The GIbraltar Magazine - July 2012

dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • property • history • community

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ibraltar the

The Green Agenda Inspiring Harmonics

Small Businesses are Big Business in Gibraltar A Force to the Reckoned with The Heartbeat Connection

The Changing Face of Property Development

Gibraltar’s Determined Donkey and much more

July 2012 Vol. 17 No. 09 FREE

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what’s inside features

business & finance

26 Evacuation: A Photographic Exhibition € 28 Frank Costa: Holding Centre Court 42-45 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations 52 First Olympics Gold Medallist Trained in Gib

Business & Finance Guide

16 20 22 24 25

The Future of eGaming: Social Gaming €

Partnerships in Today’s World Why Small Businesses are Big Business in Gibraltar

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Your HR Questions Answered Social Media: Take the Masterclass

32-41

The Green Agenda Property Directory Buena Vista Mews Open Day The Changing Face of Property Development Summer Trends

health & beauty 48 49

50 54 58 60 64 67

We’ve Moved!

property files 32 36 37 38

arts & lifestyle

Internships: Who Benefits?

46-49

Health Directory Protect Your Ears!

regulars 66 Puzzle Page 86-87Around Town

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history files 65

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Gibraltar’s Determined Donkey € Reporter Survived

by Playing Dead

food & drink

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78 Light Delights 80-83 Restaurant & Bar Guide 84 Wine column

information

73 62-63 90

What’s On Jly 2012 City Centre Map Gibraltar Information

dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • property • history • community

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Queen’s Birthday Honours List Picture Perfect in a Digital Era € Phillip Borge: Inspiring Harmonics A Force to be Reckoned with: The Heartbeat Connection It’s the Mini Dash Miss Gibraltar Calendar

gibraltar the

July 2012 Vol. 17 No. 09 FREE

The Green Agenda

Inspiring Harmonics

Small Businesses are Big Business in Gibraltar A Force to the Reckoned with The Heartbeat Connection

The Changing Face of Property Development

Gibraltar’s Determined Donkey and much more

Ceremony of the Keys Photo © DM Parody (http:// dotcom.gi/photos)

Vol. 17 No. 09 JULY 2012

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business & finance

Partnerships in today’s world

by Ian Le Breton

We keep hearing governments across Europe tell us that “we’re all in this together”. British newspapers in particular seem to take great delight in reporting examples of how some of the more wealthy members of the current cabinet are “out of touch” with ordinary people. The recent story about whether or not to charge VAT on hot “pasties” was just one example. But in general, it seems that most people in the UK realise that by working together — in partnership if you will — things will eventually get better. Certainly the huge deficit is being reined in although there is a long way to go.

Since the last edition, I have had the pleasure of attending the long awaited wedding of two good friends. It was a lovely affair; my partner and I had a very jolly time and we wish the newlyweds a long and above all, a very happy, marriage.

Going to the ceremony got me thinking — weddings do that, don’t they? — and all the talk of partnerships led me down several paths.

What constitutes a partnership anyway? And when we hear the term in a business context, is it based on the same principles as two people who call themselves “partners”?

A simple definition of partnership is that it is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. But let’s go back a little to explore the term used by individuals in their personal lives, rather than the business context.

Years ago, if one was neither married nor engaged but still committed to another person in a steady relationship, the words “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” seemed to do perfectly well (although I accept it sounded rather odd when describing people old enough to be one’s par-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

ents). The term “common law marriage” was one taught to me by my mother although I used to get alarmed at the level of vitriol in her voice when she said “common” — as if there were something dreadfully wrong about it all.

Fast forward 25 years and the word “partner” seems now to be the in-phrase. Time was, just a few years ago in fact, that if I had referred to my partner in polite company, there’d be a short intake of breath for it was taken as read that I had to be referring to another man. In these days when so many people maintain a relationship without ever entering into marriage, the term

The term “common law marriage” was one taught to me by my mother although I used to get alarmed at the level of vitriol in her voice when she said “common”

partner could just as well refer to a girlfriend of several years’ standing. It’s all become rather confusing.

In the UK, it was the Labour government that took the politically brave and potentially risky decision to enact civil partnership legislation in 2004. Possibly soon to be extended to Gibraltar, the legislation set out clear guidelines for the first time relating to the responsibilities of partners and the benefits to be gained from entering into such an arrangement. Aimed at same-sex couples, there have been complaints of discrimination ever since from straight couples who do not wish to enter into marriage but seek the financial and legal benefits of a partnership arrangement.

So far the government has maintained that such people can simply get married but sometimes it’s more complicated than that.

The civil partnership legislation is very clear.

In exchange for a series of undertakings and legal definitions of what constitutes the partnership between two people, several important benefits arise. The most important implications from a financial perspective are probably those dealing with succession issues and inheritance tax in the

business & finance UK and the setting out of new rules relating to next of kin and a lot more besides. Sadly — but inevitably — it also goes into considerable detail about how such partnerships should be dissolved.

These new rules in effect brought into force for individuals important aspects of legislation that had previously only been available in a corporate setting. Business partnerships, as we shall see, are nothing new. Legal partnerships come in several shapes and sizes but they all follow a similar pattern. It is also now very common to see the initials LP (standing for limited partnership) or LLP (limited liability partnership) appended to the name of many of our large firms, legal and accountancy in particular.

But hang on. Surely partnerships — law firms, doctors and so on — were not supposed to be able to limit their liability. Wasn’t that the whole point? In exchange for the comforting knowledge that the partners in question, whether they were drafting a contract or diagnosing a condition, were putting not just their professional reputations on the line but also their assets. Of course, insurance was used to mitigate some of this risk but ultimately their judgment, and that of their colleagues, was backed by individual partners’ wealth.

In several jurisdictions, many of them based on English law, partnerships as a separate legal entity have become far more popular in recent years. Essentially the intention was to retain the benefits of partnership whilst allowing at least some protection associated with limited liability.

But this concept is not restricted to English law and is certainly nothing new.

In the third Century BC, Roman societates publicanorum exhibited many similarities to the company structures we see today — but at least one partner had to be included who was fully liable for the entity’s debts. Across the Islamic world too, such arrangements became common.

In Europe, the Italian commenda of the tenth Century were the forerunners of the LPs and LLPs we see today.

As always there are differences across the

various jurisdictions where such structures can be established but the general principles are similar enough. A limited partnership may typically have up to 20 members, at least one of which is a “general” partner. This general partner has the power to bind the partnership by entering into contracts and so on and also assumes unlimited liability for the debts and obligations of the partnership. This potential liability can itself be mitigated if the general partner is itself established as a limited company.

In these circumstances, the other partners could enjoy “limited” liability in respect of the partnership in much the same way shareholders in a company know their financial risk is limited to the amount of capital they have invested into the company. It follows that these limited partners may not take part in the management of the company nor are they able to bind it contractually. The limited liability partnership differs in that there are limitations in liability for all partners.

Assuming such partnerships are properly structured from the outset, limited partnerships can be extremely flexible. Within reason, they are able to do anything a “natural person” — that is someone like you or me acting in an individual capacity — can do. A partnership can enter into contracts, own assets and, importantly, it can carry on in existence despite any changes in the status of the individual partners. In other words,

Essentially the intention was to retain the benefits of partnership whilst allowing at least some protection associated with limited liability. But this concept is not restricted to English law and is certainly nothing new

Local Scottish Freemasons donate to charity

in many ways such partnership “entities” are much more closely related to companies than a traditional partnership of old.

Tax advantages are likely to result because, generally speaking, these types of structures are established so that profits are taxable in the hands of the partners rather than the partnership itself — in the US, this is often referred to as “look-through treatment” because the taxman will “look-through” the partnership structure to assess the individual partners. Additionally, limited partnerships allow for the issue of shares in cases where other corporate facilities may not be desirable.

In summary, partnerships can offer the managers of businesses a more flexible, modern approach to liability and risk management in general. Their benefits were there for the Romans more than 2,000 years ago and I imagine the law relating to partnerships will continue to develop further in millennia to come. They are not necessarily simple to establish so, as always, professional advice should be sought at the earliest stage.

And so back to those friends whose marriage we have just celebrated. I happen to know that they read the Gibraltar Magazine — at least I hope they do for the lady in question happens to be the magazine’s editor. From my own partner and me and on behalf of my colleagues at Sovereign too, I say congratulations and we wish you a long and happy partnership. n

Ian Le Breton

is Managing Director of Sovereign Trust (Gibraltar) Limited.

Tel: +350 200 76173 Email: ilebreton@ SovereignGroup.com

To celebrate the 275th Anniversary of the Scottish Grand Lodge, the Grand Master Ian R Wolridge Gordon of Esslemont called on lodges worldwide to have a special focus on charity in 2011. Grand Lodge set aside £275,000 to supplement sums the lodges raised and donated to charity during 2011.

The Scottish Lodges under the District Grand Lodge of Gibraltar — St. Thomas Lodge, Lodge Al Mogreb Al Aska and Coronation Lodge — took up this challenge and organised a number of fund raising events, notably a sponsored walk round Gibraltar, and a static bicycle marathon at the Piazza.

The money raised locally totalled £9,609 and to this Grand Lodge of Scotland contributed a further £6,391, making a total of £16,000 to distribute among the following local charities: The Lady Williams Day Centre £7,000; Prostate Cancer Support Group £4.500; Breast Cancer Support Group £4,500. The charities received their cheques (pictured left) in mid-June from representatives of the lodges and the District Grand Master John Moya. n

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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business news

ISOLAS Supports Charities A delighted Mark Bridge (centre) receives his prize from Afrasia Bank’s Yogesh Gokool, Head of International Banking, Trusts & Custody (left) and Colin Grieve Chief Representative Officer - South Africa (right)

Gibraltar Delegate is Winner in South Africa Gibraltar businessman, Mark Bridge, a Director and General Manager of Europa Trust Company Limited, was recently the lucky prize-winner of a trip to Mauritius.

Mark won his prize in Johannesburg, South Africa, while attending a conference arranged by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). The conference focussed on a number of issues presented by international experts and practitioners. The lucky draw was on the last evening of the conference and sponsored by Afrasia Bank.

Being hosted in South Africa, the

conference attracted many South African lawyers and professionals.

Of the foreign delegates, those from Seychelles and Mauritius, with representatives from their regulators and governments, were by far the majority.

Because Africa is seen as a rising giant, these jurisdictions are making no secret of the fact they are shifting their focus from Asia to Africa.

As the only delegate from Gibraltar, Mark said “The robust participation of Seychelles and Mauritius is a message for Gibraltar. We now find ourselves in a very competitive business with about 70 other Finance Centres.

We cannot be complacent in the midst of changes brought about by the economic crisis in Europe and America”. n

In recent months Gibraltar learned of the passing of Philip Diaz, a loved and tremendously popular 17 year old student at Bayside Comprehensive School, who succumbed to an illness he had battled for a number of years. To commemorate Philip’s life, Bayside organised a number of memorial events during the course of the year, one of which was a team swim of a distance equivalent to crossing the Strait of Gibraltar undertaken at Eastern Beach by a number of Philip’s friends from school on 23rd June.

The swimmers raised as much money as possible in the run up to the event, funds which to be donated to local charity, Pathway Through Pain, established by local swimmer, Darren Grech.

Pathway Through Pain provides financial assistance to families which are experiencing extreme financial difficulties due to the serious illness of one of its members. The charity encourages

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charity file the participation of schoolchildren and students in higher education in its challenging fund-raising activities (participants must travel through their own training ‘pathway of pain’ before being able to complete the challenge, e.g. Polar Bear Swim, Triathlon etc).

Through such participation, the charity hopes to make the young participants aware of the need to assist others in times of need.

Isolas law firm, a long-time supporter of the charity, assisted the swimmers who undertook the challenge of swimming the Strait and the charity itself, by donating a cheque for £1,000. Isolas is proud to support these causes and looks forward to continuing to invest in initiatives of this nature. n

Faith & Light Isolas recently also donated the sum of £500 to Faith & Light on the occasion of Upon this Rock’s visit to Lanjaron in Granada from the 23rd to 26th June this year. Isolas is proud to support this initiative, the positive impact on the beneficiary of which is hard to overestimate. Isolas congratulates the international Faith & Light movement on its 40th anniversary celebrations and wishes it the best and many more years of living friendship with persons with an intellectual ability. n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

13

career file

Why Small Businesses are a Big Deal in Gibraltar It is fundamental that banks are able to give good quality advice and support to existing and prospective start-up businesses. Bankers need to remember that in this close knit business community, the majority of corporate and wealth clients are associated in some way with a small business so it’s a sector neglected at your peril.

I think bankers need to be out in the high street talking to their clients and getting to know their businesses first hand rather than sitting behind their desks processing paper. On this note, let me introduce you Marta Hertmanowska who is one of the new breed of bank managers I have referred to

14

“

in previous articles:

I believe small businesses are the backbone of the economy and a driving force in the community. As a Small and Medium Business Manager, I can see how important these businesses are to

our community; not only do they provide a range of services, but they also create job opportunities and can give the local economy a boost.

I find that due to operating on a small scale, local businesses are able to remain fresh and current — moving easily with the market

in a direction that enables them to thrive.

It is a well known fact that running a business requires a variety of skills and a lot of determination.

It is my job to assist my clients by offering a range of bespoke banking services; from helping to open a bank account to putting them in touch with specialists who can offer a variety of specific financial expertise.

For clients in need of advice on how to get a better return on their funds, we can arrange a joint meeting with the investment manager.

Similarly, for advice on liquidity and payments, we would seek the assistance of the Cash Managers.

Because only by working together can we ensure clients receive a bespoke and personal service.

In my opinion, the small business sector in Gibraltar is well looked after and nurtured. And it is interesting to note that the Government has recently established ‘The Small Business Board’ the aim of which is to pave the way for future generations of businessowners.

This is to be achieved mostly by streamlining the processes required to open a business. And so to my mind, it is an exciting time to be a prospective or current small business owner in Gibraltar as there are many measures in place to help and encourage those who wish to take this path.

Over the last few months in my role, I have noticed there has been a surge in the existence of small businesses in Gibraltar. That could be down to the fact more Ministry of Defence (MOD) land has been made available to the Government, some parts of which now house industrial parks. This means more people have been able to set up their business on a small-industry scale, leading to an increase in the light industry sector and in healthy business competition, which also indicates the sector is flourishing.

To meet the needs of the tourist industry — one of the mainstays of ‘the Rock’ — I believe it is important for Gibraltar to have a good range of local services and businesses. It is this breadth of choice which makes Gibraltar such an attractive prospect for tourists, whose needs and budgets are all taken care of.

For example, Gibraltar has a range of eateries which cater for tastes across the board, from takeaways and snack bars for those in a hurry to those who wish to take their time and enjoy some fine dining.

In my view, it is important that new businesses continue to enter

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

business finance the arena to keep the industry fresh and exciting and to keep healthy competition alive.

Without a doubt, one of the best aspects of my job is meeting with my clients. I really enjoy getting to know them, learning about their business needs and establishing how we can help their business blossom. I would describe my role as a gateway to the bank’s services and products as I listen to my clients’ needs and assess their situation before putting them in touch with the specialist who can help move the situation forward.

Because I work for a business friendly bank, every client I work with is equally important to me, regardless of the size of the business or its turnover. I always strive to do my best for my clients and to help them in any way I can, either providing guidance myself or

“

putting them in touch with one of many specialists. In fact, if we put all of the people I work with into one room, there would be thousands of employees from across the globe, each an expert in their field and eager to assist!

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing a business flourish. When you have worked closely with someone over a period of time and supported them every step of the way; from the initial meeting to the day they launch their own business, you naturally want them to succeed in their endeavours.

This is especially the case when you see a business expand and become more successful. It is particularly rewarding, having worked in partnership with the client for the entire process, to think the bank had a degree of involvement in

that success. It makes me feel very proud of what I do. Seeing for example, a client go from owning one stall or kiosk in town to owning permanent premises or several businesses is always rewarding.

While many businesses may have been affected by the recent global financial crisis, I believe in the main small businesses are more agile when it comes to adjusting to new situations than some larger businesses. One tactic small businesses can use in order to remain active and succeed is to change business proposition when required, thus making it one of the more robust sectors to be in.

For instance, if someone in a small family-run business suggests a new idea, it can be implemented almost immediately ensuring the business remains dynamic and moves with the times. In the same

way, if a small business owner decided they wanted to have a week of special offers to clear stock, for example, they would be able to do this fairly quickly because they operate on a small scale and could implement and manage this quite easily.

For the reasons outlined, I believe small businesses in Gibraltar are well supported and are coping well in the current economic climate. I look forward to meeting the small business owners of the future who are going to help shape our exciting local industry and drive it forward for years to come. n Paul Wharton and Marta Hertmanowska are writing in their own capacity and none of the above is intended to express the views or opinions of Barclays Bank PLC

It is an exciting time to be a prospective or current small business owner in Gibraltar as there are many measures in place to help and encourage those who wish to take this path

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15

eGaming

The Future of eGaming

social gaming

by Peter A Isola

It is now well established that Gibraltar is a major hub for the most well-known online gaming operators in the world. With this reputation Gibraltar is able to pick and choose which operators establish and become licensed in our jurisdiction but also with this comes a high degree of responsibility, not just for the local government and regulator but also for the operators who are by definition the major stakeholders in our local e-gaming industry.

There is no question that current licence holders are subject to a very high level of regulation and supervision by the Gibraltar regulator and indeed the licensing authority team based at No.6. With the advent of any new development within the industry the world watches how jurisdictions such as Gibraltar regulate gaming and any new innovations and take the necessary measures to ensure corporate responsibility is prevalent in this most fast moving and dynamic of industries.

So what does the future hold for Gibraltar

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and its resident e-gaming stakeholders? And in the next years? What will be the next big how will the face of online gaming change thing that happens to the industry and how will Gibraltar handle it?

If you ask me it has to be Social Gaming.

It is not so much What is social gaming? The basic definition be they are games that feature on a the quality or innovation of must social website site or platform. Some of them the social games but rather are not very social at all but they originate from the likes of Facebook a social networkthe huge audience and ing site, hence the term that has stuck to the wide range of games available on sites such exposure that games as Facebook.

What is the big deal about these games in on social sites have

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

eGaming the context of e-gaming?

Well it is not so much the quality or innovation of the social games but rather the huge audience and exposure that games on social sites have. Traditional operators have been watching this industry grow for the past seven years or so and now it seems every online gaming operator wants a piece of the social gaming pie as enlightened e-gaming operators understand the potential to use social games as an acquisition tool for predisposed gamblers and this means increased player liquidity and revenues for operators.

Gaming giants 888 and Bwin.party have recently announced they are re-investing in social gaming and many others already have struck some highly valued partnerships and made strategic (and costly) acquisitions across the social gaming spectrum to ensure they don’t miss out on the emerging trend.

The success of social games, particularly in the last year, its enormous appeal across all demographics, the huge volumes of new social gamblers and potential real money customers has recently diverted attention to what can only be described as nothing short of a phenomenon.

The UK Gambling Commission has recently dismissed rumours that it is looking into how it can regulate social gaming in a similar fashion to real-money gambling. However although this might not be the case it is very probable that every regulator worth its salt is currently being forced to monitor the social gaming / e-gaming sector due to technologi-

cal advances which in some ways could push the boundaries of the Gibraltar, and indeed beyond, UK Gambling Acts given the increasing technical complexity and overlap between the two offerings.

Most regulators will agree that social gaming is on the perimeter of the law and as a result outside the ambit of licensing and regulation at the moment but any amendments to current law or changes to the way in which regulators interpret the salient legal provisions in domestic gaming legislation could bring the social gaming industry straight into the realms of the law and regulation. The social and e-gaming industry knows this, hence the close monitoring by operators and regulators

In most jurisdictions, whether social gaming is or isn’t a gambling product doesn’t hinge on whether or not it is a game of chance, it hinges on whether you can win “money” or “money’s worth”

alike.

The question of whether social gaming should be regulated is currently something that is open to further interpretation and no doubt as public policy evolves Governments will be compelled to deal with the issue one way or another.

I think regardless of whether the game is a game of chance or a game of mixed skill and chance, the real issue is whether winning virtual coins or credits rather than real money is to be deemed “winnings” or “prizes” and thereafter deemed to be gaming or gambling which requires a licence and on-going regulation / supervision.

In most jurisdictions, whether social gaming is or isn’t a gambling product doesn’t hinge on whether or not it is a game of chance, it hinges on whether you can win “money” or “money’s worth”. The only thing that makes it not money is the inability to cash out in any tangible form in the “real” world. The other element is that the ‘virtual coins’ which are won in the social game are not transferable outside the game or games from the same producer.”

At the moment, as long as the credits cannot be converted back into money or money’s worth then the activity would not be generally considered gambling. However, we shall see if this view continues in Gibraltar and beyond so watch this space! n Peter A. Isola is Senior Partner at ISOLAS law firm. Contact Peter.isola@isolas.gi

The CISI is the largest and most widely respected professional body in the investment industry, established in Gibraltar in February 2011.

The CISI’s National Advisory Council in Gibraltar, which organises a number of Continuing Professional Development events for members and non-members.

Exams are available every Friday at Bleak House.

Training for CISI exams is available from Global Advisory Services Limited (www.globaladvisoryservices.net) the CISI’s representative in Gibraltar.

Please contact +350 20046830 for more information.

For more information on the CISI visit our website to find out more about who we are and what we offer. cisi.org/gibraltar

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

gibraltar@cisi.org

17

business & finance

Gibraltar at GAIM Conference Last month the Minister with responsibility for Financial Services, Gilbert Licudi QC, addressed a conference on funds in Monaco organised by GAIM (Global Alternative Investment Management).

“

The GAIM conference is an important conference for the global funds industry with all major players represented

”

For the fourth year running the Gaggero Foundation has donated £50,000 to support Young Enterprise in Gibraltar.

The scheme was introduced to Gibraltar from the UK in 2008, initially at the Gibraltar College, and it enables students in full time education to get hands-on experience of what it is like to set up and run a business.

Minister for Financial Services, Gilbert Licudi, with Finance Centre Director, James Tipping, and other representatives from Gibraltar at the Gibraltar stand

Mr Licudi spoke on the re-domiciliation of funds to the EU with particular emphasis on recent changes to funds legislation in Gibraltar.

