20 # 01 November 2014
dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • history • property • community
the gibraltar magazine
gibraltar the
November 2014 Vol. 20 # 01 FREE
Gibraltar Literary Festival: Reaching Out To Schools Festival at a Glance
Broadsword of the Courtroom
One Hour in Time
The Office Party Dilemma
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Control Your Privacy
Off-Plan’s The Right Plan Michelle Olivera: Being the Best You Can Be 28/10/2014 09:30
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2007
20 # 01 November 2014
dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • history • property • community
the gibraltar magazine
g
ibraltar the
November 2014 Vol. 20 # 01 FREE
Business & Finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 Residency & Citizenship 14 Death & Taxes: Going, going,
Gibraltar Literary Festival: Reaching Out To Schools Festival at a Glance
Broadsword of the Courtroom
One Hour in Time
The Office Party Dilemma
Control Your Privacy
20 # 01 NOVEMBER 2014
gone? Stephen Reyes: Clients, Colleagues & Community 20 John Cooper QC: Broadsword of Gibraltar’s Courtroom 22 Regulatory Change Catalyses Deal-making in the Insurance Sector 24 Youth Opportunities Abroad 26 Control Your Privacy 30 HR: The Office Party Dilemma 34 Gibraltar Day in London
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Off-Plan’s The Right Plan Michelle Olivera: Being the Best You Can Be
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contents
28/10/2014 09:30
Cover: by David M Parody taken at the Garrison Library (models: Lucy Cartwright and Brina Sostaric) to celebrate the Gibraltar Literary Festival (pages 42-49) schools festival
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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Publisher/Editor: Andrea Morton Forde Copyright © 2014 Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine.
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Arts & Leisure 68 Masters of Illusion 80 Whoop Whoop it’s a
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Hula Hoop Thousand Million Melodies from Leo to his Son
Health & Well-being 50 Dr Fitzpatrick: Health of
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the Nation Michelle Olivera: Being the
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20 # 01
Best You Can Be Health Directory Happy Family, Positive Parents
58 70
41-49
Past Revisited 62 Clarice Cliff’s Gibraltar Design 72 A Quiet Voice That Would
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Be Heard Giant Buddha Rests on Rock of Gibraltar HMS Rodney: Her Mighty Guns & The Walrus
Appetite 80 Wine Festival 2014 88 Food & Drink Directory 92 Wine Column: Bugs Regulars 64 Gibraltar Map 74 Puzzle Page 82 Question of the Month 94 Around Town Information 64 City Centre Map 88 Clubs & Activities 98 Gibraltar Information
Features 41-49
A Feast of Literature at the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival
Property 32 36
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Saving Water Saves Electricity Gibraltar Property Wins Best in Europe Off-plan’s the Right Plan Property Directory
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
27/10/2014 10:08
&
Residency Citizenship
words | Ian Le Breton
I have written on several occasions about residency in Gibraltar and in particular the Qualifying (Category 2) Individuals Rules 2004 aimed at High Net Worth Individuals — or HNWIs as wealth managers call them — together with the “High Executives Possessing Special Skills” regime (formerly covered by the earlier Category 3 and 4 rules). As the terms suggest, the legislation aims to encourage qualified wealthy residents and professional talent to Gibraltar. For ease we refer to these categories to “Cat 2” and “HEPPS” respectively. There are good reasons for considering either scheme. Regular readers will recognise my standard menu of Gibraltar’s attributes — benign tax regime, absence of VAT, EU membership, Mediterranean location, British-style systems of government law and currency, our impressive new airport and other infrastructure. Not to mention the climate. It was announced in this year’s Gibraltar Budget that the Cat 2 scheme was to be reviewed. I think it safe to assume that the scheme will be enhanced considerably following the changes currently under consideration. There are several ways this could be achieved and we await the publication of the new rules with interest.
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A great deal of attention has been paid to those countries that have developed specific residency programmes in recent years, particularly those that go further than simple residence and in some cases lead to citizenship and the issuing of a passport. These arrangements vary from place to place so I thought it might be helpful to consider some of the available options In Gibraltar’s case it is possible for a non-Gibraltarian from anywhere — not just from the EU – to obtain citizenship (although Planet Zog might be stretching it!). This could be achieved by marriage or by bringing a specific business or investment project to the Rock. However it’s a long process that can take up to ten years to complete. Indeed it can be assumed that under the
right circumstances, almost any country on a case-by-case basis can arrange citizenship. A “host” country may decide to issue a passport for specific economic or perhaps political reasons. The February 2013 grant of Russian citizenship to French actor Gerard Depardieu, who objected to the rising tax rates in his homeland, is a recent high profile example. Athletes — famously Zola Budd — seem to get passports just before major championships. However a few countries worldwide have adopted special citizenship programmes that lead in most cases to the issuing of a passport. Citizenship can be attractive for all kinds of reasons. Typically these include sheltering from unstable or dangerous situations in a home country, as well as tax, family and other lifestyle choices. Applications are carefully
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finance controlled and subject to rigorous tests; clear guidelines are set out to ensure that applicants meet the criteria, which vary from place to place. It is important to be clear on the difference between residency and citizenship. Residency is fairly straightforward. Most countries recognise someone as being resident in their jurisdiction by the simple test of how many days they are physically present in that place. Interestingly in the case of Gibraltar’s Category 2 scheme, there is no “minimum nights spent” clause — so in theory one might be considered resident without actually having to come here at all. In practice, applicants are required to either rent or purchase eligible accommodation (and, not unreasonably, this cannot be sub-let). The cost of doing this, together with the minimum current annual tax of some £22,000 (up to a maximum of just under £30,000) should encourage successful applicants to consider spending at least some time here. I have one client who was fairly adamant when we assisted him with his Cat 2 application that he would “hardly visit the place”. Fast forward a few years and he and his entire family have settled here permanently, bringing considerable economic benefit to the jurisdiction. But then Gibraltar is that kind of place, right? Moving forward, it is also possible to obtain a full British passport — but only after a considerable amount of time, generally ten years. For me the main group of people who are attracted to alternative residency or citizenship are HNWIs that live in countries where the political or economic future is uncertain. It is entirely appropriate — and sound planning advice — to consider the possibilities of either emigrating immediately or perhaps securing an alternative residency or citizenship to hold in the event of any deterioration in circumstances
Many developed countries have implemented Immigrant Investor Programmes (IIP) that are designed specifically to attract such HNWIs at home. After all, if they have money to invest, as HNWIs will, it makes sense for them to do so in countries that offer some kind of formal status in return. Many developed countries have implemented Immigrant Investor Programmes (IIP) that are designed specifically to attract such HNWIs — either by offering residency that can lead to citizenship or by granting citizenship itself in return for investment. Sometimes described as the “new alternative investment”, such programmes have different financing requirements, immigration procedures and benefits to investors. Very careful consideration needs to be given to the jurisdiction itself, including ease of access or perhaps its standing across the world. After all you wouldn’t want to take up citizenship in a country only to find you (or your children) were expected to perform military or other compulsory service. Equally it would be of little use if the passport you were given were not accepted by any of the countries that you wished to visit. Other factors to take into account when applying for a second residency or passport under an IIP should include: the investment level required to gain residency; the length of time it will take for an applicant to become
GFIA Guide to Setting Up In Gibraltar The Gibraltar Funds and Managers Guide, Second Edition, has been released by the Gibraltar Funds & Investments Association. Since its first publication, the GFIA Guide has become the definitive source of information for those wanting to learn more about our growing funds and asset management sector. The guide contains a forward by the Hon. Albert Isola Minister with Responsibility for Financial Services followed by an Introduction to Gibraltar, Overview of Gibraltar’s funds Industry, and goes on to cover topics such as Setting Up a Fund in Gibraltar, Experienced Investors Funds, Taxation and Statistics. n www.gfia.gi
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eligible for citizenship; and the number of days, if any, which an applicant is required to reside physically in the jurisdiction. Equally important to find out is whether: eligibility for citizenship is extended readily to an applicant’s spouse or other dependants; dual citizenship is allowed (either by the applicant’s proposed or existing country); your existing country applies an exit tax or other penalties. You should also consider whether there are any requirements in respect of qualifications, work experience or language, and the projected cost of living in the proposed country – including accommodation, transport, health, as well as tax rates and tax incidence. The concept of “Citizenship by Investment” was launched by the government of St Kitts & Nevis 30-years ago and has been followed by Canada, Dominica and almost a score of other countries since. Several European Union countries — Bulgaria, Hungary, Cyprus and Malta amongst them — have enacted specific investment programmes that can lead to the issue of the much-prized European Union passport. This allows for freedom of movement across the 28 countries that make up the EU. Several other EU states (including the UK and Portugal) have introduced specific residency rules. The economic benefits of attracting wealthy immigrants are obvious, although the political implications should always be a consideration. Recently I represented Sovereign at the Global Citizen Forum in Toronto aimed at giving industry practitioners a chance to interact with politicians and others involved in this growing area. The government of Antigua & Barbuda used the event to promote their new programme and we had interesting discussions on the subject with newly installed Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He promised to develop a totally transparent system that included, for example, regular reporting of the numbers of citizenships approved — something not currently allowed by other countries. The Forum made clear that, as always, professional advice should be sought at the outset, ideally from a firm whose own personnel or panel of specialist external partners can guide clients through the best available options. Residency or citizenship should be treated like an insurance policy — it should be acquired well in advance, before it is needed in an emergency. So there it is. There are several options but of course as this is the finance column for the Gibraltar Magazine readers will expect me to concentrate on those available here. I look forward to the changes expected to our existing residency schemes. Hopefully it will lead to an influx of HNWIs and their dependants provided that they invest here and start spending money. That, of course, benefits us all. n
Ian Le Breton
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2013
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
27/10/2014 10:12
shorts
Masbro opens new Insurance Shop on Main Street
ISOLAS APPOINTS FIRST CEO
Marcus Killick OBE has joined ISOLAS as Chief Executive Officer Mr Killick, CEO of the Financial Services Commission in Gibraltar for nearly 11 years, stood down earlier this year and joins Isolas to take on an active management role, in addition to which he will assisting practitioners in Isolas’ financial services teams, an area in which Mr Killick can bring over 20 years’ worth of experience and expertise to bear. Marcus also currently serves as Chairman of GSX, the Gibraltar Stock Exchange, as a Director of the Gibraltar International Bank and is also a Director of Callaghan Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Almost 29 years ago to the day Charlie Mascarenhas founded Masbro Insurance brokers. “From a small office, with just me, Masbro was born 29 years ago; so it is with great satisfaction that I look back, and see where we are today, and where I believe we will be in the future” said Charlie, Non-Executive Chairman of Masbro. Over the years Masbro has grown to become a major player within the domestic insurance market in Gibraltar. Serving a large client base from offices in Tisa House on Main Street, Masbro’s MD David Evans is pushing the boat out and setting up a new “one stop” Insurance Shop at 241 Main Street. This new operation will bring insurance services to shoppers, who can buy all types of insurances whilst out and about on Main Street. “Continuing in the footsteps of Charlie’s original vision, Masbro continues to develop more convenient ways for our clients to access a wide range of insurance products at shop front level on Main Street,” said David. “Buying insurance shouldn’t be
He is an English Barrister and member of the New York State Bar as well as a Chartered Fellow of the CISI and a member of the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Insurance Institute, Marcus was awarded the OBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List Marcus was also Chairman of the Gibraltar Investors Compensation Scheme and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Board as well as the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors.
Marcus Killick OBE, ISOLAS’ first CEO
any different than buying phones or shoes. Our shop will have insurance specialists on hand to advise you on the best products for your needs.” Finance Minister, Albert Isola, performed the ribbon cutting to formally open the shop to the public: “It gives me great pleasure to open Masbro’s new insurance shop in the heart of our vibrant shopping street, and I wish them the greatest success with their new venture.” Masbro’s new one stop insurance shop is at 241 Main Street. n
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Peter Isola, Senior Partner at ISOLAS, explained how he was “delighted to have been able to secure Marcus’ services for the firm. His knowledge and experience will be a boon to ISOLAS in many ways. I’m very pleased that he has chosen to join us and I’m excited about the developments his appointment may bring.” n
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DEATH & TAXES
Going, Going, Gone...? And so George Osborne puts on his re-election hat again and promises to stop taxing the hard earned pension funds at the punitive rate of 55% when the pension owner dies. Tim Richardson of The Family Office Europe, a practice dedicated to assisting UK expats, outlines what the Chancellor is planning to give away, or not as the case may be. As Benjamin Franklin said, “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. With this in mind, the Chancellor’s announcement on 29 September 2014 regarding his plans for pensions seems very generous at first glance and is clearly designed to get on the right side of the grey vote. However, like all political announcements, the proof of the pudding will be in what the eventual legislation says, which could be published shortly after the next General Election. What we do know is that the recent lifting of restrictions on pensions is partly a vote winner, partly a defence against pension liberation offered by unscrupulous scoundrels and more importantly, partly
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to get much needed cash into the government coffers right now. UK Pension Beneficiaries If you have a UK preserved pension, or you have transferred to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (“QROPS”), then these changes will affect you come next April. Much has been written about an individual’s ability to draw their UK pension,
after the tax free cash allowance, as a taxable lump sum since the Chancellor’s announcement yet much of the fine detail is still to be published. H M R e ve n u e & C u s t o m s (“HMRC”) is still deliberating on what to do about QROPS but we are pretty sure that the UK Government will not want QROPS owners taking their excess funds without some form of tax
The Chancellor’s announcement on 29 September 2014 regarding his plans for pensions seems very generous at first glance and is clearly designed to get on the right side of the grey vote
being charged. Evidence of how this could be administered is the fact that unauthorised payment charges for non-UK compliant investments remains at 55% and HMRC has the means to track down taxpayers even if they have left the UK and may believe they have become “fiscal ghosts”. So let us concentrate on the tax charges relating to death benefits payable on UK pension schemes for UK residents, or expatriates, who have not transferred to a QROPS. Prior to the changes announced on 29 September 2014 on death before age 75 the rules were: • On an uncrystallised pension (i.e. no benefits taken) no tax was payable. • On a crystallised pension (i.e.
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tax free cash or income taken) the tax payable was 55%. • Dependents paid tax at their marginal rate on income received. Under the old rules no tax would be payable before the pension owner attained the age of 75, it was after the age of 75 where it hurt. Both uncrystallised and crystallised pension funds were taxed on death at 55%; more than the rate of Inheritance Tax! HM Treasury and an Ageing Society The Chancellor’s published statement states that, “if the individual dies before age 75, they will be able to give their remaining defined contribution pension to anyone as a lump sum, completely tax free if it is in a drawdown account or uncrystallised”. So, providing that the pension owner dies before age 75, all is fine and dandy for any heirs entitled to the family silver. The problem is that the average age of mortality for both males and females is now over 80 years old so for many enjoying a normal lifespan a tax charge will remain. The tax charge is: • Uncrystallied benefits taxed at 45%. • Crystallised benefits taxed at 45% and income will be taxed at the marginal rate of the beneficiary. So in both cases the tax rate is still greater than the current rate of Inheritance Tax, which in the UK is currently 40%. The UK Government has said that it intends to review the 45% tax rate for those beneficiaries aged over 75 and possibly amend this to reflect the beneficiaries’ marginal rate of tax, but that could still be 45% under current rates and it will almost certainly be after the next General Election when many changes come into force. Another very real concern is that the lifetime allowance of £1.25
Our research and feedback from HNWs is that they simply do not trust the UK Government on any commitment to taxation million for a pension fund is likely to reduce further after the next general election and the punitive tax charges on amounts above the lifetime allowance remain. Estate Planning The single most important factor that determines why High Net Worth (“HNW”) individuals seek the advice of The Family Office (Europe) and that of our UK tax practice, TFO Tax LLP, is in relation to their estates and succession planning. Often defined contribution pension funds, such as Self Invested Personal Pensions (“SIPPS”) and Small Self Administered Schemes (“SSASs”) make up a significant part of their estates and in many cases are not required to provide an income. Therefore the funds are often accumulated beyond age 75 and left untouched. The result is a hefty tax bill on death which coupled with a likely Inheritance Tax liability significantly reduces the amount that can be left to their beneficiaries.
age 75 and so there is an obvious advantage irrespective of what the UK Government introduces post 2016. But does this just apply to expatriates? The answer is no, UK resident individuals also have access to similar planning. Our research and feedback from HNWs is that they simply do not trust the UK Government on any commitment to taxation when it comes to attacking their hard earned wealth. In view of this the opportunity to hold assets, including pensions funds, in an offshore jurisdiction is preferred, especially when legitimate and statutory planning can be implemented. TFO Europe has recently pooled the expertise of its Gibraltar based tax practice, TFO Tax Strategies
Limited, with Cavendish PCC Limited to create a joint venture, TFO-Cavendish Limited (www. tfo-cavendish.com) specialising in HNW pension planning for both expatriate and UK resident individuals. Individuals are able to maintain their existing investments but change the “investment wrapper” such that they are no longer subject to UK pension taxation rules. Furthermore, a similar strategy can be used for non pension assets and is effective in planning for Inheritance Tax. Our friends across the border There are many expatriates located in Spain who are finding it difficult to maintain the anonymity that they may have previously enjoyed. TFO-Cavendish is ideally placed to provide those expatriates with pension solutions thereby structuring their investments to make them more tax efficient in Spain. If this is an area of concern then contact any of the TFO-Cavendish team for further advice. n
Planning for the overall estate is therefore essential For expatriates, the obvious solution is to use a QROPS and preferably one with a low rate of income tax as income will need to be drawn down beyond age 75. A Gibraltar QROPS is ideal in such circumstances as the rate of income tax is agreed with the Gibraltar Tax Office and UK HMRC at 2.5%, which is probably acceptable for the majority of individuals who are more used to paying much higher rates of tax. QROPS for expatriates are not subject to the 55% tax charge on death post
In other news... Once again HMRC in the UK is stretching its “long arm of the law” and participators in tax avoidance arrangements that were issued with a Disclosed Tax Avoidance Schemes (“DOTAS”) reference number and have since left the UK are now within their reach. HMRC has indicated that it plans to use its counterparts in Spain and other parts of the world, including the likes of
Australia and New Zealand, to serve Advance Payment Notices on those individuals. This action will almost certainly prompt challenges and Judicial Review action as most advisers and clients see this as an abuse of power and retrospective, something which used to be outlawed under European legislation; this appears to be no longer the case! n
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STEPHEN REYES
Clients, Colleagues & Community words | Paul Wharton
When the business is working and you are on top of your game it’s so easy to sit back and be complacent and before you know it your competitors are ahead of the game. The analogy that I like to use is Formula 1 which is the sport that I follow, as this is a business where the players can never afford to sit back on their laurels for more than a week, otherwise they will see themselves very quickly being left behind the rest of the pack! It must be around eight years ago that I first came down to Gibraltar and met Stephen Reyes, a Senior Partner in Deloitte in Gibraltar, and he immediately impressed me with his passion around this subject so let me introduce you to this month’s mover and shaker; Mr Stephen Reyes I know that you are passionate about self development; how do you feel this has helped you and your business? Paul Wharton is Head of Corporate Banking at Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in Gibraltar having arrived on the Rock from the UK eight 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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As professional advisors, we are constantly focused on, both in terms of time and resources, technical training and ensuring we are up to date with developments in our industry — but just as important, and sometimes more so, is personal development training on the general life skills required to meet the demands of taking a senior position in a business, interacting with people and balancing a fulfilling life away from work. We usually give so much importance to the technical side of things, that we tend to forget the personal side. As a long standing member of the Academy of Chief Executives run by Pete Yeoman, I have been exposed to many expert speakers on personal development, been provided with numerous tools and techniques and attended many courses that have enabled me to become more aware of how I affect others and others
“
affect me, how I can become more with us becoming seasoned effective as a leader and to start to professionals in a few short understand what is important in years. my life and what I need to do to (iii) Community involvement. live the life I want to live. My position and experience I would like to think this has provides me with the opportuhelped me play a part in making nity to get involved in various Deloitte the great place it is, where community initiatives, for we not only focus on our clients, example, in my industry I am but we also care about our people the deputy chairman of the as individuals, with personal Finance Centre Council and needs and aspirations. contribute to the work of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants. In public service I sit on What are the things you most the Gibraltar Police Authority love about your job? Board and in charitable work I believe I am very fortunate in I am deputy chairman of the following a career that I love. Gibraltar board of Young There are many aspects about Enterprises, a charity that what I do that I am passionate helps young people develop about, but if I had to narrow it entrepreneurial skills. down, I would choose three main areas. (i) My clients. I tend to get more What is your least favourite part involved with the advisory of doing what you do? The least favourite situation side of the business and I really enjoy working with is when potential clients see our them to help them improve service purely as a commodity their businesses, understand and take a decision based on price the value and profit drivers alone. We work very hard to differand help them operate more entiate our service from others and ensure our people are well trained efficiently. (ii) The people I work with. I am and focused on adding value to lucky to work with ambitious, clients and it’s very disheartening intelligent and hardworking when all that is ignored and it’s individuals committed to cli- only price that is considered. ent service and being the best they can be. This is immensely Where do you see the accountancy industry in stimulating. I particular like seeing raw Gibraltar in say, five years time? The accountancy industry has graduates take the journey
There are a lot of people relying on you for their livelihood and you therefore have to be a sound custodian of the business and ensure it can prosper for the long term GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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business finance
Deloitte Senior Partner, Stephen Reyes
developed considerably during my career. When I returned to Gibraltar there were only a dozen qualified accountants here, now we have over 300. We are the biggest professional Association, even eclipsing lawyers. There are qualified accountants in almost all walks of life, although I must admit, we still have to break into the political arena, but that is only a matter of time. The industry itself is changing all the time, with the global scandals that have occurred, and the corresponding increase in regulation that has resulted. Accountants are an integral part of providing confidence in business and our training, procedures and responsibilities have developed significantly to cope with that. There is no room for error. This responsibility brings a great deal of professional satisfaction and is one of the main reasons why accountancy will be one of the best careers to undertake going well into the future. What do you think is the most important part in being a senior partner in a large firm of
accountants?
I think it is important to ensure that your personal values are aligned to those of the business. You need to walk the talk. Others will look to you for guidance and it is very important that they see you embodying the business culture. There are a lot of people relying on you for their livelihood and you therefore have to be a sound custodian of the business and ensure it can prosper for the long term. What was your first job?
My first real job was with an accounting firm in London, Spicer and Pegler, which I joined under a training contract to become a Chartered Accountant. I joined them because at the time they were the only international firm in Gibraltar, and I knew I
“
How do you like to spend your Sunday afternoons?
Generally flopped on the sofa after a nice Sunday lunch watching my beloved Manchester United with my son Roydon. Although I must admit, their performance these days tends to make this more
I love every aspect of my career and therefore nothing seems like hard work. I don’t take myself too seriously though...
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always wanted to come back to Gibraltar after qualification. I earned £6,000 a year and spent most of it on commuting and accommodation, but loved every minute of it. As one of their first Spanish speakers, they immediately added me to the team dealing with the audit of the London branch of “Banco Exterior de Espana”. That’s when I learnt that business Spanish is a different foreign language to day-to-day Spanish!
of a frustrating experience than it used to be. What is the single most important reason for your success?
I think it’s passion for what I do. I love every aspect of my career and therefore nothing seems like hard work. I don’t take myself too seriously though and try and bring an element of humour into everything I do.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Not sure if you can classify this as an achievement, but what I am proudest of in my life are my two children Zainya and Roydon. They give meaning to my life and my fondest memories always include them.
Who has inspired you most?
