Gibraltar Insight™ September 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

Take Me

GIBRALTAR INSIGHT THE ROCK’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE

I’M YOURS FREE COPY

RITA

ON THE

ROCK

@GBZInsight

2

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

3

S E P T E M BE R ISSUE 28

Contents READY FOR RITA?

26

Business Insight

30 42

Features

10 BUSINESS NEWS

20 FROM ONE STUDENT TO ANOTHER - STARTING UNI

13 UP CLOSE WITH RANMARINE’S WASTESHARK

30 GIBRALTAR CALLING - RITA ORA 34

16 REPRESENTATION IN WESTMINSTER

Sports Insight

EHIND THE SCENES AT THE GIBRALTAR BOTANICAL B GARDENS.

42 SPECIAL NATIONAL DAY SECTION 50 GETTING GREENER - BUT CLEANER?

24 GFA - FIVE YEAR’S ON

57 INSPIRATIONAL GIBRALTARIANS - GABY CHIAPPE

26 THE RYDER CUP - WHEN 2 CONTINENTS COLLIDE

62 LOCAL HEROES - CHRISTIAN FALZUN

29 GOLF NEWS

Culture Insight 54 “ WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS” 55 TERRY OLDFIELD, TO PLAY IN GIBRALTAR.

Regular Features 6

COMMUNITY INSIGHT

56 HOROSCOPES 59 ON THE SPOT: DILIP TAILOR 64 HEALTH & WELLBEING INSIGHT 70 WEDDING INSIGHT 74 THE CELLAR CROSSWORD

Gibraltar Insight Magazine July 2018. Editor: R Ford. Printed & published by GBZ Media Limited, Suite 1, 77 Main Street, Gibraltar GX11 1AA. +350 200 40913. hello@gibraltarinsight.com Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. The names Gibraltar Insight, Bermuda Insight & GBZ Media are marks of GBZ Media Limited. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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 correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Gibraltar Insight or GBZ Media Limited are not responsible for any claims made, or material used in advertisements. Deposito Legal CA-955/07

4

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

5

COMMUNITY INSIGHT Brand New Radio Station for Gibraltar!

A brand new independent local radio station is set to go live from the top of the rock on Monday 1st October.

Rock Radio is the first station to launch in Gibraltar for over 50 years and will provide listeners with a mix of entertainment and fun, delivered by enthusiastic presenters with a sizzling playlist made up of the biggest songs of the day. Local news, events and give-a-ways will feature prominently and interaction from listeners will play an important part.

Daniel Harrison, Station Director, said:​“Rock Radio has been in the planning for well over two years now; we are really excited by the response and support that we’ve had from the GRA and key business people. The management team at Rock Radio have over 40 years’ experience in broadcasting, with their work being seen and heard on ITV, the BBC and commercial radio networks.”

Broadcasting live every day from purpose-built studios in Gibraltar, Rock Radio will have a presence at key events across the Rock. “Local radio works when it is immersed in the lives of the people it broadcasts to and Rock Radio will be doing just that. From early in the morning, until late at night, we will be reflecting the rich culture and diversity of life here in Gibraltar,”​ says Daniel.

The Hon Steven Linares, commented: “​As Minister for the Media it is an honour for me to congratulate Rock Radio in launching an alternative radio station on the Rock providing the audience, mainly the younger listeners, with the most current and modern mix of music genre. I wish the directors and staff of Rock Radio all the best of success in this venture.”

ROCK RADIO LAUNCHES AT​ 8AM ON MONDAY 1ST OCTOBER​ON 99.2 FM, DIGITAL RADIO (DAB+), ONLINE AT WWW.ROCKRADIO.GI, VIA DEDICATED IPHONE & ANDROID MOBILE APPS PLUS ON TV. 6

MINISTER VISITS REFURBISHED SCHOOLS Minister for Education, John Cortes, accompanied by officials from the Department of Education and staff from the schools, has visited three schools that are receiving extensive renovation works over the summer. The Government has stated that it will refurbish and improve all those school buildings that are not being replaced, and work on delivering this commitment has started and is progressing well.

St Mary’s School, which has in the past suffered from water ingress and flooding, is being re-roofed and a new drainage system installed. In addition, extensive rewiring is taking place in order to improve heating during the winter.

In St Joseph’s first and middle schools a number of refurbishments have been carried out to classrooms and toilets, and the guttering in the halls is being totally replaced. New benches are being provided in the playground at the first school.

Work is progressing also at St Paul’s where classrooms are being redecorated and redesigned to improve them for teaching and enable better use of space.

Commenting on the works, Mr Cortes said, “This summer has seen tremendous activity in these schools. We made a commitment to teachers that those schools staying in their present locations would be extensively improved and we are keeping this commitment. The programme will continue, and the benefits to teachers and pupils will be very tangible. This unprecedented investment in education will make a huge and important positive difference in the lives of pupils, teachers, staff and parents.”

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

COMMUNITY INSIGHT

FUN, SUN & SEA 10TH ANNIVERSARY CARDBOARD BOAT RACE AT OCEAN VILLAGE MARINA The 10th Anniversary of the RAOB & Ocean Village Charity Cardboard Boat Race achieved a record turnout with 28 boats. This landmark event was the best attended so far, was hosted by the ever-popular Master of Ceremonies, Frankie Hatton and attended by Minsters John Cortes and Stephen Linares, Miss Gibraltar 2018, Star Farrugia, and her princesses, Lilly Gomez and Jennifer Munoz, as well as the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, who brought along their very own pink R2D2 and a Darth Maul!

Raptor, a well-designed bright yellow boat constructed by Nathan Lima and Friends, won the Adults’ Race and the new Buffalo Challenge for “Most in the Boat”, with a massive 15 people managing to fit inside!

The afternoon was action packed with nail biting finishes and spectacular sinkings. The winners of the Juniors’ Race, O’Reilly’s Unicorns, also wowed the judges with their rainbow unicorn outfits, complete with sparkly purple horns, and walked away with 2 prizes, both for 1st place and best fancy dress!

U-mee came second in the Juniors’ Race with their aerodynamic glossy black and pink boat aptly named “Speed of Light”, and after entering both Juniors’ and Adults’ Races, managed a respectable fourth place for the Adults’ Race, with the vessel only coming apart right at the last few seconds after reaching the finish line for the second time that day!

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

(a huge replica of the Mack Truck from popular Pixar movie, Cars 3) and the Bio-Boat from Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, complete with intricate tissue paper flowers.

PWC glided into 2nd place with their inspired Business Casual boat PWSea dressed in business casual attire; suit jackets and bright coloured shorts, complete with laptop!

Special mentions go to the majestic Sea Lion from MSC Lions and Kindred Spirits from Kindred Group for their Game of Thrones themed boat and fancy dress – complete with soundtrack!

Maroc-Atlas 4x4 came in 3rd place with their huge black cardboard Landrover, aptly named The Beast.

Emilia Hazell-Smith, Events and Social Media Executive for Ocean Village said:

Best Boat Design went to Morrisons for their stunning green and yellow Hawaii-style boat Morrilicious, complete with outrigger for support.

“The Annual RAOB Charity Cardboard Boat Race is always a fantastic summer’s day out at Ocean Village and it’s so exciting to see all the handmade boats with each team investing many hours of work into their creations!

Every year the race gets bigger, and we would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors, especially U-mee, Kindred Group, Gedime Motors, SCSI, Ibex Insurance and Saccone and Speed, participants and volunteers from the R.A.O.B for making this happen and In2Adventures, the Gibraltar Canoeing Association and HM Customs who offered water rides and activities for this year’s charities, GBC Open Day and the Gibraltar Cardiac Association”.

Marks and Spencer stayed true to their slogan, and ‘spent their Saturday well’ with their boat Sparky – their team’s sparkly outfits complete with shimmering gold hula skirts and gold painted faces pipped everyone else to the post for the Best Fancy Dress prize!

There were many stunning handmade creations, each taking weeks to make, with stand-outs being the incredibly detailed Barmy Armistice Big Bertha tank by the Buffalos, a large Biplane model from the No 2 Overseas Sqn Air Cadets, Big Mack

SEPTEMBER 2018

7

8

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

9

BUSINESS INSIGHT BA NAMED BEST FAMILY AIRLINE British Airways is celebrating being named Best Family Friendly Airline out of 20 international airlines by toy pram and doll company Play Like Mum who looked at how easy they make the travel experience for families.

As well as sitting families together for free, British Airways was praised for offering families pre-boarding, giving children their own free checked luggage allowance, plus a free allowance for a pushchair and car seat, complimentary special kids meals on longer flights, special children’s in-flight entertainment and free carrycots and baby seats on board flights.

Tom Stevens, British Airways’ Head of Customer at Heathrow, said: “We know how daunting the experience of flying with children can be, and all the extra stress that comes with it. We’re delighted with the great feedback we’ve been hearing from families who are really pleased with the changes we’ve made to make their journeys more exciting and less stressful from start to finish.”

Throughout the season British Airways has been handing out water and ice-creams, storybooks and cartoon boarding passes to children in the family zone to get their holiday off to an extra special start.

To help further ease the stress of family travel, this summer British Airways introduced a permanent family check-in zone and security lane at its hub at Heathrow Terminal 5, which has so far been enjoyed by 150,000 customers.

For more information on the survey of airlines, check the website: www.playlikemum.com/family-friendly-airlines/

Gibraltar University researcher at Alzheimer’s conference in Chicago University of Gibraltar PhD student, Sonal Samtani, was in Chicago recently to present her work at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest and most influential international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science. Each year, AAIC convenes the world’s leading basic science and clinical researchers, next generation investigators, clinicians and the care research community to share research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment, and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease.

Ms Samtani’s research aims to identify the impact of rehabilitation in Alzheimer’s disease in terms of cognition, function and quality of life. The desired outcome is to investigate the possibility of greater sustainability in dementia care, delay institutionalisation and keep people in the community for as long as possible. Sonal is one of the University’s diverse community of researchers all of whom are investigating issues of relevance to the local community.

Sonal was given an opportunity to present her preliminary research at the conference. She said: “The response I received was really encouraging. Having direct access to a global community of Alzheimer’s professionals and researchers was an enriching experience and the feedback I received will move my work forward”.

Manuel Tirado appointed as new Captain of the Port Gibraltar Port, HM Government of Gibraltar, is delighted to confirm the appointment of Manuel Tirado as the new CEO / Captain of the Port.

Manuel started working at the Port Department in 1983 as a deckhand in an era when all vessels had to be physically boarded and technology was basic. Over the years Manuel has worked his way through all the ranks gaining valuable experience. Manuel was temporarily promoted to the role of CEO/Captain of the Port in September of last year and is very happy to take on this role on a permanent basis. He looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

The Hon Gilbert Licudi QC MP, Minister for the Port, added that he is very pleased with Manuel’s formal appointment to this position and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him.

The trip was funded by the Kusuma Trust, of whom Sonal said: “I would like say a special thanks to The Kusuma Trust for their generosity in funding the conference and supporting my research”.

10

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

11

12

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

BUSINESS INSIGHT UP CLOSE WITH RANMARINE’S

The WasteShark is a Dutch/South African invention that’s already helping to clean up our waters. It’s technically an “aquadrone” and can be found in places as diverse as Cape Town and Baltimore. We spoke with CEO Richard Hardiman about how the device can make an impact in the fight against plastic.

We started by asking Richard how he got involved RH: My father’s an engineer – so I’ve always had that kind of thinking – and I saw how the current waste in harbours and marinas was being cleaned up, and the engineering side of me said ‘this could be done more efficiently .. and better’. It wasn’t necessarily an environmental problem that I had in mind, but rather the lack of efficiency in a process.

In very basic terms can you explain how this works? It looks like it’s a vacuum cleaner that sits on the surface of the water and sucks in all the debris. Would that be an accurate description?

RH: That’s pretty much it. The idea is that it’s a fancy wastepaper basket.

