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18 # 12 October 2013

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

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2007

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18 # 12 October 2013

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

the gibraltar magazine

raltar

gibraltar the

October 2013 Vol. 18 # 12 FREE

Our Festival of Literature Diversity & Growth

Gibraltarians United

Fabulous Frontier

Rock Connections

18 # 12 October 2013

Cover: Garrison Library Model: Caroline Beriro Photo: David M Parody

contents Business & Finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 The Importance of Planning 14 GBA Celebrates 30 Years 16 20th Anniversary for Turicum 18 Philanthropy: Origin &

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The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Ltd PO Box 1124, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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Legacy of Wealth Introducing Samantha Barrass - FSC CEO HR: In Sickness & In Health Raising the Profile of HR The Test People Come to Town GIA: Diversity & Growth

info@thegibraltarmagazine.com

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Publisher/Editor: Andrea Morton Forde

Past Revisited 67 Medical Man’s Gibraltar

Copyright © 2013 Guide Line Promotions 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

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Poem The Great Gibraltar Beer Lift

Information 64 What’s On October 68 City Centre Map 96 Clubs & Activities 98 Gibraltar Information

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

18 # 12

Arts & Leisure 40 Gibraltarians United 51 Fabulous Frontier 54 Fashion Fix 72 National Day in Pics 74 It Takes 5 to Orangutango 77 All That Jazz!

80 Ernie’s Story Health & Well-being 42 Health Directory 43 Mind Boosting 44 Walking for Life 48 Amongst Friends Regulars 76 Puzzle Page 78 Question of the Month 84 Photo Call 86 Around Town Appetite 82 Relax and Unwind 86 What’s Cooking?

88 Food & Drink Directory 92 Wine Column: 100

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features: literary festival 56 58 59 60 61 62

Peter Snow’s Rock Connections What the Authors Say Festival at a Glance Reader’s Delight Festival Taster...

The Devil You Know

home file 30 32 33 36 38

Green: What is Biomass?

Home Help with Meme The Sanctuary Gibraltar Property Directory Ask The Agent

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • October 2013

finance

business

The importance of planning...

words | Ian Le Breton

In recent weeks I have had to attend to the personal affairs of a close relative who had died after a short spell in hospital. I was named as the sole executor so it was my responsibility to firstly verify the person’s assets, then attend to any debts and, finally, arrange distribution of the residue to the various beneficiaries. In this case, the estate was very straightforward because the will had been professionally prepared. As I write, all the beneficiaries have been contacted and I expect the formalities to be completed in the next month or two.

My experience, at least in terms of my duties to the estate, has not been too painful. But it set me thinking that such an outcome, coming at a time of obvious stress for the deceased’s relatives, could not have been achieved without prior planning. As someone once said, the only certainties are death and taxes, but the timing of the former and the scope of the latter are less easy to predict. So what steps can we take to ensure that, when we pass on, matters can be dealt with easily and in accordance with our wishes?

We all remember people who have died suddenly, perhaps accidentally or at the very least unexpectedly. Therefore it is important to consider these issues as soon as possible, particularly when one has dependents. So

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

what would I recommend? The very least one need do is execute a will. This can range from being a simple letter to a lengthy document depending on several factors such as the value and complexity of your estate and the number

As someone once said, the only certainties are death and taxes, but the timing of the former and the scope of the latter are less easy to predict

and order of the likely beneficiaries.

But how “simple” is simple? I was for instance struck by some of the material being published in advance of next year’s centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. One reads of simple one-line notes written by mere boys being sent to the Front in which they leave all that they own to their mothers. These are extremely poignant and no doubt there will be many more moving discoveries as the anniversary of that conflict draws nearer.

In principle then, provided that a will can be recognised as genuine and final — the “last will and testament” — it can be a very simple document. Indeed the clearer, the better. The essential named players are the testator (the person setting out their wishes for distribut-

business

finance

ing their estate), the executor (or executrix if a lady) who is the person or people charged with managing the estate in the event of the testator’s death, and the beneficiaries. The last category is where the difficulties normally arise — read on.

The executor can be an individual and is often a family member or trusted friend. A second option should be included in such cases to cover the possibility that for any reason the first named choice may be unable, or unwilling, to do the job. Professional firms, such as Sovereign, can be used and this is often recommended for more complex estates where demands in terms of time and expertise may be great, or where disputes may otherwise arise.

It is a sad truism that the richer the prize, the more likely there is to be trouble — which can last for years and profits no one but the lawyers. The notorious fictional case of Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Charles Dickens’s Bleak House concerns a large inheritance that drags on for many generations before legal costs devour the entire estate.

No matter how simple or complex the estate, one should be careful about the temptation to use one of the “ready-made” versions of a will that can de found online for less than 50 pounds. These may be suitable where assets are negligible but otherwise caveat emptor.

In my work I see many cases where a poorly drafted or unsuitable will creates problems.

The old expression about “spoiling the ship for a ha’porth of tar” seems rather apt and may not be how you would want your heirs to remember you.

Making a will is of course just the first stage in succession planning. More complex estates may involve several classes of assets and a complex range of beneficiaries. In the case of higher value estates, the use of trusts — sometimes known as “living wills” — may offer great advantages to the testator and beneficiaries alike. This is an area I would like to explore further in next month’s article.

I said at the beginning that everyone should consider executing a will and, preferably, sooner rather than later. In some cases more than one. If you live in Gibraltar, for instance,

but are lucky enough to own property in Spain, it may be sensible to execute a Spanish will too.

It will make dealings with the Spanish authorities very much easier. A separate document could cover any assets in Gibraltar. As always, professional advice would be needed to ensure that your wishes are clearly set out, readily understood and achievable in a foreign country.

You should also ensure that the physical location of the wills, if not kept at home, is known to your next of kin to avoid misunderstandings when the time comes.

There is a further good reason to set out one’s personal wishes clearly — the increase in second (or more) marriages that follow higher rates of life expectancy. Like me, many readers will know of widowed parents who have re-married in much later life. More and more middle-aged people are acquiring step-parents, who often have families of their own. In such cases the importance of protecting all parties is paramount.

But what about people who do not have a large estate? Perhaps someone who has already disposed of their assets by giving them away to relatives or by indulging in what some now refer to as “ski-ing” — spending the kid’s inheritance (and why not by the way?). I have often heard it said that it’s not worth the expense and effort of writing a will where there are no assets to speak of. After all, intestacy is not that important if there is nothing to inherit, right? I disagree. A will can cover many other matters such as someone’s wishes for cremation or burial, the type of service, the music or even

Everyone should consider executing a will and, preferably, sooner rather than later.

In some cases more than one...

Royal Gibraltar Regiment new recruits pass out

the future care of pets. Indeed, within reason, it can cover any number of aspects in one readily accessible and legally binding document. It can be of great comfort to those making arrangements that they are providing the right send off — and can save embarrassment when one is asked why that Frank Ifield track was played in church (yes, I am as old as I look!).

If final wishes are not properly set out, tremendous difficulties can ensue. In a recent British case, a donation was left to “the government of the day”. Clearly this was intended for a worthwhile cause, but — until a media storm of protest — it ended in political party coffers instead. Another case recently publicised revealed the existence of a multi-million pound bequest left by someone for “the public good”, which had since grown enormously in value but could not be used because the testator’s wishes had not been sufficiently clear.

You probably didn’t pick up The Gibraltar Magazine today expecting to read about such mortal matters. Few of us like to contemplate our own demise but perhaps — and you have read this far after all — you would agree with me that it is surely better to look after the interests of those people, institutions or causes that you care about while you are still of sound mind. So check that you have an up to date will in place and, if not, take remedial action.

In my view it’s also worth seeking professional advice if this will provide additional peace of mind. You can then rest easy knowing that you have done all you can to ensure that your final wishes will be acted upon. n

Ian Le Breton

Six new recruits from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment recently passed out at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Catterick.

Pte Attou (18), Pte Barber (18), Pte Drimmie (17), Pte Dunham (18), Pte Makin (20) and Pte Wylie (17) have all successfully completed their Combat Infantryman Course, designed to ensure that the newly qualified solider is prepared to join their chosen unit and is ready for operational deployment.

Regimental Shepherd CSgt Drimmie said: “All the recruits that passed out worked very hard and produced the required standard to become an Infantry soldier within the RG... They have all done us proud and maintained the high standards of our unit identity whilst at the ITC.” For CSgt Drimmie this particular pass out had quite a personal sense of pride, his son Pte Drimmie was one of the six soldiers passing out.

The six new recruits will now join the Regiment in preparation for exercise Jebel Sahara. n

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • October 2013

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2013

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key people

Gibraltar’s New Governor Lieutenant-General Sir James Benjamin Dutton KCB CBE has been appointed Governor of Gibraltar in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir Adrian Johns KCB CBE. Sir James will take up his appointment during December 2013.

Sir James completed a full career of 37 years in the Royal Marines. His last 10 years were dominated by Iraq and Afghanistan, either serving in those countries or dealing with the policy and operational issues from London and Washington DC. On retirement in 2010 he joined the Bechtel Corporation and has spent the last two-and-a-half years as the Programme Director in Gabon, West Africa, latterly as the Director-General of the infrastructure development agency working directly for the Presidency.

On his appointment as Governor of Gibraltar, Sir James has said “I am delighted and honoured to be going to Gibraltar, especially given its historical connections with the Royal Marines. I hope that my many years of military experience combined now with three years of commercial experience will equip me well to deliver the Governor’s role and responsibilities toward Gibraltar and the United Kingdom. My wife and I are

looking forward to meeting the people of Gibraltar.”

His Excellency the Governor, Sir Adrian Johns commented: “I very much welcome the appointment of Jim Dutton whom I have known for many years. I am sure that he and his wife Liz will love Gibraltar and I know that they are both looking forward to their arrival in early December.” n

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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.

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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.

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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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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

charity

Epic cycle from Arctic Circle to Gibraltar raises £15k+ for local charities In mid-September the Operation Daffodil cycle team enjoyed a hero’s welcome as they arrived in Gibraltar following a punishing 500km cycle challenge.

Six weeks earlier the team set off from Bodo in the Arctic Circle and travelled across eight countries, traversed challenging terrain and suffered numerous trials and tribulations including an inordinate amount of punctures en route.

The cycle challenge, brainchild of Whitmill Gibraltar’s Managing Director Wayne Meenagh, has, in conjunction with a range of other fundraising activities succeeded in raising an amazing £15,000 so far, for cancer care charities Jersey Hospice, Gibraltar Cancer Relief and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

He was motivated to undertake a high profile challenge to raise awareness and funds following the death of his mother-in-law, Jersey resident Marilyn Brown, in December 2012. Wayne, his 15 year old son Harry and his brother-in-law Lee Vivian embarked on the marathon cycle ride.

Commenting on the journey Wayne said

“The last few weeks have been really hard, both mentally and physically but I am absolutely delighted with all we’ve managed to achieve. I’m grateful to our support crew and of course incredibly thankful to everyone who has contributed, helping us to raise much needed funds for these cancer care charities, their work is vitally important, not only for those who they care for directly but also for their friends and families.”

Commenting on the charity cycle Don Wijsmuller, Whitmill Managing Director said; “We are extremely proud of Wayne and the team,

after keenly following their progress via the Operation Daffodil blogs, we’re pleased that they have arrived in Gibraltar safe and sound and we’re thrilled that they’ve managed to raise such an fantastic amount of money for such worthwhile charities.”

With further fund raising events scheduled for 2013, the team is on target to reach their £20,000 goal by the end of the year. n Anyone wishing to donate can do so through the Operation Daffodil Just Giving page at www.justgiving. com/teams/operationdaffodil or direct to Gibraltar Cancer Relief.

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13

finance

Gibraltar Bankers’ Association celebrates 30th anniversary words | Christian Garcia, President, Gibraltar Bankers’ Association & Chief Executive Officer, Finance & Operations, Turicum Private Bank

photo: Luis Photos

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The Gibraltar Bankers’ Association continues to play a fundamental role in protecting and promoting the local banking industry. This is achieved by representing the interests of our member firms and leveraging on the weight of the sector to achieve the desired results. The Association currently has 15 member firms, representing a range of different backgrounds including private banks, retail banks, building societies and e-money institutions.

The importance of the Gibraltar banking sector is not only due to its weight within the finance industry and the revenue streams it represents for the Government, but also its fundamental role in the functioning of any economy.

The banks allow the circulation of money which facilitates trade and incentivises the economy by offering credit.

The Executive Committee lobbies in favour of our members by filling a permanent seat in the Gibraltar Finance Centre Council where senior representatives of the Gibraltar Finance Centre are present and therefore offers access to the Government on matters which are of direct or indirect interest to our members.

The Association also provides local training and participates in increasing the awareness of banking as a future career by presenting at local schools. Future graduates need to make informed decisions when choosing their career path and should be aware of the array of academic backgrounds existing within such organisations. There is a persisting misconception of the qualities that firms look for in candidates, where, for example, sciences are more dominant than the arts. However, in reality this is far from true.

The progressive growth of the finance industry has marked a successful period in recent his-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

finance tory, brought about by the quality of local professionals, the ability to reinvent ourselves, foresee potential threats and use this to eventually position ourselves in one of strategic advantage. This environment is that which is required to provide a favourable place of business for existing firms and, equally importantly, attract new firms to the jurisdiction.

The Association will continue to have a prominent role as the complexity of doing business inevitably increases. The advantage of pooling knowledge from firms with common objectives is fundamental to successfully absorbing challenges brought about by continuous environmental changes.

I hope that the future brings many more members to the Association, looking to establish themselves in Gibraltar and promote their services from one of the leading European finance centres. n If you would like to keep yourself informed of developments within the Association, please follows us on Twitter (@gibraltar_banks) and visit our website www.gba.gi.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBer 2013

The Gibraltar Bankers Association produce an excellent booklet for students interested in a career in banking.

Contact the Association for details.

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finance

20th Anniversary for Turicum

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Founded in 1993 in Gibraltar by a group of Swiss private bankers, lawyers, asset and fund managers from Zurich, and Geneva, Turicum Private Bank is a privatelyowned fully fledged bank and wealth management company that leads by

Swiss private banking values.

The bank celebrated its 20 years on the Rock by inviting guests to a reception and concert by Gibraltar’s internationally renowned singer-songwriter Albert Hammond, in the beautiful Alameda Botanic Gardens. n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

finance

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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finance

Philanthropy:

Origin & Legacy of Wealth

Today we see a new breed of individuals forming part of the world’s wealthiest — entrepreneurs and those who have built wealth through earnings from highly paid jobs are increasingly featuring in this cohort.

The question I sometimes think about is what do people do with this wealth that has been accumulated over the years? Does this income go into savings, is it spent — on themselves or others — or is it given to worthy causes?

This brings me to the topic of this month’s column which looks at philanthropy among the richest in the world, and specifically how they are using their wealth to help others.

Generally speaking, I think philanthropy is widespread in Gibraltar, with the focus and emphasis of many on contributing to charities on a regular basis. You often hear about the generosity of the people of Gibraltar, always willing to dig deep in their pockets and help out with a charitable cause close to their heart.

Philanthropy has been highlighted as a worthy contender for how the wealthy part with their money in the most recent edition of the Barclays Wealth Insights series, dubbed Origin and Legacy: The Changing Order of Wealth Creation which looked at how fortunes are now being created, spent and shared across the world. The report is based on a survey of 2,000 high net worth individuals from different countries around the world.

While the report reveals that entrepreneur-

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ship is now the dominant source of wealth, what caught my interest was seeing how this income is shared with others. What is fascinating to see is how people contribute towards charities, especially as research carried out in the US revealed that those with earnings in the top 20% donated on average 1.3% of their income, whereas those in the bottom 20% donated 3.2%.

A 2010 report from Barclays, entitled Barriers to Giving, found that 97% of high net

Many high net worth individuals consider philanthropy to be a powerful tool for embedding a set of values in their children and giving a broader purpose that may otherwise be lacking in the presence of substantial wealth

worth individuals made at least some contribution to charity.

Many of the world’s wealthiest people are actively engaged in philanthropy — which has become one of the defining features of real wealth.

Margaret Wolhuter, Strategy Director at The Partners, said: “There are so many wealthy people today and the numbers are increasing so rapidly that monetary value is almost no longer a determinant of wealth.

“Particularly in the US, what defines the really wealthy is less about how much they have and more about how much they can afford to give away.”

There are a number of reasons why the wealthy have a focus on philanthropy, among which they consider it to be their duty and responsibility which also brings them personal fulfilment. Familial duty, religious beliefs and societal duty are also factors that motivate donors to give large sums of money to charity.

The Barclays report states that entrepreneurs are less likely to give to charity out of a sense of duty and responsibility than those who have inherited their wealth or acquired it over time through earnings and savings.

Many high net worth individuals consider philanthropy to be a powerful tool for embed-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

finance ding a set of values in their children and giving a broader purpose that may otherwise be lacking in the presence of substantial wealth.

On the other hand, entrepreneurs and business owners have been taking a more active role in philanthropy, and this can be seen when they try to apply the skills and expertise they have acquired in their careers to help achieve positive outcomes for their donations.

“People with a business background understand why it’s important to ask some of the questions and to get involved if they want to, because they can bring a lot to the table,” says Emma Turner, Head of Client Philanthropy Service at Barclays.

Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is a case in point.

He joined Microsoft in 1981 and was one of the key architects behind the product strategy and design of Microsoft Office. He resigned from Microsoft in 2008, and after a short break, took on his current role at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He said: “My wealth came from my hard work and, because I believe in that kind of meritocracy, I want to create that opportunity for others in society.

“My wife and I think that whatever wealth our children create is their responsibility and it’s my sense in general that people who acquired their wealth through entrepreneurship are less oriented toward intergenerational equity.”

The report found that entrepreneurs will

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

postpone any philanthropic work until some point in the future — a possible reason for this is that they are primarily concentrating on building their business but have an intention to become more heavily involved in philanthropy once they have completed an exit or achieved what they set out to do.

It was revealed that those who have experienced significant increases and decreases in wealth are more likely to get involved in philanthropy. The financial crisis has led to a greater focus on the effectiveness on giving.

There is now a more engaged approach to philanthropy, and The Economist journalist Matthew Bishop has referred to it as “philanthrocapitalism”.

According to Mr Bishop, some of the factors that unite these individuals is a long-term focus, and rather than giving money away they prefer to use their skills and money to solve long-term and complex challenges.

We have seen examples of strategic philan-

“

My wealth came from my hard work and, because I believe in that kind of meritocracy, I want to create that opportunity for others in society”

thropy on display in Gibraltar as well, specifically in relation to the numbers of business men and women getting involved and contributing to the many charities on the Rock.

Taking the time out from their busy schedule to work with the charitable organisation has also helped to raise the profile of the charity in the local community.

It just goes to show that while donations are always a benefit to any charity, it is sometimes the time and the skills invested in the charity which helps to benefit it that little bit further.

Paul Wharton is writing in his own capacity and none of the above is intended to express the views or opinions of Barclays Bank PLC. Paul Wharton is Head of Corporate Banking at Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in Gibraltar having arrived on the Rock from the UK six years ago. Paul has over three decades’ experience gained in various roles within Barclays, predominantly in and around London and is passionate about supporting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) market which he sees as the lifeblood of the Gibraltar economy. Paul has won several awards for his work in Small Business Enterprise markets and has served on the London Board of the Prince’s Trust.

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key roles Financial Services Commission CEO

Introducing Samantha Barrass Last month the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission announced the appointment of Samantha Barrass as its new Chief Executive Officer. Samantha, who is currently Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) in England and Wales, will join the Commission on 17th February 2014. The Gibraltar Magazine took the opportunity to talk to Samantha about her new role and the move to Gibraltar.

When asked why she chose to apply to head up Gibraltar’s Financial Services Commission at this time Samantha cites two main reasons — professional and family: From a personal point of view she recognises Gibraltar as a wonderful place to bring up children with logistics allowing more opportunity for her to enjoy family time. “Apart from when I need to travel, I will get see my sons every day,” she smiles. “This is in contrast to the last four years of my career when I’ve been working away from home during the week.”

Professionally she feels becoming the FSC’s CEO is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in building a highly reputable, vibrant international financial centre, making the most of the fact that Gibraltar is a full member of the EU Internal Market in Financial Services. “Enormous progress has already been made, through a sustained effort over a number of years and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the continued

delivery of that vision.”

When asked what she expects to bring to the FSC when she takes up the role in February 2014 she replies, “The key touchstones of my career have already been set out at the time my appointment was announced. So I won’t repeat those here. Instead, there are two things I’d like to highlight.

“Firstly — Seeing the wood for the trees. It’s really important for a regulator to retain a forward looking, clear sight of the big picture, particularly when, as is the case in financial services, the direction of travel of international and national regulatory bodies is to strengthen financial regulation, often by the introduction of a much more prescriptive regulatory approach.

“By ‘big picture’ I mean two

“

I’m really interested in developing people and one of the joys of growing career seniority has been to use my position to foster and bring on talent”

Samantha Barrass:

Career in Brief As part of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority Samantha has been at the forefront of delivering the SRA’s high profile reform of legal services regulation. She has also previously worked at the FSA in a variety of regulatory roles spanning the delivery of new regulatory approaches and policy at both a domestic and international level, the supervision of markets and exchanges, and was one of the

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things. First, the ability to proactively identify and mitigate important emerging risks to public confidence and consumer protection arising from the way firms behave, and not get lost in the minutiae of detailed compliance.

Second, to be on top of the risk that its own regulatory approach might hold back legitimate market innovation and activity or make it too costly.

“It sounds easy, but in my experience, regulators need to blend strong technical excellence with strategic foresight to deliver what is needed. Building regulatory capability and capacity to identify and manage key risks and not get lost in the detail has been a constant feature of my work in legal services regulation. I hope to use

first economists employed by the FSA to develop cost-benefit and other evidential techniques for new regulation.

