The Gibraltar Magazine - November 2015

November 2015 Vol. 21 # 01 FREE

Lifetime in Journalism - Peter Schirmer Literary Festival GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE & NOVEMBER 2015 - Literature Culture

Going Book Mad - Financially & otherwise

Behind the Politics - Poggio & Picardo

Dangers of Sugar - Kicking the habit

Gibraltar Day 2015 - Report from London3

2015

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editor’s note

NOVEMBER ISSUE T

his month, in preparation for the annual Gibraltar Literary Festival, we delved into the world of reading, writing and literature.

Even in a world of developing technology, Internet distractions and shortened attention spans, reading books is of utmost importance. It helps to develop focus, vocabulary, imagination, knowledge and understanding. Putting together this issue, we asked locals what their favourite books were and got back a lovely variety of completely individual answers. Not only do reading preferences vary with each person but also no two people ever read the same book. Thankfully, as Sally and Tony, the Literary Festival organisers told us (p. 5355), the chosen line up of authors spans very many genres.

In October, the Gibraltar Magazine team travelled to cold London. Amidst visiting friends, catching improv shows and degusting the great range of vegan food, including sushi in Soho (a first for Nicole!), I experienced my first Gibraltar Day in London, a flagship Government reception that brings together over a thousand locals and friends of Gibraltar. Check out pages 28-31 for Nicole’s evaluation of the three-day event. We took the opportunity to sit down with Albert Poggio, Gibraltar’s representative in London, to talk about

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some of his political run-ins during his time at Gibraltar House (p. 32-35). Whilst in London, Joe Brugada and Anselmo Torres unveiled their self designed Rock of Gibraltar monument, in memory of all the Gibraltarians that fought and died in the two World Wars (p. 12).

In the Business section this month, Ian explores the roles of books and writing in the business world (p. 21–23), Eran and Ayelet of Benefit Business Solutions discuss Gibraltar’s ranking in the Global Financial Centres Index, that ranks the leading financial centres around the world (p. 26-27).

Our cover star, journalist Peter Schirmer has lived in Gibraltar for over fifteen years, writing for a host of publications on the Rock. We documented his incredibly lengthy career, from the Fleet Street of the 1960s, to buying a quaint hill (!) in Cortes de la Frontera (p. 42-45). Chief Minister Fabian Picardo this month tells us about his childhood, the opening of the frontier, and what books he was into as a teenager (p. 37-39). Local authors Philip Vasquez (p. 40-41) and Rebecca Faller talk to Nicole about their books and the writing process they went through. Rebecca sparks an interesting debate about where all the light-hearted, funny, girly novels

disappeared (p. 46-49).

Alexandra Caruana touches on the dangers of sugar, and its healthier alternatives (p. 78-81), Fashion columnist Alex Orfila teaches us about transitioning our outfits from the office to a night out, and the vampy winter trends that dominated recent Fashion Weeks (p. 65-68). Serial traveller Sophie Clifton-Tucker looks back on her time in Tokyo, comparing basic Japanese language to llanito (p. 69-73).

Those who claim you only have one life to live, must never have read a good book...

I hope that this issue will help you take up a newfound interest in literature, or, you rekindle an old love of reading. The Literary Fest happening from 12th to the 15th of November might be a good way to start!

Anna

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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contents November 2015 Vol. 21 # 01 FREE

8 NEWS 15 Adopt a dog 16 Around Town 18 Hello there: Favourite Books

FINANCE, BUSINESS, PROPERTY 21 24 26 28

Going Book Mad - Books; financial and otherwise Trusting Money - What do you know about it?

Ranking Gibraltar - Urban Services Here, Here! - Gibraltar Day in London 2015

LIFE

Lifetime in Journalism - Peter Schirmer

Going Book Mad - Financially & otherwise

Behind the Politics - Poggio & Picardo

Literary Festival - Literature & Culture

Dangers of Sugar - Kicking the habit

Gibraltar Day 2015 - Report from London3

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

21#01 November 2015: Peter Schirmer © DM Parody www.dotcom.gi/photos

Contributing writers: : Ian Le Breton, Callie Lombard, Eran Shay, Ayelet Mamo Shay, Mike Brufal, Elena Scialtiel, Alex Orfila, Sophie Clifton-Tucker, Alexandra Caruana, Andrew Licudi.

The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Rock Publishing Ltd Portland House, Suite 4, Glacis Road, Gibraltar T: (+350) 20077748 | E: info@thegibraltarmagazine.com Copyright © 2015 Rock Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine.

www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com

Magazine & website archived by the British Library

@gibmag

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The quality of a magazine reflects on the businesses that advertise within it. The Gibraltar Magazine is Gibraltar’s quality magazine packed with great, readable content. We don’t have pushy sales people, so get in touch if you have a business or strategy to promote in Gibraltar. We will explain your options within your budget and help you with artwork if you need us to. We are passionate about what we do and about our home, Gibraltar.

! GET INVOLVED

If you are an artist with an exhibition, or a club or charity with an event coming up, we’d love to hear from you. This is a community magazine and there is no VIP area. Everyone is welcome to contribute so drop a line, send an email or phone us.

! GET IN TOUCH

We’d love to hear from you. Sometimes we get a bit lonely in our office, and we like to get letters, phone calls and emails with your feedback and photos. We might even publish the best so keep them coming. This is your magazine so get involved.

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Political Encounters - Albert Poggio Behind the Title - Fabian Picardo Attending Youniversity - Guiding students A Lifetime in Journalism - Peter Schirmer Penchant for Prose - Rebecca Faller Naval History - Professor Andrew Lambert

SCENE 53 56 60 62

Literary Festival 2015 - Bridging literature & culture Bringing my travels alive - Gianni Cumbo exhibition Estonian Aesthetics - Estonian Artist Mart Rannast ‘Ukey Dokey’ - Music for your ears

LEISURE 65 69 75 78 82 84

Night & Day - Fashion Tremendous Tokyo - Travel Ever Expanding - Eroski Center Gibraltar Dangers of Sugar - Health Recipes: Roasted Vegetables & Parkin Cake The Wine Advocate - Who cares what critics say...

86 Guides and Information 98 Coffee Time and Schedules Editor: Anna Kolesnik anna@thegibraltarmagazine.com Head Journalist: Nicole Macedo nicole@thegibraltarmagazine.com Distribution: Jordan Brett jordan@thegibraltarmagazine.com Accounts: Paul Cox paul@thegibraltarmagazine.com

Email: info@thegibraltarmagazine.com Tel: 200 77748

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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news

NEW GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED

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ith the role of Governor of Gibraltar currently being temporarily filled

by Alison MacMillan, the Foreign Office has officially pointed Sir James Dutton’s successor. Lieutenant-General Edward Davis CB CBE has formerly held the roles of; Commanding Officer of the Special Boat Services, Chief of Assurance in NATO Headquarters Afghanistan, Chief of Staff of UK Special Forces and Deputy Commander of NATO Land Forces in the

rank of Lieutenant General.

With a colourful military background, Lieutenant-General Edward Davis will take up his appointment in early 2016.

His wife, Lorraine Davis will make the move with him. Four of the last previous Governors have come from the Royal Marines, maintaining a proud longstanding relationship between Gibraltar and the Royal Marines.

OCEAN SPA PLAZA ANNOUNCEMENT

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Ocean Village’s newest development, Ocean Spa Plaza has recently seen all 125 of its luxury apartment offering sold, ahead of the commencement of any works on the site. The building, to be placed in the car park facing Royal Ocean Plaza and Tradewinds, will be made up of one- two- and three-bedroom apartments, and a seven level car park. A sweeping green wall with a supporting ecosystem of insects, birds and other wildlife will make up 70% of the façade. Swift boxes will also be added to the roof. Presidential Penthouses will make up the seventeenth storey, with panoramic views available to all in the oval structure. A select number of garden apartments are also available on the eighth floor. All will be equipped with chef-calibre kitchens, opulent bathrooms with walk-in showers and natural wood flooring throughout.

New parking spaces will allow both residents and members of the public to leave their cars in the area. Sales & Marketing Manager for Ocean Village Karen Houston says that Ocean Spa Plaza perfectly meets the need for more luxury accommodation in Ocean Village. The ‘Spa’ element of Ocean Spa Plaza is found at the upper roof Sky Spa with Jacuzzis, an infinity pool, massage beds, cascading waterfalls, hydro showers, anti-cellulite massage, sauna and steam rooms available.

The building will also have retail and commercial space available on the ground floor. Ocean Spa Plaza is likely to be the last ‘off-plan project at Ocean Village’.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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news

PATRICIA DARCH LAUNCHES NATUZZI IN GIBRALTAR

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ibraltar based Interior designers Patricia Darch this month launched their new range of products, the chic, Italian Natuzzi line offering beautifully sleek leather furniture, with particular focus on chairs and sofas. The launch of the line in Gibraltar brought together a gathering of loyal Patricia Darch clients at La Sala Gibraltar, offering canapés, drinks and an insight into the new brand. ‘Natuzzi is a very important Italian make,’ Patricia explained, ‘people in Gibraltar love Natuzzi but have had to travel to La Cañada and then deliver it themselves. This is a way of getting anything they want to their door.’ She added, ‘We’re thrilled to have the contract, and absolutely delighted to launch it in Gibraltar.’

Patricia Darch, known for her quirkly, clean style has been situated on the Ocean Village promenade, in Gibraltar, for four years. ‘We sell absolutely everything, from Fendi to Cavalli. We also do more economic packages for first time home buyers.’ Chief Minister Fabian Picardo showed his support for the launch, insisting that he himself was a Natuzzi fan. The entire showroom has seen an overhaul since the launch of the brand.

The line, also offers bedroom furniture,

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accessories, tables, lamps, and the chic ‘Re-live’ recliner that specializes in comfort and functionality. ‘There really is something for everyone,’ Patricia explains, ‘decorative items, presents for Christmas, cushions.’ Having worked through a variation of different companies during her thirty years of working in interior design, Patricia started up her own business in Sotogrande. ‘I also offer rental schemes for people who don’t have a big budget or to furnish a holiday home.’

Patricia praised the response she’d received in Gibraltar noting that she had great staff. ‘I have two girls who run the showroom, Leanne and Marta, and between them, they are designers and architects. We can even offer renovation packages when people want new kitchens or bathrooms.’ The event was hugely successful with a brilliant turnout of customers from Sotogrande and the Rock.

Patricia is also looking to target first time homebuyers. She explained that with all the new buildings going up on the Rock, they would love to be able to help out with special arrangements and credit terms. She adds that there is barely any change in taste between her Spanish and Gibraltarian customers, noting that perhaps the preference here is only slightly more British. ‘In general, contemporary is what’s winning, everyone’s asking for it. Shabby chic is definitely out, dark wood furniture is out, painted furniture is definitely out. People are asking for simple, clean lines and very neutral colours.

We like a look that will last forever, and Natuzzi falls into the category of fabulous quality for an excessive price.’

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

news

GIBRALTAR PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY TH 50 ANNIVERSARY COMPETITION The Gibraltar Photographic Society’s Annual Competitive Exhibition was held between 28th September and 16th October. Minister for Culture, Steven Linares carried out the opening at the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery.

Prizes were awarded to Leslie Linares in the category of Monochrome Individual Prints, Paul Lawford for his submission for Monochrome Panels of Three Prints, Debra Coleman in the category of Beginners Individual Prints, Inma Torres in the category of Beginners Panels of Three Prints, Ana Bray for her Colour Individual Prints and Stephen Hermida for his Colour Panels of Three prints and submission for the Open Digital Section. Jacob GarrettDennis came first in the Junior Digital Section, Arthur Harper took a prize for his submission to the Human Condition category and Vera Francis won Most Original Photograph. The Overall Winning Image was submitted by Ana Bray. Brian Curtis won Beginner of the Year and

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2015

Mabelle Imossi won Photographer of the Year.

Almost 400 images were submitted; with internationally acclaimed Cardiff based professional Photographer Richard Dutkowski judging the competition. For the first time, two categories were open

to non Society Members. Ana Bray’s first place ‘Bittersweet Dream’ image was awarded the newly inaugurated Arturo Harper Trophy. During his time in Gibraltar the adjudicator gave a presentation on himself and his professional work for over 30 years and hosted two Portrait Master classes.

© Derek Booth

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GIBRALTAR MEMORIAL MONUMENT UNVEILED IN UK

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aving visited the UK’s National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffordshire, last October, Gibraltarian Joe Brugada was struck by the absence of any recognition of Gibraltar’s military service. ‘The British inhabitants of Gibraltar served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and virtually our entire civilian population was evacuated from the Rock from 1940 to 1945. We were ostensibly evacuated for our safety, and placed in central London, not the safest place on the planet during WWII! Many died there, but we stoically settled in and the majority of us survived to tell the tale and reclaim our Rock.

This dramatic and traumatic experience cemented the links of an entire population,’ Joe explains. He took the decision to Anselmo working on clay model

months working closely with Anselmo on the design. Joe praises the enthusiastic support of various Government Technical and administrative departments, private companies, and the Royal Airforce Gibraltar, who consented to airlifting a 3-ton block of Gibraltar Limestone to RAF Brize Norton on a C140 Hercules transport aircraft.

The monument’s front panel carries the Royal Gibraltar Regiment motto “NULLI EXPUGNABILIS HOSTI” meaning ‘we shall never be expelled’. The rear panel carries the names of those Gibraltarians who died in armed conflict in the two World Wars. It denotes by rank achieved, the determination, loyalty and qualities Joe Brugada with Anselmo Torres

necessary to have served in specialist units, and the diverse theatres of war Gibraltarians were engaged in. The side panels carry an ‘ancient history of the Rock’ and ‘Gibraltar’s key role in WWII’.

The Government of Gibraltar’s coat of arms can be seen on the front panel.

The unveiling occurred on October 13th in the presence of the Gibraltarian press, Employment Minister Neil Costa, ex Gibraltar Governors Sir James Dutton and Sir Adrian Johns, Monsignor Charlie Azzopardi, Regiment Major Marcellino Sanguinetti and Chair of the Royal British Legion Gibraltar Branch Momy Levy. The monument stands proudly in front of the UK Armed Forces Memorial.

approach the Chief Minister with the concept of a potential monument that would hopefully be put on display at the Arboretum.

With over 300 monuments, the Arboretum is the UK’s Centre of National Remembrance; it holds over 200 events a year and receives thousands of visitors a month. Having enlisted creative designer Anselmo Torres to help him with his mission, Joe delivered the application to then Deputy Curator of the Arboretum, for consideration at the next Memorial & Landscape Committee meeting on the 20th January 2015. He received the go ahead in February and spent the next eleven 12

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

news

GIBRALTAR HEALTH AUTHORITY TO OFFER CHEMOTHERAPY

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he GHA recently announced the addition of chemotherapy treatment to their services. Many Gibraltar based patients are forced to travel to either Spain or the UK to receive cancer treatment, and in an effort to make the process significantly easier; patients will soon be able to have their treatment carried out at St. Bernard’s Hospital.

Benalmadena’s Xanit Hospital will provide clinical input and will work in collaboration with GHA professionals including oncologists and specialised nurses. As from early next year patients requiring chemotherapy will be able to receive this in Gibraltar, in a purpose built suite, in the company of their relatives, without the trauma of a journey out of Gibraltar.

Health Minister Dr. Cortes fought tirelessly to provide this service to locals. The clinic will be made up of four treatment points.

Opening September 2016 Prior Park School, Gibraltar will be the fourth school to join the Prior Park Schools’ community and the first independent, Catholic senior school in Gibraltar.

We will open for Years 8 through to 10 in September 2016, Years 11 and 12 in 2017 with full senior school provision from 2018.

For further information, including details of how to register your child, please visit our website.

I look forward to welcoming your child to the Prior Park family.

Peter Watts Headmaster, Prior Park School, Gibraltar

An Education for Life GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

www.priorparkgibraltar.com Find us on social media: priorparkschoolgibraltar

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around town

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Photos by Mike Brufal

he rainy wintery months have officially set in, meaning events and receptions have started to move inside.

One of the biggest evenings of the Gibraltar calendar year, Gibraltar Day in London was hosted in October at the magnificent Guildhall in the centre of the City. The evening reception brought together Gibraltarians still living on the Rock, those who moved away from the Rock, important UK military and Political figures, Gibraltarian Students and friends of Gibraltar.

Minister Sacramento with the legendary MP Andrew Rosindell

Minister for Health Dr Cortes and wife

Maurice Xiberras - former leader of the Opposition

Jack Lapresti, Alison MacMillan

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

around town

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ibraltarians flocked to the UK for another landmark event this month, an exhibition of works by the hugely in demand Gibraltarian artist Christian Hook, at the Clarendon Gallery.

Many of the paintings carried out by Christian on the Sky Arts television programmes were on display including Sir Ian Mckellna, Fabrice Muamba, Sue Johnson and Mick Hucknell.

Laurence Isola & Joey Garcia Nick Vasquez

Christian Hook

Mr and Mrs Hook in front of Fabrice Muambo

Rachel Simkiss, Clarendon Gallery Director

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hello there

Cathy Gomila, 31 Receptionist, Deloitte

Abby Homewood, 26 Accounts Manager, Fiduciary Management

Rebecca Faller, 46 Writer & Poet

An Angel Called My Name by Theresa Cheung: I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it had a collection of real life dramas that everyone can relate to during their lives & these encounters were truly inspiring.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini: It opened up the world of reading again for me. I don’t really know why I had stopped and my sister gave me this book and said, “Abs you have to read this” so I did and I was totally transfixed for three days!!

The Sea The Sea by Iris Murdock : Finding an old flame, mixed with escapism, realism and some supernatural elements. A beautifully crafted old school novel, one of her best.

WHAT IS YOUR

Georgina Jesty, 61 Manager, Terry’s

Yvonne Richardson, 57 Receptionist, John Macintosh Library

Kimberley Pecino, 25 Library Manager, JMH

White Death by Clive Cussler: I enjoy the adventure/thriller genre and Clive Cussler is the best author character.

White Fang by Jack London: When I was younger I was an animal lover. This book helped me get to know the way animals work.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman: I’ve read it about 20 times from when I was 12 years old, I feel like the characters are my family & it was the first book that literally moved me to tears & still does.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

hello there

Ian Hulliday, 16 Student, Bayside Comprehensive

Joshua William Quinn, 25 Admin, NP Estates

Chris Tavarez, 26 Research Assistant, Gibraltar Garrison Library

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: It’s a brilliantly written fantasy, very intriguing. I highly recommend it, amazing read.

Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien:

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: I like McCarthy’s style of prose which is so brutal, blunt and unmistakably his. Combined with the imagery he presents which turns the Western into something darker and more subversive.

The Fellowship of the Ring (alongside the rest of the trilogy) is my favourite book due to it being highly imaginative. It is the ultimate tale of good versus evil, and of how even the smallest thing can make the biggest difference.

FAVOURITE BOOK?

Karim Corby, 28 Designer, ITEK

Albert Freyone, 49 Managing Director, Green Is In Ltd

Daniel Feetham, 48 Politician, Gibraltar Social Democrats

A Song of Ice & Fire by George R.R. Martin: The Series got me engaged in the books, I love how Martin gets inside the characters heads and switches between styles and essentially gets in multiple peoples heads.

The Day After Roswell by Philip Corso: The idea that most of our technologies, like fibre optics comes from reverse engineering from recovered alien space crafts fascinates me. In particular the infamous crash in 1947 in New Mexico.

Shardlake series by CJ Sansom Brilliantly written historical mystery series set in Tudor times. C J Sansom has created a world so realistic that, as soon as you begin reading, you are back in that era and he keeps you in suspense until the very end.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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business, finance, property words | Ian Le Breton

GOING BOOK MAD Books – financial and otherwise

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the weather will be kind, so that Gibraltar visit to Captain Drinkwater’s 1793 Library he whole of Gibraltar goes “book alone had made the trip worthwhile. and its local businesses can enjoy all the mad” at this time of year. In midmonth we welcome benefits that come from the third Gibunco hosting such a festival, But enough of the festival itself. “...we are in for “Why do books with venues full and lots International Literary Festival Why do books and writing in another bookish of “fringe” events taking and writing in to Gibraltar. Having attended a general mean so much for busitreat this year.” general mean place all over the Rock. number of the lectures myself ness? Given the development so much for last year, I am sure we are in for of 24-hour rolling news and a business?” another bookish treat this year. Consider One cannot put a price on the seemingly insatiable appetite the impressive line-up of speakers and value of the wider publicity for streaming video and so on, their topics and it’s not hard to see why is there still a place for the written word, that these fairs generate. And this one the excitement is mounting. articles, pamphlets and books? comes hot on the heels of the enormously successful Gibraltar Music Festival, which raised our profile yet again in the The forthcoming events set me to thinking Well, yes. In my own role, I am responUK national press and beyond. For the about books, naturally, in a financial sense. sible for much of the written content literary event in particular, we The festival itself is now in its Sovereign sends out to its clients, contacts are able to show third year and is conveniently and colleagues worldwide. “...every flight I off our distincheld in November when the Much of this is in the form take to Gibraltar “How do you hotels and flights are less full tive facilities, not of – dare I say it? – somewhat seems totally full – least the Garrison make a Gibraltar of summer tourists. Having dry marketing materials; I and I’m travelling company structure mean one does one’s best, but Library. At one of said that, I must say that every a lot these days.” sound, well, sexy?” how do you make a Gibraltar the lectures in the flight I take to Gibraltar seems Library last year, a totally full – and I’m travelcompany structure sound, well, lady informed me that she had had no idea sexy? And even when the subject name ling a lot these days. Nevertheless, it’s a perfect time of year to visit. Hopefully, about Gibraltar’s literary heritage but that a has a faintly salacious whiff to it – say, a

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bareboat charter – the reality is simply a form of yacht rental agreement. It is much more interesting for the author to start with an “idea” that will hopefully morph into an absorbing, coherent article – just like the one you are struggling to get through now, dear reader.

“There is, in short, more requirement than ever for written material and this demand is emanating from a growing, more informed, media savvy global audience. ”

There is, in short, more requirement than ever for written material and this demand is emanating from a growing, more informed, media savvy global audience. This is why I cringe when I read some of the tragic efforts of the younger generation for whom the simple rules of writing seem to have been ignored – or not taught them in the first

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place. Misplaced apostrophes and “would of” instead of “would have” are just two of my bugbears, but don’t let me get started down that route.

around but I seem to have been cured.

Curling up in front of the fire with a good e-reader or tablet may not have the same romance to it but, for me, this is more then outweighed by the convenience of being able to “pack” a large collection of books on a single, lightweight electronic device that will fit inside a generous coat pocket.

Of course, books don’t need to be the lengthy tomes one finds in the Garrison Library, still less is there any requirement “We used to drive for a physia converted ice cal sheaf of pages to be cream van to various bound together. Consider outlying island the range of e-readers parishes and wait for available these days. the locals to turn up It took me quite some to “do their banking”.” time to lose the habit of carrying a weighty book

Having said that, I have not been able to kick my long-standing newspaper habit completely.

Although I read one of the main UK dailies online, I still get a kick from turning the pages of a daily paper too. All of this is music to a publisher’s ears as more and more material is made available – and in most cases paid for.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

with these concepts in more detail in a ing-in book and she went away delighted.