He also focused on opportunities which arise from a new EU Directive which will allow, as from 2013, passporting into the EU of Gibraltar funds for the purposes of marketing and distribution.

Also present at the conference were the Finance Centre Director, James Tipping, and representatives of the Gibraltar funds industry.

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Gaggero Foundation supports 300 students through Young Enterprise Gibraltar

Mr Licudi said, “The GAIM conference is an important conference for the global funds industry with all major players represented.

My invitation to speak at the conference was the ideal opportunity to explain the opening up of the Gibraltar market as a result of changes introduced in April 2012... We have received excellent feedback from delegates which gives us great cause for optimism for the expansion of the Gibraltar funds industry.” n

Young Enterprise is an extracurricular activity which students undertake voluntarily in addition to their formal studies. They decide what product or service they wish to provide the local community and then they raise capital, issue shares, elect a board of directors and form a company.

The ideas and decisions — good and bad — are taken by the students, but they are supported by link teachers who guide them and also by local volunteers from the business community who challenge them on the decisions they make and act as mentors.

The success of their efforts is judged in May each year when students must liquidate their

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community update companies, write a detailed company report which must include financial statements highlighting the profits they have achieved.

At an awards ceremony each team also has to make a public presentation about their companies and what they achieved.

Commenting on the success of Young Enterprise, James Gaggero, Chairman of the Bland Group and founder of the Gaggero Foundation said, “This last year has been another year of achievement for Young Enterprise Gibraltar.

Not only has the scheme expanded to include Westside but the scheme has also run a variety of programmes in addition to the flagship Company Programme.”

Chairman of Young Enterprise Gibraltar, Carlos Garcia added, “Last year the committee set itself a goal to develop Young Enterprise further in Gibraltar by rolling out the successful Company Programme to other schools and also by introducing new programmes from the YE organisation.

“We are very pleased with the success in achieving this goal but what has made it really rewarding is the enthusiasm with which the students have participated. The creativity and motivation of the students has been very impressive.

“From a standing start four years ago with just 26 participants, one of last year’s local teams came third overall in the UK finals out of a total of 2,000 companies and 30,000 students.

“The continued solid support of the Gaggero Foundation enables Young Enterprise to develop and thrive in Gibraltar. On behalf of the Committee, schools and students I would

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Founder of the Gaggero Foundation, James Gaggero (left) donated a cheque for £50,000 to the Chairman of Young Enterprise Gibraltar, Carlos Garcia

like to thank the Gaggero Foundation for its generous support.”

More than 300 students have benefited from the Young Enterprise experience this year. In

the next 12 months there are plans to involve more schools in Gibraltar across other age groups which should see the numbers rise to over 500. n

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career file

Internships:

Who Benefits?

Summer is coming and for many of the young ones that means holidays, beaches and no school.

For others the internship season is approaching. Many local firms in Gibraltar offer summer internships for university students who come home to visit for the summer. For business owners and students who are not sure if an internship is right for them, here are some of the benefits.

Benefits for Interns You’ve finished a full year of studying and you’re back in Gibraltar for the summer. All you can think about is seeing your friends again, catching up and getting some well-deserved downtime. Some of your friends might be coming back to a summer internship and while this might not sound so appealing after a year at university here are some of the reasons why an internship can benefit you for years to come.

University can be quite costly. Even if tuition is covered, you have to factor in books, living costs and of course food. A summer internship is a great way to earn some money to help with the costs of the coming year. One of the biggest worries for many students throughout the school year is money to help them get by.

Working throughout the summer can help alleviate some of that worry.

An internship allows students to gain real world experience while working towards their degree. School is an excellent place to be in that it gives you the technical understanding to succeed in your future career, but one area which can sometimes suffer is that of practical experience.

Internships are a great way of gaining some practical knowledge before entering the work world full time. In addition to this, an internship can lead to a full time position after university. On average 60% of interns are offered permanent positions after the completion of their studies. It can also be a great way of applying knowledge you have gained at school.

Sometimes the practical application of knowledge helps to reaffirm what you’ve learned in the classroom.

Summer internships can also be a great tool for helping in the decision of what career path

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to take after school. One of the toughest decisions for students is how they want to use all the knowledge they’ve gained once they have completed school. Getting a chance to experience the work environment can help in the decision.

Benefits for Companies If you are a business owner (or manage a business) it might be worth considering taking on summer interns for several reasons. There are many students who study abroad throughout the school year, return to Gibraltar for the summer and are happy to work for the reasons above. If you’re not sure a summer internship programme might be right for your business, here are some of the main benefits experienced by other local companies.

Summer internships can be helpful in growing future talent for your organisation. One of the biggest challenges that businesses have in hiring new employees is finding the ones that fit. While years of work experience are invalu-

Summer internships can be helpful in growing future talent for your organisation. One of the biggest challenges that businesses have in hiring new employees is finding the ones that fit

able for a lot of positions within an organisation some jobs are great for new starters that can be trained up, such as interns. Internships are a great way to grow your own employees and train them right from the beginning on the software, systems and processes that work best for your organisation.

Internship programmes also allow a business the opportunity to see if a potential employee will be a good fit for the business. The ideal situation is that your company employs an intern for the summer and they become a great contribution to the team which can lead to further internships in the coming years and then possibly a full time employee when they finish their studies. If after the initial internship is complete and it didn’t go as well as expected then there is no commitment for the future.

Internships lead to great employee retention as well because of this. Approximately 80% of interns offered a permanent position after an internship accept and 40% of those hired permanently stay with the company for five plus years. One of the highest costs for a suffering organisation is employee turnover. If you can reduce the possibilities of this happening through employee training of interns then your business will see the benefits.

Summer internships are also an excellent way of giving back to the local community.

A business community is only as strong as its current (and future) work force and this is built through education and experience. The more local businesses contribute to the growth of their students, the stronger future and a greater sense of community throughout. n Text by Oliver Medina, Associate Director, SRGEurope recruitment. www.srgeurope.com Tel: 216 21111

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

business opening

Chique

Boutique Chique Boutique, now open at Ocean Village Promenade, has an eclectic and unique range of fashionable items, and some great gift ideas too.

Bringing affordable British designs from London, retailer Debra Pott is excited about her new venture at this prestigious location.

Brands available are vintage inspired fashion

by Miss Patina from London, CocoRose foldable handbag shoes, Powell Craft children’s fashion, Lubber beach bags, and the ever popular Barry M Makeup. The quirky Bagman and Robin handbags are especially eye catching, as well as

the Elvis and Kresse bags made from fire station hose — 50% of the profits go to the Fire Fighter Association on these items. There is also a range of handmade jewellery, and locally designed MLE Swimwear available at the store.

Pop into Chique Boutique and have a look for yourself. n

Elvis and Kresse bags are made from fire station hose — 50% of the profits go to the Fire Fighter Association

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

21

business moves

The Gibraltar Magazine:

We’ve Moved!

The Gibraltar Magazine now has a new home! And what an amazing new home it is. We are now very privileged to be located in the space that was originally La Bayuca restaurant on Turnbull’s Lane — a place that holds an amazing 40 years of history and stories from many busy nights at what used to be the place to be seen here in Gibraltar.

La Bayuca opened on 18th December 1962 and closed the 30th June 2002 — just 6 months short of 40 very happy years of service. The restaurant was owned by husband and wife Johnny and Tita Stagnetto who have lovingly served customers from regular locals to well known celebrities and even royalty. Tita and Johnny regaled their guests with stories and their

Happy days in the early years

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unique sense of humour nightly, and Johnny said when the restaurant finally closed in 2002: “Over all these years what we have enjoyed the most are the people, their diversity, and the different walks of life.”

Sadly Johnny recently passed away, but Tita is still in possession of the restaurant visitor’s books, which read like a who’s who of Gibraltar and visitors to the Rock over the decades.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York are among many celebrities who dined in what is now our office space over the years. HRH Prince Charles came to dinner with his training officer whilst serving on board HMS Norfolk in 1972. Michael Palin, while filming his desert walk in Morocco, brought his crew to eat in La Bayuca in 2001. The haunt of Admirals and other visiting naval officers, comedian Tommy

The restaurant visitor’s books read like a who’s who of Gibraltar and visitors to the Rock over the decades.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York are among the many celebrities

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

business moves Cooper also came to dinner in 1974 with his entourage and kept the whole restaurant in fits of laughter for hours — his signature in the visitors book reading ‘The chef is a monkey!’

Others guests include the likes of Spike Milligan, Betty Boothroyd, Deborah Kerr, Lex Barker, and closer to home — Miss Gibraltar’s like Carmen Gomez, a regular at the restaurant. English bull-fighter Henry Higgins had lunch at La Bayuca with a crowd of friends in 1975 and in 1979 “The Professionals” Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw dined in Gibraltar’s favourite restaurant.

Locals also relished the food at La Bayuca, and the visitors book confirms how

The haunt of Admirals and other visiting naval officers, comedian Tommy Cooper also came to dinner in 1974 with his entourage and kept the whole restaurant in fits of laughter for hours

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

much they all enjoyed their dining experiences. A few of our favourite comments include ‘My stomach could hug you!’ and ‘I came back!’ among others saying thank you for the delicious meals everyone has had over the last few decades.

We feel very honoured to now be taking over this space as our permanent office — a space that holds so many very happy memories. n The Gibraltar Magazine, and La Bayuca, is situated at 21 Turnbull’s Lane, just off Main Street and Casemates Square — around the corner from the Venture Inn. Tel: 200 77748.

Tita and Johnny in La Bayuca in 1968

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HR column

Your HR Questions Answered Sylvia Kenna of the HR Dept (www.thehrdept.gi) answers your HR related questions

Q

When I first started my business in Gibraltar I wanted to run it like a family business. When I employed staff I wanted them to feel like they were part of a family and I didn’t feel it was necessary to have lots of rules and procedures.

However as the business is growing I am finding that some of my staff take time off without notice, arrive at work late, or do not attend meetings with clients on time. Recently I heard that staff feel I don’t treat everyone the same or fairly. I spend a lot of my time managing these problems when I should be managing my business.

How do I free up my time to do what I intended in the first place — run my business?

First of all, it’s great that you started out wanting to treat your staff like family members and as you say build a culture of working together. It is unfortunate that the intention hasn’t matched the reality and this is almost certainly due mainly to not communicating your expectations to your staff.

In a family situation there are rules and procedures even though they are not written down.

Members of your family usually learn by example what is considered good and acceptable behaviour. In families people often have different responsibilities, for example if children carry out a particular chore they may receive a reward. If someone in your family behaves in a way that is opposite to everyone’s wishes they are normally told what they are doing wrong and what to change about their behaviour .

This is the same in business. And this is why business owners should have some form of policies and procedures from the outset. You can add to these as your business evolves and changes, but instead of inventing your policies each time an issue arises, you could develop a set of guidelines in the form of an employee handbook.

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Your employee handbook is a great help in communicating to new employees what expectations you have of them and what they can expect from you. It will also help you to treat people in a fair and consistent manner and more importantly show your staff that you are treating them fairly, regardless of who they are.

There is no standard format for an employee handbook, but it should reflect the way you want to run your business. It could be a short check list of “dos and don’ts”, or a summary of your policies. Whichever you choose it should be written in a way that is easy to understand and interesting.

There is certain information which it is good practice to include in your employee handbook, such as: Introduction You could start with an introduction that explains the purpose of the employee handbook. This could be followed by a statement telling people why you started your business and how it came into being.

Legal aspects Include statements on equal employment opportunity, disciplinary and grievance, maternity and paternity, absence, and hours of work. The handbook should include a statement regarding intolerance to harassment and how this is dealt with.

Paying People When do you pay your staff and how is pay calculated? What benefits do you offer employees?

Benefits could include employee discounts

In a family situation there are rules and procedures even though they are not written down

or training sponsorship. How do your staff become eligible for these?

Attendance Advise on the normal working hours, break and lunch periods, and your policy on overtime. You should indicate how many holidays staff have and when can they take it. Describe how people need to inform you if they are off sick, and when to provide sick notes.

Standards of Behaviour It may be important for your business to have a dress code, or for your staff to have access to the internet or email, or use of company property.

How do you expect your staff to communicate especially if they have direct contact with customers or other outside parties? What are the consequences of poor standards of behaviour?

Termination Advise staff on potential grounds for dismissal, such as dishonesty, insubordination, or absenteeism. Explain the procedure for resignation, redundancy and retirement.

Communicating the introduction of an employee handbook effectively, is essential so that its importance and content is fully understood.

Good practice is to have each employee sign off as having read and understood the handbook.

Often in Gibraltar, people who work together are friends socially, or part of the same family, and treating everyone the same can be difficult depending on your relationship with them. Having a well-written, clear and concise handbook gives you and your staff well defined guidelines to follow and greatly assists in avoiding ambiguity. n One of the business support services offered by The HR Dept. is a review of your existing handbook or the provision of a new employee handbook. Support can also be provided in keeping your handbook up to date. Further information can be found by visiting www.thehrdept.gi

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

business support

Social Media:

Take the Masterclass Social Media is a phenomenon that has excited us and put fear into our marketing strategies in equal measure. Significant potential can sometimes seem like a daunting prospect as businesses wade through the numerous options to claim and exploit a small piece of the virtual real estate that is the internet.

It is against this backdrop that Image Group has developed a rare position. While they understand the detail of creating a social media presence they have a more strategic outlook. This places social media within the business marketing plan, sometimes at its heart and sometimes in a support role but never just because the competition is doing it. Image Group knows how to tap into that excitement and calm the fear — “We understand the ‘why’.”

Image Group’s introductory Masterclass is designed to give delegates knowledge that can be used now; how social media can support a business within strategic marketing planning and become a tool for success.

The Masterclass takes place at the Rock View Suite, Eliott Hotel on 5th July from 8.30am - 1pm.

Contact Dave Miller on 20046830 or dave@globalgroup.gi to learn more or make a booking.

Image Group’s introductory Masterclass is designed to give delegates knowledge that can be used now GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

25

exhibition

The Evacuation

A Photographic Exhibition This month there is a fabulous opportunity to see photographs of GIbraltarians taken during the World War 2 evacuations of Gibraltar to Northern Ireland, UK, Jamaica, Madeira and elsewhere.

The photographic exhibition, put together by Joe Gingell, will take place in the John Mackintosh Hall from 2nd to 13th July.

From top right: Evacuees in Jamaica; The Danino family in Madeira; Evacuees in Northern Ireland

“

When anyone spots any member of their family in the photographs, they usually pass the word around to their relatives and then the next day I get groups of families visiting

”

“In all my previous exhibitions in connection with the publication of my book about the evacuation the public attendances have been excellent and I received much encouragement from visitors who wished to contribute with their personal collection of memorabilia,” explains Joe of his motivation for holding this exhibition.

“I am more than convinced that an exhibition lasting two weeks is a good method for acquiring further information for my next book and it serves at the same time as a promotion campaign,” he adds.

The bulk of the photographs which appear in Joe’s first book We Thank God and England, which sold 2,000 copies, were donated by the many families of those evacuated to different places, while the historical photographs were donated by historical institutions from various countries.

“There were so many photographs donated for the first book that I had to make a selection and even then I managed to include about 1,000 photographs,” he says.

“The photographs I was unable to publish in the previous book, due to lack of space, will obviously be included in the next book together with those extra photos which are still pouring in at the moment for inclusion in my supplementary book about the evacuation.”

Joe wishes to thank all those who have donated photographs and other material for the previous and the next publication.

The first publication about the evacuation contains more personal stories than official information and about 75% of its content is photographs.

“I am hoping to include as much information as possible from files released recently to the public domain by official sources and, therefore, I expect that the content of the next book will be more balanced between text and pictures,” he explains.

“As in previous exhibitions, I will include brief explanatory notes about the evacuation for the benefit of those who may not be very well acquainted with the sub-

Joe with his late daughter Michelle

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

exhibition ject. There will also be some notes and captions to accompanying the photographs. However, I found that visitors in the main are usually much more inclined to concentrate on looking at the pictures than reading extensive explanatory notes.”

Many will visit the exhibition to look for their loved ones in the photographs. The chances are that with so many photographs on display relatives are bound to appear at least in one of the many photographs. “When anyone spots any member of their family in the photographs, they usually pass the word around to their relatives and then the next day I get groups of families visiting the exhibition,” Joe says. “Some visitors, naturally, can be seen feeling very emotional when they see lost relatives in the photos.”

While Joe’s main reasons for holding this exhibition are to accumulate as much information as possible and to give publicity to the publication of the book, at the same time it promotes the idea of publishing a supplementary book so Joe can continue contacting those interested in contributing photographs and other material of interest about the evacuation.

Joe will, as always, continue

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to support all the cancer support related entities in their efforts to raise funds but says “I am sure they will not mind if on this occasion I donate all the money raised from the sales of my next book to the following mental illness related charities: Gibraltar Mental Welfare Fund and Gibraltar Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Group.”

Without the help Joe received from so many people with information and photographs, it would have been impossible to hold the forthcoming exhibition, he acknowledges.

“I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity of thanking all those of have already donated material for the exhibition and all those who I know are still looking for photographs for the exhibition and to be included also in the next publication. The actual mounting and display of photographs, notes etc will be arranged

School boys at Wembley

by me with the help of my friends and family. And, of course, my thanks also to the John Mackintosh Hall management and staff for allocating the Exhibition Rooms.”

The chances are that with so many photographs on display relatives are bound to appear at least in one of the many photographs

Joe has not been able to put names to faces in many of the photographs which will be on display at the exhibition and he would appreciate visitors, who may know anyone in any of the photographs, letting him know so he can add the information to the book before publication. n The Evacuation photographic exhibition will be held from 2nd July to 13th July at the John Mackintosh Hall, Monday to Fridays 10am - 8pm. Entrance is free.

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eGaming feature

Frank Costa Holding Centre Court

by Mike Brufal

Frank Costa, 78, is one of Gibraltar’s most distinguished sportsmen, and earlier this year was presented with the Gibraltar Award by the Governor in recognition of his exceptional services to tennis on the Rock.

Frank’s talents are not confined to tennis as he is an accomplished musician, a founder of the group Los Trovadores and in his youth was regarded as Gibraltar’s finest goalkeeper. He is married to Angelina Morello and they have two sons and seven grandchildren.

During the Second World War, together with his family, Frank was evacuated via a circuitous route to London where they lived in Marlborough Court, Kensington and on the way back stayed for a short period in Chorley. He has happy memories when in 1942 his father was able to come over from the Rock for a short period of leave. He went to St Mathias school in Earls Court and remembers it fondly.

On his return to Gibraltar Frank attended Lourdes School and went on to pass the 11+ to enter the Grammar School. He was a keen member of the Sea Scouts and during his eight years service, in

28

addition to the naval curriculum, learnt to play the mouth organ and bagpipes. He attended the first world jamboree of Scouts.

His ability as a sportsman was quickly noticed at the Grammar School and he played for the football 1st XI for several seasons. After finishing school he played for local club Grammarians before go-

ing on to play in Gibraltar league football.

At 15 he moved to the college as an apprentice mechanical engineer with practical experience in the Dockyard. At the same time he studied privately for the School Certificate.

In his early 20s he joined the City Council as a technical clerk

When the Duke of Edinburgh came to Gibraltar on 23rd November 1950 to open the Legislative Council, Frank’s job was to assist the pack of visiting photographers

in the Telephone Department and after the amalgamation with the Government became a clerical technical officer.

When the Duke of Edinburgh came to Gibraltar on 23rd November 1950 to open the Legislative Council, Frank’s job was to assist the pack of visiting photographers in transmitting the photographs back to London.

After a short spell playing in senior football with the Grammarians many years were spent with the Europa Football Club — he played in goal for this club and the Gibraltar National XI. In 1953 he was invited for a trial with Leicester City but after

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

sporting heroes a month, sadly, he did not receive an offer to join the Club. His view today is that for a Gibraltarian player to trial in the UK it should last for considerably more than a month in view of playing on grass and coping with the harsh wintery and icy cold conditions. However he was delighted to have been one of the first Gibraltarian players to have been offered a trial from a UK club.

Purists might say that honour fell to Tony Macedo who went on to play for England but he already lived in Fulham.

Towards the end of his career Frank played a few matches in the local league for Gibraltar United FC but he is keen to point out that his loyalty rested with Europa Football Club.

Parallel to his life on the sports field Frank discovered his love for music and learned to play the Spanish guitar.

He joined forces with Luis Diaz, Elio Cruz and Octavio Victory to form the highly successful quartet Los Trovadores (when Elio Cruz left to settle in the UK he was replaced

by Isaac Wahnon). The group always enjoyed an amateur status and over the decades raised considerable sums of money for charity. Countless charity concerts have been given and the quartet also played in hospitals and Mount Alvernia elderly care home.

A copy of their CD Virgencita de Europa was presented to the Church of Our Lady of Dolours in the Fulham Road, London as it houses a replica of the famous statue.

On Friday 5th May, 2009, Los Trovadores played their famous Virgencita de Europa plegaria dur-

Frank received the Gibraltar Award from His Excellency the Governor for exceptional services to tennis on the Rock GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Above: Sandpits Lawn Tennis Club Secretary Frank Costa and Club Committee Mamber Tita Stagnetto talking to His Excellency the Governor, St David Williams GCB, during the new clubhouse inauguration party in 1984 Right: Frank on court at Sandpits Lawn Tennis Club

ing Mass, in the presence of Cardinal Saraiva Martins, other church dignitaries and a congregation of around 4000, at the celebration for the 700th Jubilee of the devotion in Gibraltar to Our Lady of Europe.

The group’s last show was on 17th September, 2010 when Los Trovadores performed at a dinner party organised by the Senior Citizens’ committee at their South District Clubhouse.

In 1963, the year Frank retired from football, he decided to start playing tennis and together with his family joined Sandpits Lawn Tennis Club, the only civilian tennis club in Gibraltar. Tennis coaching lessons were held at the club under the supervision of Tita

Stagnetto, Brenda Whitcroft, Shirley Purviss and Lionel Chipolina Senior. (During the first half of the previous decade the coaches were Messers Copello and Campello.)

In the early ’60s the club suffered from a succession of landslides due to torrential rain which also caused a landslip from the Alameda Gardens directly onto the tennis courts. The Gibraltar Government provided financial support to replace these courts with en tout cas hard playing surfaces. These courts were opened in 1973 by the Duke of Kent in his capacity as President of the All England Club.