The cleverness comes in the technology behind it, but the actual functionality and the hardware is literally a basket – we have ways of keeping the trash in – but the idea is to float across the surface of the water (we cover the top 30-40cm) and collect waste that way.

Using the force of the water, to push the waste into the back of the basket where there’s a beach head where the waste is put on to … and that really is it. The operator or computer guides it over the waste in the water and scoop it up. I’m very big on simplicity and we could have gone into hours and hours and years of development of conveyor

belts and trash compactors and that kind of thing, but to me it’s more about doing the job more quickly and efficiently – and having something that doesn’t break down.

Is this an autonomous or semi-autonomous device, or does it need to be controlled by a human?

RH: There are two versions – what we call a “Class A” and a “Class B”.

The Class A is driven similar to how you would operate a standard flying drone. You have a controller … you have line-of-sight … you can guide it where you want it to go. If you spot a piece of trash in the corner you can guide it there to scoop it up. In the Class B version it gets a little more complicated. You can do it by operator, so you still have a control and can do it by line-of-sight, but you also have a camera onboard so you can go a little further out. Or, you can set it up on an iPad – so you (Cont’ on P15)

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

13

14

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

BUSINESS INSIGHT

can tell it where to go in the harbour area. It’s got collision-avoidance too so it’s not a danger to anything else … but it will follow the route that you’ve programmed. Generally, that’s because we know where trash in marinas and harbours collects. I’m sure that in Gibraltar it’s the same thing … very often you see trash collecting in one particular place – depending on the tide or the wind. Trash is fairly easy to find in a concentrated form, depending on what time of day it is, the weather and tidal conditions and soforth.

Where is the WasteShark currently being deployed?

RH: We have one in the Cape Town Waterfront at the moment as a contributor to other trash removal operations they have at the moment.

We’re hoping to develop that more into the forefront of how they collect trash in the next few months. We have them in Rotterdam, we have them in Baltimore now as well as Mumbai, plus other locations in the Netherlands.

get through the waste. In Rotterdam, on the other hand, we’ve seen what I’d call ‘incidental’ trash. There’s a lot of it, but it’s mostly floating on the surface and it collects in a certain area where it’s easy to collect in two or three scoops. In Mumbai, it’s relentless. Each one has a different challenge. There’s also bio-waste to consider … algae, seaweed and so on, but generally we like to focus on what I call ‘fresh trash’ … stuff that’s only been in there for a day or two so it’s easier to recycle.

On a global level, do you think we’ve passed the point of no return regarding pollution in our oceans?

RH: I think we can stop it. Our solution is very much to stop the ocean pollution getting worse. We talk to a fellow Dutch company that’s doing massive, massive clean up operations around the world, including in the

Pacific Ocean. But they’re dealing with a problem that already exists. And it’s a thankless task. They’re cleaning up pollution from all over the world and nobody wants to pay for it. However, I don’t think we’re at the point of no return. A combination of the efforts by companies like ours and the clean-ups in the wider oceans (as well as large companies phasing out the use of single-use plastics) means that we can stop it as fast as we’ve created it. It’s a problem that’s been seeping into the oceans since at least the 1970s easily.

But with all the focus, all the effort, all the technology I think that within 5-10 years of concentrated efforts we can reverse it.

Go to

www.ranmarine.io to find out more

Is there a noticeable difference between these locations as to the type of trash the WasteShark is collecting?

RH: We concentrate on plastic bottles, soda cans, plastic bags, nylon strings … that kind of thing. In Mumbai we’ve had to work really hard and deploy far bigger thrusters with more power to GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

15

BUSINESS INSIGHT REPRESENTATION IN

WESTMINSTER With Brexit on the horizon, it is even more important that Gibraltar should have a representative at the House of Commons in Westminster, ensuring that they are able to have a voice on matters concerning Gibraltar at the heart of Britain’s seat of democracy.

The Representation in Westminster movement is campaigning for people to sign a petition with a view to presenting this to No. 10 and the House of Commons in October.

Founded by Chairman Joe Caruana in2006, the aim of the non-political movement is to get Representation in Westminster whilst at the same time retaining all Gibraltar’s devolved rights or level of self-government as contained in the 1969 and 2006 Constitution.

More than 13,000 people have already signed the petition, including the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who, along with several individuals across the spectrum of political parties, has signed in a personal capacity.

“This is a people’s initiative which has the backing and support of the government,” explains committee member Wilfred Stagnetto. “The Government is giving us some financial help in the form of small amounts for the printing of forms and banners, and they have also given us a verbal indication that they would back the cost of us going to Westminster to present the petition when the time comes.”

The concept for the movement came from the former leader of the ILF/Reform Party Lyana Armstrong–Emery. “I was standing as an Independent for Devolved Integration,” she states. “At the same time there were a few UK MPs who had the same idea and so we started the Devolved Integration Movement, but changed the name more recently to Representation in Westminster.”

“The 2006 constitution gave us maximum self-governing powers,” Lyana says, continuing “so we have had devolution and we are full British Citizens through the 1981 Act, meaning that we are as British as any British citizen in the UK and now we just need to cement that by having our own MP in Westminster.”

Aided by a wider committee of twelve and a group of members, Joe, Wilfred and Lyana are proud that the campaign has been so hugely successful. “We had to open another petition list for non-residents to sign,” Wilfred says. “It is quite incredible that visitors who are only here for a couple of hours, both British and other nationalities, want to support us and for me that carries a lot of weight” “We also have the backing of some members of British Parliament,” Joe states. “They agree that it is time that Gibraltar had representation because we are British and loyal to Britain and our loyalty needs to be recognised.”

“ Back in 2005, when the European vote was approved in the House of Commons, there were about twelve people who spoke at the debate for the motion of the European parliament and they all said that it was about time that Gibraltar had a representative in this House,” Joe confirms.

(Cont’ on P18)

WORDS BY JO WARD 16

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

17

BUSINESS INSIGHT “Gibraltar’s presence in Westminster is a tangible reason for the world to see that we are a region of the United Kingdom with our devolved power,” Joe says, “a devolved region of the United Kingdom just as Scotland is a devolved region, except that we are a little bit more advanced in that than Scotland.”

Craig Mackinlay MP is one such supporter who has demanded the right for Gibraltar to elect an MP to Westminster: “Gibraltar, as it similarly leaves the EU will lose its current entitlement of being represented as part of the South West region in the European Parliament; the argument was valid then that Gibraltar should have elected representation linked with the UK: post Brexit it becomes even more necessary.”

Wilfred went on to express his view that it is a lack of democracy if Gibraltar is mentioned in Parliament, however infrequently that may be, and it is not democratically represented.

Andrew Rosindel MP thinks there could be an argument for Gibraltar to have a single seat in the Commons. “We’ve reached a point where we now have no option but to bring Gibraltar fully into the UK.” To reinforce why it is so important for Gibraltar to have its own MP, Wilfred gives an example with a paraphrased quote from a speech by a minister from the Spanish government in the European Parliament; ‘… Gibraltar is not represented in Westminster, therefore Gibraltar cannot be considered part of the UK, therefore any dealings that Europe has with Britain will not apply to Gibraltar.’

18

There is still time to add your signature to the Representation in Westminster Movement. Simply go to their Facebook page to click on the link: www.facebook.com/GibWestminster

SEPTEMBER 2018

When Gibraltar repeatedly applied to take part in the Olympic Games as an independent squad, its requests were dismissed. “If Gibraltar has an athlete in the Olympics, they don’t represent Gibraltar, they represent Great Britain,” Lyana says. “Yet we are British citizens and it should work both ways, so it is about giving us an equal voice.”

“This will not be an easy process but it is something worth fighting for,” Wilfred states.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Veggie body parts INSIGHT

This article is aimed at being informative only and it carries no medical pretenses. It is generally considered beneficial to health to introduce 5 or more pieces of fruit or vegetables in your daily intake, and follow the rainbow, i.e. eat at least one piece of white, yellow, orange, red, light green, dark green, or purple fruit or vegetable in the week.

“You are what you eat” is the commonplace maxim you must have heard umpteen times, applied to anything and every thing, whether physical or temperamental, and it has been going around since ancient times. Over two millennia ago, the casual observation that some fruits and vegetables resemble the human body’s organs prompted Persian physicians to prescribe diets abundant in one or the other, WALNUT is known since ancient times to be the wiz-kid for healthy brains, as its kernels are high in polyunsaturated fats to help regenerate the fatty tissue constituting the best part of this organ.

A handful of walnuts, or a mixed nut, makes the perfect midmorning snack to keep bad cholesterol in check.

Here is the perfect excuse for an extra helping of CAULIFLOWER cheese or aloo gobi next Sunday lunch: this ‘curd’ is good for the brain and all over, with its high content of phosphorous, essential to spark those light-bulbs in your top deck, and vitamins of the group B, as well as the rare vitamin K. CHAMPIGNON slices resemble a human ear and, besides complementing beautifully your fry-up, they contribute to keeping you fine-tuned to brunch gossip thanks to their selenium, iron, potassium and vitamin D. Everybody knows that CARROTS, as well as apricots, peaches, pumpkin and orange bell peppers make your skin produce melanin for the beach (always slap on sunscreen when out in the sun anyways!), but have you ever noticed how sliced carrots look like an eye’s iris and pupil? That is to remind you they contain vitamin A (like other orange fruit and veg), beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin - responsible for giving saffron its solar yellow colour. These molecules are indispensable for healthy retinas.

BLUEBERRIES are dark and intense, like eye pupils, and are rich in vitamin C. They also contain lutein and are said to improve your night vision, whether consumed fresh, in juice or jam form.

CHILI PEPPERS are red and shiny like lips, are high in capsaicin like other fruits of the pepper family. Capsaicin is a mild disinfectant albeit an irritant for humans and other mammals, but it also stimulates blood circulation and hence it is

according to the patient’s affliction. Just over a hundred years ago, the discovery of vitamins and oligoelements scientifically confirmed their intuitive research, and catalogued the nutritional content of each fruit and vegetable we consume.

Keeping in mind that all fruit and vegetables essentially contribute to a balanced diet, here below you’ll find a partial list of specific ones believed to be particularly beneficial to an organ or another, according to their shape.

This may also be a fun way to introduce children to essential nutrients and their sources, as well as to educate them to enjoy healthy dishes or snacks.

believed to be an aphrodisiac. Trivia: the Indian Army is currently experimenting on a type of chili grenade to be used to disperse mobs, akin to tear gas, but free of artificial chemicals.

GARLIC cloves look like teeth and, although they do no favours to halitosis, they can help whitening teeth if rubbed on your smile. Furthermore, garlic keeps hypertension under control.

TOMATO works wonders for a healthy heart, especially when cooked because heat activates its lycopene content, also believed to be an anti-aging agent fighting the ‘rogue’ free radicals. Paired with the high calcium content of pasta and parmesan, here you’ve got the scientific green light to a heaped plate of spaghetti napolitana!

STRAWBERRIES are low in calories and precious allies for heart and epidermis health. Traditionally considered a nipple-shaped aphrodisiac, they in fact contain aromatic chains that exude sweetly in perspiration.

GRAPES remind us of the alveoli in the lungs and are a valuable source of several micronutrients, as well as great filters to eliminate toxins. They contain fluoride that strengthens tooth enamel, and choline, involved in neurotransmitters for better memory and muscle control.

POMEGRANATE was considered a symbol of fertility and abundance by the Mediterranean ancient civilisations because of the abundance of its ruby seeds. Its juice is an elixir for the heart, and its bouquet of vitamins and mineral salts (magnesium, manganese and potassium) is definitely beneficial to ovarian health and the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

FIG, likewise, was considered the panacea for manly…ahem…shortcomings, and in fact was recently proven beneficial to

testicular health, whether fresh or dried.

It features a considerable amount of calcium and iron together with several vitamins and minerals. And of course it is an aphrodisiac too! The scent of figs, or fig trees can help lower anxiety and hypertension levels. It is advisable to peel and pop figs open before eating them, as wasps or bees may be trapped inside, and their peel may result upsetting to sensitive bowels.