In my former life as a banker, our lives future column, but protecting your work, Good customer service never seemed so were dominated by books – mainly of the whether it’s in the form of easy. financial variety. When I started lending the bank’s money to “So, is there money writing or any other creative medium, should be one of your corporate clients, it was So, is there money to be to be made in this “Protecting your first considerations – and it always on the basis that made in this ever increasever increasing work ... should be ing lexicon of books and might just be one of the best the books balanced and lexicon of books financial decisions you will ever one of your first showed a good picture other writing? Certainly and other writing?” make. (they didn’t always but there is, and not just from considerations then I’m not an accounthe blockbuster novel.

– and it might tant). My lending – as just be one of the Most of the bookshops that I visit have So yes, dear reader, I shall be fully supportmuch of my work is still ing the forthcoming literary festival and I spawned all manner of new sections best financial done to this day – was encourage anyone who did not participate that far exceed the “regular” categodecisions you will based on the person and ries – fiction, non-fiction and perhaps a during the previous two years to book at ever make.” my impression of them least a couple of the lectures. There is a few others – that I remember from my rather than concentratplenty of choice and you won’t need to schooldays. Some have whole departing solely on “the financials”. However the break the bank because ticket costs are ments dedicated to the technological age ability though to read through a company’s and beyond. Perhaps not coincidentally, very modest. books – say, the balance sheet and P&L you also find a plethora of self-help titles account – is another life skill I think we ranging from the obvious “teach yourself” Goodbye and good reading. should teach all our children. variety through to all sorts of weird and wonderful therapies for various conditions or maladies, many of which are completely But in my early career, I came across other unknown to me. types of books. Back in the early ‘eighties, one of my first jobs was to manage the only mobile bank in Jersey. We used to It is easy to see why a best-selling author drive a converted ice cream van to various might be an attractive client for a financial Ian Le Breton outlying island parishes and wait for the services company such as Sovereign, but is Managing Director locals to turn up to “do their banking”. One there are many other “authors” (software of Sovereign Trust day, a most confused elderly lady came on code writers, for example) whose work (Gibraltar) Limited board and demanded to know what books should be protected. Simple copyright I had to offer; she was convinced she had rules date back to The Statute of Anne in Tel: +350 200 76173 come aboard the local mobile library. It 1710 but a whole industry now surEmail: ilebreton@ took some time for me to convince her rounds the protection of anything termed SovereignGroup.com otherwise. In the end, I gave her a pay“intellectual property”. I shall be dealing GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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finance words | Callie Lombard, Chief Country Officer, Barclays

TRUSTING MONEY What do you know about money, income & wealth?

T

an economic profit. Not a profit, an ecohis is the month of the Gibunco 1000 BC that accounts for 19 letters of nomic profit. An economic profit is also an Literary festival and like islands our Alphabet, their shapes, alphabetical of archipelago, Gibraltarians will sequence and their sounds. Quite intereconomic term for the monetary costs and have the opportunity to explore, estingly, the Phoenicians was not a unified the opportunity costs of a company and the revenue that the company derives, or discover and appreciate each of the liternation, but rather a grouping of indealternatively expressed an economic profit = ary genres. Each with its own mystique pendent port cities, linked by a common total revenue - (explicit costs + implicit costs). and charm, yet conveying their message language, religion and self-interest. As through the employwith the Alphabet and its reason for Without belabouring, there is a distinct difment and arrangement existence, there is someference between an economic “Have you ever profit and an accounting profit. of something which thing of ancient origin that thought where “Money should To conclude, the factors of we take for granted – we use in our daily lives letters come from, not be confused production, of which there are letters. The letters of the or even how they which we take for granted with income four, are natural resources (or Alphabet. The heroes in – money. got their shapes, or wealth for any literary endeavour. land); labour; capital and entretheir assigned these are usually preneurship. Natural resources What do you know about sounds or the measures that and labour are sometimes called Have you ever wonmoney, even before consequence in the are expressed in primary factors of production, dered where letters sidering its origin? Maybe monetary terms.” whilst capital and entrepreneurcome from, or even how Alphabet?” in answering the question ship are called secondary factors they got their shapes, you should consider what of production. their assigned sounds or the sequence money is not. Money is not a factor of proin the Alphabet? There is, of course, a duction, though some incorrectly consider Money should not be confused with story behind each letter, but we will not it to be just that. A factor of production income or wealth for these are usually go into that much detail. Although the is an economic term that describes the Alphabet was invented in Egypt around inputs that are used in the production of measures that are expressed in monetary 2000 BC, it is the Phoenician Alphabet of goods or services in the quest for realising terms, for instance in Pounds and Pence.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

finance Income is considered the reward earned in the production process, whilst wealth consists of assets that have been accumulated over time. It is evident from this clarification why there is the confusion that money is income or wealth.

“The main functions of money are as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value and a standard of deferred payment.”

The main functions of money are as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value and a standard of deferred payment. As a medium of exchange, money is anything that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services or that is accepted in the settlement of debt. In a money that can merely go out and buy economy, the prices of all “If you want a house. We simply do not have goods and services are exto purchase the money. To buy a house is thus pressed in monetary terms, something, you considered a future commitment. which is essentially the enquire as to its So, we need to agree on a price unit of account. If you, for price, which will (its price in Pounds and Pence) for example, want to purchase the house and then have to use a something you enquire as to tell you if you are financial intermediary to lend us its price, which will tell you able to afford it...” the money at a specified interif you are able to afford it est rate. Money is then also the or not and also if the price means by which credit is granted. is a competitive one. As a store of value, there is a tendency in society to hold wealth (also called ‘surplus production’) in An aspect of intrigue for me when consome form or another, normally, in its most sidering money is just how it exemplifies liquid form – money. This allows for it to people’s ultimate trust in each other, yet be easily exchanged for goods and services as individuals we tend to be reluctant to trust others. What do I mean? In the very when the opportunity or desire arises. An beginning, even before money, goods were intermediary in this process is of course bartered or exchanged. You could well the bank, which provides for the surplus of imagine the logistical problems that arose production to be directed to other which from such interaction. To overcome this desire it to fulfil a certain need or desire. challenge coins Associated with the store of value, money originated. It is also serves as a standard of deferred “There are very said that around payment. In other words, money is the few of us that can 700 BC, the oldmeasure of value for future payments. merely go out and Consider that you intend to borrow money est known coins buy a house... To were created on to buy a house. There are very few of us

“Around 700 BC,

the Greek island of Aegina, the oldest known one of the Saronic Islands, 27 kilometres from Athens. coins were created on the Greek These coins were usually island of Aegina.” gold. So, if you exchanged your goods or provided services you received gold coins, which you could use to acquire other goods or services. Yet today, we do not receive gold for our goods or services, but either paper money or even electronic (virtual) transfer of money.

buy a house is thus considered a future commitment. ”

“We trust that by accepting money from one individual, it will again be accepted from us by another individual. So, everyone trusts the other.”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

And here my intrigue, why do we accept it?

Essentially, we accept it for we trust that someone else will accept it. So, individually, we all trust one another, since we are no longer on the gold standard which means that the money we hold is not linked to a fixed quantity of gold. There is nothing underlying its value. We trust that by accepting money from one individual, it will again be accepted from us by another individual. So, everyone trusts the other.

Where else in life does this happen, except maybe at our religious places of worship?

I leave you with a parting thought, I remember it as if it was yesterday: a little shop in the village that I grew up, where the very old shop owner had a big sign on the wall behind his cash register. The sign in large bold black letters read: In God I trust, everyone else pays cash.

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business words | Eran Shay & Ayelet Mamo Shay Benefit Business Solutions Ltd

RANKING GIBRALTAR Looking at the latest Global Financial Centres Index and what it means for us...

For several years now, the London based Z/Yen Group publishes the “Global Financial Centres Index” that ranks the leading financial centres around the world. Published twice a year, in March and September, the Index compares the competitiveness of 83 financial centres by looking at attributes such as business environment (regulation, corruption, legal system), human capital, taxation, infrastructure, reputation and financial sector development. Gibraltar appears both in the overall index and also in the Offshore Centres sub-index. Tracking Gibraltar’s ranking position over the last four years, from September 2010 to September 2015 26

shows that while London, New York, Hong -Kong and Singapore dominate the Top 4 places, Gibraltar’s ranking has been somewhat more volatile, but has improved sig-

nificantly since 2013, rising from the 70th place to the 45th place in March 2015 and slipping down to 56th place in September 2015, as shown by the chart below:

Gibraltar's Ranking on the Global Financial Centres Index Index Sep-10 40

Mar-11

Sep-11

Mar-12

Sep-12

Mar-13

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

40

50

45 53 55

55 60

60

70 70

80

Sep-15

45

50

Index Ranking

T

he Gibraltar Day in London is Gibraltar’s opportunity to showcase its finance centre at the world’s premier financial hub.

We like to think of Gibraltar as a vibrant international financial centre; but how do others view it, and where does Gibraltar rank compared to other places?

53

56

56

53

53

58

58

58

58 64 64

56

56

60

60

70

70

Source: Global Financial Centres Index, Z/Yen Group GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

business At 56th place, Gibraltar certainly punches above its weight, moving ahead of some highly regarded cities such as Brussels (62), Lisbon (66), Edinburgh (71), Rome (76),Moscow (78) and Madrid (79). Z/ Yen Group’s latest Index, also places Gibraltar among the Ten Centres Likely to Become More Significant– meaning Gibraltar is viewed as an increasingly promising financial centre. A more focused comparison of Gibraltar against its peers in the Offshore Centres sub-index (whether we like the term Offshore or not) positions Gibraltar at the 6th place in the world. Amongst European “offshore” financial centres, Gibraltar actually ranks at third place, closely behind Jersey and Guernsey and well above competing jurisdictions such as Malta and Cyprus as shown by the table below:

The strength of a financial centre is often measured by the number of High Net Worth Individuals it attracts. For many years, Gibraltar has been trying to attract the world’s High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), luring them with compelling tax incentives such as CAT2 residency status and HEPSS status for high-paid executives, as well as boasting about the relaxed lifestyle and wonderful weather we have in this part of the world.

Leading Countries for Ultra HNWIs

Germany 11,392 Canada 4,248

The “Offshore” Centres Ranking in September 2015 Cayman Islands

64

Panama

52 Malta

68

Jersey

53 Monaco

72

Guernsey

54 Bahamas

75

Gibraltar

56 Cyprus

80

UK 10,149 Swiss 4,137

USA 39,378

34 Isle of Man 58

British Virgin Island 43 Mauritius

However, in order to successfully compete in the global “chase” after this lucrative market, we need to look deeper into the needs and desires of HNWIs when it comes to seeking a new place of domicile, and understand the dynamics of this clientele group. The following chart displays the number of Ultra HNWIs (UHNWIs defined as having net worth of over $30M) in key countries around the world:

Source: The Wealth Report Knight Frank, 2014

China 7,905

Italy 3,650

Brazil 4,122

Japan 16,450

Singapore 3,154

Source: Z/Yen Group, Global Financial Centres Index 18 (Sept. 2015)

According to the KnightFrank 2014 Wealth Report, which surveyed over 600 private wealth managers worldwide, 15% of Ultra HNWIs are thinking of permanently changing their domicile or country of residence.

Globally, the UK is considered the number one destination for those seeking a new domicile, although the US is still more popular with Asian UHNWIs. The main reasons for wanting to change domicile amongst UHNWIs are summarised in the table below:

The fastest growing UHNWI populations are currently found in Vietnam, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, India and Nigeria.

Wealth growth is heavily dependent on the strength of the local banking system.

Ownership rights are also key as individuals are unlikely to invest if they are unsure if they own an asset. This is particularly evident in African and some Asian countries.

While the Gibraltar Government and the

various industry associations are making progress in promoting Gibraltar’s name internationally, in events such as Gibraltar’s Day in London, more private-sector initiatives are necessary to make Gibraltar a desirable place for HNWIs to live in. Several high end residential property developments are currently underway in Gibraltarperhaps these hold the answer…

Africa

Asia

Australia

Europe

South America

Middle East

North America

Russia /CIS

Global

Quality of life

34%

36%

47%

34%

21%

30%

41%

31%

36%

Tax

25%

20%

29%

37%

32%

20%

34%

16%

30%

Business reasons

10%

16%

18%

17%

4%

11%

12%

13%

14%

Security

22%

16%

3%

8%

16%

27%

9%

24%

12%

Education

8%

12%

2%

4%

27%

11%

5%

16%

8%

Source: KnightFrank 2014 Wealth Report GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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business

HERE, HERE! London marks links with the Rock at Gibraltar Day 2015

E

many countries in the world, Luxembourg very year, for the past sixteen, day is certainly not an excuse to have a Gibraltar has celebrated its longjolly and drink too many white wines at the still had a fair way to go. ‘There are similarities though,’ he told me, touching on standing links with the City of very hotly desired Financial Services lunch, London via a three-day event in mid organized by Gibraltar Finance. its small size and vibrant history that has seen much dispute between neighborOctober. Gibraltar Day in London initially ing European countries over whom the commenced as a one day function allowing Financial services and a boozy lunch country belongs to. The selection two hundred and fifty guests the opportuThe event is invite only, with a “The main process for invitees is carried out nity to both mark the financial and historistrict attendance criteria of those factor that cal connection between the Rock and the by the Gibraltar Finance Centre within the financial services inwho prioritize growth within the fiUK capital, and generate new relationships, dustry, working either in, or with draws in the mostly business and political. Fifteen years city’s thriving nancial services sector in Gibraltar.

London. As suited gentlemen The guest list follows a 70 – 30% on, the affair offers the opportunity to and familiar Gibraltar related fac- financial model for non-locals and those over a thousand guests, over the course es poured through the doors of crowd is working in the industry in Gibraltar. of five big events. Each year, the Guildhall Old Library, the Chief There is never an empty seat, una service is held at the Our I found myself speakMinister’s “The day is derstandably, as the food is always Lady of Dolours church in ing to a businessman speech...” certainly not magnificent. This year’s menu? Beef Fulham, stirring memories from Luxembourg, very an excuse to carpaccio with some very interestof a war torn London during intrigued by the concept ing mushrooms tucked around, perfectly which many Gibraltarian have a jolly and of Gibraltar and its friendly and evacuees took solace at the seared sea bass and an interesting take on drink too many inviting eGaming and financial serthe traditional bread and butter pudding. church seventy five years ago. white wines at vices frameworks. He explained to Of course, the main factor that draws in 2015 marked my fourth year me that whilst Gibraltar had mostthe very hotly the city’s thriving financial crowd is the of covering Gibraltar Day as a ly succeeded in ridding itself of desired Financial Chief Minister’s speech, covering the member of the esteemed local the negative tax connotations that Services lunch.” incredible extent of growth that has ocpress, by now, I know that the had caused former blacklisting by 28

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

business The magnificent Guildhall

The crowd grows as the evening continues

curred on the Rock since last year’s lunch.

This year, he focused around new developments very soon to pop up across the peninsula, including Mid-Town, the Blue Water complex on the east side, the World Trade Center and the just announced Rooke site, which has been snapped up by London based developer ‘London and Regional Properties’. Mr. Picardo told the press that the site would be a ‘mixed use development’ including a small school and central headquarters for the fire service and the police. He also touched on the recent launches of both the Gibraltar International Bank and the University of Gibraltar.

Gibraltarians, friends of Gibraltar, worldly ambassadors, UK parliamentarians, local parliamentarians, top military men, former Gibraltar Governors, local industry leaders in finance and tourism and Gibraltarian students studying in the area was incredible to experience. The towering arched ceiling of the Guildhall Great Hall dotted with stone gargoyles and sculptures drenched in historical context is a remarkable venue, fit to mark the strengthening links between the ever prosperous London and Gibraltar. It is even more impressive dimly lit against the gloomy evening darkness outside and filled with upbeat music provided by the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Over the duration of the evening, the hall fills to capacity with familiar faces. I share small talk with former Governor Sir Adrian Johns and his wife Suzie, who continue to support the Rock in every capacity. I meet another former Governor, Sir John Chapple who also held the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Army from 1988 to 1992. The ambience is one of old friends reuniting, ‘I can’t believe it’s been a year,’ Sir Adrian exclaims greeting the Commander of British Forces Commodore Ian McGhie and his wife. CEO of Gibtelecom Tim Bristow ushers me over and offers me a brilliant photo opportunity of three former Governors exchanging pleasantries. Over the course of the evening I run into Gibraltar’s own Momy Levy who has never missed a Gibraltar “So far, we’ve Day to date. The room continues been able to ensure that to fill ahead of speeches from the Chief Minister, Alderman the next and Sheriff Charles Bowman, Governor on behalf of the Lord Mayor, of Gibraltar Minister for Europe for HM is a former Government David Lidington,

military personnel.”

Reunion of friends The day continues, after a brief post lunch siesta, with the main event; the evening reception at Guildhall. Three years ago, when I was significantly younger and more impressionable, the function, which is attended by a thousand highly regarded GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

The Chelsea Pensioners never miss a Gib Day 29

business

Gibraltar Government representatives at the Financial Services Lunch

Penny Mordaunt, Minister for the Armed Forces and MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group, Jack Lapresti. Making the rounds and occasionally picking up a glass of white wine I spot staunch Gibraltar lobbyist and twitter frequenter, Nara Hodge and former Bayside School headteacher Albert Danino. The hall is awash with Gibraltar Regiment ties.

the Second World War evacuees who this ‘He and his wife lived at Bruce’s year have marked the 75th anniversary of Farm high up on the Rock and their move to London, Ireland and Jamaica. they loved every minute of their Following his speech, Minister Lidington life there.’ He explained. Next, Jack Lapresti, who was appointed reiterated his usual defence of the Rock and its people’s plight to remain British. chairman of the group following ‘The United Kingdom will never enter into Jim Dobbin’s death late last year, arrangements under which the people of noted that the group displayed Gibraltar will pass under the sovereignty of the huge support for Gibraltar another state against their wishes. Nor will across the political divide. ‘So we enter into any process of sovereignty far, we’ve been able to ensure negotiations with which Gibraltar itself that the next Governor of Gibraltar is was not content,’ he bellowed over the a former military personnel.’ The Chief loud clapping and Commons like jeers of Minister announced a GDP growth of ‘here here’. Minister Lidington 10.6% in the last year, applaud“He pledged to further added, ‘our histories ing the Rock’s high regulaare inextricably linked and we tory standards. Mr. Picardo monitor Spain’s share profound bonds based revealed that as from 2016, operation of the on democracy, tradition but the Patron for the Gibraltar frontier closely Literary Festival would be the demanding ‘nothing also innovation. Those ties were highlighted poignantPrincess Royal, HRH Princess less than the normal ly this year as we marked Anne. He touched further on together the 75th anniversary growth within financial services, procedures you would expect at any of the evacuation of Gibraltar gaming and employment on European border.” the Rock. Finally, he honoured and the 70th anniversary

“From 2016, the Patron for the Gibraltar Literary Festival will be the Princess Royal, HRH Princess Anne.”

Defending the Rock Albert Poggio, the man behind the success of Gibraltar House and this annual get together, takes to the stage later in the evening to introduce Alderman Bowman, who extends the Lord Mayor’s warmest wishes.

The Sheriff and Alderman speaks of his own personal link with Gibraltar, having worked as a young accountant with Price Water House Coopers. He added that his wife’s Grandfather was former Major District Officer of Artillery on the Rock.

Momy Levy never disappoints with his three piece choice

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Gibtelecom’s Tim Bristow gathers three generations of governors

Former Governor Sir John Chapple

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

business

Lidington, Picardo and Mordaunt take the salute

of the end of the second world war.’ He pledged to monitor Spain’s operation of the frontier closely demanding ‘nothing less than the normal procedures you would expect at any European border.’ Lidington, as always, came across as a passionate and well-prepared speaker. Penny Mordaunt explained visiting Gibraltar had been a priority of hers particularly because of the Rock’s importance as a strategic military base and to keep the people of Gibraltar safe.

“The United Kingdom will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar will pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes.”

HM Government of Gibraltar’s crest projected onto the guildhall facade

UK’s Europe Minister, Armed Forces Minister and Gibraltar’s Cheif Minister

“...the bandmaster managed to pull off a cover of Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’ complete with electric guitar and bass.”

By this point guests have began to potter outside in the courtyard for the traditional display ‘massed band spectacular’ by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band and Corps of Drums. Amidst the upbeat melody of Gibraltar’s national anthem and the more familiar military tunes you’d expect to hear from a military band, the bandmaster managed to pull off a cover of Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’ complete with electric guitar and bass. Such is the modernization of the military. Guests gathered, full of tiny mince pie and custard tart canapés, warming their faces with glasses of mulled wine.

Another Gibraltar Day success. Another evening of splendour that certainly won’t be forgotten in the near future. Picardo, Lidington and Mordaunt take the Regiment band’s salute and the fumble to the cloakroom commences. I look up and notice HM Government of Gibraltar’s crest projected onto the façade of the Great Hall.

Looking back to my first year at Gib Day, in 2012, this had been a real marvel. I snap a photo and pile back onto the press bus, impressed that in a city of such grandeur, Gibraltar Day is so highly regarded.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

life

POLITICAL ENCOUNTERS Albert Poggio

F

ew people can maintain a politired, regal office, the furniture he bought time, my biggest concern was to convince the Foreign Office that there was a job to cal standing for quite as long as via auction from the gloriously grand be done for Gibraltar and I intended to do twenty-seven years. The Gibraltar Savoy hotel, when they refurbished. The it, whether they supported me or opposed Government’s UK Representative, walls are awash with plaques, presented me. I started building up contacts, primarily Albert Poggio, however, has seen through to him by an entire spectrum of entities. I the back end of Thatcher’s can spot the RAF Gibraltar crest, parliamentary.’

Britain, the subsequent John along with C64 Medical Squadron, “We sit in his Building parliamentary contacts Major era, the introduction of red, regal office, the Azura cruise New Labour, the downfall of liner, the UK House Albert’s work with the Strand the furniture “Albert’s work Gordon Brown, the Cons/Lib of Commons and the based Gibraltar House is well he bought via with the Strand documented, in his role he has coalition, and now, for the first Maritime Air Trust auction from based Gibraltar lobbied fervently on Gibraltar’s time in twenty years, a fully Gibraltar. Proudly on the gloriously Conservative Government display is his Gibraltar behalf, particularly through the House is well headed by David Cameron. ‘It’s grand Savoy Medallion of Honour New Labour hysteria that saw documented, hotel...” been a huge privilege being and a huge plush then Europe and Foreign Ministers in his role he UK representative; it all came bear that he tells us Peter Hain and Jack Straw defiantly has lobbied about at the time that the economy of is a stand in for the bear he attempt to enter into a joint soverfervently on Gibraltar was changing very much from a bought with the rest of his eignty agreement with the Spanish Gibraltar’s military led economy to a more commercial Savoy furniture. The toy once Government of the time. Through behalf...” one. The Government had identified the lived in Humphrey Bogart’s his many years arguing Gibraltar’s three pillars they wanted to move forward favourite hotel room as his side, Albert’s biggest asset has with and they were financial services, drinking buddy. ‘The Foreign Office was been his extensive list of influential parliatourism and the port. They felt that they very nervous that Gibraltar should have mentarian friends. ‘First off, I contacted my wanted to inject more into the small tourist someone like me representing Gibraltar local MP, a guy called Sir Teddy Taylor who office we had here in London.’ We sit in his here in London,’ Albert continues. ‘At the became a very great friend of Gibraltar.