She began her working career at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as an economist focused on monetary policy strategy and economic reform. Samantha holds a B.Com (Economics) from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) and an MSc in Economics, from the London School of Economics. n

this experience to add value to the work of FSC. “Secondly — Developing and motivating staff. I’m really interested in developing people and one of the joys of growing career seniority has been to use my position to foster and bring on talent — tomorrow’s regulatory leaders.

“When my children were younger, a favourite read was Happy / Sad, a book that helped them to understand the mixed feelings that come with such rites of childhood as leaving nursery to go to primary school. When I leave the SRA in February, a Happy / Sad moment will be saying goodbye to those I have had the great good fortune to be able to support and mentor, many of whom have become or are becoming leaders in their field. I expect that at least one or two of them will be running their own organisation before too long!

“I am very much looking forward to getting to know the staff at the FSC and using my experience to support their own growth as regulators.”

Gibraltar’s Financial Services Commission Chairman Alan Whiting, who chaired the Nomination Committee, said: “I am delighted to welcome Samantha as the new Chief Executive of the Financial Services Commission. With Samantha’s proven high calibre and international experience in financial and legal regulation, I am confident that Gibraltar can look forward to continued growth as a successful, prospering and well regulated financial services sector with a high international reputation.”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

key roles “The Commission rightly enjoys a strong reputation for delivering high quality regulation of Gibraltar ’s growing and prosperous financial services sector. I am very much looking forward to leading the organisation, working closely with stakeholders, to build on those excellent foundations, further develop Gibraltar’s financial services markets and enhance its reputation for excellent regulation of those markets,” she concludes.

Away from the office Samantha enjoys a busy family life which includes her three children and pets. “I’ll be moving to Gibraltar in the middle of February with my two sons (Ben 13 years and Oliver 11), Charlie (our 3 year old shih-tzu) and Lottie (our 6 year old cat). My daughter Emily (17) is in the middle of A-levels, so will stay in London and my husband John will stay with her. However, the family base will be Gibraltar and they’ll be joining us for as many weekends as possible and Emily will be with us during her holidays.”

How do they all feel about the upheaval of moving to Europe’s furthest territory south? “We are

“

Building regulatory capability and capacity to identify and manage key risks and not get lost in the detail has been a constant feature of my work in legal services regulation” very excited about the move and are busy working our way through all the logistics. My list of ‘things to do’ now runs over several pages and includes everything from finding tenants for our house through to realising that we cannot avoid clearing the loft any longer,” she chuckles.

When Samantha does arrive in Gibraltar expect to see her treading not just the boardrooms of the FSC but the theatrical boards too. “My personal interests include a love of amateur theatre, which has been a constant since childhood. I toyed quite seriously with the idea of going to stage school when I was

20 and gambling on a professional acting career. In the end, the offer of a scholarship from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand was too tempting,” she states. “Instead, whenever possible (and sadly too infrequently in recent years) I have made the most of opportunities

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

presented by local theatres to ‘tread the boards’. It’s all great fun and I’ve had some good parts.”

He family too are looking forward to becoming involved in Gibraltar ’s leisure scene. “The children are also very interested in music and theatre (in addition

to being mad about sport) and on a few occasions we have been able to be in the same production together.” Sounds like they will fit right in!

We look forward to welcoming Samantha and her family to the Rock in the new year. n

21

resources

employees

In Sickness & In Health words | Sylvia Kenna, The HR Dept

Q

Sickness Absence is causing me problems and I would like to know more about Occupational Health. How can it help my business?

To answer this question we asked fully qualified Occupational Health (OH) Physician Dr Nerney, former GP with the GHA and now working with the Specialist Medical Clinic in the ICC, for his advice.

Sickness absence is an important issue not just for business but also to society, health service and individuals.

Extrapolating from UK figures the average annual direct cost of sickness absence to the employer in Gib is about £500 for every single employee — that’s probably about £10 million p.a. for Gibraltar in direct costs.

Again extrapolating from UK figures an estimated 14,000 working days are lost in Gib each year due to work related illness alone.

A lot of sickness absence could undoubtedly be avoided by early OH intervention. This would benefit both employer and employee.

An OH Physician recognises the importance of work for physical, psychological and social well-being and will therefore want to get his client safely back to productive work as soon as possible. He or she recognises that full health is not necessary for fitness for work and will concentrate on what the employee can do. Many medical

22

conditions and virtually all minor • Advising on disability status health problems have minimal • Managing rehabilitation implications for work and should • Advising on medical fitness for not debar from employment. Unwork – pre employment or on fortunately they often do. job change What does an Occupational Health Physician do?

In general terms the OH Physician’s job is to deal with the effects of health on work and of work on health- to make sure that the person is medically fit for the particular job and the job is fit for the person.

The role includes:-

• Assisting in the control of sickness absence • Reviewing the medical fitness of employees post sickness absence

• Organising health promotion initiatives • Substance abuse programme design and management • Advising on stress management • Advising on travel health for business • Advising on eligibility for long term disability benefits or retirement on health grounds • Helping with compliance with the law • Advising on H&S policy

ethics as laid down clearly by the General Medical Council. He has a duty of care to employee and should also behave responsibly in providing a service to the employer.

What is the OH Physician’s role in control of sickness absence?

In sickness absence assessment the OH physician is not an advocate for the employee or agent of the employer but provides impartial, evidence based medical advice, which is of use to both. The OH Physician is expected to have a very clear idea of the client’s job description, direct knowledge of The OH physician works within the workplace and should provide the general scheme of medical a clear statement of capability in that context. The management of sickness absence remains a matter for management but the OH physician can help.

An OH Physician recognises the importance of work for physical, psychological and social well-being

Can’t an ordinary GP do this job?

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

GPs are not trained in Occupational Medicine. They are advocates for their patients and there is strong evidence from the UK and other places that they often provide sick certification on demand.

The medical system in Gibraltar is very similar and the same advocacy exists.

Also bear in mind that GPs are extremely hard pressed. They do not have the time or opportunity to assess a working role closely and give a considered OH decision.

Providing a medical certificate can be much faster and easier for them than a close examination of true work ability. The final outcome for the patient may not be good.

Should we change the sick note system?

The system of obtaining sick certificates from GPs for every episode of illness is a poor use of the GP’s and the employee’s time. If an employee wishes to

be absent from work it is unlikely that a GP will not agree to a request for a ‘sick note’. GP’s sick notes are therefore of limited value — especially for minor short term illness.

Employers should consider an end to GP sick note dependency.

Instead it is better to have a company sickness absence policy that includes self-certification for trivial problems (as in the UK) and very early OH assessment in long term illness or repeated minor illness.

The latter is rarely a truly medical issue and is very disruptive to work organisation. Absence should be dealt with promptly according to agreed triggers in the absence policy. Long term sickness absence should be assessed for work prospects by OH within a month.

This would also allow everyone’s GPs to concentrate on what they consider to be their real work — treating the seriously ill! n

The OH physician is not an advocate for the employee or agent of the employer but provides impartial, evidence based medical advice, which is of use to both

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

23

The Gibraltar HR Forum

Raising the profile of Human Resources The Gibraltar HR Forum was founded in 2000 to provide an open forum for HR practitioners and the original intention was to enable opportunities for an exchange of information, support newcomers, promote goods and services that would be of use to HR functions and form a professional body that would represent HR interests and best practice. This is still true today and the Forum’s aim is to raise the profile of the Human Resource Profession in Gibraltar and sustain the best human resource management and development practices.

The HR Forum provides both direct and indirect benefits to its members through

24

various means, including opportunities to network, collaborate, and share ideas with other HR professionals via regular meetings and the LinkedIn page. The Forum provides networking of products, services and expertise between members coordinated by the HR Forum Committee. Members have the opportunity to input ideas and raise issues that need to be addressed in the area of human resource management and development.

An important part of the HR Forum’s activities are the seminars and training activities delivered by professional speakers and local HR Practitioners on subjects directly related to promoting best practice in human resource management.

This year the HR Forum has held nine events covering subject areas: Disciplinary Social Media for HR Wellbeing Challenge of Studying Locally HR Metrics Mentoring Networking Employment Training Board Process

velopment via two practical and participative workshops will deliver the next important event — Employment Law. These workshops will focus on key issues in employment law in Gibraltar and key trends in HR management. This provides new practitioners with a firm foundation to work effectively, and the more experienced practitioners with a useful refresher and an invaluable insight into recent and future developments.

The objectives of the workshops are to increase understanding, recognition, application and appreciation of employment law in Gibraltar and the link to EU and UK law, and to gain an understanding of recent and future trends in the UK and Europe to help evaluate suitability/relevance for Gibraltar.

This event will take place over three days, 19th, 20th and 21st November, in Bleak House.

The HR Forum welcomes new members and looks to continued growth in membership and activities. Membership is open to companies and individuals who have a HR remit. n If you are interested in finding out more about the HR

The UK Chartered Institute of Personal De- Forum just send an email to hrforumgib@gmail.com.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

DHL Express is the global market leader in the international express business, so you probably already know that we can deliver your documents and parcels from Gibraltar to virtually every country in the world.

What you might no know is that we can also take care of all your importing requirements.

For further information please contact: DHL Gibraltar Unit 36 Harbours Deck, New Harbours, Gibraltar Tel: 200 72210 Email: GIBSN@dhl.com

The Test People come to town The Test People launched their Gibraltar office at a reception in the Landings, Queensway Quay last month

Featured in the Sunday Times Tech 100 list as one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in the UK, The Test People opened its first international office in Gibraltar last month. The Gibraltar Magazine spoke to Managing Director Gav Winter to find out more about the company and its aims.

The Test People was founded just 6 years ago but currently employs over 100 staff based in Leeds, London and now Gibraltar, to what do you attribute your success?

The Test People use testing technology, innovative ideas and the latest in delivery techniques to gather and present risk information.

We are differentiated from our competition as we provide solutions to clients using technical innovation driven by our in-house R&D team.

This means we can deliver software testing solutions that are faster, easier to support and at lower cost than organisations that rely on headcount only solutions.

We have grown by building long term relationships and partnerships with our clients who trust in us in reducing operational financial risk to deliver time and again.

The Test People is a specialist IT testing service for retail, e-gaming, e-trading, health and finance sectors. Why do companies need to test functioning IT systems?

When you create, build, configure and change IT systems it creates operational risk for your business. If you don’t create, build, configure and change IT systems there is an opportunity cost for your business. Testing is the process of information gathering that happens to help decide whether the operational risk of launching a new system outweighs the opportunity cost of not launching. Essentially it asks the question ‘Can we go live?’

Tell us about your Testing Academy?

We have recently established our own Technical Testing Academy to support our recruitment plans and the first 12 analysts will graduate shortly. It was born out of frustration given the testing recruitment market was not

26

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

company

launch

providing enough of the quality people we need to sustain our business growth plus a dedication by ourselves to give young people a start in life. They are taught performance-testing, software development, test automation, testing techniques and agile over two months.

It’s very thought provoking, it’s highly intense and two people sadly have failed the course out of the original 14 so it’s not a tick in the box exercise. I would like to think one day we will either have people from Gibraltar sitting the course in the UK or even bring it here if demand allows.

What has prompted you to launch the Gibraltar office at this time?

There are a number of reasons really. Attracting a great person like Russ Illsley to the business with his wealth of knowledge in two of our core markets, Gaming and Finance, makes Gibraltar a great choice for our first international office. We already do business here and we have a great deal to offer many of the companies that have also chosen to locate out here.

Further to this our inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech 100 list sponsored by Hiscox as Yorkshire’s & the North East’s No 1 growing technology company and 44th in the UK, we believe we now have the right blend of skills and credibility to make this a success.

Who will be working at the Gibraltar office?

Our Gibraltar office is headed up by Russ Illsley who has a wealth of Gaming, Trading and financial markets experience. We have a couple of consultants working out of Gibraltar now and I would love to see this rise to double figures in the next 12 months but that will be dependent on the interest hopefully our event and Russ can generate over the next six months.

You plan to expand internationally, how do you see the global market for IT testing?

The global testing market is growing, technology is changing and people are even bringing outsourced solutions back to their home locations because of the need for more highly skilled technical people who bring innovation and quality to their projects. For us we see a massive opportunity for the testing market as a whole, to grow and to provide consumers with amazing new products on all sorts of new platforms.

Gav Winter, Managing Director

are moving faster and faster with technology in both hardware and software, never before has the world seen such innovation, you only have to look at the rise of mobile platforms to understand that. Traditionally many organisations turned to commercial tools to test their software but we are finding increasingly that these tools cannot work with brand new technologies without significant R&D effort meaning each organisation needs a bespoke approach to technology testing, that’s where we fit in.

Your mantra is that if you can think it you What are the challenges of testing new can do it — How have cloud technologies changed the way you work, in this technologies?

Change and there is lots of it. It’s no secret we respect?

Cloud technologies (especially Infrastructure as a Service Offerings (IaaS)) have fundamentally changed how organisations create and use test environments. No longer organisations constrained by the amount We can deliver software are of ‘tin’ they have within their infrastructure estate. They can create real load on their systems, testing solutions that are their data centres ad-infinitum and all faster, easier to support and at extend for a very reasonable cost. Recently we were required to load-test a very processor intensive lower cost than organisations platform with 5000 users. Each machine could that rely on headcount only handle only around 10 connections, we span up over 500 cloud servers for the two hour solutions

“

”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

test, literally impossible to do just a few years ago. We found go-live stopping issues which would just have caused reputational damage just a few years earlier and almost certainly a financial cost. The cloud gives us the power to test anything, the question is how much is it worth finding out.

What excites you about IT? Literally everything! We want people to be using the latest technology so we can challenge our people and further build our capability.

There is nothing more satisfying than a project going live which one of our clients derives serious business benefit from. n

Contact: Russ Illsley The Test People 113 Main Street Gibraltar Tel: 200 68318 Email: contactus@thetestpeople.gi Website: www.thetestpeople.gi

27

insurance The Gibraltar Insurance Association

Diversity & Growth

words | Chris Johnson, Chairman of GIA and Director of Robus Risk Services (Gibraltar)

The Gibraltar Insurance Association is the Gibraltar insurance industry’s recognised industry body.

It was established in its original form in 1997, in the context of Gibraltar’s accession to the Single European Market for insurance, and the recognition of the opportunities for growth that offered Gibraltar as an insurance domicile. Chris Johnson, its current Chairman, tells The Gibraltar Magazine a little bit about its history.

“Gibraltar in my early days here accom- Insurers and Managers was formed, under modated no more than a dozen insurance the chairmanship of Paul Savignon, who had companies, which has now grown to over 60 been the driving force behind its conception companies with over £3 billion of premiums written here and £7.5 billion of assets in insurance companies.

“In 1997, with Gibraltar’s accession to the Single European Market in the offing we realised the need for a trade association which liaised with regulator and Government, and most importantly back then, took an initiative in putting Gibraltar on the insurance map.

On 25th July 1997, in Norwich Union’s offices on Queensway, The Association of Gibraltar

“

My vision as Chairman at the moment is to develop GIA to look after the interests of all our members”

28

and realisation.

“AGIM and our core members at the time were very instrumental in the marketing of Gibraltar as an insurance domicile. We worked closely with Government, who had only recently set up their Finance Centre department employing the services of Anthony Fisher to fully take advantage of Gibraltar’s developing position in Europe. Once Gibraltar had access to the single European insurance market, the gloves were off, and AGIM lobbied Government not only for marketing impetus, but also on various legislative issues of the day, working closely also with the Financial Services

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

insurance

GIA Chairman, Chris Johnson

Commission.

“Most notable of these was the passing of the Protected Cell Companies Ordinance in 2001, which led major players to establish in Gib, and not only opened up opportunities in a new area of business for Gibraltar (being the only domicile within Europe at the time that had such ground-breaking legislation in place), but also set a marker for the insurance world at large that Gibraltar’s doors were open for business with serious intent!

“AGIM grew to incorporate the Insurance Intermediaries association, changing its name to GIA and in 2008 funded the establishment of the Gibraltar Insurance Institute (GII) which assumed primary responsibility for the educational and social aspects of the GIA’s remit.

The GII in 2010 achieved affiliation with the worldwide Chartered Insurance Institute, the recognised educational body within the insurance industry, being the first overseas Institute to do so for 30 years.

“The GIA today continues to work closely with Government and FSC on issues of the moment, such as marketing and regulatory issues like Solvency II. We welcomed (with wine!) Government’s employment of Mike Ashton as a Senior Executive in the Finance centre, responsible for insurance, and the three

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

other similar appointments that have been made since.

“GIA is closely engaged with the FSC in terms of specific areas of regulatory change and has a regular dialogue with them. We and our members also talk directly to our new Minister, Albert Isola, and to the Chief Minister when circumstances dictate.

“My vision as Chairman at the moment is to develop GIA to look after the interests of all our members. Unlike some other associations, our members tend to be of a wide variety from intermediaries trading only in the local market to large motor insurers passporting into the UK to captives belonging to FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 parents, so interests can be diverse, and

“

With 15% of UK motor insurance now being written from Gibraltar, there was a need to mobilise within Gib to discuss matters of common interest”

not always easy to properly represent in our regular quarterly meetings.

“We are therefore creating groups within the GIA which can act to a large degree autonomously but still under the wider GIA umbrella when interests converge or when there is a need for representation. An example of this is our new Motor Group, chaired by Chris Hill, representing motor insurers passporting into UK. With 15% of UK motor insurance now being written from Gibraltar, there was a need to mobilise within Gib to discuss matters of common interest, and as a result we now sit on the ABI Motor Committee in the UK, a major recognition of Gibraltar’s significance in this market.

“As Chairman of GIA, I sit on the Gibraltar Finance Centre Council, the body which represents the Finance Industry generally in Gibraltar, and with which Government frequently consults on market-wide issues. On matters affecting only the insurance industry, Government will use GIA directly as its contact point for consultation and discussion.

“I’m very proud of the fact that the GIA has been instrumental in the successful development of the insurance sector in Gibraltar, and continues to play a vital role in the industry today.” n

29

What is Biomass? words | John Clifford, Director, Cocoon Renewable Energy Consultants

Biomass is defined as biological material that has come from animal, vegetable or plant matter.

When referring to the use of biomass for energy production the term often applies to plant-based material such as wood.

Biomass fuel is generally considered to be ‘carbon neutral’.

This is because while the plant is growing, it uses the sun’s energy to absorb the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere as it releases during combustion.

By maintaining this closed carbon cycle there is no overall increase in CO2 levels.

Sources of biomass Raw materials that can be used to produce biomass fuels are widely available; they come from a large number of different sources and in numerous forms. Each of these can be used to produce fuel,

however, not all forms are suitable for all the different types of energy conversion technologies like biomass boilers.

The main basic sources of biomass material are: • Wood, including bark, logs, sawdust, wood chips, wood pellets and briquettes • High yield energy crops, such as wheat, that are grown specifically for energy applications • Agricultural crop and animal

residues, like straw or slurry • Food waste, both domestic and commercial • Industrial waste, such as paper pulp Biomass fuel is converted from raw biomass. For example, a simple form of biomass such as untreated and unfinished wood may be cut into a number of physical forms, including pellets and wood chips, for use in biomass boilers and stoves.

International Philatelic Event The first ever overseas meeting of the Royal Philatelic Society, London in the Iberian Peninsula will take place in Gibraltar on Monday 7th October at the Gibraltar Garrison Library, organised by Richard Garcia, a Fellow of the society and Overseas Representative for Gibraltar.

The programme for the day includes an illustrated talk by Richard Garcia based on documents relating to the British postal service in Morocco which are housed in the Gibraltar Government archives.

The three Gibraltar members of ‘The Royal’, as it is fondly known, will be displaying Gibraltar ma-

30

terial. They are John Gonzalez, who will show Gibraltar postal stationery; Stephen Viñales, who will show the first issue of Gibraltar stamps of Queen Elizabeth II, including printer’s proofs; and Richard Garcia, who will exhibit Queen Victoria stamps of Gibraltar used in Morocco.

The event will be followed by a meeting of the UK-based GB Overprints Society (GBOS) on Tuesday 8th October. GBOS brings together

the most important stamp collectors who specialise in the stamps of Great Britain overprinted for use abroad. These stamps were used in many territories ranging from Bechuanaland (now Botswana), the Oil Rivers (Nigeria), and Morocco in Africa; through Ireland and Cyprus in Europe; to the Levant and Persian Gulf; to Nauru in the Pacific. The Morocco specialists of the GBOS will be gathering for the Society’s third Morocco Day.

The Morocco specialists of the GBOS will be gathering for the Society’s third Morocco Day

Costs The most cost effective way to install a biomass heating system is to integrate into the design of new build projects right from the start.

An individual domestic pellet stove will cost around £4,300 including installation. Installing a new log stove will usually cost less than half this, including a new flue or chimney lining.

For boilers, an automatically fed

The programme of events will include a tour of the Garrison Library — it was at the Garrison Library Printing Works that the first stamps and postal stationery for the British postal service in Morocco were printed in 1898. (The Gibraltar issue in Spanish currency — centimos and pesetas — were overprinted with the words MOROCCO AGENCIES).

The two-day event will be end on Tuesday evening at a dinner.

The philatelists visiting will be headed by Francis Kiddle RDP, FRPSL, a Past President of the Royal Philatelic Society and a signatory of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. Only 356 philatelists have signed the Roll since it was instituted in 1921.

Philatelic author Dr David Stotter, who has written the definitive postal history of the British Postal Service in Morocco, 1907-1957, is the GBOS co-ordinator for the Society’s Morocco Day. (This book is a companion to Richard Garcia’s postal history of Morocco during the period up to 1906 when it

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

pellet boiler for an average UKstyle home costs between £7,000 and £13,000 including installation, flue, fuel store. Pellet costs depend on size and method of delivery.

Savings There are no hard figures that one can call up in Gibraltar for biomass installations but given the cost of electricity per watt in the UK is around 15p, slightly more expensive than here in Gibraltar the table below which is based on UK figures gives an indication as to what savings are generally achievable.

Fuel replaced Electricity Oil

produced could be used for biomass district heating applications, this could then be applied to flats houses etc, where several buildings or zones are heated by a single biomass boiler (or wood burning boiler, log boiler, wood chip boiler or wood pellet boiler) via a heat “network”.