There is no one individual. I am always inspired by Gibraltarians who achieve something on a world stage. From some of our leading politicians who show they are world class in an international forum, to sports people who get to a high level internationally, like Nathan Stagno or those involved
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movers & shakers Hassans, the leading voice for Gibraltar in the latest global Gaming Law reference guide
in culture like Karel Mark Chichon and other individuals like our very own Miss World. I love seeing our people succeed.
morning in September. A little secret seemingly only known to those who live there. An almost perfect setting.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Which person would you most like to work with / for?
Grease. That’s when I fell in love with Olivia Newton John! Hopelessly devoted to you is still one of my favourite songs, although now I relate it completely to my lovely wife.
Nobody is perfect, so what decisions have you made in your career that you look back on feel were mistakes?
It’s funny, when I think back now to the decision to leave Coopers & Lybrand and set up a new business with Pepe Caruana, giving up a senior position at Gibraltar’s top firm at the time to start from scratch really does not seem a sensible decision at all. However, I am very thankful that I took that particular decision as it has turned out very well. I was lucky I had the support of several clients who followed me to the new venture and helped us hit the ground running. Any ambitions/hobbies not yet fulfilled? I maintain a bucket list which I try to work through year on year, so there are many things I have yet to fulfil. One of the ones I am most looking forward to is to walk El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. I am planning to do that within the next two years.
Richard Branson. He gets involved in so many things, has a great work ethic and cares to make the world a better place. IOS or Apple?
Definitely Apple. In my mind stands for innovation, quality, useful and ease of use.
What’s the favourite item in your wardrobe?
My bathing shorts. I love the beach. One of my favourite reasons I love living in Catalan Bay. Best advice anyone has given to you — who were they and how did you then use it?
Partners Peter Montegriffo QC and Nyreen Llamas at Hassans International Law firm have contributed to the most recent reference guide to global Gaming Law, produced by The European Lawyer Reference Series. The guide is published by Thomson Reuter who supply lawyers around the world with crossjurisdictional information that is clear, concise and highly practical. Peter and Nyreen, who advise the vast majority of gaming firms in Gibraltar, and many internationally, were asked to provide a detailed chapter to outline the legal framework relating to gaming and the developments in Gibraltar. The chapter follows a question and answer format to provide essential guidance when conducting business on an international level. Julian Harris, partner at UK law firm, Harris Hagan and Ed-
itor of this second edition which covers 37 other jurisdictions world-wide stated: “Our aim has been to provide a useful broad guide to the legal and regulatory framework for gaming in order to provide a comparison of the varied approaches to this fascinating area of law between jurisdictions throughout the world”. Nyreen Llamas commented: “Gibraltar’s first gambling statute was enacted in the 1950s and covered the provision of land-based gaming services; the legislation did not and could not have ever envisaged the provision of gambling services through remote means. With the introduction of the 2005 Gambling Act, Gibraltar positioned itself as a unique proposition in the gaming industry. This industry is fast developing and the regulation of affiliate service providers is vital in the future of Gibraltar’s continued relevance and importance for the sector. Hassans have distributed copies to key players within the industry, however anyone who wishes to receive a complimentary guide, should contact Nyreen Llamas on nyreen. llamas@hassans.gi, who has limited copies available. n
Nyreen Llamas
The best advice, which has always stood the test of time and I have always lived by, was given to me by my father, and is “if it’s too good to be true, it isn’t”. Nobody gives you something for nothing and anything worth having has to be earned. I am sure there would be less scams in the world if people paid heed to this more often. What film, however many times you’ve watched it, do you have to watch, when it comes on?
It has to be Braveheart. Always great to watch.
That’s it for this month. I will be back again next month sharing insights from another local business Catalan Bay on a lovely Sunday mover and shaker. n
Where is your favourite place in the world?
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business AmCham Gibraltar Receives Accreditation from US Chamber of Commerce The Gibraltar-American Chamber of Commerce has announced its formal accreditation as a member of the US Chamber of Commerce.
ington, DC, on 12th November, 2014. AmCham President, James Lasry, said, “I am grateful for all the hard work that has gone into obtaining accreditation from the US Chamber of Commerce and I look forward to our members being able to benefit from the With only 116 members world- opportunities that this presents.” wide, the Gibraltar-American Chamber of Commerce is now a AmCham Gibraltar member of a very exclusive group. Trade Mission to US The Gibraltar-American ChamThis status comes as the result of the support of Her Majesty’s ber of Commerce will be sponsorgovernment of Gibraltar and the ing its first Trade Mission to the Gibraltar business community, US, on 12th to 14th November. in their dedication to building This mission is open to all commercial and cultural ties with AmCham Gibraltar members. the United States. It will focus on highlighting opGibraltar’s Chief Minister, The portunities for financial services, Honourable Fabian Picardo QC insurance companies and other MP, and the AmCham President, areas of interest. The main goal James Lasry, will attend the for- of this Trade Mission is to open mal signing ceremony in Wash- new business opportunities for
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Gibraltarian companies in the United States and for US companies in Gibraltar. AmCham Gib members will spend one day in Washington, DC at a ceremony for the accreditation of AmCham Gibraltar as a member for the US Chamber of Commerce. The members will then spend two days in New York City at a series of events and bilateral meetings highlighting opportunities for doing business together. Businesses who have, or would like to have, commercial ties with the United States are encouraged to become members of the Gibraltar-American Chamber of Commerce and to attend the Trade Mission. For more information on this, and the many benefits of being a member of AmCham Gibraltar, email info@amcham.gi. n
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JOHN COOPER QC
Broadsword of Gibraltar’s Courtroom words | Peter Schirmer
During duller moments in the eight-month trial of the Marrache brothers — and there were many of them — the visiting QCs vied with each other to find the most inappropriate words with which to address the judge. Some of the better ones were “M’ Lud does not need to be a star-gazing astronaut to realise...” or “Your Lordship doesn’t need to be a bookmaker at Epsom to calculate the odds...” We lesser mortals similarly lightened the days — with assessments likening the presentation skills of the leading silks with Medieval weaponry, so that John McGuinness who led the prosecution team was ‘the quarter-staff’’ or ‘cudgel’; Dorian Lovell-Pank, who featured in this magazine last month was ‘the rapier’; and John Cooper who defended Isaac Marrache was ’the broadsword’. All three returned to the court last month to appear in the Marraches’ appeal against their conviction — on the grounds that the judge misled himself — and their sentences. But who was the broadsword whose heavy double-edged approach dominated so much of the action? There are three, or is it four, John Coopers... and there may be others; for the respected barrister sitting opposite me tucking into a fish-and-chips lunch after a hectic morning in court is complex, enigmatic. There is John QC, the jurist and part-time don... There is John the passionate defender of animal welfare and one of the main architects of the Hunting Act... There is John the playwright, author and broadcaster who, in 2009, was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts... In their
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movers & shakers shadows, peering from the cut-out cardboard proscenium of a homemade stage, is an insecure and rebellious eight-year-old who hides his uncertainties by entertaining his mates with puppet shows he writes and presents. And there is a fourth... older and shaped more consciously by his working-class background, John the politician who is as urgent in his belief in social justice as his fictional television counterpart ‘Kavanagh QC’ and who stood unsuccessfully as a Labour parliamentary candidate in the general elections of 1987 and 1992. He does not mention these when we talk, nor are they reflected on the barrister’s official website. Cooper’s three early personas and their development into the mature 54-year-old with whom I am sharing lunch were born of a mix of TV and primary school experience. The former when, as a five-year-old, he became fascinated by the black and white
“
series Crown Court — intrigued by the parry and thrust of argument (however much this may have been above his head) rather than the ‘dressing-up’ in wigs and gowns, he assures me. The latter is more complex, a mix of rebelliousness and bullying by some teachers and nurturing of an interest in story-telling and drama by another, still recalled with patent affection. “I loathe bullying in all its forms whether it is of humans or of animals,” he says adding that he regards hunting as an extension of this cruelty... a view that persuades his active interest in animal welfare legislation and has seen him chair the League Against Cruel Sports for more than a decade. Nor, unlike many more extreme activists, does Cooper put animals before his fellow men. His legal textbook Cruelty — an Analysis of Act 3 (2011) is regarded as the foremost authority on torture and inhumane treatment.
I loathe bullying in all its forms whether it is of humans or of animals,” he says adding that he regards hunting as an extension of this cruelty
Yet there is a paradox here, for at times in the cross-questioning of witnesses which is at the core of Britain’s and Gibraltar’s adversorial system, is surely a form of mental ‘bullying’ and, for all his affected gentleness with witnesses, Cooper is a consummate artist of the question. While he does not use the bludgeon of some of his peers, neither does he use the sly stiletto of others. Cooper, as I see him in action in the Gibraltar Supreme Court, wields a mix of the fencer’s epee and the cavalryman’s sabre. “Always I remember — and try to act on — my master reader’s whispered advice when he presented me to the Middle Temple. ‘Be bold,’ he said,” Cooper tells me. And these skills, along with a string of books, articles and broadcast appearances have earned him some strong accolades. He was described recently as ‘head and shoulders above the majority of other QCs’ (Legal 500) and as one of the top 100 influential lawyers in the UK by The Times which also described him as ‘a rising star of the criminal Bar.’ And like other stars — including those in his own legal profession Cooper the dramatist understands how and when to step into the limelight... and to spring touches of comic surprise. In one case he notoriously quizzed a senior mem-
In Short: John Cooper QC John is a member of chambers at 25 Bedford Row in London which was recently named Crime Chambers of the Year by the prestigious Law Journal Legal 500. John was named as one of the leading Silks in the UK adding to his recent appointment as legal advisor to the chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee of the British Parliament. Since leaving Gibraltar he has been involved in a number of high-profile cases including representing the family of the nurse, Jacintha Saldanha, who took her life as a result of the so-called Australian DJ hoax impersonation of the Queen.
He has just finished presenting evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications when he advise them on the law relating to social media and offences that are committed upon that developing platform. Called by the House of Lords as a recognised leading expert in Cybercrime, he travels to corporations and business interests advising them upon how to protect their personal data. Over £50 billion per year is lost in the UK as a result of cyber fraud and is a problem which Cooper observes Gibraltar should ignore to its peril. Last month John was appointed as Chair of the Advisory Board of the prestigious Trust the
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Market initiative, a project which involves the Heads of many of the major financial institutions in London coming together to rebuild faith and confidence in the financial services industry. John is also Honorary Visiting Professor of Law at Cardiff University and the Director of Education for the South East Circuit. I am also a Freeman of the City of London as a member of the Worshipful Company of Coopers. With new business interests about to be launched, including a production company John leads a busy life, divided between his legal practice, his creative writing and his work in the political arena.
The Marrache Trial and
in particular the Appeal represents a point of
international significance which is already creating
interest around the World. The discharging of the
jury and the continuation of the case by the same judge who had been
hearing the trial alongside that same jury was the
first time such a step had been taken in English
jurisdictional courts. It
represents a significant
step in limiting one of the most fundamental rights
of any citizen and as such, the eyes of a great many
countries will be upon the
Supreme Court of Gibraltar.
- John Cooper QC
Other cases include:
Representing litigants in the Dr David Kelly Government Weapons Inspector Judicial Review. For the Occupy London Protestors outside St Paul's in their 5 day High Court case. For some families in the Deepcut Barracks cases. The Hercules and Puma Army death inquests for the bereaved The Nimrod air tragedy civil action for the bereaved. BCCI for the employees Northern Rock for some Shareholders For the Balcome Anti Fracking Campaigners in their successful High Court challenge. Successfully defended in the Leah Betts Ecstacy Overdose trial. Successfully appealed in the so called 'Twitter Joke Trial'.
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ber of the Met’s Royal Protection Unit about the officer sitting on Her Majesty’s throne... and alleged porn deals in the police locker room of Buckingham Palace. All a far cry from John the preteen rebel of whom one teacher remarked to his mother ‘if he doesn’t buck his behaviour up he’ll end up being hanged!’ His mother — of whom he is immensely proud and whose personal weekly award for pupils’ efforts has since become an official ‘trophy’ in the primary school where she worked as a dinner lady — defended John, though already he was prepared to argue in his own defence. In fact the young primary scholar did ‘buck up his behaviour’ going on to become the first member of his family ever to attend university and gaining the Butterworths Law Prize at Newcastle University where he graduated with a Law degree in 1980. He was admitted to the Middle Temple three years later, and proudly became a Bencher there in 2011. Cooper stepped onto the first rung of his ladder to success when he joined the top law firm Clifford Chance and continued to climb in a string of high-profile cases ranging from involvement in the BCCI financial scandal and the debacle of share devaluation of the Northern Rock and has represented a drawer full of celebrities including guitarist Brian May, and Paul Chambers in the now notorious Twitter joke trial. For many his legal and animal welfare work, his lectures and his journalism would be enough to fill 7:24, but Cooper the author and playwright has still found time to write a brace of stage plays — with a third soon to be produced — as well as two legal drama series for the BBC and ITV, The Law Lord and The Advocate. There was also a factual series Teens on Trial for Granada. So... a complete and self-contained man? Perhaps. But the enigma lingers. n
His legal and animal welfare work, his lectures and his journalism would be enough to fill 7:24, but Cooper the author and playwright has still found time to write a brace of stage plays
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Regulatory Change Catalyses Deal-making in the Insurance Sector words | Mike Harvey, Director, KPMG Gibraltar
As insurance organisations start to come to terms with their new regulatory landscape, we expect to see a significant uptake in deal-making and transactions across the sector. Some will be direct responses to specific regulatory requirements or pressures; others will shake out as insurers start to adjust their group structures, operating models and product offerings to respond to a tighter regulated market. For those organisations able to take advantage of this changing landscape and able to make the right deals at the right time for the right reasons, the next 3 to 5 years should be very exciting indeed. The fact that regulation will drive deal activity in the insurance sector will come as no surprise to industry participants and observers. Already we have seen an increase in the number of deals and transactions being made as insurance players around the world adjust their group structure, portfolios and holdings in order to respond to various prudential regulations related to solvency and stability. We expect transactions in the insurance sector in Gibraltar to occur in the near future due to two main reasons. The first is as a result of the agreement
between HM Treasury, United Kingdom Government, and HM Government of Gibraltar to allow Part VII transfers between insurers in the two countries. This means that, subject to regulatory approval, a book of insurance business can be transferred between a UK regulated entity and a Gibraltar regulated entity. The second reason is increased capital requirement under Solvency II (effective 1 January 2016) and potentially smaller, less well capitalised companies looking to be acquired or sell their book of business, rather than increase their
regulatory capital requirement. Burden, opportunity or both? That regulation is having a dramatic impact on the insurance sector is undeniable. Reports and articles abound on the cost and complexity that new regulation will unleash on the insurance industry. But while many continue to decry the regulatory burden, others are quietly taking stock of the new environment and considering how they might take advantage of the disruption to improve their market position and diversify operations.
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regulation Making waves Looking down the regulatory pipeline, it is easy to see how upcoming or proposed regulatory requirements in various parts of the world will create waves of related transactions. Certainly within Gibraltar, the UK and Europe, insurance companies are being heavily impacted by significant new regulation: Solvency II. This is leading to many European insurers selling off non-core lines of business, or complete businesses, which are no longer optimal from a capital efficiency perspective in order to shore up their books against new capital requirements. Gibraltar insurance market is growing fast Gibraltar has been a recognised financial centre for over 30 years. Proof of this is in the number of licensed insurers which has grown over this period. One of the principal attractions of Gibraltar is its robust but responsive regulatory environment. Financial services regulation in Gibraltar falls under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which maintains a firm regulatory stance. This ensures Gibraltar is regarded as one of the better regulated financial centres and meets the requirements of its
statute to comply with UK regulatory standards and practices. Gibraltar licensed financial institutions, under the second and third life and non-life EU Insurance Directives, can provide insurance into other EU Member States using their Gibraltar licence and without having to apply for a separate licence in the respective territory. This, along with the low cost base and corporate taxation, makes Gibraltar an even more attractive insurance domicile. A winning formula The bottom line is that insurance leaders will need to carefully consider their regulatory profile and future requirements. Based on this information, they will need to make some hard decisions on where they need to invest, under what types of regulatory regimes and how their investments will impact on their existing regulatory requirements. We believe that the winners of the future will be those that are able to develop a holistic view of their regulatory requirements and identify optimum approaches for the Mike Harvey, Director, KPMG Gibraltar business, allowing them to make the right deals at the right time for the right reasons, rather than * The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purely chasing market share. n constitute professional advice
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YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD Campaigns Promoting Gibraltar in International Politics Provide Jobs for Students
words | Participating Student Eve Maddock Jones
There are new job opportunities for young Gibraltarians; working within campaigns promoting Gibraltar in international politics. Having opened offices in the three main political cities of the world: Washington DC, London and Brussels the Government is looking to man these offices, giving young people the opportunity to work in them. I put the question, “how do dynamic world of the EU Instituthese jobs become available for tions, learning the fundamentals young people?” to Deputy Chief behind Europe’s political machine. Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia. The Deputy Chief Minister exDr. Garcia explained that the “first step is exposing young people to the workings of these political systems.” To achieve this Gibraltar Government sent a group of 15 A-Level students to the EU Institutions in Brussels this September. For one week the students were acquainted with the
plained that the trip was a result of a manifesto pledge to send students to the UN and the EU. He explained “It is important that
“The government is interested in sending young people on rotational six months working in the offices in Brussels”
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students are aware of wider issues outside of Gibraltar,” adding that the trip’s aim was “to achieve a greater understanding of how these political systems work and how they can influence Gibraltar.” “In the long term,” he explained, “the government is interested in sending young people on rotational six months working in the offices in Brussels.” To get in the running for this rotation in Brussels you don’t need
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europe to have studied a specific subject, such as Politics, at university. In Brussels, the students saw the skill-set variety required within the innumerable sectors of the EU Institutions. Other than politicians, they need translators, accountants... The students met a mixture of people, including Molly Scott Cato, MEP Green Party member who told the students that “Many people who work here were previously journalists, lawyers, even some lecturers.” Indeed Dr. Garcia, who himself studied History, said what was really needed was enthusiasm. “We cannot narrow it down to saying you have to study a specific degree. Show you have a positive work ethic and attitude, not just qualifications.” There are already schemes set up to give students opportunities to gain exposure and work-experience, both invaluable assets to show any future employer, including employment for these new offices. The Gibraltar Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Training Program in Washington. DC, offers 60 scholarships to Gibraltarian post-graduate students within the finance and economic
sector. There is also the university scheme ERASMUS, providing students opportunities to study or undertake work placements abroad during their degree. Involvement in groups is a huge asset to building the right CV these
“The door is open,” the Deputy Chief Minister said, for young people in Gibraltar to begin grasping future job opportunities
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days. Molly Scott Cato advised that, “people wanting to move into politics should become involved in local political groups. All EU parties have Youth Organisations.” Teenagers can become involved locally in Gibraltar, Dr. Garcia
stated. “Participation can be at different levels, not just political. Social and action groups, trade unions, Gibraltar in Europe Group all provide good backgrounds to start with.” “The door is open,” the Deputy Chief Minister said, for young people in Gibraltar to begin grasping future job opportunities. These offices are craving to be filled, with tools available to make ourselves desirable for them. We’ll be the ones leading the world some day. That day is getting closer. n
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Control Your Privacy New technologies are radically advancing our freedoms but they are also enabling unparalleled invasions of privacy. The Gibraltar Magazine spoke to Maurice Hook, Head of Information Rights at the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), about how to be in control of your privacy and how to protect the personal data you might work with. The GRA covers a range of issues that come under the information rights umbrella and its role goes beyond its primary focus of data protection. “We regulate the Data Protection Act, which ensures that companies need to be very careful in how they handle personal data. We also uphold the right to privacy of individuals. If an individual feels that their right to privacy has been violated they can come to us and we will look into it and see if we can resolve it for them,”
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privacy explains Maurice. “In recent times there have been many changes to how society works and how we use technology, for example social media like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, YouTube etc. This technology has a lot of potential to affect your privacy. Social media is a hot topic now and every privacy commissioner in Europe and worldwide is now focusing on it,” says Maurice. “We are trying to educate people on how to control their privacy to avoid any future damage. In a survey we found that over 92% of Year Seven children in Gibraltar use social media, although they are under 13, which is the legal age limit to create an account on social media like Facebook. This survey also showed that one third of them uses Snapchat which enables you to send photos,” he tells. “Over a third of Year Seven children have never addressed their privacy settings. From this figure, the implications of how they might be affecting their futures are tremendous. “We feel there is not enough information out there on what the actual problems are. We get complaints from people who have, for example, applied for a job and then found people discussing their private data in local Facebook groups, even though they believed the application was confidential. We hope that people will learn how to use social
media better without violating other people’s privacy,” Maurice explains. The ‘Control Your Privacy’ campaign, which the GRA launched in January, follows on from an international incentive for digital education. Speaking with children in schools is an important step, and the GRA is now starting to engage with the public and businesses in a campaign set to continue indefinitely. “There is a need to know how to use new technologies and control your privacy,” he states. “We all know that social media has been taken up by everybody, including businesses and they also need to be educated on the proper way of upholding the right of privacy.” Now in the trial stages he admits there is lot of room for development in the campaign. “We try to approach the public in different ways and to let them know that we are here when they need us. While we are focusing on social media, there is a need to raise awareness of privacy in general. The more people know, the more
we can do our job properly,” he says. “The basic rule of a thumb when it comes to data protection is that you have a right to know what information companies and governmental bodies have about you. Sometimes people are not necessarily able to obtain that information and that is when they come to us.” When it comes to the law, there are areas where privacy breaches come down to the human factor, but because technology has developed so quickly it might be challenging to keep up. “Unless employers as well as employees are aware of how new technologies work, they may think information is being protected, but in reality it is not,∏” Maurice warns. “Nowadays we have remote access to information and one of the measures companies need to take, for example, is changing passwords on a regular basis. If a company is not taking these measures seriously enough, we will treat that as a breach of the Data Protection Act.” In addition to everything, we have to throw in the ‘Gibral-
In addition to everything, we have to throw in the ‘Gibraltar factor’. “Because of our very small community, by default our privacy is already less private”
tar factor’. “Because of our very small community, by default our privacy is already less private. That is just how we function, but we have had cases where this has been abused for personal agendas.” Facebook is used in Gibraltar by people who put very personal things out there in cyberspace — about themselves and others. “You may have had access to some personal information, but that does not give you the right to put it on social media where thousands of people can see it,” Maurice states, explaining that “We feel this is more of an issue in Gibraltar because everybody knows everybody.” From a work point of view, private companies and the public sector deal with a lot of sensitive data and personal information which needs to be kept confidential by law. “There is room for improvement in the public sector when it comes to protecting privacy. I would say that a lot of data protection is just common sense. When you run your own business it makes sense that your customer information is kept private, for example. In the public sector there is more reluctance to move with the times.” There is certainly a need for more proactivity in this area, he says, explaining that the GRA carries out many inspections to look at how departments manage
The ‘Control Your Privacy’ Awareness Campaign at the Piazza
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privacy personal data. “Any advice given by us is always taken positively. We have issued many recommendations to government bodies — they welcome it and they know that they are getting good advice,” assures Maurice. “We would advise people to engage with us when they encounter any problems, because we can resolve them without punishing anybody. Our modus operandi is to investigate the matter and in doing so we fix the problem and help the community. “We advise people to take control of their privacy, to ask for information, to challenge it and make a complaint if they notice a problem or a breach of their rights. When you take into the equation social media, where you are allowed to put out information about yourself and others, we all have to consider the consequences of our actions,” he explains. “We have noticed an exponential growth in the amount of advice we have given out in the past years and that can only be as a result of people knowing we are here to help. We would like to ensure even more people know we are here so we can raise awareness,” says Maurice. “In the future I would like to see a readjustment in the way people use social media in Gibraltar. This is a necessity because it is getting out of hand. Certainly I would like to see it being used in a more intelligent way. People’s futures are being affected and potentially our kids are already creating their virtual personas, and that is who they will become in the future. “There is a very interesting quote from Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, he believes that many people will have to change their identity in the future, because they have created their monsters online. “I believe this is very much true, because you cannot get away from it. If you don’t start taking control of your privacy now, even for your children, your future and your children’s future can be compromised in a number of ways. “I would like to see more education, more parents and teachers informing themselves on this issue, and more adults knowing what the implications of today’s technologies are.” The GRA works closely with the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and is now present online. n
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GRA Website Promotes Proactivity The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority has launched a new website at www. gra.gi and created a social media presence as part of an online initiative to reach out to the community with a modern, proactive service. The website provides a broad range of information about the GRA, its facilities and the services on offer, as well as in depth accounts of the work carried out. The webpage provides information to assist with enquiries and links to news, advice and guidance, and relevant documentation. It also acts as a gateway for information relating to the 5 Divisions of the GRA, namely Communications, Information Rights, Satellite Communications, Broadcasting and Postal Services. “The previous GRA website was outdated and difficult to navigate. We have revamped our site with a view to making it more user-friendly but also, incorporating some of the latest online trends,” said Paul Canessa, CEO for the GRA. “We have, therefore, chosen to move from an in-house approach, to the contracting of professionals to redesign our website, whilst ensuring that we keep the necessary functionality such as the data controller register and the advanced search facility for the large number of documents available on our site”. The GRA has also embraced social media. This is in keeping with both local and international trends whereby social media is not only a compliment to an organisation such as the GRA, but a necessity. “We appreciate that much of the public now turns to social media for contact information and advice, and we
have decided to have a presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and we are looking into the benefits of interacting on other platforms too” said Mr Canessa. The GRA has today also launched a Facebook page which will be regularly updated and it hopes will serve as means of disseminating relevant information to the public, in particular during awareness-raising campaigns such as the Control Your Privacy Campaign which the GRA, in its role as Data Protection Commissioner, is currently promoting. Mr Canessa acknowledged that one difficulty in engaging with the public, is that most people expect to be able to turn to social media for more information. “This is one motivating factor for going down this route”, said Mr Canessa. At this stage however, the GRA plans to use social media as a means of providing information. “At the moment we want people to benefit from all the advice we are putting on social media, and be able to easily establish how to contact us, should they have questions or wish to file complaints. Social media should not be used for submitting complaints
The GRA plans to use social media as a means of providing information
or reporting matters. These will continue to be dealt with by the GRA through established procedures”, explained Mr Canessa. “We recently engaged with members of the public during an event we held at the Piazza and it is clear that people have become increasingly dependent on social media platforms as a source of information, and therefore expect a social media presence from the likes of the GRA. We have, therefore, responded accordingly and now ask the public to “like”, “follow” and “connect” to us”, said Mr Canessa. The GRA’s online strategy will revolve around getting relevant and necessary information to the people and groups who will benefit from receiving it. As such, news, guidance notes, decisions and notices which the GRA issues will be appear across various platforms, however, the GRA also appreciates the value of interacting in different ways on different platforms and so, it hopes to use these to their full advantage too. Mr Canessa invites the public to make full use of the site and social media presence and asks the public to make comments about its good and bad points, and to offer ideas as to how these may be bettered. n For further information please contact the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Tel: 20074636, email: info@gra.gi, or via social media.
