challenge to diagnose. One common complaint is that the dog ‘isn’t right’. In some cases the illness is asymptomatic until the animal becomes suddenly seriously ill , in some of these cases the dog has gone beyond the point of no return and does not respond to medical therapy.

However all pets do not require the same level of protection, the highest level must be for those dogs that are outside in gardens during the times of highest risk, dusk to dawn. Those dogs living in flats in highly urbanised areas are at a smaller risk but there is never any guarantee that a female Sandfly will not sneak in and infect your family pet, do not become complacent.

Confirmation of the disease is done by doing a simple blood test, generally you can have the results back in under quarter of an hour.

If an animal with a flea allergy dermatitis isn’t treated they the problem can snowboard and the condition can become serious and very expensive to treat. In this day and age there is no excuse for your pet suffering from a flea problem; there are a multitude of decent products out there to prevent your pet from being infested with these blighters.

There are various treatment regimes used in the medical therapy of infected dogs, depending on their body condition, the body system affected and on the finances available. Sometimes the dog does not respond to one treatment and may need an alternative.

The other main ectoparasite of concern at this time of year is the common flea. Although they do not carry serious illnesses they can cause many chronic skin complaints. The exception to this is a blood parasite in cats that is spread by fleas and this can kill your pet if not diagnosed early enough.

In summary go and out get your pets protected NOW!

What is very unfortunate about this disease is that in the majority of cases after treatment the animal goes into remission and the parasite cannot be eliminated, it remains dormant in some hidden recess of the body, usually in the lymphatic system or the bone marrow. Thanks to medical progress we can now actually look for DNA of the protozoa in the blood, so that we can check the level of infection in treated animals to make sure the parasite does not make an unwelcome reappearance.

Evidently prevention of leshmaniasis is by far the best option. Now not all dogs are at the same risk of contracting this disease so you can tailor your prevention strategy

WORDS BY MARK PIZARRO

For more information please phone Gibra ltar Vetinary Clin ic on 200 77334

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45

FEATURE THE JOY OF EXPECTING A CHILD CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED. OF COURSE, THERE IS A WHOLE COCKTAIL OF EMOTIONS: ELATION, APPREHENSION, CURIOSITY OF HOW OUR BODIES ARE CHANGING AND THE LONGING TO MEET OUR CHILD.

When I was examined I was told I was already 3 inches dilated. I was rushed to delivery room. It becames a fanfare of doctors, nurses and the NICU team. They made every effort to stop or at least slow down the delivery of the twins as they were aware they had to support the babies lungs and Development. After just over 24 hours Amliah arrived first and then as Levi. He had his hand in the birth canal like superman. They advised me I needed a C section as the rest of his body was still in my womb and there was a risk I would hemorrhage.

Imagine then, the extra layer of uncertainty felt by mums to be during the pandemic. These mums faced the challenges everyone experienced during this difficult time as well as preparing herself to journey through these nine precious months, often without her usual support system. During pregnancy, the close contact, friendship and guidance of loved ones is an extremely important part of the process. During the pandemic, not being able to hug, meet and personally confide our concerns and uncertainties have brought a particular fragility to this most emotional time of our lives.

I prayed that this would not be the case and told them I really wanted to push. By this time they had already prepped me for theatre. I was in the theatre room with doctors ready to cut me open. I pleded once again to let me try to push. I was given a 3 minute deadline to do so or they would have no choice.

Samantha Lubanzu, 37 lives in South Manchester her husband Luis, 39 and their children Eliyanah, 5, Luis, 3 and twins Amelia and Levi.

The medical team gave me drugs and I was able to push Levi out safely within twenty minutes. It was just over an hour since the bith of his twin Ameliah.

Samantha is a HR Busines partner recently taken voluntary redundancy from a global Bank and Luis is a registered Mental Health Nurse working for a private hospital They met when Samantha was 19 and Luis was 21 through friends.

They dated for 5 years before getting married. The couple were married on 14th June 2008. Their daughter Eliyanah was conceived via IVF after almost a decade of infertility, their second child came naturally.