AVOCADO is regarded as the miracle super-food: it seems to be good for every part of your body, especially if your animal protein intake is low, as it contains ‘good’ fats and vitamins of the group B. Yet, it is particularly recommended to pregnant women or to women planning a pregnancy because it helps elasticise and fortify the uterus walls.

LEEK: this bone-shaped cousin of chives is rich in vitamin K, essential for the correct bonding of calcium in bones and tissue. Enjoy it raw in your salad, or delicately sautéed in olive oil, to boast your vitamin E intake.

ONION: a lengthways section of onions and shallots looks like a cell and its nutrients help repair cells’ membranes.

OKRA: this exotic green-fingered pod is great to add spice to your buffet as well as suppleness to your joints.

AUBERGINE: loosely reminiscent of the human liver - although white cultivars are also available - this is the super-food of the Levant, India, and Far East, where it originates from and where virtually every course from appetisers to desserts contains it; raw, seared, boiled, sautéed, grilled, deep-fried, sliced, diced and creamed. While the peel may upset irritable bowel syndromes, the flesh provides soft fibre and precious nutrients.

Notably, it features traces of nicotine: no worries, though: over thirty kilos of eggplant barely compare to one cigarette!

WORDS, ELENA SCIALTIEL GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

19

FEATURE

FROM ONE STUDENT TO ANOTHER

Starting university So, first years (they’ll call you ‘Freshers’), it’s time for you to properly fly the nest for the first time and go to university in a different country. I was in exactly the same position last year, so I completely understand what you guys are feeling. You’re probably nervous, excited, and potentially a bit hesitant about making the big move. Trust me, this is completely normal. Everyone feels the same way. But here is some advice on how to handle this huge change in your life.

Everyone is in the same boat as yoU Most of the people in your flat or course are away from home for the first time too. They don’t know many people at university, if any. I was blessed with incredible flatmates who made such a huge difference in my university life; we were all there for each other through the good and bad times. They became almost like my university family, but at the beginning we were just 9 strangers who had been put into the same flat. On moving-in day, my parents were the last to leave (typical Llanito parents, making sure I had everything I could possibly need at university since they wouldn’t be around after the initial few days), but as soon as they left I knocked on my

flatmates’ doors introducing myself and suggesting we all go to the kitchen to break the ice. That was probably the best thing I did at university, because, by doing that, I met some of the most important people in my life now.

This isn’t a totally fail-safe way to become best friends with your flatmates, but it begins to form relationships with them. Some people in the flat were just uninterested in making friends and didn’t want to mix with us beyond the initial few days. If you get unlucky and have a flat full of these people, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to make friends.

(Cont’ on P22)

WORDS, CHLOE CORTES DELLIPIANI 20

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

21

FEATURE Join a club or society.

This genuinely made such a huge difference in my life at university. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to join the netball club since I was already involved with the sport here in Gibraltar and it is something I knew I loved. These girls became so important to my life; we train together, we play matches and hang out together and we became genuine friends with a strong support network for each other. On Wednesday nights, we have our socials and then go out to the club in town.

Freshers: don’t be scared of doing Fresher Challenges.

They’re all in good spirits and it makes you bond with each other and create some memories that you can tell your friends (although probably not your families) about. If you don’t have a clear interest in anything in particular, go to the Freshers Fayre. All the clubs and societies will have a stall set up and you might find things that you never thought would even be a society/ club. If you think you might have an interest in something, try it out. You’ll meet so many like-minded people and you’ll make friends with them. I honestly can’t stress how important this is for making friends and making your life at uni that extra bit better.

Take part in Freshers’ activities.

That being said, even just taking part in activities makes a difference. Many universities set up many during Freshers’ Week. Get involved with those. Talk to people around you, you’ll be surprised how many friends you can make that way. The people on your course might be among those invited and that’s a good place to start forming bonds with others. You will meet so many people from so many different places and from different backgrounds. Just make sure you go in with an open mind and start conversations. Again, everyone is in the same boat as you and might not have the confidence to start up conversations. I met one of my good friends at university by posting in a Freshers group chat asking if anyone wanted to go to town shopping and she replied offering to go with me. Put yourself out there, you’ll be surprised at whom you might meet.

Try to mix with lots of different people It’s important to not latch on to just one group of people. Be open to new people and experiences. Invite people round to your flat. My flat was the one that would always host the pre-drinks before events throughout the whole year, and we would all invite friends from outside the flat to join us. By doing this, I made friends with so many people I would never have otherwise met and now I feel lucky to have them in my life. I have so many groups of friends at university, so there is always someone available to hang out with. This honestly made my life there so much better, as I would never feel

22

lonely and whenever I needed something, I would have different people to turn to. Whenever I’ve been sick or injured, I’ve had different groups of people looking out for me, taking me to the doctors and helping me to recover. At times like that, you’ll miss your family more than usual but having a big support network of friends makes a world of difference.

Call home from time to time Speaking of families, make sure you call home every once in a while. Your family miss you and they worry about your wellbeing at university. You’re far from home and they generally want to make sure you’re safe, healthy and happy. Communication is cheap and easy nowadays, just a simple text or five minute phone conversation won’t stop you from living your life, but it makes a huge difference to them. Personally, I always found that video calling my parents and sister would make a difference when it came to homesickness.

Making llanito foods also makes a big difference to me when it comes to missing home, so bear that in mind.

A final word of advice: don’t go around telling people about your grant. Most of the people you’ll meet at university will have student loans and be in a lot of debt.

We’re extremely lucky that we don’t have to pay any money back. However, some people at uni won’t like this and it can create some animosity towards you, so keep that on a ‘need to know’ basis.

The most important thing to remember is to be yourself, as clichéd as that sounds. Sooner or later you’ll find people who will love you for who you are and you’ll have the best time of your life with these people.

University is a time to explore yourself and grow as a person, so having a good group of supportive friends behind you will make that all the better.

In a nutshell

1. Introduce yourself to your flatmates and start to break the ice. It might be awkward at first, but it will make a difference later on.

2. J oin a club or society. You’ll meet people with similar interests to you and it’s an easy way to make friends.

3. Take part in activities and get involved. You will make friends in unexpected ways.

4. Don’t latch on to just one group of people.

It makes a difference to have more than one group of friends supporting you.

5. Call home and speak to family once in a while.

It’ll help you feel less homesick and give them a peace of mind.

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

23

FEATURE

GFA FIVE YE

ARS ON

Incredible celebrations were held at Casemates in 2013 when the Gibraltar Football Association was finally allowed to join the European family despite obstacles placed before us by one of Europe’s top foot-balling nations. Well, we got in and now it’s up to us to really put our shoulders to the wheel...or is it, get our `strong legs running towards the woodwork!’

“It’s moving along at breakneck speed,” that’s how former UEFA Liaison Officer during that fantastic occasion and now GFA General Secretary, Dennis Beiso described how things were with the GFA now, after being half a decade as a UEFA Member. “There’s a lot to do on the domestic scene alone. We have Men’s Football, Ladies’ Football, Youth Teams, a new Intermediate League aimed at bridging the gap between Youth & Senior Football, Futsal teams doing well, a new stadium to get up and running and there’s so much more.”

The football season has now started and it’s all eyes on monitoring the local teams as they gradually start to become well oiled and especially on the lookout for up and coming young players needed to represent us on the international stage - in Europe or further afield – to fill those veteran boots owned by the likes of the Casciaros, Walkers and Chipolinas who will be hanging their respective pairs up in the not too distant future, I would imagine.

Sat in the boardroom of the very smart GFA offices now situated in Irish Town, above their very welcoming, bright store full of well displayed team and national strips and plenty of merchandising, I chatted to Dennis and 24

Communications Manager, Steven Gonzalez ... “Yes, we have a staff now of about 13 or 14 members who are all very much needed to run the association,” Dennis tells me, “Running the local league which is now functioning well and very much concentrating on our International Games which sees the UEFA Nations League start this month playing the former Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia, Armenia and Liechtenstein. There are four categories in this league – A B C and D. We’re in D and as we improve and perhaps one day look at winning some games we hope to slowly move up the Nations League ladder competing against much stronger teams.” Not being a sports or even football fan but as an observer I always thought it would be a great idea if there were other leagues where `like with like’ would compete against each other – the `minnows’ countries - as opposed to facing the mighty giants of European and World foot-balling nations and so giving us a better chance to improve and gradually move up the ladder... For the time being, the Gibraltar versus Macedonia game on September 6th has come and gone and at the time of writing I was keeping my fingers crossed. It was our first international game played on home soil...Did we win??

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

FEATURE Choosing young, up and coming players can be a bit of a headache I can see, because of so many youngsters who play the game and are interested in improving, also head off to university... Steven and Dennis agreed it was an issue, “Sometimes they may choose to have a gap year and continue playing for our local teams,” Steven says, “But then they may want to go off again, get jobs and concentrate on their careers.” So it must be a tough one to keep a steady flow of good players on the pitch. As far as offering them professional contracts, I understand that already happens with our local teams but perhaps not enough to produce a reasonable income to become fully professional. “We do have one professional at the moment but maybe in the future we can have some more,” General Secretary Dennis tells me. On the oft controversial subject of foreign players playing in our local teams the GFA’s top man

doubt be in place. “Travelling to Portugal - as grateful as we are for that opportunity - requires a fairly high cost. We play in an unused stadium (no club team play at the Estadio Algarve) and have to set up infrastructure and so on for the game, we have to bus teams and staff all the way up there etc and it costs us approximately an additional 150,000 Euros per match (in other words, additional costs over and above what it would cost us to organise the same match in Gibraltar). Once we have our own stadium, local supporters and others will be in greater numbers which is good for our teams and then we can really call it a `home game’ where as now, you could call them, `away’ and `away’ games!” I was also enlightened as to how the GFA receives funds from UEFA and FIFA. I, as perhaps others, assumed it was given an annual lump sum and told, `that’s it, that’s your lot, get on with it,’ well, that’s not

interesting aspects, ins and outs and perhaps misconceptions regarding the beautiful game and multi, multi trillion dollar business that is European and world football of which little Gibraltar is now a part. In the mean time the GFA hierarchy are, `keeping their eye on the ball’ encouraging youngsters to continue playing the sport by contacting amateur or semi-professional clubs in the UK to take on local youngsters whilst over there in University and in that way help to keep the conveyor belt running to fill up those retiring, important, shirt numbers on the field. Crowds at local games are slowly growing I’m told and they’ll no doubt get larger when the state of the art new stadium is ready for use.

There are lots of tournaments to get involved in and get ready for, Under 17s, senior’s, women’s (they’re coming along nicely under the guidance of new Women’s Football Manager, Laura McGinn), `Qualifiers’ of different

says... “The home grown player rule in 2013 was one local player on the field through the match and if substituted another local would replace him, now, three are mandatory on the pitch but we also have to realise there may not be enough local players of an acceptable standard to put on the field if the numbers allowed were increased even further. We need to review the position at the end of the current season and make a decision”.

the case “Oh no, there are different headings or funds if you like for infrastructure, team expenses, administration and a number of other needs. The funny thing is, we dip into those funds in the same way Germany or any other country does and receive the same amounts. However we need the cash and put it to good use but many of those countries use it for ‘petty cash’, because they are very rich with sponsorships, television rights and other incomes such as government funding.

For example, the FA receives funds from the UK government also and in a way don’t really need that extra cash.”

shapes and sizes at various stages, along with a lot of work to keep all of that and more going and very importantly, improve the Gibraltar game which is what we all want. UEFA and FIFA are huge organisations and we’re on board now, things get serious with tough games ahead and `be professional’ must be the important message!

A lot of concentration and effort is taken up with the new stadium.

Building starts next year and `ready for play date’ will be sometime in 2021. I was shown computer generated footage of what’s coming and was impressed: covered stadium seating, super dressing rooms, cafeteria and a high standard, quality pitch will no GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

So much to talk about and learn with not enough time or space to fit it all in. I’m sure I’ll get the chance to interview again these two busy men and others, about the many more SEPTEMBER 2018

...So let us support our new National A Team Head Coach, the South American, the Uruguayan, Julio Ribas and wish him and the team, our very best for the many challenges still to come!