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life One of the early “... they paid me a politicians I met huge compliment, was the now saying that there Lord Hoyle. He a was a big file on was the MP for Warrington and me in Madrid and he straight away all the activities introduced me to I did. They had other people.’ Lord admired me from Hoyle, father of a distance....”

Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chairman of the All Party British Gibraltar Group, Lindsay Hoyle, was awarded the Freeman of Gibraltar in 2004, and the Gibraltar Medallion of Honour in March 2010, for being a supporter of Gibraltar and its people. ‘Slowly but surely, I was expanding my repertoire of contacts.

My job then was to convert those contacts to friends. The success of what I do in London is that they are friends and I share personal relationships with them.’

Tony Blair and the joint sovereignty debacle The conversation moves relatively quickly on to Tony Blair, a character I am very keen to hear about from Albert’s perspective.

‘I hosted him in Gibraltar when he first became an MP,’ Albert explains, ‘he was on holiday on the Costa del Sol and I was there to show him around. His children were very young and he was an MP that was very on side through Gibraltar’s struggle for self-determination. Little did he know then that he would become the leader of his party, let alone the prime minister of the country. We continued that friendship through his career. I thought, when Tony Blair became Prime Minister what a good thing it would be for Gibraltar, but of course we all know the history of Blair. He got into the trappings of power and then he was playing to the gallery.

During the ill fated [joint sovereignty plan] I had to take him head on and we fought a

“He was an MP that was very on side through Gibraltar’s struggle for self-determination.

Little did he know then that he would become the leader of his party, let alone the prime minister of the country...”

tremendous campaign here in London supported by the Chief Minister of the time.

I travelled the length and breadth of this country gathering support for Gibraltar.

That in itself is a long story and maybe at some point I think it’s important that we record what really happened during that campaign and some of the tactics I learned on how to block the ministers’ red boxes and how to get MPs really involved.

Towards the end of that campaign Blair called me into his office and he said, “how do I get out of this?” and you know he’d gotten into the joint sovereignty thing without consulting Gibraltar. I remember saying “Prime Minister, if you’d have asked me before you got into it, you wouldn’t need to be asking me how to get out of it.”’

Albert recalls giving one of Blair’s young children a barbary macaque toy on their first visit to Gibraltar. ‘Towards the end of his term, he went on holiday to Tuscany as a guest of Berlusconi (former Italian Prime Minister) and the whole family was photographed leaving Downing Street to go on this holiday, which was very controversial.

His daughter was carrying her Gibraltar ape under her arm.’

His tenure in London is full of funny anecdotes, relating to some of the biggest and most influential UK politicians of our time.

Albert notes his great friendship with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. ‘I encouraged her to come down to Gibraltar when Richard Luce was the Governor, and she became a great friend. I often went to see her in her later years and she was a great inspiration to me. I worked with John Major and then right the way through, if you look through the political spectrum from 1988 when I joined the Government.

I didn’t really want the job, I was running my own businesses very successfully but

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

I fell into this and once I had, I saw the immense political challenges. I take pride in what I do and there are many, many stories…’

because every turn they took in England to counteract Gibraltar, or to further their version of the sovereignty claim, there was Albert Poggio stopping them. He felt that the questions being asked in Parliament were not the conviction of the MPs asking them but were my questions.’

Another landmark political move for Gibraltar was the formation of the Trilateral Forum, a format of three way dialogue on issues af- “Blair called me This draws me to the matter of fecting Gibraltar and Spain into his office and Gibraltar related parliamentary quesbetween UK, Spanish tions. He expresses his influence he said, “how do and Gibraltarian political in Gibraltar related questions put I get out of this?” representatives. Albert and you know he’d to the House, the Prime Minister touches on his influence or Minister for Europe, during gotten into the in its formation, telling UK parliamentary debates in the joint sovereignty me that he ‘received a Commons. Over the past couple of thing without phone call from a Spanish years these such debates, touching consulting journalist at El Pais, who on sovereignty issues and illegal inGibraltar....”

I knew. He asked if I’d cursions by Spanish vessels in British accept a call from the Gibraltar Territorial Waters, have Spanish Ambassador, and I said of course become more frequent, with more MPs I would. They asked to meet me for lunch asking for answers from the Conservative and we met in a restaurant called Rules, Government. Albert speaks of a debate which is famous for being the oldest that is imminent, noting that he’s been restaurant in London, and this chap had working on the questions. ‘That’s the way never been in England before. Rules is it should be, because they are too busy traditionally very English so we started off and of course during the ill-fated Blair joint with potted shrimps, then we had steak sovereignty claim, I learned the trick was and kidney pie, then sticky toffee pudding not the initial question, it was the supand he said “I thought you English people plementaries, because the Prime Minister didn’t know how to eat”. One of the things won’t be ready for those.’ that he relayed to me was that he was there meeting me on the instruction of Albert’s ties run right through to royalty.

Moratinos (former Spanish minister for He explains that each year he is lucky to Foreign Affairs with the PSOE Socialist be invited to lunch at Buckingham Palace government) and they paid me a huge as part of the diplomatic core. ‘It gives me compliment, saying that there a was a big an opportunity to further the Gibraltar file on me in Madrid and all the activities I cause.’ Some of the world’s diplomatic did. They had admired me from a distance ambassadors are extended an invitation

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

to the annual Gibraltar Day in London evening reception, which is predominantly organised by Albert and his team at Gibraltar House. Through many years of intense lobbying, Albert has put Gibraltar on the map diplomatically, with the Rock now recognised in ‘the diplomatic book as a British Overseas Territory’, which he insists ‘is an advancement.’ Before we are all whisked off to carry out Gibraltar Day duties he turns and adds, ‘we’re extending our reach every year.’

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Deposits £1 Billion M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Deposits eposits £300 million

rofits £400 thousand p.a.

Profits

Reserves £1 thousand

Under the GSD government

We have been careful in the way we have managed your money in the Savings Bank.

So don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The numbers don't lie. the strongest foundations

for your future

GSLP, Watergardens, Gibraltar | Liberal Party, Irish Town, Gibraltar

Reserves £20 million

C

...the Savings Bank has multiplied in size.

Deposits are up from £300m to over £1BN. Profits are up from £400k p.a. in 2010 to £9m p.a. in 2014.

Reserves are up from £1,000 in 2011 under the GSD to £20m now with the GSLP-LIBS.

Profits £9 million p.a.

With the GSLP/Libs

With With the GSLP/LIBS government

life

BEHIND THE TITLE Fabian Picardo

T

buying my first Spanish comic, which was he ending of his Government’s a wealthy family, but like most Gibraltarian a Mortadelo y Filemon book. I’ve ingrained first tenure looms, with a General families, we had just enough to get by, in my mind what La Linea was then, and election close on the counting the pennies at the end horizon. We’re all familof the week.

However, would compare it constantly to “I will always “I’ve never had what Gibraltar was then. I felt, iar with Fabian Picardo, the Chief what there was an remember as a such a telling as I do today, so safe in Gibraltar Minister of Gibraltar, a political abundance of was love little boy, being and family. In those days, off, even from and so loved because my family figure, but fewer of us are familvery afraid and friends are here, and so exiar with his personal ambitions.

Gibraltar was a more reli- Sir Peter in when the In an effort to unearth the more gious place, so there was Parliament.” posed when I’m not here. I think frontier was human side of the successful that cohesion as well. most Gibraltarians feel that. barrister I delved into his early going to open, life, growing up during the closed as if Gibraltar How have you seen Gibraltar and La The closed frontier was somefrontier era. We also discussed Linea change over that time? was suddenly thing I was born into and therehis schooling, his non-political going to be I’ve seen Gibraltar become a hugely prosfore not something that I felt heroes, his family life and his exposed...” perous place. Joe Bossano’s 88 economic was in any way constricting. I will intense love for Gibraltar… always remember as a little boy, plan changes Gibraltar in a way that is striking. Without getting into the politics being very afraid when the frontier was Let’s start off with your childhood: of it, there is a huge social change after going to open, as if Gibraltar was sud1988, related to the withdrawal of the I had the happiest of childhoods. I can’t denly going to be exposed and we were dependence on the Ministry of Defence imagine that love or money could have all going to be subject to horrors that we spending and Gibraltar standing up for itin any way been better for me in the couldn’t imagine. I was ten when the frontier opened for pedestrians. I will always self and asserting itself internationally and sense that Gibraltar then was a much less prosperous place. My Father worked as a remember my first foray into Spain with my economically. Then there’s the Gibraltar that we have today. There are people in Mum, holding on very tightly to her hand, clerk for the Ministry of Defence and my Gibraltar who are not financially well off mother used to bake cakes for sale for riding on the Spanish bus about a year but most people enjoy a prosperity that local weddings and baptisms. We were not or two after the frontier had opened and

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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life Bayside Gibraltar

It was all about bikes and matches and Upper Rock and whatever it was we could do to get ourselves into the most heinous trouble. I still remember my Mum telling us both off about one particular incident involving a small fire, which one of us, we have never disclosed who, had started. I learnt the meaning of the word ‘alibi’ when I was seven. I’ve never had such a telling off, even from Sir Peter in Parliament. My friend left Gibraltar and I felt utterly bereft of friends. For that reason I picked up a book. I then of course formed very strong friendships afterwards, but this came at a formative age when I was then cast into doing a lot more reading, which obviously helped me a lot in later life.

Little Fabian

What did you like to read? we never enjoyed before. Unfortunately, I see La Linea is not enjoying the same standard of prosperity. Both cities have expanded, have grown and the important thing is there is now more of a social connection between families from La Linea and Gibraltar who have common relatives, that is the most positive effect of the opening of the frontier. I still remember vividly, Sunday afternoons, driving around the area of the airport when we used to simply drive around the circuit that was Gibraltar’s roads, and seeing people shouting across the frontier at each other to give relatives the latest news about what’s happened in the family. I was left with a feeling that there was such cruelty in imposing an arbitrary division between people. The fact is that there needs to be With the new baby Oliver

a flee flow of people across that frontier, for all the human reasons that we don’t tend to talk about so much when we’re discussing business or politics.

What about your school life? When did you become an academic?

“I was, at that stage, very into the Church and very interested in considering the possibility of going to a seminary and becoming a priest. ”

I have a very good friend who was my neighbour since we were babies. We used to get on famously and we were absolute tearaways, in the area of Calpe and Wills’ road. I had no time for books or anything remotely academic whilst he was around.

I became a fan of fact. I would devour all the stories that young boys would love to read like ‘treasure Island’ but I really became a fan of these books of facts, ‘a hundred and one facts of x or y’. Tell Me Why, was a book I remember reading over and over again, that I think made me very inquisitive in my teen years.

Did you feel a divide between yourself and your peers because you were more studious, or more into reading?

Only in the years after my friends had left and before I started to develop new friendships in late middle school and in my comprehensive years. Of course, I wasn’t the only one who was studious and who enjoyed reading. I was, at that stage, very into the Church and very interested in considering the possibility of going to a seminary and becoming a priest. I developed friends through those pursuits as well.

Well, the 1970s in Gibraltar was a place with less to do on a Sunday, and so my parents took the baptismal vows very seriously and so they would religiously take my to church on a Sunday morning.

In those days we had holidays for what were called ‘Holy Days of Obligation’ and I then became involved as an altar boy. That really was what motivated me.

I guess you could say I was born into it, like most Gibraltarians were at the time. I still remember, something that today has probably been completely forgotten, but on Good Friday you weren’t allowed to play the radio, everything would be very subdued because it was the day that we commemorated the crucifixion. Today, Good Friday is, for most people, a perfectly normal day, the only remarkable thing about it for many is that Morrisons is closed and therefore there needs to be a huge shop on the Thursday because we could run out of bread. Gibraltar is a very 38

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

© JC Teuma

What drew you to the Church?

life my Bar studies in London as I had an offer of pupillage to stay and practice at one of the top sets in Little Temple but for me, it was always about coming “I think the back to Gibraltar, I didn’t want Through your time at university, person who to be a lawyer in London. The you must have come to the conlaw there in the early to mid clusion that you were very clever most doubts and could follow any career path everything that 90s was very snobby, barristers were still generally people you wished. Why did you choose Fabian Picardo who came form rich families to come back to Gibraltar and does, is Fabian and that was not for me. I have continue your life here?

Picardo.” never been happier than I am in I’ve never thought of myself as Gibraltar, I think this is the best very clever. I think the person who most place in the world to live and I wanted to doubts everything that Fabian Picardo be close to my family. does, is Fabian Picardo. He checks himself over and over again and he takes a lot of I had a number of objectives, the first was advice. Fabian Picardo sees himself as the to get myself employed by J A Hassan and conduit of the work of many people, not With Sebastian Partners, the second was to become a just his own. partner of the firm. In professional terms, that was what I set out to achieve.

However, I had some great teachers who with the great guys at Gibraltar United taught me how to navigate who give so much of their time to train the academic system, which What drew you towards Law? the little ones. Every waking moment that “For me it was permitted me to have the conI have when I’m not otherwise occupied, I always about That’s not a difficult story to tell. I fidence to try to access one of want to spend with them. remember being in a Spanish class coming back the top universities, but I nevwith Albert Danino, having an to Gibraltar, I er saw myself exploiting opHow did you meet Justine? argument about some didn’t want to portunities outside Gibraltar. I particular subject and “The thought We met in Hassans of all places. be a lawyer in was very lucky I’d taken a very Mr. Danino got fed up Justine walked into my office one that I might be high degree in my law exams London the law with my argument, and day and said that she wanted to able to charge in Oxford, it was the top in London in he said, ‘Fabian, if you be a lawyer. She was sent to me people for degree in my college that year the early to mid want to continue arguing and therefore a lot of opporarguing, which by a family friend. I said ‘right, you 90s was very then you need to decide want to be a lawyer? You’re going tunities opened up in the UK I enjoyed so snobby. ” whether you should to sit there and watch because and in the US. I didn’t take the much, really become a lawyer and this is what lawyers do.’ Years opportunity in the US because struck me charge for it, otherwise shut up.’ later we ended up getting togethI was too afraid, in those days, even of the between the The thought that I might be able er. She’ll never forgive me for thought of travelling to the US. I thought to charge people for arguing, eyes. ” proposing at the top of the Rock I’d arrive at the airport, get mugged and be which I enjoyed so much, really when we were going on a “power put on the next plane back. I could pursue struck me between the eyes. At walk”, because the pictures in track suits that time I’d abandoned my idea of going are not pictures she likes to show people. into priesthood because I’d discovered something called g.i.r.l.s. therefore the What do you envision yourself going whole thing fell by the wayside. I decided back to, when you time as Chief Minister that I wanted to become a commercial concludes? airlines pilot but not only was I adviced I envision myself going back to the law against it because of my poor eyesight but in Gibraltar. I want to go back to my legal also I’m really crap at physics which have practice. I enjoy my legal practice, I find it’s thwarted my ability to work out the delta a derivation of my political life. of the take off and all the rest of it. © Tommy Finlayson

different place and it’s difficult to see a boy at my age, today, having the affiliation that I had at the time.

© JC Teuma

Besides politics, what are your biggest interests now?

With his mother and wife GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Since I was lucky enough to meet Justine and we’ve had our children, my life revolves around the three of them. I get very little spare time as you can imagine but I’m very lucky in the sense that I enjoy my job tremendously, so it doesn’t feel like hard work when I’m having to discharge the functions of my office. Now Seb’s taken up football, so Saturday mornings involve taking him down to his training

Who are your biggest inspirations outside of politics?

“A Gibraltarian lawyer is not a lesser lawyer than a top lawyer in London, so long as he has the ability and the work ethic to match.”

Easily my mother, who’s a very organized and determined personality. Probably James Levy as well who taught me that Gibraltarians can be of the standard expected of anyone around the world. A Gibraltarian lawyer is not a lesser lawyer than a top lawyer in London, so long as he has the ability and the work ethic to match.

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life

ATTENDING YOUNIVERSITY Guiding students through their Gibraltarian struggles

H

igher education for Gibraltarian students is a particularly topical matter at the moment, particularly with the recent launch of the University of Gibraltar. In September, we probed A Level students about whether the launch of degree courses on the Rock would dissuade them from moving their lives to the UK for at least three years. The consensus was a resounding no, students relished the opportunity to explore the outside world and experience life on their own in new surroundings. For this reason, former student and now lawyer, Philip Vasquez coined the idea for an advice book aimed at Gibraltarian students and the difficulties they are likely to come across in the UK. ‘It’s a cultural phenomenon that we all know as Gibraltarians; we always know everyone’s problems, good or bad. I think it can be a good thing because you can learn from people’s problems, particularly in the student arena because word of mouth has great power if you use it properly. That’s what this book is, attempt 1.0 of trying to enshrine all of Gib’s uni experiences.’

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Behind the concept

getting involved in the local music scene and editing his course’s magazine, after spending a couple of years working in London, following his degree, he returned to Gibraltar to take on a position with TSN Law. He took on two wholly qualified editors to assist with putting together the book.

Stefano Blanca Sciacaluga is widely known around the local internetsphere, with his frequent blog updates on Your Gibraltar TV, observing the behaviours and traditions of Gibraltarians. Rachel Payas is fresh off her Vocal and Choral studies degree, and continues to study in the UK for her PCGE qualification. With a host of personal student experiences under their belts, the three have surely covered a vast demographic of student problems. ‘They’ve both brought a lot to it,’ Philip insists.

“Everything just went up in flames!

Luckily I had a damp cloth to drown it out.

My advice would be to start small with gas cookers.”

Youniversity as it is so cleverly titled, is a 100+ page paperback that, whilst engaging and occasionally funny, does also provide huge chunks of information, advising readers on common setbacks like registering for a GP in the UK, and opening a bank account without a permanent UK address. Some of the more common and comedic issues Philip says he, and many other Gibraltarians face, is confusion from peers about where they are from.

‘Everyone thought I was Welsh initially.

Despite the fact that we’re British, it is a different culture. People expect it to be a seamless transition in terms of social interaction.’ He tells me about his struggle with gas cookers, having almost set fire to his torta patata (spanish omelette), early into his course. ‘Everything just went up in flames!

Luckily, I had a damp cloth to drown it out.

My advice would be to start small with gas cookers.’ Philip studied Law in Cardiff, also

Delving into personal issues The writing process began as any good non-fiction book should, with extensive research. For this, Philip decided to do GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

“A 100+ page paperback that, whilst engaging and occasionally funny, does also provide huge chunks of information.”

on the ground market research, asking students to give up some of their time to be part of a survey with a sample of a hundred, probing them on their gender, age, course choice and biggest concerns at University. ‘I did this to give me a blueprint for how to structure the book.’

The writing gathered momentum through social situations with students and former students, ‘When I started writing I had a broad structure and I thought right I’ll expand these issues as and when they arise, then I supplemented that with the research. From that I went around talking to people covertly. Also just hearing people talk. It goes back to what I said, hearing people talk can be a good thing.’

I spark a discussion about what makes Gibraltarian students different to others “The writing and Philip explains, ‘the first big thing is process began finance. The Government supports us, so we’ve got a massive front foot, which as any good people really take for granted.’ The book non-fiction The education budget touches upon managing monthly grants book should, whilst studying, and not doing what with extensive He explains his two ambioften seems the most attractive thing research.” tions for the book; ‘one is to do, spending it within the first week. to help, and the other is to ‘Another thing is, people can’t just go try and reinvigorate the public debate on home for the weekend like everyone else. education to revive those issues. We’ve You can’t go home to retreat if you’re havjust had the University of Gibraltar open, ing a hard time. Another benefit is people I want people to really start thinking how thinking you’re foreign. That can work in your favour as a great conversation starter. they can improve this book.’ According to figures published in education Minister If you speak Spanish you can connect to Gilbert Licudi’s budget statement in June other international students and get a bigger spread of friends. Also, there are usual- of this year £15,707,000 was spent on ly other Gibraltarians around, so you’ve got university grants last year, with almost nine hundred students from Gibraltar currently a group of people to go back to.’ We delve in higher education. ‘I worked it out, the into more sensitive and personal issues, average is around £17,000 per student, like social situations with lots of new peoeach year.’ Philip also explains the prople and sexual health. Philip tells me that cess of applying for postgraduate grants the book does not touch deeply on being within the book. ‘These are enquiries the homesick because he believes ‘it’s a bit Department of Education get every year; more a life skill issue. I feel it’s a bit more hopefully it frees them up a bit.’ He praises personal, but other complicated issues like Senior Education Advisor of the departlosing your bankcard and having your new ment, Darren Grech, for his help in putting card sent to Gibraltar and changing money the book together. ‘I’m hoping the book to sterling are covered. There are elements stimulates discussion,’ Philip adds, ‘directof homesickness I do wish to talk about ly because of the amount of money we in the future, but again that’s something spend on education.’ Based on statistics that is very personal.’ Philip notes that the

by EuroStats, updated with Gibraltar by book does also mention the importance The Beneficiary Newsletter, the Rock stands sexual health; a topic he says is not really fifteenth out of eighteen European nations, discussed in Gibraltar. ‘In the UK you have walk in clinics and massive awareness cam- in its investment of education via public paigns. In Gibraltar I feel that not enough is spending. 8.3% of expenditure is invested into education. In comparison, Switzerland, being done to raise at number one, spends 17.8% on educaawareness of peo“The book does tion. ‘I do say it in the book; it is possible ple’s sexual health. also mention the to look at a more focused way of investing Not many people this money on students. For example, if we know what to do if importance sexual know there is a deficiency of certain proyou think you have health; a topic fessions in Gibraltar then why are we not an STI. I hope this he says is not encouraging people to go and study these book can maybe really discussed in courses? Perhaps we could have incentives stimulate some of Gibraltar.” for students.’ that debate too.’

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

I’m a writer?

“Everything just went up in flames! Luckily I had a damp cloth to drown it out.

My advice would be to start small with gas cookers.”

Self published through Amazon, the book is only just available for purchase now. Last month it received fantastic feedback with many pre-ordered through the website.

Priced at £10, Philip notes that if he makes any profit from sales, 10% will be injected back into local education. He took the self-publishing route to avoid the inevitable interferences that come with publishing houses. The book scored sponsorship from local companies Lewis Stagnetto, Newton Store and the Beacon Press. Philip adds that private sector investment like this offers a brilliant opportunity to capitalize on the student market. Up until very recently, the project was kept a complete secret, something Philip found particularly difficult to maintain for two years. He is still getting used to being categorised as an author, insisting ‘it’s weird that people are approaching me and saying “ah you’re an author”. I just had the ambition of setting this up and it just happen to end up being a book, it could have been an app if I knew how to code it.’ In the run up to the book launch it was cleverly marketed both through the media, and its own online platform.

Tips.youniversity.co.uk/ allowed students to pre-order the book and sift through a selection of tips and tricks put together by current students, giving them a taster of what was to come. Feedback thus far has been incredibly positive and has really suggested to Philip that he is taking the project in the right direction.