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finance
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 not 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 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2014
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The Office Party Dilemma
Q
If our company would like to host a staff Christmas party, are there issues we would need to consider?
A
Any party organised by the business, even if it is outside working hours and even if it is not on business premises, counts as happening “in the course of employment”. This means you, as an employer, have certain legal obligations. Discrimination You must do your best to ensure that employees are not subject to harassment on any of the following grounds: • • • • •
Sex; Race; Religion or Belief; Sexual Orientation; Disability;
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words | Leah Carnegie, The HR Dept
As long as everyone involved understands that the same standards of behaviour are expected as in the normal working environment, there should be no problems. Action can be taken against wrong-doers in accordance with your organisation’s Disciplinary Procedure.
Where an employee makes a complaint about another employee’s behaviour at a Christmas party, you should: • • •
Remember that the makeup of the workforce is much more diverse today than it was even a few years ago
•
Treat the complaint seriously; Deal with it under your Grievance or Bullying and Harassment Procedure; Investigate the complaint fully, including obtaining statements from any witnesses; Take disciplinary action against the wrongdoer, if necessary.
Inclusion Christmas parties are generally good for employee morale and in these difficult times it is to your credit that you treat staff in this way, as it is a time of year to reflect and thank
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employees for their work during the year. If some employees decline the invitation, the first thing to do is to (gently and without making accusations) find out why. There could be practical problems which prevent them attending, such as inability to find childcare. There might be issues about whether some members of staff feel excluded by the type of event you’re planning. Have you considered that some people might avoid events where drinking alcohol is the norm for religious reasons, for example? Remember that the makeup of the workforce is much more diverse today than it was even a few years ago, and if you always do the same thing for employees at Christmas, perhaps it might be worth trying something different — and possibly a different time of the festive season — this year to try and ensure everyone is included, maybe by celebrating the New Year instead.
•
•
for a Secret Santa gift each week, can add stress to a hectic time of year. A large group of 10 co-workers is too much to buy for and if small subgroups exchange gifts, and someone is left out, feelings may be hurt. Buying for the “boss” can be politically tricky, since people worry about the gift being inappropriate, too expensive, too personal, etc. Diverse beliefs in the workplace: not everyone celebrates Christmas or believes in celebrating their birthday with gifts.
• •
•
items to give away to the less fortunate. Organise to serve the community as a team to assist with the soup kitchens Organise a potluck lunch where everyone brings in a dish. It’s a great social occasion, and discussions around holiday plans and family bring people together. Coffee morning, with festive cakes.
Having said all this we don’t advocate that office Christmas parties become bland, lifeless affairs. With the right communications beforehand and policy structure in place employers can reap the benefits of getting employees Some ideas to create an inclusive culture are: together for a jolly evening without adding ‘disciplinary hearings’ to the New Year ‘to • Organise a collection of non-perishable food do’ list. n •
Duty Of Care If you have a staff party during working hours — and all have a drink — but expect people to go back to work afterwards. There are risks to be considered Employee parties during working hours are not unusual, but it does pose the question of how you deal with the issue of possible alcohol intoxication at work. Intoxicated employees can be a risk to the Health & Safety of other employees, customers and themselves. The safest advice is to apply your rules consistently as you would at any other time of year. This ensures people can have a drink, but if they become intoxicated they will be sent home — normally without pay. You should make absolutely clear before the event what your policy is and the consequences of non-compliance. In some companies, absence level increase over the festive season, although you can rarely be certain that an occasional day’s absence is being taken as a “sickie”, the problem can be reduced if you operate robust absence procedures throughout the year so that employees are clear about your rules and the consequences of non-compliance. These procedures include: • • •
Rules for absence reporting; Operating “return to work” interviews; Rules on payment of Company Sick Pay.
The important thing is that such procedures are operated at all times, so that staff are in no doubt about where they stand. Gift giving can be a contentious subject around the festive season. At the risk of looking like the Grinch who stole Christmas, I suggest you tread lightly. Some people may be offended if you mandate the no-gift rule; offering an alternative that fits into the spirit of the occasion may make everyone happy. There are many reasons not to give gifts at holidays and birthdays, and all of them are based on sound logic, so you don’t even have to mention your personal preferences. • •
Gifts for co-workers add to the financial burden around the holidays. Even shopping for inexpensive items, say,
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Building Team Spirit The Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) is proud to announce that the National Rugby Team has teamed up with SG Hambros Bank (Gibraltar) Limited. The partnership is based on Building Team Spirit something both Rugby and the SG Hambros bank have in common. Many have noted over recent years that Gibraltar Rugby has become one of the fastest growing team sports on the Rock, it attracts increasing media attention and as the rugby family grows so does the exposure of Gibraltar Rugby locally and overseas. The National Squad have had great success
on the field against Cyprus Select and Israel A and the Gibraltar Select side recently beat the Royal Marine Corps XV. Further fixtures are lined-up for next Spring and Autumn. GRFUs prides itself on being a sport which is humble and gracious both on and off the field; a sport whose values promote honesty, integrity, camaraderie and fair play. n
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Energy Efficiency Awareness Campaign
Saving Water Saves Did you know that by saving water you are also saving electricity? Did you know that only 3% of all the water in the world is fresh water and that only 1% is available for drinking water? In Gibraltar we are fortunate to have a desalination system to convert our sea-water into drinking water. However this process uses electricity, therefore if we reduce water use we also save electricity — you save even more energy if you minimise your hot water use! There are many simple ways in which we can save water around the home. Think of your own bathroom — do you turn off the tap when brushing your teeth?
How long are your showers? Do you turn the shower off while washing your body or shampooing your hair? Are any of your taps leaking? Did you know low-flow shower heads and taps are widely available? What about your kitchen? Could you save water when cleaning the dishes? Or when cooking? You could wash vegetables and fruit in a bowl, instead of under running water or use water left over from boiling to water your plants — just let it cool down first! By saving water you save both water and electricity, you save money, you conserve resources and reduce pollution. We cannot live without water and water conservation is our personal responsibility, not just something we can leave up to other people. We all use water as part of our everyday lives, so why not do your bit and start reducing your water use today? n
Water plants using pre-used water
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go green
Electricity
3% 1% 68%
The percentage of water in the world that is fresh water
The percentage of water in the world that is available for drinking water
The percent of the fresh water on Earth found in icecaps and glaciers
Water is one of our most valuable resources Let’s not waste it! Don’t leave the water running Turn off the tap When brushing your teeth, washing your hands or shaving. By saving water you save energy & money, you reduce pollution & you help our environment! Ge
org
e’s Top
Tip s
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Gibraltar Day at the Guildhall, London photos by Mike Brufal
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Photos taken at Gibraltar Day in the City of London, which is held annually at the Guildhall. The event includes promoting Gibraltar at a financial services lunch, eGaming breakfast and a funds lunch. Speeches were given by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Minister for Financial Services and Gaming Albert Isola.
D LY E W ISH OM NE RB RO FU W RESHO
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Gibraltar Property Wins Best in Europe Gibraltar’s New Aloes has been handed ‘Best Property Single Unit – Europe’ in The International Property Awards in association with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The win sends Gibraltar into the ‘World’s Best’ finals in Dubai where it will go head-to-head against winners from Africa, Arabia, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the UK.
Sandra Lamplough, Marketing Manager for Fairhomes Group, the developer behind New Aloes, says, “It’s one thing to be acknowledged as having built the best home in Gibraltar but quite another to beat off competition from the likes of Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Montenegro, to earn the accolade of best property in Europe. A great deal of precise engineering, construction and design went into New Aloes and we have been rewarded with the chance to grab World’s Best in Dubai on Thursday 4th December – that would be some early Christmas present.”
Savills (Gibraltar) Ltd, Suite 1B Icom House, 1/5 Irish Town, Gibraltar
Tel: 20066633 email: sales@savills.gi www.savills.gi
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Fairhomes Group is no stranger to winning awards and has amassed a number of trophies over the years, in particular for its mixed-use marina resort, Ocean Village, which also won overall in Europe back in the 2010 in the category of Best High Rise Development. However, this is the company’s first win for a single unit. Held at London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square in October, the ceremony gathered leading real estate agents, developers, architects and designers from across Europe to hear the results of the industry’s most prestigious Awards. Established in 1995, this year’s Awards were held in association with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Metal Yapi, Yamaha Music, Gaggenau, Smeg and Maybank. Lord Best from the British House of Lords and Chairman of Metal Yapi, Bülent Özgül, appeared on stage to present while many of the 70 experts on the judging panel were also in attendance. Built on the site of a former Ministry of Defence building of the same name, New Aloes is a substantial 21st century home of 9,526ft² with 4,402ft² of terraces and 6,243ft² of garden. It enjoys some of the best views in the world including the Rif Mountains of
Lord Best, Bülent Özgül from Metal Yapi, Sarah Drane from Fairhomes, Stuart Shield President International Property Awards
North Africa and the busy Strait of Gibraltar. Some of New Aloes’ highlights include a cavernous 1,237ft² living-dining space, a 592ft² kitchen complete with 25ft long all-inone preparation-dining island, wet rooms with over-bath rain showers, a second-floor fitness suite with a Klafs sauna-with-aview, a 12-car garage, Otis lift to all floors, and gadgetry such as electronically-operated full-height
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terrace doors and window blinds, auto-lighting for wardrobe hanging rails, an iLight lighting control system, video entry and a zoned alarm system with CCTV. Outside, New Aloes’ gardens are zoned with a shaded patio leads down to a thatched Tahiti-style chillout bar alongside a circular two-tier swimming pool with Jacuzzi effect jets. This connects, via a shallow stream, to the main infinity-edge heated pool.
The upper spa terrace has a further heated pool with mosaic hydro-massage beds and, on the top floor, a glazed observatory-esque viewing area and two generous roof terraces. Add fragrant plants, native aloe vera (naturally) and a few dozen 100-year-old olive trees, and it’s a very special place. n New Aloes – price £10.9 million. For more information on New Aloes visit www.newaloesgibraltar.com
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Off-plan’s the right plan In September, the entire development of 116 apartments sold in just six days. That’s £46m of property sold at an average rate of £7.7m per day. That is a phenomenal success story and a real confidence indicator of Gib PLC. Imperial Ocean Plaza, phase three of the Ocean Village resort development, proved popular with local and international investors alike.
launch. Ocean Village is one I am confident that the speed five weeks. Back to 2014 and the ingredi- of the most popular residential with which this development sold ents were all there for a successful developments in Gibraltar due is a new record for Gibraltar. I recall the launch of phase one of Ocean Village, Royal Ocean Plaza, in 2003. 133 apartments The main reason for such a result was sold within one month which I believe was a record at that time. the basic economic backdrop of demand Phase two launched in 2006 with easily outstripping supply for residential a further 180 apartments, the sales period this time being around property and this situation has built up
to its location, design and access to the attractive resort area of communal swimming pools and gardens. Pricing was attractive (but by no means giveaway) and our marketing was effective (we achieved a 13% response rate from our email mailout to our database). However, the main reason for such a result was the basic economic backdrop of de-
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property mand easily outstripping supply for residential property and this situation has built up over the last, say, three years. September’s launch was the first significant off-plan launch of apartments for some five years and the release of a pressure valve. It is clear to see why developers prefer off-plan. Property development is hugely expensive so the developers and their funding banks require some assurance that the units they are going to build will be sought-after by purchasers, be they buy to let investors or owner occupiers. Selling a property off-plan is one of the few ways of providing evidence and comfort to the bank that their loan finance is secure. Perhaps the main attraction of buying off plan for purchasers is that it provides them with an opportunity to obtain property at (usually) a little below market price on payment of a deposit (usually 25% over the course of the development), with the majority of the purchase price being payable at completion at some future time. If the real estate market is experiencing growth (which it is at this current time) then the property purchased off plan may also rise in value by the time the property is ready to complete. The property may be sold on prior to completion and a profit made, or, the property is kept for occupation or rental. Off-plan purchasers also have the opportunity to buy the best units ahead of the rest, although in the case of Imperial, hardly anyone had time to blink an eyelid before they were all gone. Off-plan property development has a near perfect track record for developers and investors in Gibraltar in recent times. Indeed,
Whatever the risks, purchasers clearly believed that Imperial Ocean Plaza off-plan was a worthy investment. So the question remains, is there room for more off-plan residential developments? hardly any new property is sold other than off-plan these days. Yet there are theoretical risks and disadvantages. Firstly, and perhaps the biggest disadvantage of buying off plan is a developer may be unable to proceed with the project within the time specified in the contract, which does make life difficult for potential owner occupier purchasers. Or the project may not proceed at all. This may occur because the developer is unable to obtain final planning consent or is unable to secure sufficient funding to finance the project. If this happens the developer may choose to cancel the contract (should the contract allow this). Although a contract would normally provide for the return of a buyer’s deposit money in the event of a development not proceeding, a contract would not usually provide for payment of any other compensation. Importantly, even though a deposit may be refunded, the buyer may have lost the opportunity to purchase elsewhere in what may have been a rising real estate market. Secondly, the use of purchaser deposits by the developer rightly comes under scrutiny. In the case of Imperial, the purchaser’s money is not released to the developer until the frame of the structure is built. This demonstrates that the
developer has funded the land purchase and the first 25% or so of the build from his own funds (or the bank’s). Thirdly, and despite the widely held belief that real estate property values always rise over time, they may not appreciate in value during the development period or could even depreciate in value. There is always a risk that the contract price for a property will be more than the market value at the time of settlement. The buyers of Imperial clearly have faith in the continuing growth of the Gibraltar market. Finally, a contractor’s standard of work may not be as high as expected and a completed property may therefore fail to live up to a buyer’s expectations. People who buy off plan are often limited to
viewing marketing material or a design concept provided by the developer, and may not get exactly what they expected. The advantage of selling a second and third phase of a project is that would be buyers can see for themselves the quality of design, construction and materials of the earlier phases so they have a benchmark. Whatever the risks, purchasers clearly believed that Imperial Ocean Plaza off-plan was a worthy investment. So the question remains, is there room for more off-plan residential developments? In my opinion, absolutely yes. Chesterton’s growing list of interested parties for the next offplan development in Gibraltar is testimony to this. 116 apartments hardly changes the demand and supply imbalance at all. And from an agency point of view, we look forward to trying to beat a six day sale. In June this year, all 129 apartments in a residential development, Aqua in Bondi Junction (Sydney), sold out on launch day in just four hours. So that’s our target! Just make sure you register your interest for the next off-plan launch with Chesterton. n
Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a board member of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar and runs a real estate investment solutions consultancy.
Only one real estate agent can tick all of these boxes: Over 200 years of property experience Client accounting software endorsed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants
Ring-fenced Client Accounts for holding landlord & tenant monies
Saturday opening Apartments for executive tenants
Offices across five continents
Independent from any legal or financial services firm in Gibraltar
T: + 350 200 400 41
Ocean Village Gibraltar GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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www.facebook.com/ChestertonGibraltar
T: + 350 200 40041 enquiries@chesterton.gi chesterton.gi
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Property Services
Here’s to Movember! Movember is the time of year when there is a sudden increase of the “mo” or moustache seen sprouting on many a man’s face. The aim of Movember is to raise funds and awareness of Prostate Cancer Support Group Gibraltar. Originally started in Australia 1999 the craze of raising awareness and funds of men’s health during the month of November and with the growing of a moustache spread across the world and has for the last few years held a prominent place in the Gibraltar social calendar...... This Movemberthe Gibraltar Fire Brigade will be doing a “pull” in Main Street. We would, like to highlight the need for men to pull together and take part in growing a moustache as well as participating in collecting funds for the betterment of men’s health. Supporting the Prostate Cancer Support Group Gibraltar with donations, is great, but supporting them by growing a moustache is even better, as it creates awareness.
each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache 3 There is to be no joining of the mo to [one’s] sideburns. (That’s considered a beard) 4 There is to be no joining of the handlebars to [one’s] chin. (That’s considered a goatee) 5 Each Mo Bro must conduct himself like a true country gentleman. Do your part and become a mo bro or pass on the message of promoting men’s health! You can donate via the website www.movembergibraltar.gi or Facebook page.
Prostate Clinic Kusuma Trust has committed substantial funds for the new Prostate Clinic being set up within St. Bernard’s Hospital and fitted with The Rules of the latest equipment, in the hope Becoming a Mo Bro that more men in Gibraltar will feel comfortable in going for regu1 Each Mo Bro must begin the lar check ups, happy in the knowl1st of Movember with a clean edge that they will be getting the shaven face. best possible care provided by the Gibraltar Health Authority with 2 For the entirety of Movember the latest equipment.
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Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2014
A FEAST OF LITERATURE
The now world renowned literary event Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival will this year take place from 14th - 16th November with an impressive line-up of international authors set to travel to the Rock for the 2014 programme. The Festival, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and curated by the organisers of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival, is bigger and better than ever following the success of last year’s inaugural event. Sally Dunsmore, Festival Director, said: “This year’s programme has more than 50 different international speakers coming to Gibraltar — from best-selling authors, to celebrated chefs, broadcasters and world famous musicians. Gibraltar has a unique cultural heritage and we hope the Festival will continue to confirm Gibraltar’s reputation on the global literary map.” This year organisers announced that Man Booker Prize winner, Ben Okri, will launch his new novel The Age of Magic accompanied
Celebrated author Joanne Harris (photo: KT Bruce)
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by the Orchestra of St John’s. As well as talking in-depth about his first new work in seven years, he will select pieces of music which will then be performed. Bestselling author, Kate Mosse, will also be introducing her new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter, set in a rural Sussex village in 1912 where a grisly murder has taken place. Mosse’s novels include the acclaimed international bestsellers, The Winter Ghosts, Citadel and Labyrinth. Her works have sold more than five million copies internationally in 42 languages.