This involves circulating hot water to several buildings or “Zones” via underground, preinsulated pipes (also called “heat main”).

The heating circuit within each building or zone is isolated from the biomass boiler which

Expected saving Expected carbon dioxide saving £630 a year 7.5 tonnes a year £270 a year 3.9 tonnes a year

Biomass Boiler District Heating The organic waste that we produce in Gibraltar could theoretically be converted in one way or another into biomass fuel. If the organic waste material was burnt in a Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) the heat that is then

provides the main source of heat, with no combustion occurring at the point of use. Instead, a control system such as a Consumer Interface Unit is used in place of a biomass boiler, which offers all the control that a full boiler would give at the point of use, but in a far smaller package. n

The organic waste that we produce in Gibraltar could theoretically be converted in one way or another into biomass fuel

was controlled and managed by Gibraltar.)

Other visitors will include Larry Gardner from the USA, who has obtained important international awards for his Morocco collection, and Geoff Chivers, Past President of the Gibraltar Study Circle.

Some of the visitors will be displaying important Morocco stamps and covers at the Morocco Day on Tuesday.

On Wednesday 9th October, some of the participants will be

travelling to Tangier for the day to visit a number of sites connected with the British Postal Service there.

The philatelic displays, exhibition and illustrated talk are all being held at the Garrison Library.

The Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau Ltd and Saccone & Speed (Gibraltar) Ltd have assisted by providing sponsorship.

There will be an opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the Royal Philatelic Society, London and the benefits offered to members. Application forms will be available.

Members of the public who wish to attend any part of this event, or to join the day trip to Tangier, are asked to pre-register by sending an email to gibphilatelicexpo@gmail. com. They will then be sent a copy of the programme, with timings.

There is no admission charge to any of the events at the Garrison Library. Those interested in attending the dinner or the Tangier day trip will be sent details of the cost, on request. n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

31

Home Help Your decorating dilemmas answered

by Meme Fairbank of Denville Designs

ASK MEME email your interior design questions to meme@denvilledesigns.com or write to her at 62 Engineer Lane, Gibraltar

Is your home in decorating crisis?

Do you need help to tame the interior chaos?

Meme is here to tackle all your decorating, furnishing and style problems.... One room at a time.

Q

I have a problem with my

windows — I have air con

units above them and the windows

open inwards so I have no space anywhere to hang poles. What can I do?

The windows are over two metres wide.

Linda, Europa Mews If you have no room on your ceiling to fit brackets or inside the window area (recess) and your windows open inwards then you could have two options — blinds that fit directly on the window glass called simple fits (see picture) or blinds, from a good manufacturer, which allow you to fit your blind either side of the window without a centre fixing. We can recommend some really good manufactures for window problems.

Q

Where can I find

good original art

work in Gibraltar?

I need some really original and large pieces and I want to buy them locally but can’t seem to find anything suitable.

Trevor, Ocean Village Take a look at the great art exhibitions that are regularly on in Gibraltar where artists sell their works, or if you want to commission something I can recommend some brilliant artists who will paint any style and any size painting you wish to have. They can meet you to discuss your budget and they will even copy any idea you have. Email us at info@ denvilledesigns.com subject ref: commissioned artwork.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

home ideas

Q

I have had my leather sofa

for three years and the seat

cushions have all cracked,

but the sofa is part of a set. I don’t want it to look odd and the other sofas are in good condition, and I don’t want to spend loads of money re-covering

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

it all. I have had no luck with getting the manufacturer to help me with this so I am left with a really ugly mess. Any tips, or do I have to live with throws on the cushions?

Melanie, Little Genoa You could have all the seat cushions recovered

in a contrasting coloured fabric instead of the whole sofa. Using a contrasting fabric works better than trying to match the leather.

Also you will be safe using a fabric instead of another poli piel (faux leather) as they wear better. Match up some scatter cushions with the base fabric to blend it all together.

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The Sanctuary Gibraltar Just a few minutes from Main Street and driving up towards the Nature Reserve, one cannot escape the emerging structure of the development known as The Sanctuary, adjacent to the Upper Nature Reserve. The development consists of just five super prime luxury villas.

Commonly known as the ‘Maida Vale’ site, the first construction began in the 1960s with foundations and a concrete structure to three levels for a hotel, before works terminated without any building being completed.

The current developer completely demolished and cleared the abandoned site, before embarking on the luxury enclave, which also has an extensive tree planting plan.

A spokesman for the developer, Forefront Ventures Limited, described the inspiration behind The Sanctuary: “Given such a stunning elevated location and views, the primary aim for The Sanctuary has been to create the very highest level of luxury and sophistication for discerning individuals. This peaceful location within Gibraltar demands nothing less than the ultimate contemporary haven.”

These villas are by some margin,

the largest single residential properties in Gibraltar, with extensive terraces, gardens and private parking for at least six cars.

The location and elevation permit breath-taking views of the sea, across to North Africa. The design ensures uninterrupted vistas from all key rooms, the pool area, spa and gardens. Each villa is crowned with a stunning roof terrace and pavilion, allowing relaxation, entertainment and jaw-dropping panoramic views — day and night, whatever the season.

Asking the developer for a summary of the key features leads to a very long answer full of enthusiasm and energy. Here is a sample: “Whether it’s entertaining, partying, chilling or — if you must — working, the villas

are an artful blend of necessities and luxuries, with emphasis on the latter...

There is separate accommodation for staff (or even more friends and family), an entire wellness level complete with dance studio, gymnasium, treatment room, sauna, bespoke steam room, and there’s a cinema for discovering new blockbusters and reliving timeless classics.”

The Sanctuary villas will be equipped with sophisticated Crestron home automation systems which control lighting scenes, audio, video, room temperature, hot water, window blinds, security cameras, alarm, gates and house entry — all to the owner’s specific requirements. You can even view your property through the security cameras, whilst anywhere in the world.

So how much is one of these villas? At the time of writing, the prices are still being set. Whatever the figure, buyers will compare the property, lifestyle and fiscal advantages of buying a Sanctuary villa to what is on offer in other low tax jurisdictions, Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Monaco for example.

According to a report by international estate agent Knight Frank for house prices in 2012 across the

A Sanctuary villa in Monaco would fetch in excess of £55m (assuming 50% value for the terraces and outside space), £50m in Hong Kong, £30m in Geneva, and £25m in Singapore

34

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • October 2013

Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a board member of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar and runs a real estate investment solutions consultancy.

world, property prices in Singapore average £16,500 per square metre and the government is struggling to keep house price inflation manage-

able. Singapore hosts the world’s densest population of millionaires, and limited land for development (the country is only 700km2 in size) means that property prices are not expected to plummet anytime soon.

In Switzerland, Knight Frank believes prices in Geneva are set to rise as the country is forecast to see a 27% rise in its high net worth population between 2012 and 2022.

The average house price in Geneva is £19,500 per square metre, the popularity of the city being explained by its position as a global financial centre, excellent schools, safe environment and the Alpine ski resorts on its doorstep.

The Hong Kong property market

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

is hot, averaging £33,000 per square metre. The government is fighting to cool it down. Knight Frank put the city’s popularity down to strong demand from both local and international owners, and investors who see the city as an international financial hub with a strategic geographic location and a liberalized economy.

Sounds like Gibraltar to me.

Monaco has a reputation for being a playground for the super-rich. With just 36,000 people, its population is only 20% greater that Gibraltar’s.

Property prices average £38,000 per square metre according to Knight Frank, many times more expensive than Gibraltar. The fact that neither individuals nor companies resident in

Monaco pay income or business tax, keeps Monaco property as the most expensively priced in the world.

Using the above benchmarks, a Sanctuary villa in Monaco would fetch in excess of £55m (assuming 50% value for the terraces and outside space), £50m in Hong Kong, £30m in Geneva, and £25m in Singapore.

An international investor seeking a low tax jurisdiction, which couples as a financial centre, has good schools, offers a very safe environment and is geographically located close to other popular locations and international hubs could well see an opportunity to invest in The Sanctuary, Gibraltar and save themselves a few million pounds. n

35

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home file

Living in the Season

words | Rose Davison

There is a restaurant in the UK (and possibly others elsewhere) which changes decor with the season, even the fragrance suits the time of year.

In the summer it is beach house blues, with briny sea breeze wafting in the air. Then come cosy autumn hues, followed by full on winter warmers with spicy scents and tones, and next spring blossoms with lily of the valley and crisp cool greens and yellows.

I was chatting to a friend recently who chuckled at my amazement at the changing themes and said she does that with her home with air fresheners and diffusers and clever use of accessories.

So what is the secret of an ever changing, seasonal home?

Well, she explained — keep it simple mainly. Her base tones are neutral warm greys and cool beiges with calico whites. Keep permanent features like sofas, walls and shelving to these colours. The colour and ‘feel’ comes in the form of accessories, cushions and throws.

You must need a lot of storage?

I mused. Again she laughed. Not

at all. Cushion covers and throws take up little space. Boxes of nicknacks are stored like Christmas decorations, awaiting rediscovery as the seasons unfold. Room fragrancers and candles are replaced once used anyway. And it’s a great excuse to strip, wash and store things every three months anyway.

How better than to live in harmony with the rhythm of the seasons. n

Then come cosy autumn hues, followed by full on winter warmers with spicy scents and tones, and next spring blossoms with lily of the valley and crisp cool greens and yellows

Keep base colours neutral if you want a season changing theme

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

37

Ask the Agent Your property purchase questions answered by Brian Francis of BFA Estate Agents www.bfafib.com

Ask Maggie email your property purchase questions to info@bfagib.com

Looking to purchase a home or office? Need advice?

Want to know what you can and can’t do? BFA’s Maggie Mifsud is here to answer your property purchase questions.

Q

I am looking to buy to

let, but I am not sure

what my best options

would be to get corporate lets. My budget is £400,000.

Sylvia, The Anchorage Portland House and Ocean Village.

The residential rental market There is also the option of the is presently very strong and in more accessible rental income high demand. Corporate lets in developments such as would vary but primarily will Watergardens, Marina Court, be in the middle to high end of Marina Bay and others which, the market. though not new, are still in Popular areas for this market demand mostly due to the are new developments within lower rental which is balanced the town centre. Top of the list by the lower cost of the would be those that offer leisure property. facilities, terraces and parking.

Within your budget you At what stage is a would be able to consider

sale ‘guaranteed’? We a two bedroom apartment

thought we had sold which would have a wider

our home but then the market appeal. There are a purchaser backed out at the number of developments which last minute and the estate agent would be ideal, such as, Kings wasn’t very helpful.

Wharf, Europlaza, Eurotowers, Oscar, Ocean Heights

Q

Q

I am setting up a

business in Gibraltar

and I have found

the perfect premises but it is currently residential. It is on the first floor just off Main Street. Would it be possible to change its usage so I can use it as an office?

Terrence, Queensway Quay In Gibraltar “change of use”

38

from Residential to (as in this case) offices, is rather stringent particularly in Main Street. Generally for change of use you would need to get Landlord’s consent and then follow this with Planning Permission from Town Planning and Building Control Department. The ultimate decision lies with Town Planning.

This is a common mistake when an offer is made and accepted. The first step for an agent would be to accept a 2% Reservation Deposit which would be taken on a Subject to Contract basis (meaning that the sale is not secure until an Exchange of Contract is signed).

Once dates for the Exchange and Completion have been agreed by both parties, the agents would send the Memorandum letters to both parties’ lawyers with the relevant information.

We would always strongly recommend that Exchange be entered to as soon as possible as this is the stage when there is a legal commitment by both parties for this transaction.

Whilst no Exchange has been entered into either party are legally free to withdraw with no monetary implications.

Once Exchange dates have been

agreed, there is no set rule date for completion except the one agreed by both parties.

Q

What is an estate

agent obliged to tell us

about problems

with noise or neighbours the previous owners might have had? Is there anything else they are obliged to tell us if asked?

Neil, Harbour Views Agents have an obligation to inform buyers of all the information that has been provided to them by the vendor.

In legal terms this is referred to as “material disclosure”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

advice

property

Q

How long does it

usually take to

complete on a house

purchase in Gibraltar?

I have a friend who is selling and it seems to be taking ages, the purchasers have even had a building surveyor do a report. Is this normal?

Moira, Vineyards The average time for a completion would be between 8 to 10 weeks, this will of course depend on many factors, for example, if there is a large chain connected to this particular sale, the buyers required finance, lawyers due diligence and individual timing. In exceptional cases a completion could happen within a 1 or 2 weeks.

On a sale of relatively new properties, the Lending Institutions would normally not require a survey, however they will of course insist on a valuation in order to secure their lending. A survey may be requested on a sale of an older property, or large house where a more updated detail report on the structure may be require due to age and or location.

It is totally acceptable to have a good look around and ask as many questions as one requires

Q

I have landed a job in

Gibraltar and we are

currently looking to

buy our first home, but I am not sure what is expected when I am looking at someone else’s home. It seems rude to move the furniture, peek in

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

wardrobes or lift rugs, but it is a massive decision — what can I or can’t I do?

Ben & Marie, Bristol As the saying goes, everyone’s home is their castle! On most viewings in Gib the owners

are present, but of course it is totally acceptable to have a good look around and ask as many questions as one requires. Asking permission will always make any awkward “peeking” moment more acceptable.

39

The Community of Gibraltarians Worldwide at Downing Street

Gibraltarians United...

words | Eddie Elliot

Two dozen Gibraltarians, expatriate in London, met under the clock at Waterloo Station at breakfast-time on 10th September to celebrate National Day together. They had responded to an on-line message posted by Stephen Sedgwick in Portsmouth.

Previously strangers, they soon got to know each other as they set off across Waterloo Bridge to the Houses of Parliament, the first stop on their ‘Tour of London’.

By ‘cena-time’ they had formed the Community of Gibraltarians Worldwide and within 24 hours, 991 had joined their Facebook group.

In Parliament Square they paused to respect the Churchill Memorial — ’The Rock of Gibraltar will remain British as long as the apes are there!’

Then off up Whitehall, where the Gibraltar flag was flying above the FCO, to get to know the police outside the Downing Street gates.

Outside Horseguards their colourful, boisterous group were well photographed by the occupants of a tour bus — until these Spanish tourists realised who they were ‘snapping!’.

Trafalgar Square and the column of Lord Nelson, whose destiny was so linked with the Rock of Gibraltar.

Lunch in a tapas bar then ‘off to the Spanish Embassy’, in Belgravia, “Why not?”

By now their numbers had increased making it possible to occupy an offshore island (in the middle of the road) much to the delight of passing motorists supporting them, by much blowing

By ‘cena-time’ they had formed the Community of Gibraltarians Worldwide and within 24 hours, 991 had joined their Facebook group 40

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

of horns. All good natured, of course.

Over the meal, all agreed that they missed the Rock with a passion and that now was the time to move forward together — as their Facebook group indicates many feel like them.

A get-together is planned for Christmas and there will be many more Llanis on the ‘Tour of September 10th, 2014’.

Prime movers for this new Group are Isabella Serra and Stephen Sedgwick, who has campaigned, for 18 months for the Gibraltar flag to fly above the Portsmouth City Council Chamber.

His claim that the Royal Navy links between Pompey and The Rock were ideal grounds was passed enthusiastically by the Portsmouth Councillors and it will become a tradition. n

A get-together is planned for Christmas and there will be many more Llanis on the ‘Tour of 10th September 2014’

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

AKIN static marathon The Association for Kids In Need (AKIN) will be holding a 14 hour marathon outside Morrisons on Saturday 19th October and is encouraging participants to raise funds for their Sierra Leone school projects.

Last year AKIN raised over £4,000 at this event and hope to better that total this year.

It’s a 14 hour event so there will be 28 slots available on each machine (2 x treadmills and 2 x spinning bikes for now).

Participants are asked to donate £10 per half hour slot and everyone will be included in a draw for hotel nights and other fantastic prizes.

The marathon event was a sell out last year so book your preferred slot as soon as possible. If you don’t want to participate you can support the runners and spinners on the day with a donation. n

41

health & medical directory

health& fitness Bell Pharmacy

Your Family Chemists

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

McTimoney Chiropractor Gentle holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems and sports injuries Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Floor, 58 Main Street Tel: 200 41733 or after hours: 200 40026

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS

Chiropractic Health Clinic

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC

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

Member of the British Chiropractic Association

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

College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777

CHEMISTS

Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989

PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD

Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates.

Tel: 200 44797

British Registered Optometrists

Chiropodists

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

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

ChiropraCtors

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

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

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

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

Counselling

Patrick Gabay AQA Adv Dip in Counselling Tel: 200 59955 / 54014124

Health Clubs

Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa Tel: 200 48147

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

HEARING CENTRE

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

Opticians / Optometrists Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757 L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544

PERSONAL TRAINERS

Now at Unit F5, 1st Floor, ICC Isabella Jimenez, Sports Therapist (BSc Hons) Tel: 54002226 Email: sportongib@gmail.com

Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113 Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) Unit 5, 1st Floor, ICC Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com

Need somebody to talk to?

Physicians

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

Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi

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

42

SPECIALISTS

7 days a week 5pm-9pm

College Clinic, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway.

Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi

GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• OCTOBER OCTOBER 2013 2013

well-being health

l

Relax Your Mind & Body One of the great things about this time of year, when the weather begins to cool and the heat of the summer has gone, is the opportunity to immerse yourself in a relaxing bath.

While an ice cold shower at August’s hottest might stimulate and cool, 20 minutes in a bath can relax muscles, calm your mind, detoxify, moisturise, stimulate circulation and clear your lymph system and make you feel glowing with health.

The deep muscle relaxation associated with a good hot bath helps to reduce cramps, tension headaches and improves muscle elasticity. The process is similar to a massage and beneficial for everyone from keep-fitters to those who slouch behind a desk all day.

The psychological benefits from the simple time alone to relax and unwind are numerous and you may feel mentally calm and renewed after a bath too. Keep your bath to a time when you will not be interrupted so you get a break from your everyday hectic life.

Natural oils, such as coconut

oil or olive oil, added to the water lity. Bergamot is relaxing and rehelp to moisturise your skin and freshing. prevent dryness. Use of natural Scent your bathroom and take loofa or sea sponge to remove the plunge. The benefits for mind dead skin cells and encourage the appearance of radiant glowing skin without harsh chemicals.

Add essential oils or burn scented candles in the bathroom to increase relaxation and wellbeing. Try these oils, alone or in any combination, to dispel tension and promote relaxation... just add a few drops to the water before you get in.

Lavender is calming and balancing. Orange promotes relaxation and releases stress and frustration. Sweet Marjoram strengthens and relaxes. Ylang Ylang helps to cool frustration and agitation as well as promote sleep. Roman Chamomile is a warrior in cases of chronic tension and insomnia.

Frankincense promotes tranquil-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

and body are immense, and it is one health regime which will leave you positively glowing without any effort at all. n

43

Relay For Life This year’s moving Cancer Research Relay for Life was a huge success with teams walking in relays for 24 hours from 14th to 15th September around the Victoria Stadium athletics track to raise funds for charity and to remember loved ones lost to the disease.

44

The inspirational event started with a lap of honour by Cancer Survivors who stand as living proof that cancer can be defeated and remind us to celebrate life.

The relay paused briefly at 9.30pm on the Saturday for the moving Candle of Hope ceremony in which candles were lit all around the track, and in the stands to spell the word ‘hope’. Then the walkers from the many, many teams kept walking throughout the night, spurred on by music and their team mates. Well done to everyone who took time to participate.

Do you want to get involved? This month you can take part in Think Pink day for Breast Cancer Awareness on Friday 4th October by wearing something pink to work or just around town, then on 5th October there is the Cancer Research Walk for Life which starts from Casemates Square at 11am — all ages and all fitness levels welcome to participate (registration from 9.30am). Go on, get your walking shoes out — it’s a fun event for a worthy cause.

All of these events raise funds and awareness for Cancer Research UK. n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

health & well being

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

45

BREAST AUGMENTATION: Enhancing appearance and self confidence

Here we outline the main facts concerning breast enlargement surgery including the different methods of surgery and implants available Over the past 15 years Dr. Marco Vricella has performed many thousands of cosmetic procedures and is a recognised expert in breast augmentation. Breast enlargement surgery enhances the size and shape of a woman’s breasts using implants, and is performed for a number of reasons varying from patient to patient, some cosmetic and some medical.

Why have a breast enlargement?

Typically women decide to have a breast augmentation to enhance their body contour, since for personal reasons they feel their breast size is too small. It can also correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy; or to balance a difference in breast size. It is also used as a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

Will there be scarring?

With breast enlargement there are a number of approaches available to keep any potential scarring as inconspicuous as possible.

Dr Marco Vricella will discuss the options with you and decide upon the best approach depending upon your anatomy. For example, the incision, to allow the implants to be inserted, might be in the crease where the breast meets the chest; around the areola

46

(the dark skin surrounding the nipple); or in the armpit, known as transaxillary breast surgery.

Teardrop or round?

In addition there is a choice of shape and positioning for the implants. Implants are available in a natural looking anatomical teardrop shape as well as the more popular round style. Positioning can be as behind the muscle or in front. Again the choice is made based on a combination of factors including the type of result you want and your personal anatomy.

What kind of implants?

The type of implants themselves are also a very important consideration. Throughout the world, surgeons have used silicone and saline implants. Dr. Marco Vricella only uses the best quality, FDA approved, cohesive silicone gel implants that have undergone rigorous testing over the last 15 years. These cohesive silicone gel implants provide attractive and soft breasts that are long lasting and safe.

When considering a breast enlargement it is important you understand as much as possible about the procedure. Dr. Marco Vricella offers free, private consultations in Gibraltar at least twice a month at College Clinic, so you can speak directly with him.

Remember, Aria Medical Group also offers free aftercare, with post operative visits in Gibraltar and free revision surgery if necessary.

Free Consultations If you want to find out more, then Dr. Vricella holds free consultations at College Clinic, Regal House, Gibraltar every 2 weeks – for dates and to book an appointment please call:

+ 34 951 276 748 or email: info@ariamedicalgroup.com

www.ariamedicalgroup.com Find us on: Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn too.