Youniversity can be purchased via Amazon. co.uk or the website www.youniversity.co.uk

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

life photos | DM Parody (www.dotcom.gi/photos)

A LIFETIME IN JOURNALISM Peter Schirmer

T

ing tradition for The Times, publication in 1960. Soon after, “Peter is full the extremely liberal paper was Peter would have tea with then of fascinating Governor of the Bank of England absorbed by the Daily Mail, and tales from his Lord Cromer, just opposite to their four hundred journalists were left vast array of London Bridge Headquarters. This without work. Peter explains that would always give him an insight after a stint acting as temporary journalistic editor for a month in Glasgow, roles, and the into the week’s financial forecast, at a small town paper, he allowing Schirmer to make his incredible applied for an economics predictions. In the early 60s, the “The Fleet Street moments in Bank was still a wholly national incorrespondent’s role at Peter, who has lived in of the 1960s history that stitution. Despite his penchant for ‘The Scotsman’, which also Gibraltar for sixteen years, was a beautiful he covered. ” economics, Peter much preferred circulated around the UK. has the most incredible era of hard Still on Fleet Street, he general news reporting. Whilst at history of writing behind him. metal typing and did some freelance work with The the Times, Schirmer found himself acting He cut his teeth at the Cape boozy lunches.” temporarily as editor of the city pages, Guardian’s sister Sunday paper, Times, fresh out of Cape The Observer, which once took whilst full time Editor, Bill Clark and his Town University, where he him to Wales to cover a story about miners number two were away. He chuckles as studied English, Economics and Classical he opens up about a faux pas he made in who were pumping gas, found in their now Culture. ‘The slackers course’, he tells me. closed mine, into their homes. letting a young Australian journalist take During his time at the daily, he took on his place at an afternoon tea meeting with the role of a young political corresponHeadhunted by The Times Lord Cromer. After refusing to take the dent, reporting on parliamentary goings on office top hat off and mildly offending Lord during the early stages of apartheid. Soon His time in London was extended when he after, the buzz of Fleet Street beckoned was headhunted by City Staff of The Times Cramer with his post boozy lunch behavior, the boy was kicked out of the Bank and he took up a position with the News to become the daily’s first Economics and Peter was in dire trouble with the Chronicle, a former UK daily that ceased Correspondent. As part of a long standhe Fleet Street of the 1960s was a beautiful era of hard metal typing and boozy lunches. Each newspaper had their own pub they would frequent, veteran journalist Peter Schirmer explains to me, as we take cover in a café on the Marina, away from the almost torrential storm brewing outside.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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life independence. These years were filled with inebriation and hearty drunkenness, leading to a particularly hilarious incident that saw him mistakenly squat in the wrong house for a week, when he was asked to house sit for primatologist Jane Goodall and her husband Hugo. It was only when he sparked up a conversation with a friend about the lemon tree in the front garden that he realised his mistake. Peter and Jill soon decided moved their lives to South America.

From journalism to publishing

Much of his time was occupied in Africa, particularly in the South, an area of the world he desperately loved, having been born there. As he fills me in on his life, which takes two large cups of tea to fully get through, he “...during his time notes the funny coincidence Peter is full of fascinating tales in Argentina, he that his last interview with a from his vast array of journalisinterviewed Horst journalist like myself was cartic roles, and the incredible moried out fifty years ago, around ments in history that he covered Eichmann, Nazi war criminal Adolf the time that the Argentinian throughout his lengthy career.

Eichmann’s son...” national rugby team formed to One story that is most promiplay against South Africa. This nent to him is the attempted astime around, our interview comes a day sassination of former South African Prime after the Argentinians play a World Cup Minister Hendrik Verwoerd at the Rand match against Ireland.

Easter Show in Johannesburg in 1960.

He also tells me that during his time in Argentina, he interviewed Horst Eichmann, Travelling to Kenya, Peter met his wife Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann’s son, Jill, a stewardess with East Africa Airlines. who at the time headed his own neo-Nazi He describes 1963 as ‘the most amazing year of [his] life’ during Kenya’s era of organisation in Argentina. paper’s editor, William Haley. After a very short stint of being unemployed, Peter was brought back, but soon moved to Kenya to take up a new role with The Times, as a part-time Africa correspondent.

44

Their first daughter was born in Buenos Aires during a time that saw Peter heavily involved with the Argentinian Rugby Union as he freelanced for publications in South Africa, Australia and the UK’s Daily Express. Bouncing back and forth to South Africa every so often, Peter fell out of journalism for some time, instead editing Reader’s Digest books, a job he found particularly fascinating. Due to a rise in television game shows, the readership dropped significantly. Much of the profits made on Reader’s Digest books were through the offers of competition and winning prizes. His time away from the news also saw him briefly document the top-secret process of building military hardware. Peter tells me he could only take so much of this before he commenced work with South African publishing giant Random House Struik where he edited a South African encyclopedia and, he tells me, a travel book about South Africa that was to be translated into German. He admits that he enjoyed this process hugely, often sneaking his own made up words into publications, weaving between editing books and magazines and falling back into news reporting, the Schirmers found themselves growing tired of having stayed in one place for so long. Both daughters were studying and the opportunity to up and escape to another unfamiliar corner of the world arose. Peter and Jill set their sights on Greece, specifically Spili, in Crete. They fell deeply in love with the Mediterranean island life, particularly after coming across the perfect mountainside cottage to call their own. Peter explains to me that the door-less, sea-facing outhouse is what ultimately drew him to the property.

“These years were filled with inebriation and hearty drunkenness, leading to a particularly hilarious incident that saw him mistakenly squat in the wrong house for a week...”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

life Crete, Salisbury and Gibraltar

buying a home in Marina Court, We briefly discuss the move of the news Peter used his old Fleet Street from print to online and Peter points his contacts to string from the UK. two crooked index fingers at me, ‘that’s He contacted the Gibraltar from all the years of hard metal typing’, Chronicle to ensure that his he says. He’s a complete Luddite when freelance writing wouldn’t be it comes to social media, shrugging off stepping within their territory.

Facebook and Twitter. He tells me about It was then that former editor, the lengthy process of research that jourDominique Searle, asked Peter to nalists had to go through before the interwrite a financial column for the net came about. Hours spent pouring over paper. Having been reluctantly encyclopedias and the seventeen volumes dragged back into the world of fi- of the Oxford English Dictionary. nance, Peter further contributed frequent pieces to The Gibraltar Magazine, Having been away from Spili for nineteen the Chamber of Commerce magazine B2B years, the Schirmer’s returned recently, and Gibraltar International. From there, during a holiday. ‘It was incredibly emohe was approached by former GSD Trade tional,’ Peter insists. The trip brought up a and Tourism minister Joe Holliday to assist yearn to re-write the ‘great Cretan book’ with the independently run daily, Vox. he’d always had in his head, ‘No Problem Vox was a welcome voice for many on Petrus’. The story follows life in Spili and the Rock. Peter tells me that for whatever the process of completely overhauling reason, the Government their beautiful mountain cottage. of the time withdrew all “...former editor, Falling swiftly back into Mediterranean their advertising from the life, Peter and Jill purchased a cottage Dominique paper and it moved online. on their own hill in Cortes de la Searle, asked He continues to write for Frontera. Each week, once Thursday Peter to write a the Chronicle, covering rolls around, the couple escapes into financial column the mountains to soak up the lifestyle a number of high profile for the Gibraltar they learnt to love in their favourite court cases including the Marrache and Ken little Cretan village.

Chronicle.”

Robinson trials.

“They fell deeply in love with the Mediterranean island life, particularly after coming across the perfect mountainside cottage to call their own.”

Peter and Jill transitioned seamlessly into their quaint Cretan life, teaching English whilst they searched for a restaurant to start up. Peter also used this time to pen his first novel, an adult fairytale featuring leprechauns and similar South African mythological creatures, tokoloshes. The story followed a theme of racial relations, with both having to learn to co-exist together. The book was never picked up by a publisher. They eventually bought a restaurant that had a few years of immense success, before picking up the 28ft boat they’d purchased before leaving South Africa, and sailing to Gibraltar where they sold her and continued their life in Crete.

When news broke that Jill’s mothers had fallen ill, the Schirmer’s sold the restaurant and reluctantly trundled back to the UK. Living in Salisbury, Peter returned to Reader’s Digest whilst Jill studied chiropractic. After growing tired of the dull British lifestyle they considered an appropriate location for Jill to be able to continue to practice. They settled on Gibraltar,

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literature

PENCHANT FOR PROSE Reading and writing with Rebecca Faller

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ridport prize shortlist

It is not often you find a woman whose fervent passion for writing and reading near enough matches your own. Having initiated her own successful book club, I’d always assumed Rebecca Faller had an interest in literature, but it was only when I probed her on her background in writing did I discover just how involved she was.

Rebecca has competed in many a local poetry and short story competition, claiming first prize in the Ministry for Culture’s 2013 poetry contest and 2015 Short Story Competition. We sip coffee and herbal tea, perched in her favourite haunt Sacarello’s, whose proprietor, she tells me, lets her borrow his home in Tarifa occasionally when inspiration hits and she escapes to write. ‘When I won this year, Charlie Durante said that he thought there was a writer in Gibraltar that could do well. He said “I thought you’re on a level that you could compete with the best.” So I looked

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into it and I entered the Bridport Prize.’

The competition, for budding poets and authors, claims to be ‘one of the richest writing competitions in the UK.’ Open to all nationalities, the contest receives thousands of entries for each of their categories. ‘I’ve been bloody shortlisted, I can’t believe it!’ Rebecca beams, thrilled that her work has been recognised internation“I’ve been ally. Two hundred of the bloody seven thousand poetry shortlisted, entries were shortlisted.

‘It’s like the equivalent of I can’t the Booker prize but for believe it!” poetry and short stories.’

Her entry, Sunday was a very British reflection of Sunday traditions, growing up in the 70s in the UK. ‘It’s nostalgic, when I was a kid nothing opened on Sundays, everything was quiet and you just went to church. I guess the judges are in my age group and they remember it as well. It is quite sweet and nostalgic.’

Growing up a writer Having come to fruition in 1973, the competition was founded by Bridport Arts Centre. In 2001, the prize was the first of its kind to offer writers the opportunity to submit their entry online. The prize has projected former winners into fruitful writing careers, particularly Kate Atkinson, whose piece won the short story category in 1990, and went on to be the first chapter of her successful novel Behind the Scenes at the Museum.

Rebecca’s lifetime of writing dates back to bedtime stories as a small child. We agree that the foundation of our passion stems from an early interest in stories and books thanks to our parents. ‘My Dad taught me how to read and write before I went to school,’ she tells me, ‘I just always wrote stories at school. You know when you were asked to write a play, maybe about Christmas trees? Mine would usually be the one that was picked to be performed.

I studied theatre and music so I wrote GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

literature a lot of short dramas and scripts. I’ve always written poetry and verse and song.

Normally, satirical ones about people I knew. When I was nineteen, I entered a competition for British young radio playwrights. I was in the final fifty and went to South Bank to meet Melvyn Bragg. It was a radio play called Kitchen Sink Drama. ‘In the 1950s and 60s, it was a new genre that came out, it was very British, set in some bedsit somewhere in London, a bit dreary, but slice of life stuff. I called mine Kitchen Sink Drama, but it was about a man that didn’t do the washing up and all the pots and pans in the kitchen sink came alive and sought their revenge.’

Renault Five and a return to old-school comedy Rebecca’s colourful history in writing peaks with the creation of her novel, Renault Five, a fictionalised account of a six-month stint she spent travelling Europe and living out of a Renault Five with her two best friends.

‘I’ve been trying to get a literary agent.

Jackie & Rebecca People are terrible though. It’s cutthroat.

I’ve decided to swallow my pride and self We had a few pen friends dotted around She describes the novel as comedy, a publish it as an eBook on Amazon, for France and visited them.’ Her tale recalls move to bring back hearty, Woody Allen free. Then, I’m going to market it massivethe three friends living off bread and brie style humour to easy reading, girly stories. ly, sending it to every friend of mine and for months, taking a quick pit-stop on the ‘I’ve read some really funny books from re-tweeting it.’ The novel covers the three Rock, as a starry-eyed Rebecca got marthe forties and earlier, and they’re about friends’ diary entries of their experiences ried, before heading off again. Renault Five men, written by men, and it’s old humour. travelling through France and Spain on a is the early nineties, European answer to Often, you have a clichéd, almost Disney very frayed shoestring, at twenOn the Road. A journey of disstyle storyline where you’ve got three girls ty-one years old. Set in 1991, covery, dotted with quirky chartogether, and they’re all having a jolly old “Renault Five is Rebecca’s brother’s blurb insists the early nineties, acters and Sal Paradise’s thirst time, and somewhere in the middle they all that the book is full of ‘fun, fall out with each other but in the end they European answer for life. ‘I think the book will retro references.’ ‘These were appeal to any young woman, as all make up. In Renault Five that doesn’t to On the Road.” the days when there were no well as people that remember happen. We never had an argument, I mobile phones, no internet, you those days of having to change wouldn’t go on holiday, in a car, with peojust sent your parents a postcard and by currency. When has there been a road trip, ple I would fall out with.’ She admits that the time they got it, you’d moved on. We’d retold, featuring British womthere are elements of Sex and the City wonder whether to use our last pound to en? It’s always men who are and Lena Dunham’s hit show Girls “I want to bring phone our mum and dad up, or spend it all American. There are some throughout the book, particularly in back the funny the friends’ relationships with each on a packet of cigarettes. We had a map! quite unbelievable things novel, with Sometimes, we’d just think; let’s turn down that happened to us; we did other and the situations they find characters there and see where it goes. Everything get mugged at knifepoint by themselves in. ‘My stuff is always that are selfis planned behind a screen these days. a gypsy, in Ronda.’ realistic, but I really like comedy. I want to bring back the funny novel, deprecating.” with characters that are self-deprecating. The drama, and killings and Eating from the campfire drinking too much are depressing. I read The Girl on the Train one day at the beach.

It was a page-turner but there were a few things I didn’t like; the neediness of the girl particularly, and the gratuitous name-dropping of clothing brands. It didn’t need all that, the story of the girl seeing something happen out the window of the train was interesting enough. Alfred Hitchcock didn’t add all that nonsense when he was writing “I travelled a Rear Window about people watching out of lot and wrote about Gibraltar, a window. Why does that have to appeal for other people to this generation?’ We discuss a lack of self-deprecating women, agreeing that in other places popular culture is limited to the Jo Brand’s to read about.” of the world. ‘I want self-deprecating, pretGIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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literature

Llevame Donde Naci cast

ty women that are confident, but we all get ourselves into ridiculous situations. There’s comedy to be had in that.’

The process I probe her on the writing process, if nothing else, for some advice to push myself into putting metaphorical pen to paper.

‘Gabriela García Márquez,’ she remarks, ‘had the idea for One Hundred Years of Solitude. He knew he had all the stories he wanted to tell. He was reading classics like Hemmingway, thinking, “oh I’m not a writer but I’ve got a story to tell”. He was trying to emulate what the great American writers did but he couldn’t do it. His wife told him to just sit and write as if his Grandmother was speaking to him, and not to worry about the language, and whether it might seem basic and crude.’ She grins, ‘you have all these things like writer’s block where you know what you want to write

but you’re just too distracted by everything else. Normally, what I do is write a lot, leave it and then the next morning, with fresh eyes, re-read it. That’s when you familiarise yourself with what you’ve written and you can start editing.’ Two years after penning Renault Five Rebecca embarked on another literary journey earlier this year, with a second novel dubbed Painting the Town. The story, like her first novel, is a light comedy with lots of characters and funny situations. ‘Happy go lucky,’ she says.

‘The person I talk to most about my writing is my brother, he reads things for me and he famously tells me “leave them wanting more”. He’s always right.’

Room for politics in this civil garrison We move on to her other work, after settling down in Gibraltar and having a family Rebecca got more heavily involved in local politics and her attention was more

focused around the Gibraltar National Party. ‘I was involved for a very long time, up until I left politics in 2013, when the PDP disbanded, after the by-election.

During that time, I wrote a lot of articles.

I travelled a lot and wrote about Gibraltar, for other people in other places to read about. My chosen, specialised subject was always urban renewal; I’ve been banging on about it for years. I wrote a lot of letters to the Chronicle, and I had a column in the Panorama around 2002, it was political satire and observations.’ Juggling a family of three children as a now single mother, it was difficult to maintain her passion. Then she penned The Civil Garrison to commemorate the Rock’s 2004 tercentenary. The play follows the three hundred years of British rule over Gibraltar, shedding light on the day-to-day life of a small civilian population through the historical ages.

Evacuation drama An offshoot of the play, which is called Llévame Donde Nací, is going to be onstage as from November 16th for six nights. The White Light Company director Jackie Villa explains, ‘I asked Rebecca to zoom in and dramatise the events of the Evacuation and she wrote a treatment.

Then, I roped in script-writer and fellow director Andrew Dark and together we began to adapt Rebecca’s work for the stage. I am thankful for her generosity and complete trust in us. We felt a great responsibility to ‘get the story right’, and so Andrew and I scoured through all the local historical accounts. The definitive The Fortress Came First by Tommy Finlayson was one. Another was Lourdes Galliano’s personal account A Rocky Passage to Exile, which retells her memoirs of the war. I had the chance to interview Lourdes, an

“The storyline is interwoven with frequent flashbacks, to keep the audience on their toes.”

Sunday I miss the old Sundays of yesteryear, When the streets fell silent the night before And remained that way till Monday morn; Not one shopkeeper opened his door.

The bells would toll, the only sound

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Apart from birds and flapping sheets, The clank of saucepans, cups and plates, The smell of various roasting meats.

A marching band of Sea Cadets Played loudly ‘Heart of Oak’, We followed them towards the Church To where our preacher spoke.

‘Glad That I Live Am I’ we sang, And the sky was always blue.

Patient, silent children Sitting upright in a pew.

Bicycles unlocked were ridden Madly down the lane.

I’d go and call on Mary

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

literature 88-year-old Evacuation survivor, and it emerged that she used to be an actress, having performed with the Calpe Institute Players back in the fifties. I asked her to join the cast, and to my delight, she was thrilled. On stage with her are her daughter Christina Galliano, and her grandson, Paul Gache. I’m very excited to have three generations treading the boards alongside each other.’

The storyline is interwoven with frequent flashbacks, to keep the audience on their toes, give the narrative rhythm and suspense, so that it doesn’t flow just as readings from the history book. ‘We want it to be more than just theatre,’ Rebecca says. ‘So, Alan Perez’s installation about the Evacuation, recently on display at The Kitchen in Montagu Bastion, will stand proud in the GADA premises, for those

who haven’t yet had the chance to appreciate it.’ ‘We’ve tried to give a human face to the global conflict in which these people were caught up in,’ Jackie adds. ‘The script covers both the personal family experiences of forced evacuation, as well as the battle for our own civil rights through the AACR. We tell the tale of the many local heroes involved in Gibraltar’s struggle, as well as a not so well-known British one who put his career on the line for us. All spun together in a fresh new way which we are sure will take original evacuees back to that time and also hopefully entice some younger ones to find out more about this pivotal chapter in Gibraltarian history.’

Fully supported by the Gibraltar Government and the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Evacuation Commemoration Committee and the Gibraltar National

Archives, the production is described as ‘a two-hour theatrical rollercoaster’, and it involves the top crop of local amateur drama, along with some new faces who ‘enjoy sharing this story as a tribute to their forefathers’ sufferings in exile as a memento for future Gibraltar’ and ‘have become a family during rehearsals’. The producers reveal, ‘on our gala night, we have plans to set up something pretty spectacular in the open courtyard. An Evacuation Experience which will bring some of the sounds and smells from the war to our grand finale.’ And all for a good cause – actually three, ‘Monies will be going to the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group, Friends of Mount Alvernia and Action4schools. Additionally, we would like to find a way to honour Pepe Roman, the writer of the song Llévame Donde Nací, which has become the unofficial Gibraltarian anthem. Sadly, he never returned from Jamaica where he was evacuated and no monument or plaque has ever been made to him... we would like to change that.’

The choral drama, designed to resonate beyond living memory, is being staged at the Ince’s Hall from 16th to 21st November to bring to a spectacular close the Evacuation 75th anniversary celebrations. Tickets, priced £10 (£15 for gala night) on sale at the Ince’s Hall box office Monday to Friday 6-8pm.

Renault five decorated for Rebecca’s wedding (up) and in the wilderness (right)

And we’d wave the passing train.

Stewpot’s on the radio, He’d play your favourite song; Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk And said goodbye to the throng.

Afternoons beside the fire, A film with Fred Astaire;

My Mum wished she could dance like him, Such elegance and flair!

The weekly Sunday bath commenced With toenails clipped right back.

Black Beauty on the telly And a simple evening snack.

Early to bed dear children;

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Our Dad would tuck us in And read us Classic Comics Like Huckleberry Finn.

I miss the old Sundays of yesteryear, When the streets fell silent the night before And remained that way till Monday morn; Not one shopkeeper opened his door.

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life words | Mike Brufal

NAVAL HISTORY Professor Andrew Lambert

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best suited to be a teacher and academic. rofessor Andrew Lambert , Whilst engaged on his PhD studies, he described by his peers as the took a part time job at the Sheraton Park outstanding British naval historian Tower hotel as a night watch telephone Andrew’s first job was lecturer in modern of his generation, is Professor of operator. In those days, when telephoning international history at Bristol Polytechnic, Naval history in the Department of War a room, the call came into the hotel and now the University of the West of at King’s College, London. He gave this was then plugged into the room’s number.

England (1983-1987) : consultant in the year’s Gibraltar lecture at the As at night there were minimum Department of History and International Blenheim Literary Festival on calls, it enabled him to read the Affairs at the Royal Naval College, the subject of “The Royal Navy “His home was many books required Greenwich (1987-1989) : near the sea and Gibraltar in World War II”. for his thesis. There senior lecturer in war studies “There was also and his father It also marked the 70th anniwas also a gigantic plus at the Royal Military Academy, a gigantic plus versary of the end of the war in that he fell in love Sandhurst (1989-1991) : had served in in that he fell in by exploring what Gibraltar lecturer in the Department of the Royal Navy.” with Zohra, a Moroccan love with Zohra, contributed to the victory. student who was also War Studies at King’s College, a Moroccan working part time at London (1991 -1999) : professtudent who was sor of naval history and Director Andrew, 58, was born in Norfolk, and from the hotel. Subsequently, they also working part of the Laughton Naval History an early age became fascinated by the sea. married which meant many time at the hotel.” Research 1999- until today). holidays in Morocco although His home was near the sea and his father he has never been to Tangier. had served in the Royal Navy. His education began at Hamond’s Grammar School, Sir John Knox Laughton (1830-1915), Swaffham followed by the City of London Although he did consider a career in the after whom the research unit is named, Polytechnic graduating with a BA (Law). As Royal Navy, a motor cycle accident left him was a naval historian and the first to argue a postgraduate, he earned his MA and then temporarily unfit for service, and he opted for the importance of this subject as an PhD in naval history in the War Studies to read law. However, by the time he start- independent field of study. He became Department, King’s College, London. ed his PhD studies, he decided that he was Professor of Modern History at King’s 50

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

College and was a co-founder of the Navy Records Society. Sir John wrote the biographies of more than 900 naval personalities for the Dictionary of National Biography.