Samantha and Luis’s first child Eliyanah who was 3 during Samantha’s last pregnancy excitedly told mummy that she was going to have a boy and a girl - God had told her! This was all before her mum even knew she was pregnant herself. Eliyanah would mention it everyday for several weeks, including to her childminder until a pregnany test confirmed it.

Samantha had experienced some symptoms which she had thought was due to a bug or something else but not another pregnancy. She went to the doctors who ordered a blood test to be carried out. It was weeks before they came back but during this time, Samantha took a pregnancy test and sure enough she was expecting.

As Samantha was also experiencing some tummy pain she went to the hospital who immediately scanned her. They discovered two sacs; one with a heart beat and one without one.

Samantha describes what happened next: ‘I was told that I had potentially miscarried the second twin and would need to be rescanned in a forthnight but I held

They were both rushed to NICU and I was only given a glance at each before they were whisked away. The good news is they were breathing on their own.

on to my daughters prophecy and my faith in God. When I went back I was convinced there would be both heart beats and thankfully, both were visible.

At 16 weeks I went for a private scan to discover I was indeed having a boy and a girl. It was a difficult pregnancy as morning sickness was intense and then lockdown came. I had to look after two toddlers whilst being unwell. I was told to have plenty of bed rest which was impossible. Then, at 27 weeks and 6 days I woke up and felt very unwell. When I finally dragged myself out of bed I was sick and felt very unusual.

This prompted me to call the maternity emergency department. They told me to stay home and due to covid they were being extra cautious. A few hours later I felt the urge to push and went to the bathroom.

From what I experienced, I knew I had to call the ED again - they told me to come in immediately.

At this point I had been shielding at home and although I had watched the news I was yet to experience exactly what the outside world looked like. Driving along empty roads and arriving at an empty hospital felt like the zombie apocalypse.

Because of the pandemic, my entire pregnancy felt very strange. I experienced a lot of it indoors. At the beginning due to morning sickness and fatigue, then at the end due to covid 19. I felt very isolated and out of touch with what was really going on except for the news and what friends and family told me over the phone.

Only one person was allowed at the hospital so Luis was there for the most part. I did deliver Ameliah on my own. They told him he could not be in the c section theatre but then they let him in when they agreed I could push.

When I got home the twins trust helped me by having free access to a Narlord nanny called Patsi via phone. She really helped get the babies into a rountine and they thankfully starting sleeping through the night at 12 weeks old!’

YOU CAN FOLLOW SAMANTHA AND THE TWINS JOURNEY ON HER INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT: @LUBANZUTWINS

WORDS BY KATHLEEN NORTH 46

JUNE 2021

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PACS

TIME TO

In our busy modern lives, it can be hard to find time for everything but one thing that PACS believes is worth prioritising is reading with your children. Reading and storytelling with your children will promote their brain development and imagination. It also helps to develop language and emotions, and strengthens your relationships with your child.

Taking the time on a day to day basis to share stories, talk and sing together can help your child’s development in many ways. It will help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills as well as develop your child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and communication skills.

On top of this your child will learn to value books and stories thus sparking your child’s imagination and stimulating curiosity. Books can also be a great way to help your child understand new or frightening events, for example a book on potty training might help them understand, in an appropriate way, what is happening.

Sharing stories with your child doesn’t always have to be your reading from a book. Just by looking at books with your child and talking about them, can help your child’s development.

They will learn by watching you hold a book the right way and seeing how you move through the book by gently turning the pages.

Reading stories with your children can also have benefits for you too!

This special time reading together will help with your bonding and your relationship with your child.

for sharing books with babies and young children.

• Make a routine and try to share at least one book every day.

Maybe just before nap time or bedtime or maybe snuggling in the afternoon.

The Parent and Child Society has a weekly session based all around stories and book reading. Sensory Stories are a great way to include all the senses into storytelling which can be enjoyed by parents and children alike.

Stories create magic and a sense of wonder. By adding sensory to a story it can expand a child’s understanding, encourage participation and displays a sensation of reality. This session runs on Thursdays at The Methodist Church from 1-2pm for ages 18 months and above! The session will start at 1pm promptly, however The Living Room Cafe (attached to the church) is open for a tea or lunch before we begin. We look forward to you coming along to this session and enjoying the stories!