Other leading authors and high-profile guests include philosopher, AC Grayling, who will give the Kusuma Trust Lecture where he will examine the nature of friendship and the significance it plays in our lives. Broadcaster and entertainer Nicholas Parsons will be recounting the most hilarious moments from his six decades and 900 episodes as presenter of Radio 4’s hugely popular Just a Minute. Joanne Harris, celebrated author of 13 novels including Chocolat, will present a session
Actress Maureen Lipman
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Festival Taster
Claudia Roden (photo: Tony French)
on storytelling in word and song. Harris has a lifelong passion for Norse myths and will tell stories with Icelandic, Scandinavian, French and Celtic origins. She will also be joined by Ben Okri, who will draw on the myths and beliefs of his African heritage. Musical accompaniment will be provided by The Bookshop Band. Other musical events include leading Jazz Poet Jeremy Robson introducing his new collection of poetry with readings by the celebrated actress, Maureen Lipman (The Pianist, Coronation Street), as well as a performance from well-known jazz singer, Jacqui Dankworth, who has worked with Paloma Faith and Gregory Porter. British-Nigerian singer, Patti Boulaye, will also perform a special festival concert in the spectacular surroundings of Gibraltar’s St Michael’s Cave. Food will feature heavily in this year’s festival programme with a series of special talks and events. World authority on Indian food, Madhur Jaffrey, will be preparing a lunch at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club. Food writer, Claudia Roden, will host a literary lunch with a menu influenced by recipes from her many successful cookery books. Roden was born and brought up in Cairo and her bestselling A Book of Middle Eastern Food revolutionised attitudes to Middle Eastern cuisine when it was published in 1968. A section of the programme will also explore politics and history. Former cabinet minister, Jonathan Aitken, will be discussing the life of Margaret Thatcher. Ex-editor of the Observer and China expert Jonathan Fenby will argue that it is not inevitable that China
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Ben Okri (photo: KT Bruce)
will go on to dominate the 21st century. Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, will be discussing some of the major moral dilemmas of the 21st century. Children’s authors at this year’s festival include Katherine Rundell, winner of the Waterstones children’s book prize 2014 talking about her award winning book Rooftoppers, partly inspired by her own nighttime trespassing on the roofs of Oxford’s historic colleges. Carnegie Medal winner Sally Gardner will present her new book The Matchbox Mysteries, the fourth in the Wings & Co series, which has been hailed as ‘Agatha Christie for kids’. This year’s programme will also examine the interesting heritage of Gibraltar and the
Food will feature heavily in this year’s festival programme with a series of special talks and events. World authority on Indian food, Madhur Jaffrey, will be preparing a lunch at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club
wider Mediterranean that comes from its location between Europe and Africa. Singer Françoise Atlan will investigate the history of Jewish music from the Mediterranean focusing on Gibraltar’s ancient Sephardic Jewish community and also perform a number of tracks. Travel writer, Barnaby Rogerson, will explore the mystique surrounding Marrakesh through writing. A panel of speakers including Alex Furest from the National Catalan Assembly will debate the highly topical issue of Catalan independence. “It is encouraging to the see marvellous response we are having to this event.” said, Nicky Guerrero, Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Tourist Board “It’s a privilege to see so many distinguished writers spending a few exciting days on the Rock and that our team is part of an event that will delight audiences. Gibraltar is indeed a destination that offers so many reasons to visit.” Neil Costa, Gibraltar’s Minister for Tourism and a driving force behind the event, said: “I’ve said on many occasions that as a Government we are fully committed to the development of event led tourism and here is the proof. Last year’s Festival is still being talked about and shows how able we are to provide events of this quality. We are so looking forward to welcoming the impressive line-up of literary talent. Gibraltar has such a rich history and cultural heritage and we are delighted to be able to promote this through the Festival.” n Tickets for the 2014 Festival are now on sale. Visit gibraltarliteraryfestival.com for more information.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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AUTHOR JIMMY BURNS Straddling the Divide
interview | Mike Brufal
Jimmy Burns, 61, an experienced journalist and author who knows virtually all senior UK, Spanish and Gibraltarian diplomats and politicians as well as all the movers and shakers who have been involved in the Gibraltar/Spain issue during the last few decades, has been invited to the Gibraltar International Literary Festival to speak on The Secret War — Gibraltar and Spain 1939-’45 along with Peter Martland and David Liebler. Jimmy’s father Tom Burns had a distinguished career as a publisher, journalist, author and editor of The Tablet magazine, was sent to the Embassy in Madrid during the Second World War as a master spy under the cover of being a press attaché. His mother, Mabel, was the youngest daughter of Spain’s most eminent surgeon Dr Gregorio Maranon. After the war Mabel moved to London and was one of the founders of the Spanish Welfare Fund which provided assistance to Spanish immigrants. During the 1950s, together with former UK ambassador to Madrid Jock Balfour, she helped revive the Anglo Spanish Society, now renamed the British Spanish Society. This UK registered charity was founded in 1916 by British and Spanish academics who feared Spain might favour Germany, despite its official neutrality, in World War One. The Society is dedicated to building cultural and educational links between the peoples of Spain and the UK. Jimmy was born in Madrid in 1953 and throughout his life has straddled British and Spanish cultures. Burns wrote his father’s biography Papa Spy (a true story of love, wartime espionage in Madrid and the treachery of the Cambridge spies headed by Kim Philby) and within its pages are many anecdotes about and references to Gibraltar. During his session at the Gibraltar International Literary Festival he will talk about this book which centres on the incredible web of intrigue that his father wove during his time in Madrid — the most important part of his brief was to ensure General Franco maintained Spain’s neutrality during the war to prevent Hitler’s army from marching through Spain to capture Gibraltar. Jimmy is a journalist who, because of his parentage and upbringing, is able to look at the Gibraltar issue with a totally detached frame of mind. He has been to the Rock countless times and as a boy at Stonyhurst College his peers included many Gibraltarians such as Isolas, Haynes, Stagnettos and Russos — his best man at his wedding was Andrew Haynes. During his time in Madrid he got to know many Gibraltarians including Frank Porral and Charlie Langdon. Married to the Hon Mary Addington, a speech and language therapist, universally
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Chuchill & Spain: Jimmy’s father Tom Burns with other UK embassy staff in Madrid, 1945
known as ‘Kidge’, he has two daughters Julia and Miriam. His sister Maria Belen is married to Sir Jonathan Parker a judge in the Gibraltar Court of Appeal; brother Tom Burns was an FT correspondent in Madrid during the 1980s and ’90s, and David is a banker. Jimmy was educated at a British school in Madrid, followed by a preparatory school in London, then the Jesuits at Stonyhurst. He read Latin and American and Iberian studies at University College, London which resulted in a BA Hons degree. He went on to read politics and the government of Latin America at the Institute of Latin American Studies in London and the London School of Economics and Political Science which resulted in his MA degree. Needing a well earned break after so many years of study he spent two years teaching English to foreign students combined with extensive travel in Spain and Latin America. At this point he decided on a career in journalism and paid for his travel costs by selling articles about his experiences. Some of these articles were published in the Catholic Herald and The Tablet; he still contributes to these Catholic publications. By the 1970s he was a full-time journalist. The BBC commissioned him to write the script for an Everyman programme on the Brazilian Archbishop, Helder Camara. After Franco’s death in 1975 he worked as a researcher for Yorkshire TV, contributing to Robert Kee’s critically acclaimed programme on the death of the Caudillo and Spain’s transition to democracy. In 1977 Jimmy joined the Financial Times and was posted to Portugal, also reporting on Spain and Gibraltar thus beginning his political knowledge of Gibraltar. He returned to London in 1980 and spent two years working on the international desk until he was sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the southern cone correspondent. Fortuitously he arrived in Buenos Aires in the middle of a military palace coup and three months before the invasion of the Falkland Islands. As luck would have it he was the
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only British foreign correspondent to remain in Argentina prior to, during and well beyond the war. Thus he was able to report on the war and then Argentina’s transition to democracy. He also provided a regular stream of articles on Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. His contract with the Financial Times enabled him to contribute articles to non competing publication such as the Observer, the Economist, the Christian Science Monitor as well as international TV and radio stations. In 1986 he returned to London to work at the Financial Times and began writing books. Nigel Newton invited him to join the new independent publishing house, Bloomsbury. Jimmy appreciated that his knowledge of the Falklands War was second to none and so he wrote The Land that lost its Heroes; How Argentina Lost the Falklands War. This drew on Jimmy’s access to military, diplomatic and intelligences sources in Argentina, the United States and the UK. In 1988 this book won the Somerset Maughan prize for non fiction. The book received outstanding reviews by Max Hastings, Robert Harris (Observer), Maxi Gainza (Sunday Telegraph), Tam Dalyell (Sunday Times), Robert Fox (Southside), Paul Pickering (Punch) and not surprisingly the Stonyhurst Magazine. Graham Greene described it as a book ‘for everyone who wishes to understand the Argentine
Fortuitously he arrived in Buenos Aires in the middle of a military palace coup and three months before the invasion of the Falkland Islands
situation before and after the Falklands war’. On 2nd April 2012 an updated edition was published to mark the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falkland Islands. It analyses why in 2012 the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner launched a new diplomatic and trade offensive over the Falkland Islands as the 13th anniversary of the war approached. His second book, Beyond the Silver River: South American encounters, was based on his personal diaries written while living and traveling in South America. Jimmy said: “When these diaries were kept during the 1980s — a period when South America remained a victim of the Cold War and remained ruled mainly by military dictatorships — their thoughts and observations produced, I hope, a timeless narrative, made up of memorable characters and enduring landscapes and cultures. I believe that South America remains one of the world’s least discovered continents”. He co-authored Dossier Diana a book on the death of Princess Diana published by El Pais/ Aguilar. In the mid-1990s he was encouraged by editors at Bloomsbury to write a biography of Diego Maradona and such was the success of The Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona that he went on to write four more books about football When Beckham went to Spain centres on David Beckham joining Real Madrid in 2003 — a move which captured the imagination of the world’s media and resulted in British sports pages carrying extensive copy on Spanish football. This book is not just about David but about a revolution in the world of football and how Spain became Europe’s most exciting country plus the broader importance of the arrival of such a sports icon on Spanish Society. Many critics consider this to be the most authorative book on Beckham and there have been many. It has been translated into Spanish, German and Dutch. La Barca; A People’s Passion is the history of Barcelona Football Club, founded in 1898, tells the story of Barca and its evolution as a social and political phenomenon, how it dared to confront General Franco during the Civil War and how the bitter rivalry started with Real Madrid. It is also tells the story of Catalunia. La Roja; How Soccer Conquered Spain and How Spanish Soccer Conquered the World is the definitive book in English on Spanish Football documenting the origins of soccer in Spain leading to La Roja becoming world champions. In Madrid and Seville, any Spanish player speaking to his coach calls him ‘Mister’ — a relic of the Anglo-Saxon origins of the game of football in Spain. The Real Deal; a History of Real Madrid is available on Kindle. During his time on the Rock Jimmy hopes to talk football with local fans and hopefully someone will be able to arrange a meeting in the margins of the festival. Jimmy is a lover of Spanish culture and heritage and so was moved to compile Spain — a Literary Companion which is part personal travelogue and part anthology. It draws on the observations of travelers to Spain over the centuries, on a range of subjects from food and wine to bullfighting and religion. His text is enriched by the comments and
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Jimmy Burns with Vicente del Bosque, coach of the Spanish national football team
insights of other visitors and residents, some of whose writings survive as the best in world literature including George Orwell, Ernest Hemingway, Laurie Lee, Virginia Wolf, Gerald Brenan, Miguel Cervantes, Frederico Garcia Lorca and Jorge Luis Borge. Jimmy is working on a biography of Pope Francis which concentrates on Cardinal Jose Mario Bergoglio’s life in Argentina before he was elected Pope two years ago. It will be published early next year. During all this time Jimmy worked as a senior reporter at the Financial Times and, while social affairs and employment correspondent, was awarded the industrial journalist of the year award. He later joined the investigative unit and won another press award as a member of the team covering the life and death of Robert Maxwell. After his retirement he continues to write regularly in the British, European and Latin American press as well as appearing on both UK and international television and radio. Jimmy is Chairman of the British Spanish Society and editor in chief of its magazine La Revista. He is Co-Founder and Trustee of Friends of Battersea Park, a member of the Management Council of Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies at the London School of Economics and a member of the Executive Committee of Penya Blaugrana. Last year, during the Spanish National Day reception at the Spanish Embassy, the Ambassador, on behalf of King Juan Carlos, invested Jimmy with the Order of Civil Merit. Jimmy has thought long and hard about Gibraltar and after his visit is likely to be writing about his experiences on the Rock. He had this to say about the ongoing political issues: “I do believe that in today’s world which is filled with appalling violence, injustice and intolerance, with the considerable breakdown in human engagement, the horrible acts that are happening in the Middle East and Africa, the barbaric acts such as the cutting off heads and showing the severed heads on the internet one has to get a sense of perspective about the Gibraltar problem. This is an issue involving two civilised nations, the UK and Spain and a
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civilised community of Gibraltarians. “The disputed sovereignty claim which has been talked about in the past can now be talked about in the future in a civilised manner round a table. Aside from the sovereignty issue which can be parked on one side, there are a great many matters that can be discussed and agreement reached. Such a course of action would be in the interests of the Gibraltar Government, in the interests of the UK Government and likewise the Spanish Government. “The Spain of today is not the Spain of
Jimmy has thought long and hard about Gibraltar and after his visit is likely to be writing about his experiences on the Rock
General Franco. It is perhaps not an ideal country and the Government’s policies can well be questioned. However it is a part of the European Union as is Gibraltar and the UK. The UK and Spain are both members of NATO. Many Spaniards in Southern Spain would like to either visit or work in Gibraltar. Equally there are Gibraltarians who live in Spain. It is therefore in everyone’s interests for the Governments to talk rather than shout at each other. History is a long term game and, as we all know, governments come and go, different policies come and go. Just because no solution has been found it does not mean that in the future one cannot be agreed. “I know that the majority of Gibraltarians are passionate about football especially now the Gibraltar Football Association is a member of UEFA. In terms of public expense it might be better for the home matches of the Gibraltar football team to be played in the La Linea stadium rather than build a hugely expensive stadium on the Rock. The Madrid Government might have vetoed such an arrangement but it is something for Gibraltarians to work on and campaign for. I would be quite happy to lobby on this matter and write about this suggestion. It is an excellent idea and remember that in life nothing is irreversible. Football is something to bring people together rather than separate them. “Dialogue is the way forward in this dispute. I am talking about finding a solution in the sense of the common good to agree on what can be talked about. I am certainly not criticising any of the parties. What I do say is that this is an issue which civilised nations should be able to talk about. “Today it is considerably more worrying to think about the threat from across the Strait of Gibraltar be it Isis or ebola. This is more important matter than the ongoing Gibraltar problem.” n Peter Martland, Jimmy Burns and David Liebler will discuss The Secret War: Gibraltar and Spain 1939-1945 on Friday 14th November 2014 10am-11am at King’s Chapel. Tickets £10. Jimmy will also be speaking at the schools as part of the Schools Festival about Football.
Jimmy Burns with Queen Sofia of Spain at opening of new library, Cervantes Institute Spain
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Gibraltar Literary Festival Thursday 13th & Friday 14th November
Schools Festival - Gibraltar 1st Following the success of the first Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival in October 2013 which saw some school children bussed in to the John Mackintosh Hall for speakers’ talks, the Festival Director, Sally Dunsmore, suggested to Gibraltar’s Director of Education, Dr Joey Britto, that in 2014 a Schools Festival should be organised so that many of the most distinguished speakers could go to Westside and Bayside schools over a two day period. This Schools Festival will take place on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th November. With a very generous grant from the Kusuma Trust at least 18 speakers are now confirmed for this inspirational programme including: 1. Booker Prize winning novelist, Ben Okri, talking about poetry and his collection of poems Wild 2. Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury on The Importance of Failure in
Lord Peter Hennessey
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Life 3. Christopher Lloyd How the brain has evolved 4. Novelist Joanne Harris (Chocolat and 12 other novels) on The Gospel of Loki – Norse Myths 5. Dr Ross King on Leonardo da Vinci: True or False? 6. Mark Lewisohn interviewed by David Freeman on The Legacy of the Beatles 7. Chris Gray on A Career in Journalism 8. Melanie King – Book Club – Dystopia 9. Professor Sir Diarmaid McCulloch on the Reformation Europe’s House Divided, 14901700 10. Dr Peter Martland, David Liebler and Jimmy Burns on World War I 11. Singer Patti Boulaye on a Nigerian childhood and the Civil War 12. Lucy Atkins Storytelling in Fiction novelist and Sunday Times reviewer 13. Jonathan Fenby on China – how a superpower emerged 14. Jimmy Burns – Spanish Football – a world
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class act 15. William Chislett on Contemporary Spain 16. Barnaby Rogerson Life as a Travel Writer 17. Professor Martin Kemp – Christ to Coke – how image becomes an Icon 18. Katherine Rundell – Rooftoppers Festival Director, Sally Dunsmore, stated: “Gibraltar’s schools and the Education Department have been fantastic to work with and the Kusuma Trust’s support has been both visionary and very generous. We hope to build the Schools Festival year on year alongside the public events. This is a project that has never been attempted in the UK before and is a ‘first for Gibraltar’ which we think will attract a lot of attention.” On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th November younger children and their families (from toddlers to age 12) are invited to take part in a full programme of free events at the John Mackintosh Hall thanks to the generous sponsorship of the John Mackintosh Trust. n
This is a project that has never been attempted in the UK before and is a ‘first for Gibraltar’ which we think will attract a lot of attention
Madhur Jaffrey (photo: Lisa Levart)
John Julius Norwich (photo: Camillia Panufnik)
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Gib Mag At a Glance A4 2210_Layout 1 22/10/2014 11:17 Page 1
THE
GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
THE GIBUNCO GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
The Festival is organised by
FRIDAY 14th TO SUNDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2014
Festival at a Glance Peter Martland Jimmy Burns David Liebler The Secret War: Gibraltar and Spain 1939-1945
Friday, Nov 14
10am
Iain Finlayson Tangier: City of the Dream
Friday, Nov 14
10am
Nicholas Parsons Welcome to Just a Minute A Celebration of Britain's Best Loved Radio Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of History
Friday, Nov 14 Friday, Nov 14
Ben Okri The Age of Magic to The Music of the Orchestra of St John’s Conducted by John Lubbock
Saturday, Nov 15
1pm
John Hopkins The Tangier Diaries
Saturday, Nov 15
2pm
10am
Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi Venice and Morocco: Recipes Lost and Found– With Tastings
Saturday, Nov 15
2pm
10am
Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Shakespeare
Saturday, Nov 15
2pm
Saturday, Nov 15
2pm
Beltran Domecq Sherry Uncovered: A History and Guided Tasting
Friday, Nov 14
12pm
Melanie King The Last Taboo? Death in Literature and Popular Culture
John Julius Norwich The Governor's Lecture: The Middle Sea
Friday, Nov
12pm
Anna Bogie Happy Hooves. Ta Dah! Happy Hooves. Oh! Oh! Oh!
Saturday, Nov 15
4pm
Harry Freedman The Talmud – A Biography
Friday, Nov
12pm
Joanne Harris and Ben Okri Storytelling with the Bookshop Band
Jonathan Fenby Panomara Series: Leadership: How Roosevelt Stalin and Churchill Won the War
Saturday, Nov 15
4pm
Friday, Nov
12pm
Madhur Jaffrey Literary Salon Lunch
Friday, Nov
12.30pm
Richard Garcia Wholesome Wines and Kindred Spirits – A Celebration of Saccone & Speed Saturday, Nov 15
4pm
Saturday, Nov 15
4pm
Saturday, Nov 15
5pm
Ada Parellada Vanilla Salt With Tastings
Friday, Nov
2pm
Kate Mosse The Taxidermist's Daughter
Mark Lewisohn The Beatles – All Those Years
Friday, Nov
2pm
Steve Hogarth Marillion and the Invisible Man Diaries
2pm
David Sáez Ruiz, Dioni Arroyo Merino, Enrique Reyes Saturday, Nov 15 Voices from Spain Sunday, Nov 16
10am
George Carey Moral Dilemmas of the 21st Century
Friday, Nov
6pm
Jonathan Fenby Panorama Series: Will China Dominate the 21st Century
Friday, Nov 14
2pm
Merche Carneiro Valencia in the News
Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Shakespeare
Friday, Nov 14
2pm
A C Grayling Kusuma Trust Lecture: Friendship Among Friends
Sunday, Nov 16
10am
2pm
Alex Furest, Rafael Arenas Should Catalonia be Independent of Spain?
Sunday, Nov 16
10am
4pm
Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of History
Sunday, Nov 16
10am
Katherine Rundell Rooftoppers
Sunday, Nov 16
10am
George Carey Festival Service
Sunday, Nov 16
11am
Ross King The Accidental Masterpiece: Leonardo da Vinci and the Painting of The Last Supper Paul Quarrie The Garrison Library and its Place in History
Friday, Nov 14 Friday, Nov 14
John Julius Norwich Darling Monster: Lady Diana Cooper's Letters to her Son
Friday, Nov 14
4pm
Charles Powell Juan Carlos of Spain: Self-Made Monarch
Bookshop Band Stories in Song
Sunday, Nov 16
12pm
Friday, Nov 14
4pm
Claudia Roden The Food of Italy – With Tastings
Sunday, Nov 16
12pm
Prajwal Parajuly Land Where I Flee
Friday, Nov 14
4pm
Kate Williams Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon
Maggie Gee Virginia Woolf in Manhattan and My Animal Life
Sunday, Nov 16
12pm
Friday, Nov 14
6pm
Tunku Varadarajan Gibraltar Chronicle Lecture: Gibraltar Belongs to . . .
Jonathan Aitken Margaret Thatcher: Power and Personality
Sunday, Nov 16
12pm
Friday, Nov 14
6pm
Lucy Atkins Storytelling: Have You Got a Book in You
Friday, Nov 14
6pm
Françoise Atlan Spirit of Granada: performance of Sephardic songs
Sunday, Nov 16
12pm
Patti Boulaye Patti Boulaye in Concert
Friday, Nov 14
7pm
John Hopkins The White Nile Diaries
Sunday, Nov 16
2pm
Giselle Green Finding You
Saturday, Nov 15
10am
Lauren St John Laura Marlin and One Dollar Horse Series
Sally Gardner The Matchbox Mysteries – Wings and Co 4
Sunday, Nov 16
2pm
Saturday, Nov 15
10am
Patti Boulaye From Nigeria to the West End
Sunday, Nov 16
2pm
Christopher Howse The Train in Spain: Destination – Seven Spanish Songs
William Chislett Walter Starkie and JB Trend: The Scholar Gypsy and the Cambridge Don
Sunday, Nov 16
2pm
Saturday, Nov 15
10am
Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Natural History
Christopher Lloyd What on Earth? Wallbook of Shakespeare
Sunday, Nov 16
2pm
Saturday, Nov 15
10am
Nick Rankin Telegram from Guernica: The Extraordinary Life of George Steer
Sunday, Nov 16
4pm
Barnaby Rogerson Marrakesh Through Writers’ Eyes
Sunday, Nov 16
4pm
Maureen Lipman, Jeremy Robson, Jacqui Dankworth, Butterfly Wing Blues in the Park: An Original Programme of Poetry, Jazz, Song and Humour Sunday, Nov 16
5pm
Martin Kemp Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa and the Straits of Gibraltar
Saturday, Nov 15
10am
José Luis Alonso de Santos 50 Years of Spanish Theatre
Saturday, Nov 15
12pm
Richard Klein Television: The Great Communicator
Saturday, Nov 15
12pm
Barnaby Rogerson The Last Crusaders
Saturday, Nov 15
12pm
Katie Hickman Travels with a Mexican Circus
Saturday, Nov 15
12pm
Diarmaid MacCulloch Silence in Christianity
Saturday, Nov 15
Claudia Roden Festival lunch
Saturday, Nov 15 12:30pm
Festival Title Sponsor
12pm
Lord Hennessy The Gibraltar Lecture: The State of the Nation – the Future of British Politics
Check website for details
Jonathan Fenby Panorama Series: The General: Charles de Gaulle and the France He Saved
Check website for details
Talk by Erica Wagner
Check website for details
www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
Festival Taster
Lord Carey
George Carey talks to Robin Gill Moral Dilemmas of the 21st Century Friday 14th November 2pm - 3pm King’s Chapel, £10 Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey talks about some of the major moral dilemmas of the 21st century including the current and controversial debate over assisted dying. It recently emerged that Carey was supporting moves to legalise assisted dying, in stark contrast to the official line of the Church of England and to his previous public statements. He now argues that upholding the sanctity of human life without regard to suffering caused in the process goes against the spirit of Christian teaching. In a recent article, he wrote: “The fact is that I have changed my mind. The old philosophical certainties have collapsed in the face of the reality of needless suffering.” Carey was born to a hospital porter in the East End of London and rose through the Church of England to become Archbishop of Canterbury between 1991 and 2002. During his time as archbishop, the Church of England ordained its first women priests and debate over attitudes to homosexuality grew more prominent. Carey remains a busy Christian minister and is still active in public life through his membership of the House of Lords. Carey will preach at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on the Sunday of the festival. Here Carey talks to Gibraltar resident Professor Robin Gill, emeritus professor of applied theology at the University of Kent, who has published widely on sociological theology, the sociological study of churches, Christian and religious ethics, and health care ethics. n
Kate Mosse (photo: Mark Rusher)
churchyard as the superstitious villagers gather on a night when it is thought the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year will be seen. But as all eyes are fixed on the church, a gloved hand picks up a flint and a woman lies dead. Suspicion falls on Constantia Gifford, 17, who lives with her father in a decaying house that is all that remains of Gifford’s once world-famous taxidermy museum. Is Constantia the victim of circumstances or are more sinister forces at work? And what secret lies at the heart of her father’s workshop? Mosse’s novels include the acclaimed international bestsellers, The Winter Ghosts, Citadel
More than 50 world-class International speakers will be in Gibraltar for the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival from 14 - 16th November
Kate Mosse talks to Paul Blezard The Taxidermist’s Daughter Saturday 15th November 4pm - 5pm John Mackintosh Hall Theatre, £10 International bestselling author Kate Mosse introduces her new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter. Set in Sussex in 1912, it opens in a
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AC Grayling
(photo: Mykel Nicolaou / Rex Features)
and Labyrinth. Her works have sold more than five million copies internationally in 42 languages. Labyrinth was named one of the top 25 books of the last 25 years by Waterstones and was turned into a four-hour mini television series by Ridley Scott. Mosse is co-founder and chair of the board of the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, previously the Orange Prize.