Frank decided, because he was in his early 30s and by that time could play reasonably well, he would concentrate on coaching which soon became his second love. It was because of his enthusiasm for the game that in 1965 he became a committee member and later Club Secretary where he was instrumental in driving through plans for a new clubhouse.

When the land frontier opened in 1969 Frank and his fellow members of the committee took a decision to get involved in encouraging matches between Sandpits

and nearby Spanish clubs. This naturally led to high profile players, who were playing along the Costa, to come across the border to play at Sandpits thus inspiring Gibraltar’s young tennis players.

The highlight of these visits was a round robin involving Lew Hoad (Wimbledon champion), Art Bucholz and Luis Ayala. The fourth invited player was Andres Gimeno but he was not allowed through the frontier by the Spanish authorities.

Eventually, the long queues at the frontier spelt the end to Gibraltar taking part in any Spanish leagues. However, in 1989 Manolo Santana and Jose Luis Clerc played an exhibition match against Peter Caetano and Lionel Chipolina.

In 1984 Frank took over the Presidency of the club from Albert Ramagge, a position he held for 26 years until he retired two years ago. The highlight of his presidency was probably the considerable time spent talking to the Government about the club’s de-

Frank decided, because he was in his early 30s and by that time could play reasonably well, he would concentrate on coaching which soon became his second love 29

sporting heroes velopment. These talks resulted in the new state of the art tennis and paddle complex at Sandpits.

It so happened that the paddle tournament to inaugurate the new court was a men’s double event where Frank and Elio Federico beat Wilfred Gordon and James Gomes. Poetic justice indeed.

In 1993 Frank led the Gibraltar tennis team to the Isle of Wight Island Games and they won no less than five Gold medals.

Two years later he was a key player in the negotiations which led to ‘Sunshine Games’ being held on the Rock which resulted in another haul of five Gold medals.

Frank went on to take the Gibraltar tennis team to the Island Games in Jersey where a Gold, Silver and Bronze were won.

It is not widely known amongst non-tennis players that it was Christian Langdon’s great grandfather who took tennis and football into Andalucia when he went to work there in the 18th century.

There are Spanish sports writers who still visit Gibraltar to trace the origin of tennis in Spain back to the Rock.

It is therefore ironic that today

the Gibraltar Tennis Association is prevented by the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation from joining the 49 member Tennis Europe, formerly known as the European Tennis Federation.

Gibraltar was so close to becoming the 50th member that the fees had been paid; after the Spanish intervention the application was not accepted and the fees returned.

Frank is really confident that sooner rather than later the Gibraltar Tennis Association eventually will be accepted into Tennis Europe. After all the Gibraltar Football Association is almost a member of the Union of European Football Associations.

Tennis runs in the Costa family genes as all his children and

grandchildren are keen players.

Jamie Costa, aged 12, currently trains under the Lawn Tennis Association Early Targeted Athletes (ETA) programme and has almost reached the ETA’s 7.2 level ranking.

Frank still coaches 5-16 year olds for 90 minutes on three days a week. This coaching is not confined to members of Sandpits and any child can join on payment of a token fee.

John Shepherd, the Gibraltar Chronicle’s distinguished sports columnist, pays this tribute to Frank: “Frank’s distinguished football career was before my sports reporting on the Rock in the ’70s.

However, he was an ever-present

Gibraltar was so close to becoming the 50th member that the fees had been paid; after the Spanish intervention the application was not accepted and the fees returned

on the Sandpits LTC courts for three decades in which he oversaw the resurrection from a slippery slope to the ‘state of the art’ facility of today.

“He was instrumental in encouraging inter-club friendship with the burgeoning tennis scene along the Costa — especially at veteran level. At the same time he took on the mantle of leading Sandpits LTC and the GTA through coaching and regular tournaments on the variety of surfaces — under the idyllic shade of the Alameda Gardens.”

Frank admits that since 1963 tennis has been an important part of his life, enabling him to make many friends and indeed to continue playing until late in life.

His greatest regret is that politics have prevented Sandpits from joining local leagues along the Costa del Sol thus preventing the members from mixing with Spanish players.

He thinks the future for tennis on the Rock is excellent and is confident that the tennis team will continue to win many medals at the Island Games. n

Taekwondo Championships

Last month, the Gibraltar Taekwondo Association held it’s 10th Junior Kyorugi (Sparring) and 8th Junior Poomsae (Patterns) National Championships, in commemoration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

There were 142 participants in the event, conducted by Masters Edward and Ernest Garcia 5th Dan, with the assistance of 11 Black Belts who are Qualified Centre & Corner Referees and Technical Judges and some senior members.

Every participant/instructor/ helper received a commemorative medal sponsored by the Gibraltar Government. These were presented by the Hon Paul Balban.

Both Masters Edward and Ernest Garcia are extremely delighted with the outstanding performance of their pupils at the championships and are looking forward to the at International Championships in Strait Games and their attendance the autumn. n

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Rugby Growing on the Rock The Gibraltar Rugby Union’s Super IVs League is played annually between Gibraltar’s four clubs, with the Buccaneers, pictured above, winning the tournament this year. With over 140 players, the popularity and growth of rugby in Gibraltar has been incredible with youngsters as young as 5 now playing. Gibraltar has applied to become the newest member of the European Rugby Federation FIRA/AER.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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sustainable spaces

The Green Agenda

What does sustainability in the builtenvironment mean and how does it affect Gibraltar? We spoke to David Richardson MRICS of Richardson estate agents about renewable and efficient energy and its use in Gibraltar.

In relation to the built environment and the construction industry in Gibraltar, what does sustainability mean to you?

For me sustainability is the responsible management of resources. In the long term this has far reaching environmental, economic and social challenges that entails among other factors local and international laws, urban planning and individual lifestyles.

In relation to the built environment the green agenda focuses on making savings to your energy bills.

In relation to the construction industry, life cycle energy savings for the end users is important however sustainability focuses on the choice and source of building materials, build-

ing techniques and technologies used in order to minimise the carbon footprint and overall embedded energy. In other words minimise the amount of energy and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions required for the entire construction project.

What are your views on renewable energy and energy efficiency?

Renewable energy or electricity generated from a renewable sources such as sunlight, wind or wave power tick the sustainable box however much of the available technology is expensive and less reliable when compared to electricity generated by fossil fuels. Today’s solar panels and wind turbines also take up a lot of space and would generally need to be large scale projects in order to be feasible. This means financing such projects could only be undertaken by Government or by commercial ventures.

Energy efficient technologies on the other hand are more accessible to the wider public but will require a collective public effort if we are to achieve a notable reduction in the energy consumptions of our buildings. Over the past decade I would say that Gibraltar has like much of the developed world substantially increased its energy consumption with the advent of power hungry electronic goods and the increased demand for air conditioned commercial space.

What technologies exist and how can these be applied to the existing built environment and new buildings in Gibraltar?

The fundamental key in achieving a cost effective reduction in the energy consumption of a new or existing building is a tailored design or mix of technologies that take into consideration the building’s size, its orientation, what materials it is made of and its existing infrastructure.

Some of the technologies available today are described below.

Photovoltaic Solar Panels. PV panels generate clean electricity from the sun any further CO2 emissions and relatively low maintenance costs.

The panels can be fitted on roof tops so they are out of sight however the technology used in

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

sustainable spaces today’s PV panels is still in its infancy.

To gauge an idea of what I mean, the most efficient panel in today’s market that converts light into electricity is about 40% efficient (40% of the energy is converted into electricity while the rest is lost as heat) however this type of cell is exceptionally expensive and is generally only used in the space industry. The more common single junction type cells we find on roof tops operate at a discouraging rate of about 15% efficiency.

To further dampen the promises of this technology, PV panels are less efficient when they are dirty and are less efficient when they overheat.

For example panel temperatures in the summer can easily reach 50°C resulting in a 12% reduction from normal output.

Solar Water Heating. Solar water heating drastically reduces the energy consumption required by gas or electric water heaters. They are generally low maintenance and when compared to a domestic electric immersion heater you can expect considerable savings of about 510kg of Carbon Dioxide emission per year.

A standard domestic installation can cost from £1,200 to £5,000 and you can expect savings of approximately £300 per year for a family of four giving a payback period of about four years at best.

Customised Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems. The right HVAC system for your building is perhaps the single most important factor in keeping your energy bills low and the system is also responsible for internal air quality and temperature.

In Gibraltar we typically use air conditioning

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

systems to control the internal environment however there are other smart ways to effectively cool the building thereby reducing the running time of your AC units. For example a new building can be designed with intelligent monitoring systems, automated solar shading and natural ventilation to keep the structure cool in summer.

Low Energy and Intelligent Lighting. These technologies can be of particular benefit to commercial buildings. The light fittings include a photocell that is calibrated to detect light and will only switch on when the internal space is dark enough. The system can also include timers and movement sensors that switch off the lights after working hours or when there is no movement in the room for a given period of time. The latest low energy light bulb technology in today’s market is LED lighting. This lighting is very cheap to run and will last many times longer than your standard bulb.

Gibraltar has implemented legislation that requires producing an Energy Performance Certificate on construction, sale or rental of any property that uses energy to condition the internal environment

Are Gibraltar buyers aware/interested in energy efficiency in the buildings they purchase?

Yes. Since the introduction of Europe’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Gibraltar has implemented legislation that requires producing an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on construction, sale or rental of any property that uses energy to condition the internal environment i.e. fixed heating and cooling systems.

The EPC provides the purchaser with an energy rating on a scale from A to G that will help gauge the long term running costs of a building. The better the energy rating, the lower the running costs and this information is valuable to a potential purchaser who want to compare two or three properties they may be interested in buying.

There has been a lot of talk about Green Energy (energy that can be extracted, generated, and/or consumed without any significant negative impact to the environment) in Gibraltar, but we seldom see evidence of Green Energy used in Gibraltar’s buildings. How can this be changed? Would you like to see legislation / incentives to build using sustainable energy?

Yes, there are various green energy technologies out there that have been used successfully. Indeed many of the world’s most famous architects are today designing and building tomorrow’s eco city projects. I believe the reason we seldom see green energy in Gibraltar is be-

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sustainable spaces For now I believe the only clients who actively promote and pursue green technologies are the large corporations that can afford it with a view to gain positive publicity by boasting the greenest buildings.

I also hope to see the evolution of solar technology resulting in more efficient and cheaper solar panels however this is unlikely to happen any time soon because current PV solar technologies and indeed other renewable technologies including wind turbines require Rare Earth Metals for their manufacture. These 17 metallic elements are some of the planets most prized resources and the Chinese Government currently controls 97% of global REM production so material costs for manufacturing the products themselves will remain high for the time being.

Building Surveyor David Richardson discusses energy conservation. To make an appointment with David contact Tel: 200 79210 or visit www.richardsons.gi

cause of long pay-back periods and from client scepticism to try something new.

With regards to legislation and incentives, yes. Government incentives are in my opinion the only way current sustainable technologies can become affordable and mainstream in our homes.

By the same token new Government incentives could be modelled in such a way that the domestic energy savings result in lower power demands and thereby improvements in local air quality. The importance of improving our local air quality to meet the targets set by the European Commission cannot be understated, for example London has already received a “final warning” from Brussels and could face fines of £300 million which equates to £25 a year for every London tax payer. In the same way Gibraltar could face a similar pollution fine if targets are not met.

While positive steps are being taken by the Ministry for the Environment to review and report on our Government’s Air Quality Action Plan the complexity of the task should not be underestimated.

The built environment plays an important part, however there are many variables that af-

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fect air quality in Gibraltar, the main one being the high density of motor vehicles in the city.

Renewable technologies are essential to sustainable energy, contributing to energy security. What technologies are currently being employed in Gibraltar to ensure energy security, and what technologies are we likely to see in new builds, or will be made available to us as home owners?

Energy production in Gibraltar is generated from fossil fuels and this is likely to remain unchanged. The key to a sustainable future for Gibraltar lies in reducing power consumption and by supporting current energy production with a few medium scale renewable technologies.

Regarding the built environment, I hope to see some of the technologies I mentioned earlier being used in modern construction and refurbishment projects in future.

How does the cost-benefit of sustainable energy compare with traditional energy, and how can Gibraltar as a whole benefit from individual choices?

If a person or company were to exploit solar, wind or wave power the cost benefit would be free energy once investment costs have been covered. The way to do this is by supplying your electricity to the grid and selling the power you generate.

In theory this makes perfect sense however the investors are likely to encounter planning or public concerns and will need to consider high land values before such a scheme will be deemed feasible.

In so far as changing social behaviours to reduce energy consumption, yes, there is a potential to save energy but the question of how to positively influence individual choices and habits on issues such as recycling, energy conservation and the likes remains unanswered.

Today’s fossil fuels and electronic goods are relatively cheap and available to all and so one must ask; do people really want to change their modern, comfortable lives? Replace the big flat screen TV for something more sensible or swap the beloved motorcycle for a bicycle?

I doubt the general public will buy into green technology and energy conservation until such time it makes economic sense to do so. n

The built environment plays an important part, however there are many variables that affect air quality in Gibraltar, the main one being the high density of motor vehicles in the city

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

technology

New Services via Barclays ATMs...

Barclays in Gibraltar is revolutionising ATM services across the Rock as part of an initiative to improve service to clients and the wider community.

Barclays will be providing access to a range of additional services at its Main Street branch ATMs, including mini-statements and UK mobile phone ‘top up’ services.

The first phase of this initiative took place in February 2012 when a new ATM was unveiled inside the branch. The second ATM was replaced in early April while the third ATM was successfully installed last month. These two ‘through the wall’ devices will afford additional services available to customers 24 hours a day.

The new ATMs will re-introduce the mini-statement facility to all UK and Gibraltar Barclays debit card holders as well as providing international pin unblocking services for all major card brands. Due to low demand for this service at the branch, euro will no longer be dispensed from these machines, however, Barclays customers will still be able to access euro at the counter during opening hours or via the network of off-site ATMs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The benefits of the new technology are not restricted to Barclays customers as the ATMs accept a much wider range of non-Barclays cards, including Visa, Maestro and MasterCard, American Express, Cirrus and Plus branded cards, plus debit cards issued by all UK bank and building societies.

“

This is great news for tourists and visitors who will be able to access their cash, even if not customers of Barclays.

A UK mobile phone ‘top-up’ service will be available to owners of mobile phones issued by UK service providers. It is hoped in the future Barclays will be able to work with other local service providers to expand this offering, making it available to more customers.

Raphaels Bank, one of the UK’s oldest independent banks, will be taking ownership of the Barclays non-branch based ATMs at the start of summer and will continue to dispense sterling and euro currency at the following sites: Gib Oil Garage on Winston Churchill Avenue, New Mole House Police Station, Morrisons and Ocean Village. This means all Link, Visa, Maestro and MasterCard, American Express, Cirrus and Plus card holders will be able to access sterling and euro dispensing services 24 hours a day.

Beth Williams, Head of ATMs at Raphaels Bank said: “Our multicurrency machines have proved to be incredibly popular with travellers and tourists in the UK since we put in our first machine in 2006, based on ease of use, value and convenience. We’re thrilled to be working with Barclays in adding the Rock to our ever-expanding list of strategically important sites.” n

We’re thrilled to be working with Barclays in adding the Rock to our ever-expanding list of strategically important sites GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

”

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real estate

19/2 Governor’s Parade, Gibraltar Tel: 200 74018

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Space Interiors 6 Ellesmere House, City Mill Lane Tel: 200 73992 www.spaceinteriors.gi

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E.W.M.S. Governor’s Cottage Europa Advance Road Gibraltar Tel: 200 44220 Fax: 200 44221 E-mail: ewmsgib@gibtelecom.net

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Unit F17 Europa Business Centre PO Box 476, Gibraltar Tel: 200 73119 Fax: 200 45008 E-mail: portman@gibtelecom.net Curtain Makers Home Interiors Fabrics Bedding Bring your own fabric or choose from our range The Fashion House Ltd 85 Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 52938 E-mail: thefashionhouse@gibtelecom.net Fax: 200 52988

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Argus Insurance Regal House, Queensway Tel: 200 79520 www.argus.gi Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 68 Irish Town Tel: 200 44628 Fax: 200 44629 email: business@ibexinsure.com www.ibexinsure.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

new property

Buena Vista Mews VIP Open Day On 5th July “Buena Vista Mews” will be having an open day, from 11am to 4pm, giving interested viewers the chance to walk through each of the properties and ask any questions directly to the Developer’s Sales Representative.

Situated in the tranquility of Gibraltar’s beautiful south district, Buena Vista Mews offers an exceptional residential address away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city centre, yet only a short drive away from Main Street.

Impressive in all aspects, the superb four bedroom, two bathroom townhouses have been designed and built to the highest standards and include high specification finishing throughout.

The interiors of the final three remaining townhouses feature impressive designer kitchens by ITEK which include quality Bosch electro domestics, whilst the bathrooms have been finished with white Roca vitrified china sanitary ware and includes a stylish shower unit with enclosed glass door.

Top quality materials have also been installed throughout, including oak landings and carpeted bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a very useful loft for additional storage area.

The three remaining townhouses benefit from a private entrance patio, a spacious covered porch leading onto a small private garden and the master bedroom enjoys a spacious open, south-facing terrace with sea views. Each of the townhouses further benefit from two private car parking spaces.

This private residential development enjoys a communal swimming pool for the enjoyment of the owners of the five townhouses.

Viewing is highly recommended.

Pop along to the open day on 5th July. n

This private residential development enjoys a communal swimming pool for the enjoyment of the owners of the five townhouses

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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property file

The Changing Face of Property Development

There are some 12,000 residential properties in total in Gibraltar. In the early 2000s demand for quality property easily outstripped supply. This attracted new developers into the Gibraltar market building properties aimed at incoming ex-pats, including high net worth individuals or company employees.

The popular Ocean Village, a mixed use marina, residential and commercial property scheme launched its off-plan sales in 2003 and sold out its 133 apartments within a month. This in itself attracted further development from other builders as clearly the demand was there. Tradewinds,

by Taylor Woodrow, soon followed with 81 apartments overlooking the Ocean Village marina, closely followed by the Anchorage (120 apartments), Ocean Village phase II (180) and the most recently completed developments around Gibraltar’s other marina, Queensway Quay, the popular King’s Wharf (120) and the Sails (48).

That equates to some 680 apartments released between 2006 and 2010. And all, bar a handful of the higher priced, larger apartments, are sold, the vast majority of which, off-plan. The market has easily absorbed this new supply without

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any drop in prices.

The above summary excludes the properties built by the government strictly for its own citizens satisfying certain criteria which excludes new entrants. The purchase of these properties is tightly regulated.

What Gibraltar does not have much of however, are newly built high end quality houses. So the decision by some high net worth individuals to choose, say, Switzerland over Gibraltar, may not be so much about the tax or the lifestyle but about the availability of a suit-

able property.

The property market in Gibraltar is responding to this. So just as developers recognised the lack of quality apartments and addressed this issue over the last few years, developers have now turned their attention to providing a new supply of high end housing.

Three such developments are an example of this.

Firstly, Buena Vista Mews, a well-built development of five 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouses in the south district of Gibraltar has just completed and are all ready for

Just as developers recognised the lack of quality apartments and addressed this issue over the last few years, developers have now turned their attention to providing a new supply of high end housing

occupation. Two properties have sold and a further one is under offer. The remaining ones start at £725,000. The properties share a communal pool and all have parking and terracing.

Already under construction, Buena Vista Park, also in the south district, has stunning uninterrupted south and west facing views across the Strait of Gibraltar and Africa.

Formally the headquarters of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, the site has a long and established military history dating back to the late 1700s. Many of the remaining structures including the perimeter walls, regimental headquarters, barracks and two gun emplacements date back to the 1800s and will be sensitively restored and preserved for the future.

The development, over three phases, will be a gated community comprising villas and townhouses merging modern materials and

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

property file technology with a unique heritage structure.

Phase 1, a collection of six spacious villas with their own pool and garden, and nine townhouses, is already under construction with completion set for late 2013. Such is the demand that deposits have already been taken on some of the properties. Prices start at £955,000 for the townhouses and £2,375,000 for the villas. Phases 2 and 3, to be built on the same sought after site, will allow for the creation of bespoke homes personalised for the higher level client, subject always though, to planning consent. This proposition is unique in Gibraltar and is attracting much interest already.

The third development, to be called The Sanctuary, has achieved outline planning permission and

is currently undergoing the full planning consent process. The Sanctuary will be on a site, which is currently being cleared for the build, set higher up the Rock and within a naturally beautiful setting adjacent to Gibraltar ’s Nature Reserve. The views are breathtaking.

The Sanctuary will be a private enclave of luxury and elegance.

Just five very special villas, with private and secure gated access, and internal space of some 1,000m2 each. Each villa will have its own private pool, spacious indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, waterfalls, open air en-suite bathrooms, a gymnasium with sauna and jacuzzi and the ultimate haven of expansive rooftop gardens. Although not for sale yet, Chesterton, with sole agency

rights, will market this development internationally and we are already being approached with expressions of interest.

Gibraltar is a modern, trusted and well regulated EU economy.

The private property development sector is continuing to place its faith in its future despite the wider economic woes in Europe.

Developers were successful in producing a large number of apartments to satisfy the demand of a few years ago. Now they have shifted their efforts towards the higher end sector. This will slowly but surely help “Gibraltar PLC” to compete against the other more traditional jurisdictions to attract the higher net worth individuals.

After all, why go to Monaco when you could live in Gibraltar? n

Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a director of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce.

Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar (www.chesterton. gi) and owns MN Associates Ltd, a real estate investment solutions consultancy.

See www.mn-associates.gi.

Gibraltar Heritage Trust Painting Competition Chesterton Property Management (CPM) sponsored the Junior and Children’s Gibraltar Heritage Trust Open-Air Painting and Sketching Competition.

Budding young artists of Gibraltar once again proved their skill and artistic interpretation with this year ’s chosen theme Catalan Bay. The aim of the annual competition is to encourage participants to take a deeper look at the environment they inhabit. What better springboard to the education of our children on the beauty and diversity of our Heritage?