Sometimes fate determines that a book should be written. A chance meeting in King’s College with a film producer and director led to him being invited to join a crew filming the story of the Franklin, one of the great unsolved mysterAndrew was Secretary of the Navy Records Society ( 1996 – “Sometimes fate ies of the sea in the Canadian 2005) and appointed Laughton determines that Arctic. In 1845, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror set sail from England Professor of Naval History in a book should under the command of Sir John 2001 and is a Fellow of the be written.”

Franklin. Their mission: to explore Royal Historical Society. and presenter. The most important are the Canadian Arctic in search of The Crimean War : War at Sea (a 3 part TV the Northwest Passage, a cheaper and His work focuses on the naval histoseries on BBC2): Captain Cook: Obsession safer route for trading goods, including silk ry of the British Empire between the and Discovery (TV series documentary) and spices, with China. The mission was Napoleonic Wars and the First World : Men of Iron, and a major documentary also a scientific one: they were seeking War and the early development of naval about the island of Juan Fernandez, better a better understanding of geomagnetic historical writing. His work has covered a known as Robinson Crusoe’s Island for the science as they travelled near the earth’s wide range of issues such as technology, German channel ZDF in 2012. A book exnorthern magnetic pole. It is not known if policy-making, regional security, deteramining the British identity they succeeded: both ships and the rence, historiography, crisis-management of the island, based on the entire party of 129 men disappeared and conflict. “... we learn experience of living there for into the Canadian Arctic and never from the past...” a month is at the press. returned. The result was Franklin – He has been to Gibraltar twice to partragic hero of Polar Navigation which is ticipate in two Calpe Conferences and His lecture at the Gibraltar Literary Festival the definitive history of this tragic tale. spent most of his spare time is at 2.00pm on Sunday 15 November. In researching in the Gibraltar “They were He also written countless academ- it, he will focus on some of the key events Government archives. At involving Gibraltar and its naval base. seeking a better ic articles about Naval history for lunch at Blenheim, he sat These include the disabling of the Vichy a host of learned publications. understanding next to the Minister, Gilbert fleet at Mers-El-Kebir in July 1940 by a Licudi, who invited him to of geomagnetic British fleet from Gibraltar: relief conAs a much sought after lecturer, spend as much time as he science as they voys to Malta from Gibraltar, in particular he was invited to deliver the 2013 likes researching in both the travelled near the Operation Pedestal in August 1942 which Brunel lecture which he called Government archives and the earth’s northern broke the siege of Malta: and the planning “A Clash of Egos on the Thames: Garrison Library when he is magnetic pole.” of Operation Torch by General Eisenhower John Scott Russell, Brunel and the on the Rock for the Festival. in Gibraltar in November 1942 when the Great Eastern”. He has lectured in General became the only non-Briton to be countries such as Italy, Denmark, Canada, Andrew is a prolific author and has written appointed Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar.

Australia, the United States and France. some seventeen books of which the most successful are The Crimean War: British This lecture is available in essay format.

Many might ask what is the purpose of Grand Strategy against Russia 1853-1856 : naval history and who will be interested.

The Foundations of Naval History: Sir John Duke of Gloucester, Andrew says that we learn from the past Laughton, the Royal Navy and the Historical Chief Minister, and his books are directed to be read by Profession : Nelson: Britannia’s God of War : Prof. Andrew Lambert those in all navies.

Admirals: The Naval Commanders who made Britain Great : Franklin: Tragic Hero of Polar Navigation : The Challenge: Britain Against Andrew has been much involved in teleAmerica in the Naval War of 1812. vision programmes as consultant writer In the Arctic

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GILF GibMag full-page 2110_Layout 1 22/10/2015 14:10 Page 1

The Festival is organised by

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THE GIBUNCO GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL

THURSDAY 12th TO SUNDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2015 Speakers include: Dame Esther Rantzen Maureen Lipman Nicholas Parsons Marcus Brigstocke Rachel Billington Scilla Elworthy Professor Andrew Lambert Rabbi Dr Abraham Levi Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate Jens Torpe Simon Kelner Professor Frank Close Dr Caroline Campbell Driss Alaoui Mdaghri Professor Margaret Rayman William Chislett Dr John Goodall Ingrid Seward James Hamilton Adolfo Canepa Guillem Balague John Carlin Andrew Lownie Miles Jupp Samantha Herron Felix Francis Richard Garcia Dr Charles Powell Mario Finlayson Humbert Hernandez Mary Chiappe Sam Benady

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LITERARY FESTIVAL 2015 Bridging literature, history and culture

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of the Royal Academy Trust. Having been hedding a beautiful litand indeed other countries, to talk “The previous invited to Gibraltar by Albert Poggio erary light on the Rock about this marvelous festival. I find years’ speakers it absolutely fascinating that everyfourteen years ago, Tony found Gibraltar to during an otherwise ‘could not have ‘an absolutely fascinating communibleak November, the one here knows where they come get over the ty’. During the Gibraltar Festival’s infancy, third annual Gibraltar Literary from. That historic heritage is a Festival is set to cater to all great backdrop for a literary festival, Sally and Tony were contacted by the welcome that Government. They carried out a feasibility tastes. The event has grown particularly an international one.’ they received study and were then appointed to carry exponentially each year since here.” out the first event in 2013. Sally praises its inception and has really Organising the festival the festival’s extraordinary venues, includcaptured the interest of a coming the uniquely historic Garrison munity that has not previously had a public Sally’s history traces back to opportunity to get together to discuss and publishing with the Oxford “Sally’s choice Library, the Convent and the King’s Chapel, noting that they really enjoy books. Organisers Sally Dunsmore University Press. She also of speakers add to the atmosphere. Conscious and Tony Byrne both have a wealth of worked with the Museum of has included of Gibraltar’s placement ‘at the experience behind them, particularly in Modern Art in Oxford and then those from the crossroads between the continents organising the world-renowned Oxford was a precursor for the Oxford surrounding of Africa and Europe, between the and Blenheim Festivals. Their vision for the Literary Festival, which will areas of Spain Mediterranean and the Atlantic’ Gibraltar event is to bring a wide variety of mark its 20th anniversary next Sally’s choice of speakers has inauthors and speakers to the Rock to bask and Morocco, year. Tony’s extensive career cluded those from the surrounding in the history, heritage and ‘warmth and has seen him act as the Project to add two areas of Spain and Morocco, to add hospitality of the Gibraltarian people’. Sally Director for Bristol’s Watershed cultures two cultures that are very relevant tells me that the previous years’ speakers media centre, the Director and that are very to Gibraltar. Spanish football jour‘could not get over the welcome that they Chief Executive of BAFTA, the relevant to nalist Guillem Balague will touch received here. They are great ambassaBritish Academy of Film and Gibraltar.” on the success of Real Madrid dors for the literary world back in the UK Television Arts and the Director

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festival Driss Alaoui Mdaghri

Sally Dunsmore

Tony Byrne

Mario Finlayson

Frank Close

James Hamilton

Adolfo Canepa Guillem Balague

Andrew Lownie

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festival footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, whilst former Moroccan government minister Driss Alaoui Mdaghri will discuss his work with La Fondation des Cultures du Monde, a foundation that promotes cross culture dialogue and respect. ‘It’s a tremendously rich heritage to draw upon,’ Tony insists, adding ‘we never have a problem inviting writers from the Mediterranean or Africa because there is always some connection. Out of the speakers who have been here over the first two years, an estimated 95% had never been to Gibraltar before. Anthony Beaver, “People often the great historian who ask me how wrote a book on the I find writers Spanish Civil War had and I wish never been and he I could say spent two days being something very shown around the caves and the military clear but it’s installations and was just instinct.” just riveted.’

Links between Gibraltar and world literature During the process of selecting authors to speak, Sally says she does a lot of research.

‘I’m in touch with publishers and writers as a natural every day event. People often ask me how I find writers and I wish I could say something very clear but it’s just instinct. It’s amazing to have been here to absorb the atmosphere and what makes Gibraltar work. I’ve got that as a backdrop, which I carry around with me and I think, “what would people really be interested in?” We try to have a good mix of subjects and writers.’ Tony points out that ‘increasingly, major historians, biographers and novelists ask if they can come to Gibraltar.’

‘Interestingly,’ Sally adds, ‘when you do this research you suddenly find connections, for instance, we have Andrew Lownie, one of the top literary agents in Britain, who “The organisers has written a book aim to include about the Cambridge an extensive Soviet spy Guy Burgess variety of who was in Gibraltar genres, from for a time.’ Further fiction to bridging links between biography, the literary world and Gibraltar, art historian children’s James Hamilton will books, science, discuss Turner and the philosophy and many paintings he did music.” of Gibraltar, despite him never having visited the Rock. The organisers aim to include an extensive variety of genres, from fiction to biography, children’s books, science, philosophy and music. ‘These days, people have very many interests, we’re always following social media and people are very interested in what’s going on in this world. I think it’s marvellous that we can have one of the world’s leading physicists, GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Professor Frank Close, who has a great ability to talk about the neutrino (electrically neutral elementary particle) and make it an understandable and enjoyable talk. He’s had “All the 50 years of scholarship speakers were that we will be privileged so impressed to listen to within that with how hour.’

well behaved the Gibraltar pupils were in comparison to the UK...”

Sally and Tony touch upon the success of last year’s involvement of local schools. With the help of the Department of Education, the Schools Festival was an incredible success. ‘We’ve never been able to do anything like that in Britain. Last year, we produced a programme whereby twenty speakers visited the schools and spoke to hundreds of youngsters. All the speakers were so impressed with how well behaved the Gibraltar pupils were in comparison to the UK, and also how incredibly intelligent and thoughtful the questions were,’ Tony expresses. Sally believed it was important to integrate the schools into the festival because just as adults do, children also have an interest in books and reading.

Looking back on her own early education, she wishes she’d had the opportunity to have something like this at her fingertips.

In the first year, a focus was placed on Roman Catholicism with Cormac MurphyO’Connor speaking, last year it was on the Anglican community with a talk by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey. This year, celebrating the great Jewish tradition of the Rock, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Levy, the spiritual leader of the Sephardic Spanish and Portuguese community in London, and brother of high profile Gibraltarians James and Momy Levy, will speak about ‘the tremendous heritage of the three Abrahamic faiths working together in Andalucía.’

The recent announcement that the Princess Royal will take on the role of the festival’s Patron, as from next year, has been welcomed by Tony and Sally who feel honoured that she has agreed to take on the role. ‘She’ll be hosting a major reception for the festival in London in the spring of next year, and that’s all we know at the moment,’ he tells me.

Local authors

A good range of local speakers have also been added to the bill, including Humbert Hernandez, a conscientious objector who is talking about his time spent imprisoned in Gibraltar for having stood against conscription. Sally explains, ‘Tracy Lee who is English, but married to a Gibraltarian, “We believe that has this great initiative to use the tunnels something has in the Rock as a wine vault. She will Progressing each year been created do a wine tasting and talk about that ‘One of the great here that is set initiative. Richard Garcia will discuss the things about year one,’ to endure and 50th anniversary of the Gibunco Group Sally expresses, ‘is that and the current Speaker of the House, become one the festival felt like it Adolfo Canepa will talk about his politwas already established of the world’s ical life in Gibraltar. A lovely event with great literary and had been around Mario Finlayson, who is one of Gibraltar’s festivals.” for years. Partly, I think, foremost artists, will see him talk about the reason for that was his life, and finally, we have Mary Chiappe that unlike festivals in Britain, when writers and Sam Benady.’ The integration of local attend for an hour, give their talk, and authors is also done at the Oxford and go away, authors have the chance here Blenheim festivals. ‘What’s marvellous for to get to know the community. We were the visitors is that very much the focus of able to build on that, and it became easier the festival is around the Garrison Library, to attract writers because of that spirit. the only one of its kind with its original We were also fortunate to get a lot of UK collection and furniture. It seems terribly media coverage last year, particularly from appropriate for local authors and historians the Telegraph. We believe that something to be speaking there.’ has been created here that is set to endure and become one of the world’s great literSoon enough, the Tourist Board will reary festivals.’ lease a pocket guide on the line up of this year’s speakers, as the event date comes Moving on to the future of the three-day closer. Tickets can currently be purchased event, Tony notes that they will continfrom the festival website where extensive ue to develop relationships with more information on each author, their books distinguished speakers. ‘Last year ticket sales were 79% up on year one, and sales and their talks is available. The event will are going very strongly already this year.’ be held from Thursday November 12th to Sally adds that each year, they are thinking Sunday 15th, when it will be rounded up by of new elements to keep the festival fresh. the annual closing dinner.

‘We’ve had some musical elements in previous years and this year we have some More information can be found at www. comedians, proper BBC4 comedians.’ gibraltarliteraryfestival.com 55

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BRINGING MY TRAVELS ALIVE Gianni Cumbo photographic exhibition

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he world is made up of two types of people; settlers and wanderers.

Since rebranding the magazine in May and changing the content to suit a larger audience, we’ve had a keen focus on travel. Gianni Cumbo is most certainly a wanderer, having spent six months, early this year, exploring India, Thailand, Indonesia, Burma and Israel. On his return “A lot of to the Rock, Gianni began the things organising a photographic I learned exhibition accumulating were kind some of his favourite of cliché images from his time but very backpacking. ‘I wanted to true.” bring some of the East into the West and take people through the journey that I went through.’

Gianni has been interested in capturing moments for the majority of his life having gone to University to study Videography.

Through his journey, he took the opportunity to snap timeless instances expressing everyday life in Asia and Israel. ‘I went trav-

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There were so many people there. We elling alone, but I never felt alone, I was never lonely. It was always a were invited into the two storey learning curve; I kept gaining “She was very shack where they had her body unnew perspectives and expeder a sheet. Everyone was gathered, influential, offering candles and money and riences. I met such awesome with nine telling stories about how she had people along the way. A lot children and of the things I learned were helped them in their life. They invited over a hundred me to take pictures.’ Gianni used a kind of cliché but very true.’ grandchildren. ” Canon PowerShot G12 to chroniA funeral in Burma cle his travels, although not a high performing DSLR, certainly a snap happy His chosen photos, carefully pulled from a alternative that falls at the top of the range line up of hundreds, depicted locals wholly of compact digital cameras. ‘They see engrossed in their actions, exposing the death as another part of life, another part culture divide between the East and the of the cycle to be completed,’ he explains West. Gianni gave me a sneak preview of to me, with wisdom in his eyes. He has some of his favourite images displaying so many stories to tell from his travels. natives washing clothes in the river, fishing ‘Another part of the trek was seeing and curiously, carrying out a memorial people working in fields and little children service for a dead relative in Burma. ‘A bathing their buffalos in rivers. The nearest very old woman had just passed away but they weren’t treating it like a funeral; it was village is half a day away and I think to myself how independent these people more like an excuse to gather everyone are and they always have a smile on their form nearby villages. It was like a celebraface.’ He recounts a tale of an old woman tion. She was very influential, with nine children and over a hundred grandchildren. in Burma who has a ginger farm. Upon 57

photography were at their happiest. The result of his question helped bring his images alive as he attached personal quotes to many of the mystery subjects in his photos. During his time in Thailand, Gianni volunteered at an elephant sanctuary, washing and feeding the tranquil mammals. Photos taken during his time there made up a section of his exhibition. He also volunteered at an eco-hostel, clearing litter and as a model in a life drawing class in Bali.

Auspicious coincidences

their meeting, the woman told Gianni that her family is one of the only in the village to have a working television, although they can only receive Korean soap operas through the signal. ‘She’s eighty years old and she’s out there working. She tells me that she doesn’t like watching Korean soap operas because she can’t understand them. In that moment I snap and I catch her laughter and kind of encapsulate her, kneeling down with her basket full of dung in this field. That was definitely one of my favourite photographs.’

A theme that I have touched upon with other Gibraltarian backpackers and travel writers is the benefit of travelling, especial-

ly for Gibraltarians. ‘I think India, Thailand, Burma, Southeast Asia and Asia are places people need to experience at least once in their lives. It is a completely different world. There’s so much to learn and grow from. When they say Incredible India they aren’t joking. I was terrified beforehand but the fear is an illusion more than anything.

You will most definitely learn things. It felt like I was in a feel good movie. You realize how many opportunities there are when you’re out there. I especially recommend those from Gibraltar to travel. Being from here we already live in a bubble and we have to experience what’s out there.’

Throughout his journey, Gianni took the time to ask those that he met when they

Gianni is clearly a spiritual individual, he speaks of auspicious coincidences he encountered throughout his travels; from hearing the same song in a few different hostels in a few different countries, to stumbling across people he’d met previously in another part of the East. ‘Another running theme was the uncanny phenomenon of finding people again. I thought it was so incredible. One girl I had travelled with for a few days I had met on a train in India, her name was Chloe, and we said goodbye after a few days and then I bumped into her a month later in the North, in Goa. The same thing happened with another girl. I had travelled with Crystal in Thailand and I knew that she was going to be in Bali at the same time as me, we parted ways but when I got off the bus in Bali, I saw Crystal walking towards me with a couple of friends. It also happened with a Moroccan artist, who played the guitar. In Thailand, we would follow him

“India, Thailand, Burma, Southeast Asia and Asia are places people need to experience at least once in their lives.”

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wherever he played. We bumped into him again in Chang Mai and then months later in Jerusalem, I was in a hostel after coming back from the Dead Sea and I decided to go to reception to find out the bus times and there, in reception, was him. I was completely baffled. Jerusalem is massive.

All these symbols and connections made me feel as though I was on the right path somehow. It also happened with music.’

of Gianni’s, was to express to people that they too can travel if they so desire. He explains to me that he managed to catch cheap flights to India by booking them well in advance. The exhibition stirred wistful dreams of travelling for many that went

to see it, and brought back wonderful memories for those who, like Gianni, had seized the opportunity to explore other parts of the world. Gianni tells me that this isn’t it for his travels; he’s already planning his next escape.

His exhibition, which ran from the 7th-9th of October, also featured some incredible landscape shots that put Gibraltar’s size into perspective, ‘I went to Massada, a fort above the Dead Sea that is famous for homing refugees when the Romans invaded. On the way up, I remember turning around and just being overwhelmed by the sight behind me; the curves of the desert sand going into the Dead Sea in the distance. I remember snapping and getting a beautiful shot that’s in the exhibition. I thought to myself “I’m nearing the end of my six months and where have I been? I can’t believe all that I’ve experienced, all the people that I’ve met.” At that moment I felt so blessed.’ Being a film student, Gianni did video certain special moments during his travels, but felt more inclined to use stills throughout his journey. A big aim GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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art words | Elena Scialtiel

ESTONIAN AESTHETICS It is Nordic November - and Estonian artist Märt Rannast is painting the town every shade of autumnal bliss...

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he solo exhibition currently on display at Sacarello’s is a Gibraltarian premiere for this seasoned artist, quite well known in and around his country, that he describes as ‘a colour spot on the painting of Europe: small, but without it, the artwork would be imperfect’.

“For the first time I have the opportunity to show my creations in a wonderfully cultural environment, different from the Nordic nostalgia that surrounds me daily,” Märt says. “The chance of introducing my art and artistic trends to a magnificent place like Gibraltar is both an incredible and interesting experience for me.”

His collection illustrates the human ability to “continually express itself in a way where communication “Estonia: a through feelings and colour spot on emotions is permathe painting of nent, and language, Europe: small, mannerism, political views, religion, power but without etc. do not come first,” it, the artwork he adds, suggestwould be ing for it the title of imperfect.”

‘Permanent’.

With a nod to compatriot artists Lembit Saarts, Valdur Ohakas and Ülo Sooster, who developed national modern art in the early Sixties and gave it a unique identity, Märt Rannast’s style is an original melange 60

defines my choice of style. I don’t focus just on one style, when I try to express my emotions in the best way for them to be transmitted most effectively. Each individual perceives expression differ“Each individual ently. Shape and colour communicate and stimulate different perceives emotions in a direct and specific expression way. My goal is inspiring viewers differently. to interact with art through their Shape and own vision.”

of Impressionism, Cubism, Symbolism, Crepuscular and Naive, peppered with the his country’s magical folklore, warm earth tones and the evanescent lights borrowed from Aurora Borealis’s cloak.

colour communicate and stimulate different emotions in a direct and specific way.”

Permanent but ever-changing, because his style and subject matters are varied and eclectic in space and time. His work is not just about the physical four dimensions, but it all pivots on emotions: “That is what

A welcome novelty is that Märt is showing a selection of sculptures alongside his charmingly desolate landscapes, sombre portraits, geometric still natures and muted abstracts: “They are inspired by nature. I have used nature’s own shapes to materialise my subjective thoughts. Stone sculptures are a noteworthy part of my childhood and this has left a mark on my choice of media and form.”

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art

His sculptures feature a primeval element as if they belonged in a Neolithic necropolis, and they are as sturdy as chiselled stone, or as sleek and malleable as wrought iron. His watercolours indulge in freeform shapes and the juicy colours picked from a mixed bag of sweets that accentuate the Pindaric leap of faith required to interpret and appreciate them.

are however blurred as they become unimportant compared to the story told and the socialising ritual captured (cinema and church going, coffee shops and dining tables, just to mention some), often with the attention shifted towards the ornate background. “People around me inspire me to put on canvas the feelings they arouse in me.”

Born in the small seaside resort of Haapsalu to a sculptor father and teacher mother, and raised in the capital Tallinn, Märt followed both parents’ footsteps and besides teaching for 35 years, he painted and sculpted all his life, after attending art school in Tartu, whose Union of Artists he is now a member. He exhibited in Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Germany and Russia.

“I equally obliged to both their legacies, because art has never left my life. I guess one could say that I have been very lucky to be surrounded by art since my early childhood. I familiarised with art since a young age, at first the classics from books and magazines, then I learnt about other art forms, and how to concretise my fantasies through the basic rules of fine art.”

Visit martrannast.weebly.com.

Nature is what inspires Märt the most, and the subject matter most viewers relate to, in his opinion. Landscape gazing is soothing and it allows your spirit to wander and meditate. He is economical with details, so that you can bring the picture to life with your mind’s eye, perhaps populating it with figurines and buildings, or just basking in the solitude.

Märt is an accomplished portraitist too. He seems to favour group portraits, where the facial features GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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music words | Elena Scialtiel

‘UKEY DOKEY’ Music for your ears

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ke! is fast becoming an exclamation of delight in Gibraltar, since the night Hayley Vallejo and Marco De La Chica debuted with the Performers’ Club, and the audience was infected with their passion for the ukulele, the small but mighty instrument so easy, versatile and addictive to play and listen to.

Music met voice and hey presto! ‘Duke’ was born - the ukulele duet with a very cheesy name, they admit. But cheesy is also

“That’s because she distracts them with her shocking red hair!” Marco comments.

Hayley describes how the audience pensively shushes, cocks an ear to compute what tune it is, when the first few notes are released in the air, and “We are not looking once they recognise it, they promptly sing along. “And that’s the best for fame, feeling in the world, because you but fun.” know you’re doing it right!” she says.

Fresh from his fifteen minutes of fame on ITV, which recorded and broadcast Gibraltar Got Talent 2014 where he was a finalist, 18-year old student and St. John’s volunteer Marco “That’s rode the celeb wave and because she went on teaching how to play the distracts ukulele to 28-year old customer service manager Hayley, who had them with her shocking previous experience with the piano and was already established as a red hair!” vocalist.