AC Grayling Kusuma Trust Lecture: Friendship Among Friends Sunday 16th November 10am - 11am The Convent, £10 Leading philosopher AC Grayling examines the nature of friendship and the significance it plays in our lives in the inaugural Kusuma Trust Philanthropy Lecture. Grayling reflects on the nature of friendship in ethical life and on the rich traditions of friendship in human life. In his new book, Friendship, Grayling examines the rich traditions of friendship in literature, culture, art and philosophy, lays out the major philosophical interpretations of friendship, and offers his own personal view of friendship based on his own experience. He looks at internet-based friendship, modern mixed-gender friendship, how friendships may supersede family relationships and at the universal value of friendship. Grayling is founder and master of New College of the Humanities, London. He has written and edited more than 30 books on philosophy and other subjects including The God Argument and Liberty in the Age of Terror. He is a regular contributor to radio and television including on the Radio 4 Today programme and BBC2’s Newsnight, and is a vice-president of the British Humanist Association and a patron of Dignity in Dying. The Kusuma Trust aims to facilitate and increase access to education and other life opportunities for children and young people, with a focus on the most economically disadvantaged. It helps them to realise their potential and break the inter-generational cycle of poverty. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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GLF Gib Mag 1710_Layout 1 17/10/2014 13:53 Page 1
THE
GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
THE GIBUNCO GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL 2014
FRIDAY 14th TO SUNDAY 16th NOVEMBER Speakers include: A.C. Grayling • Lord Carey • Kate Mosse • Jonathan Fenby • Kate Williams • Nick Rankin Lord Hennessy • Jonathan Aitkin • Tunku Varadarajan • Ada Parellada • Patti Boulaye Professor Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch • Melanie King • Jimmy Burns • John Julius Norwich Joanne Harris • Madhur Jaffrey • Jeremy Robson • Professor Martin Kemp • Alex Furest Dr Charles Powell • Sally Gardner • Dr Ross King • Professor Rafael Arenas • Ben Okri Steve Hogarth • Maureen Lipman • Harry Freedman • Jacqui Dankworth • Maggie Gee Nicholas Parsons • Beltran Domecq • William Chislett • Claudia Roden • Richard Klein Orchestra of St John’s • Prajwal Parajuly • Richard Garcia • Christopher Howse Françoise Atlan
www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
Festival Title Sponsor
The Festival is organised by
Dr Fitzpatrick: Health of the Nation words | Richard Cartwright
Approaching adolescence many of us haven’t a clue what to do with the rest of our lives when it comes to choosing a job or profession. In his first job, adopted Gibraltarian, GP Dr Bill Fitzpatrick reluctantly found himself looking after our well being and safety as he does today — working in the research laboratory at Dunlop tyres! “I just didn’t know what to do when I left school and landed that job in research with Dunlop. When my boss suggested I go to university, I took up his idea and went,” Bill recalls. “But unlike Gibraltar, grants weren’t paid for by the Government so I had to find the money.” Bill was raised on a farm in the Republic of Ireland and was one of a family of 10. He attended boarding school run by Christian Brothers who, like their colleagues on the Rock, weren’t at all hesitant to award you with a caning or three when being naughty, Bill painfully remembers. Bill’s dad couldn’t afford to pay for his studies so university fees had to come from somewhere else. Nevertheless he chose medicine — “I remember there were 150 students for just 30 places. They were vicious exams
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and tough competition but I got in” — and during the summer breaks he’d go off in search of funds by heading to London or the United States where he earned a fair amount of cash working in bars and restaurants and
“
Many don’t realise we’re very lucky in Gibraltar where everything is paid for
even in garbage collection. “Yes, I made quite a bit going off to the US every year which helped a lot. Later, Dr Fitzpatrick cleverly decided to join the army as a 2Lt and was able to continue his studies paid for by the army. Of course he also had to do his military training at Sandhurst and after qualifying as a fully fledged MD went to Norway, Denmark, Germany and other places as medical back-up on NATO exercises and postings. “I spent five years in the army and left in the late ’70s. “I was just drifting, I’d never been to Spain and found myself driving down to Gibraltar having to go the long way via Morocco — it was 1979 and the frontier had recently closed — experiencing completely different cultures. I’d met Dr Murcheson who was in charge of the health service on the Rock at the time
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and, although there was no job advertised, he asked me to stay and work here.” We inevitably have to say ‘the rest is history’ because Bill has been here ever since. The Health Centre — situated where the Square Cafe and other restaurants are today in Casemates — had opened in 1974 with limited planning and foresight Bill felt. “There were just about five or six doctors and the setup was not very organised in those early days. We’d work very long days in the daytime, coming in for evening clinics and house calls at night. I remember attending 27 call outs during the night on one occasion! There wasn’t an appointment system then, you just came in and waited your turn and with only six doctors at the clinic we would sometimes see up to 100 patients a day.” Nearly four decades later working as a GP in the now renamed PCC (Primary Care Centre) in the ICC, much has changed. Bill feels former health service administrator Gavin Jackson, in particular, was very instrumental in improving the service and says all local governments, too, have done their bit and more, to improve the system. Not an easy job, he confirms, but all administrations want to do all they can for the Health Service. “Gibraltar is no different to anywhere else. There are problems in every hospital but here you get to know about every little issue that arises. I know for a fact in Ireland you can easily wait for two years to be called for a scan and I’ve been told of six hour waits in an
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A&E department even in a city like Toronto in Canada! Our doctors go to the UK on courses for updates etc every year and I like going to South Africa for mine at no extra expense and in fact works out cheaper. “Many don’t realise we’re very lucky in Gibraltar where everything is paid for, especially when you consider you get the best treatment when sent abroad all paid for by the GHA. There’s nowhere like Gib for that. The cost per person as regards the health service must be the highest in the world and often the health service is taken for granted.” Dr Fitzpatrick prefers to work as a GP at the PCC as opposed to working in the hospital and likes the contact he has with his patients who he enjoys talking to. There are 16 doctors at the health centre now who see between 500 and 600 patients a day. Doctors also visit other institutions like
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When I arrived in the late ’70s there were 27,000 files at the health centre. There are now 47,000 patients on our records
KGV, Mount Alvernia, HM Prison — where Bill recalls attending during riots there quite a few years ago — St Bernadette’s, St Martin’s, The Jewish Home, The Cancer Relief Day Care Centre, the new elderly unit at the old St Bernard’s Hospital and, soon, to visit the Dementia Home at the former Naval Hospital. “When I arrived in the late ’70s there were 27,000 files at the health centre. There are now 47,000 patients on our records.” About concerns regarding files being misplaced Bill says he would like to see patients keep their own files and bring them when they come to see their GP. “We look after our driving licences, ID cards and passports so why wouldn’t we look after our medical files in the same way,” he suggests. He’s also of the opinion the PCC would be better situated at St Bernard’s where secondary care is at hand — an idea that’s been on the cards for a few years now and could be built in the outside area in the centre of Europort. 66 year old Dr Bill Fitzpatrick is no longer a full timer at the health centre but has no plans to leave the Rock. He doubts very much returning to Ireland. Gibraltar is his home now and here he’ll stay. He can normally be found in one of the clinics in the coloured areas at the centre in the ICC building most days of the week. “Yes, I retired last year in 2013. I’ve spent many happy years here and enjoy my work so I continue. I’m quite flexible and help where I can and most of all... the patients are nice!” n
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MICHELLE OLIVERA
Being The Best You Can Be “It isn’t a question of time, it is a question of timing,” a Management maxim personified in the diminutive figure of Michelle Olivera. While petite in statue, Michelle’s determination, control and strength in all senses of the words has already been an inspiration to many women locally and has led her to take up the challenge of competing at the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion show this November at the IndigO2 arena in London. 52
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“
Believe you can and you are halfway there — the body is capable of anything, it is your mind you need to convince Michelle Olivera is a multifaceted individual who proves that no one aspect should define a woman. She is a 34-year-old single mum and a Personal Assistant at Hassans International Law Firm. Enough to keep most women rushed off their feet, but Michelle has a passion for fitness which she describes as a ‘calling’. She has managed to overcome recent obstacles — the personal trauma of separation from her partner and moving with her now three-year-old daughter to a small room at her parents’ house — to find time for a gruelling fitness routine which has left her stronger both physically and emotionally. Quoting from the Rocky film she says “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
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While first-and-foremost Michelle asserts she is a mother, she believes being stronger physically and emotionally makes her better in all facets of her life. “Some pursue happiness whilst others create it and for me keeping fit is not only my me time, my outlet and my passion, it makes me happy and that is my main goal — life is too short to be anything but happy!” she states. She explains that when she separated from her partner she made a decision to become an inspiration for other single mums, mums and women in general — the message is: if Michelle, with all her time restraints and lifestyle challenges can find time for fitness, then so can you. Not only has Michelle found time to keep fit for life, she has found time to step up
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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
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her regime to become fit to compete at the biggest fitness show in Europe Michelle trains five times a week, once a week with her personal trainer, Stephen Evans at Rockfitness, and in the lead up to the competition she is consuming over 3000 carefully balanced calories per day as part of a high protein nutrition plan which includes complex carbohydrates and healthy fats, as well as intricate planning and dedication to the regime. “Believe you can and you are halfway there — the body is capable of anything, it is your mind you need to convince,” she smiles. “I have always sported a lean physique obtained through my dance and training but pregnancy left scars on me mentally and physically. Most mums go through ‘baby blues’ and become unhappy with themselves as did I. However, I decided not to be designed by my past or present situation and decided to do something for myself, something to make me happy.” The result of her perseverance is being ready to compete at ‘the most glamorous show in fitness’ — the WBFF European Pro Am 2014 Fitness and Fashion Weekend at IndigO2, London on Saturday 8th November 2014 — a show which brings together pro and amateur fitness models from around the world to compete in a spectacular night of fitness and fashion for the chance for amateurs to earn their Pro Card and
Pros to earn the WBFF European Pro Champion title. Michelle will be competing in the Amateur Diva Bikini Model Category live at the O2 venue — “It is a chance to show yourself to the best of your ability and open as many doors as possible,” she says. Rockfitness’s Stephen Evans is supporting Michelle in her quest for the best version of herself as possible for the event, and while she says taking part is an achievement in itself, she would of course also like to finish well placed in the rankings. “Not necessarily with the aim of winning a trophy, but as a stepping stone to turning a passion into a career,” she adds looking to the future but staying firmly rooted in the present by continuing “I am happy with where life is taking me and pretty much going with the flow.” One can’t help but think that Mi-
chelle would be equally mentally and physically equipped to swim against any current that tried to take her in a direction she didn’t want to go. “I believe being fit is far more than just looks,” she concludes. “It’s not just about the number of pounds you shed or how much bulk you can put on. Fitness is beyond the physical. It is a way of life. It shapes character, it cultivates discipline and it instils conscious living. It shows self-respect and dignity.” Certainly all qualities that Michelle Olivera has shown in spades. n Follow Michelle on her fitness journey: Facebook: facebook.com/MOTraining14 Twitter: @motraining14. If you wish to sponsor Michelle please contact her on motraining14@gmail.com. Tickets and information on the show at www. wbffshows.com
“It is a chance to show yourself to the best of your ability and open as many doors as possible” GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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Gibraltar
r u o All of s t c u d o r p y t u a e b S L S , l a r u t a n e r a . E E R F n e b a r a p and
160 Main Street, Gibraltar 路 Tel. +350 200 49504 FIND US ON FACEBOOK TWEET US
www.facebook.com/HollandandBarrettGibraltar @HBGibraltar
Gibraltar
Ten Things to Ask Your Cosmetic Surgeon If you are considering having a cosmetic surgery procedure, then it’s important to choose the right surgeon. Here are 10 questions you should ask in your consultation. 1. What are your Qualifications? Is the surgeon on a recognised register? Surgeons should be registered with their relevant medical councils – so for example surgeons may be registered with the UK General Medical Council’s Specialist Register for Plastic Surgeons and/or its equivalent in Spain. Dr Vricella at Aria Medical Group is registered in the UK, Gibraltar, Spain and Italy. 2. Do you specialise in Cosmetic Surgery or are you a general surgeon? Cosmetic Surgeons should be qualified and registered in Plastic Surgery – for example Aria’s Dr. Marco Vricella is a registered Specialist Plastic Surgeon. Legally any surgeon could perform cosmetic surgery, but without specialist expertise, the outcome could be very different. 3. Do you use a certified, registered anaesthetist? Ask about the team that will assist the surgeon. For example, the anaesthetist should be registered and certified and you should ask about their experience. Aria’s theatre team are world-class and are rigorously trained in cosmetic surgery. 4. Do you operate in a Clinic or Hospital? For the highest levels of safety, your surgeon should operate in a hospital registered with the local health authority. Aria Medical Group uses the luxurious and private High Care International Hospital (Where Dr. Vricella is Head of the Cosmetic Surgery Unit) with fully equipped theatre and 24 hour medical staff on duty. A clinic, however luxurious, often does not offer this level of care or safety. Ask about your accommodation if you need an overnight recovery stay. High Care offers luxurious private rooms with meals included and you can have a friend/family member stay overnight with you if you prefer.
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5. Do you personally offer Consultations? Aria Medical Group offers free consultations at College Clinic in Gibraltar with Dr. Marco Vricella, your Surgeon – not a Nurse or Patient Co-Ordinator – but instead the Doctor who will perform the procedure. A professional surgeon will always be honest about the potential risks, however small, and will give advice on how to minimise these through lifestyle changes before the operation. Make sure you have realistic expectations for the procedure. A cosmetic surgery procedure can achieve much, but results vary upon individuals; their age; and quality of skin; lifestyle; and more. 6. Do you offer Aftercare? Aria Medical Group offers unlimited free aftercare with all cosmetic procedures. In a few cases, revision surgery will be necessary, in which case you will need to go back to Theatre. Aria Medical Group includes this free of charge in its service. 7. What does the Price of the procedure include? This is one of the most popular considerations for most people when considering a cosmetic procedure and surgeon. The increased volume of operations has brought down the cost of surgery over the years, but there is still an element of ‘you get what you pay for’. Remember that your fee should have no hidden extras. At Aria Medical Group the fee includes everything – the time and expertise of the surgeon; the anaesthetist; the medical team; the operating theatre costs; the cost of implants if you are having breast augmentation; overnight stay, if needed with doctor on call; and aftercare. 8. Do you have any existing client testimonials? Find out about people who have had the operation you are considering. Most surgeons will have client case studies available to read or view online with ‘before and after’ photography – contact Aria for more information. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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9. Are you an established provider? Cosmetic surgery is now very popular and there are a number of medical groups across Europe offering procedures – some are very new. With Aria Medical Group you are assured to have the personal touch of an independent firm that has been established for many years. 10. Where are you based? The location of your surgeon is important. Having a cosmetic surgery procedure close to home has a number of benefits such as convenience; reduced travel before and after; and easier aftercare consultations.
For more information visit the website and book a free consultation. 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
Some of Aria’s most popular procedures: + Breast Augmentation
+ Face Lifts
+ Breast Uplift (Mastopexy)
+ Eye bag Removal (Blepharoplasty)
+ Breast Reduction
+ Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
+ Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
+ Cosmetic Dentistry
+ Liposuction Book your FREE consultation
FREE Aftercare
(+34) 951 276 748 in English (+34) 671 639 353 in English
(+34) 662 936 058 en Español When choosing your surgeon check their credentials. They should be registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC), the Spanish CGM and also on the UK Specialist Register of Plastic Surgeons (SRPC).
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health& fitness Chiropractic Health Clinic
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
Dr Steven J. Crump B.Sc, DC, MCC Open: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.30pm
Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries Tel: 200 44226
ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor, Casemates, Gibraltar Member of British Chiropractic Association
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC Member of the British Chiropractic Association
Back to better health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries. College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777
Unit F5, 1st Floor, ICC
CHEMISTS
Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989
PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists
38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi
Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
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
Isabella Jimenez Sports Therapist GST, BSc (Hons) Tel: + 350 54002226 Email: sportongib@gmail.com
STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS
health & medical directory
Zaneta Kwiecien Sport Rehabilitator GSR, BSc (Hons), OMT Medical Acupuncturist Tel: + 350 62967134 or + 34 665 684 738 Email: zaneta@sportongib.com
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777
Hypnotherapy
Rose Favell Central Clinic, Horse Barrack Lane. Tel: + 34 655 699 841 www.hypnotherapygibraltar.com
Health Clubs
Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa Tel: 200 48147 Ocean Village Health Club Tel: 200 44242
Health Stores Holland & Barrett 160 Main Street
HEARING CENTRE
Oigamas Hearing Centre Unit S3h 2nd Floor, ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 63644 Email: info@oigamas.com
Need somebody to talk to?
Opticians / Optometrists Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757 L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544
7 days a week 5pm-9pm
Primary Care Centre 2nd Floor International Commercial Centre Casemates
Weekend & Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance) Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm
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PERSONAL TRAINERS
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 Zaneta Kwiecien Sport Rehabilitator GSR, BSc (Hons), OMT Medical Acupuncturist Tel: + 350 62967134 Email: zaneta@sportongib.com
SPECIALISTS
Specialist Medical Clinic 1st Floor International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 49999 Dr Vricella, Cosmetic Surgeon College Clinic, Regal House Tel: + 34 951 276 748
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CANCER RESEARCH UK - WALK FOR LIFE Hundreds of Dedicated Runners and Casual Strollers alike, joined together in October to participate in The Gibraltar Walk For Life, in support of Cancer Research UK.
photo: Derek Booth
Starting from Grand Casemates, the route took them along Main Street to Trafalgar Cemetery, then down through Ragged Staff, along Queensway and back into Casemates. Notably, some participants did more than just the one lap. Well done to everyone who took part to raise awareness for this cause.
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Entries Invited for the 13TH Gibraltar International Dance Festival 2015
Gibrlatar Decorative & Fine Arts Society meeting Wednesday 19th November
HOCKNEY Peter Webb a long standing friend of David Hockney will be talking to DFAS members and visitors about England’s favourite artist, David Hockney.
Peter Webb is an art historian, writer and lecturer who published a biography of Hockney in 1989, based around interviews with many of Hockney’s friends and colleagues and on his own observation of Hockey’s art from close quarters.
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In his lecture Peter will give an insightful account of the way Hockney’s work has related to his life, especially during the 1960s and 1970s. It will also demonstrate how his more recent work has reflected his rich store of intellectual knowledge about the nature of art. DFAS meets at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel with complimentary drinks from 6.30pm, lecture starts at 7.30pm. You can join as a new member or renew your membership at the door. Guests welcome £10.00 for the evening.
Now in its 13th year, M.O. Productions is inviting entries for participation at the annual Gibraltar International Dance Festival. The Festival will take place at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre between 12th and 14th March 2015. The event is affiliated to the British Federation of Festivals and the Gibraltar National Dance Organisation. It is an event open for individuals, groups and academies with the opportunity of performing in various dance categories and styles. The competition is open to everyone, with interest already received by the organisers from various international countries. Commenting on the announcement, M.O. Productions Director Seamus Byrne said:
“We are pleased to announce the annual Gibraltar International Dance Festival is taking place in March 2015. The festival provides for local standards to increase and at the same time to raise our international profile. We hope that local dancers will make the most of an event which will act as a platform for future dance events both in Gibraltar and abroad.” Prizes include: M.O. Productions Bursary Award - £500 and Trophy Best Female Dancer of the Festival - £150 and Trophy Best Male Dancer of the Festival £150 and Trophy M.O. Productions Sussex Award —flight and accommodation to participate at the 2016 Sussex Festival of Song and Dance, in Brighton Best Choreographer Trophy Entry forms and conditions are available from local dance schools by email from mopro@gibtelecom. net or On Pointe Dance School at Casemates Square. Closing date for entries is Friday 16th January 2015. n
“We hope that local dancers will make the most of an event which will act as a platform for future dance events both in Gibraltar and abroad”
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The Gibraltar Honours Board is now receiving nominations for the Gibraltar Award New Year 2015 and for the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015. The Board would like to invite the public to forward nominations by Monday 10th November 2014 for consideration at the next board meeting. It is important that nominations for any awards are strong, with supporting information. Packs containing nomination forms and guidance notes are available from the Convent reception or electronically by e-mailing Enquiry. gibraltar@fco.gov.uk. In addition to the advice contained in the guidance notes, the Honours Board Secretary can offer general advice on the process (by e-mail on Enquiry. Gibraltar@fco.gov.uk or by calling the Convent on 200 45440). Useful information can also be found on the UK direct. gov.uk website (or “UK Honours System”). Nomination forms and Guidance can be downloaded from the Convent website – www. convent.gi. n
photo: Albrecht Schmidt
HONOURS Call for Nominations
Albert Hammond Songbook Tour 2014 To Close In Gibraltar After more than 40 years delivering hits across the world the singer/songwriter Albert Hammond has chosen Gibraltar to bring his Songbook Tour 2014 to a close on 7th and 8th November. Albert’s very successful tour has seen him perform all his much loved songs in 60 shows across eight countries including Germany and South Africa. The concert is promoted by Stage One and GibMedia and sponsored by the Government of Gibraltar. Following on from the Legends albums and LEA Award 2014 nomination in the category “The Best Club Tour 2013” at 70 Albert is still selling out shows across the world. Albert says he is delighted to be able to close the tour in his home town. Speaking from South Africa he said: “I’m coming home to the people I love and to the streets where I belong”. Albert Hammond has been writing hit songs for more than
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50 years and has had hit songs in every single decade since. Since Little Arrows in 1964 his songs have been responsible for more than 360 million records worldwide, including over 30 chart-topping hits. Albert achieved early success as an artist with his song It Never Rains in Southern California, and he has since built a multi-faceted career as an artist, songwriter and producer in both Englishspeaking and Latin markets. What sets Albert Hammond apart as a songwriter, earning him induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2008, is that he doesn’t just write hits — he writes classics. Included among his number 1 hits: When I Need You, Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy), One Moment in Time, and To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before. He and longtime writing
Since Little Arrows in 1964 his songs have been responsible for more than 360 million records worldwide
partner Mike Hazlewood co-wrote many of Albert’s hits, including the classic The Air that I Breathe. Albert also co-wrote multiple hits with Diane Warren, among them Chicago’s I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, Roy Orbison’s Careless Heart, Joe Cocker’s Don’t You Love Me Anymore and three-time hit Don’t Turn Around, recorded by Ace of Base, Neil Diamond and Aswad. Albert has also written hits with Hal David (99 Miles from L.A., To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before) and John Bettis (One Moment in Time, When You Tell Me That You Love Me, and The Carpenters’ hit I Need To Be In Love). You will be able to enjoy all these songs live in a show by Albert Hammond never before witnessed in Gibraltar. With an amazing light and sound set up and a band of talented musicians the Albert Hammond Songbook will take you on a unique journey through his musical career, reliving key moments in his life, sharing his inspiration for his songs in both English and Spanish and the stories that have helped him become the music legend he is today. n Tickets will be priced at £25, £30 and £35 and details on ticket sales will be released soon.