• Turn off all devices and find a quiet place to read so your child can hear your voice.

• Sit close together.

• Have fun – make silly noises and sounds!

• Talk through the pictures and encourage your child to engage with the book, for example point our colours or numbers!

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HEALTH & WELLBEING Summer is upon us and it’s all about getting fit and healthy so that we can relax and enjoy the outdoors and the good weather. Remember though, it’s not just about looking good, it’s about feeling good as well.

If you are planning a holiday whether at home or, if restrictions allow, abroad, then start thinking about what you are eating and what sort of food you are feeding the family beforehand. Loading up on gut-friendly foods before a trip away can help prevent the much-feared travellers' diarrhoea, as “good” bacteria inhibits harmful strains. Specific bacteria have also been found to ease the effects of allergies, so shop for bacterial culture supplements suited to your individual needs before you go.

Try Holland & Barrett Acidophilus Chewable Tablets which contain a combination of bacterial cultures and provide 1 billion active bacterial cultures per tablet.

Broccoli is rich in fibre but these crunchy green florets also have a natural anti-inflammatory effect. Drinking green tea in moderation can help you to stay hydrated and reduce the appearance of dark, under-eye circles and dry skin and could also boost protection from the sun's rays, although bear in mind that too much green tea can dehydrate and there is no replacement for water.

Nuts are a rich source of healthy fats and vitamins A and E, and walnuts and almonds in particular are loaded with skin-boosting nutrients. Like olive oil, they’re also a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats which may prevent skin aging and help the skin renew itself.

If you are flying abroad, one good tip is to take an elderberry supplement before you get on the plane. Try Sambucol Black Elderberry Immuno Forte capsules for adults or Sambucol Black Elderberry for Kids Chewable Teddies to help support your immune systems. The elderberry contains strong antiviral and antioxidant compounds that can boost digestive health and provide allergy relief.

Staying safe and protected in the sun is paramount, so when it comes to thinking about what to pack, don’t forget to put sun cream on your shopping list. This is extremely important when it comes to looking after the kids because when the sun comes out and they want to spend most of their time in the sea or the swimming pool, there is an increased chance of sunburn. Try Holland & Barrett Nature's Block Mineral SPF 30 Sun Cream which gives natural broad spectrum protection from UVA & UVB rays using mineral sunscreens. Then to soothe your sun-exposed skin Holland & Barrett Nature's Block After Sun Lotion has a gentle rehydrating formula with added moisturisers and vitamin E that will leave it feeling soft and smooth.

According to one recent study, a diet supplemented with omega-3 fish oils increased the skin’s resistance to sunlight. Take three softgel capsules daily, preferably with meals, of Holland & Barrett Pescatarian Extra Strength Omega 3 Fish Oil which is a

highly concentrated and purified Omega-3 Fish Oil selected from the finest deep sea, cold water fish.

Aloe Vera gel is great for naturally healing sunburnt skin. First, be sure to wash your skin with cool water, then apply the aloe vera gel. Dr Organic Aloe Vera Gel uses pure bioactive organic Aloe Vera. This ensures that the plant’s beneficial polysaccharide levels are captured and maximised to help soothe, moisturise and restore dry and sun exposed skin. This bioactive double strength gel instantly soothes the skin, leaving it feeling healthy, soft and bursting with cell restoring activity.

Many of us will suffer with mosquito bites and although the majority of mosquito bites simply cause a little discomfort and a small, red lump or swelling that itches, some people experience more severe symptoms than others. There are many different home remedies and solutions that you can try, including cleaning the bite and applying surgical spirit to the wound, but the best thing to do is to avoid those pesky mosquitos in the first place. Mosquitos are attracted to pheromones in sweat, so showering or bathing before going out in the evening can help to minimise this. Wear long layers and keep covered up because mosquitos rarely bite through clothes and it is also advisable to turn off or dim the lights because light also attracts insects. 100% natural Incognito Roll On Insect Repellent available from Holland & Barrett has a light citrus aroma and is a powerful insect repellent that gives protection from all types of biting insects like mosquitoes, midges, sand-flies, horseflies, ticks and many more.