John McKillop Smith FRICS, a Chartered Building Surveyor and Managing Director of CPM said “We have the desire and the skill set to properly manage, refurbish, adapt and maintain the older buildings within Gibraltar, which we would like to see preserved wherever possible and reinstated for beneficial long-term use. It is therefore a privilege for our building The Hon. Stephen Linares - Minister for Sports, Culture, Heritage and Youth, H.E. Sir Adrian Johns, Governor of Gibraltar and surveying and property management firm, Patron on the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Mario Mosquera – Chairman of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Richard Labrador – Vice CPM to be associated with the Gibraltar Heritage Awards. n Chairman of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, John McKillop Smith – Managing Director CPM together with the prize winners.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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property file

summer trends Summer is in full swing on the Rock, and what better way to embrace the change of season than to transform the look of your home.

As ever, the consumer markets of fashion and furnishings are inextricably linked, with trends jumping from one to the other every season.

Colour blocking continues to be the main trend here and can be hugely effective if done correctly.

Pastel shades are essential this summer, so colour blocking one wall with a pastel blue and contrasting with deeper navy furnishings

will create a fresh, airy feeling in the room. Pretty lilacs, greens and blues are shades which work particularly well in this style. Try this out in kitchens and bedrooms, especially if you are into traditional home dĂŠcor.

Adding a feature piece in a vibrant colour adds a focal point, which can be as minor as some cushions or some colourful art-

Adding a feature piece in a vibrant colour adds a focal point

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

home decor work on the wall. The real trick when colour blocking is to be consistent with saturation, hue and brilliance. Be careful to avoid over complicating your design with too many competing forms, lines and shapes; keep it simple with a few attention-grabbing colours.

Lighten up the window treatments for summer. If you’re fortunate enough to have a window with a wonderful view, take advantage of that and keep your window treatment to a minimum to maximise your opportunity to enjoy the view. With gorgeous sunny skies and the beautiful colours of plants and flowers on our balconies in summer — this is a prime time to show them off.

It’s time to remove heavy textured, dark coloured rugs that provided warm and beauty in the winter and replace them with rugs in bright colours and lighter weight material — if you have wooden floors in your house sometimes getting rid of rugs all together can be a great choice.

If you’d still rather stick with some kind of rug and floor cover then bamboo rugs are nice additions to a summer decor.

Bring some of summer’s beauty inside your home. If you have a patio or terrace with flowering plants, cut some of the flowers and bring them indoors for everyone to enjoy.

Be creative with the containers you display the flowers in.

Coastal themed accessories have been a favourite part of summer design trends for a long time.

Bring a bit of the coast into your home in unique ways. Display a collection of shells or pebbles in a glass bowl or jar. A lamp with a glass base filled with shells is ideal for summer decorating. Changing the art on your wall so that it corresponds with each season is a budget friendly way to alter the decor and atmosphere of a room.

In general, interior design plans for summer involve choosing bright colours and light textures. Add in a few items in keeping with the fun that accompanies summer. n

If you have a patio or terrace with flowering plants, cut some of the flowers and bring them indoors

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex with the Chief Minister the Hon Fabian Picardo among the crowds

Visiting Royalty

These photos: © DM Parody (http://dotcom.gi/photos)

The Earl and Countess of Wessex meet the Chief Minister the Hon Fabian Picardo and his wife Justine

The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the Rock from 11th - 13th June as part of the Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Gibraltar was awash with red white and blue and Union Jacks for the entire visit and Their Royal Highnesses received a characteristic Gibraltarian warm welcome wherever they went — from the Convent to the Laguna Social Club, from the Queen’s Birthday Parade to meeting the Rainbows — and by all walks of GIbraltar’s society. n

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Once again the residents of the Rock proved they know how to party when they took to the streets to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend. A flotilla of small boats sailed around the Rock while the streets filled with kids in fancy dress and everyone elsle in red, white and blue. Here is a selection of pictures from the celebrations...

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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Dr. Marco Vricella, HC Marbella Hospital

Holiday tummy? ‌reclaim your figure with an Abdominoplasty from Dr. Marco Vricella

Summer can be a unforgiving season; light summer dresses, swimwear and beachwear can focus our attention on the parts of our bodies we don’t really like. ,I \RXÂśUH ODFNLQJ FRQÂżGHQFH DERXW WKH ZD\ \RXU abdomen looks, then you might be suitable for an Abdominoplasty (more commonly referred to as a ‘tummy tuck’).

As a consequence of weight loss or pregnancies, many people suffer from excess skin and fat in the abdomen which is removed with a tummy tuck. Abdominoplasty surgery greatly improves WKH SURÂżOH DQG VKDSH RI WKH ERG\ DQG LV RIWHQ done in conjunction with liposuction to the hips (‘love handles’) in order to improve and reshape the waist; but it is worth noting that a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure, although excess fat ZLOO EH UHPRYHG JLYLQJ D Ă€DWWHU VWRPDFK One inspirational story from an Aria Medical Group client is of a 49 year old woman with three grown up children. “I had a kangaroo pouch any kangaroo would have been proud of but it was the cause of much unhappiness and depression for me. My selfFRQÂżGHQFH ZDV SUDFWLFDOO\ QRQ H[LVWHQW DQG P\

weight had crept up to a size 16/18 in clothes.

Having just had my tummy tuck and liposuction with Dr. Marco Vricella, I am feeling absolutely great and looking so much better. I can’t wait to wear all those size 12 dresses and, joy of joy, jeans! that are hanging in my wardrobe I thought I’d never get into again! I love my new shape DQG P\ IDEXORXV Ă€DW WXPP\ ´ Dr. Marco Vricella is well respected in Gibraltar and has been serving the community here for over 7 years, providing regular free consultations on the Rock as well as personalised after-care. “Together with my patient care coordinators I offer private consultations twice a month in College Clinic. In addition, as part of our unique after care service, my chief patient care coordinator and specialist nurse can offer home YLVLWV WR DOO FOLHQWV LQ *LEUDOWDU GXULQJ WKHLU ÂżUVW SRVW RSHUDWLYH ZHHN´ KH FRQÂżUPV Another tummy tuck client agrees the care is excellent and results are worth having surgery for. She says, “After thinking about it long and hard, and spending some considerable time soul VHDUFKLQJ DQG ODFNLQJ LQ FRQÂżGHQFH , ÂżQDOO\ decided I wanted to have a tummy tuck. Since having my daughter by emergency caesarean, I had a pouch around my stomach area. I had also

gained a lot of weight during pregnancy which, although I lost most of it, I didn’t ever seem WR EH DEOH WR ORVH LW IURP DURXQG P\ WXPP\ ´ Her surgery was such a success, she went on to later have breast surgery to further reclaim her silhouette and boost her well-being and selfFRQ¿GHQFH + + + + + + + + +

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health& fitness Bell Pharmacy

McTimoney Chiropractor

Your Family Chemists

Gentle holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems and sports injuries Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Floor, 58 Main Street Tel: 200 41733 or after hours: 200

Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions Consult us at 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS

Chiropractic Health Clinic

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC

Dr Steven J. Crump B.Sc, DC, MCC Open: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.30pm

Member of the British Chiropractic Association

Back to better health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries.

College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777

PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists

38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi

Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989 Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates.

Tel: 200 44797

John W Miles BSc (Podiatry), MChS College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777

ChiropraCtors

Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC ICC F5C 1st Flr, Casemates.

Tel: 200 44226 Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Flr, 58 Main St Tel: 200 41733 After hours: 200 40026

Tel: 200 44226

ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor, Casemates, Gibraltar Member of British Chiropractic Association

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal Hse Tel: 200 77777

The Health Store City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 20073765

Health Clubs

Suppliers of Glucosamine, Ginkgo Biloba and all vitamins.

Open: 9am - 1pm & 3pm - 6pm

CHEMISTS

Chiropodists

Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries

Body Building Products (Creatine etc)

health & medical directory

Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa Tel: 200 48147 Now at Unit F5, 1st Floor, ICC Isabella Jimenez, Sports Therapist (BSc Hons) Tel: 54002226 Email: sportongib@gmail.com

JOHN W. MILES

Health Stores The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 200 73765

HEARING CENTRE

Oigamas Hearing Centre Unit S3h 2nd Floor, ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 63644 Email: info@oigamas.com

BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S

STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Treatment of all Foot Problems

Opticians / Optometrists Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757

• Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Removal • Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotics including Children

L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544

• Wart (Verruca) Clinic

PERSONAL TRAINERS

• Diabetics

Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113

Tel: 200 77777

College Clinic, Regal House, Queensway TEL: 54029587 FOR HOME VISITS

Need somebody to talk to?

Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) 3/8 Turnbull’s Lane Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com

Physicians

Dr Norbert V Borge FRCP (London) 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790 College Clinic, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway.

Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi

Primary Care Centre 2nd Flr International Commercial Centre Weekend & Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance) Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm

SPECIALISTS

College Clinic, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway.

Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi

7 days a week 6-10pm

48 what a page turner! www.thegibraltarmagazine.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

l

health & well-being

Protect Your Ears!

Summer is the time when ear infections and earaches are common for regular swimming pool and beach goers. The heat, the bathrooms on the beach and at the pool, and the pressure changes when travelling are some of the factors that can trigger earache.

Symptoms which accompany earache are infection, headache, pus, redness and earache can even lead to hearing loss. There are cases where mild ear infections, if left untreated, can develop into something much more serious. It is therefore important to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Environmental factors which may trigger an ear infection or earache include loud noises, changes in pressure, perforated eardrum, infection by fungus or bacteria, and some chemicals negatively affect our ears.

With so many potential causes it is important for us to get ahead and know what to do to reduce the chances of infection.

This uncomfortable feeling can

be easily avoided by following just two tips.

First of all, it is essential to maintain good ear hygiene — it is important to keep ears clean and dry to prevent the proliferation of fungi and bacteria. But when doing these clean-ups, avoid the use of objects, such as cotton buds, pushed inside the ear, which can damage the eardrum.

In the warm summer months, we usually spend more time in the water. The pool and beach are a great attraction, but the water pressure can do great harm to the ears, as can the water itself which may be contaminated.

To keep the water out of the ear and alleviate pressure, especially if you are predisposed to ear infections, use ear plugs which have been specially made to fit your ear canal by a professional audiolo-

use ear plugs which have been specially made to fit your ear canal by a professional audiologist

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

gist.

The audiologist creates a silicone mold of the ear canal, which is sent to a lab, where the mold is tailor-made using hypoallergenic materials, in the customer’s chosen colour.

Two simple tips which, if followed, can prevent a lot of pain this summer season! n Visit Oigama Hearing Centre, Unit S3h 2nd Floor ICC, Casemates Square. Tel: 200 62644 or Email info@oigamas.com for more information

Custom made earplugs can prevent summer ear infections

49

awards

Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2012 The following Gibraltar residents were honoured in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

More Gibraltar Nominations Needed “I would urge people to think about nominating those who might merit an award,” says his Excellency the Governor. “It is particularly fitting that we recognise in this way the achievements of our Gibraltar community in this, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year.”

OBE

OBE To be Ordinary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE): Karel Mark Chichon, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Gibraltar Philharmonic Society. For services to music and culture in Gibraltar. Mr Chichon has conducted the world’s three leading orchestras and, through him, Gibraltar has welcomed some of the top internationally acclaimed performers.

Manuel “Manolo” Ruiz, Founding President, Senior Citizens’ Association, Gibraltar.

For services to the community, particularly to senior citizens, in Gibraltar. Manolo founded the Senior Citizens’ Association 11 years ago and has worked since to improve the standard of living for senior citizens in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar Award His Excellency the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, has awarded the Gibraltar Award (Governor’s Certificate and Badge of Honour) in recognition of exceptional services in Gibraltar to the following: Anthony Galliano. For services to scouting in Gibraltar. Mr Galliano served as the Cub Scout Leader of the 5th Gibraltar Sea Scout Group for many years before becoming Assistant Chief Commissioner. He organises events, assists with training sessions and runs the Pipe and Drum band.

Raphael Gonzalez. For services to the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and local community. Raphael has served the RGR TA band since he was 17. He also entertains as a presenter on Radio Gibraltar and works full time as a Civil Servant dealing with accommodation.

In addition to those mentioned, the former President of the Gibraltar Courts the Right Honourable Sir Murray Stuart-Smith has been made

Packs containing nomination forms and guidance notes are available from the Convent reception or by e-mail: Enquiry.Gibraltar@fco. gov.uk.

In addition to the advice contained in the guidance notes, the Honours Board Secretary can offer general advice on the process (by e-mail on Enquiry.Gibraltar@fco.gov.uk or by calling the Convent on 2004 5440). Useful information can also be found on the UK direct. gov.uk website (or just Google “UK Honours System”). n

a Knight Commander Order of Saint Michael and Saint George KCMG. The Governor said “I would like to offer my congratulations to all the recipients. I am delighted that a significant number of worthy candidates in Gibraltar have been recognised in this list. This is a direct result of more high quality nominations. But we need to keep the momentum up: another honours round is already under way and we need more nominations.” n

Denville Designs’ Royal Tweet-Up

MBE To be Ordinary Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE): Maria Louisa “Marisa” Desoiza, Chair of the Gibraltar Society for Cancer Relief. For services to cancer relief in Gibraltar. Marisa started work at the Lady Williams Cancer Support Centre as a nurse coordinator over 20 years ago. She has been pivotal in setting up palliative case studies in Gibraltar.

Michael Prescott, founder member of the Gibraltar National Dance Organisation. For services to dance and the arts in Gibraltar. Michael has run the Gibraltar National Dance Organisation and been an international judge for over 30 years. He has taken over 1,000 dancers to participate in international competition.

Her Majesty The Queen has also given orders for the award of a British Empire Medal to:

MBE

It is important that nominations are strong and include supporting information, as they will need to stand up to scrutiny by people who may not know the individual concerned or their work. Forms can be submitted at any time during the year and will be held for consideration by the Gibraltar Honours Board at their next meeting.

Gibraltar’s Tweeters meet up at Denville Designs on Engineer’s Lane for a Royal Tweet-up and street party last month.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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Summer Olympics

First Olympic Gold Medalist Trained in Gibraltar

by Reg Reynolds

Although Gibraltar has never been allowed to compete as a separate entity in the Olympic Games the Rock did play a role in the first Modern Olympic Games held at Athens in the spring of 1896.

The only way for North American athletes to get to Greece that year was by boat. There was no selection process and so the athletes were basically volunteers who had to finance their own way. Some sailed to Europe and travelled by train to Athens but the bulk of the US team, 10 in all, travelled aboard a German freighter named Barbarossa, which took them on a convoluted voyage from New York to Bremen and then on to the Mediterranean where the first stop, on 30th March, was Gibraltar.

The captain of the freighter wouldn’t allow the athletes to wear spikes on his wooden decks, which were not spacious enough for proper training. All they could do to workout was to get into their track rigs with rubber-soled shoes and jump up and down on the well deck. But at Gibraltar the Royal Navy allowed them the use of a field where they were able to train properly and with their spikes on.

One of those athletes, James B. Connolly, hadn’t even been able to jump up and down on the Barbarossa due to a bad back, but he was miraculously cured on arrival at the Med. In his memoirs Connolly wrote: “My exercise for eight days consisted of circling the promenade-deck house six times before lunch and dinner. And then? One sunny

magical morning, the ship entering the Strait of Gibraltar — Homer’s Pillars of Hercules — I got out of my chair with every pain and ache gone and me feeling loose as ashes.”

The healing that took place at Gibraltar proved historic as Connolly would go on to become the first ever ‘gold’ medallist in the history of the Modern Olympics. Those first Olympic Games ran from April 6th to 15th and on opening day Connolly won the triple jump (then called the hop, skip and jump) with a distance of 44 feet, 11 ¾ inches (13.71 metres). The winners didn’t actually receive gold medals but a laurel wreath and a silver medal. The second-place finishers were given copper medals. There was no prize for third place.

The 23-year-old Connolly was only 5’9” (175cm) and 159 lbs (72kg) but he also competed in the high jump where he finished second with a height of 5’5” (165cm) and the long jump where he managed a third with a distance of 19’9” (5.84mm).

Most of the American team members were from Princeton University and the Boston Athletic Club. Connolly had attended Harvard University but when he applied for a leave of absence the Dean turned him down declaring the Games a waste of time. Connolly was determined to go anyway so he quit Harvard. He claimed in his memoirs he paid all his expenses himself, but there are some accounts that he was partly sponsored by the little Suffolk Club in his home district of South Boston.

Connolly’s motivation for going to the Games wasn’t just about the competition. The son of a fisherman he loved the sea and felt he would enjoy the trip. Even after he injured his back and thought he might not be able to compete he decided to embark on the Barbarossa.

“I had a horrible fear that I was out of the games, yet despite that I wasn’t downcast. After all, the games were only part of the voyage. Here I was sailing the high seas and Athens would be there when I got there.”

The Barbarossa suited him. “A good sea boat

The healing that took place at Gibraltar proved historic as Connolly would go on to become the first ever ‘gold’ medallist in the history of the Modern Olympics 52

she, and how the stewards did throw the vittles at us!”

Connolly would go on to compete in the 1900 Olympic Games at Paris. He bettered his triple jump record with distance of (13.97m) but had to settle for second place behind teammate Myer Prinstein (14.47m).

He didn’t take part in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis but returned to Athens for the 1906 Games. He failed to register a qualifying distance in either the triple jump or long jump but anyway those games were not sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee * [see note] and are still not recognised as official Games.

With his athletics career over Connolly turned to the sea and writing. He sailed the world in all manner of vessels and wrote dozens of novels with titles such as: The Trawler; The Battle Cruise of the Svend Foyn; In the Anchor Watch; and the Last Passenger. He also worked as a war correspondent for Colliers Magazine and wrote a non-fiction book titled The U-boat Hunters, which tells of his life aboard a destroyer in World War I. The story of his Olympic experience is told in his autobiography titled Sea-Borne: 30 Years of Avoyaging.

James Brendan Connolly was born at South Boston on 28th October, 1868 to poor Irish immigrant parents. He died at Brookline, Massachusetts on 20th January, 1957. He never completed university and only returned to Harvard when he was invited to give a lecture. There is a statue of him landing the triple jump in Joe Moakley Park, South Boston. n *Note: Since first applying in 1960, Gibraltar has consistently been refused membership in the IOC, despite being a member in 18 International Federations.

The minimum requirement is five IF memberships.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

events file

Happy retirement Kate! It was a full house at Cafe Rojo on Irish Town for Bishop Fitzgerald School’s Kate who had her leaving do at the end of June. Over 50 people bid her a fond farewell and wished her well in her retirement.

A Raffle for Africa...

A raffle, organised by a FLIP (Future Leaders in Philanthropy)* student Samantha Pardo, will be held on 5th July 2012 to raise money for GibMission Africa.

Samantha hopes the event will raise £2,000 for this local charity, which focuses on helping to beat the poverty in Africa by donating 100% of money raised to build houses, schools and hospitals in some of the poorest areas. Visit www.gibma.org for further information.

Several prizes will be raffled, such as a food hamper, gift vouchers for popular restaurants and prizes from local perfume and games shops.

The raffle would not have been possible without the help of the businesses who were kind enough to give donations and prizes.

Samantha would personally like to thank Baker Tilly, Triay, Stagnetto & Neish and

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Currency Centre Ltd, for donating a total of £325. A special thanks also to Biancas, Clipper, Little Rock Café, Angels Hairdressers, SM Seruya, Gibmaroc and Music Corner for donating prizes.

The more donations of prizes or money the better, as all funds raised at the raffle will be matched by the Bonita Trust, so please give generously. Donations (cheques made payable to “FLIP”) are also welcome and can be sent to 4 Sandpits Views, Sandpits. Please contact s.pardo@live.com or call 54023923 for information. n *FLIP is a joint venture project between the Bonita Trust and Credit Suisse.

53

Photo: Karon Yusifredo

Picture perfect in the digital era

times, they explain, since nowadays people don’t have the time to wait for a lab to develop their prints, nor have they room to store them.

They’d rather snap a fleeting moment on their mobile phones, compact camera or, for the more serious photographer, with a digital single-lens reflex camera, and then share it on the go, within social networks or emailing it to friends.

The outcome is a young and dynamic interactive club, in which members can find their space for growth by sharing their expertise, giving each other advice and constructive criticism, and ultimately learn how to polish their act and become better photographers.

If you’ve got an eye for composition, a state-of-the-art camera is not always necessary and you can snap cover page material with a compact — without necessarily submitting the rough to heavy Photo-Shopping!

Indeed, computer programs are welcome for upgrading a great shot to perfection, perhaps enhancing light and saturation, or removing unwanted shadows, lines and spots (the classic examples are hanging cables and birds in a solid blue sky), or even applying dramatic effects, like stark contrast in the sunset sky or sharpening insects buzzing on vivid flowers in the foreground while blurring the background vegetation.

Effects which are sought after even in classic film photography as well, and are perfectly acceptable in a professional context. The difference is that computer programs make the darkroom accessible to all, at hand on your laptop, while once you had to have the practical expertise, as well as time and space for all the chemical paraphernalia.

The club welcomes photographs manipulated through advanced artistic effects, as long as the original shot is a real photograph, and originally taken by the very photographer submitting that piece of artwork. However they don’t take it a step too far step, transforming an image in a sort of a digital painting, although

by Elena Scialtiel

It is just seven months old, but it can count on over 300 Facebook members from all walks of life and ages, whether amateur or professional. They have in common the enthusiasm for capturing reality through millions of pixels. And through a keen and artistic eye, too. film photography. So they decided to explore it to its full potential by dedicating a club exclusively to it.

While the society uses mainly prints for their competitions, the newborn club counts only on digital supports, exhibiting their work on screen. This is to keep up with ever-changing

Photo: Karon Yusifredo

The Gibraltar Digital Photography Club was born at the end of 2011, when Karon Yusifredo, Luis Pitto and Jonathan Trinidad, members of the prestigious local Gibraltar Photographic Society, saw how digital photography is becoming ever more popular in its own right, in many ways different and autonomous from

Digital photography is becoming ever more popular in its own right, in many ways different and autonomous from film photography 54

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

arts file first steps and still awaiting premises, so they meet at the John Mackintosh Hall where they hold contests, give out prizes and certificates for their monthly competitions, exchange advice and hold courses for beginners and those wanting to refine their technique.

But they have ambitious plans in mind, for the more serious photographers once the practicalities are settled. First of all creating a website and then going international and exhibiting /competing with other clubs by joining the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique.

The club wants to put our talent on show, seeking maximum exposure and recognition.

They have ambitious plans in mind, for the more serious photographers once the practicalities are settled... going international and exhibiting /competing with other clubs

Furthermore, they are planning charity events to support local Associations of their choosing.