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connections
Sailing Boats & Rippling Seas
CLARICE CLIFF’S GIBRALTAR DESIGN words | Reg Reynolds
There is a website dedicated to Clarice and her works, and below a cheeky picture of her smiling brightly, it states: “Clarice Cliff is, today, regarded as one of the most influential ceramic artists of the 20th Century and her work is collected, valued and admired the World over”. Valued indeed, the Antique Trader Pottery and Porcelain Ceramics Price Guide for 2014 shows an eight-piece partial tea set ‘Fantastic Bizarre’ featuring scenes of Gibraltar with an asking price of $2,963 US (£1,844 at current rate). The set includes teapot, creamer, open sugar, two coffee cups, two tea cups with saucers and one dish. Importantly all the items are ‘backstamped’ for authenticity.
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The items are brightly coloured with a green and red Gibraltar fronted by blue seas and white sails with bright skies above. The Antique Price Guide also shows five conical sugar sifters with titles of Autumn Crocus, Rhodanthe, Aurea, Blue Flowers and Gibraltar. The Gibraltar scene is similar to the ones on the tea set. The asking price for all five sifters is $2,844 US (£1,770).
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Clarice Cliff was born in humble circumstances on 20th January, 1899 at Stoke-on-Trent and started work in ‘The Potteries’ aged 13. She moved to the A. J. Wilkinson potteries in 1916. There her talent and ambition were recognised and in 1927 she was given her own studio and launched her now famous ‘Bizarre’ wares. To quote from the website: “In 1928 Clarice created a pattern of Crocus flowers made from individual brush strokes, completely hand painted in bright colours. Orders came in thick and fast and in 1930 a separate decorating department was set up to meet demand. The vast majority of Clarice’s ‘Art Deco’ output was between 1927 and 1936. These years are commonly known, by collectors, as the ‘Bizarre’ years. After Bizarre, Clarice continued to produce many wares in her own unique style and to suit the current tastes of the nation and the worldwide export markets.” By 1929 her team of decorators numbered around 70, mostly women nicknamed the ‘Bizarre Girls’ but also four boys; they hand-painted the wares under Clarice’s direction. The Gibraltar pattern dates from the early 1930s so it can be assumed Clarice visited the Rock around that time, although it isn’t mentioned in her biography, Clarice Cliff (published 2009 A&C Black), by Lynn Knight. The book does record: “The summer of 1932 was particularly hot. Southern England
and London experienced a heat wave of unusual intensity that year, with London, especially, enjoying a succession of almost tropical nights... The temperature was such that the usual codes of dress were ‘considerably modified’: even the appearance of beach trousers on Oxford Street and ‘bright yellow pyjamas’ on Tottenham Court Road did not cause a riot [nor] even a shower of protesting letters to the newspapers. No wonder the ‘Bathing Belle’ was in demand, so too, was ‘Gibraltar’, a pattern whose sailing boats and shimmering seas offered an escape from the city.” In 1940 Clarice married her boss Colley Shorter. He had been a fan and supporter of her work since her early days as a designer. After a respectful interval from the death of his first wife he proposed to Clarice. The couple moved into Chetwynd House a large home in Staffordshire with stunning gardens. The couple’s factory continued to prosper, producing popular new lines and reproducing some of the old ones. Colley retired due to illness in 1961 and after his death in 1963 the business began to falter, partly due to stiffer competition. In 1964 Clarice sold the company to W. R. Midwinter Ltd. Pottery and retired to Chetwynd. In January and February of 1972 Clarice had an exhibition at the British Fair in Brighton and she provided comments in the catalogue. On 23rd October that year, she died of a heart attack aged 73. n
Adopt Don’t Buy
Give a Dog a Home If you are interested in adopting call the GSPCA on 540 19968 or 540 29927
Her talent and ambition were recognised and in 1927 she was given her own studio and launched her now famous ‘Bizarre’ wares
y
ACHT SCENE tar l Gibra SAILORS’ GUIDE • 2014
Yacht Scene 2015
get your copy now
£5.00
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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Yacht Scene • • Sailors’ Guide 20 4
Lo ca Tid l In fo e M Tab rmat arin les io a& •D n• Har istan Tidal bo ce Atl T ur as Pla able ns s
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That Nail Place Nail Extensions Gel - Acrylic - Fibreglass
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Airbrushing Nail Art Body Jewellery
Unit F22A 1st Floor, ICC. Tel: 200 73211
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GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830
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• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers
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266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757
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Gibraltar Taxi Association
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GUIDED ROCK TOURS 19 Waterport Wharf Main Office Tel: 20070052 Fax: 20076986 Radio service: 20070027
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Quality Kitchen Ware Gibraltar’s Best Stocked Cook Shop K5
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46 Irish Town Tel: 200 75188 Fax: 200 72653
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M5 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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Q5
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take-away or reserve a table
Tel: 200 46993 7 days 11am - 3pm, 6pm - late
Tel: 200 73786
184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun) Accountants Durante Carboni Jardim..............X3 ESV Hassan & Co........................ I4 Business/Financial Services AI Couriers..................................K3 Barclays...................................... M4 Jyske Bank.................................. L4 Sovereign Trust...........................N4 ITMS............................................ J9 Business Services Waste Management......................a6 Business Supplies Beacon Press...............................N6 Image Graphics...........................N3 Stitch Design................................P3
Queensway Quay (next to Waterfront)
Motoring & Car Sales A. M. Capurro & Sons Ltd ........ N6 Computers & Cableing Image Graphics........................... N3 Newton Systems.........................M5 PC Clinic..................................... U3 Fashion/Clothing Marble Arc....................................J4 Food & Drink Amin’s The Office....................... K5 Bridge Bar .................................. B5 Buddies Pasta Casa..................... Q4 Cafe Rojo.................................... K5 Café Solo..................................... G3 Casa Pepe.....................................Z6
K8 Z6
TASTY INDIAN CUISINE
Get Stuffed................................... A3 House of Sacarello........................L5 Just Desserts...................................I4 Lord Nelson................................. H2 The Lounge ..................................Z6 O’Reilly’s Irish Pub......................B5 Picadilly Gardens.......................... b4 Pick-a-Bite.....................................J6 Saccone & Speed...........................J4 Solo Express................................ H4 Star Bar........................................ K5 Verdi Verdi................................... H4 Waterfront.................................... Y7
Roots.............................................T4
Hair & Beauty Salons Claudia’s Clinic............................ K4 Joya’s Gents Hairdressers............ N2 Renaissance Beauty.......................J4
Legal Services Hassans........................................ Q6 Isolas.............................................E4
Jewellery Sales/Repair Essardas.........................................L4 Jewellery Repairs..........................L4 Matthew’s Jewellery......................I3 Radhika.........................................L4 Leisure Complete Fitness ������������������������� R3 Dolphin Safari ����������������������������� A3 Ocean Village Gym �������������������� C4 Atlantic Suites Gym & Spa...........J9
Medical / Health Bell Pharmacy..............................N3 Claudia’s Clinic............................K4 Dr. Crump, Steven, Chiropractor I4 Health Food Store........................O4 Louis Pharmacy...........................H4 McTimoney chiropractor.............L4 Sport-On - Sports Therapy...........K3 Steiner Chiropractor.....................K7 Pet Services / Supplies Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic..........H4 Property Sales / Estate Agents BFA..............................................G4 Chesterton....................................D5 Savills............................................J5 Solomon Levy .............................U3
O2
General Services Balloqui ......................................P4 LP Borge.................................... X3 Denville Designs........................M3 Greenarc..................................... X5 Larbi upholstery......................... R3 Shopping — General Image...........................................E6 Originarta ....................................)2 Recruitment RecruitGibraltar ������������������������ O6 SRG Europe.................................I3 Transport / Marine Services Gib Cargo................................... B8 Tarik Oil..................................... C8
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For info or to book a lesson
O2 Tel: Adam 58181000 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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Band in the Park photos: Derek Booth
The warm, sunshine of an October Saturday morning shone for the crowds who gathered in Commonwealth Park for a musical concert provided by the Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The programme ranged from stirring Military Marches to favourites from stage shows and the ’60s, including The Gibraltar National Anthem and an outstanding duet rendition of The Post Horn Gallop.
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events fashion
leisure & sport
HORTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Tel: 200 43134 Fax: 200 50648 Convent Gardens, Convent Garden Ramp
Retail& Activities
shopping & gifts
hair & beauty
lessons & tuition
GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830
• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers 266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757
travel & hotels
Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant
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• Aromatherapy • Sugar Waxing • Facials • Manicures • Pedicures • Reflexology • Luxury Organic 2hr face & body treatment Open: Mon-Fri 9.30-9 Sat 10-3
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Professional Spanish Teacher All levels, singles, groups or Skype Call Margaret Tel: 0034956173384 Mobile: 0034609717296 Email: margaretjf13@gmail.com
Tel: 200 73786
Protect Your Dog Against Fatal Summer Diseases Heartworm, Leishmaniosis, Tickborne Diseases Phone Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for details 200 77334 Emergency: 8977
photography
Archive editions of The Gibraltar Magazine now available online at www.thegibraltarmagazine.com GIBRALTAR MAGAziNE • NOVEMBER 2014 2014 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER
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Masters of Illusion 2014 Everyone’s Favourite Magic Christmas Show is back this December at the Ince’s Hall Theatre: Masters of Illusion returns for a 6th triumphant year. The all star cast is headlined for the 6th triumphant year by Las Vegas hit show Charlie Frye & Company. When it comes to combining world class juggling, sleight of hand, and physical comedy, no one does it better. Charlie Frye & Company are renowned throughout the world and this is
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their first ever show in Gibraltar helping build on the success of this magical event. Also starring this year: MANU Manu will take you back to the origins of magic, how did it all start? Showcasing some of the oldest illusions made famous by Harry Houdini and other historical magicians. YUNKE A magical innovator whose magic is full of mystery beauty and risk. He has performed in all five continents and appeared on TV shows across the world including A3s popular “El Hormiguerro”. His
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with new mind-blowing acts, he takes magic to new levels and audiences around the world have loved his act. You may have seen him at Masters of Ilusion last year and at the Family Pavilion at the ALEXANDER G A young magician with a very cre- fair. He can’t wait to be back and ative and different act. This year he we’re sure neither are you to see illusions. The team will be showhas been invited to Le plus cabaret him back! casing some new tricks which will du monde the most important blow your mind. FASTER THAN MAGIC variety in France TV. Our local illusionists, and organNUEL isers of this event, will also be A show for all the family with Nuel is back by popular demand taking to the stage with brand new profits donated to the GBC Open state-of-the art illusions are second to none: his magic is different: his working philosophy and approach to magic are unique.
Day. From 4th - 7th December at Ince’s Hall Theatre with matinees on 14th and 15th at 3pm. Tickets £12 on sale at Chique Boutique, Ocean Village. Experience the magic this December. n
75 Years for the Royal Gibraltar Regiment To mark the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment last month, a ceremonial parade headed from Grand Casemates Square, along Main Street to the Parliament Buildings, where Mayor of Gibraltar Adolfo Canepa OBE took the salute. Continuing along Main Street, the parade paid compliments at The Convent to His Excellency The Governor of Gibraltar. Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton KCB CBE KStJ ADC and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo QC. Led by The Regimental Band, the parade contingent was comprised of Regular and Reserve Infantry Companies, Artillery, Regimental Veterans and The Cadet Corps. photos: Derek Booth
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Happy Family, Positive Parents It seems parents in the 21st century are under more pressure than ever before and the stresses and strains of modern living are taking their toll on families and children’s behaviour. Positive Parenting’s six week courses are aimed at encouraging better behaviour through techniques that work well with all children. If you are hoping for a better-behaved, happy child and lessstressed life as a parent this course is probably just what you are looking for. Donna and Richard Abbott have been running the Positive Parenting course in Gibraltar for a few years now and the course is growing from strength to strength. “I initially became accredited to deliver the Time Out For Parents programme in 2010,” explains Richard. “The first course was
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facilitated in Gibraltar in 2010 to a group of parents who were predominantly from the Ministry of Defence Community. In 2013 we were approached by Connie Attwood from Childline Gibraltar and, with the support of my wife Donna, we have now run five Time Out For Parents courses.” Being parents themselves they
know it is not easy to find a balance between work and family life, but how did they get involved with Positive Parenting in the first place? “In the course of my work I come into contact with parents on a regular basis. It is one of the hardest yet most rewarding jobs that I have ever undertaken and
so when I was given the opportunity to become a facilitator of a programme where parents help parents I jumped at the opportunity,” he says. “Donna likewise had been working with parents in her role of delivering Baby Signing classes in Gibraltar.” The Positive Parenting Courses take place in the John Mack-
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intosh Hall and take six weeks from start to finish. The group meets once a week for an hour and a half, and the parents are presented with a certificate at the end of the course. How would Richard describe the course, what are its main objectives? “The course is run over six sessions. Each session has a different focus for example meeting children’s emotional needs, improving self-esteem, setting loving limits including behaviour management, keeping children safe from both physical and cyber dangers. The last session focuses on keeping sane as parents and discussing other parenting issues,” he elaborates. “The main objectives are to encourage and build confidence. The course helps parents to recognise the good and positive things they are already doing as parents and help them think about any changes they want to make. “The sessions are facilitated in a relaxed environment allowing parents time to think through ideas on parenting. We also hope that the parents can have some fun and even form new friendships or support networks,” he explains. The course gives a lot of information as well as practical guidelines for parents with young children and teenagers. Toddlers may need more physical help, but teens need a lot of attention as well, although it may not be always obvious. So who are the courses aimed at, and who would they recommend attend? “The generic Time Out For Parents course is primarily for parents of children from birth to 12 years. In the future we hope to diversify and offer courses for parents of children in the early years, teenagers and those with special educational needs,” they say. Every parent wants the best
for their children, but it may not be that simple to achieve. The majority of parents are now overwhelmed with work and just trying to find enough time to do all their chores in one day, especially when kids have a lot of activities in the afternoons. What are parents usually looking to gain when they make time to attend the course? “We have found from the courses so far that parents either want affirmation that their parenting is ‘good enough’ or they may be struggling with a certain aspect of parenting i.e. behavioural issues and would like the opportunity to discuss different strategies,” Donna replies. Being a parent is always challenging, they explain, and it forces you to try to improve yourself as a person, so you can provide a good example for your children. Parents should try to create a good relationship with their children and emphasise all the good things the child does. With the older kids the relationship between the child and the parent changes and the parent’s role is to listen to their child’s view, and try to negotiate solutions to problems together with the young person. Regardless of the age, it is important that parents avoid harsh punishments like smacking or shouting at the child. The most important advice you can get on the course, they say, is to have clear limits that are fair and age appropriate. To express your wishes in a way that shows you really mean what you say and stick to it later. What other skills can people learn at the workshops? “Parenting is possibly the hardest job that any of us will ever undertake! We find that talking about issues and sharing ideas greatly improves confidence. “The course will help you develop the parent-child relationship. You will be encouraged to develop skills to help your child
Time Out for Parents: The Primary Years - The Sessions Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6
What being a parent’s really like Children’s needs Feelings and listening Boundaries and parenting styles Keeping children safe Building strong families
For more info email: positive-parenting-gibraltar@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 54028331 or visit www.childline.gi
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Donna and Richard Abbott
Parents who attend the course are obviously very motivated to become better parents and to learn new skills to manage their family life become more emotionally secure and help raise their self-esteem. “Many parents find the session on behaviour management of interest as we provide a number of different strategies to consider,” Richard points out. Gibraltar is well known as a very safe place to bring up children. The environment is very child friendly and you can see children playing on the streets almost everywhere, which doesn’t happen in many other European cities. Are there any specific issues parents face in Gibraltar? “I think parents in Gibraltar experience the same issues that parents in many other countries encounter,” Donna says. “One issue that has been regularly discussed during the sessions however is the close involvement of extended families within the parenting process which can be both positive and negative,” they admit. Parents who attend the course are obviously very motivated to become better parents and to learn new skills to manage their family life. Do parents who attend the course reach their goals in improving their parenting skills and the relationship with
their children? “Using the data from the end of course questionnaire all parents who have attended the Time Out For Parents course in Gibraltar have reported an improvement in their relationship with their children as a result of attending the course,” Richard reveals. The Positive Parenting course currently takes place every six weeks, but there is more and more interest in learning about parenting. How do they see Positive Parenting developing in Gibraltar in the future? “Care for the Family charity in the UK is updating its material and naturally we want to remain at the cutting edge of Parenting initiatives. “We hope to offer the following Time Out For Parents courses in the near future: ‘The Early Years’, ‘The Primary Years’, ‘The Teenage Years’, ‘Children with Special Educational Needs’. “With the continued support of Childline, John Mackintosh Hall and the Bonita Trust we hope to be able to offer more specific courses in the future,” they conclude happily. n
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A QUIET VOICE THAT WOULD BE HEARD It is always interesting to read other people’s biographies, to get an insight into someone else’s family. When their story is told against the wider canvas of the community in which the person lives and works, it adds another dimension. which has been published to coincide with the Alwani anniversary, traces the difficulties that the Alwani family had to overcome. It has been written by Richard Garcia, who has a particular interest in Gibraltar’s social history. Both Ladharam’s voice, and Kishin’s after him, were quiet voices: they did not protest vociferously against the obstacles that were placed in their way by Colonial authorities and by their successors. In the end, both were successful, each in his own way, and achieved what they wanted. Ladharam Alwani managed to open an Indian bazaar, selling Oriental fancy goods - the only business that was allowed to Indians in Gibraltar by the authorities. He achieved this despite official antagonism. The Governor of Gibraltar, General Harington, in a despatch to London in 1938, said that because there were 26 Indian shops in Gibraltar in 1938 it had earned the nickname “Bombay Street”! The official position was to oppose any further Indian shops, and to contain the lines of goods that This photo of Galliano’s Bank shows the premises that became the home of Carlos, the Alwani flagship shop. It was thanks to Andres Galliano that the shop that is now known as Carlos was able to open, at a time when there was a shortage of business premises in Main Street
Practically nothing has hitherto been written about those Gibraltarians whose family roots lie in India. They do not figure in the books on the history of Gibraltar. And yet, there have been Indians in Gibraltar since the 1860s. The fact that the history of the Indian community is not known is, in part, what makes the story of the Alwani family in Gibraltar so interesting. Kishin Alwani is a successful Gibraltarian businessman, with Indian antecedents. His father, Ladharam Bassarmal Alwani, was the first member of his family to emigrate to Gibraltar, in January 1923 as a young man of 17. He came from Hyderabad, Sind in what is today Pakistan in search of a better life, and he carved one out for himself and his family. Carlos, the flagship store of the firm that today bears his name, L.B.Alwani Ltd, celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. But it was not easy to achieve what Ladharam did, nor to take the business in new dynamic ways, which his son Kishin ably did. The book A Quiet Voice That Would Be Heard,
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The first half of the book looks at the Indian community as a whole, and how they tried to combat colonial antipathy and restrictions
they were allowed to sell. This was sometimes taken to ridiculous extremes: Indian merchants could sell tooth brushes and razors, but not combs. They could sell ladies’ silk handkerchiefs, but not mens. They could not sell woollen goods, but they could sell cotton goods. Kishin Alwani was also hugely successful. Despite official attempts to limit his business to that of an Oriental bazaar, he branched out in a new direction selling electrical and electronic goods, becoming a major player in Gibraltar in this field. L.B.Alwani Ltd grew to become the Alwani Group. Then, in a completely new departure, Kishin Alwani decided that he wished to give something back to the community of Gibraltar at large, and he established the Alwani Trust and the Alwani Foundation, which have made substantial donations to a range of charities and individuals since 1996. Kishin joined the ranks of Gibraltar philanthropists. A Quiet Voice That Would Be Heard consists of two halves. The first part of the book tells the story of the arrival of the first Indian merchants from Hyderabad Sind, and how they were initially welcomed, and later - from 1900 — constrained. The way in which these British subjects were treated in British Gibraltar was patently discriminatory, from a modern standpoint. At the time, however, the Colonial officials thought they were acting in the best interests of the Fortress of Gibraltar, safeguarding it for the Empire. The measures that were gradually taken to restrict the business of the Indian traders changed, reflecting the circumstances of the day. This first half of the book looks at the In-
Mr Kishin Alwani, his late wife Mrs Rajni Alwani, and their son Raju Alwani standing at the entrance to Carlos GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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dian community as a whole, and how they tried to combat colonial antipathy and restrictions. The Indian traders were resilient, and they had good lawyers, Sergio Triay and Sam Benady. They were not prepared to take no for an answer. The fact that they - like Ladharam Alwani - managed to grow their businesses is indicative of a major trait that has made Gibraltar so successful over the years, despite adversity. The merchants found ways of achieving their aims, they were innovative and they were hard working. The second part of the book looks in greater detail at the Alwani family seen against the broader canvas of the Indian community. By concentrating on how the Alwani family reacted to attempts to contain their business, the story of the wider Indian community is also told. It took many years for the Indian community Main Street in 1950 shows the character of the street. Carlos is at left, under the Calpe Pharmacy sign to be officially integrated into Gibraltar and for Indians to be allowed to register as GibraltariThe third generation of Alwanis is now business has also played a wider role in the ans. The important thing is that it happened. It was a long fight. Back in September 1967, when poised to take a more active role. Kishin’s community serving a term as President of the the first referendum on Gibraltar’s future was son, Raju, in addition to his work in the family Rotary Club in Gibraltar. In this regard, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Kishin. held, Indians who were British and who had In his introduction to the book, the Chief resided in Gibraltar for many years - some for Minister notes that today we are justifiably well over 25 years - wanted to be allowed to proud of the diversity of our community, vote. They were denied the right: only persons which is marked by peace and harmony. The who were registered as Gibraltarians could book tells one part of the story that makes us vote, and Indians were not allowed to regissuch an example to the world. n ter. Indeed, had the Indian community been enfranchised, the Referendum result would A Quiet Voice That Would Be Heard is available from all have recorded even more votes in favour of bookshops in Gibraltar and from the Gibraltar Museum retaining ties with Britain! and the Gibraltar Heritage Trust shop, priced £17.
How the Alwani family reacted to attempts to contain their business, tells the story of the wider Indian community
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coffee time
by Alan Gravett
SUDOKU Just for fun!
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Jotting Pad Send completed crossword to: The Clipper, Irish Town, Gibraltar.
FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper
One entry per person. Closing date: 14th November Last month’s winner: Audrey Reading Sir W. Jackson Grove LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: School, Grumpy, Deplete, Ocean, Idyll, Extreme, Corpsdelite, Krishna, Older, Looms, Footpad, Broken, Stayer. Down: Saddie, Happy, Overlap, Roost, Maewest, Yonder, Sevendwarfs, Orinoco, Lookout, Skylab, Trader, Haste, Dopey.
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Across 1. In addition to (2,4) 4. Board game (5) 7. Chilled drink with, say, lemon (3,3) 8. Small carnivore; sneaky person (6) 9. Irritable feeling (4) 10. High point on, say, a mountain; high point in, say, a hierarchy (8) 12. Old fashioned means of copying what one was typing while was typing (6,5) 17. List of days and months etc. (8) 19. Smart; trendy (4) 20. From part of Scandinavia (6) 21. Delighted, (as Queen Victoria claimed not to be)! (6) 22. From that time; because (5) 23. Paved thoroughfare in many towns or, a particular town in Somerset (6) Down 1. Rigidly austere; person who abstains from personal pleasure (7) 2. Illiterate word for a greeting (7) 3. Property title which does not confer absolute ownership (9) 4. Not dirty; rinse etc. (5) 5. Very nature of (7) 6. You, and anyone else trying to complete this crossword! (6) 11. Weighty; worthy of consideration (9) 13. Wing flap on an aeroplane (7) 14. Image; work of art (7) 15. Old-fashioned word for an article of clothing 97) 16. Round pieces of baked dough often including currants (6) 18. Clamour (5) 21. One of the 8s (5)––
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GIANT BUDDHA RESTS ON ROCK OF GIBRALTAR words | Reg Reynolds
When the Chief Minister for the State of Andhra Pradesh, India saw the Statue of Liberty he decided he wanted something similar for his capital city Hyderabad. Ramao Rao, Chief Minister from 1983 to 1989, was already known for the many statues of historical and political figures he had contracted to be built in the country, when he visited New York in 1984. Upon seeing the ‘Lady Liberty’, which was undergoing restoration at the time, he is said to have remarked, “I want something like that...it would be my contribution to society”. Rama Rao chose Gautama Buddha *[See note] because, “He was a humanitarian who told the whole truth to the people”. The chosen site was to be the Rock of Gibraltar a tiny island in Lake Hassan Sagar at Hyderabad. The small rock jutting out of the lake is believed to have been named by British surveyors.