Some of our most popular procedures: + Breast Augmentation + Breast Uplift (Mastopexy) + Breast Reduction + Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) + Liposuction + Face Lifts + Eyebag Removal (Blepharoplasty) + Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) + Cosmetic Dentistry

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2013

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When choosing your surgeon check their

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Spanish CGM and also on the UK Specialist Register of Plastic Surgeons (SRPC).

re F R E E A f t e rc a www.ariamedicalgroup.com Cosmetic Surgery

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2013

Cosmetic Cosmetic Surgery Surgery

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Madrid Madrid

Friends of Mount Alvernia Secretary, Christine Ferrary, with Chairman Louis Spiteri

Amongst Friends...

August. This is one of the residents’ favourite events and they really look forward to the visit.

They particularly benefit from seeing the younger generations enjoy themselves on the rides.

The residents try their luck on the charity stalls as well as eating tapas and churros at the Family Pavilion. It must be emphasised, that the staff at the Family Pavilion go well and truly out of their way to ensure that the needs of every resident are met that night.

The event is rewarding for the committee and others involved, as the smiles on the residents’ faces are priceless and so too is seeing some of them dance the night away! The families of the residents also take a very active role escorting them around the fairground.

We hold our annual Sales of Work once or twice during the year and the residents (with the help of the Activities Department) take an active role in preparations by creating unique hand-crafted items.

Our annual Flag Day will take place on Friday 13th December 2013, so please make a note in your diaries!

What special rewards are there for helping our elderly in this way?

By taking a more active role in the committee these past few Residents of Mount Alvernia enjoyed a fabulous months, I have come to further National Day lunch thanks to the Friends of Mount understand and respect the elderly members of our community.

Alvernia. We caught up with Secretary of the Regular outings have given me the opportunity to get to know charity, Christine Ferrary, to find out more about them better. It is always a pleasure its work. to see their happy faces, showing appreciation for anything little citizens of our community should thing that is done for them.

What is your role in Friends of be given the respect and support Mount Alvernia and how did you They thrive on telling stories of that they deserve. become involved? their youth. Their relatives too are Given the nature of my career also grateful for the work we do. It within the Care Agency, I was How can others get involved with is heart-warming to say the least. given the opportunity to see for Friends of Mount Alvernia?

The Friends of Mount Alvernia What are your thoughts on myself the untiring work and selfless dedication of the Friends are always willing to welcome elderly care in the community as of Mount Alvernia committee. new members to their committee. well as at Mount Alvernia?

After giving it some thought and We appreciate any time given by In this day and age, as people discussing it with close family, I anyone who is supporting the decided to become involved with charity in any way.

Helpers are always welcome the Friends of Mount Alvernia during our weekly Bingo sescommittee in April 2011.

On 1st April 2013, I was ap- sions, held on Tuesday mornings pointed Secretary for the Friends (10.30am and 12 noon).

Anyone can become a member of Mount Alvernia committee.

My duties include minute taking, of the charity for a mere £5 a collecting gifts/prizes donated lo- year. Those interested can contact cally by generous companies and Mr Louis Spiteri (Chairman) on individuals, press release prepara- 54001237 or myself on 54028489 tions as well as other administra- (after 2pm). tion work.

Why do you feel it is important to be a part of this organisation?

are living longer, it is evident that care must be provided for them.

Elderly members of our community are given the opportunity to retain their independence by means of a recent Government initiative aimed at providing more Domiciliary Care hours. Family members are appreciative for the peace of mind the carers provide in catering for their elderly relatives’ needs.

As a result of this Domiciliary Care, more beds are readily available at the hospital and the elderly are able to remain in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of their own home.

At Mount Alvernia, residents are looked after all day, every day, by wonderful professionals, who lovingly carry out their duty of care. More often than not, no task is a burden on them and many perform over and above their call of duty. Staff at Mount Alvernia attend regular training courses in order to maintain the high level of care expected from them.

Residents are kept busy by the Activities Department which encourages residents to take part in cooking, arts and crafts and play bingo on a regular basis. This motivates the residents and it ensures these skills are not lost.

We know the Friends organise a fabulous National Day dinner for the elderly residents (we witnessed the happy event ourselves — see photos), how else do you help them socialise and enjoy what Gibraltar has to offer?

Other than the outing to the Gibraltar Fair, the Friends arrange monthly outings to local restaurants. These are possible because of the sponsorship and support given to us by local companies and the local restaurants themselves. We are very grateful for their continued support.

We are also fortunate to be invited by Christian Santos every time there is a Zarzuela, which is enjoyed tremendously by the residents, as they know the lyrics

What projects have you worked on recently?

We recently organised our anI strongly feel that the elderly nual visit to the Gibraltar Fair in

48

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

charity file

and can follw the show.

Christmas is also an important season for the residents of Mount Alvernia. Thanks to funds raised throughout the year, we are able to provide them with individual gifts and a special Christmas Day lunch enjoyed by all. Music is provided by the Latin Trio and it is nice to see how those more able take to the floor to dance to their entertaining repertoire.

How has Mount Alvernia changed and what would you like to see happen in the future?

Although I have only been actively involved with the friends for a short time, I know that improvements have been undertaken for some years now.

Back in 2002/2003, Mount Alvernia began a major refurbishment programme. The end result has often been described as a “five star hotel”. It has been decorated and planned with “home from home” in mind, in order to provide a comfortable and pleasant environment for them to live in.

For the health and safety aspect on outings, the buses nowadays are specifically modified to cater for wheelchair users. These include a ramp/hoist to minimise injuries to the resident and carer when transferring residents onto the bus.

A ‘snoezlen’ room was set up with the untiring fund-raising support by Henry and Priscilla Sacramento. It is a great room

for residents to be motivated and their senses/skills used to their full potential.

The Friends continuously strive to enhance the residents’ quality of life. We recently purchased a further 20 digital flatscreen TVs, so residents have more channel options in these high-tech times we live in.

The garden area is now more accessible and residents are able to enjoy it during the warmer weather. Maybe a conservatory could be purpose built, so the area

“

The smiles on the residents’ faces are priceless and so too is seeing some of them dance the night away!” could be enjoyed come rain or shine throughout the year.

An opportunity could be given to members of our community who wish to pursue a career in Caring for the Elderly, by attending evening classes. The aim of these classes would be to train people and obtain a recognised Certificate in Care of the Elderly.

What did it mean to the Friends to receive the Mayor’s Gold Award in July?

Our Chairman, Mr Spiteri, was at a loss for words after the Mayor personally telephoned him with the great news.

At the ceremony itself, the Mayor delivered a very emotional tribute to the Friends — it was very humbling and we felt very privileged to be recognised for the untiring and selfless work undertaken by all the volunteers who make up the Friends.

Each Committee member received a Mayor’s Certificate and a memento of the occasion.

To whoever nominated the Friends for the Mayor’s Award, a great big thank you.

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank past and present Friends of Mount Alvernia, without whose dedication over the years we would not have been able to give our elderly citizens the extra quality of life they rightly deserve; our volunteers/sponsors/individuals, who unreservedly give of their time and money to help our cause; all the caring and hard-working staff at all the Care Agency Homes — you are a great team of professionals; and last but by no means least, to you the reader, for having taken the time to familiarise yourself with the work carried out by the Friends of Mount Alvernia, for the benefit of our elderly residents.

God Bless. n Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal Laser Clinic Permanent Hair removal Pigmentation and anti-aging Visiting Surgeon varicose veins, sebaceous cysts, innovative haemorrhoid surgery Cosmetic Surgeon Breast implants and augmentation, face-lifts, tummy tucks

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

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photo finish

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

�abulous �rontier

words | Judith Molinary

Local photographer Jayden Fa and his team have been busy once again, testing new ground in photography and setting their latest shoot at one of the most read about spots in Gibraltar — the frontier queue.

After a busy year expanding his portfolio and working in Ibiza, Jayden decided to take the plunge, after discussing new photo shoot ideas with his friend and local fashion designer Christel Mifsud. “We agreed it would be a brilliant idea to use the sometimes chaotic frontier queue as a backdrop for a relevant and very relatable shoot. After considering several possibilities, I felt we needed to create something bold and thought provoking,” he explains.

The concept behind the photo was very simple — peace. The model had to personify peace whilst being surrounded by a chaotic scene.

The scene was further developed with the inclusion a news reporter (in this case our very own real-life news reporter James Neish) and a cameraman, to make it look like a real protest receiving news coverage as seen on any news channel.

As part of the look, the model was styled as somewhat angelic, holding a blank protest board. Figuratively speaking she would have nothing to say — all she wanted was peace

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

51

amongst all the chaos.

When asked if he was striving to send a political message using fashion photography, Jayden replied “None whatsoever. I wanted to create this story to illustrate how people can easily become consumed by issues that many times are beyond their control, and how this can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety in their lives. The fact that we have this situation at the border has nothing to do with it — it just provided the perfect platform for the shoot,” he says.

“Fashion photography is all about pushing boundaries, and having your own take on reallife issues that affect people as individuals and

as communities. In my opinion, it is a lot more than just simply making someone look beautiful. Creating a story and evoking emotions was my aim with this project,” he says.

On the day of the shoot, the atmosphere was totally hectic. “I tend to zone out when working so I didn’t quite grasp how crazy it actually was, until I watched some of the behind the scenes footage. There were so many people stuck in the queue that day, most of them had been waiting for hours, so I’m glad we may have provided some sort of entertainment for them,” he says smiling.

Despite the short time frame, the team worked incredibly hard to get the model

ready and at the frontier. The team consisted of Christel Mifsud, who designed the flower body suit — created in less than 20 minutes using a mix of fresh and artificial flowers.

Nyree Chipolina was the make-up artist, Kyle Gonzalez the hair stylist, and Guy Baglietto the photographer’s assistant. Jayden would like to thank his team, as well as Stuart Green, Joseph Lathey for posing as cameraman, James Neish for posing as the reporter as well as the Royal Gibraltar Police for being so supportive and accompanying the team throughout the entire shoot. n Like Jayden’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/jaydenfaphotography

Pampering with Home of Your Beauty The Home of your Beauty recently held a pampering evening at the Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Centre in Casemates.

Beatrix and her team offered free neck and shoulder massages, nail polishing, hair and make up styling and hand and nail treatments.

The proceeds from the raffle held at the event are being used to help create a cool workshop environment for the Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Centre crafters.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

227 - 229 Main Street • Gibraltar • Tel: +350 200 49544

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Our Girls Sensational at Marbella Fashion Week Our girls wowed the crowds at last month’s Marbella Fashion Week at Nikki Beach — a prestigious event boasting luxury functions and celebrity appearances, all in the name of style.

The girls from Gibraltar modelled creations from British designers and created quite a stir amongst the jet-set. Miss Gibraltar ’13 Maroua Kharbouch headed the line-up which included 2nd Princess ’13 Stacey Britto, Miss Gibraltar ’12 Jessica Baldachino, 2nd Princess ’12 Christina Ainsworth, and Miss Gibraltar ’08 Krystle Robba.

For fabulous fashion closer to home Gibraltar’s Runway 2014 is on 3rd May 2014 with a host of international designers expressing interest in coming out to show (a little birdie tells us one confirmed booking is a favourite designer of Kylie Minogue) and international bands Candy Says and Dolls for Idols are also booked to perform.

For those who simply can’t wait for their next fashion fix, the producers of Runway have another treat in store for 2013 with Select on 26th October.

Select will feature local/international designers showing autumn/winter collections in the stylish setting of Grand Battery House. The evening is all inclusive with drinks and tapas and the level of entertainment we expect from the Runway team.

With a great line up of music and lots of other interesting exhibitions and stands to enjoy, the night looks set to start the season off with style. n

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Peter with son Dan

Peter Snow CBE

Rock Connections words | Mike Brufal

Many of the 60-plus authors arriving for the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival this month have connections with Gibraltar through their lives or works, but one author, British television and radio presenter Peter Snow, has particularly fond family memories of the rock he will be returning to on 25th October.

Peter Snow, 75, was born in Dublin, his father, the son of a British army officer, his mother, the daughter of an Irish surgeon. His grandfather is Lt General Sir Thomas D’Oyly Snow who made his name in the First World War: Jon Snow the present main presenter of Channel Four News is his cousin, and historian Margaret MacMillan is his sister-in-law.

56

Peter was educated at Wellington College, near Sandhurst and did his National Service in 1956-8 in the Somerset Light Infantry and then went to Balliol College Oxford where he read Classics, Ancient History and Philosophy (Greats). He is one of Britain’s best known journalists and presenters.

Peter spent time on the Rock when his fa-

ther, a Brigadier, was fortress commander and the family lived in Fortress House, Cathedral Square. His father taught him at the age of 17 to sail a dinghy in the Bay of Gibraltar and from this he developed a love for sailing which continues to this day. He owns and sails a 43ft sloop Cerulean which is named after a lake in the Canadian Rockies. In 2001, with son Dan, daughter Kate and a cousin they sailed across the Atlantic. He is looking forward to seeing the new Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club as he has so many happy memories of the old club house.

Peter said, “I have many happy memories of Gibraltar. It was a most exciting time of my life. I was a young national serviceman 2nd Lt in the Somerset Light Infantry stationed in Plymouth and Warminister between 1956 and 1958. I made several trips on leave and stayed at 9 Cathedral Square. It was a lovely home right at the heart of the town and we had enormous fun there.

“My parents were generous hosts and I would often find myself at a dinner party or a more informal get together — I remember the custom in those days was to play endless board and card games.

“I loved the buzz of Gibraltar’s night life and spent many a happy evening in the nightclub that I remember was called La Venta. I played a lot of tennis. I sailed in Rosia Bay with my dad. I enjoyed exploring the Rock with my parents and my dad was able to take us into the tunnels. We also used to make many enjoyable trips into Spain which were largely unrestricted in those days”.

Peter is married to Ann MacMillan of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who is the grand-daughter of the Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George. He has six children; three sons and three daughters. His hobbies include sailing, skiing, and model railways.

In 1962 he joined ITN as a newscaster and reporter. He was appointed Diplomatic and Defence Correspondent in 1966, and for the next decade reported from all round the world.

In 1970 he wrote Leila’s Hijack War, and, in 1972, Hussein, a biography of the king of Jordan.

He appeared as an election analyst and copresenter in the live General Elections results programmes, first at ITN (1966-1979) and then for the BBC 1983-2005. He presented in-depth statistical analysis of the election results at both ITN and BBC, and at the BBC took over responsibility for this in 1983, following the death of Robert McKenzie and became known for his use of the swingometer when it was reinstated in 1992. Peter is known for his excitable style of presentation and for the elaborate props and graphics. Perhaps his most famous prop of all was the sandpit which he used in 1991 to illustrate the progress of the First Gulf War in 1991. He has a reputation for being able to explain complicated matters in a way that the subject can be understood by the majority of viewers.

Peter said “Operating the Swingometer on election nights must have been the best job in television. I took over the Swingometer, which had been rather forgotten about, at the 1992 General Election when the Tories just pipped Labour to the post after clinging on in most of their marginal seats. We stuck with it for years, but it was eventually replaced by computer graphics and in 2005 both I and the Swingom-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCtober 2013

General Sir Charles Keightley with Brigadier John Snow in Gibraltar

eter retired from election duty.”

Snow survived a plane crash near Seattle, Washington state when the de Havilland hit trees during a film project for the BBC. Peter said “In 1999 I was making a show for Tomorrow’s World about a tectonic plate near Seattle.

We went up in a propeller plane with a camera to get a shot from the air, but our pilot flew in a little too low over the woods, the plane clipped the treetops and the tail came off. Thankfully the 30ft saplings we hit cushioned our landing and we escaped injury”.

Peter was one of the first presenters of Newsnight. He presented Tomorrow’s World and a range of other BBC programmes including the America’s Cup programme for BBC sport, The Abyss for BBC Natural History, and What the World thinks of America for BBC News.

In 2002, he made a programme for BBC2 with his son, Dan, a historian, to mark the 60th anniversary of the the Battle of Alamein.

This led to them both presenting two further series on BBC2 — Battlefield Britain, 8 Battles from Boudicca to the Battle of Britain and The World’s Greatest 20th Century Battlefield, which included the story of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Dan and Peter also presented a series of programmes on the British economy and Peter has presented several BBC radio programmes including Mastermind, Masterteam and Random Edition — a review of the newspapers from a day in history chosen at random. At the Royal Television Society in 1998 he won the Judges’ Award for services to broadcasting.

Dan and Peter jointly wrote two books about their battlefield series — Battlefield Britain was

Outside the Houses of Parliament

published by BBC books in 2004, and The World’s Greatest Twentieth Century Battlefields

by BBC books in 2007. Peter’s book To War with Wellington ­— from the Peninsula to Waterloo was published by John Murray in 2010. His latest book is How Britain Burned the White House — the 1814 Invasion of Washington.

Peter is 6’4” while Dan is 6’5“ and an Oxford rowing blue. Peter paid this tribute to his son.

“Whenever I’ve had a career change I’ve asked my son for his opinion first. He has decisive judgement and is always right. We first started working together when I was finishing on Tomorrow’s World. Dan was at Oxford University and was in the 1st VIII; someone noticed him doing a recording about how to row a boat and came to me saying he’d be rather good on telly and why don’t we work together. ‘You must be joking!’ I said but they still wanted to try it, so we did a programme on the Battle of Alamein in 2002.”

Peter is also a much sought after conference and business speaker as well as a conference host or facilitator.

“

I loved the buzz of Gibraltar’s night life and spent many a happy evening in the nightclub that I remember was called La Venta”

In the 2006 New Year’s Honours List he was appointed a CBE for his services to broadcasting.

Peter is attending the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival (Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October) to talk about his book When Britain Burned The White House; The 1814 Invasion Of Washington.

In this book Peter takes us back to August 1814 when the US President and his wife fled the White House moments before it was entered by the victorious British army. The invaders were able to tuck into the President’s dinner before setting fire to the palace.

Snow recounts the fortunes of both sides in this war explaining how the conflict led to the writing of the Star Spangled Banner; the far reaching consequences for both sides and how Britain and America decided never to fight each other again. It is also a tale of the colourful personalities at the heart of the battle including the British Admiral Cockburn and the beleaguered President James Madison and his courageous wife Dolley.

Peter is also expected to talk about his book To War With Wellington which tells the story of Arthur Wellesley’s Peninsular campaign and his victory at Waterloo.

Peter has visited Gibraltar on many occasions over the decades and says he is looking forward to attending the first Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival. He will be presenting When Britain Burned the White House on Friday 25th October at 10am at the Convent.

Visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com to buy tickets online. n

Left to right: Dad, Brigadier John Snow inspecting Seaforth Highlanders in Gibraltar, April 1957; Peter and dad at Fortress House 1957; Peter with mum (Peggy) and dad at dad’s CBE Investiture Buckingham Palace in the early ’50s GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCtober 2013

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Gib Mag

Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival

What the Authors Say The general excitement building at the prospect of Gibraltar’s first Literary Festival is matched only by the enthusiasm of the writers themselves who, this October, will be adding another opportunity to engage with the public to their literary calendar. The first Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival will welcome over 60 authors over three days (see full programme opposite) and we were delighted to speak to some of the authors as we were going to press. Here is what they had to say:

Roma Tearne: A Journey: From Sri Lanka to Writer 2pm Saturday 26th October

Robin Hanbury-Tenison: Great Explorers of Today & Yesterday 12pm Friday 25th October

“

To return again is magical. 50 years ago I stood on board a ship watching the rock of Gibraltar draw closer. I had travelled almost 7,000 miles to get to it. How could I have known then that one day I would return again to speak at Gibraltar’s first ever literary festival! That’s magical isn’t it?

”

Roma Tearne, Sri Lankan born artist & writer

“

The first Gibraltar Literary Festival is the perfect venue to speak about my new book, The Modern Explorers, since Gibraltar is the most international city imaginable and the book covers adventurers and explorers from all over the world.

”

Robin Hanbury-Tenison ‘The doyen of British explorers’

“

It is dazzlingly exciting to be taking part in the very first literary festival in Gibraltar.

Given the excellent calibre of participants, I’m convinced that this event will soon be a bright star in the literary firmament.

”

Robbert Bosschart, a Dutch journalist in Spain since the 1960s, who has written four books on Spanish history, culture and politics

“

Hercules and the Garlic Wall and half the Royal Navy... Rock Scorpions are well used to upheavals, and its first international literary festival is going to rock! As one of the visiting authors, I can’t wait.

“

”

“

”

Mary Chiappe, Gibraltarian author and writer

58

”

Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the history of the church at the University of Oxford and author of A History of Christianity: the first three thousand years

“

”

To have been invited to participate in the first Gibraltar Literary Festival came as a great and most gratifying surprise; then to learn that there would be such famous figures as Madhur Jaffrey made me feel as if I had sneaked in under false pretences! I am delighted to be even a small part of it all.

“

It’s a very cheering prospect to be returning to Gibraltar in this splendid and imaginative new venture. It begins a new chapter in an extraordinary history, and where better than the Rock to celebrate the many ways in which human cultures intertwine and enrich each other?

I am looking forward eagerly to discuss with the other participants, and with the audience of this extraordinary Festival, the fascinating themes that no doubt will pop up — including the fight for women’s rights!

Saira Shah, author, reporter and documentary filmmaker

Kevin Crossley-Holland, well-known poet and award-winning author for children

Diarmaid MacCulloch: Silence in Christianity 12pm Friday 25th October

Saturday 26th October 12.30pm Tickets £100 - One of the world’s greatest Chinese chefs, Ken Hom, cooks a special menu for festival-goers at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club

“

I am proud and honoured to be part of the Gibraltar Literary Festival which I am certain will be among the top literary festivals of the world!

”

Ken Hom, American-born Chinese chef, author and BBC TV presenter

I last visited Gibraltar as a tourist. It will be great to come back as a writer! I can’t think of a better spot for a literary festival and am delighted to be asked here to take part in the inaugural sessions.