The club is a great way to socialise. And if you browse its Facebook page, you’ll be amazed at the variety of styles and subject matters, ranging from the traditional landscapes, portraits, close-ups of flowers and insects, but also an eager interest for cars, motorbikes and... breaking news!

Yes, current affairs photos, like up-to-minute visual reports on the fishing dispute, or last year’s storage tank blaze, seem to capture the attention of those who believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder as much as in a camera lens. n

Luis Pitto, Jonathan Trinidad and Karon Yusifredo of the newly formed Gibraltar Digital Photography Club

Photo: Karon Yusifredo

they admit that possibilities are endless and the only limit is common sense and taste.

Most of the members’ take pride in their photos being as ‘natural’ as possible, focusing on composition and light, whereas digital improvement is always a means to make it better, but not pretentious.

The fun lies in amicable competition, of course: for that they have a Facebook page (Gibraltar Digital Photography Club) which is a closed group where, once approved by the administrators, you can upload your work and read other members’ comments.

Asked if that doesn’t put copyright at risk, because images may end up abused or stolen, the panel replies this is not ethical and no real photographer would stoop so low. They would perhaps ask to use your photo for a specific purpose and always credit it to its rightful creator.

Just as a preventive measure, you can add a watermark to your photographs. Every good photographer is advised to take their best shots in RAW format and save them on their external hard disk or perhaps upload them to an online server, for safe keeping. Every photo taken in RAW format has its unique code referring to the camera which took it so, as long as one has this RAW file, the photographer’s ‘paternity’ can be proven, should copyright issues arise.

At the moment, the club is just taking its

Photo: Karon Yusifredo

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

55

events file

Rainbows with the Countess of Wessex

Members of the Senior Section

photos: Mark Galliano

Leaders with the Countess of Wessex

photo: Stephen Pereira

Girlguiding news

His Royal Highness with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold award recipients

Last month was busy for Girlguiding Gibraltar with high profile visitors to Gibraltar.

The first at the beginning of June was Gil Silcombe, Chief Guide for Girlguiding UK, accompanied by Anne Llywenyn- Jones, Branches Advisor to Girlguiding UK. From the moment they landed, Gil and Anne were whisked to their first engagement, a visit to Lower St Michael’s Cave where a six Senior Section members made their promise around the lake.

The following day, after official meetings and lunch at the Convent, the Chief Guide meet local leaders at the Girlguiding Gibraltar’s AGM, where special presentations were made. The Chief Guide Award was presented to 12 Senior Section members. The Good Service Award was given to Isabella Montegriffo, Anabelle Antoniou, Katrina Edmonds and Claire Montado for the role they played in the Centenary Celebrations.

On Friday the Brownies, as part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, exercised their right to the Freedom of the City and accompanied by pipes and drums of the Sea Scout Band and the Re-enactment Society, paraded from Casemates, up Main Street to City Hall wearing capes and crowns that they had made for the occasion.

With one successful visit under their belt, Girlguiding Gibraltar welcomed the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Sophie Rhys- Jones, patron of Girlguiding UK visited Girlguiding Gibraltar HQ at the Alameda as part of her schedule on the couple’s three day visit to Gibraltar.

The Countess met the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides taking the time to speak to as many as possible, before meeting the leaders. The Duchess presented 15 members of the Senior Section with their Baden Powell Award and Moira Dalmedo with the Laurel Award the second highest award in Girlguiding. n

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards 10 young people received their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Gold Awards from HRH The Earl of Wessex in the Convent Ballroom during his visit to Gibraltar in June. The Earl took time to chat with all present including family, Award leaders, members of the National Award Council and the local Corporate Sponsors.

Congratulations to all the Awardees!

The participants who received their Gold Award on the day were: Kirsty Ferrary, Katrina Golt, Jennifer Harris, Charlotte Kirkby, Johann Gomez Netto, Emma Jane Parody, sisters Gabriella Louise Russo, Lucia Victoria Russo and Francesca Michelè Russo, and Lisa Sciacaluga. The three Russo sisters receiving their Gold Award at the same time is a first for Gibraltar (and possibly the European Region of the Award).

56

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

fashion

leisure & sport

shopping & gifts

Retail& Activities hair & beauty

HORTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Tel: 200 43134 Fax: 200 50648 Convent Gardens, Convent Garden Ramp

lessons & tuition GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830

• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers

Sacha’s DUTY FREE WINES, SPIRITS & TOBACCO open 7 days 79 Main Street

266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757

travel & hotels Health & Beauty Salon

Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar

• Aromatherapy • Sugar Waxing • Facials • Manicures • Pedicures • Reflexology • Luxury Organic 2hr face & body treatment Open: Mon-Fri 9.30-9 Sat 10-3

Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant

Don House Arcade Tel: 20077311

Tel: (+350) 20074000 Fax: 20040030

pets & accessories

Tel: 200 73786

Protect Your Dog Against Fatal Summer Diseases Heartworm, Leishmaniosis, Tickborne Diseases Phone Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for details 200 77334 Emergency: 8977

photography

newsagents/books

Archive editions of The Gibraltar Magazine now available online at www.thegibraltarmagazine.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAziNE • JULY 2012

57 57

arts file “Before leaving Gibraltar, I was lucky enough to be given advice by various mentors in my life, such as music teachers at St Anne’s and Bayside, Charlie and Helen Chiappe, Sam Bowling at the Cathedral Choir, and the directors of the Trafalgar Theatre Group. Up to then I only worked on Sacred Music and other stuff at Bayside, and it was Tere and Charlie Facio who introduced me to Opera, and to Maria Callas, and I fell in love instantly,” he explains.

Although he wanted to be a teacher and help others learn, it wasn’t until 2002 when choosing his university options that he decided to study Music at Bath Spa University. Phillip became a soloist for the Bristol Opera, Swindon Opera, Bath Opera and Kennett Opera.

After this he worked with Opera Sulis, while preparing for auditions and his entry into the Royal College of Music for his post-graduate diploma in Opera Studies in 2007.

During his time at university, he also worked as a behaviour coordinator around schools in Bath and the surrounding counties, which he describes an invaluable experience.

Phillip returned to Gibraltar in January 2009, and this talented singer appeared in local mu-

“

I aim for an excellent standard of work, and put a high benchmark on my singers. I don’t like things half done or half learned

”

�hillip �org�

Inspiring Harmonics

by Jolene Gomez

Phillip Borge joined his first choir aged 11, and would sing at masses at the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned each week.

Those early days with the Cathedral choir were the first steps in what became the career of one of Gibraltar’s most experienced tenors. A few years ago he took the plunge, and embarked on his own choir in Gibraltar, Harmonics.

58

sicals such as Oliver and Jesus Christ Superstar.

After an array of performances, he was approached by various choir enthusiasts, who kept asking when he was going to take the bold step of starting his own choir.

“I had always wanted to set up my own choir, and took the plunge by setting up Harmonics in 2010, thinking it would generate little interest. Instead, I was overwhelmed by the turnout on the first day, and at the moment we have 35 members,” he explains.

Originally, a few members of the choir wanted it to be called Philharmonics — a play on his name — but Phillip felt the choir was not just about him, it was a team, so he settled for Harmonics.

“I aim for an excellent standard of work, and put a high benchmark on my singers. I don’t like things half done or half learned. The choir is extremely enthusiastic and willing to learn, and I’m hoping to get it out there and recognised,” he says. “It is always the easiest option to stick to what people know and enjoy, but I want to educate people to listen to newly composed work still in keeping with the choral tradition. I like to work on old favourites, and expand the repertoire to new genres. The repertoire includes sacred music, musicals, commercial songs, and even South American songs, which add a different flavour, and broadens the variety of the performance,” Phillip adds.

Although he stresses there is always a shortage of men in the choir, he is happy that boys

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

arts file are getting more involved in singing from a younger age nowadays, and the old stigma that choirs are boring and outdated is slowly fading.

“There are currently a number of choirs in Gibraltar, and I truly believe that myself and other choir leaders are giving choirs a new life — making it fun and accessible to people of all ages and walks of life. I want to get rid of the outdated view that choirs are boring, and make it dynamic. With the various choirs, as well as a long list of soloists, it would be amazing if something could be done with all choirs together,” he says with genuine enthusiasm.

“Performers in Gibraltar should all be given equal opportunities to perform. We have the people — we just have to get them altogether and make it happen.”

For Phillip the most important thing about Harmonics, is that they showcase their versatility, and attract people to their choir. “People will always want to join something they find is good and of a high standard.”

Choral direction is something Phillip studied at university, however, he feels experience has taught him the real ins and outs of a directing a choir.

“My first passion is singing, and I sometimes do with Harmonics, but directing is something I also enjoy. No text book can teach you as much as standing in front of a group of people and getting them to sing together,” he says smiling.

To be a director, you must have an impeccable ear for music, and be aware of everything.

Phillip has always performed inner harmonies, so he is very much aware of how they should be sung, and he has an open ear, making sure everyone does their sections properly. Also, he does not line up the his choir members, but has them around him so he can hear them properly.

Any budding singers are welcome to attend the choir’s meetings, from beginners to the more experienced.

“I make the beginners work hard, but they can cope with the level of work if they are willing to put in the hours and dedication. The more experienced singers are always eager to learn and help out those who have just joined.

Everybody works together, and everyone benefits from this. We chat and laugh during the sessions, but work very hard too.”

The choir meets once a week for two hours, at St Andrew’s Church. The youngest member is 17 years old, and the eldest 74 years old.

Harmonics representatives present a cheque from funds raised to Lady Johns for the Gibraltar League of Hospital Friends

“The extensive age range makes our choir unique. Older members have been singing for a long time, and know the way a choir works, so they offer help and support to the newer members.”

The classes start with a 20 minute warm-up, and then technique exercises. After this, each piece is worked on, and the technique work is applied to the piece.

“I believe technique is extremely important, and at first is was hard to impose these exercises on the members. I recall the first piece we worked on, Faure’s Requiem, one which I thought was a simple piece, but was actually a learning curve for everyone including myself. Everybody could sing it, but not together.

The choir had not gelled together at that point, however, the progress has been tremendous.

We have grown and developed a great deal,” he says.

Phillip instills a team spirit and positive at-

“

It is always the easiest option to stick to what people know and enjoy, but I want to educate people to listen to newly composed work

”

mosphere into the choir, by getting the members involved as much as possible. He is open to suggestions from members although admits he has established this is to be done via email, or else he forgets!

The choir has a secretary, Rhona Stevenson, and Treasurer, Lydia Griffiths, and PR is handled by the members themselves and their families. He has no set soloists, as he likes to give the opportunity to anyone who wants it, as long as they apply a little extra time. The aim is for everyone to showcase themselves, even with one liners, and to give chances to everyone.

“We had our first concert back in April this year at the Convent Ballroom, and it was a huge success. Although it is a lot of hard work, it’s about the personal satisfaction gained during the process. It was also extremely gratifying to donate £800 to the Gibraltar League of Hospital Friends, as we try and choose charities which are not so well known. We feel it is important to give back to the community,” he says smiling.

For the future, Harmonics has a Christmas concert in the pipeline — the repertoire for this has already been chosen, and will no doubt entertain regular enthusiasts and future fans alike. There are also plans for two further concerts in 2013, so watch this space! n Harmonics meets on Monday evenings at St Andrew’s Church, and is available for weddings and private functions. For more information email philsing79@hotmail.com.

Harmonics Choir GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

59

Gibraltar connection

A Force to be Reckoned with:

The Heartbeat Connection

by David Lockhart

One of the most popular police dramas on British TV was Heartbeat (1992-2010), set in Yorkshire during the 1960s and based on books written by a police officer. When Heartbeat first hit the screen the main character was Nick Rowan — scripted for and played by Nick Berry. The actor was already famous for his character “Wicksy” in Eastenders and for singing the odd pop song — he even sang the drama’s theme song. The young Constable Rowan had transferred from the Metropolitan Police and each week viewers watched him adapt to policing a surprisingly busy rural backwater. Rowan’s character was written out of the series when he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So how does all of this relate to Gibraltar? Read on...

Act in 1786. In 1807 the future Duke of Wellington — a native of Dublin — took a break from his military exploits to administrate in Ireland and make improvements to the City’s force. By the time his political protégée, Peel, arrived in Ireland in 1812 as the new Chief Secretary the police had won widespread acclaim.

Nick Berry as Constable Nick Rowan on the cover of one of the Heartbeat books

In 1973, as a young police cadet prior to joining the regular Metropolitan police, I trained at Hendon and slept in Mayne House. When we received lessons in Police History we were told how British policing had been born when Sir Robert Peel set up the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829 and created “this uniquely English Institution”. He appointed two Commissioners, Charles Rowan (see below) and Richard Mayne and the two accommodation blocks were named in their honour.

However our instructors did not tell us that Lancashire-born Robert Peel had picked the two Irish Commissioners because of their knowledge of policing in Ireland. Ireland, not London, was the first part of the then United Kingdom to have a modern police force. The Police in London were eventually nicknamed ‘bobbies’ after Robert Peel, but the police in Ireland were already known as ‘Peelers’ after the famous statesman.

Police historian Stanley H Palmer noted the birth of modern policing came about when the Irish Parliament introduced the Dublin Police

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other post of Commissioner to Richard Mayne a barrister from Dublin who was considerably younger than Rowan.

Rowan’s plans for the new force were set out in the first page of a handbook issued to all ranks in 1829 in which he emphasised ”It should be understood, at the outset, that the principle object to be attained is the prevention of crime.

To this great end every effort of the police is to be directed.”

During my training in the Metropolitan Police I was to learn this and other basic principles set out in the handbooks written by Rowan and Mayne. They were to become the bibles for policing in Britain.

Between 1836 and 1839 Charles Rowan worked with Edwin Chadwick on a Royal Commission which looked at creating efficient County Constabularies in the rest of Great Britain.

In 1850, after a long and distinguished career at the top of “The Met” in which he had quietly stood firm against political interference and proved the critics of the “new” police wrong, he retired. He died two years later in 1852. He had appointed his brother James to be executor of his will.

Charles Rowan and the Met Charles Rowan was born in Carrickfergus in 1783 to a prominent local family. He had eight brothers and two sisters [see box]. His father Robert had served as High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim.

Charles joined the 52nd Light Infantry at the tender age of 14 years as an Ensign. As a young Lieutenant he recognised there was a need to improve the morale and efficiency of his men and believed that inspired leadership prevented crime by the soldiers and thus avoided the need for harsh discipline. The Army in a report singled out his regiment as a model for others and he quickly rose through the ranks serving with distinction in the Peninsular War. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and was second in command of the 52nd at the Battle of Waterloo where he was wounded.

In 1822, the year the Constabulary Police brought policing to the whole of Ireland, Charles James Rowan and the RGP Rowan retired from the Army after 25 years In early 2007, while visiting Gibraltar, I exservice with the 52nd. changed police memorabilia with Inspector MiAfter leading the army to victory at Waterloo, chael Larkhan of the Royal Gibraltar Police. He Wellington now led his country as Prime Minister. He was known to favour a police force for London and appointed Robert Peel to the post of Home Secretary. In 1829 Peel wanted men who not only had knowledge of policing in Ireland but who had a military/legal background whom he could depend on to mould London’s new force and so he offered the position of Commissioner to Sir Charles Rowan after Wellington told him of his enlightened leadership of the 52nd regiment.

After Rowan’s acceptance, he then offered the

I got quite excited by the discovery... and wondered if there was a family connection with one very influential policing figure

Sir Charles Rowan (portrait by Wiliam Salter) moulded the London Metropolitan Police GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Gibraltar connection kindly gave me an excellent history of the Royal Gibraltar Police written by Cecilia Baldachino and Tito Benady. In it I read that the Gibraltar Police were formed in 1830, just one year after the London Met, and that a Major James Rowan was put in control of it.

I got quite excited by the discovery as I have been researching policing history for several years and wondered if there was a family connection with one very influential policing figure.

I quickly confirmed with the help of another researcher, Robert Barrett, that this was indeed a brother of the first Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Sir Charles Rowan, whom I had already written on.

I made contact with Dennis Beiso at the Gibraltar Archives and with the Metropolitan Police Museum who were very helpful but unaware of the family connection. I later corresponded with Dr Stephen Constantine of Lancaster University who in 2008 published an excellent article in the English Historical Review on the work of Major James Rowan in coping with illegal immigration into Gibraltar. He then went on to publish Community and Identity; The Making of Modern Gibraltar since 1704 published

by Manchester University Press.

James Rowan was born in Carrickfergus in 1781 in present day Northern Ireland and went on to the 87th Foot Regiment (Royal Irish Fusiliers).

The Gentlemen’s Magazine dated 6th July 1830 noted that James Rowan of the 87th Foot was promoted to Major unattached (away from normal Army duties) taking up appointment on 21st June 1830 as Civil Police Magistrate in charge of the new Gibraltar Police.

Wellington’s right hand man in the Army during the Peninsular War had been the Scottish soldier Sir George Murray who had also been stationed in Ireland. It was he as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies who instructed Gibraltar’s Governor General Sir George Don to facilitate Rowan’s work in setting up the new police.

The manner of Rowan’s unannounced arrival in Gibraltar — he delivered news of his own appointment to the Governor — was probably Murray’s way of spelling out that although technically subordinate to the Governor, Rowan should be left to get on with his tasks.

Rowan however stood by Sir George Don when he disagreed with Murray’s unrealistic demands on the Governor in relation to the enforcement of border controls. Unlike his brother in London, James Rowan was able to exercise his powers as a Magistrate. The Police in Gibraltar (as in Ireland, Canada and Australia) also had other duties such as public health and census collection which greatly enriched their ‘local knowledge’ of the community — indispensible in ensuring the effective policing of the frontier which was their most important responsibility.

It would be unfair to assume James Rowan’s appointment was due to family connections as he was already well thought of by the Foreign Service. In 1825 he was jointly appointed as a Commissioner to head an enquiry in the state of the Colony of Sierra Leone and its dependencies.

The subsequent 1827 report not only influenced the British Government’s approach to administrating African colonies, but also the thinking of other European powers.

Gibraltar was crucial to the military and was

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Dublin Metropolitan Police 1860s – guarding murder scene- these “Peelers” wore the same uniforms as the early police in Gibraltar

administered in a way that treated military needs as paramount. It was therefore an enlightened decision to appoint a capable military officer who understood the need for, and the benefit of, the lighter touch of the new police in dealing with the civilian population.

The close interaction between the police and Gibraltar’s population would evolve and be long lasting as, unlike Army Regiments, the Police would generally not be posted elsewhere.

They could get on with intelligently solving the problem of pirates and other undesirables who seemed to be able to breach the “solid security of the Rock” with impunity.

Concerns of Wellington’s Government that the Rock’s security was more porous than solid probably led to the police force being formed as early it was, but it was a big step forward in Gibraltar’s journey, as the needs of the civilian population were being taken into account.

Rowan quickly set to work organising a thorough and detailed census — crucial to policing the frontier and establishing who was a legitimate resident. It was the DNA of the “Gibraltarian” identity (first described as such

by Governor Charles O’Hara in the previous century).

Major James Rowan’s appointment made a great deal of sense, as while his brother was grappling with even bigger policing challenges in the Empire’s capital, they could exchange ideas informally. And not just ideas — two Sergeants, Charles Berry and Samuel Garlick, were immediately sent out to train the new force.

Concerns of Wellington’s Government that the Rock’s security was more porous than solid probably led to the police force being formed

Gibraltar by this period had become regarded as quintessentially British so what better location to further develop the “Peelers” or “Bobbies”. The Royal Gibraltar Police are now one of the few police services to be honoured with the Royal prefix, granted in 1992.

It is ironic that the name Rowan has now become synonymous with British policing through the medium of a TV drama. In reality this name deserves to be forever credited with moulding policing practice on the British mainland and beyond. n

The Rowan Family Robert Rowan and his wife Eliza had eight sons and two daughters. Although Robert had attended the Royal School Armagh his finances were limited and he did not have the means to send his own sons there, instead they were educated locally in Carrickfergus. However his upbringing of his children is a credit to him and Eliza.

Eldest son John followed in his father’s footsteps and was appointed High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim. Hill Wilson Rowan became a Chief Magistrate of Police; Robert was an officer in the 52nd Light Infantry (along with his Uncle Charles and his brothers William and Charles - see main text).

See main article for Major James Rowan.

Major Frederick Rowan died on military service and Edward was a Captain in the Royal Navy. Sir William Rowan was wounded at the battle of Waterloo and rose through the ranks to become a Field Marshall. He advised the Canadian Administration on policing matters and eventually became General Officer Commanding British Forces in Canada. n

61

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63

events file

It’s the Mini Dash

!

Following the success of the inaugural Mini Dash last year, the Gibraltar Mini Club will be hosting the second annual Mini Dash on the 14th and 15th July.

The GMC anticipates this year’s Dash event will attract Mini enthusiasts from Gibraltar and further afield in even greater numbers than last year.

Once again, participating Minis will assemble at Casemates Square to allow owners to meet, show off their models and interact with interested passers by. At 12.30pm, the Mini-Dash convoy will thread its way through Main Street and, no doubt attract the attention of locals and visitors in this normally pedestrianised area. The Dash route takes the Mini motorcade to some of Gibraltar’s most scenic locations.

At 1.30pm, the Mini Dashers will hitch a lift to the top of the Rock in the Cable Car after which the Dash route leads the participants to Leisure Island at Ocean Village, where the participants will relax and enjoy the area.

At 5.30pm, Dash participants embark on the vessel Dolphin World and sail into the Bay of Gibraltar to watch the sunset.

The day concludes with the Minis returning to Casemates Square while the participants attend the Dash Dinner at Latinos during which awards will be made to participants and various prizes

64

raffled. Part of the proceeds of the raffle will be donated to charity.

An early morning start the following day will see the Mini Dash making its way into neighbouring Spain. After a drive through spectacular countryside and some refreshments, the Dash will disband until 2013!

Mini owners interested in participating in the 2nd Gibraltar Dash should register their interest

in advance by contacting Dino Chincotta on Mobile: 56000228 or email: gibMINIclub@yahoo.com or join the Gibraltar MINI Club Facebook group.