25

SPORTS INSIGHT

THE RYDER CUP WHEN TWO CONTINENTS COLLIDE! THE RYDER CUP, that herculean biennial contest that sees two continents collide, will reignite late this month when the United States sends its top twelve golfing sons to do battle with Europe’s finest at Le Golf National, in the picturesque location of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, located in suburbian Paris, about 20 miles southwest of the Champs-Elysees. Not since D-Day in World War II will so many Yanks simultaneously set foot on French soil, but while the Stars and Stripes victory quest will burn just as fiercely, their weapons of choice this time will be a lot more peaceful, just clubs - woods, irons, drivers, putters, etc - as America attempts to retain the Cup, convincingly won at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Minnesota in 2016.

Europe is the foe, thundered President Trump on his recent controversial tour to these shores and although the US Commander-in-Chief and the world’s best known golf hacker Donald was actually tweeting about EU trade tariffs, the intensity of his comment perfectly captures the dogged determination of the American invasion force to not just retain the Cup, but to also arrest the decline that has seen Uncle Sam’s army fail to win in Europe since 1993 – a staggering hiatus of quarter of a century! ‘America First’ has been a constant Trump refrain recently, a rallying cry readily adopted by the Ryder Cup raiders. Yes, the Yanks are coming and, for them, coming second is not an option!

The Ryder Cup is named after its donor Samuel Ryder, an entrepreneurial Englishman born in Preston, who had become rich from mass selling of penny garden-seed envelopes through the post.

Sam Ryder started playing golf late in life but quickly became obsessed with the sport and, in what must rank as one of the earliest examples of sports sponsorship, the canny Lancastrian commissioned the creation of the iconic 17-inch high, 4lbs solid gold statuette and so was born the Ryder Cup, to be contested every two years by Great Britain - later GB and Ireland - and the United States.

The agreed solution was to extend selection to include continental players and thus, in 1979, Team Europe came into being. The effect was not immediately positive as Europe was walloped 17-11 that year. However, a perfect storm was just about to sweep through Europe and ultimately sweep the Yanks aside. The golden age of Spanish golf, led by superstars Seve Ballesteros, Antonio Garrido and Jose Maria Olazabal, reinforced by German giant Bernhard Langer and Italy’s ultra-combative Constantino Rocca, whilst the simultaneous emergence of British colossuses Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood, along with Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, combined to make Team Europe an irresistible force that since 1985 regularly spanked the Yanks.

Of the 19 Cups played since 1979, Europe have the upper hand, winning 10 to the States 8, with one drawn and, as the oft-repeated Trump mantra attests, the USA does not like being second best.

On occasions, this resentment has boiled over, leading to some tawdry scenes, most infamously at Brookline in 1999, when

This correspondent is old enough to remember the humiliating defeats routinely suffered by Great Britain and Ireland sides at the hands of the Yanks – so lopsided did the contest become that even the Americans were embarrassed at the sheer scale of their superiority and the two golfing administrations engaged in talks aimed at attempting to make the Cup competitive.

drunken American spectators, actively encouraged by some of their players, disgracefully engaged in hostile barracking of the European players, their wives and supporters.

Subsequent US apologies have gone some way to restoring calm and civility, but there is no hiding the intense passion this titanic contest engenders in all competitors, which is all the more remarkable because these sportsmen, who each week compete for multi-million pound prizemoney, play in the Ryder Cup for free – it’s all about national pride and getting Ryder Cup honours on the CV. The 42nd Ryder Cup tees off on Friday, 28th (Cont’ on P28)

LIAM BEGLAN, SPORTS TRADER 26

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

237 MAIN STREET

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

27

SPORTS INSIGHT September and concludes on Sunday, 30th September with four fourballs and four foursomes on each of the two opening days, finishing on the Sunday with 12 singles when all 24 players take part. A total of 28 points are up for grabs, with defending champions United States needing just 14 to retain the title, while challengers Team Europe will need to score a minimum of 14-1/2 if they are to bring the Cup home.

This will be the first occasion that France plays host to the event and only the second time it has been held in continental Europe, following the 1997 event at Valderramma, Spain, when Team Europe triumphed by just one point in an epic encounter.

The L’Albatros course at Le Golf National is a par 72 and, due to its undulating fairways and many water hazards, is rightly regarded as one of the most difficult in Europe. The layout of some of the holes are said to resemble courses in Florida, so the Americans should feel at home, especially if the sun has got its hat on.

The US team captain is the universally respected Jim Furyk, who will be hellbent on ending the startling statistic that the Yanks haven’t won in Europe since 1993. A glance at his eight automatic team qualifiers must have ‘Gentleman Jim’ brimming with confidence that indeed it will be America First this time – in Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas, he has the top three worldranked golfers, plus Jordan Spieth, ranked 8th, Rickie Fowler (9th), Patrick Reed (12th), Bubba Watson (14th) and Webb Simpson (16th). Furyk is being coy about who his four ‘Captain Picks’ will be, but surely ‘Lefty’, Phil Mickelson, an ever-present in the side since

Ryder Cup Schedule Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September TV Coverage: Entire 3 days covered live by Sky Sport Recommended Bet: £25 USA To Win @ Evens 1995, and Tiger Woods, whose recent exciting resurgence to something approaching his imperious best, must be absolute shoo-ins to make the team.

7th, are all certain starters and fear no one. Add in Sweden’s Alex Noren, English young guns, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton and Team Europe looks formidable. My passionate plea to Bjorn would be to use one of his ‘wildcards’ to choose chest-thumping, fist-pumping, eyes-bulging Ian Poulter who, more than any other player, was the superhuman source of recent Ryder Cup success.

The experts reckon that this could be the greatest Ryder Cup ever, and looking at the line-ups it’s easy to see why. So, the question is – who wins?

The Bookmakers can hardly split them, the best prices being : Team Europe 5/4, United States Evens, Tie 12/1.

My heart says Europe but my head says United States. Reluctantly, I shall hope to double my money by investing £25 on the Yanks. Whatever the outcome, be prepared for Trump Tweets at midnight!

At the time of writing, the Europe side is not quite as advanced, but Danish Team Captain, Thomas Bjorn, must be happy with the players already qualified to make the team. British The Ryder Cup was launched in 1927 as Open champion Francesco Molinari a contest between the best golfers of Great has been an absolute revelation Britain and the United States. this season and the Italian currently ranks 6th in the world, It is a biennial tournament played on an alternating ever-reliable Englishman home and away basis.

Justin Rose ranks 4th, Despite playing for multi-million pound pots every week, Spanish superstar competitors in the Ryder Cup receive no monetary reward – John Rahm (5th) it’s all about national pride and prestige. and Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, whose The Cup bears the name of its founder, Samuel Ryder, an English form has been entrepreneur who had a great attachment to both the game of a bit patchy golf and the Stars and Stripes. recently but The trophy, a solid gold 17-inch statuette weighing 4lbs, was commiswho still sioned

by Ryder and reportedly cost £250 – suffice to say that its curhas a world rent value when conjoined with over 90 years of awe-inspiring history ranking of

Ryder Cup FACTS & STATS

is beyond price.

In 1957, Ireland was added to the GB side, in recognition of the part played by players from the Republic.

Such was American dominance over Great Britain and Ireland, it was agreed that in an effort to make the contest more competitive, players from the European continent would be eligible for selection and so, in 1979, was born Team Europe.

In the 19 tournaments played since the introduction of continental golfers, Team Europe have turned the form around, winning ten games to America’s eight with one tied.

Nick Faldo of Team Europe holds the record for most points won, with 25.

Billy Casper is the most successful USA player of all-time with 23.5 points As defending champions this year, the United States need to win just 14 of the 28 points available to retain the Cup while challengers Europe need 14-1/2 to regain it.

28

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GOLF

NEWS

THE MED GOLF MASTERS 2018 In a close run competition, Matthew Charlesworth takes the 2017-18 Med Golf Masters Trophy as Frank O’Hara sweeps away the opposition to win the Med Golf Corporate Trophy by some margin.

The 2017-18 Med Golf season ended in grand style with the invitation only, all expenses paid final tournament - The Masters. The Masters was hosted by the San Roque Club on the Old Course on Saturday 4th August. Just 7 of the top 10 players in the Jyske Bank Order of Merit (OOM) were available to contest the Masters Trophy, with 19 players competing for the Corporate Trophy; both in an individual Stableford points format.

The top 10 players were decided by the best 5 results over the whole season from a field of over 600 players.

Consistency was the key to success, as

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

the OOM is based on a points system awarded for rankings on the day, not the scores.

The course was in great shape with tees and pins set up to provide a real but sensible challenge. In the Masters Trophy challenge, Matthew Charlesworth took the trophy beating Paul Nash by a narrow margin. Qualifying for the Masters event was quite a feat for Matthew who had been unable to play in all of season’s events – a worthy winner.

Javi then thanked the sponsors of the day: Land Rover, Property Zone, The Hunter Group, Lavazza Coffee and Jyske Bank, who also the sponsored the year-long OOM. He also thanked all the Med Golf sponsors for their support throughout the year, the staff at SRC and the Med Golf Team, and congratulated Richard Atkinson, the Med Golf Player of the Year. Andy Stanford presented the prizes, including a card draw, kindly donated by Property Shop.

The Corporate Trophy was won by Frank O’Hara with 37 points, the best score of the day and beating his nearest riva by 5 points. Nearest the pin winners were: Roy Azopardi, Frank O’Hara, Jordan Brown and Matthew Warner. The longest drive was won by Javi Hunter.

Javi Hunter, a Director of the Hunter Group and Med Golf, gave the address and welcomed the Captain of SRC, Andy Stanford and his wife Amanda.

The prize presentation was accompanied by drinks, tapas and paella.

Before moving on to the business of the day, Javi raised a toast to Mike Goodson who started Med Golf in 1992 alongside Andy & John Hunter and who passed away recently. Mike was a great friend, a valued member of the Med Golf family. May he rest in peace.

SEPTEMBER 2018

The Med Golf 2018-19 season begins on Sunday 2nd September at the Benalup Fairplay 5-Star Golf and Spa resort. Join Med Golf for just £20 - half price - before 2nd September.

More details can be found on www.medgolfmembers.com

29

FEATURE INSIGHT TAKES A LOOK AT THE RISE OF RITA ORA, FROM IMPOVERISHED REFUGEE TO GLOBAL POP STAR

Rita Ora

Multi-talented singer, actress, presenter, judge and model, Rita Sahatçiu Ora was born in Pristina, Kosovo in 1990 but grew up in London after her family fled the country for political reasons, initially living in one room with her parents and older sister.

Although just one year old when she left, her birth country still means a lot to her today. “I feel very close to it, and I work with UNICEF in order to give back all the love and support I have received from the people there.” It is clear that Rita gets her work ethic from Mum Vera, a doctor in Kosovo who spoke no English when they came to the UK, but then spent six years retraining in medicine by day while working as a waitress by night.

Knowing that she wanted to perform from about the age of six or seven when she got the role of Cinderella in the school play, Rita went on to win a place at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School. “There were so many people in the building that all wanted the same dream,” she said in an interview for The Guardian. “It was a building of energy filled with hunger.”

She went on to hone her craft singing in pubs and clubs around London, often performing in her dad’s London pub: The Queens Arms aged 14. “My blood, sweat and tears were on the bar,” recalls Rita. “I didn’t drink alcohol… I would go to school and then I would go back, and my dad would be like, ‘get up and sing’.”

(Hilary Sheinbaum) In 2007, Rita got her first break in the music industry when she appeared on Craig David’s track “Awkward”, going on to feature in another of his tracks “Where’s Your Love” with Tinchy Stryder.

Rita auditioned for the BBC’s Eurovision show Your Country Needs You, a competition to find Britain’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, but withdrew on the advice of new manager Sarah Stennett who then put her in touch with Jay-Z, who it was rumoured said that should could become ‘as big as Rihanna’.