”

DJ Taylor, author of nine novels and two acclaimed biographies, one of which, Orwell: The Life, won the Whitbread Biography Prize For full programme, information on talks and to book tickets online visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Gib Mag At a Glance A4 1409_Layout 1 16/09/2013 14:48 Page 1

THE

GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL

THE GIBUNCO GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL

The Festival is organised by HM Government of Gibraltar

FRIDAY 25th TO SUNDAY 27th OCTOBER 2013

Festival at a Glance John Sutherland and John Crace Sex and Marriage Peter Snow When Britain Burned the White House Patrick Jephson Shadows of a Princess: Diana Princess of Wales by her Private Secretary

Friday, October 25 Friday, October 25

10am

Joanne Harris A Cat A Hat and a Piece of String

Saturday, October 26

10am

Ken Hom A Lunch with Ken Hom

Saturday, October 26 12.30pm

D J Taylor and John Crace Parody

12pm

Saturday, October 26

2pm

Friday, October 25

10am

Jennifer Ballantine Perera and John Stotesbury Friday, October 25 Voices from Gibraltar

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Sport

Saturday, October 26

2pm

10am

Robin Hanbury-Tenison Great Explorers of Today and Yesterday

William Chislett Spain: What Everyone Needs to Know

Saturday, October 26

2pm

Friday, October 25

12pm

D J Taylor The Chesterton Lecture

Roma Tearne A Journey: From Sri Lanka to Writer

Saturday, October 26

2pm

Friday, October 25

12pm

Mercedes Aguirre El Cuadro Inacabado

Sanford Allen My Life and Music

Saturday, October 26

4pm

Friday, October 25

12pm

Diarmaid MacCulloch Silence in Christianity

Josh Shoemake Tangier: A Literary Guide for Travellers

Saturday, October 26

4pm

Friday, October 25

12pm

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor The Popes I have Known

Saturday, October 26

4pm

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Science and Engineering

Saturday, October 26

4pm

2pm

Sam Benady and Mary Chiappe The Devil’s Tongue: The Fifth Bresciano Mystery

Saturday, October 26

5pm

2pm

Mohammed Achaari, Abdelkrim Jouiti and Youssef Fadel Sunday, October 27 Voices from Morocco

10am

Diarmaid MacCulloch Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700

Sunday, October 27

10am

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Natural History

Sunday, October 27

10am

D J Taylor The Windsor Faction

Sunday, October 27

10am

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor Festival Mass

Sunday, October 27 10.30am

Claudia Roden Interviewed by Donald Sloan A Recipe for Life

Sunday, October 27

12pm

Kevin Crossley-Holland and Mercedes Aguirre Myths and Legends and What They Tell Us About Life

Sunday, October 27

12pm

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of History

Sunday, October 27

12pm

Tahir Shah Casablanca Blues

Gavin Hewitt The Lost Continent: Europe's Darkest Hour Since World War Two Paul Mellars Gibraltar and the Evolution of Man Hardeep Singh Kohli and Madhur Jaffrey Spice Workshop

Friday, October 25 Friday, October 25 Friday, October 25

1.30pm

William Chislett Shattered by War and Exile: Arturo Barea and Manuel Chaves Novales

Friday, October 25

2pm

Rachel Hore The Silent Tide

Friday, October 25

2pm

Leanda de Lisle and Robbert Bosschart Women of Power in History

Friday, October 25

2pm

Joanne Harris Peaches for Monsieur Le Curé

Friday, October 25

4pm

Rose George Deep Sea and Foreign Going

Friday, October 25

4pm

Alexandra Harris Virginia Woolf: Life and Work

Friday, October 25

4pm

Joseph Garcia Gibraltar: The Making of a People

Friday, October 25

4pm

Ben Okri The Conjunction of Africa and Europe

Friday, October 25

6pm

Peter Kemp and David Grylls The Power of the Critic

Friday, October 25

6pm

Sunday, October 27

12pm

Fernando Pérez Sanjuán, Carmen Cordero Amores and Victor José Maicas Safont Voices from Spain Sunday, October 27

2pm

Kate Adie Fighting on the Home Front: The Legacy of Women in World War One

Sunday, October 27

2pm

David Crystal The Future of English

Sunday, October 27

2pm

Mary-Jo Jacobi Gibraltar in the Global Economy

Sunday, October 27

2pm

10am

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Sport

Sunday, October 27

2pm

Madhur Jaffrey, Ken Hom and Penny Holmes.

Chaired by Donald Sloan The Culture of Food: An Affirmation of Life

Sunday, October 27

4pm

Saira Shah The Mouse-Proof Kitchen

Friday, October 25

6pm

Paul Preston The Spanish Holocaust

Friday, October 25

6pm

Rachel Hore Writing a Novel: A Masterclass

Saturday, October 26

Madhur Jaffrey My Life on Stage and Screen followed by screening of Heat and Dust Norman Stone Turkey: A Short History

Saturday, October 26

10am

Saturday, October 26

10am

Thomas Mogford, Jason Webster and Robert Daws Crime in the Sun Saturday, October 26

10am

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Natural History

Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Science and Engineering

Sunday, October 27

4pm

10am

Richard Hamilton The Last Storytellers: Tales from the Heart of Morocco Sunday, October 27

4pm

12pm

John Holmes and Roma Tearne The Politics of Humanity: The Reality of Relief Aid

Sunday, October 27

4pm

12pm

John Crace Harry's Games: Inside the Mind of Football Managers

Sunday, October 27

4pm

Nhean Haynes de Domecq Rock Cakes and Other Delights: Gibraltar’s History Told Through Food Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of History

Saturday, October 26

Saturday, October 26 Saturday, October 26

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2013

Box Office at John Mackintosh Hall, open from 1st October.

Buy tickets online at

59

www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

A Reader’s Delight

photo: DM Parody

It is impossible to attend all the events on offer at the inaugural Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival with as many as five talks happening simultaneously in a packed itinerary — picking which authors to miss may well be your biggest dilemma in Gibraltar from Friday 25th October to Sunday 27th October. The smorgasbord of world acclaimed authors from all walks of life is testament to the perseverance and vision of Gibraltar’s Ministry of Tourism and the experience of the Festival Director, and organiser of the hugely successful Oxford and Blenheim Palace Festivals, Sally Dunsmore, as well as the enthusiasm of Gibraltar’s business community.

Our historic Garrison Library will be the setting for many of the Festival’s talks

“It was a privilege to be asked to organise this festival on behalf of HM Government of Gibraltar,” Sally enthuses. “I and everyone involved with the first Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival are tremendously excited about it. We have a group of passionate and enthusiastic writers who have embraced the idea of a literary festival on the Rock and a set of sponsors and partners in Gibraltar who have all been incredibly supportive.”

Sally is working with the festival’s Special Advisor Tony Byrne, who is also a UK festival old hand and they have put together a world class event with a tremendous amount of local support.

“We have writers arriving from all over the world and they will join forces with writers from Morocco, Spain and Gibraltar. I’m really pleased that two of our events will see Gibraltarian writers launching their new books,” she adds.

“We’ve got three days of passionate and stimulating debate lined up on a whole range of subjects from literary fiction and crime fiction, to history, modern society, and food and drink,” Sally promises. “We’ve only just launched the website and opened for booking but we already get a sense of the excitement

60

from the public.”

The Hon Neil Costa MP, Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port has been involved in the project from the beginning. He says “I am delighted that the first Gibunco International Literary Festival is now a reality. HM Government of Gibraltar firmly believes that event-led tourism is a vital element of Gibraltar’s tourism industry and we shall work tirelessly to encourage events such as these to unfold.

“My team and I have been working on this project for some time now and I am grateful for their dedication,” he states, adding that “The tremendous support we have received in private sponsorship has also contributed greatly to the inception of the Festival and the expertise of our Festival Director and Special Advisor has been crucial. HM Government of Gibraltar is delighted to be organising and managing this event that brings to our shores such a prestigious line-up of writers, journalists, authors and celebrities. The Festival will undoubtedly help to promote Gibraltar to a worldwide audience.”

And a worldwide audience has indeed been stimulated by the first international literary festival to be held on our shores.

Visitors are expected to arrive from the UK, Spain, Morocco and further afield, tempted by the promise not only of first class speakers but also a small taste of the Mediterranean in such a unique and historic setting we call home. l

The Hon Neil Costa MP, Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port

Festival Taster...

Here is a sample of what you can enjoy at the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2013.

Madhur Jaffrey talks to Donald Sloan My Life on Stage and Screen Cinema 2, King’s Bastion Leisure Centre Saturday 26th October 10am 2.5 hours Tickets £10

Madhur Jaffrey may be known as a world authority on Indian food but it is as an awardwinning actress on screen and stage that she first came to prominence. Here she talks to Donald Sloan, head of Oxford Gastronomica, about her life in the movies, on Broadway and in the West End. Conversation will be followed by a screening of Heat and Dust.

Jaffrey was born in Delhi and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London following a performance in Tennessee William’s Auto-da-Fe. From there her career took off. She appeared in various BBC and radio plays and enjoyed a spell in New York before her success in Shakespeare Wallah a film followed a troupe of travelling Shakespeare actors as they grappled with a fall in demand for English theatre in the face an emerging Indian film industry. She went on to star in further Merchant Ivory films, including Heat and Dust and The Cotton Girls, and to win accolades for theatre performances on Broadway and the West End. She continues to appear in films today.

An Invitation to Indian Cookery, published in 1973, was the first of many cookery books, and Jaffrey went on to star in her own BBC cookery show Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery. She has a new series, Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation, on the Good Food Channel.

She appears at two other festival events to discuss the culture of food with Chinese chef Ken Hom and Lady Penny Holmes, and alongside food writer and TV journalist Hardeep Singh Kohli in a spice workshop. l Cormac Murphy-O’Connor: The Popes I Have Known Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned Saturday 26th October 4pm 1 hour Tickets £10 Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has spent decades serving at the highest levels of

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Mazur/www.catholicnews.org.uk

this month whose role is to elect a new Pope and to advise the current Pope.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor took part in the conclave that elected Pope Benedict the 16th in 2005 and the Pope accepted his resignation as Archbishop in 2009 when he reached the age of 76. He was appointed Cardinal at the same time as Cardinal Bergoglio now Pope Francis and was in Rome this year to assist at the meetings of Cardinals before the March conclave. l Kevin Crossley-Holland & Mercedes Aguirre Myths & Legends and what they tell us about life the Roman Catholic Church and has come to Upper Reading Room, Gibraltar Garrison Library know the recent Popes. Here he talks about the Sunday 27th October 12pm 1 hour Tickets £10 Popes he has known and the work they have done leading the world’s estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. He will talk about Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict and Francis.

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor was born in Reading Berkshire in 1932 and went to study for the priesthood at the English College in Rome in 1952. After spells as a parish priest in Southampton and as private secretary to Bishop Derek Worlock he returned to the English College in Rome as rector. In 1977 he was ordained Bishop of Arundel and Brighton a position he held for 23 years until 2000 when he succeeded Cardinal Basil Hulme as Archbishop of Westminster. The following year Pope John Paul appointed him a Cardinal one of a group of the highest Church leaders

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

An English writer and a Spanish writer and academic, who have both delved deep into the world of myths and legends for their work, join forces to discuss Greek, Norse and Basque myths and legends, the importance of storytelling and what these tales can tell us about our lives.

Award-winning children’s writer, poet and translator Kevin Crossley-Holland has translated Beowulf from the Anglo-Saxon and has published retellings of traditional tales including The Penguin Book of Norse Myths and British Folk Tales. He won the Carnegie Medal in 1985 for Storm and was shortlisted for the 2008 Carnegie Medal for Gatty’s Tale. He is also author of the Arthur trilogy, The Seeing Stone,

They have joined forces to discuss Greek, Norse and Basque myths and legends, the importance of storytelling and what these tales can tell us about our lives King of the Middle March, and At the Crossing Places. The Seeing Stone won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award, the Smarties Prize Bronze Medal, and the Tir na n-Og Award. He appears at one of the festival’s school events to talk about the Arthur trilogy.

Mercedes Aguirre is an academic specialising in Greek mythology and literature and a

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...Festival Taster... writer of fiction, of retellings of Greek myths and legends, and of stories inspired by Greek myths. She is a lecturer at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid and a visiting fellow at the University of Bristol. She is co-author of a series of books that retell the Greek myths and of one that retells Basque myths. She has also written fiction inspired by Greek myth including Nuestros mitos de cada dia, Mythical Tales of the Everyday World, shortlisted in the I Literary Prize Éride Ediciones; and El narrador de cuentos.

She appears at another festival event to discuss, in Spanish, her new novel El cuadro inacabado. l John Crace Harry’s Games: Inside the Mind of Football Managers Upper Reading Room, Gibraltar Garrison Library Sunday 27th October 4pm 1 hour Tickets £10

photo: Zoe Radley-Azopardi

The Devil you know: Bresciano faces ghosts from a Moroccan past words | Elena Scialtiel

Speaking of the devil, it’s that time of year again, when Pillars of Hercules detective novelists Mary Chiappe and Sam Benady launch, hopefully on a dark and stormy night, their annual opus of historical fiction with a murderous twist.

Writer and Guardian journalist John Crace takes a sideways look at the different styles of football management. Crace, who writes the Digested Reads — pastiches of popular writers — for the paper, draws on a lifetime of watching football and supporting Tottenham Hotspur to delve into the mind of the football manager. He is also the author of two sports books, Harry’s Games: Inside the Mind of Harry Redknapp and Vertigo: One Football Fan’s Fear of Success.

Harry’s Games is the biography of Queen’s Park Rangers and former Tottenham, Portsmouth and Southampton manager, Harry Redknapp. Seen as a tactical genius in some quarters and as a clown in others, Crace asks how he could at one time be tipped as an England manager while at the same time be facing court proceedings for tax evasion, charges he was eventually cleared of.

Vertigo is an hilarious take on the life of an obsessive football fan whose team always disappoints. Crace has supported Spurs for 40 years, mostly of underachievement. The recent upturn in fortunes has, however, led to a new anxiety: the fear of success.

Crace is a feature writer for the Guardian who is best known for his literary pastiches, the Digested Read. He makes two other appearances at the festival to discuss parody in literature with D J Taylor and to discuss the changing attitudes to sex and marriage in literature with Professor John Sutherland. l

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Scheduled to launch as part of the first Gibunco International Gibraltar Literary Festival, The Devil’s Tongue is the fifth installment in a series of adventures and misadventures of casual hero Giovanni Bresciano, the son of a Genoese ship-chandler and a no-nonsense British lady, who went from Great Siege soldier (Fall of a Sparrow) to British Consul personal advisor (The Pearls of Tangier).

Headstrong and naturally inquisitive, Giovanni easily gets himself in trouble, but almost equally easily sleuths his way out of it, thanks to his deductive skills, keen eye and intuition that keep him cool in the most abstruse pickle, and so make him earn such

As usual, some historical characters are sprinkled like hundreds and thousands on top of the jolly fiction a reputation he was summoned by none less than the Governor of Gibraltar to track down the alleged kidnappers of Prince Edward’s French sweetheart (The Prince’s Lady).

This time it is personal: Bresciano must prove his family’s innocence after a very bad baddie he thought he had seen the back of in Tangier four years ago resurfaces in Gibraltar, alive at first for a bitter confrontation with the Brescianos, and dead in their warehouse backyard shortly after.

Any one of the clan is a suspect in this gruesome murder as they all had a motive to get rid of Rogers, Giovanni’s sworn enemy

because of the nasty stunts pulled on his young sister Lucia and bride-to-be Giulietta. How to make the Town Major see that a crook like Rogers must have had enemies everywhere, and present him with a more plausible motive to clear his family name?

Well, to learn how Bresciano always manages to fall feet first like a cat, you will have to read this thrilling novel, which promises to be a real page-turner as much as its predecessors, thanks to an elegant and clear use of language, rich in period idioms and turns of phrase, lively dialogue, detailed descriptions of yesteryears Gibraltar, and congenial characters, at once coherent with the historical settings and at the same time evergreen and somehow epitomising the very first embryo of a Gibraltarian identity and its multicultural idiosyncrasies.

Curiously, the setting is 1793, during one of several Spanish frontier closures, to contain the plague coming from Morocco, even if the two kingdoms are allied against regicide France, now plunging into terror as the revolution went sour.

As usual, some historical characters are sprinkled like hundreds and thousands on top of the jolly fiction, from General O’Hara the Governor and Mr Matra, already introduced in previous episodes, to the ‘shameless plugging’ of Sam’s g-g-g grandfather Menahem Benady, who had his workshop near Shaar Ha-Shamayim synagogue.

For retired paediatrician and local historian Sam getting his history right is child’s play, but Mary confesses she has fun researching trivia like the use of handkerchiefs, toilets and underwear in the 18th Century.

If nowadays most of police work is carried out with a substantial help of technology, in GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Bresciano’s times everything depended on grey matter, assumption and intuition, as not even dactyloscopy had been yet invented.

Mary and Sam believe that the empiric methods applied by Bresciano have their charm and actually offer a welcome change to the kind of police procedural drama we are accustomed

by American TV series. Here, investigation is gentlemanly like a Sherlock Holmes ante litteram, with the added bonus of educating the reader about Gibraltar’s history without being pedantic.

“Being realistic is not a problem. I think our characters and plots are convincing, and we simply have to work with the character’s common sense and intelligence. Even Poirot just uses his little grey cells and doesn’t do technology!” Mary says. And she adds: “I watch a lot of TV whodunits like Morse, Lewis, Cadfael, Vera… it’s all grist to the mill; and I read detective fiction too. It’s all fun, but I dignify it by calling it ‘research’.”

The authors claim that, if detective fiction is ever popular, historical detective fiction has grown extremely popular, because readers are keen to learn how to rely only on one’s brain to hunt down the culprit. And the historical setting always offers scope for interesting subplots or side events of varied interest.

Mary and Sam are not growing tired of their hero and would love to actually meet him day — who knows, perhaps when it becomes a blockbuster starring some Tinseltown heartthrob — so the rest of their independent creative work is left on the ‘backburner’ because their bond with each other and their characters is just too strong and emotional to be severed for independent literary activity, as they did in the past, Sam with Sherlock Holmes in Gibraltar novels and Mary jesting colour-piece anthology Cabbages and Kings or sombre novel Mosaic of an Unquiet Time.

In fact, at least two more Bresciano mysteries are in the pipeline, and hopefully even two more, since a cat is said to have nine lives.

Given how fond of him the authors admit to be, to the point they will probably weep at

...Festival Taster John Holmes and Roma Tearne The Politics of Humanity: The Reality of Relief Aid King’s Chapel Sunday 27th October 4pm 1 hour Tickets £10

his impending wedding with Giulietta, it is unlikely they will manage to give up their addiction any sooner. And to keep the reader hooked, here a little sneak peek of next year’s adventure Death in Paradise Ramp, set in 1802, when Giovanni and Giulietta are married with children.

He is asked to investigate a ‘cold case’, a woman found in a cellar, to ascertain if it is natural death or suicide or… murder, as he suspects, in order to establish whether she can be buried in consecrated ground. His sidekick this time will be his disreputable cousin from Genoa, Umberto. See you next year! l Published by Two Pillars Press, The Devil’s Tongue will be available from local bookshops from 28th October, priced £9.99, cover art — the old town from Devil’s Tongue — by Michele Stagnetto.

To reserve a copy email marychiappe@hotmail.com.

Sam Benady was born in Gibraltar, where his family has lived since 1735. One of his ancestors was kidnapped by 18th-century privateers and had to be ransomed. He was appointed Gibraltar’s first full-time paediatrician in 1980 and ran the service for 20 years. Since retirement, he has devoted himself to writing.

Sam Benady & Mary Chiappe talk to David Freeman about The Devil’s Tongue: The Fifth Bresciano Mystery Upper Reading Room, Garrison Library Saturday 26th October 5pm Gibraltarian writers Sam Benady and Mary Chiappe talk to broadcaster David Freeman about their crime-writing partnership and launch their fifth and latest co-authored Bresciano mystery, The Devil’s Tongue.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Mary Chiappe became Gibraltar’s first woman minister at the age of 25 but she resigned her education portfolio to follow a career in teaching. She traces her family back to Sicily and Andalusia. Like Sam, she took up writing on retirement. She is a columnist on the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Television and radio broadcaster David Freeman has interviewed over 11,000 authors in the course of his career. Freeman interviewed four writers a day on Radio Oxford between 1983 and 1991 — everyone from Norman Mailer to Joan Collins — later, he interviewed hundreds more during his five-year stint as presenter on Sky TV’s Book Show.

Former UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Sir John Holmes talks to Sri Lanka-born novelist Roma Tearne about the harsh realities of supplying humanitarian aid to the world’s biggest trouble spots. Holmes was at the UN between 2007 and 2010, and his work took him to areas such as Sri Lanka, Darfur, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In The Politics of Humanity, he gives a clear account of the realities of development aid, exposing the difficulties of the job and explaining how he quickly realised that

He gives a clear account of the realities of development aid, exposing the difficulties of the job, and how he quickly realised his role was to be a voice to the voiceless his role was to be a voice to the voiceless. He found that the UN’s humanitarian efforts were tolerated in the world’s trouble spots but often mistrusted and undermined by both sides in a conflict. Efforts were often frustrated by people working for political ends.

Holmes worked in the Foreign Office for 34 years, serving as ambassador in Paris for six years before taking on his role at the UN. He is now director of the Ditchley Foundation, which aims to advance international learning and to bring transatlantic and other experts together to discuss international issues.

Tearne is an artist and novelist born in Sri Lanka. She arrived in the UK with her family at the age of 10 and vividly remembers stopping in Gibraltar on the way. She first trained as an artist and later turned to writing. Her first novel, Mosquito, was shortlisted for the Costa First Book Award. Most of her work, including her latest novel, Road to Urbino, is set against the backdrop of war-torn Sri Lanka. She talks about her journey to the UK and her novels at a separate festival event. l Go online for full details of all events and to book tickets www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

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What’s On

October ’13

Tuesday 24th September to Friday 11th October Model Soldier Exhibition, John Mackintosh Hall 9.30am – 11pm. For info Tel: Alan Montegriffo 20052908 Wednesday 2nd October Benjamin Rivinius String Quartet (see below).