The Gibraltar Mini Club would like to express its gratitude to the many sponsors of the Mini Dash and to the many Government of Gibraltar Departments and Agencies which have facilitated the organisation of the event. n

Participating Minis will assemble in Casemates Square to allow owners to meet, show off their models and interact with interested passers by GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

history file

Gibraltar’s Determined Donkey

by Reg Reynolds

When Landport Gate was opened early one morning in March 1816 the guards were surprised to see a donkey waiting patiently to enter. The donkey was all on its own, but knew exactly where it wanted to go as it made its way up Main Street to familiar stables.

Mr. Weeks, the merchant who owned the stables, was surprised to see the donkey as he believed the animal had been shipped to Malta the previous week.

Indeed the donkey, named Valiente, had been taken aboard the 36-gun frigate HMS Ister to be delivered to its owner, a Captain Dundas, stationed in Malta. But this became impossible, when during a ferocious storm the Ister struck a sandbar off Point de Gat near Malaga.

While Captain Forrest and the crew of the Ister worked desperately to rescue supplies and lighten the ship, it was decided to push the donkey overboard to give him a chance of survival. Meanwhile, one of the boats attempting to get supplies ashore overturned and 12 sailors and a midshipman were drowned.

With masts cut and stores removed the crew managed to get the Ister into deeper water but the 945-ton craft then took on a large quantity of sand and became stuck fast. Capt. Forrest decided there was no hope of shifting the Ister without assistance from other vessels.

Once the storm had abated a midshipman was sent overland to Gibraltar to get help. The Man of War HMS Montague and the sloop HMS Arachne were dispatched to recover the crew and stores. The Ister was refloated and saved and served the Royal Navy for three more years before being sold in 1819.

Safely back in Gibraltar, Capt. Forrest was incredulous to discover the donkey had made it back to the Rock by itself; a remarkable feat and a demonstration of the incredible homing instincts of some animals.

Why hadn’t anyone along the way taken the donkey to keep or sell?

In a book, Lectures On Natural History (published 1863), Edward Jesse *[see note] wrote: “...the ass had not only swum safely to shore, but without guide, compass, or travelling map had found its way from Point de Gat to Gibraltar — a distance of more than 200 miles which he had never traversed before — through a mountainous country, intersected by streams, and in so short a period that he could not have made one false turn. His not having been stopped on the road was thought to be owing to the circumstance of his having formerly been used to whip criminals upon, which was known to the peasants of Spain, who have a horror of such asses, by the holes in their ears, and to which the persons flogged were tied.”

Jesse wrote he had heard the story of the donkey from a friend named Edward Hawke Locker who had been in Gibraltar at the time, serving as secretary to Lord Exmouth, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron.

Unfortunately I have been unable to find any

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

information on the ultimate fate of Valiente but one can hope the remainder of his life was long and untroubled.

Note: Edward Jesse (1780-1868) was an English writer on natural history born in Yorkshire. Later in life he held the title of deputy-surveyor–general of the royal parks and palaces. Through his interest in the habits and characteristic of animals he wrote a series of popular books on natural history.

Valiente swam to shore and found his way from Point de Gat to Gibraltar — a distance of more than 200 miles which he had never traversed before 65

puzzle page

by Alan Gravett

SUDOKU Win a lunch for two at

The Cannon Bar

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9 10 11 13

14

12 15

16

17 18

19

20

21 22 23 24

Send completed suduko to: The Cannon Bar, 27 Cannon Lane, Gibraltar.

One entry per person.

Closing date: 20th July 2012 Last month’s winner: O. Peralta, 26 Gardiners Road

Send completed crossword to: The Clipper, Irish Town, Gibraltar.

FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper

One entry per person.

Closing date: 20th July 2012 Winner notified in next issue of The Gibraltar Magazine.

Across 1. Type of lettuce; one sank the Titanic (7) 8. What has happened in the past (7) 9. Instance (7) 10. Anguish (7) 11. Machine for turning (5) 13. Sweden’s capital (9) 15. Plucked not played with a bow (9) 18. Swoon (5) 21. Nudges (7) 22. Produce eggs (7) 23. Military manoeuvre; singular cutters! (7) 24. Delete (4,3) Down 1. Perfect (5) 2. Precise (5) 3. Early 19th. century artist influenced by van

Gogh and Munch, for example, might be

described as this (13) 4. Poor part of a town inhabited by the poor (6) 5. Bit of fortune (1, 6,2,4) 6. Spanish city famous for swords (6) 7. Organisation methodically arranged (6) 12. An Italian sparkling wine (4) 14. Manicured grass (4) 15. Die (6) 16. African country (6) 17. Arrange into groups (6) 19. Stage of an insect’s development (5) 20. Nottingham’s river

Jotting Pad

Last month’s winner: Sean Gomez, 26 Withams Road LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Tigger, Asleep, Title, Poorly, Gigi, Reindeer, Renunciator, Broccoli, Info, Evoked, Tropic, Tryst, Assign Down: Tastier, Grecian, Esperanto, Thorn, Torpedo, Eeyore, Ruffian, Tripoli, Initiates, Crest, Economy, Abject

66

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

arts file

Miss Gibraltar Calendar 2012: July

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

bone structure. I used berry tones to go with the colour scheme of the shot, and made her eyes look extremely dramatic, by using bold colours,” adds Deepak.

Special thanks went to Hayley for being a true professional and

“

giving her all despite being involved in one of the most complicated shots of the whole calendar.

Sponsor of the month was Metalrok Ltd, and Gabriella Martinez took the great behind the scenes shots. n

We wanted to make Hayley look like an alien — a creature-like being outside of her usual habitat

”

Photo by Gabriella Martinez

This unusual shot — taken by Jayden Fa, make-up by Deepak Ramchandani, and art direction

by Guy Baglietto — features Miss Gibraltar 2006, Hayley O’Brien, portraying her as almost creature like.

“We wanted to make Hayley look like an alien — a creaturelike being outside of her usual habitat. This was an extremely complicated photograph to take, as I shot it using long exposure.

This is a method used where the shutter stop is left open for however long needed,” Jayden explains.

In this case he left it open for about 10-15 seconds, to create the misty effect in the water. Hayley needed to stay very still, any slight movement would have resulted in a distorted image.

“Hayley was very cold, but managed to stop shivering for this shot. The conditions were not the best as the rocks were slippery and uncomfortable, but she was extremely cooperative and didn’t complain,” says Jayden.

“I wanted to shoot her completely nude, so she would appear as a creature in her most natural form. Any type of accessory or clothing would have distracted from the concept of the photo which we wanted to create.”

“For the make-up, I wanted to go for a very structured look. This would enhance Hayley’s amazing

Photo by Jayden Fa

The Official Limited Edition Miss Gibraltar Calendar 2012 Celebrating 50 years of Beauty features this great shot, from the project by Jayden Fa and Deepak Ramchandani, for the month of July.

67

history file

Refugees from the Spanish Civil War entering Gibraltar in 1936

Reporter Survived by Playing Dead

by Reg Reynolds

American writer Jay Allen was one of the many fleeing for the safety of Gibraltar as Franco’s Nationalists launched their attack on the Republicans at the onset of the Spanish Civil War. It was 20th July, 1936 and the war had been underway for three days when Republican loyalists opened fire on Allen and his chauffeur as they approached the Gibraltar border. The chauffeur was killed but Allen saved himself by jumping out of the car.

“I threw myself out of the car on the ground when the firing stopped and played dead. After the mob had gone I got up,” Allen later told the American press.

There were 23 bullet holes in the car, which was now a wreck, and Allen’s luggage had been stolen.

Before he could cross into Gibraltar Allen was arrested on suspicion he was a fascist but he was later released. The Gibraltar gates

opened at dawn but they were only admitting one person at a time and first through was a badly wounded man who was taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, the famous writer John Gun-

The Gibraltar gates opened at dawn but they were only admitting one person at a time and first through was a badly wounded man who was taken to hospital

ther (Inside Europe, The Golden Fleece), heard a rumour Allen had been killed. To find out if his friend and compatriot was dead or alive Gunther cabled the hotel in Gibraltar where Allen was most likely to stay. Allen replied simply, “Intact”.

In the two years prior to the start of the Civil War Allen lived near Malaga where he worked on a book about Spanish agriculture. The 10 years before that he had worked throughout Europe for the Chicago Tribune. Now he rejoined the Tribune and went on to become one of the most important correspondents of the war in Spain.

Allen was the first to report the Italian and German involvement on the Nationalist side; was the last to interview the Falangist leader Primo de Rivera before his execution by the Republicans; he saw the Alcazar blow up; and was the first to report on the massacre in the bullring at Badajos in August 1936.

“This was the upshot,” he reported, “thousands of republican, socialist and communist militiamen were butchered after the fall of Badajoz for the crime of defending their republic against the onslaught of the generals and the land owners.

“I write it at four in the morning, sick at heart and in body in the stinking patio of the Pension Central.”

Badajoz was one of the first big towns to fall to Franco’s offensive from the south. Allen managed to get the story out by surreptitious means after it was blocked by the censor. “They are burning bodies,” he wrote. “4,000 men and women have died at Badajoz since Gen. Francisco Franco’s rebel Foreign Legionnaires and Moors climbed over the bodies of their own dead through its many times blood-drenched walls.”

Allen also interviewed Franco and a price was put on his head after he quoted the Generalissimo as saying he would “Happily shoot half the people of Spain if necessary.”

In 1940 Allen was employed by the North American Newspaper Alliance to report on the war in Europe. He helped to smuggle artists out of France and was imprisoned by the Gestapo, but later freed. In 1942 he covered Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, and then returned to America where he continued to write for the Tribune until 1963.

Jay Allen was born at Seattle, Washington State on 7th July, 1900. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage on Christmas Eve, 1972. n

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

new opening

Boux Avenue comes to Main Street Boux Avenue is a sparkling new lingerie brand from Theo Paphitis that you can find at a handful of enticing stores across the UK and now on Gibraltar’s Main Street.

Born out of a love for lingerie, nightwear, swimwear and all things romantic, with a desire to bring traditional service, superior fit and outstanding quality to a modern and beautiful setting, the new Boux Avenue is a luxurious shopping haven on Main Street.

With an unrivalled eye for detail, passion for gorgeousness and design flair that will bring romance, seduction and a little slice of style to your boudoir, Boux Avenue aims to make love

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

happen with its aspirational blend of nostalgic and contemporary design.

Boux Avenue is inclusive and for everybody, no matter what your age, size or style. Boux Avenue creates irresistible lingerie, swimwear and nightwear that will compel the desire to look, touch, feel and of course, wear.

Pop into the stylish new shop and have a browse. The range of sizes and styles is impressive. n

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arts file

A Touch of Snow in July Isobel’s artistic fundraiser for Cancer Relief

by Elena Scialtiel

There’s a new landscapist in town, with a serious penchant for snowy mountains and idyllic countryside scenes, which she paints solely from her mind’s eye.

Highly commended at the 2010 Spring Art Exhibition for her Shangri-La, Isobel Fisher is launching her first solo exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall on 20th July, to coincide with the first anniversary of the passing of her late husband Martin (Murphy to his friends).

Because he always encouraged her to express herself through her palette, Isobel feels this is a fitting tribute to his memory, and she’s planning to donate all proceeds to Cancer Relief, presenting a cheque to Macmillan nurse Mark Warren on closing day.

Isobel at her easel

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“I am also placing a collection box in the gallery for visitors to slot in a couple of coins, because every penny counts towards this worthy cause,” Isobel says.

And this is a novel and welcome initiative, giving everyone a chance to help Mrs Fisher in her efforts to celebrate her husband’s life, and acknowledge the care Macmillan gave him in his last moments.

It isn’t, however, the only reason why one should visit Isobel’s exhibition. In fact her artwork is charming for its naivety and spontaneous flair for muted colours and serene panoramas, which will transport you to a safe place beyond space and time, far away from the urban hustle and bustle, untouched by human presence or unspoiled by sorrow.

Painting has been therapeutic for Isobel and has helped her grieving process, so in this collection you’ll find, amongst other things, views of churches and graveyards. Yet, every landscape is rendered as if it was a subconscious vision, and seen through the eyes of pure faith that makes the beauty of life triumph over death, and

inspires acceptance and inner peace.

The exhibition summarises five years of indefatigable work and shows the evolution from Isobel’s early “childlike stuff” to a more mature and conscious approach to art.

She is a self-taught artist, or better said she learnt her ABC (acrylics, brush and canvas) by closely following the TV show The Joy of Painting hosted by the late Bob Ross — yes, the guy with a messy beard and a big afro!

“He made it look so easy!” she says. “So I was roaring to give it a try.”

Of course, it wasn’t as easy as it looked, but Isobel didn’t give up and, with her family’s support, transformed a hobby into a passion, and a passion into a meaningful mission.

Bob Ross’s style also influenced her to paint so many snowy landscapes, even if it’s years since she saw a live blizzard.

But she isn’t intimidated by the lack of the white stuff on the Rock. In fact she paints only from her mind’s eye. She doesn’t use photographs for reference nor does she set up her easel in the open air. She doesn’t even squiggle

Of course, it wasn’t as easy as it looked, but Isobel didn’t give up and, with her family’s support, transformed a hobby into a passion, and a passion into a meaningful mission GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

arts file a pencil sketch before colouring in.

She just brandishes her brush, dips it in any colour she fancies and lets it run free on canvas, most of the times without clearly forecasting what the final product will be.

Thus the picture sort of paints itself, and Isobel adjusts the details and the choice of colour to what is progressively taking shape in the blank space of her imagination.

Her favourite medium is acrylic, but she often toys with watercolours, although they leave little room for mistakes, alas she confesses, while acrylics allow her to rectify, improve and stir the original layout towards something completely different, perhaps starting from sandy beaches and ending up with bright green hills.

Isobel has grown very attached to her artwork, and yet she’s very generous with it, because she deems it unfair to keep it for herself, “gathering dust in a corner”. That’s why she gave several away to her closest friends to brighten up their days.

Her eyes glow with pride recalling the anecdote of a friend of hers who spent quite some time staring at one of her pictures and imagining it coming to life each time with the different imaginary characters that may populate it, from peasants busy with the harvest, children swimming in the stream or gentlemen walking their dogs in the meadows.

Isobel comes from an artistic family — her son John Noel held a successful exhibition of vibrant abstracts last year — but she admits she is not one for producing contemporary art, no matter how much she likes her son’s work, which she

promotes as the must-have accessory to modern home decorating!

The Fishers came to Gibraltar from Belfast in 1978 to escape Northern Ireland’s times of unrest and settle in a safe heaven to raise their children.

They indeed found their new home on the Rock and never looked back since.

A baker by trade, Isobel worked as a cook in several local restaurants and she is quite famous around town for her savoury pies, which she

makes by the same method used for her paintings — no ingredients weighing, no lab-like chemistry precision, just a pinch of this and a cup of that, and most of all a generous portion of the stuff that comes straight from the heart!

The exhibition, titled Reflextions, is on until Friday 3rd August. Everyone is welcome to attend the opening on 20th July at 2pm, which will be officiated by Minister of Culture Steven Linares. n

Best Decorated Social Club Pictured: Members of the Laguna Social

Club Committee after winning the Diamond Jubilee competition for the best decorated social club. They were even visited by the Earl and Countess of Wessex during the Royal Visit. Well done to all those involved!

Instituto Cervantes - Intensive Summer Courses The Instituto Cervantes Gibraltar is holding lots of intensive summer courses for adults and children.

For adults there is everything from 30 hours Beginners Spanish Classes (£160 per course), to Beginners Spanish Guitar Lessons), and Flamenco Dance (both 15 hours £90). Plus a Wheatpaste Paper Workshop, and Coptic Book Binding.

For the children there is Spanish for

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Children in three groups 4-6 year, 79 years and 10-13 yerars (£80 for 15 hours). More Than Football (learn Spanish through sport) is for 8-13 year olds with various start dates.

There is also Spanish Guitar for 8-13 years and Flamenco Dance for 7-12 years.

Instituto Cervantes, 2nd Floor, Cloister Building, Market Lane. Tel: 200 69888 email: cengib@cervantes.es.

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art exhibition

Colour Collides at Casemates Gallery The exhibition of art work by mother and daughter, Peta and Jessica Darch, opened at the Fine Arts Gallery, Casemates on 19th June and will run until 10th July 2012.

Peta’s works reflect her careful attention to detail with African themes and figures, while Jessica’s canvasses by contrast are freer and more abstract though equally exuberant with colour, and they are beautifully complementary in the context of the exhibition. The paintings were well received on the opening night with several painting being bought by the invited guests.

You can pop along to the Fine Arts Gallery on the first floor in Casemates square to see the works up until 10th July. n

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

calendar of events

Saturday 21st June to Thursday 16th August Summer Nights every Saturday and Thursday in Casemates. Kids activities and live entertainment for all the family. For further info contact the Ministry of Culture Tel: 20048063 Email: minculture@ gibtelecom.net Monday 2nd to 13th July Photographic Exhibition by Joe Gingell “Evacuation” at John Mackintosh Hall. Mondays to Fridays 10am to 8pm. Entrance free. For further info Tel: 20075669 (see pages 26-27).

Cpl A Crowe, Command Photographer HQBF Gibraltar

What’s on July 2012

Saturday 7th July Convent Garden Open Day — activities for children, info on the gardens, plant stalls and refreshments.

Gibraltar Botanic Gardens tour.

Meet at George Don Gates. No fee but donations welcome. Tel: 20072639 or Email: alameda@ wildlife.gib.gi for info.

Monday 9th to 20th July Jubilee Photographic & Memorabilia Exhibition at Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, Casemates Vault. For info: Ministry of Culture Tel 20048063

Queen’s Jubilee gun salute — this month there is a ceremonial Guard Mounting at the Convent on 28th July

Saturday 14th July Gibraltar Mini Club Mini Dash, from Casemates Square through Main Street from 12.30pm. For info email: gibminiclub@yahoo.com

Mark Galliano

Monday 16th July & Sunday 29th July Euro Under-16 Basketball C Division at Tercentenary Sport Hall.

For info contact Sport & Leisure Authority, Bayside Road Tel: 20078409 Email: gibsportsdev@ gibtelecom.net

June saw the spectacular Queen’s Diamond Jubliee flotilla sail around the Rock. This month the Yacht Club’s Regatta is on 28th & 29th July

Friday 20th July Football - GFA vs. Portsmouth FC (Main Pitch). For info contact Sport & Leisure Authority, Bayside Road Tel: 20078409 Email:

gibsportsdev@gibtelecom.net Saturday 28th & 29th July XVl Gibraltar International Regatta For information and registration contact the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club Tel: 20078897 Saturday 28th July Ceremonial Guard Mounting at the Convent 12 noon. For info Tel: 20055083 Email: david.seed851@ mod.uk Tuesday 31st July Football - GFA vs. Notts County FC (Main Pitch). For info contact: Sport & Leisure Authority, Bayside Road Tel: 20078409 Email: gibsportsdev@gibtelecom.net

Adopt Don’t Buy The GSPCA has many lovely dogs looking for homes.

Before you buy a dog please visit us and give a dog a home.

Give a Dog a Home If you are interested in adopting call the GSPCA on 540 19968 or 540 29927 Note: dogs that have been kennelled for a while may need patience with house training when first in their new home (as do puppies from pet shops!)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465 email: gibfamanon@yahoo.com

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Calentita

events file

Calentita! Gibraltar’s annual festival for food took place in mid-June in Casemates Square. This year there were more stalls than ever serving delicious food representing the melting pot of cultures which is Gibraltar, plus entertainment and fun for all the family. Organisers, Word of Mouth, were thrilled with the turnout and it has once again proved to be not only the start of the Summer season but a hugely popular event! Well done everyone involved.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

openings

J ury’ s

OPENING

Located right next to the Law Courts, Jury’s is the latest bar to open at this end of Main Street. A convenient stop of for lawyers after a day in court it is sure to become a place to meet for all walks of Gibraltar society. n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

75

food & drink

Raju Surti

from Mumbai to the Maharaja

by Richard Cartwright

When next enjoying a delicious lamb korma at your favourite Indian restaurant spare a thought or two for the hard working Indian staff who calmly go about their business. What’s their story when choosing ‘destination Gibraltar?’

On the Rock the ‘Khubchands’ carry the flag for the Hindu community — forever on the lookout for business opportunities, knowledgeable and skilled workers are always needed. Maharaja restaurant manager Raju Surti was one such ‘victim!’

“Mr Khubchand’s daughter is really responsible for my being in Gibraltar,” Raju says. “I was a teacher in a catering college in Mumbai and in the evenings I had my own catering business. We used to do the catering for many functions and for one particular film company.

“Kalpna — Mr Khubchand’s daughter — was at one of those dinners and wanted to know who was responsible for the good food she was enjoying. She spoke to me about her family’s business in Gibraltar and that’s how it all started.”

Raju says he comes from a poor family and earnings in India at

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that level are small. He married Veena 30 years ago and has two sons and a daughter. “My eldest, who is 27 years old, is a bright boy, he is an executive engineer. The other is 24 and owns a car accessories shop. My daughter is 22 and is married to a lawyer. So now the family is doing very well.” But earlier on, Raju spent some time trying to get work on the cruise ships so he could earn more to better his family’s standard of living and buy a flat. He was especially keen because he’d also be able to put his son through college.

Then the Gibraltar opportunity came up and he took the plunge.

His job in Mumbai would be kept for him for three years, but Veena was not happy about him leaving, especially as they didn’t know anything about Gibraltar or where it was! But, he’s extremely happy about coming here and is grateful to his bosses for choosing him and giving him a great opportunity.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

food & drink Raju tells me he is also indebted to his God and mentor. “Yes, very much so; He is Sirdi Sai Baba... A friend told me I should travel to his shrine which is half a day away from where I live, to ask for help and guidance. I scraped for the money to go. There, I prayed and received the message I would be fine but had to be patient and good things would come. It took about three years but look, this came up and here I am today. I’ve been here for 12 years now and I’m so grateful. I always visit the shrine when I go home and again before I come back to Gibraltar.”

Raju Surti started as a chef at the Maharaja and slowly progressed to his current position.

“I look after both restaurants.

The whole team works in the Tuckey’s Lane one in the morning and the Queensway Quay restaurant in the evening. I check on everything that is required and I’m there for deliveries also. My hours are from 11 to three and seven to 11pm and I normally have Wednesdays off. I often have to stay later, especially in summer but I don’t mind, I enjoy my work.