After a long search Rama Rao found a solid white granite rock on a mountainside 40 miles from Hyderabad. More than 200 artisans toiled for more than two years to complete the statue which is the largest ‘single stone’ Buddha statue in the world. Including the base it is 72 feet (22 metres) in height and weighs 450 tonnes. By comparison the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet high (93 metres) from ground level to the tip of the flame
Rama Rao was voted out before his Buddha could be transferred and installed on the rock and that process, although ultimately successful, resulted in tragedy
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on the torch. The largest Buddha statue in the world is the Spring Temple Buddha (erected 2008) at Hunan, China. It is made of copper, weighs 1,000 tonnes and, including the base, is 682 feet high (208 metres). Sadly Rama Rao was voted out before his Buddha could be transferred and installed on the rock and that process, although ultimately successful, resulted in tragedy.
In March 1990 the statue was hauled by lorry and trailer to the shore of Hassan Sagar. A company of men shifted the giant stone onto a barge but after travelling only a 100 metres it toppled over, crushing ten people to death before falling into the lake. The salvage operation took two years but finally on 1st December, 1992 a smiling Buddha was resting comfortably on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Dalai Lama consecrated the statue in 2006. n Note: *Gautama Buddha, popularly known as simply ‘Buddha’ was the wise man on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He was born in the foothills of the Himalayas and is believed to have taught in Eastern India in the fourth century BC.
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80th Anniversary of Alwani Group The Alwani Group celebrated its 80th Anniversary at a reception aboard Sunborn last month. The reception, attended by the Governor and the Chief Minister, also marked the launch by the Chairman of the Alwani Group, Kishin Alwani, of a commemorative
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book, A Quiet Voice That Would Be Heard written by Richard Garcia (see page 72). Kishin Alwani made cheque presentations to charities, with a total value of £20,000. In addition, artist Ambrosio Avellano received a cheque for £500. n
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What’s On: November 3rd to 4th November El Huesped de le Sevillana Presented by Santos Productions in collaboration with Ministry of Culture at 8pm, John Mackintosh Hall, Main Street. Tickets £5 on sale at the John Mackintosh Hall 10am-2pm. Maximum 10 tickets per person. 7th to 8th November Albert Hammond Songbook Tour Tickets £25, £30 or £35 can be purchased from dedicated ticket booths at John Mackintosh Square weekdays 12pm-6pm and Saturdays 10.30am-1.30pm or from www.atrapalo.com (online tickets cost €40 and are the £30 tickets). Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. For info contact: info@stageone.gi 9th November Remembrance Sunday Remembrance Sunday to include Gibraltar Ceremony of Remembrance held at The British War Memorial, Line Wall Road at noon. The Governor Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton will lead the service and, on his arrival, will read the Bidding. This is followed by the observance of the two minutes silence, the beginning and end of which is signalled by a saluting gun. The Last Post will be sounded, after which wreaths are laid, and a non-denominational service follows. The ceremony will conclude with the sounding of Reveille and the singing of the National Anthem. Medals and decorations may be worn with civilian dress by all those entitled to do so and relatives of the dead may also wear them. 11th November Armistice Day The eleventh hour (at 11am) of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice to signal the end of World War One “the War to end all Wars”, in 1918. As in previous years, the occasion will be commemorated with a short ceremony at the lobby of Parliament House. At this location, memorials are found commemorating the names of Gibraltarians who lost their lives in the Wars. The two-minute silence will be marked by the firing of a gun by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment at 11am. Buglers will then sound the Last Post and wreaths will be laid. 12th to 21st November 41st International Art Exhibition Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, Casemates
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Square
or visit www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com
14th to 16th November The Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival 2014 The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival takes place at different venues around Gibraltar (see page 47 for full schedule). An eclectic mix of authors, historians and literary critics will delight audiences with a varied and absorbing programme of lectures that delved into the most diverse range of cultural, literary and historical subjects.The eight selected venues will reverberate with excitement as audience participation, book-signings and book sales of participating authors from the erudite and scholarly to the accessible and popular. The festival’s range of content, efficient logistics and standards of hospitality impressed last year’s participants who are experienced veterans from some of the most prestigious and well established literary festivals in UK and the world. Minister for Tourism, Public Transport, Commercial Affairs and the Port Neil Costa MP, summed it all up at the end of 2013’s three intense days of cultural activity, borrowing a phrase from the Booker prize-winning novelist and poet Ben Okri regarding the festival, to state “It was a triumph.” For further details see pages 41-49
14th November Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Tour Plants for sustainable Mediterranean gardening —10.30am George Don Gates, The Alameda, Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Price: £5 adults, children free of charge. For further information Tel: 20041235 15th November Crafts and Collectors’ Fair St Andrew’s Church, Governor’s Parade 10am - 2pm. Lead soldiers, doll’s house items, silver, jewellery, books and puzzles, stamps and coins, Gibraltar memorabilia, antique and vintage items, retro and modern collectables, hand-crafted items and more… home-made cakes and refreshments in the lounge, free wifi with every coffee shop purchase. All proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund. Stalls £10 table and cloth provided. Enquiries please call 54023166 21st November Festival of Lights This year’s Festival of Lights 6pm at John Mackintosh Square. The events are being organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Gibraltar Electricity Authority (GEA).
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history revisited
HMS RODNEY HER MIGHTY GUNS & THE WALRUS
words | Reg Reynolds
My father served seven years, 1941 to 1948, in the Royal Canadian Navy. He took part in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily and was torpedoed and rescued after sailing from Gibraltar aboard the old merchant ship Clan McTaggart. He figured he had been around the world twice in that time but when I was a child he told me that one of the most impressive sights he witnessed was the battleship HMS Rodney firing her 16-inch guns. The occasion was Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa which began on 8th November, 1942. At the time it was the largest amphibious assault in history. The reason for the attack was to wrest control of the coast of North Africa from the Vichy French before it could fall into German hands. The three main objectives were Casablanca, Algiers and Oran. The commanding officer was General Dwight Eisenhower whose headquarters were housed in a Rock tunnel. A total of 107,000 Allied troops were landed, mostly American but also British (20,000) and Free French. The 700 naval and merchant ships taking part were American, British, Canadian, Australian and Dutch. Many of the Vichy French troops refused to
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fire on the Allies so casualties were relatively light with 479 allied troops killed and 720 wounded. The enemy, mostly Vichy French and some Germans, Moroccans and Algerians suffered 1,346 killed and 1,997 wounded.
Many of the Vichy French troops refused to fire on the Allies so casualties were relatively light with 479 allied troops killed and 720 wounded
There was some resistance at Oran where my dad, a gunner on an ALT (Assault Landing Craft) successfully landed troops on the beach. The Rodney was one of the warships covering the landings there. On the morning of 10th November *[See note], the Rodney began firing on Fort du Santon which was five miles (7.4 km) inland. Acting as eyes for Rodney was an amphibious airplane, a ‘shagboat’ nicknamed ‘The Walrus’ which radioed back information on where the shells were landing and any damage inflicted. Dad was busy cutting silk from a parachute to send home to his girlfriend when Rodney opened fire. The first mighty roars of the guns scared the daylights out of him.
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The awesome display of power with smoke and fire belching from Rodney’s nine 16-inch guns was like nothing he had ever seen before. Only two ships in the Royal Navy had 16-inch guns, the Rodney and her sister ship HMS Nelson. The guns of Fort Du Santon were soon silenced and the Walrus returned to the ship. Bill Myers, a spotter and mechanic on the Walrus, described the events on the website WW2 People’s War: “Our job was to take out Fort du Santon situated 1060 feet above sea level and manned with four 7.6 inch guns, which were menacing the approaches to the harbour and traversed the other way could menace American troops advancing from the west. It was a delicate operation because a few feet to high and our shells would be among the Americans. We launched the Walrus and then spent the morning flying over the area spotting for our guns. It had to be a steady approach, but eventually the Walrus returned to the ship — mission accomplished. “After lunch we were given new targets and the bombardment continued until late afternoon. Bombardment over we went out on the deck to have a look at the Walrus — what a sorry site it was. The blast from those 16-inch guns had caused havoc — fabric blown, streamlined wire broken, side windows shattered ribs broken. It was now getting dark — nothing could be done until the morning — or so I thought. To his surprise later in the night Myers and the pilot were called to the bridge and the Captain told them that a Vichy submarine was in the harbour and he wanted the Walrus to begin patrolling the harbour entrance at first light. Without hesitation the pilot Hooky Walter, turned to Myers and said, “Bill put the Walrus back together and I’ll fly it”. Myers worked through the night and the next morning the Walrus flew and kept the sub under surveillance until it was captured and taken in tow. All three landings of Operation Torch were successful and the American troops advanced east, where after some hard fought battles against Rommel’s Afrika Corp, they
eventually met up with General Montgomery’s British 8th Army. The Rodney returned to Gibraltar where she had been a familiar site for most of her 15 years of service. Previously she had taken part in the sinking of the Bismarck and she
Myers worked through the night and the next morning the Walrus flew and kept the sub under surveillance until it was captured and taken in tow
would go on to play an important role in the D-Day invasion. My dad also sailed to Gibraltar on the ancient Clan McTaggart. While at Gib the Lascar crew mutinied when they found out they were heading for Scotland rather than India. As a result the McTaggart was delayed in sailing and the old tramp steamer was a lone sitting duck when she was torpedoed by U-92 in the early morning of 16th November, 1942. The McTaggart was the last official casualty of Operation Torch. Fortunately the humanitarian U-boat captain gave the crew and Canadian commandoes 20 minutes to abandon ship before finishing the McTaggart off. There were four deaths, one Canadian and three Lascars. Dad and most of the others were rescued by the corvette HMS Coreopsis. *Note: Ironically HMS Rodney had been commissioned on 10th November, 1927. She was decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap on 26th March, 1948.
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Whoop! Whoop! It’s a hula hoop! words | Elena Scialtiel
Shake it like it’s 1958, ladies: the Southern Seas sandy beaches hula hoop fever sweeping across the Old Continent has returned to Gibraltar. Qualified instructor Justyna Żelazo launched Hoopers Rock last summer, holding a promotional introduction in the fresh grass of Commonwealth Park, and went on with regular meetings at Rosia Bay. Unfortunately, with the wintry rains approaching, she had to put her work on hold and search for a hall (‘preferably with high ceilings and mirrors’, she says) big enough to give room to all participants, not just around them, but also ‘skywards’, because an important part of hooping lies in tossing up and retrieving gracefully. However, this discipline is very different from gymnastics and surely less strict, so you don’t have to be fit and bendy to perform it. You do need to be supple around the midriff in order to learn the
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basic techniques, to avoid sprains and cramps, but anyone taking it slowly can eventually achieve the undulating moves of a Hawaiian hula dancer. Twirling is beneficial to gently strengthen the core, while massaging the tummy and, if
Hooping is not just about the waistline though: with a bit of practice you could twirl up to five hoops simultaneously around arms, legs, chest and neck!
doesn’t guarantee a washboard stomach in one easy step, surely it helps streamline and shape up the waist, improve posture and self-confidence. Hooping is not just about the waistline though: with a bit of practice you could twirl up to five hoops simultaneously around arms, legs, chest and neck! Justyna admits it isn’t easy, and she has managed only three so far, the easiest being of course around the wrist, which is where she starts absolute beginners from. The accent is not placed on competition, but rather on its health benefits, as Justyna explains: “Only a few minutes a day can help boost blood circulation, relaxation and concentration, while reducing stress levels and bloating. Hooping helps lift people out of
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Justyna teaching in Commonwealth Park
depression and find inner peace. A which made them uncomfortable the late ’50s. According to Justyna, recent study by the Albert Einstein to twirl on one’s haunches, until the urban legend says that a plastic College of Medicine in New York the true plastic revolution came in manufacturer’s warehouse was City suggested that hoop-dancing regularly can help increase intelligence and keep Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at bay.” Justyna’s classes focus on the social aspect too, because the exercise is so gentle that it won’t accelerate your heartbeat rate to the point you will no longer be able to indulge in small talk. One-hour long sessions include warm-up and dance sequences. She is looking into introducing children ones as soon as a venue is allocated, because it is a fun and constructive way for youngsters to familiarise with gentle exercise, as they can practise virtually anywhere, within a one-metre radium of obstacle-free space. Like the ball, the hoop has been used since the dawn of times as a toy and apparatus for female dancers to smooth their moves and to accompany their pirouettes on stage, since the circle was considered a symbol of femininity and gnosis. Evidence is indeed found in pottery, sculpture, bas-relief and epigraphy. In the late 19th Century and early 20th, children used to roll hoops in the street, driving them with sticks. Those were crafted out of wood with a rectangular section,
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left over-stocked with hundreds of brightly coloured three-metre long tubes with a tiny circular section from an order gone south, so management decided to seal them into a ring and market them as toys under a trade-name cleverly associated with the Hawaiian dance. Justyna says that the European hooping community is quite sizeable nowadays and conventions are held regularly, especially in Northern Europe, to provide workshops and to exchange ideas about ‘new tricks’. She came to Gibraltar from Poland last summer, chasing the sun: “My husband and I were looking for a warm place to live in and after extensive travelling we settled for Gibraltar, where English is spoken. We ruled out Australia and California — where hula hooping is a big thing — because of visas and work permits, but Gibraltar, being in the European Union like Poland, was mostly welcoming to us. Our daughters are in a local school now and are settling down well in the new academic year, with new friends.” And even if her English is not perfect, one thing is sure: the language of hooping is universal and it is spelt F-U-N. n For further information about classes, times and fees, contact Justyna on 54025484 or like her Facebook page Hoopers Rock.
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t Rose Lakhlie Nurse, GHA I would like to talk to our Chief Minister Picardo for an hour, about the great things he is doing in our community, about the elderly and how good the economy is doing in Gibraltar.
An Hour in Time compiled by Nina Sostaric
If you could spend an hour speaking to one person, living or dead, who would it be? We went out on the streets of Gibraltar to find out and here is what was said... pAkos Berkes Director, Bean & Gone Cafe If I could spend an hour talking to anyone, dead or living, I would talk to my grandparents about their life. When I was a kid I loved them so much, and they both died pretty early.
t Tanya Minter Police Constable If I could talk to anyone, dead or living, I would like to talk to my grandmother. It would be nice to to get a chance to talk to her, because she died when I was young. I would like to talk to her about my children, who she never got to meet.
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t Alexandra Berenda Customer Services Executive, Gala Interactive If I could talk to anyone, dead or living, for an hour, I would like to talk to Hitler. I would like to know the background of his actions. I wonder if his childhood was the reason for what he did in the Holocaust.
Luis Mascarenhas u Director, Luis Photos If I could choose to talk to anyone for an hour I would most definitely like to speak to our former Governor, Sir Adrian Johns, who was the best Governor of Gibraltar, in my opinion. He was always very down to earth and used to walk around without security. His wife was lovely as well, and cried when they left Gibraltar.
t Ferdaows Bouchekouf College Student If I could talk to anyone for an hour I would talk to my mum, because she is the only person that I trust.
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art for all
Wall Space for the Debutants Levy’s new angle on Morocco in 30 paintings
words | Elena Scialtiel
After a long string of exhibitions of new and classic artwork by famous local artists, the Fine Arts Gallery returns to its founders’ credo, offering a friendly wall to those art lovers who, after having been consumers for a long time, have finally decided to step through the looking glass and become producers of art, no matter how new, amateur and academically untrained to fine arts they are. Debutant painter Abraham Levy’s solo exhibition Memories of Morocco is by far the ideal candidate for this return to innocence, and the prologue of a potential success story. Abraham, mostly known on the art scene for his extensive model soldiers’ collection, took up canvas and brushes two years ago, when local art guru Mario Finlayson encouraged him to set aside one-bristled brushes and painstakingly painting pinhead-sized details like moustaches and buttons on his soldiers’ faces and uniforms, to test his skills on larger surfaces instead. “I am Pisces and they say that it is an artistic sign, so I thought: why not?” Abraham justifies his bold
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change of direction. He wasn’t sure he had it in him, but his interest for lifelike rendition, as well as his dwindling eyesight, made him welcome Mario’s suggestion and explore the new possibilities of bi-dimensionality. He didn’t take art lessons though, preserving the naive and spontaneous afflatus afforded by
his unmediated approach to reality and subject matters. He did some research about the use of brushes, which are “so many and so different from the one used for soldiers and dioramas, to make sure I had the right brush for every piece, palm leaves for example, or eyelashes in my portraits”. If texture isn’t Abraham’s forte
An art collector himself, proud owner of a couple of Jacobo Azagury works and some Miriam Parody-Porro, in his opinion the best Gibraltarian painter after the Serfaty sisters — and Mario Finayson of course
and his style forsakes the layered effect so popular with contemporary artwork elsewhere, the overall upshot is vibrant in colour. Dimension, perspective and foreshortening become loose and redundant concepts, converging to one centrepiece that may be a necklace, a window or a Berber family on camelback. There’s a lot going on in his still natures, which single out one item, like the curly red chilli pepper that almost tickles your eyes with its pointy realism and shiny finish. For his portraiture, he is happy to say he paints from photographs and claims to pay the most attention to shading, because “shades can change someone’s appearance
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art for all
drastically.” So far, he’s tested the waters with his family members, especially his grandchildren, as sitters. He professes himself a staunch admirer of Picasso’s first period as well as Van Gogh’s landscapes, which he wishes he could draw inspiration from in the future. “Abstract is not my thing,” he says about his pastiche Fire Horse, exhibited at last Spring’s Art Exhibition. He was told that abstract was the ‘new black’ in local art after the success of this particular style at last year’s International, so he worked on creating a horse face out of a whirl of red lines. It didn’t land him any commendation or prize, but made a point about his wishful attempt at deconstruction. In his unconventional subject matters, his genuine love for Morocco is palpable, especially for the Rif and its people, with their exotic outfits and intense eyes peering over bright veils or under their tatty straw hats. “I took photos of a young woman in traditional ceremonial attire, but she asked me to paint her with her veil on, to safeguard her modesty. And so I did, shifting my attention to her jewellery instead.” At his personal best as a landscapist, Abraham draws directly on canvas, with the lifeline of rubbing the pencil off in case the sketch ends up mismatching the one in his mind’s eye. He favours oils over acrylics, because they
give him more time to correct inevitable mistakes, and sometimes he takes a flight of fancy by applying it with spatulas: “The colour gets thicker and textured this way, but it makes the final product more expensive.” Most of his paintings are 50x70cm, framed in light wood. His early work was smaller, until he realised that size does matter in modern art. Abraham likes detail, one can gather from his figurines aligned on the shelves and the battle dioramas displayed on every suitable surface in his crammed office — and his pictures are no difference: “When I finish one, I leave it hanging around in front of me for weeks, so I can analyse it centimetre by centimetre and iron out all defects before it is ready to go public.” An art collector himself, proud owner of a couple of Jacobo Azagury works and some Miriam Parody-Porro, in his opinion the best Gibraltarian painter after the Serfaty sisters —and Mario Finayson of course — Abraham can count on some rare and antique pieces in his small but mighty army. But those are not for sale, because they are a piece of history, and his personal history. His artwork will be for sale at the Casemates Fine Art Gallery vernissage on 18th November: “I picked this date because it is my wife Annabella’s birthday.” n
He professes himself a staunch admirer of Picasso’s first period as well as Van Gogh’s landscapes, which he wishes he could draw inspiration from in the future
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93 Year Old Wing Walker on the Rock
Photos by Karon Yusifredo of the Gibraltar Digital Photography Club
93-year-old wing walker, daredevil grandad Tom Lackey, who flew around the Rock atop an aircraft in October explains why he is wingwalking at such a grand age: “When my wife Isabel passed away in 2000 I was devastated. I needed something to help cope with the grief. So, I told my daughter Anne I was going to learn to fly a plane. Her face was a picture! Undeterred, I started having lessons... I learnt how to do a loop-the-loop, then a barrel roll… Once I’d mastered those, the chief flight instructor suggested wing walking.... Wing walking makes me feel on top of the world!” It also made Miss Gibraltar feel on top of the world as she took up the challenge (below)
Thousand Million Melodies from Leo to his son words | Elena Scialtiel
Folk-punk singer songwriter and self-styled ‘poetician’ (witty portmanteau of poet and politician), iconic local character Leo Leo has released his third album Thousand Million Melodies. The EP contains six songs, mostly dedicated to his 19-year old son Sandro, off to Brighton to study music and perfect what his dad has achieved as a self-taught guitarist. Leo Leo, a.k.a. Leo Sanguinetti — but he is so nice he’s gotta be named twice — hopes he will one day return to live club gigs with Sandro’s accompaniment. He worries that his fingers are getting too ‘chubby’ to manage riffs and cords, and his voice too ‘smoky’ at times to get through an entire set. Leo jokes: “Often my voice overpowers the sound of the guitar, but that is OK, as the final effect is still good, it feels like I am getting away with murder!” Proud to be somewhat the black sheep of Gibraltar’s live music circuit, Leo hardly ever gets booked for live concerts, but he believes it’s about time he did again, particularly for ‘chillout’ kind of venues, since his songs are of the minstrel’s type, with beats that usually don’t make you dance or tap your feet, but with lyrics that carries a powerful message. With a dramatic graffiti-on-slate style cover art by avant-garde painter Lloyd Chapman, Thousand Million Melodies immediately attracts the listener’s attention for the variety of genres and topics it touches upon, albeit focusing on family and the ups and downs of everyday life. The title song is produced by Dennis Valerga
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photo: DM Parody (www.dotcom.gi)
photo: Paul Cosquieri
Leo Leo
and features a variety of instruments, mainly strings, to complement Leo’s husky voice. He describes it as ‘upbeat, à la Rolling Stone’. The rest of the album was digitally recorded by Leo in his home studio, using a computer programme. Maybe babe is about a sexy dance, Sixteen Candles wishes Sandro happy birthday, Sing Sing Hallelujah is a spinoff of Leonard Cohen’s hit — an over-covered original that Leo describes as ‘happy and positive, simple and repetitive and boring after a while’ — and All My Love is Leo’s favourite, once again dedicated to Sandro, dispensing practical advice for his adult life. “Sandro means the whole world to my wife and me,” Leo says proudly. “So I sing about being his best friend for as long as he needs me to, so ‘nobody or no one will drive you insane’. Melodies whirl in my head all the time and I am always composing. It’s a compulsion, if not an addiction,” he admits. One positive addition for Leo who has battled and overcome a more sombre habit: “I’ve been sober four years now,” he announces proudly. “Either you’re done with alcohol or alcohol is done with you. And now I am trying to cut down smoking, for my live performances’ sake.” The EP official launch at a local venue will also offer a second chance to his newly found
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fans to get acquainted with his previous work, Chronicles of the Heart, released when he was in his late thirties and, to his own admission, “Way handsomer!”, as well as At The Bottom Of My Soul, a 12-song score, flashy in Paul Cosquieri’s yellow cover art. Mr Unemployed, the single lifted from this second album, is a hit on You Tube, with over 21,000 viewings and counting. Shot on a beach on the background of the Rock and the sunset, it relies on Leo’s friend Jamie Chiappe’s collaboration in the technical and artistic department — and on vocals of course. Leo is proud that some of his songs are regularly played from antipodes to antipodes, in
Proud to be somewhat the black sheep of Gibraltar’s live music circuit, Leo hardly ever gets booked for live concerts, but he believes it’s about time he did again
Canada and New Zealand. He mentions two American radios, Radio Airplay and Radio Jangle, which air his songs amidst global hits by rock and pop superstars. Several of his hits are included in a compilation CD produced by www.3000records.com. Locally, he doesn’t get as much airtime as he does overseas, unfortunately, but he was invited to Ben Lynch’s popular TV show Sessions for GBC, and he’s sure he “aced it, playing good music and taking the opportunity to vent my political views”, as he says. Baker, architect, businessman, musician and environmentalist, Leo is in fact one of the fathers of National Day as we know it, and he proudly released the very first red and white balloons in 1992. He claims he helped word the self-determination declaration: “I am an indigenous of Gibraltar and hereby I reiterate my right to my Rock, my land and my self-determination.” Since then, National Day celebrations have grown “beyond his wildest dreams”, he says, although he supports a solution for the independence of Gibraltar that would probably raise one eyebrow or two in the current political climate. n Like Leo Sanguinetti’s page on Facebook for updates on his music or listen to it on iTunes and ReverbNation.