Ukuhayley and Marcolele by stage name, the pair were introduced by common acquaintances: she was one of the singers in the recently disbanded piano ensemble ‘Back to School’ and he was a uke whiz, but not confident enough to sing along his strumming. She quickly picked up the subtle art of string picking, feeling very passionate about playing an instrument for the first time in years.

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catchy, hence Duke stuck, and made them quite popular, especially for the way they enthuse the crowds turning popular chart hits into a completely new sound.

Their age gap and different commitments don’t taint their partnership: “You can say I’m a childish adult and he’s a mature child,” Hayley says, “so we work together perfectly. The audience doesn’t seem to notice – or mind.”

Duke’s varied repertoire comprises mostly covers, from Freddie Mercury to Coldplay, from the Jungle Book to the Gypsy Kings, although sometimes they throw in the occasional improvisation or an original track, to test the waters. “An original, performed solely by ukulele and voice, must be really catchy to stick in people’s ears, so at the moment, we’d rather establish ourselves as the ukulele duo that can cover virtually any chart hit, without a backing band or orchestra.”

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“We are not looking for fame, but she experiments with: That’s why they market themselves “shred it “Every uke sounds different. “Playing fun,” they claim. “We want to have as wedding and events singers, not like Van Plus, they come in different the ukulele necessarily just for beach bonfire a good time, inspire ourselves and is easy, each other to improve our proficien- Halen” sizes to produce different shindigs, but also for the forthcoming anyone can Christmas celebrations, for which cy in playing. And if we manage to sounds, higher or lower learn it...” inspire someone from the audience to pick pitch depending on how small they are already working on a playlist. up an instrument, the ukulele in particular, or large. The soprano ukulele is after attending our performances, we feel a really tiny one, for example, Duke can play plugged or unplugged gigs, and especially proud.” and it produces a curious sound. Then you are available for private and corporate parties have the baritone, at the lower end of the with an alternative twist, off the trodden trail. scale, and that is deeper and more solemn.

“Playing the ukulele is easy, anyone can Contact them through their Facebook page, When we perform, we always take a spare learn it, even when they have given up which promises great music and great sense just in case of ‘accidents’, but the ukulele is on other instruments,” Marco adds. And of humour and silly stories thrown into the quite easy to re-tune on the go.” he confesses that his childhood musical mix to add to your entertainment. dream was to be a rockstar, learning how to play the guitar and “shred it like Hayley had to fly solo a few times Van Halen”, but life drove him in last summer while Marco was “...it is a a different direction – actually, he in the UK ‘university shopping’. tiny guitar is starting his Psychology degree shaped like a Stepping on the Summer Nights in Middlesbrough this year – yet stage all alone was daunting pineapple...” allowing him to cultivate music on but she pulled it off with flying the side as a hobby. colours, thanks to her bubbly personality and great talent, which got the crowds sing along rock and pop anthems Marco realised that the ukulele is a more like at a stadium concert. finger-friendly instrument: “Four fingers, four strings – what can be easier? Basically, it is a tiny guitar shaped like a pineapple, The ukulele being a soft instrument, the not much more than a toy, and you can singer doesn’t need a powerful voice to buy yourself one for a handful of quid, try rise above it, so the performance can be it and if it really bores you, just use it as kept quiet and casual – perfect to set a firewood at your next barbeque...” he jokes. chillout atmosphere, without giving up the festive or party vibe. Duke would like to expand the ukulele image beyond Hayley has become an aficionado and now she sports a small collection of instruments the Hawaiian stereotype of sun and surf.

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leisure words | Alex Orfila

NIGHT & DAY The hottest trends are not strictly reserved for dancefloors and weekends...

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e are all familiar with the catch phrase work hard, play hard. Likewise, dressing up needn’t be restricted to our scarce moments of “play” (which are usually limited to weekends) when there do indeed seem to be many more hours and days of work “Let’s face during the week. Let’s face it, there’s a it, there’s a reason why they reason why call it the working week! they call it

bear to part with; (d.) Impulse buys we wish we hadn’t made; or, as is often the case (e.) ALL of the above.

Unfortunately, our most coveted pieces somehow find themselves in this limbo too -undeservedly so- but not because we no longer want to wear them but because Monday to Friday mean that we have to stick to the regimented “uniform” the working nature of office attire. Or do we? After I, for one, find it tiresome week!” all, the Autumn/Winter 15 fashion shows and at times frustrating were an eclectic mix of trends and alwhen I am faced with the though clothes paraded on catwalks in ingrim reality that my most beloved items of ternational fashion capitals probably seem clothing barely get any air time. My favorite clothes are discarded at the other end of a world away from your “My favorite the wardrobe -I’m sure everyone has a side office here in Gibraltar, it is possible to add an injec- clothes are of their wardrobe reserved for: tion of this glamour into discarded (a.) Bad choices; your everyday working at the other (b.) Things that don’t fit quite as we’d like; wardrobe. Here’s how… end of the (c.) Pieces with sentimental value which long wardrobe...” ago went out of style but which we cannot There was an exciting GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

offering of 70’s Geek Chic from Gucci as the fashion power house reinvented itself under the Direction of its new Creative Director Alessandro Michele. In stark contrast, we also saw a return to 80’s power dressing courtesy of Loewe with extravagant silhouettes and metallic shades, whilst graphic swirls of colour were present in the Dior collections which brought to mind retro psychedelic 60’s trends.

However, it doesn’t end there, it was definitely a feast of nostalgia as bygone decades and eras seem to be the focus of this season’s style as luxurious black lace and high ruffled neck lines reminiscent of the gothic grandeur of the Victorians also made an appearance in several of this year’s fashion shows.

There was also a flavour of all things bohemian as fashion greats such as Burberry Prorsum and Chloe sent their models down the runway in folky tasseled ponchos. A variety of textures were also on 65

fashion the scene with offering of shearling gilets and snow jackets from Lanvin and Preen, whereas velvet was on the agenda in the form of suits and dresses from Armani and Christopher Kane.

Although all of the above trends are fabulous and tremendously exciting in my humble opinion - you will agree – that they are hard or near impossible to integrate into our everyday work wardrobe. It goes without saying that one must always maintain a

NIGHT VS DAY

professional image when at the office. I’m not implying that bold graphic prints are necessarily suitable for board room politics, nor are extreme ruffles of lace.

However, this doesn’t have to mean that you should have to compromise on style and spend a large fraction of your week or indeed your life in clothes which make you feel not quite yourself. A shirt with an accent of lace can be easily paired with your very-work-appropriate pencil skirt, thus

bringing a note of this season’s moody “Victoriana” trend to the office. Likewise, you can also pair some slightly flared trousers with your standard work blouse and voila, instant 70’s geek chic transformation has been accomplished.

It is important to remember that there are indeed many subtle and tasteful ways that provide a gentle nod towards these trends without our having to surrender to them entirely. As with most important things in life - it’s all about balance.

With so many fabulous trends on the figurative fashion horizon, here’s how to transform them from evening outfits to work appropriate attire…

THE CLASH Andy Warhol’s own muse Edie Sedgwick epitomised this look. 60’s graphic prints were all the rage and are now making a comeback.

OFFICE

EVENING

When it comes to this look, our opinion is: the bolder the better. That’s why we are loving this monochrome graphic number.

The cut and quality of this dress make it ooze professionalism whilst the swirls of colour bring in an element of fun. That’s why it is as apropriate for the boardroom as it is for date night.

Karen Millen £170

Lipsy £65

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RETRO GEEK CHIC The muse is Kate Jackson, the more modest of the Charlie’s Angel trio who’s seventies Geek Chic look translates to effortless cool.

Topshop £22

OFFICE

EVENING

It’s a common misconception that turtle necks are all drab, we don’t think so - this cropped version is a spin on the classic and has party appeal.

This deep red polo neck will keep you looking effortlessly smart at work whilst adhering to this season’s favoured neckline.

Zara £29.99

When it comes to flares follow the mantra of the sevenites and go for something bold - make a statment in this patterned version.

Boohoo.com £10

For instant retro cool, may we suggest a vintage satchel? Smart, practical and bang on trend.

The Cambridge Satchel Company £116

The go to shop for flares this season, Topshop have pinned the trend down to a Tee. Transform the flare into an office staple by sticking to neutral tones.

Topshop £42

Complete the look with a suede clutch, we’re loving this one becuase of it’s colour and killer fringing.

Urban outfitters £22

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fashion

GOTHIC VICTORIANA The muse is Penny Dreadful’s Vanessa Ives and the mood is dark and seductive whilst maintaining an air of regal elegance.

Tone it down with this gorgeous Reiss number which lends itself to the more modest aspect of the Victorian’s lifestyle: covering up!

Commit to the Victoriana look entirely in this River Island blouse which ticks all of this trend’s boxes. High ruffled neck line: CHECK, Long swooping sleeves: CHECK, Bags of lace and elegance: DOUBLE CHECK

Reiss £95

River Island £38

The only Accessory you will need is a swipe of lipstick in a deliciously deep tone, may we suggest Mac’s aptly named “Dark Side”.

MAC £11

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OFFICE

River Island £25

EVENING

River Island have covered this look down to perfection.

We love this pencil skirt with lace detail which oozes instant elegance.

Follow the smart trend through to perfection with an offering from Karen Millen in the form of a smart tapered trouser.

Karen Millen £115

The Victoriana look is also characterized by fine jewelry and pearls. Keep it subtle at work with these pearl rings.

Zara £9.99

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

travel words | Sophie Clifton-Tucker

TREMENDOUS TOKYO – robots, roleplay and rush hour

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hen you think of Japan, what comes to mind? Cat cafes, anime, robot restaurants, love hotels... panty vending machines? Well, you’re not wrong, but there is a lot more to the stereotype.

Japan is a country steeped in traditions both old and new; a fusion of western and Japanese cultures and customs that has made it the accessible and desirable holiday spot it is today.

Tokyo is a fast-paced city that is alive all over it! (Guaranteed to make your bum blue. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.) Even the with the throngs of ‘gaijins’ (foreigners) police stations are in on it - their and locals alike, illuminated by mascot is a cross between a hamflashing neon signs and huge flat “Coming from ster and a space cadet. According screens attached to the side of enormous skyscrapers (like some- humble little to the Tokyo Times ‘his large ears Gibraltar, help him hear people in trouthing out of Orwell’s 1984, only ble, his antennae catches quick with kawaii girl bands prancing Tokyo might about on screen - slightly less well have been movement and large eyes watch every corner of society.’ Quite an sinister). It’s hard to convey the a different initial shock of finding yourself in effective tool, who would want to planet. ” betray his tiny trust? the middle of all this, jet-lagged, overwhelmed and in dire need of a shower.

Language similarities

If you would have told me five years ago that I would one day be living in Tokyo, I would have laughed and simultaneously cried at the prospect of living somewhere so alien to “Cat cafes, me. Coming from humble little anime, robot Gibraltar, Tokyo might well have been a different planet. After sev- restaurants, en months, I still don’t quite feel love hotels... like I’ve touched down on earth panty vending yet, but now I’m not sure I want machines?” to either.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Much like any other large city, there’s a feeling of ‘keep up or get swept away’; I think I did a bit of both. One thing I immediately noticed about Tokyo is just how cute they make things.

Need to buy a kettle? Why not have a mini one seemingly made for chipmunks? Toilet roll? Have some with bright blue cartoons

Amidst all the madness, there are some similarities to life in Gibraltar. Walking down a street in Tokyo, you’ll hear foreign sentences punctuated with English words, much like our English/Spanish code-switching; ‘OK! ... Really? ... Oh my Gaaad!’ Funnily enough, the Japanese and Spanish accents are extremely similar, so chances are if you can speak one language, you’d probably sound pretty good in the 69

travel

Tokyo’s Panorama

morning, you need only pop to much of the English other. The vowel sounds a, e, i. o “In Tokyo, it your nearest ‘kombini’ (conveand u and most consonants sound “keep up or language has become get swept seems that nience store) which are all open the same in both languages. For ‘nipponised’, meaning they away” everything 24/7, or if you’d like to listen to have taken English words example, the ‘u’ sound in ‘usted’ is switched but kept the Japanese some music you can find a jazz is the same as the ‘u’ in ‘ume’ bar nestled in one of the high rise pronunciation. ‘Biru’ = beer / (the Japanese word for plum), and the ‘e’ on at all buildings. Late at night, you can get ‘Makudonarudo’ = McDonalds. In in ‘que’ is pronounced the same way as times.” lost in the alleys flanked with neon the ‘e’ in ‘ebi’ (prawn). It’s Chinese that Llanito, we often mesh together signs such as “Cherry Kiss” or “Love words to form a brand new one, uses complex tones, and I think the two Baby”, as I accidentally discovered once. It’s and Japanese is no different; ‘pasokon’ often get confused due to the scary-lookan odd story and I’ll tell it one day. is an amalgamation of ‘personal’ and ing Kanji alphabet they share. As with ‘computer’.

Spanish, Japanese has a consistent set of pronunciation rules which, once Outlandish food experiences learnt, make reading aloud pretty “Japanese and I’m often asked how living in Spanish accents Tokyo compares with living in straightforward. Each Japanese Then there’s the absurd. Why grab a coffee character usually represents a are extremely other cities, and I think it has to at Starbucks when you can have one in consonant+vowel syllable, for be the sheer energy of the place. a room full of cats and strangers? ‘Neko’ similar, so example た = ta / ば = ba / こ = It’s true that most cities will (cat) cafes are popular out here. Due to the chances are if ko. Once you know this, you can you can speak have some sort of after-hours limited space in Tokyo, many people can’t give reading a good crack. たば bar you can sit in until the wee have pets of their own and so they head one language, こ = tabako (tobacco). There are hours of the morning, but in to one of these cafes to feed and play you’d probably many other loanwords like this Tokyo it seems that everything with the cats. I’ve even seen businessmen sound pretty in Japanese, for example ‘pan’ is switched on at all times. If come in on their lunch break in their suits, good in the is the word they use for bread. you are feeling peckish or want briefcase in hand, to relax and soak up the other.”

In addition to these loanwords, to grab some wine at 4 in the atmosphere. It’s obviously a big hit with Tokyo’s Neons

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

travel foreigners like myself too, I’ve “Would you been to three so far and not like a goat one person has looked at me with your like I’m a crazy cat lady. I have latte?” found my people! It almost feels like you’ve gone to your friend’s house to visit their pets, if your friend had invited lots of Japanese people you didn’t know and owned twenty cats. If cats aren’t your thing, there are also ones dedicated to rabbits, owls and more. ‘Would you like a goat with your latte?’ If sipping hot drinks in a room with a faint aroma of wee isn’t your thing, there are also ‘maid cafes’, where attractive giggly Japanese girls donned in maid outfits will serve you and sit down for a chat (again, a popular lunch time spot for many businessmen).

When I got to Tokyo, I decided to make it my mission to visit as many outlandish places as possible, and I think I have succeeded. One such venue I still haven’t fully recovered from was the Robot Restaurant in the popular central ward of Shinjuku.

It’s not so much a restaurant as it is a full-volume-maxiimals being ridden by scantily “You may be mum-theatrics-epilepsy-inshocked by just how clad female warriors, smoke, ducing-cavalcade-fusion show. inexpensive Tokyo noise... a sensory overload As you walk in to the waiting that comes with my warmest can be... Even on lounge you are serenaded by a recommendations. a budget you can futuristic looking woman with eat out every night her robot cohorts on electric I also visited a ‘prison restauguitar and drums. You couldn’t without breaking rant’ aptly named The Lockup the bank, and the make it up. Or you could, and where they handcuff you and someone did, and it was awefood is always good.” lead you to a cell. About once some. Once inside the actual an hour, just as you’re eating venue, you’re handed a bento your meal of black chicken or pasta with box full of unidentifiable (hopefully) edible eyeballs, all the lights turn off and some of pieces of food and a mini light sabre. I’m the staff dressed like monsters run around not quite sure how to describe the events the restaurant, shaking the bars of your that unfolded that night. There were lasers, cell and even coming inside to give you there were dancing robots, mechanical anheart palpitations. After about 10 min-

Maid Cafe

utes, sirens sound and another member of staff dressed in a policewoman costume (the sort you see in the specialist aisle of costume shops, fishnets and all) comes round with a megaphone, handcuffing the monsters and dragging them away. There are of course normal restaurants as well, if that’s what you prefer.

As a tourist passing through, you may be shocked by just how inexpensive Tokyo can be. For between £3 to £4 you can get yourself a large bowl of meat and rice, miso soup and side salad; beer is usually £2 to £3. Even on a budget you can eat out every night without breaking the bank, and the food is always good.

Cat Cafe

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travel

Robot Restaurant

Japanese etiquette for dummies Amidst the fog of cat cafes and robots, I have also delved into Japanese bunka (culture), learning the lingo at a local school, proper etiquette and the dos and don’ts.

As a gaijin, you’re given some leeway when it comes to these things, mercifully. I have had a few blunders, which I can (almost) laugh about now. When I was first learning Japanese, I made the error of calling a lovely elderly woman who had helped me out yasui (cheap) instead of my intended yasashi (kind). I also had a little drink of some of the sacred water that was meant for cleansing your hands before entering the temple. Bowing is part of daily life here. The angle and length of your bow depends on the situation and person you’re directing it towards. From the cashier at the kombini to your boss at work, it’s an important way to show your respect and gratitude for the other person. When you see groups of colleagues leaving their workplace, you might see someone bow up to four times in a row! Still, the first time I was given a bow, I became flustered and did an accidental curtsey back instead.

It can be daunting trying to casually slip in to another culture and instead stick out like a car driving in the wrong direction up the motorway.

accidents permitting), very reasonably priced and extremely clean. However, going on the subway at rush hour is as close to being a canned sardine as I’d ever like to be. You morph from a carriage full of strangers to spooning in 60 seconds.

Work ethic is another important part of Japanese life. For some, it is quite an unforgiving work culture. Even when their

regulation workday is over, there is often a huge sense of guilt about leaving on time - many people won’t think about clocking off until their boss does. However, it’s all swings and roundabouts because from my experience, they party just as hard! It’s a common occurrence to see people filing out of their office building and straight into an izakaya, where they will stumble out early the next morning, with a few hours The Lockup Restaurant

“Bowing is part of daily life here. The angle and length of your bow depends on the situation and person you’re directing it towards.”

I don’t think I could get away with writing about Tokyo without at least mentioning the train system. It’s ridiculously reliable (trains are never more than a minute late, 72

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travel

Japanese Manga

to recuperate for the workday different plates of food, very “It is quite an ahead, when it will all begin much the way we do with our unforgiving again. The name izakaya comes tapas, along with drinks. Work work culture. from i = to stay and sakaya = drinks in the UK usually begin Even when sake shop. For a small fee of on a Friday night and continue around 900yen (the equivalent throughout the weekend, contheir regulation of about £4) you can partake workday is over, versely, the Japanese usually keep in a nomihoudai which roughly their weekends free for family there is often translates to ‘bottomless cup’ while weekdays are set aside for a huge sense - or as we know it, ‘all-youwork and going out. of guilt about can-drink’. In the UK, it’s not leaving on time.” Tokyo has been a whirlwind, a city uncommon to head to the pub after work and sink a few pints full of reverence and all things on a relatively empty stomach, and then quirky. A visit to Tokyo can be a bit like indulge in something greasy from a van on taking a time machine into the future, but the way home. In Japan, it’s more common conversely the traditions and culture it’s to sit down in an izakaya and order a few comprised of is deeply rooted in the past.

Pipo-kun, Police Mascot

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend your next holiday, perhaps you’ll consider a place where animals and hot drinks go hand in hand, where kawaii rules, and where toilet seats open as you approach them. Any time spent here is too brief.

Tokyo’s packed train

Owl Cafe

“Trains are never more than a minute late, very reasonably priced and extremely clean.”

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shopping

EVER EXPANDING Eroski Center Gibraltar

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“The Waitrose brand was voted the UK’s top supermarket in a Which? survey of 7,000 shoppers scoring five stars for quality, customer service and store environment.”

roski Center Gibraltar opened its doors in December of 2012; initially offering limited ranges from Spanish franchise ‘Eroski’, and popular UK collection ‘Waitrose’.

Almost three years down the line, the Rotunda based supermarket has expanded its offering to include more ranges, a popular lunch destination, a bureau de change and an impressive store enlargement of twenty five percent. ‘We’re also now adding some retail units,’ Marketing and Business Development Manager, Daniel Massias explains to me. ‘My father felt Gibraltar needed a supermarket so we thought we’d start off with a normal sized venue, and then we realised customers wanted more of the same, and new lines like Waitrose Homeware.’ The Waitrose brand was voted the UK’s top supermarket in a Which? survey of 7,000 shoppers scoring five stars for quality, customer service and store GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

year they opened their first carbon neutral store. All their own branded paper ware come FSC (Forrest Stewardship council) certified, meaning that the paper is taken from legal and sustainThe Eroski brand “They have able forests and the environwas founded in understood we ment is considered throughout 1969, with over have our own the supply chain. Many of their 30,000 employees customs and fish products fall under the MSC currently working traditions in Gib.” (Marine Stewardship Council). for it. The Spanish chain is run They also have their own as a worker-consumer hyHealthy brand, SANNIA, which includes brid co-operative within the Mondragón products with reduced salt and sugar.’

Corporation group. Daniel says Eroski Center Gibraltar enjoys an The process of establishing extremely close relationship with “Strict controls the store was ‘challenging but the Basque based business. He are placed on fulfilling’, Daniel tells me. ‘As adds, ‘they have understood their deliveries, were dealing with over 15,000 we have our own customs and traditions in Gib and even different products lines, including with trucks though we are their 1st internahaving tracking fresh meat, fruit and veg, milk etc., there were many environtional store they have made sure and reporting mental and import licenses we we are allowed to buy locally devices needed to obtain. We also take in order to cater for our tastes implemented staff training very seriously, as and traditions. They are always into them.” looking for new innovations; last they deal with fresh products we environment. The overall rating was 73%. ‘People like the quality and value,’ Daniel adds.

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shopping

want to make sure our meat, poultry and fish is as fresh as can be.’ He explains that strict controls are placed on their deliveries, with trucks having tracking and reporting devices implemented into them. ‘At any time, we can log in and see where exactly

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have been placed on all fridges, which will increase efficiency by up to 40%. ‘We have also implemented LED lighting.’ Daniel tells me that most of their fresh produce is regional, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. ‘We also like to support local suppliers, so we have over twenty supply to us.’ The secret behind Eroski’s success in Gibraltar is the balance of well-established and fairly priced Spanish products under Eroski, and high quality, well-loved English products under the Waitrose brand. The store allows customers more choice at prices matching both the UK and Spain. ‘As Gibraltar is a separate market in itself, we also have our own tastes that differ from English or Spanish. We have had to learn what it is the customer wants and tailor our offering to that,’ Daniel notes. Store Manager Mark Pecino explains that with VAT cuts, they save delivery costs and are able to compete with Eroski and Waitrose’s prices. A bigger store has also meant more specialty items for those who follow an organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, kosher or halal diet. they are and what tempera“The secret behind New products from well-loved ture the food is at. This helps vegetarian brands like ‘Good us maintain the cold chain for Eroski’s success Life’, and an impressive range of in Gibraltar is chilled and frozen foods. The dairy free ice cream, chocolate the balance of same is done with our store and alternative milk products and warehouse fridge and well-established lend a sigh of relief to those who freezers.’ All potential memand fairly priced were formerly not offered a great bers of staff are interviewed Spanish products range of products in Gibraltar. personally by the Chairman under Eroski, Waitrose Homeware has also of the business to ensure and high quality, seen a huge influx of new prodthat employees are familiar well-loved English ucts available at Eroski including with the brand and who they electro domestic appliances like products under the are working for. ‘As a family juicers, microwaves and kettles.