“We work as a team and it all runs very smoothly. We even live together. We have our own individual rooms above the Khubchand shop in Main Street and we are well organised there. We share two bathrooms have laundry facilities and TV in our rooms. I use Skype a lot to communicate with my family in Mumbai.”

In the 12 years Raju has been on the Rock he’s picked up quite a bit of Spanish also and likes it here and has never thought of leaving.

“There is a big difference in the culture and I much prefer this one, although India is my home.”

I think it’s true to say, that in the past we’d hear stores of some Indian nationals being brought over to work here in shops especially, for a pittance. They’d be given food and lodgings and a little pocket money and that was it. True or false that certainly is not the case now.

“Oh no, I receive a very decent salary and I am able to save in Natwest Bank and send some money home. I can also afford to go to Mumbai for a month every year to see my family. The others working with me have a good wage also.”

Raju Surti is from Gujrat state

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

He is a quiet, gentle man who is of the opinion that we’re all the same and we should respect each other and do good for others (same as Gandhi). He is a quiet, gentle man who is of the opinion that we’re all the same and we should respect each other and do good for others. Raju says, “We are like five or 50 different flowers all coming to life with the same water — one water, called God!” He says he never gets upset, angry or bitter about anything and can’t repeat enough how grateful he is to his bosses — for their help and support. Comparing what he has here with his situation in Mumbai — it took him one and a half hours to get to work, he had two jobs which together, earned him about one fifth of what he earns here — he declares, “Yes, I only have to take a little walk up Main Street to go the restaurant and a little further in the evenings to go to Queensway Quay and have normal working hours.

Apart from being paid well, I get all my food, I’m vegetarian, so I couldn’t ask for anything more. I have a work permit which is renewed every five years and everything is good.”

The Maharaja Indian restaurants — lunchtime Tuckey’s Lane, evenings Queensway Quay — are where you’ll find Raju working away; managing, taking orders, waiting on tables, doing something in the kitchen or chatting to customers — “It’s all the same, it’s work. I don’t mind doing anything, helping wherever it is needed.”

Chicken Korma and Afghani Chicken are two of the most popular dishes at present, he affirms, and Fridays and Saturdays the busiest days and nights.

It was more than 12 years ago that by chance, a lady with a strong Gibraltar connection — Kalpna — living amongst many, many millions of people in India attended a dinner where the food ‘bowled her over.’ The chef responsible for that special cuisine was made an offer and now you’ll find him at the Maharaja! n

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Drunken Chicken Salad, Green Onion, Shallot & Ginger Dressing Serves 6

1.5kg of chicken thighs, boned and skin left on Marinade: 80g Ginger 70g Salt 70g Sugar 4 Green onions cut into 5cm lengths 2 Star anise 2 pieces Dried mandarin peel 250ml Shaoxing wine 100ml Mirin rice wine vinegar

Light Delights

by 55 chef Scott Casey

It’s time for some summer treats, light and delightful, for the warm evenings outdoors.

Dressing: 2 Small golden shallots, finely diced 200g Fresh ginger, finely grated 5 Green onions cut into 5cm lengths

Caster sugar, to taste 250ml Vegetable oil For the marinade, combine all the ingredients except for the Shaoxing wine and the rice wine vinegar in a saucepan with 1 and a half litres of cold water, bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Remove from the heat and then add the Shaoxing and vinegar. Cool completely, add the chicken and let marinate for at least 2 hours.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and wrap each piece tightly in cling film to form a cylinder shape. Place in a bamboo steaming basket and steam over a saucepan of boiling water for 25-30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate.

For the dressing combine all the ingredients in a food liquidiser or blender and process until smooth pouring consistency is reached. Check the seasoning and adjust according to your desired taste. To serve unwrap the chicken and cut into thin round slices. Arrange in the centre of a large white plate. Spoon over the dressing and garnish with a nice pile of watercress in the centre. n

Spice Crusted Ham, Mango & Chilli Salsa, Mustard Seed Yoghurt Serves 12

1 piece of ham, on the bone (about 8kg) Spice rub: 1 Brown onion, coarsely grated 5 Garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 135g Brown sugar 15g Sea salt 1 tbs Freshly ground black pepper 1.5 tsp Cayenne pepper 1 tsp Smoked paprika

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2012

food & drink

Slice the kingfish as thinly as possible against the grain, arrange on plates in a nice circular fashion, brush with olive oil and season with some sea salt and black pepper Mango salsa: 1 cup Firmly packed coriander leaves,

finely shredded 3 Mangos, finely diced 1 Small red onion, finely diced 3 Limes, juiced 1-2 Green jalapenos, depending how

spicy you like it 2tbs Olive oil 1tbs Sweet chilli sauce Mustard seed yoghurt: 500ml natural yoghurt 3tbs Seeded mustard Preheat the oven to 180°C. Remove the skin from the ham and score in a crisscross fashion with a small sharp knife. Place in a large roasting tin, add some water and set aside. For the spice rub, process the onion and garlic in a food processer until finely chopped, transfer to a bowl, add remaining ingredients and stir to combine well. Spread over the ham and rub in well to coat the ham completely. Roast for 1 and half hours until a deep golden colour, then set aside to cool.

For the mango salsa, combine all the ingredients in a bowl, season to taste and set aside.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

For the mustard seed yoghurt, again simply combine both together and set aside To serve slice the ham against the grain, spoon over some of the mango salsa, drizzle with the yoghurt and serve with some coleslaw or a crisp green salad. n

then simmer over a medium heat until the orange is tender (1-2 hours) adding cold water to keep the orange submerged if necessary.

Drain, and when tender, peel and discard the skin and place the flesh into a food blender. Add the verjuice and process until a fine puree, then with the machine still going slowly drizzle in the olive oil until incorporated with the orange Kingfish Carpaccio, Blood Orange, and verjuice.

Caper & Watercress Salad, Piquillo For the piquillo jelly, combine the agar agar Serves 8 with 500ml of water in a saucepan, bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat until thick( 8-10 60ml olive oil minutes). Process the peppers in a blender until 50g capers, drained and rinsed smooth, pass through a fine sieve and then add 400g kingfish to the agar agar mix stirring well and vigoursly

watercress, washed to combine. Set in jelly moulds in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours.

Blood orange sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large non stick fry pan.

1 blood orange Add the capers and fry until crispy. Set aside on 125ml Verjuice some absorbent paper to drain.

125ml Vegetable oil Slice the kingfish as thinly as possible against the grain, arrange on plates in a nice circular Piquillo jelly: fashion, brush with olive oil and season with some sea salt and black pepper. Turn out the 5g Agar agar piquillo jelly and place in the centre of the king500g Piquillo peppers fish circle. Scatter over the watercress leaves and For the blood orange sauce, place the blood capers, then drizzle with the blood orange sauce orange in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and serve immediately. n

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food & drink

directory Café Solo

Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square.

Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad

Cafe Rojo Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Brunch (10am12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts.

Lunch 12-3pm, dinner 7-10pm; dishes such as Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pastas or risottos such as Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry, Langoustine, Lime & Coconut; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese; and Creamy Mixed Seafood; and salads such as Warm Goats’ Cheese, Fresh Spinach & Chargrilled Aubergine; and Roast Duck, Chorizo & Pancetta Salad.

Open: 10am. Closed Sundays and Saturday lunchtime.

Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738

restaurants

Casa Pepe

Savannah Lounge

e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc

with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Daily specials on blackboard. No smoking.

Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449

Fifty-Five

Aimed at Gibraltar’s dining and night-life scene, Savannah has been created with fun and style in mind. Offering contemporary European cuisine a wide selection of drinks, cool decor and good music.

The venue hosts regular live events with invited DJs and shows from abroad.

Open: Sunday-Thurs midday-midnight, Friday and Saturday midday-5am.

Savannah Lounge 27 Heart Island, Ocean Village Tel: 200 66666 Visit: www.savannah.gi

Solo Bar & Grill

Premier Private Member’s Club where members enjoy fine dining and impeccable service in luxurious surroundings. Open lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday also offering a daily Business Lunch menu.

Once a month 55 opens for traditional Sunday lunch and holds a variety of culinary themed evenings i.e. Thai Fusion. The main bar offers full snack menu — the perfect place after a long day at work. Thursday and Fridays you can relax to a mix of Soul & ’80s music by resident DJ, take advantage of Happy Hour and enjoy sushi menu from 6pm. Special occasions or business clients can be entertained in the Private Dining Room (10 people). Afternoon tea Thurs to Sat 6pm. For info or to reserve contact Louise.

Fifty-Five Private Member’s Club 267 Main Street Tel: 200 79655 Visit: www.fifty-five.gi

Solo Bar and Grill is a stylish and modern eatery — perfect for business functions or lunches — and part of the popular Cafe Solo stable. Serving everything from Goats’ Cheese Salad, Mediterranean Pâté and Cajun Langoustines to Beer Battered John Dory, or Harissa Chicken, and Chargrilled Sirloin Steak. This is a delightful venue in Europort with a cosy mezzanine level and terrace seating. Well worth a visit, or two! Available for private functions and corporate events — call 200 62828 to book your function or event.

Open: 12-8pm.

Solo Bar & Grill Eurotowers Tel: 200 62828

The Waterfront

Nunos Italian

A delightful terrace bar/ restaurant in the prestigious Queensway Quay Marina. Wonderful location for business meetings, weddings, anniversaries etc.

Specialising in a broad range of raciones (plates to share) with a very comprehensive a la carte menu.

Daily specials may include fresh fish caught locally and a selection of Argentinean beef. With a menu including dishes such as Caracoles a la Llauna Snails, Rabo de Toro Oxtail, Carrillada de Cerro Iberico Iberico pork cheeks, large rib steaks from Avila and special to order whole suckling pig.

Open: Mon-Fri: lunch & evening, Sat: evenings only, Sun: lunch only.

Overlooking the Mediterranean from Catalan Bay, Nunos’ Spanish chef with Three Star Michellin experience offers a variety of Italian cuisine. The restaurant can be found at the reception level of the hotel, where a quick peak at the menu reveals the chef’s celebrated Salmorejo is on the menu, as are his baby squid burgers (Insalata di Calamari). From the main dishes you can choose from a variety of fresh fish and meat dishes. Or you could go for the house speciality of fresh, home-made pasta where you can choose from a wide range of options.

Open: Mon-Sat 7.30pm-10.30pm (lunchtimes for group bookings).

Right on the quayside at Queensway Quay Marina, this restaurant offers everything from coffee through to 3-course meals with champagne! A bar snack menu is available all day from 10.15am; the a la carte menu from midday to 10.30pm, featuring daily specials. The barbecue grill from 7pm offers sumptuous steaks aged in-house, and fab fish including dorada and sea bass. A delicious array of desserts/ice creams. Extensive terraces provide ideal location for summer dining and drinks with stunning sunsets. Caters for large parties - weddings, holy communions, birthdays etc. Est. over 16 years.

Open: 7 days a week 9am-late

Casa Pepe 18 Queensway Quay Marina. Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe.gib@gmail.com

Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Tel: 200 76501 •VIP BarBay•Restaurant Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi

The Waterfront

80

Queensway Quay Marina. Tel: 200 45666 •Private Dining Room Visit: www.gibwaterfront.com

The perfect place to escape or impress GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar?

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details Amin’s Office

food & drink

directory Get Stuffed

e to wher drink eat & the on k Roc

Picadilly Gardens

Sit down, informal and friendly bar with informal eating. Amin is well known in Gibraltar for his Moroccan, Spanish and international cuisine. Open early for breakfast at 7am right through the day. Try the Moroccan soups, couscous, lamb tagines and kebabs. Terrace, just off Main Street (turn left at Trafalgar Pharmacy coming from Casemates).

Open: 7am to midnight.

Very popular takeaway, sandwich bar and hot food.

Serving all fresh and homemade sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, pies, cup cakes, plus hot/cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties.

Open: 8am - 4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat.

Relaxed bar restaurant located near to the Queen's Hotel and Cable Car it has a cosy garden terrace which is great for drinks, tapas and food al fresco. English breakfast, churros, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or take away. Menu of the day only £6. Open: early to late.

Amin's The Office 30 Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 40932

Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006

Picadilly Gardens Rosia Road. Tel: 200 75758

Bean & Gone

Friendly little café with an extensive menu from oven-baked jackets and baguettes, to home-made pasta and burgers. Great selection of low-carb / Weight Watchers choices, plus a tempting cakes and snacks. Relaxed, cosy atmosphere. Ingredients local and organic where possible, desserts made with soya (diary-free). Lots veggie options.

Deliveries (minimum order £20).

Open: Mon - Fri 7.30am - 3pm, Sat 9am - 2pm.

Bean & Gone Café 20 Engineers Lane Tel: 200 65334 Visit: www.BeanandGoneCafe.com

Buddies Pasta Casa Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include spinach caneloni, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and peppered steak to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines.

Outside seating too.

Open: Monday - Thursday 11am - 5pm, Friday 11am-3pm and 7pm-11pm, Sat 11am-4.30pm Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627

Fusion Deli

Noodles in New York noodle boxes — just like in the movies! Malaysian, Chinese and Japanese style noodles with beef, pork, chicken, king prawn or vegetarian, with sauces from old favourites like sweet & sour, to fiery spicy. Plus Malaysian chicken curry, Laksa and Char Siew barbecue pork, daily specials like Malaysian Kung pou, Mongolian sauce, egg fried/plain rice. Extras include giant prawn crackers, and spring rolls. Delivery service.

Open: Mon-Fri 11.45-3pm. Thurs/Fri/Sat evening.

FusionDeli 11 Cooperage Lane (by BHS) Tel: 200 63940 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Just a Nibble

Sacarello Coffee Co

Full licensed cafe on first floor of the ICC, serves English breakfast, a vast range of toasties, rolls and snacks. Meals include Bob’s famous chicken curry and chilli con carne, and a great new range of pies (from chicken & leek to steak & kidney, and even venison) plus all the old favourites; jacket spuds, burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, and daily specials. Ideal meeting place.

Open: Mon - Sat from 9am.

Converted coffee warehouse, great coffee, homemade cakes/ afternoon tea, plus menu and excellent salad bar with quiche selection, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Art exhibitions. Available for parties and functions in the evenings.

Open: 9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri. 9am-3pm Sat

Just A Nibble 1st Floor ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 78052

Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625

Mumbai Curry House Indian cuisine, eat-in/take-away, from snacks (samosas, bhajias, pakoras) to lamb, chicken and fish dishes such as korma, tikka masala, do piaza. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food. Outside catering for parties/meetings. Sunday Mumbai favourites such as Dosa & Choley Bhature.

Open: 7 days a week 11am - 3pm, 6pm -late.

Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 200 50022/33

Pick a Bite Morning coffee and daily lunch specials, one of largest selections of traditional home made food, to eat in or takeaway. All the old favourites — spinach pie, croquettes, quiche, spanish omelette, shepherd’s pie and more. Delicious sandwiches, baguettes, ciabatta melts and wraps, with a variety of fillings. Salads, snacks and soups. Cakes and muffins for those with a sweet tooth. Friendly, cheerful and very reasonal prices. Terrace seating.

Open: Monday to Friday 8am - 3pm.

Pick A Bite 10 Chatham Counterguard Tel: 200 64211

Sain’t Café Bar

Bright and attractive café bar serving hot/cold drinks, breakfasts, lunches, homemade desserts and tapas with wine.

Well presented food includes tuna ciabatta, steak & onion baguette, club sandwich, smoked salmon bagel and vegetarian choices (served with parsnip crisps). Delicious salads such as Niçoise, Caesar, caprese and couscous. No smoking inside. Patio.

Open: Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm. Afternoon tea 4-6, happy hours 4-6.

Sain’t Café Bar Grand Ocean Plaza, Ocean Village Tel: 20065758

Smith’s Fish & Chips Traditional well-established British fish and chip shop, located on Main Street opposite the Convent, with tables/seating available or take-away wrapped in newspaper. The menu includes old favourites cod, haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish pasties, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers.

Open: 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Breakfast served from 8am.

Smith’s Fish & Chips 295 Main Street. Tel: 200 74254

informal food

Get Listed!

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food & drink

directory informal food

Solo Express

The Tasty Bite

Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar?

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details Verdi Verdi

Located next to Pizza Hut in Casemates and in Eurotowers, serves a variety of salads/baguettes (white, brown, ciabatta) filled with a deli selection such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or humous, avocado & roast red pepper. Salads fresh and tasty (Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta etc), great value. Jackets, quiches, coffee plus cakes (flapjacks, muffins) available all day. Eat-in area. Soups in winter.

Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken, kebabs and everything else you can think of! Try the quiches, tortillas and jackets spuds with all kinds of fillings. This little place gets busy with those popping out from the offices for lunch so get there early.

Open: Monday - Saturday.

All day coffee plus all homemade and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh baked bread and desserts.

A selection of bagels (try the smoked salmon and cream cheese) and baguettes to eat in or take away. Try the light homemade pizzas, or the falafels and humous. Daily special soups are fabulous and filling. Ask for Idan's hot homemade chilli relish — sweet and scrummy.

Open: Mon/Thurs: 7.30-6, Fri 7.30-5, Sun 10-3.

Solo Express Grnd Flr, ICC, Casemates & Eurotowers

The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321

Verdi Verdi ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 60733

All’s Well

Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practise of locking gates to the city at night when the guard called ‘All’s Well’. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod & chips and steak & ale pie plus a range of salads and jacket potatoes. Large terrace.

Karaoke Mondays and Wednesdays until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm.

All’s Well Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987

Cannon Bar

Jane is still there and still packed out with tourists and regulars! Word has it that she nearly managed to escape, but wasn’t allowed to. The famous fish and chips, the odd French speciality, there’s always something happening in the Cannon! Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral just off Main Street. Quiz night on Tuesdays, get there early as it is definitely the place to be on a normally quiet Gibraltar Tuesday.

Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288

Gibraltar Arms

bars & pubs

e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc

Get Listed!

Jury’s Café-Wine Bar

Next to the Law Courts, with a terrace seating area, Jury’s has a selection of Ciabattas, paninis, baguettes and wraps, plus popular sharing dishes, such as Your Honour’s platter. Jacket potatoes, main courses, pasta and some innocent salads too.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are tantalising homemade desserts, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as well as Lavazza coffees and frappes.

Open: 7am-midnight Mon-Sat, 9am-midnight Sun. Jury’s Café & Wine Bar 275 Main Street. Tel: 200 67898

Lord Nelson

Bar/brasserie in Casemates.

Done out like Nelson’s ship.

Starters & snacks include fresh mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses from chilli con carne and chicken & mushroom pie, to crispy duck burrito and fish & chips.

Jackets, burgers and kid’s menu. Live music on stage nightly. Spacious terrace.

Open: 10am till very late.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 Visit: www.lordnelson.gi

The Lounge

On Main Street opposite the cathedral, enjoy a meal, coffee or a cool beer on the terrace and watch the world go by!

Bar decorated with rare military plaques from regiments and navy ships visiting Gibraltar. Full breakfast menu served from 7am, draught beers on tap include Old Speckled Hen bitter, Murphys Irish stout, Heineken lager and Strongbow cider.

Stylish lounge bar on the quayside at Queensway Quay with very reasonable prices and light bites from 10am until late.

Popular quiz on Sundays (from 7.30pm) and a relaxed friendly atmosphere... always plenty of people / yachties to chat to. Events (matches etc) covered on large screen TV. Great place to chill out.

Open: 10am Mon - Sat until late and from 12pm on Sun (get there early for a seat for the quiz).

Gibraltar Arms 184 Main Street. Tel: 200 72133

The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118

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O’Reilly’s Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef & Guinness pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all.

O’Reilly’s Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888

Star Bar

Gibraltar’s oldest bar, just off Main St. Small cosy and famous for its full English breakfast from 7am (9am on Sunday). A full menu including fish & chips, until 10pm. The home of Star Coffee, draught beers include Heineken, Old Speckled Hen, Murphys and Strongbow cider. Managed by Hunter Twins from Stafford, England, also home to Med Golf & Tottenham Hotspur supporters club.

Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Visit: www.starbargibraltar.com

The Three Owls The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers.

Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen TV, pool table, poker machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ bar, two match pool tables, poker machines, dartboard, bar, open from 5pm daily. Second Floor the ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, card table, bar — open from 7pm daily and also at weekends for the Rugby Union matches. If you are looking for a sociable game of pool or darts this is the place to be.

The Three Owls Irish Town. Tel: 200 77446 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits

Visit us and step back in history

Casemates Square Tel: 200 72987

Full menu served inside or on our terrace including British Fish & Chips, Jackets, Salads, Burritos, Homemade Pizzas, our special Fresh Local Mussels and much more.

Visit us and buy yourself a souvenir, T-shirts, beer glasses, lighters etc Live music every evening, join our Jam Sessions on Wednesday or Sunday.

GLMS Music Venue of the Year.

Official Home to Gibraltar Rugby Club Free WiFi

10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009

• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams

DAILY SPECIALS Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449

SMITH’S

U4 FISH & CHIPS HADDOCK W4 PLAICE • COD FRESH FRIED IN CRISPY BATTER

184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun)

restaurant bar guide &

295 MAIN ST Tel: 200 74254

Get Stuffed!

Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006 Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special Every Day salads, soups, pastas, pies, cupcakes, all home made Open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat

Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967

Award winning breakfasts from 7.30am Great meals & snacks all day Evening Steak House menu Med Golf Clubhouse Tottenham Hotspur HQ Parliament Lane Tel: 200 75924 GIBRALTARMAGAZINE MAGAZINE••JULY JULY2012 2012 GIBRALTAR

BUDDIES pasta casa

Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations

Just A Nibble Licensed Cafeteria Let the ‘A’ Team serve you up a snack or a meal.

Daily Specials • Varied Menu

Open from 9am First Floor ICC, Main Street THE PLACE TO MEET

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�non�mity

by Peter Rodney

Having churned out this column for some seven years without a by-line, it felt odd to see my name emblazoned at the top of last month’s contribution. I enquired of ’er upstairs whether any advantages might accrue if my name was in print — apparently not. I must continue to scratch out the words in a quill pen by the light of a guttering candle, while surviving on bread and cheese in my lonely garret.

There are some advantages to anonymity, not least in the world of wine. A ‘vino de mesa’, ‘vin de table’, ‘vino di tavola’ may (or may not) be produced in the country where it is labelled and sold. But beyond that you know very little about what you are getting. It should be recognisably wine, but the quality will vary from gutwrenchingly awful to acceptable.