Wednesday 2nd to Friday 4th October Avatar – The Dance Production organised by the Show Dance Company, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 8.30pm. Tickets £12 from Accessory World, 1st Floor, ICC, from Friday 18th October. email grodrigu@gibraltar.gi Friday 4th October Think Pink Day organised by the Cancer Research Gibraltar Branch. For info contact Giovi Viñales on email: gv@europort-gibraltar.com Friday 4th and Saturday 5th October Tribute to Pink Floyd organised by J2 Productions, Inces Hall Theatre 8.30pm.

For info contact Jay Callejon on 54025517 or email: jaycallejon@gmail.com Saturday 5th October Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society monthly outing – European Birdwatch birds & bird ringing. Meet Heathfield Steps by Grand Parade, Alameda Gardens 8am. For info Keith Bensusan

54001111 email: kbensusan@gonhs.org Cancer Research Walk for Life organised by the Cancer Research Gibraltar Branch, Casemates Square 11am. Registrations as from 9.30am. For further info please contact Giovi Viñales on email: gv@europort-gibraltar.com Sunday 6th October Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association, Casemates Square 11am to 2pm.

Tuesday 8th October Short Story Workshops and Competition Kiki Lounge, Ocean Village 6pm to 9pm. For 16 years and over. Cost £35. For info Carla Acheson 54006696 email: rockwriters@hotmail.co.uk Wednesday 9th October Verdi and Wagner Bicentennial Celebration Art Exhibition by Gino Sanguinetti, Fine Arts Gallery, Casemates Square 10am to 6pm.

Entrance free. For info contact the Fine Arts Gallery on 20052126 or email: finearts@ gibtelecom.net Thursday 10th and Friday 11th October ‘This is A.I.M.’ a dance production organised by Art in Movement, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre, 7.30pm. Tickets £12 on sale at The Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. For info Nathan Conroy 54025041 or visit www.artinmovement.net

Saturday 12th October - Cheerleading Festival

Saturday 12th October Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Tour meet George Don Gates (south end of Grand Parade) 10.30am. No fee but donations welcome. Tel: 200 72639 email: alameda@wildlife.gib.gi 1st Gibraltar Cheerleading Festival 2013 organised by the Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, Inces Hall Theatre 2-3.30pm and 4-6pm. Tickets £10 per session or £15 all day ticket on sale at Rock Photos, ICC Building. For further info contact Gina Morello Caballero on

The Halberg String Quartet 2nd October, Convent Ballroon, 8pm

The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society continues its season with another great concert on 2nd October at the Convent Ballroom at 8pm. For the very first time Gibraltar will welcome the Halberg String Quartet.

All the string quartet members hold leading positions in the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (based in Saarbrücken) and are very well versed and enthusiastic chamber music players. Even though coming from different generations and culture groups, the quartet always is complimented on its homogeneity by the audience and press. The quartet was formed in 2010 and since then they are giving concerts on national and international platforms including

many radio broadcasting productions.The concert is supported by the Bonita Trust.

Tickets priced £20.00 are available from Sacarello’s coffee shop-restaurant in Irish Town and The Silver Shop at 222 Main Street or directly from the society by telephone on 200 72134. A limited number of tickets at £10.00 are available to senior citizens and students via the John Macintosh Hall at 308 Main Street.

Further information available from Tel.: + 200 72134 or www.philharmonic.gi

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

mobile 58008338 or email: georginamorello@ yahoo.co.uk Gibraltar Mini Dash, Casemates Square 9am -12noon Monday 14th October The Iron Knight of Malta launch of book by Joe Caruana, Fine Arts Gallery, Casemates 6.30pm. For info contact Joe Caruana on email joecaruana61@yahoo.com Monday 14th to Wednesday 16th October Jazz Festival Workshops by professional saxophonist Dan Moretti. For further information visit www.gibraltarjazz.gi Tuesday 15th October Short Story Workshops and Competition Kiki Lounge, Ocean Village 6pm to 9pm. For 16 years and over. Cost £35. For info Carla Acheson 54006696 email: rockwriters@hotmail.co.uk Wednesday 16th October ‘Children’s Dreams are made of this’ Children’s story book written by Stella and Sonia Golt, The Khaima, The Rock Hotel 5 to 7pm. All proceeds in aid of Bosom Buddies Cancer Trust and RICC. Art Lecture - L S Lowry presented

by Michael Howard organised by the Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society, O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel 7.30pm. For info contact Claus Olesen on 20002024 Thursday 17th to 19th October 2nd Gibraltar International Jazz Festival

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Jools Holland, Gilson Lavis, Melanie C, Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and more. For info contact Ministry of Culture events team Tel: 200 48063 www.gibraltarjazz.gi Saturday 19th October Craft & Collectors Fair at St Andrew’s Church 10am to 2pm. Entrance Fee: £1. All proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund. Stalls available at £10 to include table and cloth. For info Tel: 54023166 Sunday 20th October Battle of Trafalgar Remembrance Service at Trafalgar Cemetery 12 noon.

For info Tel: 200 55001/2 Monday 21st October International Exchange of Digitally Projected Images 8pm Gibraltar Photographic Society.

A photographic exchange between Gibraltar, Scotland, England, South Africa and New Zealand at the Society’s premises in Wellington Front. Entrance free.

Tuesday 22nd October Annual Health and Safety Seminar, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 9.30am to 12noon. For info Richard Labrador 56437000 email: safety@ gibtelecom.net The History of Gibraltar in Five Parts: Part 4 – History of a People museum lecture by Tom Finlayson, John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 8pm.

Entrance free.

Friday 25th to 27th October Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival

28th October - 1st November - Kids’s Art Workshops

Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November Art Workshops for Children organised by Giorann Henshaw at the Kings Bastion Leisure Centre 10am-11.30pm. For info Giorann mobile 54027902 Wednesday 30th October to Friday 1st November ‘Bang Bang Beirut’ – Comedy Play organised by the Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association at the Ince’s Hall Theatre 8.30pm. For info contact Howard Danino email: howard@gibraltar.gi n

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Professional Spanish Teacher All levels, singles, groups or Skype Call Margaret Tel: 0034956173384 Mobile: 0034609717296 Email: margaretjf13@gmail.com

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

Studio47 For information and bookings contact: www.vassalloimages.com Warren Vassallo Mobile 54176000 Spain mobile: 678158755 email: warren@vassalloimages.com

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

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAziNE • OCTOBEr OCTOBER 2013

Medical Man’s Gibraltar Poem

history

file

words | Reg Reynolds

Silas Weir Mitchell was an American physician who is remembered today for coining the term causalgia but he was also a writer and poet who was so inspired on his first sighting of Gibraltar in 1898 he penned the following poem:

Gibraltar At Dawn Up and over the sea we came, And saw the dayspring leap in flame.

Full in face Gibraltar lay, Crouching, lion-like, at bay, Stern and still and battle-scarred, Grimly keeping watch and ward.

Hark, and hear the morning gun Salute time’s admiral, the sun, While the bleak old storied keep, That hath never known to sleep, Golden’neath the morning lies, Sentinelled with memories, Heard when, rolling from afar, The hoarse waves thunder, “Trafalgar!”

Quite a jingoistic piece for a physician who had treated dozens of soldiers during the American Civil War for what were then termed ‘nervous’ injuries.

Although today Dr. Mitchell *[see note] is best remembered for recognising the delayed pain suffered by patients long after an injury had occurred he also popularized the ‘rest cure’ for nervous diseases, discovered erythromelalgia (Mitchell’s disease) and wrote medical texts which influenced many in his profession including Sigmund Freud. He also studied amputation and coined the term ‘phantom limb’ in relation to amputees who can still feel an appendage after it has been removed.

For myself and non-medical readers here are definitions for the above: Causalgia: Burning pain caused by peripheral nerve injury. It may be aggravated by the slightest stimuli or it may be intensified by the emotions. It usually begins several weeks after the initial injury and the pain is described as intense, with patients sometimes taking elaborate precautions to avoid any stimulus that they know could cause a flare-up of symptoms. Any of a variety of injuries to the hand, foot, arm, or leg can lead to causalgia, but in most cases there has been some injury to the median nerve or sciatic nerve.

Erythromelalgia: A rare disorder that is characterised by burning pain and warmth and redness of the extremities. The name is derived from three Greek words: erythros (“red”), melos (“limb”), and algos (“pain”). Mitchell first described erythromelalgia in the 1870s.

Dr. Mitchell treated the rich and famous and not all of them were impressed with his methods. The writer Virginia Woolf wrote in a savage satire, “you invoke proportion; order rest in bed; rest in solitude; silence and rest; rest without friends, without books, without

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

messages; six months rest; until a man who went in weighing seven stone six comes out weighing 12”.

Another novelist and feminist, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was nearly driven mad by his ‘rest cure’ and in response wrote a short story in which the narrator is driven insane.

In explaining how she came up with The Yellow Wallpaper Perkins wrote: “For many years I suffered from a severe and continuous nervous breakdown tending to melancholia — and beyond. During about the third year of this trouble I went, in devout faith and some faint stir of hope, to a noted specialist [Dr. Mitchell] in nervous diseases, the best known in the country. This wise man put me to bed and applied the rest cure, to which a stillgood physique responded so promptly that he concluded there was nothing much the matter with me, and sent me home with solemn advice to ‘live as domestic a life as far as possible,’ to ‘have but two hours’ intellectual life a day,’ and ‘never to touch pen, brush, or pencil again’ as long as I lived. This was in 1887.

“I went home and obeyed those directions for some three months, and came so near the borderline of utter mental ruin that I could see over.

“Then, using the remnants of intelligence that remained, and helped by a wise friend, I cast the noted specialist’s advice to the winds and went to work again — work, the normal life of every human being; work, in which is joy

Novelist and feminist, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was nearly driven mad by his ‘rest cure’ and in response wrote a short story in which the narrator is driven insane

and growth and service, without which one is a pauper and a parasite — ultimately recovering some measure of power.

“Being naturally moved to rejoicing by this narrow escape, I wrote The Yellow Wallpaper, with its embellishments and additions, to carry out the ideal and sent a copy to the physician who so nearly drove me mad. He never acknowledged it.”

Freud on the other hand was so impressed he promoted some of Mitchell’s treatments including electrotherapy. Freud also adopted Mitchell’s use of physical relaxation as an adjunct to therapy, which arguably resulted in the employment of the psychoanalytic couch Mitchell was born, the son of a physician, on 15th February, 1829 at Philadelphia. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and received his medical degree in 1850 from Jefferson Medical College. During the Civil War he had charge of ‘nervous’ injuries at Philadelphia’s Turners Lane Hospital.

In 1863, he had a short story, The Case of George Dedlow, published in the Atlantic Monthly. Thereafter, when his medical duties allowed, he pursued a career in writing. Two of his books, Hugh Wynne, Free Quaker (1897) and The Red City (1909) sold well and received favourable reviews. He also wrote stories for juveniles and volumes of poetry.

In 1887 Dr. Mitchell served as president of the Association of American Physicians and from 1908-09 was president of the American Neurological Association. Raised a protestant, he was an agnostic for thirty years, before he and his wife converted to Catholicism. He died on 4th January, 1914 aged 84. n Note: The American actor Silas Weir Mitchell — Grimm, My Name is Earl, Halloween II, Prison Break — is a direct descendent.

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The Great Gibraltar Beerlift words | Reg Reynolds

Unfortunately I have never tasted Watneys Red Barrel bitter but from what I can gather by comments on the internet serious beer drinkers either loved it or loathed it. In Gibraltar it was mostly loved.

The website Retrowow has an interesting article giving the history of Watneys Red Barrel and it begins by stating: “Perhaps the most well known beer of the 60s and 70s, the much maligned Watneys Red Barrel, can trace its origins back to the 30s; in fact Watneys claimed 1931. Red Barrel was originally developed as an export beer that could be transported for long distances by sea.”

Because Red Barrel was brewed for overseas markets it needed to travel well. Like all keg bitter, it was filtered to remove the yeast, before being pasteurised and having carbon dioxide added to maintain the flavour and fizz.

Red Barrel was first exported to Gibraltar in 1962 and proved so popular that during that hot summer the taps ran dry. In his book The History of British European Airways, Charles Woodley writes:

Tourist: Yes, I quite agree with you, I mean what’s the point of being treated like a sheep, I mean I’m fed up with going abroad and being treated like a sheep, what’s the point of being carted around in buses surrounded by sweaty mindless oafs from Kettering and Boventry *[see note] in their cloth caps and their cardigans and their transistor radios and their Sunday Mirrors, complaining about the tea, ‘Oh they don’t make it properly here do they not like at home’ stopping at Majorcan bodegas, selling fish and chips and Watneys Red Barrel and calamares and two veg and sitting in cotton sun frocks squirting Timothy White’s sun cream over their puffy raw swollen flesh ‘cos’ they ‘overdid it on the first day’!

Idle continues on in that vein, Watneys Red Barrel is slagged four times and he even refers to “dried Watneys sandwiches”. Palin tries in vain to shut the tourist up but finally in frustration calls the police.

In its prime Watneys Red Barrel was served on BEA flights and in all the bars of the luxury liner QE2, but in an attempt to appeal to the pop world in the 1970s Watneys Red Barrel became simply Watney’s Red. Bizarrely this brew, which was a weaker and sweeter version, was promoted with the slogan ‘Join Watneys Red Army’ with huge billboards picturing Kruschev, Mao and Castro, drinking pints of Watneys Red. You can’t get Watneys Red Barrel in Gibraltar “BEA was contracted to fly twenty 10-gallon kegs of the brew in the cargo hold of its today but there is plenty of quite attractive Vanguard service, the first airlift of beer into memorabilia available on the internet. n Gibraltar.”

In the 1970s Red Barrel was ubiquitous on *Note: At the beginning of the sketch Idle explains the Costa del Sol and this led to the beverage to Palin that he can’t pronounce the letter C. being immortalized in a Monty Python episode which aired on 16th November, 1972.

In the skit Eric Idle plays a ‘disgruntled holiday maker’ who inquires of travel agent Michael Palin about a trip he has seen advertised. Palin has barely got a word in before Idle goes on a rant about the horrors of package holidays. He derides typical British tourists and their insistence on having their food and drink the same as back home.

I watched it on YouTube and found it very funny. Idle is particularly good, following is the opening bit: Tourist: Well I saw your adverts in the paper and I’ve been on package tours several times, you see, and I decided that this was for me.

Travel Agent: Ah good.

Red Barrel was first exported to Gibraltar in 1962 and proved so popular that during that hot summer the taps ran dry

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

Craft & Collectors Fair

Gibraltar or Bust for the Co-Op Kind-hearted colleagues from The Co-operative Food’s distribution centre in St Helens swapped their lorries for cars and drove to Gibraltar in a “Top Gear” style challenge for charity in September.

The fundraiser, called “Gibraltar or Bust”, saw eight cars travel 1,673 miles in just 25 hours heading for the last retail outlet in Europe to raise £15,000 for Carers Trust – The Co-operative’s charity of the year.

Around 45 Logistics Service staff took part in the gruelling road trip in end-of-life cars or “bangers” made road-worthy at the depot’s vehicle maintenance facility.

The Co-operative is aiming to raise £5 million for Carers Trust during 2013 to help make lifechanging differences to thousands of 14-25 yearolds in communities, who carry out unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who cannot cope without their support.

To support The Co-operative’s Logistics teams’ Gibraltar or Bust fundraising efforts go to: http://www.justgiving. com/teams/GibraltarorBust

The historic St Andrew’s Church is venue for a variety of stalls offering lots of fascinating items on Saturday 19th October for the Craft & Collectors Fair.

The fair opens from 10am to 2pm, and entry is just £1. There is lots for the collector including soldiers, doll’s house items, coins, medals, and stamps.

There is also antique and vintage silver, jewellery and other small pieces as well as hand-crafted items including cards, gifts, and crocheted accessories.

Go along and browse the wide range of books and puzzles, and enjoy our homebaked cakes and refreshments.

All proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund.

Stalls available at £10 to include table and cloth. Call 54023166 for further information.

Adopt Don’t Buy

Give a Dog a Home If you are interested in adopting call the GSPCA on 540 19968 or 540 29927 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

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National Day 2013

photo: Claudia Schiel

photo: Mike Brufal

photo: Claudia Schiel

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

photo: Claudia Schiel

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

photo: Claudia Schiel

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it takes five to...

word | Elena Scialtiel

Aping around to the beat is serious business for this quintet of university students who got together spontaneously, almost accidentally at the Tunnel’s jamming sessions three years ago.

Orangutango fast established themselves as the most promising under-25 pop-rock band in Gibraltar, in a selected but significant number of live summer gigs, culminating in their consecration to the Rock Hall Fame at the 2012 Battle of the Bands, scooping third place.

Frontman Andrew ‘DrewZi’ Orfila, guitarist and vocalist Mark ‘Sticky’ Alexander, bassist Anand Aidasani of Hamburger Thieves fame, drummer Philip ‘Flipsta’ Vasquez and rhythm guitarist Matt Hayward were acquainted in their teenage years, but were drawn together by their common passion for gigging and jamming.

They manage to mesh together effortlessly and to harmonise as one the minute they get back together for a couple of practice sessions after having been separated for the best part of the year. In fact, they are university students who spend their winters in the UK and fly to our sunny shores for summer breaks only, so they cannot grace Gibraltar’s night life on a regular basis. But when they do, they do it in style and go down a treat with a vast repertoire of modern classic covers alternated to their prolific production of originals.

Their live performances pretty much revolve around Drew’s showmanship: a gangly twenty-something with spiky brown hair, blue-green eyes often concealed behind yellow fluo shades, Rasta wooden beads around his neck and chunky steel rings at both his middle fingers, Drew sings in a voice mature beyond his years.

Although he has still has plenty of scope to improve his vocal range and extension, Drew’s foundations are quite remarkable, considering he is a self-taught singer/songwriter who took up the challenge just to prove his posse he could actually do what they dared him to do: stand up and perform in front of a real audience.

And if hitting the high notes that will crack your champagne flute across the room isn’t yet his forte, surely you can lull in the meanders of his alluring, deep and soulful voice, smooth here and gravelly there, flowing with the notes as spicy, warm and comforting as a mighty river of mulled wine. He is often echoed by support vocalist Mark, who also is the self-appointed band’s producer: in fact, he recorded their first EP thanks to his skills learnt during his live and studio sound degree in Southampton Solent University.

Based in Leeds, Drew pens lyrics about his first-hand life experience as teenager and young adult. Of course his main inspiration are ‘girls’, as he puts it, too simplistically. His work is insightful and surprisingly grown-up, although I cannot help notice a true blue hue

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of disenchantment pervading it, and I wonder what has stricken him that deeply at such young age, but I accept that artists create at their best through sufferance and consequent deliverance.

Anyway, the topics and the arrangement of his songs well suit and complement his distinctive voice. Arrangements are made by the rest of the band, on his suggestion and guidelines: in lamer terms, he hums the new tune to his team, and they make sure it is developed in a full melody, while he’s already busy with next song!

Drew and his crew have written enough original songs to publish an album. The band usually performs them at their gigs, interspersed to popular covers with a folk and

Drew pens lyrics about his first-hand life experience as teenager and young adult. Of course his main inspiration are ‘girls’, as he puts it, too simplistically

soul twist - but they don’t shun the occasional reggae and rap number.

So far however they haven’t had the chance to professionally record their album, and have released just a teaser on Reverbnation, a threestrong EP is titled Last Orders to ‘give emphasis to the band’s many long nights playing in local pubs and bars and having to stay until the last orders of the night were given at the bar’, as their Facebook page explains. Rock songs.

Addicted, Stone Cold Man and Night Crawler are first-take recordings that well illustrate Orangutango’s ease and expertise in performing live as much as improvising and ad-libbing.

They are looking for sponsors and studio time to finalise and release their full album next summer: “I know it is early days, but we must juggle our work and study commitments with focusing on polishing off our album, that’s why we’re already appealing for some professional help in view of their reunion next July.

So far, we’ve done it ourselves, with my dad’s help, and the EP turned out to be up to our standards,” Mark says. But now they need to take it up to record label standards!

The band’s name was forged as a portmanteau of an almost inevitable reference to Gibraltar national animal (but Monkees and Gorillaz were already taken!) with the iconic sensual dance — or perhaps a popular fruity drink.

Mark says: “Actually, my dad [Paul Alexander, a.k.a. Zooney, an accomplished musician in his own right and member of Thrifty Malone, an Irish-inspired band] joked that Drew kind of looks like an orang-utan.”

“It sounded catchy, so we adopted it, and we even had a logo designed,” adds Drew, who obviously isn’t bothered by being likened to an endangered species. “And if you Google it, our Facebook page is top of the list, so it is good marketing after all...”

Check out their eye-catching logo, featuring a cheeky monkey with spiky hair, sunglasses and earring, the word Orangutango spread across its wide toothless grin — and there you will indeed notice the likeness!

You’ll also love Orangutango’s casual and zesty image: piercing kept to Sunday-school minimum and no tattoo-flaunting for a change make them the naughty boys next,door who can muster crowds of all ages and musical tastes to a relaxed evening of entertainment, whether they are up to an alfresco acoustic session or getting the adrenaline pumping with their roaring electric guitars at their rock concerts. n Contact Orangutango on orangutango.music@gmail.com and stream their music from their Facebook page, or www. soundcloud.com/orangutangogib

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

music scene

orangutango

photos: Noelle Ann Berllaque

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

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puzzle page

SUDOKU Just for fun!

by Alan Gravett 2

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Jotting Pad

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

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FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper

One entry per person.

Closing date: 16th October 2013 Last month’s winner: Louise Montero Montagu Gardens LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Clutch, Odd Job, Moldova, Envoy, Retire, Nibbles, Straightens, Torpedo, Inter, Adapt, Georgia, Kneels, Stored.

Down: Camera, Unlit, Cholera, Dweeb, Javelin, Boyish, Saint George, Terrace, Thinout, Attack, Extol, Tiger.