Waitrose brand.” business, we try to pass this A pick and mix sweets section comradeship to our staff and is also available, having been stress the importance of teamwork.’ introduced a few months ago. The store’s unfaltering social media presence, answerThe recent expansion has improved their ing all customer queries put to them on fruit and vegetable offering and allowed Facebook and taking suggestions, is anfor a shuffle in isle size, making them other reason behind their popularity. Each wider and more shopper friendly. Doors week, customers fill around two trolleys

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

shopping with products that are donated to charity.

Eroski works with the ‘Action 4 Schools’ project to help build schools, orphanages and clean water latrines for children in Sierra Leone. About twice a month, local charities are also invited to collect.

As we browse the store, taking in the new look and exploring the specialty produce, Daniel tells me that customers’ favourite items range from British baked beans, to Spanish cured hams. Waitrose ready meals, which boast minimal preservatives, are also Eroski’s home delivery and e-commerce amongst the most purchased groceries. He services, introduced in 2013, have also been extremely well received, with comments on the future of the the home delivery service reaching store, noting that work to imple“The store’s its limit almost every day. Customer ment retail units along the outside unfaltering requests are often taken into wall has just been completed. social media account, leading to more product These have the potential to host presence, ranges being offered. The consenany service from hairdressing, to answering sus is that clients want more of the dry cleaning or key cutting. Plans all customer same products, particularly from are also in motion to have ATM Waitrose. Expats from up the coast queries put units based at the store and to frequent the supermarket, as well to them on offer bed and bathroom products as locals, in search of their favourby the end of the year. Further Facebook ite UK brands. expansions to their organic range and taking and the launch of a bigger kosher and halal range have also just been unveiled. This continuous development has received ‘very positive feedback,’ Mark says, ‘the customer count keeps growing.’

suggestions, is another reason behind their popularity.”

Both Daniel and Mark insist that they are always looking to improve and increase the store’s

offering and the dynamic of the rapidly growing company.

“We have had to learn what it is the customer wants and tailor our offering to that.”

Keep up to date with Eroski and any upcoming changes via their Facebook page ‘Eroski Center Gibraltar’.

The Rotunda, Winston Churchill Avenue

Tel: +350 200 66991 (Online shopping) +350 200 68666

For all your fresh fruit & vegetables!

You can now do your shopping online

www.eroski.gi more info on our Facebook page

HOME DELIVERY

Shop til you drop then leave the rest to us, your shopping will be delivered to your home ANY ADDRESS in Gibraltar Ask in-store for details

health words | Alexandra Caruana

DANGERS OF SUGAR How to eradicate your sweet tooth for good...

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izzy drinks, chocolates, sweets, ready meals, and much more. Sugar can be found almost anywhere nowadays, and with the increase of awareness on the negative effects it has on our general well-being, people are becoming conscious as to what they put in their bodies.

“More tests

In the past, we were are being encouraged to have sports carried drinks when we were out where feeling ill for a little glucose we are pick me up, or flat cola discovering when we had upset stomjust how achs. Today, more tests are being carried out where we bad sugar really is...” are discovering just how bad sugar really is, resulting in the British Government advising us to consume no more than seven teaspoons of sugar a day. This is less than one can of Coca-Cola, which for those needing their caffeine fix a couple of times a day could spell disaster.

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Artificial Sweeteners

Natural Sweeteners

Whilst most try and cut down on sugar by turning to the diet equivalent of these fizzy drinks, there are still dangers that can be found in artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. According to the NHS, aspartame can bring on allergies, cause premature births and even liver damage.

Initial concern came about when aspartame first appeared back in the 1980s and was approved for use in several “This sweet plant European countries. has been used for The product remains hundreds of years safe for consumption to sweeten food, today according to the but has only European Food Safety recently become Authority, which carried out a full investiga- available to us here in Europe...” tion on the chemical in 2013. However, many people remain sceptical of the ingredient, and err on the side of caution by avoiding it completely.

Natural sweeteners are also available for people to have as a healthier alternative to sugar. Plant extracts such as stevia are extracted from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, which originates from Brazil and Paraguay.

This sweet plant has been used for hundreds of years to sweeten food, but has only recently become available to us here in Europe when it was approved in 2010.

Stevia itself is a lot sweeter than sugar so only a little is needed, and like aspartame contains absolutely no calories.

Natural sweeteners can be found in all good health stores here in Gibraltar, so it couldn’t be easier to make the swap.

Derived from nature, this product has little controversy surrounding it and is therefore believed to be healthier for us than its artificial equivalent.

Sugar doesn’t always have to be unhealthy.

Here, in our sunny climate of Gibraltar, there are many delicious variations of fruit GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

health to enjoy that can help satisfy our sweet tooth. With healthy eating being a hot topic in today’s society and using a little creativity, it is now easier than ever to experiment and make your own healthy meals using a little inspiration.

Healthy Inspiration There are healthy food gurus out there, such as Ella Woodward, creator of Deliciously Ella, a blog and cookbook whereby she discovers how to cut out sugar and eat clean whilst ensuring that food is still tasty. Ella didn’t always eat well, and had to make several changes to her diet when she was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, making her tired and weak with chronic stomach pains and meaning she was bedridden most of the time. It was during this time that Ella began “In our sunny to research holistic climate of remedies for her conGibraltar, dition, and discovered the possibility of eating there are a completely plant many delicious based diet. It is true variations of when they say you are fruit that can what you eat because satisfy our Ella’s life completely sweet tooth.” turned around once she cut out sugar, dairy and processed foods and began eating fruits, vegetables and healthy grains. It was through this complete diet overhaul that she was able to get out of bed and start living her life again. After seeing the results for herself, she has vowed to never touch sugar again, but to jump on a culinary journey whereby she experiments with food to try and create a healthy version of her favourite food, including sweet potato brownies, chocolate smoothies, etc which only contain natural sugars. Check out her blog for some alternative and delicious recipes.

Stevia

Changes in attitude in Gibraltar We have also seen a change in Gibraltar’s attitudes to clean eating, with our health shops becoming more popular as the need for healthy products has been growing, including the introduction of Holland and Barrett, as well as the expansion of our local health stores who feel there is an increase in demand from Gibraltarians.

Type 2, which is the most common form of diabetes, is when insulin is still produced, just not enough. This can be controlled by diet, exercising regularly and checking your blood levels. This is a progressive condition however, and if not monitored, can result in the need for further medication.

Candida

From a holistic approach, candida is another condition that an abundance of sugar There are a lot of health clubs and plans can bring on. This condition is an imbalavailable in Gibraltar which on top of exercise regimes also encourage participants to ance in the bacteria of the gut, and if left to its own devices can cause some uncomtake part in a clean eating detox, meaning fortable symptoms. Most victims are likely that all food consumed has to be freshly made every day, eradicate processed foods to experience bloating and tummy pains.

Due to the lack of healthy bacteria in your and sugar itself, as well as alcohol, dairy, system, your body will find it wheat and tea and coffee. harder to digest food. Those “It was with candida are also susceptible Side Effects through this to infections and skin disorders complete Diabetes that can cause great discomfort, diet overhaul as a result of a weaker immune Known as the cocaine of the west, that she was system. Candida will also cause sugar can cause some side effects brain fog and fatigue with those able to get on your body that you might not affected experiencing severe even be aware of. Diabetes can go out of bed lack of concentration. The undetected until discovered from and start a blood test result. The biggest living her life most obvious symptom is sugar cravings, which will feed the danger is the amount of time it again.” condition further. takes to become diagnosed, as the longer it is left, the worse the condition will become. Symptoms will often be the reason why diabetes ends up being detected and include being more thirsty than normal, urinating more frequently, feeling lethargic, weight loss and blurred vision to name a few. Once detected, the person affected by this will need to have insulin injections daily to assist with this breakdown of glucose, which their system will struggle to do otherwise. There are two types of diabetes.

Type 1 is when no insulin is produced by your body at all, and the immune system attacks any insulin cells made. This means there is an overload of glucose, which can damage your organs. Sufferers are therefore reliant on insulin injections for the rest of their lives.

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health temptation around every corner, people find it harder to be sensible. People in these cases often find themselves opting for fad diets that are not sustainable and do not contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Teeth and Skin

The supplement acidophilus has been known to fight candida, as it helps restore the good bacteria in your stomach, and can be taken when When trying to eradicate the indulging in condition from your system. Ensuring that a soft drink, all sugar is taken out use a straw so of your diet is also a your teeth are must when trying to less exposed overcome candida.

Tooth decay is common for those with an appetite for sugary drinks and treats on a regular basis. Soft drinks in particular contain a high amount of acid that contributes to the damage to the enamel of your teeth and can leave them feeling sensitive. Dentists suggest the best way to keep your teeth in tip-top condition is to avoid soft-drinks altogether and to stick to water. When indulging in a soft drink, ensure you drink it with a straw so your teeth are less exposed to the acid that the drink contains.

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Use fresh, healthy ingredients and make sure you cook from scratch. This way you can control what is going into your food and help prevent the nasty side effects this sweet substance brings. Most ready-meals contain lots of sugar and salt to help preserve the flavours of the meal. There are some great recipes that can be found on delciouslyella.com that can get you kick-started into the right frame of mind for eating well.

Sugar is known as the cocaine of the west.

to the acid.

Obesity With such a vast variety of different drinks and snacks available, people are consuming many empty calories that provide no nutrition to their bodies, and are only adding to the obesity epidemic. Luckily for us here in Gibraltar, there is a lot on offer to help “Having a good us keep fit and shed old chinwag these extra kilograms. will help pass In addition to this, we the time and are seeing more and hopefully make more restaurants catering for the healthier you forget that you’re eaters amongst us, making it easier for exercising!” us to make the right choices. Although fast-food is practically everywhere, here, it is not as readily available as in places such as the USA, where there is an abundance of different unhealthy convenience foods, so with

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Sugar also contains aging properties which will be revealed on your skin, as it eats away at the collagen which aids keep skin young and supple. It is also known to dehydrate the body which leads to dry, puffy skin.

How to give it up Sugar can be hard to give up due to its addictive qualities. Tests have shown that people who have given up sugar cold turkey have suffered from sugar cravings and mood swings. Here are a few helpful tips to help you cut out sugar and to eradicate your sweet tooth for good:

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Hit the gym.

Healthy body will mean a healthy mind.

For those of you who don’t usually exercise, try doing activities here and there to get yourself motivated. Start by going for a brisk walk with a friend. Having a good old chinwag will help pass the time and hopefully make you forget that you’re exercising! It is also important to burn off any additional calories to avoid becoming overweight.

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health

When you experience a sugar craving, eat dark chocolate.

Not only does it contain a great dose of antioxidants, it is also stronger than milk chocolate meaning you don’t need to eat so much of it to kill

off a craving.

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Drink two litres of water every day. This will keep your skin hydrated and glowing. Setting yourself this target will also ensure that you will be more aware of what you are drinking, and are therefore more likely to cut out fizzy drinks.

5 6 Swap sugar for natural sweeteners. These can be found at all good health stores and can be used in things like baking and cups of tea or coffee. Every little helps!

Take acidophilus, a great little supplement to ensure your tummy contains all the good bacteria it needs.

Cutting down on sugar really has its benefits and the less you eat, the less your body will miss it. Say hello to more energy, weight loss and overall better health. Give up sugar, your body will thank you for it!

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recipes INGREDIENTS

METHOD

50g pine nuts

Preheat the oven to 2000C / gas 6.

Place the pine nuts on a baking tray and roast in the oven until golden, set aside to cool down.

1 large head of cauliflower 300g brussel sprouts 50g raisins 12 strands of saffron 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp garlic oil

Trim the outer leaves and base from the cauliflower then cut into small florets. Trim the ends from the Brussels sprouts and slice in half, keeping hold of the loose leaves.

Cover the raisins in boiling water, leave for about 20 minutes, then drain and set aside.

Place the cauliflower florets and sprouts in a large roasting pan, scatter over the saffron threads then

FACTS pour over the olive and garlic oils.

Season well and mix together gently. Roast for 25–30 minutes, until the florets and sprouts are tender and starting to caramelise.

You may find that the loose sprout leaves start to really crisp up; don’t be alarmed, it adds a lovely smoky element to the overall flavour.

Serves 4

Transfer the roasted cauliflower and sprouts to a serving bowl; add the pine nuts and raisins, season to taste then give the whole mixture a gentle stir to ensure everything is combined and coated in the saffron oil, and then serve.

Only 310 calories per serving

Cooks in 70 mins Very easy to make Healthy & Nutritious!

Dairy & Gluten Free

SICILIAN ROASTED Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts

Recipe by Pippa Kendrick from Jamie magazine 82

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recipes

ing

PARKIN CAKE

Traditionally eaten on Guy Fawkes Night

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

1 1/2 cups plain flour

Preheat the oven to 1500C and line a 20×20cm baking tray with parchment paper.

1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup caster sugar 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup olive oil spread 1/3 cup golden syrup 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tsbp water

In a large mixing bowl, seive together the flour, baking powder, caster sugar, ground ginger and baking soda.

Stir well to combine.

In a pan, over a medium-low heat, stir together the spread and golden syrup until they’re melted and combined.

Pour this mixture into the flour mixture and stir to combine. The mixture should be very thick.

Quickly whisk together the flax and water in a small bowl, then add it to the flour and syrup mixture along with the milks. Whisk well to ensure a smooth batter with no flour pockets.

Pour the batter into the lined baking tray and place into the oven. Bake for 1 hour, or until a fork comes out clean.

FACTS Serves over 6 Bakes in 80 mins Very easy to make Light & sweet Dairy & Egg Free

Allow to cool FULLY then cut into medium cubed pieces.

This cake tastes best after a day or two stored in the cake tin, but you can eat it right away too!

3/5 cup soy milk 2/5 cup coconut milk

Despite being full of viscous liquids and sugar, this is a surprisingly light dessert, and as ginger is a palate-cleanser, this is a great little dish to serve after a big meal. Drizzle with some golden syrup and dust some ginger around the plate and you’ll be ready to go. Serve with a good Yorkshire tea to keep the tradition alive :) Recipe by Heather from theeverydayveggie.com

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wine words | Andrew Licudi

THE WINE ADVOCATE Who cares what critics say...

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cult wines like Lafite or Chateau Margaux stopped taking wine critics recommenwas then a throw away price? Not really, produce around 30,000 cases each. dations seriously a long time ago. This but it would have been interesting to open is especially true if the wine in question a bottle occasionally with friends and see is a never heard of “discovery”, perhaps if this now immensely expensive wine is If I am not prepared to take wine critics from some newly formed wine region in worth auction prices. tasting notes too seriously, there are plenSpain or Greece from some ty of wine lovers out there who are. In fact, long forgotten grape variety many consumers will simply not buy wines “... many consumers Le Pin is a Pomerol made in with an unpronounceable small quantities from a blend without their favourite critic’s recommenwill simply not buy name. Of course, there is dations and this need to be reassured has of Merlot and Cabernet wines without their always the possibility that given rise to one of the most enigmatic, Franc. The vineyard was favourite critic’s this new wine will become powerful and larger than life characters the bought by a passing Belgian recommendations...” from the owner’s widow for the new Chateau Petrus wine world has ever seen. and I will regret not having one million francs acquired a bottle or two before prices rise (£120k, approximately the Robert M Parker junior lives in “His love of beyond my means. I won’t be losing any price of two cases of Le Pin Maryland with his wife Patricia.

French wines sleep over this possibility as in thirty years today!) and was subsequently He has never had any formal and the scarcity of avidly listening to advice, it has never found to have a unique gravtraining in wine. His website conof published happened. Well, that’s not strictly true, elly soil capable of turning out firms that Parker, now 67 years it has happened once but the gentleman huge, lush, decadent wines. information on old, graduated from Maryland in question, a member of my wine group, Le Pin was unknown until the Law School in 1973 and for the the subject in who recommended Le Pin (now the most Belgian took over and “disnext ten years practised law bethe U.S. led him expensive wine in the world) was selling covered” the vineyard. Its high fore deciding, against his family’s to eventually and promoting the wine and he is not a price is partly driven by its raripublish The Wine advice, to become a full time wine writer so it doesn’t really count. Do ty with the vineyard producing wine writer. His interest in wine I regret not buying a few cases for what only 800 cases per year. Other Advocate...” began in the late sixties when 84

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

wine he went to France to visit his then girlfriend Patricia. His love of French wines and the scarcity of published information on the subject in the U.S. led him to eventually publish The Wine Advocate and instigating an easy to understand, overly simplistic according to some, 100 point scoring system. Anything above 90 points considered highly desirable with 100 point considered perfection. Well and good so far but what happened subsequently is the stuff of movies.

“It was found that producers were changing their wine styles in the hope that Parker would give their wine a high rating and secure their financial future!”

In short, Parker’s influence through The Wine Advocate made him hugely powerful.

Powerful enough to be able to heavily influence the price of Bordeaux and much to the chagrin of top producers there, prices of even cult wines become heavily dependant on the blessing or otherwise of Robert Parker. The reason he became so influential was simply that he had such a large number of subscribers to his publication and the US market was and still perhaps the most important fine wine market for French wines. His influence did not stop there and before long, buyers from around the world were prepared to pay top dollar for wines which Parker had rated highly.

Parker himself became loved and “The reason hated simultaneously and came he became so in for serious criticism, particinfluential was ularly as his preferred style of simply that wine was said to be heavy, bom- he had such a bastic wines down rating more large number of subtle wines, especially those of subscribers to his Burgundy which tend to be light publication...” but hugely elegant and ultimately very complex if you are grape skin contact by weeks, in some prepared to develop your palate. Parker’s cases, to obtain a darker, heavier wine, one influence continued to grow right through which may have appealed more to Parker the eighties and nineties and a new word than the traditional Riojas. This new wines came into existence Parkerization. Simply, it became known as New Wave Riojas such as was found that producers were changing Roda and generally were indistinguishable their wine styles in the hope that Parker from Ribera wines! Alas, no wine in Spain would give their wine a high rating and was able to emulate Pesquera which since secure their financial future! I saw this hap- then has expanded its holdings and I wonpen in Spain and it all started when Parker der if it still is the Chateau Petrus of Spain. described Pesquera, an unknown Ribera del Duero wine, as the Chateau Petrus of As for Robert Parker, he has sold his publiSpain! Overnight, Alejandro Fernandez, its cation The Wine Advocate deciding to retire owner, became a celebrity and presumas the rigours of annual tastings in cold ably wealthy! Since then, the number of cellars was proving too much, especially as estates shot from around 22 to over three he has developed a painful back condition. hundred today. Vega Sicilia, another Parker Parker is the only wine critic in history favourite, remains the wine par excelto be given France’s highest presidential lance here. Such was the impact that the honours by two French presidents and was success of Pesquera had that there was made a Commendatore by Italian Prime a mad scramble amongst Spanish wines Minister Berlusconi. King Juan Carlos of producers to get Parker to rate their wines.

Spain bestowed him with Spain’s highest On more than one occasion I was asked civil honour Gran Cruz de la Orden del by producers if I personally knew Parker! merito Civil. Parker never described any After this, we saw many producers, many other Spanish wine as the Chateau Petrus in Rioja, emulate Pesquera. Extending of Spain.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

“Parker is the only wine critic in history to be given France’s highest presidential honours by two French presidents...”

Robert M Parker

Wines to try at least once in your life Pesquera – Ribera del Duero By the time I visited Ribera del Duero, long before it had become fashionable, Pesquera had closed its doors to visitors following its meteoric rise to fame. I did manage to get hold of a couple of its Reserva wines from a nearby venta! At the time, I thought the wines very special. Since then, Pesquera is widely available. In Gibraltar, Stagnettos is the local agent. It’s a typical Ribera Wine though its reserva wine should be very drinkable and given time complex.

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appetite

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restaurants

Café Solo Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square.

Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana chorizo, black pudding,

Cafe Rojo Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Brunch (10am-12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts. 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: Tues - Fri 10am- late, Saturday lunch 12-3pm, afternoon drinks & desserts, dinner 7-10pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays.

Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738

Casa Pepe

Nunos Italian

Nunos Italian Restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean, is popular with hotel guests, tourists and local residents. This 2 rosette rated, AA restaurant is renowned for its eclectic interior, intimate atmosphere and fine cuisine. Savour a wide selection of freshly prepared Italian delicacies, including bread, pasta, meat and fish, followed by delicious desserts. In the summer months, the hotel offers alfresco dining for private parties in the Garden Grill. Sitting nestled in the colonial garden you can enjoy a mouth-watering menu of charcoal-grilled meats and freshly prepared salads in candlelit surroundings.

Open: Mon-Sun 1-3pm lunch, 7–11pm dinner Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay Tel: 200 76501 Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi

Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449

Solo Bar & Grill

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

Sacarello Coffee Co

A delightful terrace, bar, restaurant on the prestigious Queensway Quay Marina. Wonderful location for business meetings, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions. Specialising in fresh fish caught locally with daily specials including seabass, dorada, sole, and bream, plus a very comprehensive a la carte menu. Also available are tapas and raciones (double size tapas) to share (or not!) prior to a main course.

Mixed paellas also available, as well as fish cooked in rock salt, whole suckling pig and baby lamb to order.

Open: Tues-Sat lunch & evening, Sunday lunch only, closed Mondays.

Located in a converted coffee warehouse, and famous for its great fresh ground coffee, homemade cakes/ afternoon tea, plus full 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. Holds popular art exhibitions with the Sacarello collection and guest artists. Very busy at office lunchtimes (1-2pm). Sacarello's is available for parties and functions in the evenings.

Open: 9am-7.30pm Mondays - Fridays. 9am-3pm Saturdays

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

Visit: www.gibtour.com/casapepe.

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

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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.

Get Listed!

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

To get your business listed here

call 200 77748 or email info@thegibraltarmagazine.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

food & drink

directory Get Listed!

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

To get your business listed here

call 200 77748 or email info@thegibraltarmagazine.com Get Stuffed Very popular take -away, 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. Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006

Just Desserts Bright and airy, recently redecorated cafe on the first floor of the ICC. All home-made food including daily specials, vegetarian options, desserts and small cakes. Eat in or take-away.

Try their daily roast with everything on, or their all-day breakfast. Pensioner’s lunch - 2 course meal for £5.25.

Friendly, cheerful and fully licensed.

Open: from 7.30am Monday to Friday Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014

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

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

The Lounge Stylish lounge and gastro bar on the quayside at Queensway Quay with very reasonable prices and food 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 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).

The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118

Oasis Eatery

e to wher drink eat &e Rock on th

informal food Raj’s Curry House Raj’s tasty Indian cuisine is now available to eat in or take away, from his new fully refurbished premises in Queensway Quay next to the Waterfront. Serving authentic dishes such as Creamy Butter Chicken, Bhuna King Prawn or Chana Masala, and so much more.