She went on to sign a five album deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label at the age of 18, releasing her debut album, Ora, but things didn’t work out and Rita demanded to be released from her contract at the end of 2015, filing a lawsuit claiming that she felt neglected and had no support from the label. Roc Nation responded with a $2.3 million counter-lawsuit claiming that the British singer hadn’t delivered enough albums. The case was finally settled out of court, leaving Rita free to choose a new label and release new music after a gap of five years... cont’ on P33

"TRUE BEAUTY IS KNOWING WHO YOU ARE AND BELIEVING IN YOURSELF. HAPPY PEOPLE KNOW THEIR PURPOSE, HAVE COURAGE TO FIGHT FOR IT AND STRENGTH TO KEEP GOING."

WORDS, JO WARD GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, B2 PROJECTS, COMPLETES THE FANTASTIC PARADISE TIKI BAR Property design, construction and development company, B2 Projects, which specialises in industry-leading office design and build, property development and construction, has just completed two exciting projects.

B2 Projects brings great value to its clients by solving their property problems through trusted experience and knowledge and by managing their projects from start to finish, making the process as smooth and easy as possible.

After being briefed, B2 Projects built new bar, Paradise Tiki Bar, in Market Place, transforming the entire space in to a tropical haven contributing to Gibraltar’s night scene.

The company looks forward to an exciting Autumn with a lot of projects on the horizon including the continued refurbishment of the prestigious colonial house on Main Street into high-spec commercial office space and luxury apartments.

Brand new Paradise Tiki Bar in Market Place built by B2 Projects The company has also just finished working with Signature Litigation, a leading European law firm, to create a state-of-the-art office for them. This was an end to end project in which B2 Projects designed, built and furnished the property in line with the company’s goals and culture.

To find out more about B2 Projects or to discuss a project, please visit www.b2projects.co.uk or email Hello@b2projects.co.uk

B2 Projects has already worked with and delivered services to a number of top Gibraltar businesses including Bet Victor, Collingwood Insurance, Addison Global Limited, Pragmatic Play, Heredium and others.

Legendary Motorcycle Racer John McGuinness, who is the holder of an incredible 23 Isle of Man TT victories visited the BetVictor offices in Gibraltar on 8th August.

While in Gibraltar John posed for photographs with some of his motorcycle fans at the Supernatural bar located at The World Trade Center.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

31

32

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

FEATURE With acting having been a passion from her early days, Rita jumped at the chance to play Christian Grey’s sister, Mia, in the film adaptation of the best-selling novel Fifty Shades of Grey. She originally approached the production team hoping to contribute to the film’s soundtrack but instead was asked by the film’s first director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, to audition. She ended up appearing in all three of the film’s trilogy and contributing a song for the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack entitled “For You”, a duet with Liam Payne. Rita revealed Fifty Shades wasn’t her first turn in front of the camera. She said: “I actually had my first acting role at the age of eleven in the movie Spivs.” Having said that she would like to continue with acting, when asked what kind of genre she would lean towards in the future, surprisingly Rita said that she would “love to do a horror movie”!

Now signed to Atlantic Records, Rita recently made Official Chart history by tying with Shirley Bassey and Petula Clark as the British females with the most Top 10 singles, having collected 12 during her relatively short career.

Television appearances heightened her profile and include her time as a guest judge on the ninth series of The X Factor in the UK. She was a coach on the fourth series of The Voice UK on BBC One before going on to sign as a judge for the twelfth series of The X Factor on ITV, after a bidding war between The X Factor and The Voice UK. In July 2016 Rita replaced Tyra Banks as host of America’s Next Top Model.

Catch Rita doing what she does best at the second edition of MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling Festival on Saturday 22nd September at Victoria Stadium.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

With over 12 million loyal followers on Instagram, Rita’s fan base is strong and she is one of the UK’s most successful recording artists, wowing huge auditoriums with her smash-hit songs, flawless dance moves and high-energy live performances. The epitome of a pop princess oozing charisma and wearing jaw-dropping outfits, Rita recently ditched her steadfast blonde hair colour for a vibrant red tone, sharing her new look with her Instagram followers. Whether this is a temporary change or not, it certainly looks good.

Tickets are available from £85 at www.gibraltarcalling.com

SEPTEMBER 2018

33

34

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

FEATURE

Behind

THE SCENES AT THE

magical oasis of beauty and tranquillity with a peaceful and inviting atmosphere full of secret corners ready to be discovered, the two-hundred and two year old gardens are open all year round with free entry and offer a place to relax just a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of town. The Alameda Gardens were established in 1816 by Lieutenant-Governor General Sir George Don, the first military Governor to take an interest in the population as well as the Garrison.

A

Director of the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Dr. Keith Bensusan explains that Sir George Don realised that conditions were crammed and squalid at that time and that the town needed a recreational area; “so he decided to create a garden at the end of the town beside the city walls in an area known as Red Sands, on the site of an old cemetery, and we still have headstones and tombs around the garden that date to the period immediately before the garden was established, from the very late 1700s onwards.” The Botanic Gardens (including the Wildlife Park) are set over about 6 hectares, almost 1% of Gibraltar’s land surface area which is a very sizeable plot. Due to economic reasons they fell into decline in the 1970s and 80s, but were renovated in 1991.

Dr. Keith Bensusan has been working at the Gardens on and off since 2002, and permanently since 2007 and is also in charge of the Commonwealth Park. “At the moment we have a staff here of about twenty-four people, that includes the Wildlife Park, an administration team and a technical team involved in conservation and research,” he says.

WORDS, JO WARD GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

35

FEATURE Although a zoologist and not a botanist by training (he has a Masters in biodiversity and conservation and a PhD on birds), Keith has been interested in plants since he was a teenager and started working at the Botanic Gardens as soon as he finished his PhD, working his way up, firstly as Technical Officer, then Deputy Director and finally Director.

The Botanic Gardens can be found at the south end of the Grand Parade, just past the Cable Car station.

Keith recommends that the best time to visit is in April and at the beginning of May. Start your walk by entering through the George Don gates, climbing the Heathfield Steps towards a memorial bust dedicated to General George Augustus Eliott.

“The things to really watch out for are the plants that are special to Gibraltar which you can find mainly around the rockery area that is close to the top of the Gardens just below the Wildlife Park,” Keith states.

“Something that would be of particular interest to visitors is the very large collection of Dragon Trees, about forty-six, including a couple that are over 200 years old,” Keith says enthusiastically, going on to state that they probably have more and larger specimens than any other botanic garden in the world.

The gardens are spread out on a slope, making it seem larger than it is, and they are filled with a huge diversity of plant collections from around the world, giving it a very international flavour. “We focus mainly on two types of plants and this includes plants from places with a Mediterranean climate,” Keith explains. “So that is not just the Mediterranean itself but also places such as California, parts of Chile, Western Australia and especially the Cape region of South Africa, where a lot of the garden plants that are common in the Mediterranean originate from.”

There is also a very large collection of succulent plants. “Not just cacti,” Keith says, “because although cacti are mainly American, there are succulent plants that can be found in arid habitats throughout the world.”

There is one fundamental reason, apart from the fact succulents are extremely interesting, that they are featured in the Botanic Gardens. “Obviously succulents are not very thirsty, so they are very good for water conservation and in Gibraltar that is extremely important, particularly because, apart from the fact that Gibraltar is quite a humid place during the winter and spring, we have a very long drought period during the summer and that produces great stress for plants,” he states. It is also thanks to Curator Andrew Gdaniec, a cacti specialist, that there is such a magnificent collection from different habitats around the world.

36

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

FEATURE One of the most important aspects of the Botanic Gardens is the education and promotion of environmental and cultural activities for children. “We have become a victim of our own success in that respect,” Keith says, “and the Gardening Club for ages 7 and upwards has a long waiting list.”

“We have been active in conservation for years and particularly for species that are special to Gibraltar.”

Keith clarifies that this includes a couple of species that grow only in Gibraltar and nowhere else in the world, one of which is seriously threatened with extinction. “This is the Gibraltar Campion, Silene tomentosa, believed to be extinct from 1985 to 1994,” Keith says. “Colleagues of mine had been searching fruitlessly for those plants for nine years and then a few plants were found in 1994, the seeds were collected and we have been propagating those ever since.”

The Education Programme has become a victim of its own success and has outgrown the current resources, so an area has been earmarked for the development of a new dedicated education zone. “It will be a safe and secure environment for children and will include a BioDome which will function as both a growing area and an indoor classroom during the winter months, complemented by an outdoor learning space.” A crowdfunding project has been initiated to raise money to fund the BioDome project. Under the slogan “Buy a plaque, build a future”, people can donate money for different-sized plaques, perhaps to commemorate a loved one or a special event, or they can be bought by corporate sponsors. The plaques start at £50 and will be permanently displayed in the Education area of the gardens.

The colourful and exotic gardens are the perfect place to wander and take in the sweet smelling foliage and flowers, whatever the season. Stroll across the Giuseppe Codali Bridge overlooking the enchanting sunken Italian Garden “The Dell”, a popular summertime wedding location that is more tropical in character than other areas. Carry on to the Open Air Theatre, frequently used for cultural events and productions during the year. Look out for the wooden sculptures lurking amongst the trees and notice the magnificent Green Men tree carvings surrounding the Lion’s Pond where streams and waterfalls flow into a koi filled pond. At the centre of the garden is a statue of Molly Bloom, the fictional wife of Leopold Bloom, the central character in James Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses, who reminisced about her childhood growing up in Gibraltar; “the sea crimson sometimes like fire and the glorious sunsets and the fig trees in the Alameda gardens…” www.gibraltargardens.gi

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

37

38

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

39

40

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

41

42

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

BASKING IN THE RED AND WHITE The pace of Gibraltar’s annual trek towards National Day – at the time of writing this piece - is hotting up to match the soaring temperatures of August. The celebrations will begin officially on Friday 24th August with the opening of the fair, and will culminate on 10th September, National Day itself. The Rock is already festooned in the traditional red and white colours of Gibraltar’s flag as Gibraltarians decorate their homes, their windows and balconies; bars, cafes, restaurants, yachts, offices and official buildings get in on the act, and even our iconic Moorish Castle glows in our national colours at night The celebrations themselves are organised by the SDGG, the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group with the collaboration of Gibraltar Cultural Services. The SDGG announced the programme of events in late July and they also launched the traditional Shop Window and Patio Display competitions. While we may all love to celebrate together, we do enjoy a bit of competition and this is no more clearly evidenced that in the keen attention with which shop owners apply their powers of imagination and creativity to their window displays, delighting local shoppers if slightly bewildering visiting tourists. But then, this provides no greater an opportunity than to pause in one’s travel through Main Street to explain to a questioning tourist what the displays, the colours, the flags and the essence of “Gibraltarianess” that these portray are all about.

Of course, the issues of identity, nationality and patriotism are complex and bound up with as many negative emotions as they are with positive affirmations.

As Gibraltarians, we have a habit of trying to define ourselves by what we are not. We are not Spanish for sure, although, language and custom aside, the majority of us are descended from Spaniards and count close Spanish relatives as

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

43

part of our families. And we are not British, at least not in terms of solely race or ethnic or cultural identity, except in as much as many of us can lay claim to British ancestry because of the British colonial presence. But we are British (herein lies the confusion that so many non-Gibraltarians experience, perhaps) when it comes to nationality – we have chosen, emphatically, not once but twice in living memory, to be so.

There is of course, no reason, as a leading Gibraltarian academic suggested to me recently, as to why there should be any conceptual conflict between being Gibraltarian and being British. A Scot can be as British as any person from the Home Counties for example, and still have a distinct cultural and national identity. The same can be said for the Welsh, and perhaps the Cornish and maybe even Northumbrians, Cumbrians and Lancastrians, and, judging by the voting in the 2016 referendum, Londoners.