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Across 1 Large western European country (6) 4 Chronic breathing disorder (6) 9 One who eases tension by stroking

etc. (7) 10 Quick (5) 11 Nocturnal mammal common in

Madagascar (5) 12 Hair clipping especially when

entering a monastery (7) 13 Part of defensive position most

easily defended (11) 18 River of N Italy crossed by Caesar

irrevocably (7) 20 City (and province) of N Italy, heart

of the car industry (5) 22 Discrimination (5) 23 Staff, a symbol of monarchic

authority (7) 24 Household duties (6) 25 Old coin worth 2 shillings (6) Down 1 Not a him! (6) 2 Himalayan kingdom famous for a

type of tea (5) 3 Goodbye, informally (7) 5 Warning sound; seductive

woman (5) See 7) 7 Star of films such as Breakfast at

Tiffanys and Roman Holiday (6,7) 8 Chief actor or character in a play

etc. (11) 14 a hot pepper sauce; a state of

Mexico (7) 15 Main ingredient of porridge (7) 16 One who reviews films, plays etc. (6) 17 Trainee doctor/surgeon (6) 19 Mediterranean island (5) 21 Part of a helicopter which turns (5)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

�ll �hat �azz

At 9pm on Saturday 19th October Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, featuring Gilson Lavis with special guest star Melanie C and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, will perform at the Queen’s Cinema

The Ministry of Culture in association with The Gibraltar Jazz Society presents the 2nd Gibraltar International Jazz Festival from 17th to 19th October.

In a 1988 interview, trombonist JJ Johnson said, “Jazz is restless. It won’t stay put and it never will.” As Jazz has developed and spread around the world it has, since its early American beginnings, drawn on many different national, regional and local musical cultures, giving rise to many distinct styles which is reflected in the varied line-up for this, the second Gibraltar International Jazz Festival.

Wednesday 16th October Pre-Festival Jazz Night at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel 9.30pm Thursday 17th October 2013 6pm Street Jazz with the New Orleans

Jump Band 8pm The George Posso Trio & Guests 9.30pm Juan Galiardo Quintet & Special

Guest Arturo Serra on vibraphone 11pm Elie Massias Quartet Friday 18th October 2013 6pm Street Jazz with the New Orleans

Jump Band GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

9pm Kirsty Almeida & The Troubadours 10.30pm Dan Moretti Band Saturday 19th October 2013 12pm Soul Mates open air performance

Piazza (weather permitting) 9pm Jools Holland and his Rhythm &

Blues Orchestra, featuring: Gilson

Lavis with Special Guest Star: Melanie C. Guest Vocalists: Ruby Turner & Louise Marshall

All performances will take place at the Queen’s Cinema unless stated. Tickets on sale at Music Corner, Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: 20051444 email: musiccorner@gibtelecom.net

14th 15th & 16th October

Dan Moretti Jazz Workshops Dan, a full time professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, was awarded the school’s ‘Curiculum Development Award’ in 2006 for his popular on-campus course ‘Groove Writing’. Dan is also a member of the faculty of Berkleemusic.com, Berklee’s distance learning school where he teaches an online version of this course called ‘Arranging Contempory Styles’ to students all over the world.In 2006, his book ‘Producing and Mixing Contemporary Jazz’ was released. In 2009 Dan was awarded the prestigious MacColl-Johnson Fellowship for jazz composers.

Entrance Fee: £50 for the duration of the Workshops. Places may be booked online or contact Francis Rumbo, Ministry of Culture.

Tel: 20049167 or 20047592 or 54010061 Email: francis.rumbo@culture.gov.gi

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S TELL U

leave ever ail: n u o - em do y what without? ar.gi lt e r m ho gib a ag@ gibm

Michelle Walsh Full-time Mum to a baby girl and boys aged 4 & 8 I would not leave home without a packet of wet wipes, with three children I could not get through a day without wipes!

What Would You Not Leave Home Without? compiled by Pennie Gwilt

Most people never leave home without their keys and a phone, and perhaps a kiss from a family member, but this month we thought we’d ask the people on the street one sunny afternoon, what other item they never left home without? Here is what they said.

Kevin Corbacho Clerk of Works, Ministry of Housing I would never be without my side diary, its like my Bible as it contains all of the information that’s important to me; it’s a bit like a Personal Assistant.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

community

Pepe Dalgado Proprietor, Casa Pepe Restaurant I never leave home without my shoulder bag, its full of useful things like a calculator and a small tool kit so I can do odd jobs.

file

Dunia Mauro Sales Rep, Mini Market I could not leave home without my whole makeup bag.

I never go anywhere without it.

Jimmy Boyle Joiner I would never leave home without a pencil in my pocket, always having a pencil is just part of the job of being a joiner.

Nadine Caruana Sales Assistant, Valmar Pharmacy I never leave my house without my designer Carrera Sunglasses.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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past

revisited

Ernie’s Surprise Story words | Frankie Hatton

For a few years now I’ve driven the odd tourist around in a bus to speak of our lovely homeland. I’m not alone — there are a few of us who meet with our buses and ‘while away’ the waiting time chatting about things people chat about. So it was I learned the tale of this month’s interviewee, Ernesto Picardo. I’d known him for some years but only as a fellow driver and pre-retirement employee of the MoD. Until one day he mentioned singing in a band in UK, before the days of Summer Nights, the Rock on the Rock club and wayyyy before the X Factor.

Let’s talk the Silhouettes, G Boys and Los Cinco Ricardos.

But before all that, let’s go even further back.

The Picardo name is from Genoa and Ernesto’s earliest known relative was Antonio Picardo from 1708 whose son George was Ernie’s great, great, great grandfather. The family managed

to take over one of the vineyards here and earned money growing food for the military garrison. I wonder how many other Gibraltarians can be so sure of their first ancestor to set foot here?

Ernie left school at the ripe old age of 15 in 1962 to support his family. His father had worked for 50 years with the NAAFI and part time as a barman in the fire brigade bar. Ernie himself was good with numbers, very good in fact, and his first job was at Bland’s Foundry as a wages clerk. The family had lived in Rosia House since 1952 when they moved from their original home at Lopez Ramp — a tiny one bedroom and kitchen home where three of them lived.

Ernesto remembers for being cramped but also because, in 1951, he was looking out of the window when the Bedenham exploded. Miraculously he sustained no injuries but still recalls all the women running around in shock and confused, not knowing what had happened.

Near the house was St Joseph’s which had a youth club run by Father Grech. Some of the altar boys, of which Ernie was one, used to meet often to get some free tortilla but eventually they got together through their love of music.

With no formal training they — Ernie (percussion), Joe & Eddie Adamberry (guitar), Dennis Bossino (bass) and Richard Yates (accordion) — played along to the hits of the day and slowly got better. Their situation was helped by Joe and Eddie taking some guitar lessons from El Chino, a Chinese guy with some musical experience, so they had some musical direction however rudimentary.

Ernie bought his first drum from the Emporium, where Mothercare sits today. Eventually he added a bass drum, snare, tom-tom and cymbal making his kit complete(ish).

As they improved they started rehearsing and got their first ‘gig’ as the Silhouettes at the Catholic Community Club which was where Ocean Heights now stands. They were just an instrumental band at that time playing hits from the likes of the Shadows but as their music progressed the band evolved with Richard Porro taking over as drummer (Ernie believes him the best drummer he ever saw on the Rock). Also Richard Yates took over bass as Dennis Bossino stepped back and Ernie started singing.

They entered the Silver Disc competition organised by Raphael Massias who was a local theatrical agent. For the competition they bought clothing for the band from ‘Pitto’ menswear and took to the stage resplendent in grey suits that sparkled in the lights and orange ruff shirts, and won singing Needles & Pins by the Searchers.

To this day Ernie feels The Rebels, an MoD band, were far better but local pride helped their cause. After this they had regular work at the Whiskey a Go Go under the old Theatre

They took to the stage resplendent in grey suits that sparkled in the lights and orange ruff shirts, and won singing Needles & Pins by the Searchers 80

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

Royal and they were seen and approached by Eddie Elliot who owned Henley Motors of Hampshire. He wanted them to play a gig in Portsmouth, paying for their trip on the SS Oriana. He subsequently became their manager.

The band remained in Portsmouth in a guest house playing regularly at Kimbells and The Bottle in the Wall Club knocking out some great ’60s cover tunes and keeping the dancing going.

A big band leader called Cyril Stapleton was in nearby Southampton looking for new groups and saw them winning a competition.

Ernie, ever modest, recalls they probably won as their taste in music was so different to other bands — they focussed on Latin/American Rock. They were playing La Bamba so fiercely in the final, Richard broke the bass string but carried on. Winning had its rewards as they got a two year recording contract with Phillips and guaranteed airtime on Radio Luxemburg the hottest radio station around at the time.

With the higher profile they had to move to Sherlock Mews near Baker Street in London — finally they thought, they were going somewhere.

Becoming resident band at the Grosvenor Hotel was a big move, in fact they played in the same room recently used by UEFA to announce Gib54’s successful bid for membership. Their gigs were spreading north too, to the Midland Hotel in Manchester and Cyril also managed to book them as the supporting act for Shirley Bassey’s concert at the Portsmouth Guildhall.

The concert was a great night hosted by none other than Des O’Connor with comedy by Joan Turner along with the boys. Ernie remembers Benson & Hedges were promoting the night with their new cigar/cigarette mix called Perfectos Cigarettes. Something that would not happen today. He also remembers the excited coach trip back to London with a 4am stop off for roast beef and Yorkshire puddings — a “marvellous night.”

Because they were staying and performing in the UK there was an issue with their original name because there was already a band performing under the name the Silhouettes. At first they chose the ‘G’ Boys, the ‘G’ for Gibraltar of course. Then, to better match their Latin/rock music style, they changed it again to Los Cinco Ricardos. A mixture of the names Picardo & Richards and of course there were five of them.

By now they also had a regular stint at the Savoy Dancehall in Portsmouth. A particular memory for Ernie was the night they played alongside the Hollies. Graham Nash, co-founder of the group who went on to even more success with Crosby, Stills & Nash threw away his shirt after the performance and Ernie took it as a souvenir.

Another band they played with were the then well known Tornados, the first band to Ernie’s recollection that used the magic of cordless electric guitars.

After more gigs at the Pigalle and almost three years away they headed back to Gibraltar for a rest and it was here Ernie met his wife and started to settle back into life on the Rock instead of in rock. Inevitably the return changed things but in 1966 they went back to try one more time for more success. However

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

the changes also meant there was a modicum of discontent in the group and Ernie decided to quit and return to Gibraltar.

Still in ’66 and in fine voice Ernie entered the song festival being held at the Naval Trust Cinema which was on the site where now sits Regal House. Singing the song Please Forgive Me he won first prize. Incredibly the song was also sung by Manolo Gatt that day who also won a medallion.

In 1968 Ernie again entered the Song Festival winning the silver medal with an Albert Hammond song called Say Theresa. In 1971 he was asked to adjudicate in the festival

Becoming resident band at the Grosvenor Hotel was a big move, in fact they played in the same room recently used by UEFA to announce Gib54’s successful bid for membership

and since then apart from family gatherings, weddings and such he has stopped singing professionally.

Getting married in the same year he settled into a normal working life. He worked at Blands in accounts where he was made redundant. After that he worked as the Assistant Chief Accountant at Both Worlds (how times have changed there) and finally his father-inlaw sold him Wimpey House (near Capurros garage) which he ran until 1981 citing the border closure as the reason for the demise.

He then worked at Teo as a sales assistant and 10 years later bought Valentino’s which again suffered due to a recession.

Since 1994 Ernie has worked within the MoD as an MT Driver, a charge hand and within the Commcen where he stayed until he retired last year.

You’ll probably see him like many others taking a coffee along Main Street these days. Until that conversation I had no clue he was anybody but a fellow driver how wrong can you be.

Ernie’s story makes me realise how deep our home grown talent goes and how far and high its wings have spread. The majority don’t get anywhere near the heights of Los Cinco Ricardos or Albert Hammond but talented they were and are. I wonder if we’ll ever see a ‘veterans’ X Factor? You heard the idea here first. n

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Relax & Unwind Since it opened four years ago, The Lounge has been a popular spot on the quayside at Queensway Quay. Now the Lounge is much bigger and even better.

Yes, sisters Sonia and Michelle Stafford have expanded into the restaurant next door to create a sophisticated venue for Gibraltar’s foodies. Termed a Gastro Bar, the Lounge now serves high quality food, beautifully served from gourmet burgers to cured salmon and a range of the most deliciously wicked desserts.

All the food is skillfully prepared and art-

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fully presented by chefs Matthew and Andrew who have created a menu good enough for cocktail dresses and relaxed enough for jeans and a T-shirt — you choose.

If you can tear yourself away from the food there is also a smart bar area with a pool table to chill and relax.

In fact, the motto of this venue sums it up nicely — Relax and Unwind — don’t mind if we do...

The Lounge Gastro Bar is located on Queensway Quay Marina.

Tel: 200 61118 for table reservations.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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photo

call

50km Thames Path Charity Trek Husband and wife team, Genevieve and Fabian Vinet, successfully completed the 50km Thames Path Challenge Trek in the UK in September. Having set themselves a target of completing the Walk within 12 hours, the couple managed to finish in exactly 10 hours 30 minutes.

The walk started near Putney Bridge, where they joined hundreds of other participants walking along the Thames, often on muddy and rocky terrain, finishing at Runnymede. Many walkers were unable to finish, with several requiring medical attention and being picked up by ambulances along the way.

Was it all worth it? Fabian is adamant: “Absolutely. I think it’s been one of the best things we’ve ever done. Being able to walk those 50km in one go was in itself an achievement that we are proud of, but knowing that we were helping two worthy causes in the process made it all the more worthwhile.”

The trek was undertaken to raise £10,000 for the Rainbow Ward at Saint Bernard’s Hospital and London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, and were still accepting donations as we went to press. n

Pictured above: Genevieve and Fabian Vinet at the start of the 50km Thames Path Walk and (right) celebrating with a glass of bubbly at the finish

Score-a-Goal with Team 54 The CityLine Church merge with Childline Gibraltar and our very own Team 54 at the score-a goal stall at the Gibraltar Fair.

4 year old Aaron Sanchez - Soiza was recently praised by the Gibraltar Enviromental Agency for his hard work recycling batteries, plastic, cardboard etc. He must be one of the youngest recyclers in Gibraltar setting a great example for the rest to follow. In the photo Aaron is proudly showing off his goody bag given to him by the agency as a reward.

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Photo Call Send us your photos and we will publish them on this page. We love to see what you get up to throughout the month so share the pics with us. And don’t forget to get picture of The Gibrlatar Magazine on its travels with you. Okay we get a bit jealous but it is allways good to see how far and wide they globe trot with you.

Send to info@thegibraltarmagazine.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

photo: DM Parody (http://dotcom.gi/photos)

photo call

RGR Freedom of the City At the end of September the Royal

Gibraltar Regiment held a Freedom of the City Parade during which the Regiment marched down Main Street with its colours flying, bayonets fixed and drums beating. This was Lieutenant Colonel Colin Risso’s (pictured) last parade as Commanding Officer of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment before retiring after 19 years’ service.

Yvonne’s 1st Solo Extended

Yvonne Smiddy (pictured above with husband Nick and her mum who flew out from Ireland for the launch of Yvonne’s first solo digital art exhibition) has been asked to extend the exhibition at Sacarello’s Restaurant on Irish Town for a further month so if you have the whole of October to enjoy her fabulous digital photos in this cosy coffee shop.

Pat & Will

This picture was sent in

by Hector Linares who says “Photo taken by dad of our son William who was crying for no reason at all... at least none that we knew of’!

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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s n a e b f o l l u �

One thing there is no shortage of in Gibraltar is a good cup of coffee. Establishments all over the Rock offer a dark cup of the ‘bitter invention of Satan’ to patrons intent on conversation or a wake up call. Our own Sacarello’s coffee shop on Irish Town supplies local purveyors of the black stuff with their home-ground brews and the smell of coffee hangs heavy in the humid air on a Levante day. But how did our obsession with coffee begin? Well the story says we have to thanks the goats for our morning brew.

In the Ethiopian highlands, where the legend of Kaldi, the goatherd, originated, coffee trees grow today as they have for centuries.

It is said that he discovered coffee after noticing that his goats, upon eating berries from a certain tree, became so spirited that they did not want to sleep at night.

Kaldi dutifully reported his

findings to the abbot of the local monastery who made a drink with the berries and discovered that it kept him alert for the long hours of evening prayer. Soon the abbot had shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and ever so slowly knowledge of the energizing effects of the berries began to spread. As word moved east and coffee reached the Ara-

bian peninsula, it began a journey which would spread its reputation across the globe.

Though we will never know with certainty, there probably is some truth to the Kaldi legend.

Today coffee is grown in a multitude of countries around the world. Whether it is Asia or Africa, Central or South America, the islands of the Caribbean or Pacific,

all can trace their heritage to the trees in the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau.

European travellers to the Near East brought back stories of the unusual dark black beverage. By the 17th century, coffee had made its way to Europe and was becoming popular across the continent.

Opponents were overly cautious, calling the beverage the ‘bitter invention of Satan.’ With the coming of coffee to Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned it. The controversy was so great that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before making a decision however, he decided to taste the beverage for himself. He found the drink so satisfying that he gave it Papal approval.

Despite such controversy, in the

Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene.

Before making a decision however, he decided to taste the beverage for himself major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany and Holland, coffee houses were quickly becoming centres of social activity and communication. By the mid-17th century, there were over 300 coffee houses in London, many of which attracted patrons with common interests, such as merchants, shippers, brokers and artists.

Many businesses grew out of these specialised coffee houses.

Lloyd’s of London, for example, came into existence at the Edward

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Lloyd’s Coffee House.

The health effects of coffee have been studied to determine how coffee drinking affects humans. Coffee contains several compounds which are known to affect human body chemistry. The coffee bean itself contains chemicals which are mild psychotropics for humans as a defense mechanism of the coffee plant. These chemicals are toxic in large doses, or even in their normal amount when consumed by many creatures which may otherwise have threatened the beans in the wild. The primary psychoactive chemical in coffee is caffeine, which acts as a stimulant.

A May 2012 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that coffee drinkers “who drank at least two or three cups a day were about 10% or 15% less likely to die for any reason during the 13 years of the study.”

The researchers who conducted

A study found women aged 80+ performed significantly better on cognitive tests if they had regularly drunk coffee over their lifetime the study said that this does not necessarily provide a cause-andeffect relationship, but will help point other researchers in the right direction.

Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall. Likewise, in tests of simple reaction time, choice reaction time, incidental verbal memory, and visuospatial reasoning, participants who regularly drank coffee were found to perform better on all tests, with a positive relationship between test scores

and the amount of coffee regularly drunk.

Elderly participants were found to have the largest effect associated with regular coffee drinking.

Another study found that women over the age of 80 performed significantly better on cognitive tests if they had regularly drunk coffee over their lifetime. A recent study showed that roast coffee protected primary neuronal cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death.

On the downside, many coffee drinkers are familiar with “coffee jitters”, a nervous condition that occurs when one has had too much caffeine. It can also cause anxiety and irritability in some, with excessive coffee consumption, and some suffer withdrawal symptoms. Coffee can also cause insomnia. However an analysis of a Nurses’ Health Study concluded

depression rates among women decreased with increased consumption of caffeinated coffee.

In Gibraltar certainly, where the social aspect of coffee drinking — meeting up with friends at the

local cafe — is strongly emphasised, it is a welcome part of the day. Long live our coffee shops, and long may they serve Satan’s dark brew. It was approved by a Pope after all. n

Contemporary Mediterranean Dining

Grand Casemates Square Tel: 200 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

44449 for reservations 87

appetite

e to wher drink eat & the on k Roc

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

Cafe Rojo

restaurants

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

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

Open: 10am. Closed Sundays and Saturday lunchtime.

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

Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738

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

Casa Pepe

The Waterfront

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.

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

Open: 7 days a week 9am-late

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

Visit: www.gibtour.com/casapepe.

The Waterfront Queensway Quay Marina. Tel: 200 45666 Visit: www.gibwaterfront.com

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chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Daily specials on blackboard. No smoking.

Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449

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

Get Listed!

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

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details Amin’s Office Sit down, informal and friendly bar with informal eating. Amin is well known in Gibraltar for his Moroccan, Spanish and international cuisine. Open early for breakfast at 7am right through the day. Try the Moroccan soups, couscous, lamb tagines and kebabs. Terrace, just off Main Street (turn left at Trafalgar Pharmacy coming from Casemates).

Open: 7am to midnight.

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

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

Outside seating too.

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

Get Stuffed Very popular takeaway, sandwich bar and hot food.

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

Open: 8am - 4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat. Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006

Just Desserts

food & drink

directory 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

Oasis Eatery

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

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

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

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

Open: 9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri. 9am-3pm Sat Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625

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 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.

Solo Express Grnd Flr, ICC, Casemates & Eurotowers

The Tasty Bite

B r i g h t a n d a i r y, recently redecorated cafe on the first floor of the ICC. All homemade food including daily specials, vegetarian options, desserts and small cakes. Eat in or takeaway. 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

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.

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.

Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014

Piccadilly Gardens Rosia Road, Tel: 20075758

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

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

informal food

Get Listed!

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food & drink informal food

directory 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 baguettes to eat in or take away. Try the light homemade pizzas, or the falafels and humous. Daily special soups are fabulous and filling. Ask for Idan's hot homemade chilli relish — sweet and scrummy.

Open: Mon/Thurs: 7.30-6, Fri 7.30-5, Sun 10-3.

Verdi Verdi ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 60733

Get Listed!

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

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details All’s Well

Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practise of locking gates to the city at night when the guard called ‘All’s Well’. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod & chips and steak & ale pie plus a range of salads and jacket potatoes. Large terrace.

Karaoke Mondays and Wednesdays until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm.

All’s Well Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987

bars & pubs

Bridge Bar & Grill

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.