It claims no more for itself and will be reassuringly cheap. There

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is no way of telling, from the label, down the sink those that are not what the quality will be; the only — no great loss, either for your method is to experiment until you finances or your metabolism). find one that is acceptable (pouring The next step up is the generic

There is no way of telling, from the label, what the quality will be; the only method is to experiment until you find one that is acceptable

label — claret, cotes du Rhone, Beaujolais etc. These might belong to a chain of wine stores or supermarkets (Morrison’s or Marks and Spencer) or a particular producer (Calvet, Duchamps). They should be reliable and unflashy.

Morrison’s own label claret has, incidentally, improved a little over the last couple of months after have gone seriously downhill.

Somehow I doubt that it was my complaints in this column which

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

wine column resulted in this improvement.

There must have been other complaints as well — but it shows that, occasionally, the big boys listen.

The advantage of a generic label is that it will generally be considerably cheaper than individual wines from the same area and, importantly, drinkable — unless it is Beaujolais Nouveau which is rather like the ‘Gothic’ look: fashionable and rather unpleasant.

Moving away from near anonymity, we come to the New World system for individual wineries to blend their own wines and label them under their name. Jacob’s Creek is the obvious example.

Always the same, pleasant, reasonably priced and not very thrilling.

But at least you can’t go wrong.

Some Australians have gone further. Andrew Pearce has his own name above descriptions such as ‘Blooming Red’ and ‘a Proper Chardonnay’. There is a blurb on the back of the bottle about how he takes great care and if you wish to e-mail him with comments he will be pleased to reply. (He does actually reply, as well.) This is excellent marketing because it gives one a sort of proprietorial pride in the bottle — the maker of this wine has actually communicated with me and I have had some input into his operation. Perhaps because I have that proprietorial pride I recommend his wines. They are not earth-shattering but they slip down a treat.

The South Africans and South Americans have largely followed the Australian example although they tend to concentrate on the name of the house, and also giving a particular grape varietal or combination. They tend to be solid and rich, concentrating on Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec — and the ubiquitous Chardonnay and Semillon. You rely on the name of the house to be sure they have not made a mess of the grape. All are reasonably priced and you get what you pay for.

So the last three categories rely on their own names to some extent and move gradually up the scale to give you more and more information as to what might be in the bottle. It is only when you reach the very top that you are back to relying on name alone. Once we reach the grands crus classés it is just a name (usually of a chateau) and a year. The reputation of the chateau alone is enough to command an enormous price. It is said that F E Smith (later Lord Birkenhead), when a struggling young barrister, was paid 10 guineas for a long and learned opinion on some abstruse point of law. When he became a leading QC he was paid 1000 guineas for writing simply: ‘The case is unanswerable and the damages will be enormous’. It is all in the name.

Anonymity in wine has its advantages, as it does for internet stalkers known as ‘trolls’ who post unpleasant (to say the least) remarks on social networking sites. The latter are shortly to be unmasked. It suddenly occurs to me that perhaps this is why ‘er upstairs insisted I should no longer remain anonymous. A quick sift through various columns reveals that I have made unpleasant comments about Morrison’s claret, rosé wine generally, girls (of both sexes) and misuse of language but, I think, there are no personal comments. Phew. On the other hand, being unmasked, I am shown up as being far from the expert œnophile that readers of this column had, until now, assumed. Like the emperor, I actually have no clothes on.

The difficulty, as always, is finding an interesting wine about which there is something new to say. Anyone, in an Olympic year, for Retsina? It will probably be priced in drachmas soon — although that is unlikely to make it more palatable. Some wines are best remaining anonymous, untested and untasted. n

Moving away from near anonymity, we come to the New World system for individual wineries to blend their own wines and label them under their name

Contemporary Mediterranean Dining

Grand Casemates Square Tel: 200

44449 for reservations

Saturday Chill Out with DJ Eric from 7pm

Waterfront Events - July 2012 Thursday 5th Wednesday 18th Saturday 21st Wednesday 25th

Michelle Daniels Ezequiel de la Rosa Lola’s Boys The Swing Kings

The Waterfront Restaurant, Queensway Quay Marina. Reservations: 200 45666 Email: waterfrontrestaurant@gmail.com www.gibwaterfront.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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This photo and below: Happy 50th birthday to Ian of sovereign Trust

You can tell the summer is finally here when Summer Nights in Casemates begins. These popular family evening take place every Saturday and Thursday throughout July and until Thursday 16th August. There will be live entertainment for the grown ups and kids activities — evenings full of fun for all the family until late.

Summer Events Apart from Summer Nights which we all look forward to each year there is lots of other entertainment to keep us busy this month.

For all those who love a good Bohemian Rhapsody once in a while, Mediterranean Dance School will be presenting Queen: School of Performing Arts, on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th July at the Alameda Open Air Theatre, starting at 9pm. Tickets are priced £12 and available from On Pointe in Casemates Arcade.

Also on the Saturday 7th July is the Convent Open Day, which is always popular and a great opportunity to wander around the Convent gardens and enjoy the beautiful flowers which are out at this time of year. Certainly makes a change from the beach too!

All Gibraltarians will love the Evacuation photographic exhibition, organised by Joe Gingell, which is on at the John Mackintosh Hall from 3rd to 13th July. Everyone is bound to have fun trying to spot family members and friends. And for those who were actually evacuated during the 2nd World War it will bring back all sorts of memories worth recalling to Joe, who is always happy to listen.

Later this month we have the Gibraltar Mini Club Mini Dash, starting at Casemates Square on Saturday 14th from 12.30pm.

Mini enthusiasts will all congregate at the square to show off their vehicles, with a drive up Main Street for all to see, and plenty of other activities during the day.

Sporting Heroes If you prefer your sports to be of the more active kind, then there is plenty of sporting action this month. The Euro Under-16 Basketball C Division tournament takes place from Monday 16th to 29th July. Alan Bula’s boys from the GFA have a couple of important international matches this month, when they meet Portsmouth FC on 20th July, and Notts County on the 31st — sure to be exciting matches if the GFA’s past performances are anything to go by.

Then to round up the month we have the Royal Gibraltar Yacht

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Club’s International Regatta on 28th and 29th July. Always fun to watch from the shore or if you want to take part contact the club on Tel: 200 78897.

Many Happy Returns July is always a busy month for birthdays, with many people celebrating this month. Many happy returns to Sonia of the Lounge, Queensway Quay who is another year older on July 3rd, and Sonia Golt celebrates on the 6th. James Lasry will celebrate on the 13th, recently appointed MBE and dancing legend Michael Prescott will celebrate a milestone on the 24th, and Douglas of 55 is another year older on 27th. Naomi Quigley won’t look a day older on 31st, and Urban Dance Director Darion Figueredo, celebrates his birthday on 14th July. Many happy returns to you all, and to everyone else who celebrates during July.

We’re All Going on a.....

The lovely team from Café Rojo would like us to let you know that they will be closed from Saturday 14th to Tuesday 31st July, for their annual summer holiday. Of course they will reopen on 1st August full of beans and fresh ideas and ready to go.

For all of you lucky enough to be off on your summer holidays, enjoy yourselves. To the rest of us, have a great July, keep cool, and see you on Main Street.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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clubs&activities Arts & Crafts The Arts Centre, Prince Edward’s Rd. Art classes for children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults (Mon - Tues 6.30pm-8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm9pm). Tel: 200 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11am - 2pm.

Arts & Crafts Gallery (next door) opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer) -6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm.

Exhibition Vin’s Gallery at the Rock, The Rock Hotel. Original paintings, prints, and souvenirs

by Vin Mifsud and her pupils. Monday - Saturday 9.30-11am and 8-10pm.

The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society Affiliated to the UK NADFAS organisation meets third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK to talk on Art etc. Contact: ChairmanClaus Olesen: 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros. com. Membership Ian leBreton: 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Knit and Natter Group: Tuesdays from 11am3pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balconyFree to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865 for more information.

Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet at the Rock Hotel on Mondays at 3pm. For further information please ring Vin at 20073660 or Roy at 20075995. All welcome.

The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm.

Dance Adult Dance Classes Wednesday evenings at the Youth Disco Room, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Cha-Cha, Salsa and Merengue. Lessons £5 and all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or dance@trainingtm.net Salsa Gibraltar Salsa classes held Tuesdays at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. Beginners 7-8.30pm, £5 per lesson. Intermediates 8.30-10pm, £6 per lesson (all profits going to the charity Help Us To Help Them). Contact: Mike 54472000 Email: info@salsagibraltar.com website: www.salsagibraltar.com Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm (beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome.

Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday.

The DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, beginners 7.30pm. Tel: 200 78282 or e-mail manvio@ gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome.

Classical Ballet classes for children 4+, Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance, 3rd floor, Methodist Church, 297/299 Main St. Classes Weds & Fri from 6pm at Chiltern Court (4Cs). Tel: 58111000.

Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre classes held weekly at Urban Dance Studio for Performing Arts, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta (54012212) or Jolene (54015125).

History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844.

The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles.

Members/vehicles meet 1st Sunday of month, Morrison’s car park from 10am. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643.

Music The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Tuesday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

New singers always welcome. Tel: 54831000.

St Andrew’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc. Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting

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Don’t be bored... do something fun! self-development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road. Tel: 200 59818 Quizzes Cannon Bar quizzes are held on Tuesdays starting with a warm up, then two other quizzes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm, all welcome and prizes are given. Free entrance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapas served after the quiz.

The Lounge friendly quizzes take place on Sundays from 8pm right on the quayside at Queensway Quay.

Social Clubs Scots on the Rock: Any Scots visiting the Rock can contact Charles Polson (Tel: 200 78142) for assistance or information.

Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm. Examining Council, 3rd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm.

Por Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm.

Special Interest Clubs & Societies Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, John Mac Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome.

Gibraltar Philosophical Society devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Contact 54008426 (after 6pm) or email gibphilosophy@ live.co.uk for further information.

The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at 7.30pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc.

Harley Davidson Owners’ Club www.hdcgib. com UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108.

Creative Writers Group meet every Tuesday at the Eliott Hotel bar at 8pm. The workshop is run

by Carla, Tel: 54006696 and is aimed at learning to write fiction and non-fiction, for pleasure or publication. Each session is £5.00.

Sports Supporters Clubs The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check the game is televised. Great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For info call Mario on 56280000.

Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club meet on match days at the Casino Calpe (Ground Floor).

Gooners of all ages welcome. Tel: Bill 54010681 or Dion 56619000. Website: www.clubwebsite. co.uk/ArsenalGibraltarSC/.

Gibraltar Hammers meet on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or e-mail gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: 200 Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium.

Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to IBA & EBA) has leagues and training for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 200 44045 or Linda 200 74753.

Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at

a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727 or Kirsty (minis) 200 49441.

Billiards & Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) round leagues and competitions at various venues.

New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 200 72142 or Peter 200 77307.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory (200 75513 w, 200 42788 h).

Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls/boys of all ages. Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop classes at Victoria Stadium.

Recreational and competitive levels. Contact Gina: 58008338.

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket Association (member ICC) runs leagues/competitions at Europa Point/ Victoria Stadium. Junior/senior training. Tel: Tom 200 79461 or Adrian 200 44281.

Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF) mens/ladies/youth leagues/competitions.

Tel: Darren 54027171 “Secretary”, Dyson “Youth Rep” 54024149, Justin “President” 54022622 Email: info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association leagues/competitions for all ages October-May. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 200 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 200 41515, Junior Tel: Richard 58654000, Women’s Tel: Brian 200 52299. Recreational football for over 35s Tel: Richard 200 70320.

Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly. Tel: 200 79575 for tournament venues/dates. Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 200 78844.

Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/training for adults and juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730.

Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front.

Tel: Charlie 200 73116 or Peter 200 73225.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rd). Tel: Tony 200 79855 or club 200 47259.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradings and demos at Karate Clubhouse, 41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 200 48908.

Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211.

Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior / junior leagues. Tel: 200 41795 or 200 41874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: 200 70929.

Pilates: Monday & Wednesday 11-12am for beginners, and intermediate classes Monday & Wednesday 9:30-10:45am, at Shotokai Karate Centre. Contact Chantal: 60618882 or 60624275.

Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season. Tel: Linda 200 74753.

Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards, weekday evenings. For more information contact Sally Tel: 200 74661.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans.

Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct - April. Tel: James 200 72185 Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/ senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 200 48847.

Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (members FIPS-M & CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs participating.

Tel: Mario 200 72622 or Charlie 200 74337.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation (over 14s). Rifle, Europa Point range (Joe 200 74973); clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Fidel 200 71990).

Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller

what a page turner! www.thegibraltarmagazine.com

blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey training). Tel: Eric 200 70710 (after 5).

Snorkelling & Spear Fishing: Over 14s for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishing. Tel: Joseph 200 75020.

Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/coaching. Tel: 200 44922 or 200 73260.

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs.

Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 200 44606, Noah’s Dive Club Tel: Leslie 200 79601, 888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 200 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 7-8.45am, 12- 4pm, 8- 9pm. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo (Rebecca 200 72869).

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (members ITTA) training / playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Lizanne 200 45071/54020477 or Eugene 58014000.

Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: 200 Mari 44142.

Tai Chi: Children’s fun Tai Chi at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range, Saturdays 11-12am. Beginners Tuesdays & Thursdays at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre. 6.30-8pm. Adults £5, Children £2, all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or rocktaichi@traningtm.net Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 200 77035.

Ten-Pin Bowling: Ten-Pin Bowling takes place at King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day. To have a go call 200 77338 to reserve your lane. Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Contact Charly on 56014000 or Paul on 54029749.

Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (members ITU) Chris 200 75857 or Harvey 200 55847.

Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W & EVF) training, leagues, competitions for juniors/seniors. Tony 200 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000.

Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome.

Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street E-mail: gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 200 42237 www. geocities.com/gibdrama Trafalgar Theatre Group meet 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.

Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

golf news Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774.

A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church.

Mummy and Me Breastfeeding Support Group for mums who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat and support.

Partners and older children welcome. Meets first Wednesday of every month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm. Enquiries and support 54014517.

Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 6pm - 10pm.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge. Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial.

COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease day-to-day challenges of individuals, families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@ hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meet alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For info Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465.

Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August.

Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8 Serfaty’s Passage Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www. gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717.

Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service).

Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group for compulsive overeating problems. Tel: helpline for meetings info 200 42581.

Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren. Tel: Richard 200 46536, Jason 200 76618, Dominic 54019602.

Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. E-mail olivero@sapphirenet.gi With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/ widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities.

Tel: 54007181 or 200 79957.

Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hrs).

Religious Services Baha’i Faith Tel: 200 73287 www.gibnet. com/bahai email:bahai@gibraltar.gi Bethel Christian Fellowship Tel: 200 52002. Queensway. Sunday service 11am.

Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Tel: 200 78377. Sung Eucharist, Sunday 10.30am. Sunday School.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

Med Golf News

Med Golf members met for their monthly outing recently, this time on the popular Alcaidesa Golf Club, only 15 minutes from Gibraltar.

The event was a first win for a new Med Golf member, Kenny Maclean who won the O’Reillys Trophy and two green fees on the San Roque Old Course with overall score 42pts. Kenny also won the best team prize with Steve Munns, and best gross shooting 77 shots and longest.

To reward good scores for golfers of all levels there are three handicap categories. Winner of Category 1 (0-12 handicap) was Steve Munns 35 pts, runner up Mike Cowburn 34 pts.

Winner of Category 2 (13-21 handicap) was Chris Watkins 39pts, runner up Steve Cary 35pts. Runner up in category 3 (22+ handicap) was Geoff Slade 34pts and winner Freddie Poggio 34pts.

Med Golf has its own Facebook page where you can see photos from the competition day.

Simply search for ‘Med Golf’ or visit the website and navigate from there.

The top ten players at the end of the 2011-12 season in August will qualify for the Events.gi Med Golf Masters on San Roque Old Course on 1st September. Here are the current top 20.

Chris Watkins, Geoff Slade, Steve Munns, John Hunter, Tim Mitchell, Peter Warren, Steve Cary, Derren Vincent, Steve McEwan, Dave Pinniger, Russell Belesset, Denny To, Denis Lafferty, Douglas Casciaro, Martyn Sells, Joe Sanchez, Louis Calvente, Mike Cowburn, Jim Dickson, Javi Hunter. n For full schedule and the benefits of joining Med Golf for £59 per year, visit www.medgolfgroup.com or contact Johnathan Goodson on mobile 56001055 or by e-mail at jg@medgolf.gi

BFBS — Big Salute Captain’s Day BFBS Radio and Television actively raise funds for the BFBS Big Salute — a collection of five Forces Charities, including BLESMA, Combat Stress, Blind Veterans UK, Families Activity Breaks and Veterans Aid. Throughout the year, in the UK, and in overseas military locations, staff, listeners and viewers organise and take part in a variety of events.

For over a decade, BFBS Gibraltar has held an annual fund-raiser on the Costa del Sol, which has seen huge support from residents of the Rock and nearby Spain. This year, the BFBS Big Salute Captain’s Day at Estepona Golf Club is on Saturday 14th July.

Up to 18 teams tee off for a 9am shotgun

Saints Suite 21a Don House, 30-38 Main Street. Tel: 200 50433. Sundays 10am.

Church of Scotland St Andrew’s, Governor’s Pde. Tel: 200 77040. Worship & Sunday School 10.30am. Bible Study Tues 7.30pm.

Evangelical Bretheren Assembly, Queensway Quay. Sun 11am, Tues Bible Study 6pm, Thurs Prayer Meeting 6pm.

Hindu Engineer’s Lane Tel: 200 42515.

Jehovah’s Witness 6 Europort Avenue

start, in the 4-ball Texas scramble. There are prizes to be won on the course, and back at the clubhouse in the Grand Raffle, and the competition is open to everyone.

It costs €70 per person to take part, which includes a bacon sandwich and coffee on arrival, green fees, buggy, and a barbecue lunch on the terrace after the morning’s golf. n For more information, and to register and pay for your teams of 4, go to BFBS in Rooke, call 2005 5389, or email gib@bfbs.com.

Tel: 200 50186.

Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 200 72606.

Methodist 297 Main St Tel/Fax 200 40870 email minister@methodist.org.gi Minister: Revd Fidel Patron. Sunday 11am Morning Worship, 8pm Evening Service. Prayer meetings Monday+ Wednesday to Friday 7pm and Tuesdays 8pm. Communion celebrated on 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings of the month, and other special occasions.

Alpha Course: held Thursdays 8pm.

House Groups meet for Christian fellowship, prayer and study on a regular basis Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Sunday School meets Sunday mornings alongside morning worship.

Roman Catholic Cathedral St Mary the Crowned, 215 Main St Tel: 200 76688.

The Cityline Church 13 Castle St Tel: 200 75755 email: citylinegib@yahoo. com. Meet: Tues 8pm, Sundays 11am.

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information

T

he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered of great conservational value. It’s the perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa. Botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants, including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall.

A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used. A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide.

The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it!

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to anyone who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. Sgt. Major Ince suggested tunnelling and there are over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside.

The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock’s many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays information on the development of Gibraltar’s military defences through the ages.

A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one of the earliest British building on the Rock.

Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726.

The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad (“Gibraltar” is a corruption of the Arabic words “Jebel Tarik” - Tarik’s mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu’l Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain.

Emergency Services Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance.........................Tel: 190 Police................................. Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number.................Tel: 112 Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station....... Tel: 200 75728 Police............................. Tel: 200 72500 Emergency Nos: Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598

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Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain.

Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking.

Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction).

Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock’s major features in a short time.

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends.

Bicycle Racks Bicycle parking is provided at the following locations: Europort Road, Casemates Tunnel, Land Port Ditch, Fish Market Road, Commonwealth Car Park, Reclamation Road (by English Steps) + Line Wall Road. Gibibikes is a scheme for public use of bikes taken from stations around the Rock. Visit www.gibibikes.gi for info.

Public Holidays 2012

Gibraltar & United Kingdom *Gibraltar only New Year’s Day Monday 2nd January Commonwealth Day Monday 12th March* Good Friday Friday 6th April Easter Monday Monday 9th April Workers Memorial Day Monday 30th April* May Day Tuesday 1st May Spring Bank Holiday Monday 4th June Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tuesday 5th June Queen’s Birthday Monday 18th June Late Summer BH Monday 27th August Gib National Day Monday 10th September* Christmas Day Tuesday 25th December Boxing Day Wednesday 26th December

History Alive Every Saturday morning the Rock’s past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a “Ceremony of the Keys” and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.

Bus Routes & Timetables

Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. Narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a unique sandwich of armour plate/ teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’.

Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel. 200 44460, P. Hodkinson Tel. 200 43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Closed 1pm - 2pm.

Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Rd, 9am - 7pm daily (free).

Business Information

Financial Serv. Commission Tel: 200 40283/4 Chamber of Commerce. . . . Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business . Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry. . . . . . . . Tel: 200 78193

Useful Numbers

Airport (general info.) . . . . . Tel: 200 73026 Hospital, St Bernards . . . . . Tel: 200 79700 Weather information. . . . . . . . . Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update. . . . Tel: 200 42777 Gibraltar Museum Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane open 10am-6pm (Sat. 10am-2pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Exhibitions also at Casemates gallery.

The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, 1st Floor 113 Main Street, Gibraltar.

Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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atural History & Heritage Park admission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites - St. Michael’s Cave, Monkey’s Den, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre, ‘A City Under Siege’ Exhibition and Moorish Castle). Facilities closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adults £10, children 5-12 years: £5, children age under 4 free, vehicles £2. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times, tours available by taxi/mini bus. Also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm MonSun. Last cable down: 5.45pm). 50p per person to walk with no entrance tickets.

Registry Office Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon.

Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as offering normal fares, taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa

GibiBikes Locations

• Frontier • Victoria Stadium • Waterport Road (Watergardens) • Waterport Road (Waterport Terraces) • Eurotowers • Reclamation Road (Leisure Centre) • Commonwealth Parade Car Park • Rosia Road (Jumpers building) • Rosia Road (Bayview Terraces) • Grand Parade Car Park (Cable Car) • Southport Gates (Ince’s Hall) • Line Wall Road (City Hall) • Line Wall Road (Orange Bastion) • Market Place • Eastern Beach Road (coming soon) • Catalan Bay (viewing platform) • St Joseph’s School • Europa Point • Rosia Parade www.gibibikes.gi

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2012

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