If you’re going on a family day out, maybe to the countryside, to the beach or even to a festival, you will want to take a cool box with you full of food such as fresh fruit, easy to eat vegetables, fruit juices and water that will keep you hydrated and give you the energy you need to keep you going from dawn ‘til dusk. Don’t forget to pack some energy bars for a quick boost or the USN Trust Crunch Raspberry Cheesecake high protein bar for a special treat.

Wherever you are going, enjoy your holiday break but, most importantly, stay healthy.

Fighting the harmful effects of the sun doesn’t end with applying SPF sun cream.

Eating nourishing, hydrating food could also provide protection from the inside out.

Advisory Information: Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

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Get set for the summer with some of our favourites

Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional before use.

Discontinue use and consult a doctor if adverse reactions occur. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use if seal under cap is broken or missing.

T’s & C’s APPLY. Subject to Availability.

Note this ooer runs: Start Date: 21st June 2021 OOer Ends: 24th July 2021

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FEATURE

Being a mother comes in all shades, many dimensions and with varying expectations. From the moment we know we are expecting, we experience a complex array of emotions.

In many ways we are not only carrying our own wants and hopes but the generations of mothers who came before us.

One aspect of those expectations is how others view us as a mum and does how many children we have play a part in how they feel? I have heard a mother of three casually pass a comment to a mother of one that ‘it’s ok for you - you only have one child to deal with’. This throwaway remark is rather patronising and worse still, belittles the other mums role as a mother.

With women taking a measured look at all aspects of their lives, some make the decision that they want one child.

There is no other agenda to this choice, they simply want one child and feel this decision is the right one for them and their partner.

Motherhood is a joy and privilege - as well as jolly hard work. However, being a mum is about parenting, not the number of children you have. All the love, caring and devotion you pour into your child are not ‘diluted’ because the recipient is one child.

The reasons why individuals actively choose to have one child can be simple or emotionally complex but they are deeply personal and come from a place of understanding ourselves and our hopes for the future.

Natalie Browne, 32. Natalie lives in Hertfordshire and works in a school as a secondary school teacher. Natalie is currently working 4 days a week but will increase to full time from September.

Natalie shares her story, ‘I met my husband online about 11 years ago. We chatted for a while but then didn't talk to each other for a while. Then one night I went out and got "slightly" (read, very) drunk and managed to break my nose on a traffic light pole. Being drunk I found the whole trip to A&E hilarious and posted photos of myself covered in blood in hospital. The following day I got a text on my new phone asking how the nose was. Didn't know who it was, we chatted and eventually I realised who it was! We met up a month or so later and the rest is history! We moved in together 6 months later, got engaged a year after that and married in July 2016.

I have always wanted children but have never been massively broody and not the sort of person to want to hold the new baby. We always discussed having a son and how we would name him Arthur and have his middle names after our fathers (who have both passed away). After a performance (I sing and play piano) I didn't want a glass of red wine (which is a MASSIVE for me) and my mum joked that I could be pregnant. The following day I took a test, but no longer had the box. Husband got the test as I was Googling what to see if you are/aren't pregnant and he said "What does it mean if it says Pregnant 3-5 weeks?". We weren't trying and had got pregnant after a night which included plenty of alcohol. We had discussed getting pregnant and were going to start trying that Christmas (it was then April). I'm glad it happened like that though as looking back I think we were rather naive thinking we could easily get pregnant when we wanted to.

When I found out I was pregnant I was upset - mainly due to all the plans we had for the summer and that I wouldn't be able to do them, or enjoy them as much as I would have liked (ie. 3 weddings when I had to be the designated driver and a festival with no booze). A few days of knowing and I ended up being happy!

We had always discussed having a boy to pass on my husbands name etc. But we found out we were having a little girl. I didn’t know how to feel about it and it didn’t really hit me until after she was born. Now, I don’t think the bond I share with my toddler would be as strong as it would be if she had been a boy!

My birth story isn’t pleasant – after being 11 days late and having to have an emergency C section our little one was in NICU for 3 days on a brain wave scanner and we weren’t able to hold her until she was 3 days old. I suffered mentally from the birth. I hated being pregnant. When my little one turned 1 I looked at photographs and decided I didn’t want to be the fat mum and lost 3 stone. (Ok, it was a lot harder than that and took over a year but I did it).