There is something available to suit all tastes. Pop in or telephone for food orders or table reservations.

Open: food served 7 days 11am- 3pm, 6pm-late Raj’s Curry House Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 46993

Solo Express

Located in Governor’s Parade, just across from the Elliot Hotel, and offers hot/cold drinks plus a delicious homemade selection of baked items such as cakes and quiches, also sandwiches and wraps, bagels and cupcakes. Vegan/vegetarian items. Oasis is on Facebook and Twitter and you can pre-order online which is handy for a quick lunch. Special orders taken for a range of bakery goods. Fully licensed for beers and wine. Terrace seating.

Open: 8am to 3pm

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.

Oasis Eatery Govenor’s Parade Tel: 200 65544 www.oasiseatery.com

Solo Express Grnd Flr, ICC, Casemates & Eurotowers

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

Picadilly Gardens 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, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, paella by pre-order, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or takeaway. Open: 6:30am till late.

Piccadilly Gardens Rosia Road, Tel: 20075758

The Tasty Bite Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken 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.

The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321

Verdi Verdi 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 salads 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.

Verdi Verdi ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 60733

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food & drink

directory All’s Well

Gibraltar Arms

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.

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.

All’s Well Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987

Gibraltar Arms 184 Main Street. Tel: 200 72133 Visit: www.gibraltararms.com

Bridge Bar & Grill

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bars & pubs 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

Jury’s Café-Wine Bar

Star Bar

Located on the water ’s edge, Ocean Village, just across the bridge from O’Reilly’s. This bar & grill is a fusion of an American themed menu with Tarifa chill out style. Open for breakfast from 9am serving healthy options, freshly squeezed orange juice and Italian Lavazza coffee. Try the spicy Caribbean rum ribs, southern fried chicken bucket, the popular Texas burger or a selection of tasty salads and homemade desserts. London Pride, San Miguel & Carling beer on draught, live sports.

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.

Gibraltar’s oldest b a r, j u s t 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.

Bridge Bar & Grill Ocean Village Tel: 200 66446

Jury’s Café & Wine Bar 275 Main Street. Tel: 200 67898

Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Visit: www.starbargibraltar.com

Cannon Bar

Lord Nelson

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.

Bar/brasserie in Casemates. Done out like Nelson’s ship. Starters & snacks include f re s h m u s s e l s, 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.

Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 Visit: www.lordnelson.gi

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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 NOVEMBER 2015

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

take-away or reserve a table

Tel: 200 46993 7 days 11am - 3pm, 6pm - late

Queensway Quay (next to Waterfront)

Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449 TASTY INDIAN CUISINE

RESTAURANT BAR GUIDE & Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late, 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967

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

Queensway Quay Marina, Tel: 200 61118

184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun)

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 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away

Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

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leisure

home

pets

shopping DON’T SHOP CRAFT CLASSES - PHONE FOR INFO

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

Do something special call 5401 3723

Quality Kitchen Ware Gibraltar’s Best Stocked Cook Shop 46 Irish Town Tel: 200 75188 Fax: 200 72653

lessons & tuition

hair & beauty

FROST LANGUAGE CENTRE (registered in Gibraltar)

Health & Beauty Salon

Professional Spanish Teacher All levels, singles, groups or Skype

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

Call Margaret Tel: 0034956173384 Mobile: 0034609717296 Email: margaretjf13@gmail.com

Don House Arcade Tel: 20077311

GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830

• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers 266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757

Tel: 200 73786

Gibraltar Taxi Association GUIDED ROCK TOURS

19 Waterport Wharf Main Office Tel: 20070052 Fax: 20076986 Radio service: 20070027

7 days a week 5pm-9pm

tel: 200 700 47

Need somebody to talk to?

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC in the ICC building, now offers latest, state-of-the-art technology

LASER LIPO

Bell Pharmacy

that will help you lose inches & TONE UP!

Your Family Chemists

Laser Lipo has shown to be much more effective than many other resculpting programs and is guaranteed to achieve results fast.

Combined with a healthy eating and exercise program, it kick starts weight loss so you can achieve the shape you desire, shift fat from stubborn areas and see a difference from the very first session. It was recently featured in OK! Magazine and is now the favoured treatment for many celebrities, including Lizzie Cundy and Amy Childs. It is non-invasive, gentle and painless.

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

PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists

6 Pitman’s Alley Tel: 200 76544 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi

Special Offer!

1 HOUR Laser Lipo Session for just £49

Offer valid until 27th November 2015 The Chiropractic Health Clinic, 1st Floor ICC, tel: 200 44610

Beauty Therapy

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

Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries Tel: 200 44226

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

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC 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

Primary Care Centre 2nd Floor International Commercial Centre Casemates

Claudia Norris Dip(BCNH) MA(Hons) Nutritional Therapist Find out how diet is affecting your health and energy levels. A natural approach to weight loss, digestive problems, hormone imbalances, and more!

Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal Weekend & Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance) Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm

Laser Clinic Permanent Hair removal Pigmentation and anti-aging Visiting Surgeon Cosmetic Surgeon Breast implants and augmentation, face-lifts, tummy tucks

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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Services

186 Main Street, PO Box 453, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 61053 Fax: + 350 200 60953 www.corinthian.gi

Computer / network giving you a headache?

Call us for a swift, reliable cure.

17 Convent Place Tel: 200 4-999-1 Fax: 200 4-999-2 www.pc-clinic-gib.com Email: info@pc-clinic-gib.com • Support Contracts • Network Installation & Troubleshooting • Web Design • PC Repairs, Upgrades & Construction • PC Maintenance

33 Main Street Gibraltar

Spring | Law Specialising in Wills, Estate Planning, Property Transactions, Employment Law and Company/Commercial Legal Advice Please contact: Chris Keightley-Pugh LLB TEP Tel: 200 64001 Email: chris.keightleypugh@springlaw.co.uk

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

Rock Pools

ENJOY YOUR POOL Leave the rest to us!

With over 600 offices and associates globally, we are perfectly placed to find you the perfect buyer.

Sammy Armstrong Savills Gibraltar Suite 1B, 1/5 Icom House, Irish Town GX11 1AA sarmstrong@savills.gi + 350 200 66633

James Attwood B.Sc. (Hort) ILAM qualified Swimming Pool and Spa Technician

Web: www.rockpoolsgib.com Tel: +350 54018134 Email: info@rockpoolsgib.com

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

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Clubs & Activities Arts & Crafts Cross Stitch Club: John Mackintosh Hall, 1st Floor, Mon 6-8pm, fee £1.

Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Association: Children - Mon-Thur, 3:45 p.m. - 7 p.m., Sat, 10am - 12pm. Adults: 20073865 Knit and Natter Group: Tues 11am-3pm, Thurs 5.30-7.30pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balcony. Free to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865.

The Arts Centre: Prince Edward’s Road, Art classes for children and adults. For more info call Tel: 200 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery: At Casemates. Open 10am-2pm, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, Sat 11am-1pm.

The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society: Affiliated to UK NADFAS meets third Wed of month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK talk on Art etc. Contact: Chairman Claus Olesen 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros.com.

Membership Ian Le Breton 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Board Games Calpe Chess Club & Junior Club: meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall Thursday, Juniors: 5p.m. - 7 p.m. / Tuesday & Thursday 7p.m. - 10:30 The Gibraltar Scrabble Club: Meets on Tuesdays at 3pm. Tel: Vin 20073660 or Roy 20075995. All welcome.

The Subbuteo Club: Meets in Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall.

Dance Adult Dance Classes: Wed evenings at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Contact Dilip on 200 78714.

Art in Movement Centre: Hiphop/Break Dance,Contemporary Dance, Pilates, Capoeira, Acrobatics, Street Kids & Tods, Modern Dance. Performance and Film opportunities. Judo & Jujitsu Classes: Tue/ Thur with Sensei Conroy. All ages. Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. www. artinmovement.net FB: Art In Movement A.I.M, tel 54025041 or 54007457 Ballet, Modern Theatre, Contemporary & Hip Hop: Classes held weekly at Danza Academy. Training from 3 years to Adult Advanced. 68/2 Prince Edward’s Rd Tel: 54027111.

Bellydance Classes, all levels, Tue 8-9pm at the Ocean Village Gym (non–members welcome). Contact 54005593.

DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing: Sessions at Central Hall Fri 8.30pm, beginners 8pm. Tel: 200 78901 or tony@gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome.

Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing: Mon at Catholic Community Centre 8pm. Tel. Andrew 200 78901.

Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre: Classes weekly at Urban Dance Studio, 2 Jumpers Bastion.

Tel: Yalta 54012212 or Jolene 54015125.

Rockkickers Linedance Club: Governor’s Meadow 1st School. www.rockkickers.com Salsa Gibraltar Salsa: Classes on Tues at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate.

Beginners 7-8.30pm. Intermediates 8.30-10pm. Tel: Mike 54472000 or info@ salsagibraltar.com Zumba Classes at Urban Dance: Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Tel: 20063959 or 54012212 or Twitter: @UrbanDanceGib 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. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643.

Garrison Library Tours: at 11am on Fri, duration 1h 50mins. Tel: 20077418.

History Alive: Historical re-enactment parade. Main Street up to Casemates Square every Sat at 12 noon.

Music Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir: Rehearses at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Tel: 54831000.

The Calpe Band: Mon & Wed. For musicians of brass/woodwind instruments

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of all standards/ages/abilities 7-9pm. Tel: 54017070 or thecalpeband@gmail.com Jazz Nights: Thurs at 9pm at O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Tel: 200 70500.

Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: Exciting self-development programme for young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. Contact mjpizza@gibtelecom.net, North Moll Road.

Email. P.O. Box: 1260.

Social Clubs The Rotary Club of Gibraltar meets the Rock Hotel, 7pm Tuesday evenings. Guests welcome. For contact or info www.rotaryclubgibraltar.com Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes: (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, 72/9 Prince Edward’s Road ­- Provincial Grand Lodge, Thu/month, 7.30pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8.30pm. Buena Vista 9975, monthtly, Social Lodge. www.akearn1.wix. com/raob-gibraltar, william.tilley.lodge@ hotmail.co.uk, Clive, tel: 58008074 Special Interest Clubs & Societies Creative Writers Group: meets up on Tuesday mornings at 10.30 in O’Reillys Irish Bar and it is free to attend. Tel: Carla 54006696.

Gibraltar Book Club: For info Tel: Parissa 54022808.

Gibraltar Horticultural Society: meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, J.M. 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.

Tel: 54008426 or Facebook: facebook.com/gibphilosophy Gibraltar Photographic Society: Meets on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Wellington Front.

Induction courses, talks, discussions, competitions etc. For details contact the secretary on, leslinares@gibtelecom.net Harley Davidson Owners’ Club: www.hdcgib.com Lions Club of Gibraltar: Meets 2nd and 4th Wed of the month at 50 Line Wall Road. www.lionsclubofgibraltar.com St John’s Ambulance: Adult Volunteers Training Sessions from 8-10pm on Tues. Tel: 200 77390 or training@stjohn.gi The Royal British Legion: For info or membership contact the Branch Secretary 20074604 or write to PO Box 332, Gibraltar.

UN Association of Gibraltar: PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108.

Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club: Meets at Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check game is televised. Great food for a lunch if KO is early or an early supper if the game is later.

Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club: Meets match days upstairs at Time Out Café, Eurotowers. Gooners of all ages welcome.

For info/news visit www.GibGooners.com Tel: 54010681 (Bill) or 54164000 (John).

Gibraltar Hammers: Meets 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 gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions through 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 BWF& BE) junior club/tournaments, senior leagues/ recreational. www.badmintongibraltar.com Ballet Barre Fitness: Adults on Wed 10am & Fri 6pm at The Arts Centre. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com

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.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory. Tel: 56382000 or 20042788.

Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls and boys of all ages.

Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop at Victoria Stadium. Recreational / competitive levels. Tel: 58008338.

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association.

Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Arturo 54025033.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs International & Domestic Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ & Girls’ cricketleague & cup competitions and in-school coaching. www.gibraltarcricket.com, info@ gibcricket.com, Twitter: @Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (full member of WDF & affiliate of BDO). We cater for men, ladies & youth who take part in leagues, competitions and a youth academy for the correct development of the sport. Tel: Darren 54027171 Secretary, Alex 54021672 Youth Rep, Justin 54022622 President. Email: info@ gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 20042941 www.gibraltarfa.com Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): Males any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitive sport. Training every Wed on the MOD pitch on Devil’s Tower Road at 7pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Visit www.gibraltargaels. com or secretary.gibraltar.europe@gaa.ie Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/training for adults/juniors.

Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730 for info.

Iaido: teaches the Japanese sword (Katana), classes every week. www.iaidogibraltar.com Iwa Dojo, Kendo & Jujitsu: Classes every week, for kids/adults. Tel: 54529000 www. iwadojo.com or dbocarisa@iwadojo.com Judo and Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Budokai Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 20043319.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion. Tel: 54011007.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association - Karate training for junior & seniors at Clubhouse, Shotokai karate centre, 41H Town Range. Monday: 9:30 p.m. & Wednesday 9:45 p.m.

Karate: Shotokan karate midday Mon beginners, other students 8.30pm. Thurs 8.30pm. In town at temporary dojo or privately by arrangement. Contact Frankie 54038127 or info@fhmedia.co.uk.

Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211.

Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior/junior leagues. Tel: 20041874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association.

New members welcome. Tel: 54002652.

Pilates: Intermediate Pilates: Tues & Fri 9.30am, beginners Pilates: Fri 10.50am at the Shotokai Centre, 41H Town Range. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Gibraltar Pool Association: (Member of the EBA) home and away league played on Thurs through out the season, various tournaments played on a yearly basis both nationally and internationally, Tel: 56925000 gibpool@gibtelecom.net, www.gib8ball.com Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions from 4 years of age, weekday evenings. Tel: 56000772 or Sally 200 74661.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union

training for Colts (w+), seniors and veterans.

Play in Andalusia 1st Division. Contact: secretary@gibraltarfu.com Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club at 200 78897.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation.

Rifle, Europa Point Range (Stephanie 54020760); Clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Louis 54095000).

Snooker: Members of European Billiards & Snooker Association - facilities at Jumpers Bastion with 3 tables. Professional coaching for juniors/seniors. Organised leagues/tournaments and participation in international competitions. Tel: 56262000 / 54000068, or info@gibraltarsnooker.com Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult and junior tournaments and coaching. Tel: 200 44922.

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Noah’s Dive Club and 888s Dive Club. Tel: 54991000.

Commercial sports diving schools available.

Time - Thursday 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m..

Telephone, Jenssen Ellul - 54027122 Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo. Pool open Mon&Thurs: 7-10am, 12.30-4pm. Tue, Wed, Fri: 7-10am, 12:305pm. Sat: 3-5pm. Sun: closed. Mon to Fri from 5-6pm groups training. 6-7.30 squad training. Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30-8.30 swimming joggers, Tues & Thurs 7:30-8:30 junior Water polo. Mon, Tues & Thurs 8:30-10pm Adult water polo. Tel: 200 72869.

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association training and playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Tel: 56070000 or 20060720.

Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: Mari 20044142 or www.gibraltartaekwondo.org Tai Chi: Tai Chi for children and adults.

Mon-Thur 6.30-8pm at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre and Sat 9am-1pm at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range. Tel: Dilip 200 78714.

Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club. Junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues and competitions. Tel: Louis 200 77035.

Ten-Pin Bowling: At King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day.

Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Tel: 200 52442.

Triathlon: Hercules Triathlon Club organises swimming, running and cycling training sessions and competes regularly in Andalucia and Internationally. Contact chris.walker@york.gi or Facebook “Hercules Triathlon Club” Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association training, indoor leagues, beach volleyball competition, 3 v 3 competition, juniors and seniors. Tel: 54001973 or 54885000.

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: Meet at Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street. Tel: 20042237.

Trafalgar Theatre Group: Meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.

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20 Ocean Village Promenade

Information 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 Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm). 50p per person to walk with no entrance tickets.

The flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are consid-

ered 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.

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

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friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking.

Support Groups

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).

ADHD & Learning Difficulties (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

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.

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 The John Mackintosh Hall 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.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am7pm 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 12345 Hospital, St Bernards . . Tel: 200 79700 Weather information . . Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update.Tel: 200 42777

Disorder) Meetings at Fellowship Bookshop Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Road. Coffee, chat, books and resources on display. Tel: 54027551 or 54014476.

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 & Me Breastfeeding Support Group those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat / support. Partners and older children welcome.

Meets 1st Wed / 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 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:00pm, Fri 9:30am- 3:30pm. (Summer Hours 8:30am – 2:00pm) Tel: 20040006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit us at 10 Governor’s Lane.

Free & confidential, impartial & independent advice and info.

COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease challenges of individuals, families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. 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.

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 72 Prince Edwards Rd Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www.gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling,

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.

including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic

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.

Mummy & Me Breastfeeding Support: Meets every Thursday

Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as offering normal fares, taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock’s major features in a short time.

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.

12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and grandchildren. Tel: 200 46536, 200 76618, or 54019602.

Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House.

Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: Yolanda 54015553

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library.

308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, a UK charity, to assist serving

Gibraltar Public Holidays 2015

widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic

New Year’s Day Thursday 1st January Commonwealth Day Monday 9th March Good Friday Friday 3rd April Easter Monday Monday 6th April Workers Memorial Day Monday 27th April May Day Friday 1st May Spring Bank Holiday Monday 25th May Queen’s Birthday Monday 15th June Late Summer BH Monday 31st August Evacuation Memorial Monday 7th September Gibraltar National Day Thursday 10th September Christmas Day Friday 25th December Boxing Day Monday 28th December

and ex-Service personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. Email: Susan GIB-CST-JSWPA@mod.uk With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/ Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities.

Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hrs).

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 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Rock Publishing Ltd, Gibraltar. Tel: (+350) 200 77748

Natural History & Heritage Park admission 9.30am

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Coffee Time 1

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4) British Prime Minister who did 2 stints during the 1960s and 70s (6)

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9) Satisfied; full (7) 10) Demonstrate (5)

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11) Divide; Croatia’s second city (5)

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12) Unaffected by outside influences (7) 13) Argentine capital (6,5)

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1) Boy’s name e.g. Dickens’s Twist (6)

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18) First name of Soviet leader Gorbachev (7)

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20) Discrimination (5) 22) Carrying guns for example (5)

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23) Variety of sherry (7)

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24) Young cat (6)

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1) Female man-eating monster (6) 2) Force forward (5)

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3) English Premier league football team (7) 5) Record data in a computer

Crossword Competition

Notes

6) Flog; torture (7)

Closing date: 19th Nov

7) Sewing instrument (6) 8) Muscle inflammation afflicting players of a racket game (6,5)

First Prize

14) (Of appearance) not in tidy order (7)

Lunch for 2 at The Clipper

15) Song introducing the Mass (7) 16) Depart (6) 17) Rest (6)

Last months winner:

19) Go off (5)

Susan Hodgson Watergardens

Flight Day Airline Mon

Tue

Wed

Thur

Fri

Sat

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21) Eating implement (5)

November 2015 Schedules Flight No From

easyJet EZY8901 British Airways BA0490 Monarch ZB446 Monarch ZB574 Monarch ZB068 easyJet EZY8901 British Airways BA0490 easyJet EZY8901 British Airways BA0490 Monarch ZB068 easyJet EZY8901 Royal Air Maroc AT990 easyJet EZY6299 British Airways BA0490 easyJet EZY8901 British Airways BA0490 Monarch ZB446 Monarch ZB068 Monarch ZB574 easyJet EZY8901 British Airways BA0492 British Airways BA0490 easyJet EZY8901 easyJet EZY6299 British Airways BA0492 Royal Air Maroc AT990 British Airways BA0490 Monarch ZB446 Monarch ZB574 Monarch ZB068

Arrives

Gatwick 10:55 Heathrow 16:30 Birmingham 18:55 Manchester 19:20 Luton 19:30 Gatwick 10:55 Heathrow 16:30 Gatwick 10:55 Heathrow 16:30 Luton 19:00 Gatwick 10:55 Tangier 11:50 Bristol 13:55 Heathrow 16:30 Gatwick 10:55 Heathrow 16:30 Birmingham 17:55 Luton 19:00 Manchester 19:00 Gatwick 11:50 Heathrow 14:10 Heathrow 16:30 Gatwick 10:55 Bristol 11:05 Heathrow 13:45 Tangier 15:30 Heathrow 16:30 Birmingham 18:55 Manchester 20:35 Luton 20:40

Flight No To

Departs

EZY8902 BA0491 ZB447 ZB575 ZB069 EZY8902 BA0491 EZY8902 BA0491 ZB069 EZY8902 AT991 EZY6300 BA0491 EZY8902 BA0491 ZB447 ZB069 ZB575 EZY8902 BA0493 BA0491 EZY8902 EZY6300 BA0493 AT991 BA0491 ZB447 ZB575 ZB069

11:25 17:15 19:45 20:05 20:15 11:25 17:15 11:25 17:15 19:45 11:25 12:40 14:25 17:15 11:25 17:25 18:45 19:45 19:50 12:25 15:05 17:15 11:25 11:35 15:05 16:20 17:25 19:45 21:20 21:25

Gatwick Heathrow Birmingham Manchester Luton Gatwick Heathrow Gatwick Heathrow Luton Gatwick Tangier Bristol Heathrow Gatwick Heathrow Birmingham Luton Manchester Gatwick Heathrow Heathrow Gatwick Bristol Heathrow Tangier Heathrow Birmingham Manchester Luton

www.gibraltarairport.gi

DOA Vessel Sun 01 Star Legend Mon 02 Vision of the Seas Mon 02 Oceana Wed 04 Tere Moana Wed 04 Saga Sapphire Wed 04 Queen Elizabeth Wed 04 Thomson Dream Fri 06 Thomson Celebration Fri 06 Thomson Majesty Sat 07 Oriana Tue 10 Boudicca Tue 10 MSC Sinfonia Wed 11 Crystal Serenity Thur 12 Horizon Thur 12 FTI Berlin Thur 12 Azamara Journey Fri 13 Oceana Mon 16 Sovereign Thur 19 Silver Wind Thur 19 Star Gem Sun 22 Ventura Sun 22 MSC Opera Mon 23 Zenith Wed 25 Rotterdam Fri 27 Azamara Journey Sun 29 Costa Fascinosa

Cruise ETA ETD Pass Capacity 08:00 13:00 American 212 08:00 17:00 International 2,000 09:00 23:00 British 1,950 05:00 10:00 American 95 08:00 22:00 British 700 08:00 13:00 British 2,095 14:00 21:00 British 1,494 08:00 17:00 British 1,214 10:00 17:00 British 1,462 08:00 14:00 British 1,975 08:00 17:00 British 798 17:30 22:30 Italian 1,554 12:00 18:00 American 1,080 07:00 15:00 Spanish 1,400 08:00 12:00 German 348 09:00 22:00 American 700 08:00 13:00 British 1,950 07:00 14:00 Spanish 2,250 07:00 14:00 American 296 08:00 15:00 American 212 08:00 14:00 British 3,100 17:30 22:30 Italian 1,600 07:00 15:00 Spanish 1,400 08:00 23:00 American 1,316 09:00 22:00 American 700 08:00 14:00 Italian 3,780

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

3

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