Our history and our democratically elected choices are what have led us Gibraltarians to be British and we can be loud and proud about the red, white and blue as we want to be, and so, by virtue 44

SEPTEMBER 2018

of our contribution to British history as well as to British society and by exercising our democratic rights to self-determination and national choice, we can openly enjoy fish and chip suppers and the sound of leather on willow as much as torta de patata en la playa, and still be proud Gibraltarians.

I need to give a nod to the difficulties that Gibraltar experiences as a result of political machinations at the UN, Europe, Madrid and London that are somewhat our of our control, much as our brave politicians strive on our behalf. These difficulties tend to serve to unite Gibraltarians in a form of sub-conscious self-defence and, while so doing, we use our moments of introspection to ponder on what it is that makes us what we are. This is the process that we are in the throes of as a community: we are trying to understand ourselves, explore why we do the things we do, who we are and what this means at a time when our community is open and mixed and an example to the rest of the world, a world that is closing up in the type of nationalism that segregates rather than celebrates.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

NATIONAL DAY PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 9.30am to 11.30am Live Music and Performances at Casemates Square 10am Children’s Fancy Dress at Piazza 12.20pm Freedom of the City Ceremony of Sir Joe Bossano at Casemates Square 12.40pm Political Rally at Casemates Square 1.15pm to 3pm DJ Music at Casemates Square 1.30pm to 7pm It is this particular element of being Gibraltarian – the openness, the welcoming hands we extend to all peoples from all backgrounds and ethnicity and culture, the acceptance (and I am generalising as I am aware that not every Gibraltarian is quite as open-minded as I am describing the “nation” of Gibraltarians to be) – that we can be most proud of. And alongside this, is the joy of being free to express our beliefs and free to assert our democratic choices. When we wave the red and white flags on 10th September and we bedeck our streets and estate with red and white bunting and the occasional Union Jack, it is this sense of freedom to be openly Gibraltarian that perhaps we are most celebrating.

As the anthem says: “May you be forever free, Gibraltar my own land.”

The Self Determination for Gibraltar Group, with the collaboration of Gibraltar Cultural Services, has once again excelled itself in organising the 2018 National Day celebrations. The agenda of events is shown in the insert box.

Fun for Kid at John Mackintosh Square 1.30pm onwards Popular Live Music and Family Fun Activities at Kings’ Bastion Leisure Centre 2pm onwards Live Music at the Rock on the Rock Club 2pm to 10pm Live Music and DJ’s for Over 17’s at the Bayside Sports Complex 2.30pm Aerial Display at Eastern Beach 2.30pm to 7pm Jazz Friends at Governor’s Parade 3.30pm Aerial Display at Rosia Bay 9pm to 12.30am Rock Concert at Casemates Square 10.30pm Fireworks Display at Detached Mole

Have a great National Day!

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

45

1

In a red and white flag flying display celebrating British sovereignty and self-determination, National Day is the most potent representation of Gibraltarian identity.

2

To coincide with the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum on Sovereignty, National Day is celebrated every year on the 10th September.

3

The first National Day was held at John Mackintosh Square (the Piazza) in 1992.

4

In 1994, the Government declared the 10th September to be a public holiday.

5

The national song, the Gibraltar Anthem with lyrics and music by Peter Emberley, sung every National Day, was chosen in a competition and adopted in October 1994.

“GIBRALTAR, GIBRALTAR, THE ROCK ON WHICH I STAND, MAY YOU BE FOREVER FREE, GIBRALTAR, MY OWN LAND.”

WORDS BY JO WARD 46

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTAR NATIONAL DAY

6 7 8 9 10

INTERESTING FACTS In 2013 British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the crowds at Casemates Square via a video link with an overwhelming message of support. “Gibraltar has been British for 300 years. Let’s keep it that way.”

Prime Minister Theresa May reaffirmed that Gibraltar will be “fully involved” as the UK negotiates to leave the European Union, in a speech broadcast to the Rock on National Day in 2017 marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum.

The traditional custom of releasing 30,000 red and white balloons ceased in 2016 after campaigners warned of the impact on marine life. Lewis Pugh, endurance swimmer and UN patron of the oceans, lobbied organisers and local ministers to end the historic event for environmental reasons. He said: “Balloon releases pose a serious threat to the world’s wildlife by adding to the alarming levels of marine and terrestrial plastic pollution.”

Events during National Day include fancy dress competitions, live music, street parties, bouncy castles, fairground rides, fireworks and much more.

The event is organised by the Self Determination for Gibraltar Group in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

47

48

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

49

GETTING GREENER

BUT CLEANER?

The environment and green philosophy are the flavours of our time and slowly coming on stream, but we often hear there’s a need to do things better so as not to `over build’ on the Rock. Add to that the latest hot topic on social media where others declare - `Gib needs a serious clean-up,’ `Going greener but streets in urgent need of a major flush!’ You may well ask then, is fixing it rocket science? t’s not unusual to hear individuals claim Gibraltar could be the next Monaco, Nice or some other place, but what about the basics which hit visitors on arrival and locals when they walk into town and elsewhere: dirty streets and street corners, unkempt vacant shops with scruffy frontages, street furniture, rubbish bins, planters in need of a lick of paint or four, dilapidated buildings and facades – and how about ashtrays screwed or soldered onto bin tops as seen in other countries? And the latest, which I thought was an improvement in civic pride, the squirting of disinfectant over pets’ pee - a practice which I’ve noticed has become the norm with many dog walkers and which I applauded. Not so!

Apparently the mix is not good and the area becomes smelly and more heavily stained and black, and there are still those not picking up their beloved dog’s poo!

The practice of flushing the streets seems sporadic at times and those areas and streets generally ought to be tackled more frequently which would certainly help - during summertime more so...another hot topic!

We’ve been promised more flushing and cleaning of streets – not just our `Main’ one – and estates this month, when the new company takes over, but what 50

WORDS, RICHARD CARTWRIGHT SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

“

There were many patios around the Rock in the past which used to be full of plants and flowers in terracotta plant pots which looked lovely and added to the patio ambience. I remember geraniums and aspidistra everywhere. Some of those patios still exist and there are some new ones too but there could be more.

Albert Freyone

about throughout summer? During my time presenting ‘Talk about Town’ on GBC Television, we highlighted the fact there’s no rain during these months and flushing should be carried out more often, but it never seemed to happen year in year out! The view of the upper town is slowly improving with old buildings spruced-up and private investment behind other developments, but there are still areas for improvement and of course cash is not provided for in a bottomless pit, so that will take time and effort.

Albert Freyone.

`Green’ has been encouraged and many developers are taking on board the idea of providing green roofs, as in car parks, the promise of over-hanging greenery from balconies on the up-and-coming developments, we have planters around the place (but don’t forget the paint job, some need it very badly), we’ve got a lovely Commonwealth Park, roundabout sand interchange flower beds are being looked after and trees have been planted where possible; yes, we’re seeing more `green’ incorporated around developments like Ocean Village and others, however, the park that’s replaced the Theatre Royal building is already looking tired and unkempt.

The Horticultural Society has been encouraging us to take up gardening by planting more in patios and window boxes etc. The Botanic Gardens team is doing very

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

”

well with the children, offering well attended gardening lessons and holding fun sessions in the gardens which they seem to enjoy... “Yes, things are improving but more needs to be done”, horticulturist and landscape designer , Albert Freyone, from Green is In Ltd., asserts, “there were many patios around the Rock in the past which used to be full of plants and flowers in terracotta plant pots which looked lovely and added to the patio ambience. I remember geraniums and aspidistra everywhere.

Some of those patios still exist and there are some new ones too but there could be more.” Albert maintains; “With more co-ordination between relevant government departments and businesses and through social media more could be done.”

Devil’s Tower Road and Winston Churchill Avenue could be worked on further and Queensway should be tree lined along its length and equipped with drip systems. Planting and landscaping tastefully draws people in, Albert says. “There are nooks and crannies here and there that are unkempt and could be developed also and it wouldn’t break the bank.

Places like The Mount and the Garrison Library gardens should be restored and garden tours encouraged.” (continued on page 53)

SEPTEMBER 2018

51

52

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

(continued from page 51)

I took a walk around the place and noticed what we just take for granted: there are many trees around the city that have been there seemingly forever, but more have been planted over time, so green is in! Those trees are enhanced by pavement floor lighting giving a great look at night to our city walls also, but some of those have been out of action for years, I’m afraid.

Landscape designer Albert’s inspired ideas are supported by having lived for a time in Southern California where their sub tropical climate is similar to ours here in the Mediterranean, he tells me. `Pretty colours’ can been seen at the Trafalgar Interchange and other areas and junctions, but the Waterport roundabout - where we have an example of flower beds looking nice we have, living next door, a scruffy, crumbling fountain bowl in desperate need of a splash of paint and to boot, right in the middle, a pathetic water feature! That issue too was raised in GBC’s ‘Talk about Town’ a number of times years ago, but to no avail. The Waterport fountain has been in need of replacing for a few decades, as is the Sun Dial feature on Winston Churchill Avenue roundabout!

Having observed much of the above over years – and I used to be told there are inspectors whose task it is to walk around checking what needs to be seen to - I seem to reluctantly And what about you, me, him and her? Are we doing come to the conclusion `maintenance’ is the missing `key’ our bit to help the environment, and make Gibraltar word! As silly as that may sound, there seems to be great effort cleaner? Maybe we should try harder, don’t you think? to make everything look lovely when spanking new and then, Rubbish bags being put out too early, especially at the whether what fails is that funds put aside for maintaining sites, weekend, smelling and giving more time for liquids street furniture etc to seep through onto are used up for other the street creating And what about you, me, him and emergencies that arise, those horrible stains. or for other reasons, Household goods her? Are we doing our bit to help the things are left forgotplaced outdoors giving environment, and make Gibraltar cleaner? ten for too long and a bad impression eventually some and an ugly, scruffy Maybe we should try harder, don’t you think? when get seen to, it often sight to passersby: comes as too little too instead, they should late! Yes, `environment’ be disposed of in the is very much the `in’ right way and in the right place. Also, shouldn’t there word these days and that includes everything that surrounds be some directive encouraging bar/restaurant owners us: `the external factors influencing the life and activities of to give their outdoor areas a sweep and a wash at the people, plants and animals,’ the dictionary informs us...so that end of the day’s business? Pavement mess in those means, Governments and citizens everywhere need to take all areas is created by their customers after all. I have to of that on board. True, not rocket science! say one two do take that on board, but all businesses need to engage in that practice.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

53

CULTURE INSIGHT

‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ NHS CHARITY SINGLE

MAKING AN ICONIC SONG WORK FOR THE GREATER GOOD The Beatles in their legendary 1966 album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ featured their drummer Ringo Starr singing ‘With a little help from my Friends’ which became an iconic song over 50 years ago. In 1969 the late Joe Cocker re-imagined the song and for his US debut album recorded an intensely soulful version which became a huge hit at the Woodstock Festival and a ‘brand’ for the rest of his singing career. A good song never dies and is always remembered and revered.

The NHS has just celebrated its 70th birthday and the same song is again poised (early July as I write) to become a number one hit with a promotional video including in it a generous smattering of pop celebrities, an NHS choir and a beautiful recording and production by US Rapper producer Timbaland. Now that is what I would call ‘milking’ a song. And this time around it could not be for a better cause. The single was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios in London where the Beatles recorded Sgt Pepper.

This time however us ordinary folk can download the new single and pay our money into something tangible, visible and noble. No more rushing to the record shops nowadays, if anything just reaching

for your mobile or getting on your laptop will reward you with the glorious arrangement of the classic tune ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ and don’t forget to check out the video clip which will tug at your heartstrings too. Who wouldn’t want to support NHS, that wonderful team of selfless and dedicated professionals who work to look after the nation’s health?

I strongly recommend that you should check this one out. It’s a winner and by the time you read this it should have comfortably made number one and raised much needed funds for the 125 NHS charities across the UK which will benefit from the proceeds of the single. Put it on your playlist because it deserves your support and it’s a smash hit.