I am now in a fantastic place mentally and physically. I love my daughter with all my heart.

We have discussed the idea of having another baby. I don’t want to. My husband is happy with our daughter and doesn’t want to have another baby unless I changed my mind. We are now financially stable and that will only get better. We will be able to offer our little girl opportunities that we wouldn’t be able to if we had another child.

Despite being in my early 30s I am the only one in my female friendship group with a child. I believe that women are starting to put themselves first before settling down to have a family. I know that me and my friends are fantastic role models for my daughter and I hope that society sees women as more than just child bearers.

It doesn’t matter what I say, I will still get people asking “when’s the next one” and when I say I don’t want another child “Oh, you’ll change your mind”. - No I won’t. I love my daughter. We got it perfect on the first go. If you won the lottery, would you carry on playing?’

WORDS BY KATHLEEN NORTH 50

JUNE 2021

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

MEN’S HEALTH WEEK 15TH-21ST JUNE 2021 Men are often reluctant to seek help for stress and other health and mental health conditions, this leads to a degree of under recognized health disparity.

Men’s Health Week focuses on bringing awareness to health issues that affect men disproportionately, getting them to become aware of problems they may have or could develop, and that it is ok to talk about their health issues.

N’S MENTAL ME

THE THEME FOR MEN’S HEALTH WEEK 2021 IS:

L EA

T H WE E K

The Men’s Health Forum stress that even before the pandemic men’s mental health has been a cause for concern – higher numbers of suicide, lower numbers seeking support for anxiety and depression, are just a few examples of the mental health challenges faced.

Covid-19 has further influenced wellbeing, through the various lockdowns and insecurities of the last year, particularly in young people.

H

MEN, MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19

During the pandemic, boys and men across the lifespan have had to manage a multitude of factors that could impact their health and well-being home-schooling, unemployment, remote working and lack of social interaction... Moreover, with men more likely to be in the sort of jobs that cannot easily be done from home, it could be argued that many male-dominated workforces are also at greater risk from Covid-19.

As we slowly emerge from what is hoped to be the worst of the pandemic, many questions and concerns still remain - How do we move forward?

A key to moving forward is to call on men to come forward and talk about their health; to accept help for coping with stress, mental health, and other physical health conditions.

Key recommendations to stay healthy include eating well, keeping active, quitting smoking, drinking plen ty of water (but drinking alcohol sensibly), getting enough sleep, paying attention to mental health and keeping up with medical appointments as warranted.

WORDS BY XXX, PUBLIC HEALTH GIBRALTAR 52

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Choosing an

Orthopaedic Surgeon Waiting for a new hip? Had a sports injury? Suffering joint Pain?

When you have acute or chronic joint pain, your GP can comprehensively assess you fordegenerative and inflammatory joint conditions, like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Typically, these can be managed with medication, without the need for surgery.

Yet, in those cases when medication and physiotherapy do not help, then you might need to consult with a specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Choosing a Surgeon To make sure you choose a good Orthopaedic Surgeon, speak with your physio, your doctor, family, and friends – get recommendations.

Make sure that the Orthopaedic Surgeon is fellowship-trained in Arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery) and is a specialist in the arearelevant to you. If you have hip or knee pain, then the surgeon should be a specialist in these areas.

Consultation When you have your private consultation, you should feel unrushed, should feel free to tell the surgeon everything you consider relevant.

Expect to have high quality radio-images such as joint X-rays taken at the same time, so they

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can be discussed, and the findings explained to you clearly.

Surgery Before your procedure it’s not too late to ask for more information, like testimonials from other patients. Ask about the Orthopaedic Surgeon’s immediate clinical team. The surgeon should have annual appraisals and be correctly registered and be up to date with the latest proven techniques.

Aftercare You should be offered pain management and associated therapy towards your discharge from hospital. Clear post-operative care and post-discharge review plans should be provid-

ed, together with a contact in the immediate post-operative period for any concerns arising upon returning home.