Bridge Bar & Grill Ocean Village Tel: 200 66446

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Cannon Bar

Jane is still there and still packed out with tourists and regulars!

Word has it that she nearly managed to escape, but wasn’t allowed to. The famous fish and chips, the odd French speciality, there’s always something happening in the Cannon! Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral just off Main Street.

Cannon Bar

Gibraltar Arms 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.

Gibraltar Arms 184 Main Street. Tel: 200 72133

Jury’s Café-Wine Bar

Next to the Law Courts, with a terrace seating area, Jury’s has a selection of Ciabattas, paninis, baguettes and wraps, plus popular sharing dishes, such as Your Honour’s platter. Jacket potatoes, main courses, pasta and some innocent salads too.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are tantalising homemade desserts, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as well as Lavazza coffees and frappes.

Open: 7am-midnight Mon-Sat, 9am-midnight Sun. Jury’s Café & Wine Bar 275 Main Street. Tel: 200 67898

Lord Nelson

Bar/brasserie in Casemates.

Done out like Nelson’s ship.

Starters & snacks include fresh mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses from chilli con carne and chicken & mushroom pie, to crispy duck burrito and fish & chips.

Jackets, burgers and kid’s menu. Live music on stage nightly. Spacious terrace.

Open: 10am till very late.

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

e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc

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. Pool table.

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

O’Reilly’s Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef & Guinness pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all.

O’Reilly’s Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888

Star Bar

Gibraltar’s oldest bar, just off Main St. Small cosy and famous for its full English breakfast from 7am (9am on Sunday). A full menu including fish & chips, until 10pm. The home of Star Coffee, draught beers include Heineken, Old Speckled Hen, Murphys and Strongbow cider. Managed by Hunter Twins from Stafford, England, also home to Med Golf & Tottenham Hotspur supporters club.

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

The Three Owls The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers.

Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen TV, pool table, poker machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ bar, two match pool tables, poker machines, dartboard, bar, open from 5pm daily. Second Floor the ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, card table, bar — open from 7pm daily and also at weekends for the Rugby Union matches. If you are looking for a sociable game of pool or darts this is the place to be.

The Three Owls Irish Town. Tel: 200 77446 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits

Visit us and step back in history

Casemates Square Tel: 200 72987

Full menu served inside or on our terrace including British Fish & Chips, Jackets, Salads, Burritos, Homemade Pizzas, our special Fresh Local Mussels and much more.

Visit us and buy yourself a souvenir, T-shirts, beer glasses, lighters etc Live music every evening, join our Jam Sessions on Wednesday or Sunday.

GLMS Music Venue of the Year.

Official Home to Gibraltar Rugby Club Free WiFi

10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009

• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams

DAILY SPECIALS Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449 take-away or reserve a table

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

Queensway Quay (next to Waterfront)

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

restaurant bar guide &

TASTY INDIAN CUISINE

Get Stuffed!

Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006 Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special Every Day salads, soups, pastas, pies, cupcakes, all home made Open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat

Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967

BUDDIES pasta casa

Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations

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 MAGAZINE •• OCTOBER OCTOBER 2013 2013 GIBRALTAR

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100 words | Peter Rodney

1

If it is fizzy, then only champagne is acceptable. It may be a little more expensive — even a lot more expensive — but any other fizz is a failed attempt to imitate the real thing. You would not accept corned beef in the place of fillet steak (although the price differential is about the same), so avoid Cava and its equivalents.

The Widow (Veuve Clicquot) is rarely bettered, and Lanson Black Label, at the cheaper end, may also be seen in polite society.

Morrison’s own brand will just about pass muster.

2

The surroundings in which you are drinking the wine will improve it or, possibly, ruin it.

Good old Barbadillo tastes great in the sun in Southern Spain; Greek retsina has a certain charm in a taverna on the beach in Greece

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(probably the only place any charm in such stuff can be found); rosé de Provence is wonderful in Provence. But translate any of these to a cold, rainy evening in winter and you are lost. A beefy Cotes du Rhone is ideal on that rainy evening but does not work when on the beach or by the swimming pool.

3

Unless you are in Provence (see above), eschew rosé wines.

The same goes, despite my thoughts in the first tip, for pink champagne. Girls tend to like it, but girls are funny chaps. They are delightful in their own way, of

My records indicate that this is the 100th column I have written.

To celebrate this centenary I was going to give 100 tips and recommendations — but that would take up too much space. So I will content myself with decimating the number and providing just ten tasty sips distilled from those 85,000 or so words.

5

course, and happy to be indulged in a glass or two of pinkness. This can be a great advantage to a real The ABV (alcohol by volchap. ume) levels of wine, especially from the New World, are increasing. 12% was the standard for many years with, perhaps a ½ Nothing, but nothing, beats variation either way. Suddenly, a decent claret. At the lower end 14% is regularly appearing. This of the market there are the own unhappy trend can upset one’s brands (Marks and Spencer is the metabolism. While an increase better at £4 or so although Morri- in alcohol content increases the son’s has improved recently). At oomph in the aftertaste, it also that price, you are not getting nec- increases the dangers of an untar of the Gods but you won’t find welcome headache the following a better glass for the cost. Move morning. Look carefully at the upmarket towards a grand cru St ABV before merrily agreeing to Emilion (£30 and climbing steeply) finish the bottle.

— if the Chinese haven’t bought it all — and don’t look back.

4

All tips by wine writers should be regarded with care. All generalisations are false (including this one)

6

All tips by wine writers should be regarded with care. All generalisations are false (including this one). Make of this what you will. It reminds me of my daughter’s philosophy exam at Oxford. She said it was a piece of

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

wine

column

cake. She was expecting a paper a fortune to get a decent wine’.

True enough, but this one was with questions on it. still dishwater and my host must surely have known it too. He was catching out the supposed expert.

The grape varietal is a much Wine that costs a fortune does better guide to what you are go- not guarantee perfection. But it ing to get in terms of taste than is worth trying something a little high-sounding names. A Chilean more expensive occasionally, even Cabernet Merlot blend (at £6 or if only to confirm your own conso) is likely to be just as good viction that you are quite happy as Chateau Soi-disant at £10 or with a €1.50 bottle. And if you are more — and is likely to be made happy with it, then see point 10. of the same grapes. But there is no indication of the grapes on the Chateau’s label; you are relying on Bordeaux tradition. While claret Enjoy your wine (in is the best wine (see point 4), it moderation). It is part of human should not be blindly relied upon history. It has soothed savage (see point 6). breasts, assisted in reaching compromises and provided quiet contentment for centuries. It does not have the destructive power Beware the gaudy label and of spirituous liquors nor the unthe descriptions of new-mown fortunate side effects of ales and hay with hints of strawberry. All beers. There are at least a hunthese similes are beloved of writers dred other reasons for drinking it of labels (and wine writers) and largely meaningless. The more — and ‘er upstairs’ (as the editor the gold leaf on the label and the is known) will doubtless celebrate prettier the shape of the bottle this centenary of this column by probably means that money has opening a bottle. There is nothing been spent on marketing and not like hoping. n producing the wine. That should raise your suspicions. Is the wine deep? full? light? dry? sweet? That is all ye know and all ye need to know when assessing a thing of beauty (or a wine).

7

10

8

9

Trust your own taste. Sadly, because I write this column, other people think I must be an expert.

There is nothing more infuriating than being given a glass of dishwater by my host and being asked what I think of it. Being (I hope) a polite guest, I reply that it is very good. ‘It cost €1.50 at Carrefour’ comes the triumphant riposte. ‘You don’t need to spend

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

93

d n u o r � ow� � Can you believe it is October already? Autumn is upon us and where has 2013 disappeared? September was so full of fabulous events (photos on this page of festival-goers from the magnificent Gibraltar Music Festival) it has just whizzed by and October is no slouch when it comes to entertainment either. We have a string quartet and a Pink Floyd tribute evening, a cheerleading festival, and a Mini Dash (that’s the cars not the skirts!), the Jazz Festival from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th October (Jools Holland and his band headline that one) then the exciting Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival with all those famous authors descending on Gibraltar from far and wide to talk about their books and their lives from 25th to 27th October. You can finish October literally rolling on the floor laughing at GADA’s latest production, comedy Bang Bang Beruit, which will be staged at the Ince’s Hall from 30th October to 1st November.

94

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCToBER 2013

This month we wish happy birthdays to Andrew Kimberley — poet and manager at the Waterfront Restaurant, Queensway Quay — on 2nd October, the Photographic Society’s Derek Booth on 6th, Specialist Medical Clinic’s David Deardon gets a year older on 17th, Gigi Sene will celebrate on 19th, Claus Olsen of GibDFAS will raise a glass on 20th (GibDFAS’s art lecture season has started again, by the way, with LS Lowry on Wednesday 16th October 7.30pm at the Eliott Hotel). My Wines’ Tony Hernandez shares a birthday with Claus, our own Mike Brufal gains a year on 21st followed the day after by James Neish, then Sport On physio Isabella Jimenez, and the next day Mike Nicholls of Chestertons!

We then just skip one day before toasting Momy Levy on 26th and Pelu Triay and Tito Vallejo on 27th. Suyenne Lima is looking younger than her years on 28th and GIA’s Chris Johnson will no doubt raise more than one glass on 29th along with Rosie Darby of DHL. Congratulations to you all and to everyone else who is celebrating this month. What a month for birthdays it is!

If you would like a mention for your special celebration send us an email and keep those photos coming! We love to see what you are all up to. Have a great October everyone!

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

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clubs&activities Arts & Crafts The Arts Centre, Prince Edward’s Rd. Art classes for children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults (Mon - Tues 6.30pm8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm-9pm). Tel: 200 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11am - 2pm.

Arts & Crafts Gallery (next door) opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer) -6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm.

Exhibition Vin’s Gallery at the Rock, The Rock Hotel. Original paintings, prints, and souvenirs

by Vin Mifsud and her pupils. Monday - Saturday 9.30-11am and 8-10pm.

The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society Affiliated to the UK NADFAS organisation meets third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK to talk on Art etc. Contact: ChairmanClaus Olesen: 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros. com. Membership Ian leBreton: 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Knit and Natter Group: Tuesdays from 11am3pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balconyFree to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865 for more information.

Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet at the Rock Hotel on Mondays at 3pm. For further information please ring Vin at 20073660 or Roy at 20075995. All welcome.

The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm.

Dance Adult Dance Classes Wednesday evenings at the Youth Disco Room, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Cha-Cha, Salsa and Merengue. Lessons £5 and all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or dance@trainingtm.net Bellydance classes. Beginners level on Tuesday from 7-8pm at Danza Academy or 8-9pm at Ocean Village fitness centre. Tel 54005593.

Salsa Gibraltar Salsa classes held Tuesdays at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. Beginners 7-8.30pm, £5 per lesson. Intermediates 8.30-10pm, £6 per lesson (all profits going to the charity Help Us To Help Them). Contact: Mike 54472000 Email: info@salsagibraltar.com website: www.salsagibraltar.com Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm (beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome.

Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday.

The DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, beginners 7.30pm. Tel: 200 78282 or e-mail manvio@ gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome.

Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre classes weekly at Urban Dance Studio for Performing Arts, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta (54012212) or Jolene (54015125).

Ballet, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary & Hip Hop classes held weekly at Danza Academy, 68/2 Prince Edward’s Road. Training from 2.5 years to Adult Advanced. Royal Academy of Dancing and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing exams taken. Competing opportunity with IDF European & World Championships. Tel: Anne-Marie 54027111 or Zulieka 54003973.

Aerobics, Step, Dancercise & Zumba classes for women of all ages held weekly at Danza Academy, 68/2 Prince Edward]s Road. Contact Anne-Marie 54027111.

Zumba Classes at Urban Dance Centre, Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Every Mon and Weds 8-9pm. Contact 20063959 or 54012212.

History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844.

The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles.

Members/vehicles meet 1st Sunday of month, Morrison’s car park from 10am. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643.

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Don’t be bored... do something fun!

Music Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Tuesday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. New singers always welcome. Tel: 54831000.

St Andrew’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc.

Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting self-development programme for all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. Over 5 million young people from 100+ countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road. Tel: 200 59818 Quizzes The Lounge friendly quiz on Sundays from 8pm right on the quayside at Queensway Quay.

Social Clubs Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm. Examining Council, 3rd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm.

Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm.

Special Interest Clubs & Societies Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, John Mac Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome.

Gibraltar Philosophical Society devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Contact 54008426 (after 6pm) or email gibphilosophy@ live.co.uk for further information.

Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at 7.30pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc.

Harley Davidson Owners’ Club www.hdcgib. com The Royal British Legion (Gibraltar Branch). For info/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.

Creative Writers Group meet Tuesdays at Eliott Hotel bar at 8pm, aimed at learning to write fiction/non-fiction, for pleasure or publication.

Session is £5. Contact Carla Tel: 54006696 Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check the game is televised. Great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For info call Mario on 56280000.

Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club meet on match days at the Casino Calpe (Ground Floor).

Gooners of all ages welcome. Tel: Bill 54010681 or Dion 56619000. Website: www.clubwebsite. co.uk/ArsenalGibraltarSC/.

Gibraltar Hammers meet on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or e-mail gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: 200 Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium.

Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to IBA & EBA) has leagues and training for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 200

44045 or Linda 200 74753.

Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727 or Kirsty (minis) 200 49441.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory (200 75513 w, 200 42788 h).

Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls/boys all ages. Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop at Victoria Stadium. Recreational / competitive levels. Contact Gina: 58008338.

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs men’s, women’s, boys’ & girls’ cricket - league & cup competitions and in-schools coaching. www.gibraltarcricket.com email: info@gibcricket.com Twitter: @Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF) mens/ladies/youth leagues/competitions.

Tel: Darren 54027171 “Secretary”, Dyson “Youth Rep” 54024149, Justin “President” 54022622 Email: info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association leagues/competitions for all ages October-May. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 200 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 200 41515, Junior Tel: Richard 58654000, Women’s Tel: Brian 200 52299. Recreational football for over 35s Tel: Richard 200 70320.

Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): males of any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitve sport. Training every Wednesday in La Linea 7-a-side pitches at 8.30pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Email team@gibraltargaels.com or visit www.gibraltargaels.com.

Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly. Tel: 200 79575 for tournament venues/dates. Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 200 78844.

Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/ training for adults/juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 Peter 200 72730.

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

Tel: Charlie 200 73116 or Peter 200 73225.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rd). Tel: Tony 200 79855 or club 200 47259.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradings and demos at Karate Clubhouse, 41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 200 48908.

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

Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior / junior leagues. Tel: 200 41795 or 200 41874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: 200 70929.

Pilates: Monday & Wednesday 11-12am for beginners, and intermediate classes Monday & Wednesday 9:30-10:45am, at Shotokai Karate Centre. Contact Chantal: 60618882.

Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season. Tel: Linda 200 74753.

Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards, weekday evenings.

For information contact Sally Tel: 200 74661.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans.

Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct - April. Tel: James 200 72185 Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/ senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 200 48847.

Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea An-

what a page turner! www.thegibraltarmagazine.com

glers (members FIPS-M & CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs participating. Tel: Mario 200 72622 or Charlie 200 74337.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation (over 14s). Rifle, Europa Point range (Joe 200 74973); clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Fidel 200 71990).

Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey training). Tel: Eric 200 70710 (after 5).

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: Sean Galligan 56262000 or Lee Prickman 54000068, email info@gibraltarsnooker.com Snorkelling & Spear Fishing: Over 14s for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishing. Tel: Joseph 200 75020.

Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/coaching. Tel: 200 44922 or 200 73260.

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs.

Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 200 44606, Noah’s Dive Club Tel: Leslie 200 79601, 888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 200 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 7-8.45am, 12- 4pm, 8- 9pm. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo (Rebecca 200 72869).

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (members ITTA) training / playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Lizanne 200 45071/54020477 or Eugene 58014000.

Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: 200 Mari 44142.

Tai Chi: Children’s fun Tai Chi at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range, Saturdays 11-12am. Beginners Tuesdays & Thursdays at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre. 6.30-8pm. Adults £5, Children £2, all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or rocktaichi@traningtm.net Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 200 77035.

Ten-Pin Bowling: Ten-Pin Bowling takes place at King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day. To have a go call 200 77338 to reserve your lane. Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Contact Charly on 56014000 or Paul on 54029749.

Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (members ITU) Chris 200 75857 or Harvey 200 55847.

Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W & EVF) training, leagues, competitions for juniors/seniors. Tony 200 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000.

Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome.

Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street Email:gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 200 42237 www.geocities.com/gibdrama Trafalgar Theatre Group meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm.

All welcome.

Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBEr 2013

events update

Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774.

A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church.

Mummy and Me Breastfeeding Support Group for mums who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat and support.

Partners and older children welcome.

Meets first Wednesday of every month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm.

Enquiries and support 54014517.

Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 6pm - 10pm.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@ cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge.

Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial.

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

Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meet alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For info Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465.

Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August.

Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8 Serfaty’s Passage Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www.gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717.

Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service).

Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group for compulsive overeating problems. Tel: helpline for meetings info 200 42581.

Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren. Tel: Richard 200 46536, Jason 200 76618, Dominic 54019602.

Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and exService personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. Email: Susan GIB-CST-JSWPA@ mod.uk With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: 54007181 or 200 79957.

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

Left to Right - Kelly Balestrino, Jimmy Bruzon, Anna Martinez, Aimee Balestrino.

Students for Students...

Five students from Westside recently organised a party to celebrate their GCSE results and decided to raise funds for AKIN’s (Association for Kids In Need) Sierra Leone school projects. Kelly Balestrino, Aimee Balestrino, Anna Martinez, Mollie Lyons and Ainsley Howard raised £500 for the school projects.

Jimmy Bruzon the project coordinator thanked the girls and congratulated them for taking the initiative of raising funds for needy students in Sierra Leone.

“It is fantastic to see students in Gibraltar not just caring but doing something positive to improve the well being of poor children in other parts of the world. What makes this effort even more special

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

is that the idea to raise funds for the school projects came straight from the students, they were not prompted to do it, it came naturally. The students should be proud of their achievement and we encourage similar efforts across schools in Gibraltar. A lot of poor children will benefit from their actions, the five girls have definitely made a positive

difference” The £500 raised will go towards the provision of light fittings and new furniture at the Kabala Amputee primary school.

More info on AKIN’s Sierra Leone school projects: Facebook (Akin SierraLeone Jimmy Bruzon), visit www.akincharity.org, email: jimbruzon@hotmail.com or Tel: Jimmy Bruzon 57631000. n

Funds for Wobbles Recently BWin Party held a beach volleyball day for their staff at Latinos on the Beach. Some fantastic prizes were donated by the Essardas Group to raffle on the day for charity.

Frankie Hatton, David Abdoo and Jennifer Fernandez from Wobbles are pictured gratefully receiving a cheque from Nuria Harjani on behalf of Bwin Party for £501.

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information

T

he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered of great conservational value. It’s the perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa. Botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants, including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall. A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used.

A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide.

The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it!

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to anyone who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. Sgt. Major Ince suggested tunnelling and there are over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside.

The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock’s many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays information on the development of Gibraltar’s military defences through the ages.

A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one of the earliest British building on the Rock. Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726.

The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibnZeyad (“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

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is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking.

Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction).

Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. Narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years.

Housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a unique sandwich of armour plate/teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’.

Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel. 200 44460, P. Hodkinson Tel. 200 43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Closed 1pm - 2pm.

Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Rd, 9am - 7pm daily (free).

Business Information Financial Serv. Commission Tel: 200 40283/4 Chamber of Commerce Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry . . . . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 78193 Useful Numbers Airport (general info.). . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 73026 Hospital, St Bernards. . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 79700 Weather information. . . . . . . . . . . . . Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update Tel: 200 42777 Gibraltar Museum Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane open 10am-6pm (Sat. 10am-2pm).

Closed on Sunday. Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Exhibitions also at Casemates gallery.

Registry Office Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon.

Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as

History Alive Every Saturday morning the

Rock’s past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a “Ceremony of the Keys” and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.

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.

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

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

Bicycle Racks Bicycle parking is provided at the following locations: Europort Road, Casemates Tunnel, Land Port Ditch, Fish Market Road, Commonwealth Car Park, Reclamation Road (by English Steps) + Line Wall Road.

Gibibikes is a scheme for public use of bikes taken from stations around the Rock. Visit www.gibibikes.gi for info.

Public Holidays 2013 Gibraltar & United Kingdom New Year’s Day Tuesday 1 January Commonwealth Day Monday 11 March* Good Friday Friday 29 March Easter Monday Monday 1 April Worker’s Memorial Day Friday 26 April* May Day Wednesday 1 May Spring Bank Holiday Monday 27 May Queen’s Birthday Monday 17 June Late Summer Bank Holiday Monday 26 August Gibraltar National Day Tuesday 10 September* Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December Boxing Day Thursday 26 December *Gibraltar only

Gibraltar Postcode - GX11 1AA

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 os Emergency N : .............Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598

GibiBikes Locations • Frontier • Victoria Stadium • Waterport Road (Watergardens) • Waterport Road (Waterport Terraces) • Eurotowers • Reclamation Road (Leisure Centre) • Commonwealth Parade Car Park • Rosia Road (Jumpers building) • Rosia Road (Bayview Terraces) • Grand Parade Car Park (Cable Car) • Southport Gates (Ince’s Hall) • Line Wall Road (City Hall) • Line Wall Road (Orange Bastion) • Market Place • Eastern Beach Road (coming soon) • Catalan Bay (viewing platform) • St Joseph’s School • Europa Point • Rosia Parade Visit www.gibibikes.gi to find out more about how you can benefit from GibiBikes

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2013

The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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atural History & Heritage Park admission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites - St. Michael’s Cave, Monkey’s Den, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre, ‘A City Under Siege’ Exhibition and Moorish Castle). Facilities closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adults £10, children 5-12 years: £5, children age under 4 free, vehicles £2.

Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times, tours available by taxi/mini bus. Also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm). 50p per person to walk with no entrance tickets.

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The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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www.sapphire.gi +350 200 47 200 - info@sapphire.gi Suite 3.0.3 Eurotowers, PO Box 797, Gibraltar