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appetite
e to wher drink eat & the on k Roc
restaurants
Café Solo
Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square. Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana
Cafe Rojo Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Brunch (10am-12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts. Lunch 12-3pm, dinner 7-10pm; dishes such as Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pastas or risottos such as Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry, Langoustine, Lime & Coconut; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese; and Creamy Mixed Seafood; and salads such as Warm Goats’ Cheese, Fresh Spinach & Chargrilled Aubergine; and Roast Duck, Chorizo & Pancetta Salad. Open: Tues - Fri 10am- late, Saturday lunch 12-3pm, afternoon drinks & desserts, dinner 7-10pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays. Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738
Casa Pepe
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. Casa Pepe, 18 Queensway Quay Marina, Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe@gmail.com. Visit: www.gibtour.com/casapepe.
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Nunos Italian
Nunos Italian Restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean, is popular with hotel guests, tourists and local residents. This 2 rosette rated, AA restaurant is renowned for its eclectic interior, intimate atmosphere and fine cuisine. Savour a wide selection of freshly prepared Italian delicacies, including bread, pasta, meat and fish, followed by delicious desserts. In the summer months, the hotel offers alfresco dining for private parties in the Garden Grill. Sitting nestled in the colonial garden you can enjoy a mouth-watering menu of charcoal-grilled meats and freshly prepared salads in candlelit surroundings. Open: Mon-Sun 1-3pm lunch, 7–11pm dinner Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay Tel: 200 76501 Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi
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
Sacarello Coffee Co
Located in a converted coffee warehouse, and famous for its great fresh ground coffee, homemade cakes/afternoon tea, plus full menu and excellent salad bar with quiche selection, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Holds popular art exhibitions with the Sacarello collection and guest artists. Very busy at office lunchtimes (1-2pm). Sacarello's is available for parties and functions in the evenings. Open: 9am-7.30pm Mondays - Fridays. 9am-3pm Saturdays Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625
Get Listed! Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar? Get your business listed here
CALL 200 77748 for details GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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food & drink
directory Get Listed! Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar? Get your business listed here
CALL 200 77748 for details 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 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 Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014
Mumbai Curry House Indian cuisine, eat-in/take-away, from snacks (samosas, bhajias, pakoras) to lamb, chicken and fish dishes such as korma, tikka masala, do piaza. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food. Outside catering for parties/meetings. Sunday Mumbai favourites such as Dosa & Choley Bhature. Open: 7 days a week 11am - 3pm, 6pm -late. Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 200 50022/33 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2014
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The Lounge
Stylish lounge and gastro bar on the quayside at Queensway Quay with very reasonable prices and food from 10am until late. Popular quiz on Sundays (from 7.30pm) and a relaxed friendly atmosphere... always plenty of people / yachties to chat to. Events (matches etc) covered on large TV. Great place to chill out. Open: 10am Mon - Sat until late and from 12pm on Sun (get there early for a seat for the quiz). The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118
Oasis Eatery
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 Relaxed bar restaurant located near to the Queen’s Hotel and Cable car, it has a cosy garden terrace, which is great for drinks, tapas and food al fresco. English breakfast, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, paella by pre-order, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or takeaway. Open: 6:30am till late. Piccadilly Gardens Rosia Road, Tel: 20075758
e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc
informal food Raj’s Curry House Raj’s tasty Indian cuisine is now available to eat in or take away, from his new fully refurbished premises in Queensway Quay next to the Waterfront. Serving authentic dishes such as Creamy Butter Chicken, Bhuna King Prawn or Chana Masala, and so much more. There is something available to suit all tastes. Pop in or telephone for food orders or table reservations. Open: food served 7 days 11am- 3pm, 6pm-late Raj’s Curry House Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 46993
Solo Express
Located 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 Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken and everything else you can think of! Try the quiches, tortillas and jackets spuds with all kinds of fillings. This little place gets busy with those popping out from the offices for lunch so get there early. Open: Monday - Saturday. The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321
Verdi Verdi All day coffee plus all homemade and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh baked bread and desserts. A selection of bagels (try the smoked salmon and cream cheese) and 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
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food & drink
directory 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
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
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 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288
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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 Visit: www.gibraltararms.com
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 Jury’s Café & Wine Bar
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
bars & pubs O’Reilly’s
Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef & Guinness pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all. O’Reilly’s Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888
Star Bar
Gibraltar’s oldest b a r, j u s t off Main St. Small cosy and famous for its full English breakfast from 7am (9am on Sunday). A full menu including fish & chips, until 10pm. The home of Star Coffee, draught beers include Heineken, Old Speckled Hen, Murphys and Strongbow cider. Managed by Hunter Twins from Stafford, England, also home to Med Golf & Tottenham Hotspur supporters club. 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
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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
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) Queensway Quay Marina, Tel: 200 61118
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
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 •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2014 2014 GIBRALTAR
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It’s all on the label or is it? WINE FRAUDS
guest columnist | Andrew Licudi (Peter Rodney is ill but will return next month)
Some time ago dining in one of my favourite restaurants, alas no longer with us, I mentioned to the owner that I was hosting a wine tasting for some friends (true) and did he have an empty bottle of something very special which I would subsequently fill with something less special! (not true). Of course I was joking as my wine group friends are not known for their humour! Nevertheless the owner winked at me and promptly appeared with a pristine but empty bottle of Chateau Petrus 1985. I thanked him but told him I dare not perpetrate this joke on my colleagues. He nevertheless insisted that I take this famous bottle which I declined but I was impressed with his honesty as we both knew the empty bottle could have been sold on the internet for a considerable sum potentially to reappear full of wine in some wine auction!
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Wine fraud, like in classical Rome, continues to be a major problem affecting famous auction houses such as Christies, Sotheby’s and others as criminals have moved into this lucrative market. The attraction for criminals is easy to see as many wines, affordable only a
few decades ago, can now fetch thousands of pounds per bottle. Increased demand for empty bottles of wines such as Petrus, Lafite etc. remains suspicious. In August of this year Rudy Kurniawan was sentenced to 10 years in jail for committing wine fraud only after he managed
to sell over £12m of wines to clients and auction houses. His downfall came when merchants became suspicious after he continually bought bad Burgundy vintages which no serious (and rich) collector would do. When police broke into his house they found a mini factory in his kitch-
As consumption of wine per capita continues to decrease worldwide wine producers are going through tough times. Only two regions have increased their area of vineyards in recent times, Champagne and Burgundy
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wine column en with false labels, corks etc. Mr Kurniwan’s modus operandi was to mix poor vintages with new wines in old bottles and re label with the sought after vintage. Many of his victims have never come forward and many believe that these fraudulent wines will gradually reappear on market once the hullabaluu dies down. As consumption of wine per capita continues to decrease worldwide wine producers are going through tough times. Only two regions have increased their area of vineyards in recent times, Champagne and Burgundy, as demand for these wines continues to increase unabated. In Jerez, Sherry producers are particularly affected as their wines are less fashionable than they once were which is a shame as sherry quality is generally extremely high and the only world class wines I know of which can be had for very modest prices. I admit to always having a bottle of fino or manzanilla (essentially the same wine except the former is aged in Jerez and the latter aged in the seaside town of Sanlucar a mere 20 minuted drive from Jerez) in the fridge. This allows me to have a glass or two with my meals without having to open a full bottle of red or white which I am obliged to finish! This month I have particularly enjoyed Fino Tio Pepe which is available locally and which is now regularly seen in more and more in tapas bars in UK hopefully heralding better times for sherry producers.
family’s vineyards and taking a very hands on approach to the business. At the time of her death in 1977 Lilly had managed to double sales to over 1 million bottles. Bollinger also forms part of one of the most enduring marketing partnership in cinematographic history. It all started when producer Albert Broccoli was looking for a wine to match Bond’s impeccable taste. After careful consideration, Bollinger was chosen as it was seen as one of the world’s great Champagnes. Bollinger first appeared in Live and Let Die but was to appear in ten other Bond movies. My favorite has to be in The World is not Enough when Bond and Electra share a bottle of Bollinger’s La Grande Annee 1990 in Electra’s palatial bedroom. Regretfully I am not reviewing the 1990 Grande Annee today but Bollinger’s more modest Special Cuvee non vintage. This non vintage is a blend of various years and should taste the same from year to year. In practice however there can be significant variations from bottle to bottle which makes it, in my opinion, all the more interesting! Bollinger NV Special Cuvee
Very evolved , toast, butter and green fruit all come to mind. Mouth filling, quite complex with a long lingering finish on the palate. Very good. Try this wine with classical smoked salmon or scrambled eggs. 7.5/10
Tio Pepe ( Non vintage) – Gonzales Byass
Very bright, dry, mouthfilling. Green apples with a slight salty background. Everything as you would hope for. Very, very good considering this is a volume produced wine. Will go with most foods —try it with preserved olives, boiled prawns or even chicken with fried rice. Serve it chilled of course. 8/10
This month I have also particularly enjoyed Bollinger NV (Non Vintage) Brut Champagne. The house of Bollinger is an independent champagne house dating back to 1829. It is not until Lilly Bollinger takes charge of the family business that the firm became what it is today. Over four decades, including the war years, Lilly could be seen daily on her bicycle inspecting the
Tues-Fri 10am - late Sat lunch 12pm-3pm Afternoon drinks & desserts Dinner 7pm-10pm Closed Sun & Mon
Madame Lilly Bollinger inspects the family’s vineyards
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d n u o r � ow� �
This page: Music Festival goers. Opposite: National Day fun! This page from top: Congratulations to Daniel Guerrero and Bonnie Rodriguez on their marriage! (photo: Nicky Sanchez) The Dignity At Work Team raising awareness at the Piazza. (photo: Derek Booth) The Prostate Cancer Support Group handing out leaflet to the public in the lead up to Movember this month. (photo: Derek Booth) HRH Prince Michael of Kent conducted a military working visit to Gibraltar during the Trafalgar Remembrance weekend. He is pictured here inspecting Royal Gibraltar Regiment troops. The Sea Scouts get scary for Halloween. (photo: Michelle Rugeroni) Opposite page: The Rock turns pink for Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar’s Pink Party. (photo: Michelle Rugeroni)
As we move into Movember it is time to start grooming those tashes again, gentlemen, to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer. Becoming a Mo Bro couldn’t be easier and not only will you raise money for a great cause you will look dapper in whiskers too! We have the fabulous Literary Festival coming up this month when dozens of international authors will descend upon the Rock to share their stories and insights with us. It really is a great three day event with something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Get your tickets early and buy some books. What could be better than curling up with a good read on a cosy winter’s evening? There will be an intimate night with Suspirium in concert at My Wines Gibraltar, Chatham Counterguard, at 9pm on 8th November. Tickets £5 each which include
Photos this page: a selection from the Three Kings Cavalcade
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a refreshing wine spritzer on arrival. Plenty of wine and food available on the night. Then on 15th November My Wines is holding a ’70s and ’80s Disco Night (also starting at 9pm), followed by a free ham tasting on 25th. Seating is limited so make a reservation! Also make sure you get your tickets for the Grand Charity Dinner Dance (in aid of Action4schools-Sierra Leone Water Well Apeal) with The Jukebox Band (Philip Valverde & Co) at the Calpe Rowing Club on 6th December. Tickets £45, per person, include fantastic three course meal, wine and free raffles. As great start to the festive season and a great way to raise money for a great cause. Before October was over the Christmas decoration were up and shops were stocking goodies, so the countdown to the festivities has begun. It certainly feels more like autumn now that the nights are darker despite the great temperatures. The festive calendar kicks off with the annual Convent Christmas Fair on Thursday 27th November from 12 noon until 7pm. The Fair will include over 40 stalls, many run by local charities. A superb range of items will be available including plants, Christmas cards, crafts, jewellery, cakes and many other fantastic Christmas gift ideas. There will be carol singing by St Bernard’s First School, a Christmas raffle, a Santa’s Grotto for the little ones, a cafe serving drinks, savoury snacks and cakes plus mince pies and mulled wine served later on. All of the proceeds of the Fair will be donated to the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society. So go along and get in the mood for Christmas! Entry is just £2 for adults and under 12s get in free free. Enjoy!
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Clubs & Activities Arts & Crafts Cross Stitch Club: John Mackintosh Hall, 1st Floor, Mon 6-8pm, fee £1. Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Association: Offers a variety of classes & workshops for children and adults Mon - Fri 3.30-7pm, Sat 2-3pm. For more info call Tel: 20073865. Knit and Natter Group: Tues 11am-3pm, Thurs 5.30-7.30pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balcony. Free to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865. The Arts Centre: Prince Edward’s Road, Art classes for children and adults. For more info call Tel: 200 79788. The Fine Arts Association Gallery: At Casemates. Open 10am-2pm, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, Sat 11am-1pm. The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society: Affiliated to UK NADFAS meets third Wed of month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK talk on Art etc. Contact: Chairman Claus Olesen 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros.com. Membership Ian Le Breton 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Board Games Calpe Chess Club & Junior Club: meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 5-7pm (junior chess) 8-11pm (Calpe Chess) on Tues. Entrance Free. The Gibraltar Scrabble Club: Meets on Tuesdays at 3pm. Tel: Vin 20073660 or Roy 20075995. All welcome. The Subbuteo Club: Meets in Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall. Dance Adult Dance Classes: Wed evenings at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Contact Dilip on 200 78714. Art in Movement: Classes for children Street Dance, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Pilates, Capoeira, Judo & Ju-jitsu. At Wellington Front from 4pm onwards. Tel: 54005785 or 54000027 or visit www. artinmovement.net Ballet, Modern Theatre, Contemporary & Hip Hop: Classes held weekly at Danza Academy. Training from 3 years to Adult Advanced. 68/2 Prince Edward’s Rd Tel: 54027111. DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing: Sessions at Central Hall Fri 8.30pm, beginners 8pm. Tel: 200 78901 or tony@gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome. Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing: Mon at Catholic Community Centre 8pm. Tel. Andrew 200 78901. Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre: Classes weekly at Urban Dance Studio, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta 54012212 or Jolene 54015125. Rockkickers Linedance Club: Governor’s Meadow 1st School. www.rockkickers.com Salsa Gibraltar Salsa: Classes on Tues at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. Beginners 7-8.30pm. Intermediates 8.30-10pm. Tel: Mike 54472000 or info@ salsagibraltar.com Zumba Classes at Urban Dance: Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Tel: 20063959 or 54012212 or Twitter: @UrbanDanceGib History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust: Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844. The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association: Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643. Garrison Library Tours: at 11am on Fri, duration 1h 50mins. Tel: 20077418. History Alive: Historical re-enactment parade. Main Street up to Casemates Square every Sat at 12 noon. Music Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir: Rehearses at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Tel: 54831000. The Calpe Band: Mon & Wed. For musicians of brass/woodwind instruments of all standards/ages/abilities 7-9pm. Tel: 54017070 or thecalpebnd@gmail.com Jazz Nights: Thurs at 8pm at O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Tel: 200 70500.
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Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: Exciting self-development programme for young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road. Tel: 200 59818. Quizzes The Lounge: Friendly quiz on Sun from 8pm on quayside at Queensway Quay. The Clipper: Quiz nights on Tues at 8pm. Social Clubs Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes: (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Mon/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, Wed (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Wed (fortnightly) 7pm. Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm. www. raob.org Special Interest Clubs & Societies Creative Writers Group: Meets Tues at Eliott Hotel bar at 8pm, aimed at learning to write fiction/non-fiction, for pleasure or publication. Tel: Carla 54006696. Gibraltar Book Club: For info Tel: Parissa 54022808. Gibraltar Horticultural Society: meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, J.M. Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome. Gibraltar Philosophical Society: devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Tel: 54008426 or gibphilosophy@ live.co.uk Gibraltar Photographic Society: Meets on Mon at 7.30pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc. Harley Davidson Owners’ Club: www.hdcgib.com Lions Club of Gibraltar: Meets 2nd and 4th Wed of the month at 50 Line Wall Road. www.lionsclubofgibraltar.com St John’s Ambulance: Adult Volunteers Training Sessions from 8-10pm on Tues. Tel: 200 77390 or training@stjohn.gi The Royal British Legion: For info or membership contact the Branch Secretary 20074604 or write to PO Box 332, Gibraltar. UN Association of Gibraltar: PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108. Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club: Meets at Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check game is televised. Great food for a lunch if KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. Tel: 56280000. Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club: Meets match days upstairs at Time Out Café, Eurotowers. Gooners of all ages welcome. For info/news visit www. GibGooners.com Tel: 54010681 (Bill) or 54164000 (John). Gibraltar Hammers: Meets on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661. Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions through year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium. Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to BWF& BE) junior club/tournaments, senior leagues/ recreational. Visit www.badmintongibraltar. com for info.
Ballet Barre Fitness: Adults on Wed 10am & Fri 6pm at The Arts Centre. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727. Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory. Tel: 56382000 or 20042788. Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls and boys of all ages. Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop at Victoria Stadium. Recreational / competitive levels. Tel: 58008338. Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Arturo 54025033. Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs International & Domestic Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ & Girls’ cricketleague & cup competitions and in-school coaching. www.gibraltarcricket.com, info@ gibcricket.com, Twitter: @Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359. Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (full member of WDF & affiliate of BDO) We cater for men, ladies & youth who take part in leagues, competitions and a youth academy for development of the sport. Tel: 54027171, 54014547, 54021672, and 54022622 or info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association - leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 20042941 www.gibraltarfa.com Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): Males any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitive sport. Training every Wed on the MOD pitch on Devil’s Tower Road at 7pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Visit www.gibraltargaels.com or secretary. gibraltar.europe@gaa.ie Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/training for adults/juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730 for info. Iaido: teaches the Japanese sword (Katana), classes every week. www. iaidogibraltar.com Iwa Dojo, Kendo & Jujitsu: Classes every week, for kids/adults. Tel: 54529000 www. iwadojo.com or dbocarisa@iwadojo.com Judo and Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Budokai Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 20043319. Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion. Tel: 54011007. Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association - Karate training for junior & seniors at Clubhouse, 41H Town Range. Tel: 57479000. Karate: Shotokan karate midday Mon beginners, other students 8.30pm. Thurs 8.30pm. In town at temporary dojo or privately by arrangement. Contact Frankie 54038127 or info@fhmedia.co.uk. Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211. Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior/junior leagues. Tel: 20041874. Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association. New members welcome. Tel: 54002652. Pilates: Intermediate Pilates: Tues & Fri 9.30am, beginners Pilates: Fri 10.50am at the Shotokai Centre, 41H Town Range. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Gibraltar Pool Association: (Member of the EBA) home and away league played on Thurs through out the season, various tournaments played on a yearly basis both nationally and internationally, Tel: 56925000 gibpool@gibtelecom.net, www.gib8ball.com Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards, weekday evenings. Tel: 56000772 or Sally 200 74661. Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union
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training for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division. Tel: 200 72185. Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club at 200 78897. Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation. Rifle, Europa Point Range (Stephanie 54020760); Clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Louis 54095000). Snooker: Members of European Billiards & Snooker Association - facilities at Jumpers Bastion with 3 tables. Professional coaching for juniors/seniors. Organised leagues/tournaments and participation in international competitions. Tel: 56262000 / 54000068, or info@gibraltarsnooker.com Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult and junior tournaments and coaching. Tel: 200 44922. Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Noah’s Dive Club and 888s Dive Club. Tel: 54991000. Commercial sports diving schools available. Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo. Pool open Mon&Thurs: 7–10am, 12.30–4pm. Tue, Wed, Fri: 7–10am, 12:30–5pm. Sat: 3–5pm. Sun: closed. Mon to Fri from 5-6pm groups training. 6-7.30 squad training. Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30-8.30 swimming joggers, Tues & Thurs 7:30-8:30 junior Water polo. Mon, Tues & Thurs 8:30-10pm Adult water polo. Tel: 200 72869. Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association training and playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Tel: 56070000 or 20060720. Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: Mari 20044142 or www.gibraltartaekwondo.org Tai Chi: Tai Chi for children and adults. Mon-Thur 6.30-8pm at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre and Sat 9am-1pm at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range. Tel: Dilip 200 78714. Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club. Junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues and competitions. Tel: Louis 200 77035. Ten-Pin Bowling: At King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day. Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Tel: 200 52442. Triathlon: Hercules Triathlon Club organises swimming, running and cycling training sessions and competes regularly in Andalucia and Internationally. Contact chris.walker@york.gi or Facebook “Hercules Triathlon Club” Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association training, indoor leagues, beach volleyball competition, 3 v 3 competition, juniors and seniors. Tel: 54001973 or 54885000. Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome. Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association: Meet at Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street. Tel: 20042237. Trafalgar Theatre Group: Meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.
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photo call
Support Groups ADHD & Learning Difficulties (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Meetings at Fellowship Bookshop Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Road. Coffee, chat, books and resources on display. Tel: 54027551 or 54014476. Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774. A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church. Mummy & Me Breastfeeding Support Group those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat / support. Partners and older children welcome. Meets 1st Wed / month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm. Enquiries and support 54014517. Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 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. Free, confidential, impartial. COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease challenges of individuals, families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 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 grandchildren. Tel: 200 46536, 200 76618, or 54019602. Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623. SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, a UK charity, to assist serving and ex-Service 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).
Gibraltar Day in London Mass
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photos taken at the special Mass held as part of the Gibraltar Day in London events photos: Mike Brufal
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information 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.
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.
Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain. Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices. Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking. Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction). 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 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 2014 Gibraltar & United Kingdom New Year’s Day Wed 1 January Commonwealth Day* Mon 10 March Good Friday Fri 18 April Easter Monday Mon 21 April Worker’s Memorial Day Mon 28 April May Day Thurs 1 May Spring Bank Holiday Mon 26 May Queen’s Birthday Mon 16 June Late Summer Bank Holiday Mon 25 August Gibraltar National Day* Wed 10 September Christmas Day Thurs 25 December Boxing Day Fri 26 December *Gibraltar only
Gibraltar Postcode - GX11 1AA 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
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Emergency Services 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.
Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance ���������������������������������� Tel: 190 Police ������������������������������������������� Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number Tel: 112 Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station Tel: 200 75728 Police........................................ Tel: 200 72500 Emergency Nos: .............Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598
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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