A team of NHS staff organized the Lewisham Greenwich NHS Choir, which is made up of children’s doctors, Physiotherapists, IT experts, midwives and others who were helped by many celebrities from across the musical genres who also wanted to put in their vocal bit into the song.

There were too many celebs to mention and the vocals had to be shared, so some got to sing even less than a line of the uplifting lyric that centres around I’ll get by with a little help from my friends’ - a universal theme if ever there was one more suitable needed to galvanize people into action.

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERY 54

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

CULTURE INSIGHT

Terry Oldfield

WORLD RENOWNED MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER, TO PLAY IN GIBRALTAR Terry Oldfield has been enchanting fans with his soul stirring albums and music for film for over 30 years.

His unique style of flute playing and musical composition touches the heart and soothes the mind. Brother of Mike Oldfiled (of ‘Tubular Bells’ fame) and Sally Oldfield he shares the genius of this musical family who have been stunning audiences since the ’70’s.

Terry’s career began in earnest when he was asked by the BBC to compose music for a series called Great Railway Journeys of the World.

Since then he has composed music for over 50 film and TV productions, receiving two Emmy nominations for Land of the Tiger and Twilight of the Dreamtime and a BAFTA nomination for the BBC series Kingdom of the Ice Bear. He also worked on Meerkats United, which in a National Television Poll was voted ‘Best Wildlife Film Ever’.

Terry and his wife, Soraya Saraswati, will be performing at this year’s World Peace Day event organised by the Integral Yoga Centre and to be held on 19th September in Boyd’s at Leisure Cinemas.

The event is open to all and begins at 6pm.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

55

GIBRALTAR GUIDE

Aries

(Mar 21 – Apr 21)

A blast from the past turns up this month, Aries. You may think this could be tricky at first, but actually it ends being a lot of fun.

Taurus TAKEAWAYS

(Apr 21 – May 21)

VEHICLE REPAIRS

If you have been less than content in your personal life Taurus, then now is a good time to get it out in the open and make decisions. You know it makes sense!

Gemini

(May 22 – June 22)

Life, as we know, is full of ups and downs Gemini. How we respond is what determines our experience in the end. This month you’ll be glad you looked for silver linings!!

Cancer

(June 23 – July 22)

Take time to have a look at your financial situation this month Cancer. It is in pretty good shape but a couple of things need to be tidied up and reorganized.

Leo

(July 23 – Aug 23)

So, it really is about time you got your health and wellness routine sorted Leo. You’ve been promising yourself all summer that you would. You know you’ll feel better when you do.

Virgo

(Aug 24 – Sep 23)

BARS / PUBS

You’ve been overdoing it a bit recently, Virgo and now you must rebalance.

Set aside some time for yourself and schedule in some down time. You’ll be glad you did.

Libra

(Sep 24 – Oct 23)

Don’t feel pressured into making a decision in haste, Libra. There’s always more than one way to get good results. Follow your hunch on this …. It won’t let you down.

Scorpio

Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Think carefully before you make wishes this month, Scorpio. The Universe provides but you must be clear or you might get something you didn’t bargain for!

Sagittarius

(Nov 23 – Dec 21)

Stay positive this month, Sagittarius. It may not be easy at times but just don’t listen to peoples’ negativity. Get rid of toxic people in your life and smile on

Capricorn

(Dec 22 – Jan 20)

INDUSTRIAL

Take a couple of steps back from the situation, Capricorn, and think things through again. All may not be quite as it seems on the surface.

Aquarius

(Jan 21 – Feb 19)

You seem to have a headful of ideas going on Aquarius but you’d be well advised to get clear in your own head how you want to go forward before sharing them with anyone else.

Pisces

(Feb 20 – Mar 20)

You’re feeling full of beans this month, Pisces, and more confident than you have for a while. So capitalize on it and instigate those changes you’ve been longing for.

56

For Private Readings

SEPTEMBER 2018

TEL: (0034) 666 966 502 GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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

INSPIRATIONAL GIBRALTARIANS

Gaby Chiappe

Nominated for Best Writer at the Scottish BAFTA Awards for BBC’s television drama Shetland in 2016 and Best Debut Screenwriter for Their Finest at the British Independent Film Awards in 2017, the accolades keep coming for screenwriter and actress Gaby Chiappe.

She chats to Insight’s Jo Ward about her life and career.

As a young child, Gaby had a long held desire to become an actress and although she went on to play various roles in theatre and on television; it was her love of writing that eventually won through. Going to live in the UK with her parents, William and Mary Chiappe, when she was three years old, Gaby spent her formative years in Brighton but always had a sense of her birth identity. “We had different food at home and my parents spoke Spanish, so I don’t think I was ever not conscious that I came from Gibraltar,” she says. Now living in Leeds, Yorkshire, with husband, Dominic Gray, and two sons, Gaby says there is a family joke about which rugby team they would support if Gibraltar ever played Wales. “My husband is Welsh and this means that the boys have both Gibraltarian and Welsh blood, which is fairly unique I think, so I am not sure where their loyalties would lie!”

Gaby’s mother Mary, the first female to achieve political office in Gibraltar when she became Education Minister, was also a teacher and author of several books (including the Giovanni Bresciano series of detective novels written in conjunction with historian Sam Benady) and was a hugely influential and inspirational figure in Gaby’s life.

“When I was younger I wanted to be an actress, and I did try that for a while, but I ended up writing which I am very happy about,” Gaby states, going on to say that she was always a voracious reader and that she credits her mother with giving her a love of language. “When I was very little, she read me poems and I remember not understanding them at all but just loving the sound of the words,” she explains, “and I think that stays with you because I really care about the rhythm of words and that later fed into my writing.”

Understanding how to write dialogue is an important tool for screenwriting and although Gaby tried to write a novel she admits it was totally unsuccessful. “I was quite surprised to learn that despite the fact that I read endlessly throughout my whole life, I didn’t actually know how to

put together a novel or to even have an understanding of how they were structured, but the first time I wrote a piece for television I realised that I knew how to use dialogue.”

At university Gaby studied English Literature and had the opportunity to act, taking part in lots of productions before going on to perform in fringe theatre.

She started working with a feminist theatre company but found that writing took preference over performance. An opportunity to write a trial script for a television programme was the lucky break that propelled Gaby down a new route that saw her writing scripts for episodes of Vera, Holby City, Doctors, EastEnders and Lark Rise to Candleford amongst others.

A move to the big screen followed with an adaptation of Lissa Evans’ 2009 novel Their Finest Hour And A Half. Starring Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy, the film Their Finest is a comedy-drama about the making of a Second World War propaganda film with Gemma’s character, newly appointed as a scriptwriter for the films, joining the cast and crew of a major production while the Blitz rages around them.

Gaby even managed to get a small role in one of the propaganda films. “I had to audition for it and I was very nervous,” she laughs as she says this. “I was lucky that I had lots of respectable actors to teach me, and I know it is a joke when they say “can’t walk, talk and hit the chalk mark at the same time”, but I found it very challenging.” Apparently none of her family recognised Gaby, which she found very amusing. “I looked like an amalgam of both of my grandmothers!” It was a bit of a family affair with Gaby’s two sons, Rhys and Bryn, also managing to appear as extras in one scene.

Their Finest was almost an entirely wholly female produced film, with the exception of one of the two producers, and can also be said to be a feminist drama, showing how women shaped Britain’s wartime cinema. Gaby comments: “statistically it is clear that in the British film industry more men get jobs in virtually every sphere, but my experience with Their Finest was absolutely not like that - so I feel that my experiences have been quite exceptional.”

What were the challenges in adapting a novel for the screen? “The first is that the novel is an interior form - it gives you an insight into how people are thinking and what they are thinking in words - and you have to find a way of turning that outwards, making that evident without necessarily using dialogue whilst trying to recreate the

essence, the ‘perfume’ of a novel,” Gaby explains. “The second challenge is that you are drawn to adapt a novel because you really like it, and a lot of the work you end up doing is what you leave out.” Gaby went on to clarify that if you filmed the scenes exactly as they were in the novel it would be about twenty-five hours long, meaning that quite a lot of re-engineering has to be done to translate it into something that can be shown on a screen.

Currently Gaby is working on two films, one of which is her adaptation of a ghost story called Dark Matter by Michelle Paver for Wildgaze/BBC films.

“I am also one of the writers working on a film about the Miss World Contest in 1970 which was disrupted by feminist protesters,” she states. If that weren’t enough, she is waiting on the BBC to see if they want to make a series of a script she has submitted. “It is a contemporary adaptation of an old thriller, but I am not sure if I am allowed to say any more than that!”

There is still an ambition harboured by Gaby to write an original screenplay rather than an adaptation. “The truth is they are much harder to get anybody interested in which is really depressing,” she explains. “Unless you are an auteur who is writing and directing their own screenplay - you have got much less chance of getting somebody interested in making it.”

Last year Gaby appeared at the Gibraltar Literary Festival giving a talk on ‘Writing for Film and Television’. You can catch her this year when she will be back in conversation with poet Ruth O’Callaghan.

WORDS BY JO WARD GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

57

CLASSIFIED SERVICES CHARTERED SURVEYOR

HARDWARE

INDUSTRIAL

ESTATE AGENT

58

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

ON THE SPOT

Dilip Tailor TEACHER/INSTRUCTOR – MICROSOFT, SAGE & TAI CHI

Where did you first start your employment?

What’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given?

“In London, as an apprentice panel beater.”

“Invest in a project in Spain – Failed.”

How would you describe yourself?

What makes you laugh?

“I like meeting people and help those struggling with life problems. I love my life which always surprises me with different ventures and problems.”

Which person has been the biggest influence in your life?

“Anything silly but children and animals do amuse me.”

What’s your greatest ambition?

“To create biggest Wellbeing Centre, which caters for Children and old people.”

What’s the best country you’ve ever visited and why?

“I was born in Kenya, Nairobi – I have lots of happy memories from there. So, I think its Nairobi.”

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

“Walking in a forest.”

Have you had any embarrassing moments?

“Yes, quite a few.”

“My Guru – Sri Swami Satchidananda and my mother.”

Which word or phrases do you most overuse?

“Excellent.”

Do you have any regrets?

“Not now...”

What keeps you awake at night?

“I actually sleep very well.”

What’s the best experience you’ve had in life so far?

“Travelling through California on a bus.”

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

If you didn’t live where you are currently located where would you like to Live (Money no object)

“To know yourself.”

“Canada.”

What’s your favorite music track?

What person historic or living would you most like to meet?

“I do not have favorite tracks but I like listening to 70s & 80s Music.”

“Mahatma Ghandi.”

If you could change one thing about Gibraltar what would it be?

What’s your biggest fear?

“I do not have any particular fears.”

“Introduce Mono Rail system which goes around the Rock.”

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

What is your favorite hobby or interest?

“Actually, I would not like to change anything about me.”

“Love: Dancing, Calligraphy, Tai Chi, Meditation and mystic.”

Have you ever been given advice that you wished you had acted on?

“Yes, not trusting my Ex.”

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

59

60

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

61

LOCAL HEROES

Christian Falzun Disability of any sort is not a condition any one of us would like to be burdened with.

But for some, it’s a way of life, their whole life. Accepting the disability can’t be easy but showing strength of mind, patience and endurance in the face of adversity, a happier journey can be experienced.

“That includes those around you, family members and others,” Christian declares, “I had a happy childhood, thanks to them mum, dad and close friends, Henry and Priscilla. Doctors said at the time, there was no cure, so my parents quickly accepted the circumstances, realised that was that and got on with it and I recall being a happy child.” And that seems to have been communicated to Christian from a very young age, because to the present day he displays no problem accepting his disability, getting around and communicating with everyone, always with a smile...

Cerebral Palsy: a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination and other disabilities. Movement and motor skills are affected preventing the ability to move in a coordinated way. CP is usually caused by brain damage before birth or as a toddler. “And I consider myself lucky in a way, by not being worse off, having to use a wheelchair and Christian slurring my speech.” Christian recalls performing on having his knees bent and almost stage. stuck together they were so close to each other and having to walk on tip toes producing in-growing toe nails...