This article has been written by Dr Thomas O. Boerger, MD FRCSI (Tr&Orth) Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, a recognised specialist in Hip and Knee Replacement, and ACL knee ligament reconstruction.

Dr. Boerger consults at The Specialist Medical Clinic, here in Gibraltar. Call 20049999 or 5407 4218 or or email: info@thomasboerger.com www.thomasboerger.com With an international career spanning three decades, Dr. Boerger is fully licenced and registered in the UK & Gibraltar as well as Spain.

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You Order.

We Shop.

We Deliver.

Simple.

UNIT 18, NEW HARBOURS GIBRALTAR TEL: 20071076 56

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Just Married on the Rock

Mobile: 58897000 Email: nicholas64@gibtelecom.net

Kristine & Tomasz Married 18 January 2021 Photographer Nicky Sanchez

Gemma & Jonathan Married 7th May 2021 Photographer Nicky Sanchez

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HOROSCOPES

YOUR FUTURE IN THE STARS

JUNE

WITH KATE MCHARDY

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20)

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 23)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 21)

It seems that you have access to specific knowledge this month, Aries, and that you would be wise to choose very carefully and who to share it with. Timing is also important so listen to your heart and trust it.

This is a good month for you to identify and develop your spiritual awareness, Leo. You may find yourself reading spiritual books or being drawn to spiritual music which will peace to your soul and dispel any negative any energies you may have attracted recently.

You may well find yourself coming into contact with animals this month, Sagittarius, or maybe one particular animal.

You will feel a strong connection and even a soul like communication. Go with it as the animal seeks the comfort.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21)

VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sep 23)

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 20)

You will be developing your intuition this month, Taurus, and your inner sceptic will be challenged to acknowledge things outwith your sphere of knowledge. So, gather your strength, follow your gut reactions and watch new doors open!

Perhaps you have been a little concerned about your finances of late, Virgo and are not quite sure on the best way forward.

Well, our finances tend to reflect how we value ourselves and so maybe time for you to step back and acknowledge the ways in which you bring value into the world and the people you love.

You need to broaden your horizons this month, Capricorn. This could mean travel or simply developing a wider social circle and having discussions about new things.

If you set the pace and make suggestions others will follow and a sense of goodwill and purpose will flow.

GEMINI (May 22 - Jun 22)

LIBRA (Sep 24 - Oct 23)

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb 19)

You are being guided to go within this month, Gemini, and spend some time getting yourself back into balance. You will be needed as a mediator in some way and you just have to view the situation from a higher perspective without becoming emotionally involved.

Do you have absolute 100% trust in an important aspect of your life, Libra. Could be a relationship, career or a dream. Not blind faith but to know the truth deep in your heart. Then strengthen your determination and be ready to move mountains.

If you feel drawn to certain places or people this month, Aquarius, it is because you are needed there because you have something to do or to share.

Don’t second guess yourself or even think it is absurd – just do it. You’ll be glad you did.

CANCER (Jun 23 - Jul 22)

SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22)

PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20)

Take a look at your challenges this month, Cancer, and you will spot a pattern. Perhaps you need to explore it on a deeper level and take whatever steps necessary to deal with it once and for all. Not always easy but very powerful.

You have learned a lot of life lessons over the years, Scorpio, and you are going to be called upon to put this experience to good use. Draw on this knowledge and energy within to guide and support others and do not hide your light under a bushel!

It is time for you to take a deep breath and take that next step, Pisces. You are well informed and with just a little self talk you will feel back on track and confident. Of course, learning more about your craft or practice is always necessary for development but take the step forward now.

For Private Readings Tel: (0034) 666 966 502 Email: katemch@gmail.com Facebook Group: Horoscopes Gibraltar

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Email: katemch@gmail.com Facebook Group: Horoscopes Gibraltar

FEATURE

Conscientiousness

a powerful path to fulfillment

DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED PERIOD IN THE EVOLUTION OF OUR PLANET, MANY PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO FEEL CONNECTED WITH, NOT ONLY OTHER PEOPLE BUT WITH THEMSELVES. THE GROUND BENEATH OUR FEET FEELS RATHER LIKE SHIFTING SANDS AND WHAT ONCE SEEMED SAFE, SECURE AND KNOWN NOW FEEL UNSAFE, UNCERTAIN AND SOMETIMES DOWNRIGHT SCARY. While we all do our best to remain centred and sure of our way forward, the truth is that this is an almost superhuman task at this time. However, it is not impossible. It just may be that the answer lies in teamwork. Most of us are familiar with the mnemonic TEAM referring to Together Everyone Achieves More. Well, right now that may so very much more relevant than we could ever have thought.

As the world moves beyond the material realms of what is known as 3D reality and on towards the more spiritual reality of 5D there are the pains and difficulties of rebirth. Just as the birthing mother must focus on her breathing in order to stay calm and help her baby into the world and its new life so, we too, must focus on our breathing, on staying calm with the breath and helping this beautiful new world to come into being.

One of the best things to happen to us during these last months is that we have been given time to reflect. Not everyone has been able to relax into this but for those who have it has been very powerful and very valuable. And so, to come back into the world with a deeper understanding of ourself, our needs and the many ways we can be of service to others. Of course, once this understanding has been glimpsed it is impossible to continue life without reference to it. It becomes an intrinsic and important part of daily life. Of our every action.

People have had to dig deep into their souls to tap into their inner strength and to help others remain strong. We support each other. We realise that when we work as a team then life flows more smoothly and we can each make our best contribution and Together Everyone Achieves More.

So, if you are searching at the moment, maybe feeling unfulfilled or frustrated and knowing

that you are not stretching yourself or channelling your skills and talents fully then I suggest you take stock of your life and identify a dream that you have that brings you the sense of inner satisfaction that is lacking. Allow that dream to come forward in your awareness and acknowledge it. Do you sense a tingling in your heart centre? A sense of excitement? It may be immediately quenched by the little voice which immediately reminds you why it would never work, can never happen. Stop right there and allow the dream to come forward again and as you do so allow the little voice to recede.

ers. To help others overcome their feeling of insignificance, identify their inner callings and to guide them in honouring and bringing those inner callings to fruition.

hold the dream.

For this reason, it is essential that we monitor our thoughts and catch ourselves when those negative ones winkle their way in! This is not about beating yourself up... it is about recognising that negative thoughts are absolutely normal and simply need to be noticed and light-heartedly flicked away.

Set aside some time to brainstorm the ways in which you can move forward to making your dream reality. Ask yourself why would you pursue this dream? How would it be of service to others? Who would you need to work with to bring forth success? Any dream worth realising requires teamwork, co-operation and selfless service.

As the great Earl Nightingale said, “Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal”.

When you have taken these steps and assembled the team you will work with then devote yourself to visioning your dream tirelessly and consistently always aiming at the highest good for all concerned. The roles of those involved may not all be the same size … they may evolve and grow … they may change. The team members may change but the essence will remain true as long as you communicate freely, effectively and with love.

These actions will bring you a sense of feeling valued, enriched and supported by the whole.

This may be your family, friends or work situation. They will also build within you the self confidence to share with and encourage oth-

Can you see the incredible impact this personal unfolding can have as the ripple effects move out and beyond the immediate reach of you, the individual? We are all energy beings and, as the frequencies rise around us, we connect more deeply with one another. We are all one and as such what we give out is what we get back.

We are spiritual being living in physical bodies and so the care and maintenance of both are equally important. And we do this by following follow our spiritual guidance. Like the great oak tree, we must plant ourselves firmly in the ground while reaching up to the highest levels of spiritual awareness in order to be centred and to conscientiously manage the uncertainties of the world that we are all currently navigating.

You are not alone – remember that Together Everyone Achieves More.

Kate Mchardy MA(Hons) PGCE MSPH Spiritual coach, teacher and healer. katemch@gmail. com / Tel: +44 7712889534. Facebook: The University of Light Group / Readings at The University of Light (@tarotangelspiritreadings).

WORDS BY KATE MCHARDY

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MEDIA LIMITED

GRAPHIC DESIGN | PODCASTS | SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIO | VIDEO | MUSIC RECORDING & PUBLISHING GBZ Media is headquartered right here in the Rock, with global reach to a team of best-in-class experts in media and the creative arts. We can provide you with a one-stop media portfolio management solution for your business, whether it’s strategic & co-ordinated social media management, a rebrand, producing podcasts or a corporate video.

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Sweet Pepper and Caramelised Onion Hummus Hummus can be traced back to the Middle East, and with Gibraltar’s vibrant cultural fusion and it’s “national dish” purely chickpea based, it’s no surprise that this chickpea godsend made its way into our diets.

INGREDIENTS 2 Large Sweet Red Peppers

Virgin Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves

Sea Salt

1 Red Onion

3 Tsp Sugar

1 Jar 400G drained Chickpeas 1/2 Lemon

METHOD Preheat oven to 200c 1, R oast the peppers in the oven with the garlic, cover with oil and foil and leave for 15 minutes at 200C, remove the foil and leave for another 5 minutes.

2, W hilst roasting, caramelise the onions by slicing then thinly, frying on a low heat and covering with sugar until softened and the sugar melts.

3, D e-seed the pepper, remove the garlic skin and place this with the other ingredients in a food processor with the juice of half a lemon.

4, Blend, pouring in 10 – 20 ML oil. Serve with a drizzle of oil.

For more delicious Mama Lotties recipes visit:

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1

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CROSSWORD

11 13

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WIN!!! WIN!!!

WIN!!!

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ACROSS

DOWN

1. A person who sells the materials used in writing, as paper, pens, pencils and ink. (9)

1. A black substance produced during incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc.. (4)

5. Male Scandinavian forename. (4) 7. A member of the Christian denomination that baptizes believers by immersion and that is usually Calvinistic in doctrine. (7) 9. F_ _, any darkened state of the atmosphere. (2)

A FABULOUS HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP

2. A member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia. (4) 3. Deep and wide enough to provide passage to ships. (9) 4. Full of feeling or manifesting ecstatic joy or delight. (9)

11­. Carlos _ _ _ _ _, Brazilian World Cup winning captain in USA 1994. (5)

6. Persons who appraise (7)

12. Anything that serves the guide or direct in the solution of a problem, mystery, etc. (4)

8. Loose, outer garment worn by citizens of ancient Rome. (4)

13. _ _ _ _ r, to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion. (4)

10. A mark left by a healed wound, sore, or burn. (4)

14. _ _ _ ll. Any f the small, pelagic, shrimp like crustaceans f the family Euphausiidae. (3)

11. A British nobleman holding the highest hereditary title outside the royal family. (4)

15. Common Welsh name with ancient celtic roots. (4)

Fill in the details below and send it, with the completed crossword, to GBZ Media Ltd, WorkLab, Eurotowers Complex, WestOne, Europort Road, GX11 1AA (Tel: 200 40913). Entries to be received before 24th of the month. A winner will be drawn from all correct entries and will receive a Himalayan Salt Lamp from The Light & Power Shop.

Name:....................................................................................

Address:................................................................................

Tel: ............................................

Last month’s lucky winner was: KATHRYN MORGAN

Round edible seeds of the legume family. (4)

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The GLB SUV. £1,000 Cash Back Offer.

In the GLB, you choose the shape your comfort takes.

The second seat row with optional sliding adjustment lets you use the interior space in the way that best suits your lifestyle.

And, with optional third-row seating (suitable for people up to 1.68m tall), the GLB provides room for up to seven occupants.

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Automatic Gearbox Active Lane Change Detector Rear View Parking Camera Active Brake Assist Light & Sight Package Available in a Seven Seat Configuration

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T H E

H A R G R AV E

THE ART OF TOWN CENTRE LIVING

It’s not all just about a sea view.

Our cityscape is full of character and beauty.

Gibraltar’s town centre is vibrant and charming and it’s only getting better.

Over the years developments like The Arches, Prince Edwards Gate and Tarik Views, to name a few are restoring the beauty of our Old Town.

The Hargrave aims to continue with the restoration of decaying yet stunning buildings into their natural glory with that contemporary touch.

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BMI GROUP ESTATE AGENTS C o n t a c t : + 3 5WORDS 0 2 0 0BY5RICHARD 1 0 1 0 o rCARTWRIGHT email info@bmigroup.gi 64

JUNE 2021

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