“So I went through a few operations to improve all of that, on my ankles and right arm also, which helped me get around much more easily. My last operation was for my hamstrings in 1995.” Christian’s visits to the theatre, it could be said, were accompanied by Dr Malik at St Bernard’s Hospital to whom is very grateful.”

But it’s not all plain sailing. Determination plays an important role in keeping active and in Christian’s case, pretty mobile – strength of mind, willpower or whichever titles you prefer to use, are needed and Christian has a heavy dose of those attributes which have helped him no end; “I first trained at the Jumper’s gym and for the past three years have been going to Atlantic Suites for about an hour or so three times a week tackling proper exercises. Before that I had a lot of physiotherapy, with Gail Smith who was very good.

She said I was disciplined and I think I’ve kept that up.” There’s no doubt

Christian has benefitted from his physio sessions, training and also, most importantly perhaps, from his positive and determined attitude regarding his condition. He can access most places on foot, no real problem with stairs – although a hand rail helps – but he has difficulty tackling hills. “But what I enjoy most is training, I love it! There are some difficulties of course, I have a problem with handwriting but I’m ok with a laptop or computer. Co-ordination and memory can be confusing when going from one place to another until I’ve done it a few times.” However Christian had no problem meeting me in Jury’s for this interview; Jury’s is where I’ve met him in the past coming in for a meal on his own...not an issue for 36 year old Christian!

So how does Christian feel he fits in with society as a person with a disability? Initially schooling was at St Martin’s Special School, where he first met Priscilla Sacramento who helped him progress and who became a great friend.

He then moved on to mainstream Bishop Fitzgerald School which became a little complicated... “I think teachers found it difficult to cope as did I, running a mainstream class and having to assist me as best they could. I was spending my weeks in half mainstream and half special unit tuition and I found that frustrating; I wanted to learn. There was never a problem communicating with other kids in the classroom and I was never bullied, quite the contrary.” Christian then moved to Bayside Comprehensive which was more accommodating for someone with a disability... “Oh yes, I attended the Special Unit there and enjoyed discussions which come under the Personal Social and Health Education curriculum – PSHE for short.

Later on I moved to the College of Further Education where I found there was a lot of time wasting not knowing what I was meant to be doing. I did however get some help from one of the tutors who got me into word processing, so it wasn’t all bad. Through the college, I spent some time at Gib Nynex, involved in

WORDS BY RICHARD CARTWRIGHT 62

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

Christian getting to meet Manchester United hero of the time, Gary Paillister.

stock taking and general administration work but during all of that period I have to say I felt a bit ignored.” 15 years old and time to get out and find a proper job! And Christian was determined to do just that. “Bernard Linares, who was the Minister for Education at the time, assisted me quite a bit and got me back into Bayside – working, this time!

That was 1998 and for the past 20 years or so I’ve been looking after the school library as a Library Assistant and I enjoy being there.”

is interested.” Christian has also performed alongside Adrian Pisarello – not a bad influence! Manchester United has to be mentioned of course. That’s his favourite team and his favourite local politician is Sir Joe Bossano... “My grandfather was Emilio Hurtado who played a part in the local workers’ union and that has had a part to play I think, in my interest in local politics.”

Well I feel Christian senses he’s a little green at present for getting involved in the business of putting the world right in our little town so that’ll have to go on the back burner for now...Music I think, could fill in the gaps during his down time, socialising and `keeping an eye out for what’s out there,’ if you get the `general picture’ of where I’m coming from! Understandably to a point, there is something that’s not uncommon amongst the able bodied when coming across disabled individuals – we always tend to want to help: “By and large I can get around quite well and although grateful, I don’t really need any assistance unless coming across a major obstacle, but it’s all At the Rainbow very much appreciated.”

Ward, Gibraltar What I’ve learned from Hospital. individuals like Christian – and I’ve met a few – it’s that word: they don’t like to be `patronised.’ “Apart from that,” Christian maintains, “It’s all appreciated and we realise it’s offered in good faith so thanks to all.”

As a child, at a past Miss Gibraltar pageant, held at St. Michael’s Cave.

Young Mr Falzun’s social life, he tells me, is a full social life with no complaints. “I do have friends and we go out and have fun.” Christian assures me he’s not averse or unenthusiastic about female company either... “Of course I’m interested in the opposite sex, people like me have needs and there may be a lady I have my eye on who I see from time to time, so we’ll see what develops there. Only time will tell, no?” Music is another interest Christian has and he’s dabbled in performing, singing on stage – I’ve seen him! “Yes, Michael Jackson was my hero and I used to sing two of his songs, Ben and Man in the Mirror.

These days I’m really into Pink Floyd, Guns `n’ Roses, Bob Marley and Oasis amongst others, and I wouldn’t mind forming a group if anyone out there

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

Christian Falzun is down to earth, confident whilst fully aware of his limitations – happy and very grateful for his mum and dad’s support from day one. Oh, and not forgetting Priscilla and Henry’s encouragement throughout!

SEPTEMBER 2018

63

64

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING INSIGHT

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS LOOKING AFTER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure isn’t just important; it’s vitally important. High blood pressure brings with it a number of health risks, yet we don’t always know what our blood pressure actually is, because it rarely has noticeable symptoms. High blood pressure is a cause of concern in Gibraltar. In September 2017, the GHA announced that some 15,000 people on the Rock were diagnosed with high blood pressure – that is almost half the population and a cause for serious concern.

The only way to find out if your blood pressure is normal is to have it checked. This is why Blood Pressure UK is running a week-long “Know your Numbers” blood pressure awareness campaign in UK from 10th to 16th September. This is an annual campaign to encourage adults to have their blood pressure taken so that they can know those all-important numbers, and if these are higher than they should be, they can then take the necessary action, with the advice of their GP, to deal with it and avoid those serious health risks.

When your heart beats it pumps blood around the body to give your body the oxygen and the energy it needs to function. As the blood flows through your blood vessels, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels and blood pressure is the strength of that pushing.

Those all-important numbers that measure your blood pressure come in pairs, because blood pressure is recorded with two numbers, one usually written above the other. The higher number measures your systolic pressure. This is the force at which your heart pumps your blood around your body through your blood vessels. The lower number is the diastolic pressure which measures the resistance to the blood flow in your blood vessels. They are both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. Your blood pressure is high if it measures 140/90 mmHg or higher. It is considered to be low if it is 90/60 mmHg or lower. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries and this can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure is also linked to heart and kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease which can affect your legs, aortic aneurysms and vascular dementia.

Some people have low blood pressure and this is rarely a cause for concern. However, if you have low blood pressure, you can feel faint, light-headed or dizzy, and some people can find that their blood pressure drops rapidly for no apparent reason. Speak to a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, or if your blood pressure is low, so that this can be investigated and treated if necessary.

A single high reading does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure as there are a number of things that can affect your blood pressure throughout the day. You may find that your doctor will arrange to monitor your blood pressure over a period of time to see how it changes over the course of a day and whether it remains high.

It is known that lifestyle can affect the risk of developing high blood pressure. If you eat too much salt, or don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables, if you are not active enough, are overweight or drink too much alcohol, you are at a greater risk. There are, however, some factors that increase your risk of developing high blood pressure that are not within your control.

These include aging (especially if you have not had a reasonably healthy lifestyle), ethnic origin (people from African-Caribbean and South Asian communities are at greater risk) and family history. Some medical conditions, such as kidney problems, in themselves will increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.

The good news is that by making lifestyle changes, you can help lower your blood pressure – or avoid it increasing in the first place. The following simple steps can help considerably: • Cut back on alcohol • Lose weight if you’re overweight • Exercise regularly • Cut down on caffeine • Stop smoking • Try to get at least six hours of sleep each night Sometimes, lifestyle changes alone won’t work or won’t lower your blood pressure quickly enough, in which case there are medicines to lower blood pressure back to normal.

If you are over 40 and have not had your blood pressure measured for some time, arrange to speak to the doctor, and make those small but essential lifestyle changes. Get to know your numbers, and check these regularly.

WORDS BY JACKIE ANDERSON GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

65

LET’S GET GIBRALTAR

HEALTH & WELLBEING

5

INSIGHT

TIPS TO MENTAL WELLNESS

Talking

September is National Suicide Prevention Month worldwide. GibSams is running a campaign to spread awareness throughout the month, launching on the 1st September under the banner of “Let’s Get Gibraltar Talking”. Other events include The Chatty Cafe Scheme, Green Week, the Maurice Coelho Cup, a Night of Magic from Levi Attias, a charity quiz night and, as the grand finale to close the month of awareness, a concert in Casemates on the 29th September showcasing the amazing local musical talent we have in Gibraltar.

GibSams is a member of Befrienders Worldwide, an international organisation that includes members such as The Samaritans in the UK and similar charities in other countries. The service offers callers an anonymous and confidential Freephone service.

Trained volunteers are there to take your calls and listen without prejudice. Callers can call 116123 Monday to Friday 4pm to Midnight and on Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to Midnight. The volunteers are not there to offer you advice, but to offer you an empathetic listening ear when you most need one.

Green week launches from the 1st to the 7th September and GibSams will be busy raising awareness of their service and the importance of mental wellness. Five things that companies can encourage their staff to start doing to improve mental wellness within an organisation are:

MINDFULNESS The importance of learning to be consciously present and aware, as opposed to being on autopilot, cannot be overstated.

INPUT THE POSITIVE

Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.

What you take in from your environment matters a great deal to your emotional well-being, because it stays active in your subconscious mental space for a period, even after the event is long over.

SELF-COMPASSION

“Let’s Get Gibraltar Talking” is one of the initiatives being launched on the 1st September. GibSams wants to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, replacing it with a greater understanding and placing the emphasis on mental wellbeing. Young or old, everyone at some point will encounter someone who needs a helping hand or a friend to just listen to them. “It’s ok to talk” and “it’s ok not to be ok” are statements which GibSams use in their awareness campaigns to get the message across.

One of the most foundational elements of emotional well-being is self-compassion. Without it, you cannot find true happiness.

LOVING OTHERS When we show love and compassion to other people, it releases chemicals in the pre-frontal cortex and reward centre of the brain that professionals refer to as the “Helper’s High.”

PHYSICAL WELLNESS The body cannot be separated from the mind. As a result, it is difficult to experience mental well-being if you do not take care of yourself physically.

Companies are encouraged to sign up for Green Day on the 7th September, asking their staff members to wear green and spread awareness on the Friday at work.

The second initiative that GibSams is launching on the 1st September is The Chatty Cafe Scheme.

Restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels are joining this venture in creating a space in their establishment for those people who wish to talk to others when having a drink or something to eat. For those establishments wanting to join the scheme, please get in touch with info@gibsams.gi for further details.

Join GibSams at The Piazza on the 1st September, where they will be joined by other charities and not for profit organisations who are all working together for the betterment of mental welfare in Gibraltar, or to offer practical assistance to those who need help in our community.

To be a part of Team Sam and help, you can train to be a listening volunteer or just be a part of their events team. Email info@gibsams.gi. for more information If you are interested in joining our Team.

WORDS BY BRENDA CUBY

66

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

67

uis

329c Main Street Gibraltar Tel: 200 50710 luisphoto@gibtelecom.net

PHOTOS

Commercial Photographer

Finest collection of old photographs on the Rock

Weddings, Communions, Portraits

68

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

69

70

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

Just Married on the Rock Tayla & AJ married on 8th August 2018. Photo by Radka Horvath.

Mia & Sam, married on 3th July 2018. Photo by Radka Horvath.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

71

72

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

Just Married on the Rock Email: nicholas64@gibtelecom.net

Jessica & William Monteith, married on 18th July 2018.

Photo by Nicky Sanchez.

Michelle & Knolly Knights, married on 18th August 2018.

Photo by Nicky Sanchez.

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

73

74

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

SEPTEMBER 2018

75

76

SEPTEMBER 2018

GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM