The Gibraltar Magazine, November 08

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

gibraltar the

magazine November 2008 Vol. 14 No. 01 FREE

Rosie Peach of Politics

Lady Spy with the Loose Lips

The Mutiny Fiasco

Business & Finance Issue

Going for Gold Innovation is Key

2008november.indd 1

Debunking the Myths: QROPS

and much more...

23/10/08 09:24:34

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2007

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21/5/08 14:12:17

Gib r a lta r A s s e t M a n agemen t L imi t ed S T O C K B R O K E R S

&

I N V E S T M E N T

M A N A G E R S

Gibraltar’s Member Firm of the London Stock Exchange www.gam.gi Telephone: +350 20075181 G I B R A LTA R A S S E T M A N AG E M E N T L I M I T E D , O N E I R I S H P L AC E , G I B R A LTA R AU T H O R I S E D A N D R E G U L AT E D B Y T H E F I N A N C I A L S E R V I C E S C O M M I S S I O N 30/04/2008

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

g

ibraltar magazine the

November 2008 Vol. 14 No. 01 FREE

Rosie Peach of Politics

Lady Spy with the Loose Lips

The Mutiny Fiasco

features 44 Rosie Peach of Politics € 56 Gunner Strange became

Business & Finance Issue

Going for Gold Innovation is Key

Debunking the Myths: QROPS

and much more...

cover photo: by Prem Mahtani Volume 14, Number 01 November 2008 The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Limited, PO Box 561, PMB 6377 Gibraltar Tel or fax (+350) 200 77748 E-mail: gibmag@gibraltar.gi www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Editor: Andrea Morton Copyright © 2008 by Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved.

No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine.

Subscriptions £35.00 per year.

Cheques, money orders or banker’s drafts should be made payable to: Guide Line Promotions Ltd and must be payable in Pounds Sterling.

60 66 68 78 82 84 92

Canadian Hero Wasted!

Behind the Scenes: MV Fedra Going Back to Our Roots Sam Abudarham: Speaking out The Lady Spy with the Loose Lips U-Boat’s 1st & Last Patrol The Royal Oak Mutiny

leisure & activites 64 Surianne € 72 Making a Difference 75 British Forces Open Day 76 Shopping & Beauty 77 Charity Christmas Concert 81 Leisure & Tuition 89 Calendar of Events 110 Clubs & Activities Guide regulars 70 Health & Medical Directory 74 Prize Puzzle 86 Gibraltar’s Wild Flowers € 108 Around Town information 58-59 City Centre Map 114 Gibraltar Information

PointONE adds “Hot Desks” for Companies on the Grow

Three months ago PointONE launched in Watergardens offering serviced offices and meeting rooms on a temporary basis (day, week or month) complete with all the amenities and services of a well-managed professional office.

The young business has enjoyed a very strong response from new businesses locating to Gib as well as from established business in need of rooms for meetings and training. Occupancy of the 7 serviced offices and 4 meeting rooms has been high.

Justine Grimwood, Managing Director of PointONE, felt however that there was still another need that could be addressed some professionals and companies need additional workstations but do not necessarily require the privacy of an enclosed office. “We had received several inquiries from professionals looking for a temporary workstation for themselves or new staff members but, due to the nature of the work being done, did not require a private office and would also prefer a lower cost option.” Justine responded quickly with the addition of a new Hot Desk area at PointONE. “Hot Desk” refers to an area of 6 workstations which can be booked

individually or as a group for as little as £70 per day. Each Hot Desk workstation come complete with multiple power-points (for laptop, mobile, Blackberry, etc), encrypted WiFi Internet access, access to common printing and faxing facilities and unlimited coffee or tea. Justine adds, “What is also offered, and is important, is the professional work environment that the Hot Desks are offered within. We have professional receptionists to receive your calls, a clean well-light work environment, and all of the support hardware one might need - all of which leads to a level of productivity unmatched by working from a hotel room. At £70 per day, this is an excellent new option for business people or new staff not yet accommodated in permanent offices.”

“We aim to address the needs of the growing business community in Gibraltar with flexible and economical solutions”, states Justine Grimwood. We think she is off to a great start.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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business & finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 Scholarship Awards 10 The Business Centre 12 So You Thing You Might Like

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 27 28 30 34 35 40 42 46 48 50 52

to Live/Work in Gibraltar?

Surviving the Credit Crunch Finance: Looking forward € The Future of Regulation Personal Financial Planning Investment: Going for gold Interview: Innovation is key Leeds Celebrates Local Presence, Global Impact Debunking the Myths: QROPS Insurance: Plain sailing with Trafalgar Gibraltar Welcomes Personal Pensions IT: Finding the facts Gibraltar Businesses Invest in People What Makes an Entrepreneur?

Writing Your CV SG Hambros Celebrates Eurolinx: More than insured First Aid for the Workplace

food & drink 96-107 Wining & Dining on the Rock 96 Herbs & Spices 98 Soup Kitchen € 102 Wine Column 107 Cafe Rojo

NEW TO POINTONE

HOT DESKS Tired of working in noisy cafes with WiFi but no power point?

For anyone who needs a temporary or short-term work base, our hot desks provide you with instant access to a working environment, with no longterm commitment.

Why not take advantage of our hot desking services in a fully air-conditioned, marina facing environment.

Why not plan ahead, book a set number of days per month and receive discounted rates on additional services.

For more info please contact: Justine Grimwood Director

• A workstation where you can place your laptop and charger (we also have desktops for hire) • Multiple power points for your laptop, blackberry and mobile • Free encrypted WiFi internet access • Access to our printing and fax services • Unlimited tea, coffee and cold drinks and all for £70 per day

PointONE Ltd 10-12 Watergardens Gibraltar Tel: 00350 200 48543 Fax: 00350 200 48547 Mobile: 00350 200 58008343 info@pointone.gi www.pointone.gi

23/10/08 11:38:51

finance

financial services MASBRO

M

MASBRO INSURANCE BROKERS

G.A. OLIVERA & CO. Accountants & Auditors

Associated with RSM Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants

Suite 1B, 116 Main Street, Gibraltar PO Box 856, Gibraltar Tel: 200 77122 Fax: 200 40274 E-mail: olivera@gibtelecom.net

We offer full insurance with annual green cards on UK registered motor cars Suite 1A, 143 Main Street, PO Box 502, Tel: 200 76434 Fax: 200 76741

E.S.V. Hassan & Co

Financial Services Commission licence no. FSC 00026B

THE GIBRALTAR FINANCIAL SERVICES HANDBOOK Information on the Rock’s off-shore advantages in Taxation, Law, Banking, Company & Trust Formation, Insurance, Business, Property and Financial Services.

Comprehensive A-Z Index for the visiting professional or businessman and the discerning investor.

Detailed appendices on relevant Gibraltar Government legislation.

On sale at bookshops and newsagents in Gibraltar at £15.

Worldwide airmail order service at £25 sterling or equivalent from GFSH, PO Box 555, Gibraltar.

Tel: +350 200 76173 E-mail: gib@SovereignGroup.com

Chartered Certified Accountants

P.O. Box 230 Suite 4, 9th Floor International Commercial Centre Casemates, Gibraltar Tel: 200 71610 Fax: 200 70113

Specialists in Document Imaging and Filing Systems, Microfilm Bureau Services, Information Management and Consultancy, CD-ROM Titles, Computer Hardware & Software

Dealers for 1st Floor, Unit F4, Europa Business Centre Tel: 200 42723 Fax: 200 40612

WATERCOOLERS

business services

Machines, Mineral Water, Cups & Filter Systems

Computer / network giving you a headache?

Call us for a swift, reliable cure.

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

✆ mobile: 58365000 business supplies

COURIERS LTD

INTERNATIONAL

D INTERNATIONAL A ARCHITECTURAL T A & ENGINEERING T BUREAU E C 1/9 Montagu Place, Ocean Heights, L Tel: 200 74656 Fax: 200 78562 T Email: datatec@gibraltar.gi D

General Agents for

accountants

Durante Carboni Jardim Accountants & Auditors

Suite 1 & 2, Newton House, 5 King’s Yard Lane, Gibraltar Tel: 200 79033/200 70762 Fax: 200 76374

WORLDWIDE DISPATCHES

business openings

legal services Leading suppliers of general and computer stationery and office products in Gibraltar OPENING HOURS

11 Engineer Lane, PO Box 532, Gibraltar Tel: 200 73775 / 200 48622 Fax: 200 74389 / 200 48623

www.glasshouse-europe.com

MONDAY to THURSDAY

9.30am to 6.00pm FRIDAY 9.30am to 5.00pm

5 CLOISTER RAMP, GIBRALTAR Tel: 200 74352 Fax: 200 40304 e-mail: sales@beaconpress.gi

Barristers & Acting Solicitors Notary Public Commissioner for Oaths 1st Floor Suites, 39 Irish Town Tel: 200 72150 Fax: 200 74986 Email: attlev@gibraltar.gi Website: www.attiaslevy.gi

English, Gibraltar & Spanish Wills • Estate Planning Services • Applications for Grants of Probate & Letters of Administration • Adminstration of Estates • Executor Services • Inheritance Tax Planning Chris Keightley-Pugh, Storm Services Limited PO Box 1494 Suite 3F Eurolife Building, 1 Corral Road, Gibraltar Email: stormservices@yahoo.co.uk Tel + 34 956687065 Fax: + 34 956687425

Budhrani & Co. Barristers & Solicitors

Suite 1, 62 Main Street Gibraltar The Gibraltar Magazine Business & Finance special issue - every November Tel: 200 77748 for advertising details

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Tel: 200 73521 Fax: 200 79895 General Legal Practice

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 18:09:27

business & finance profile education

by Marcus Killick

interested in scholarships?

Applications are invited from people wishing to be nominated for a Commonwealth Scholarship Award, tenable in the United Kingdom 2009, to follow courses in one of the following categories:

PricewaterhouseCoopers awards scholarships The Partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Gibraltar have this year, once again, decided to make a financial award to those students whose A-level results have demonstrated academic excellence. This is the 4th consecutive year in which the scholarships have been awarded.

The aim of the scholarships, which have no conditions attached, is to encourage and reward academic excellence and are awarded annually at the partners’ discretion to two students, normally one student from each of the two comprehensive schools, who have obtained the highest academic achievements and who have gained admittance to university.

The partners are pleased to announce that, exceptionally this year, the scholarships have been awarded to two students from Bayside Comprehensive, Joe Bristow and Vivek Sadhwani, as this is the first occasion in which two applicants obtain five A grades at A-level in the same sitting. This is a historic achievement for Gibraltar’s education system as well as for the individuals concerned. PwC, as a promoter of excellence in all the spheres in which it operates, wishes to congratulate the two recipients of the award this year for having achieved such a level of academic excellence.

Joe will be reading engineering and Vivek mathematics, both at Cambridge University.

In presenting the awards, PwC’s Managing Partner, Colin Vaughan said that he was delighted to present the scholarships to two

this is the first occasion in which two applicants obtain five A grades at A-level in the same sitting GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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truly outstanding students who had achieved unprecedented results. As he congratulated the award winners he noted that there were many other students who had also obtained excellent results and whose combined achievements reflect the excellent performance of teaching standards in both schools.

Colin Vaughan said that the partners of PwC were yet again extremely pleased with the overall achievement of Gibraltar’s A Level students. With around 100 partners and staff in Gibraltar the firm is a significant employer of graduates and annually recruits graduates on training contracts for its audit, tax and accounting divisions. The partners look forward to the prospect of continuing to recruit exceptional graduate trainees from an ever increasing pool of excellent academic talent.

Each student received a cheque for £1,000 for the forthcoming academic year and will receive similar cheques at the beginning of their second and third academic years.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders.

More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

“PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

(a)

(b)

(c)

One year taught masters courses or equivalent degrees.

Six months of clinical training in medicine or dentistry.

Doctoral degrees, of up to three years duration.

Application forms for the awards can be obtained from www.cscuk.org.uk/ apply/applyagency.asp. The form should be downloaded, saved and completed electronically but should then be printed six times and submitted to the Department of Education and Training at 23 Queensway.

Candidates should normally be resident in a Commonwealth country other than the UK and should hold, or expect to hold by October 2009, a first degree of at least upper second class honours level or a degree of second class and a relevant postgraduate degree.

Candidates should be able to take up their awards in October 2009.

Applications must be supported by three confidential references (not testimonials) specifically related to the candidate’s suitability for the studies. Candidates should submit independent applications for their course to the chosen institution in the UK without waiting for the results of the selection procedure.

Scholarships are normally available to candidates who have graduated within the last ten years. Nomination for an award does not guarantee selection or placement at an Institute for higher education.

Completed forms and references must be marked for the attention of Darren John Grech, Secretary of Scholarship Board and returned to the Department of Education and Training no later than Wednesday 5th November 2008.

21/10/08 18:09:39

finance business

by Trevor Nichols

Left to right: Lee Gardiner, Linda Radmore, Christine Barrett and Jade Dibb

The Business Centre

at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel

Managing director of the Global Group, Trevor Nichols, explains the concept behind the Business Centre at the Eliott Hotel.

When I first arrived in Gibraltar in 1988,there was a bustle about town with an influx of new businesses and personnel from all walks of life.

Office space was at a premium. These were the days of pre financial service regulation, and only about seventeen international telephone lines. Twenty years ago, you had to book an international telephone call and on many occasions you had quite a long wait before the operator called you back allowing the call to be made. It was in the early life of computers and there were certainly no internet or e-mail facilities available.

The first objective was to find suitable office accommodation. With little knowledge of Gibraltar where do you start? Fortunately I was told about a Business Centre in Irish Town. Following a visit to the Business Centre, agreement was reached to rent office space for a few months pending more permanent facilities being sourced. The availability of a Business Centre facility made the setting up of a new venture so much easier. From memory, we stayed in those offices for about six months before moving into our own offices. I mention this only to show that really things have not changed so much in twenty years. New businesses are coming to Gibraltar, new opportunities are available and in an effort to further establish what we are doing within Global Advisory Services Limited, several ideas are currently being developed. One of these is the development of the Business Centre

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based at The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel.

Although currently the facility is small, we are considering expansion. Where we differ from other similar facilities in Gibraltar is that we are not seeking short-term rentals. All the clients for whom we are providing a service are committed for at least twelve months. The minimum period that we would like to offer rental space is six months. This provides an opportunity to develop a working relationship and to see where we can best support the new ventures within the centre.

Another difference in what we are trying to develop is that we only permit one of each type of business being represented within The Business Centre. This will enable our clients to work together where appropriate. At the present time the business centre offers international payments through a worldwide“ name,” a wealth management company who has passported their services into Gibraltar, an insurance company, a trust & company manager, a data management company and shortly a financial services e-portal. In addition, a small property development company is also represented. Through Global Group we provide financial services sector compliance consultancy, recruitment and training. A series of short courses designed for staff within the finance service sector will be launched very shortly to cover current regulatory requirements. The courses are designed to last approximately one hour. Hopefully the fact

that all courses take up only a short period of time will encourage employers to support staff wishing to attend. Courses will be held either in the business centre or at offices of larger companies if there are sufficient numbers.

Facilities that are available within the business centre range from business support-answering telephones in the absence of client staff, to the use of a boardroom for up to 6/8 people. All desks have separate telephone/adsl lines. We have projection equipment available for presentation purposes.

The fact that we are located in The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel is advantageous in that catering facilities and accommodation are available if required. These facilities can either be booked direct with the hotel or via our office/business centre manager.

Over a long period of time, we have built relationships with banks, lawyers and accountants all of whom we can introduce prospective clients. Our office can assist in the incorporation of new companies, assist in the recruitment of staff and help new businesses register with the various government departments. A “one stop” shop for all you business requirements.

Being located in the centre of the city is of great benefit to both ourselves and those who utilise the services of the business centre. There is rarely a dull moment with changes taking place on a regular basis.

If you would like to find out more about how we may be able to help you please feel free to visit us on the lower ground floor of The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel, 2 Governor’s Parade.

We only permit one of each type of business being represented within The Business Centre. This will enable our clients to work together where appropriate GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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The Business Centre Eliott Hotel, Governor’s Parade GLOBAL ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED • Compliance Consultancy

• Compliance/AML Training

• Specialist MLRO support



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YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

Recruitment Division of Global Advisory Services Limited

Professional Tailored Training

GLOBAL ADVISORY SERVICES LTD Contact Justine Gilder Tel + 350 200 46830 justine.gilder@globaladvisoryservices.net   

Contact: Justine Gilder - Director Tel: +350 200 46830 Email: justine.gilder@globaladvisoryservices.net



GLOBAL RECRUITMENT



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  Contact: For  all  your Foreign Currency Requirements  contact: Jade Kerri-Dibb – Recruitment Manager

   



Professional Recruitment Services Specialising in The Financial Sector



Tel: + 350 200 46420 Email: jade.kerri-dibb@globaladvisoryservices.net

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   E-mail: money@globaladvisoryservices.net

  The Business Centre

providing all your needs under one roof Our team is always available to assist Call in and see us or call + 350 200 46830

ECS International

Corporate & Trust Administration Pensions Consultancy & Administration Related Offshore Taxation Services Yacht Registration & Administation Tel: + 350 200 76513 Fax: + 350 200 79523 Email: info@ecsinter.gi Web: www.ecsinter.gi

PO Box 398 Ground Floor Neptune House Marina Bay Gibraltar

Licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission - Licence No. FSC00094B

Quest Financial Services Ltd Peter M Bosbury BA (Hons), Cert PFS General Manager 260/262 Main Street PO Box 1338 Gibraltar Tel: + 350 200 52908 Fax: + 350 200 59731 Mobile: 54008767 Email: pete.bosbury@quest.gi www.quest.gi GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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FSC00798B FSC00840B FSC00884B

 

ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING TRAINING COURSES

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21/10/08 18:09:58

finance

by Paul de Beresford

photo: Prem Mahtani

So you think you might like to live and/or work in Gibraltar?

Whether you are here in Gibraltar staying on holiday, visiting friends or family or just on a day-trip to see the sights or do a shop at Morrisons or for cigarettes and alcohol, you may have considered the possibilities of living and/or working here, especially as the gloom descending upon the United Kingdom and many other countries, makes the pace and apparent joy of life here, very attractive to many.

Of course, Gibraltar is like Marmite — you either love it or hate it. Those who demand to live in the fast lane with all the latest technologies and modern-day practices at their immediate fingertips and who want vast choices in consumer products and services (including an array of innovative, varied and, perhaps, unexpected entertainment thrills), will find it too dull, just as they would being confined to any small place, even in the south east of England, outside central London.

But some large cities there cannot even offer what is available here - all in one place and all within walking distance.

But then such people would not even consider southern Spain either, despite its considerable and, perhaps now, over-development and advances, in recent years.

Not that Gibraltar wants, needs or could cope with an influx of migrant workers or others.

But every day, thousands of nonresident workers cross the frontier just to work here, who are either Spanish or from elsewhere and have

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Service in order to give an opportunity to Gibraltarian candidates to fill it on equal terms.

In the case of other nationals, a work permit is required and will not be granted if a Gibraltarian is available and fit for the job.

Very highly-skilled applicants for key jobs not able to be filled by Gibraltarians will not only obtain permits easily, but may qualify (if also highly paid) for an effectively fixed amount of tax, irrespective of European Economic Area and actual earnings from their employSwiss nationals (that’s those from ment in Gibraltar, and this tax break the 27 European Union countries, may also apply to the European plus from Iceland, Norway and nationals mentioned above.

Liechtenstein and also those from Self-employment requires annuSwitzerland) have freedom of movement to work in those countries and al registration with the Employment Gibraltar is a full member of the EU Service, for which a fee is payable. as a British Overseas Territory (al- Further, any use of a business name/ beit self-governing) within Europe, trading style requires registration even though outside the Customs of it with Companies House. And Union, VAT territory, Single Market, many trades require that a trading Schengen travel area and Common licence be held, after a period of advertisement in the press.

Agriculture Policy area.

However, that freedom still reBritish citizens have the right to quires registration of the job and the applicant with the Employment buy property in Gibraltar, but no decided they prefer to live in Spain, or cannot afford to live in Gibraltar, because of the apparent higher cost of living due to higher property prices and rents (even though certain lower other costs might actually lessen that apparent gap).

So here are some basic facts to help you in your deliberations which the writer will be happy to explain further for those affected or are contemplating a move here:

1

2

3

absoute right to reside in it. Others may have to purchase property by owning a company that, in turn, owns the property, unless they obtain the right to reside as well.

Rights of residence for British citizens from elsewhere are restricted here as they are in other British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey (which includes Sark and Herm).

But the rights to reside are drawn from EU legislation and are based upon working here, retiring to here with a State pension in payment from elsewhere, or chosing to live here (but as a self-sufficient person, ie not working locally, who will not be able to access public services such as health and education). These rights are again for Europeans, defined as above.

Additionally, there is a very special category for those with assets exceeding two million pounds and prepared to purchase or rent expensive property and not be actively economically engaged here, ie are drawing any income from employ-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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finance ment elsewhere. These individuals to deposit monies in bank accounts are taxed at capped rates on their here without paying Gibraltar tax worldwide income. Their applica- upon its interest. tions are entirely at the discretion of government.

The education here is similar to that in England & Wales except that Those residing in Gibraltar, as of first and middle schools continue right because working here, are able (whereas they are being phased out to use the school system for their in many areas of England), full nonchildren upon proof of permitted means tested maintenance grants residence. Use of the health sevices are available for higher education arises from payment of social insur- with tuition fees ultimately effecance and not residence, as such. tively paid.

Liability to pay tax is based upon residence and, sometimes, ordinary There are no TV licence fees residence in Gibraltar, but alterna- or road fund licence fees for cars tively, if employed or self-employed and bikes. in Gibraltar. Pensions payable by the UK state or a former employer General and Salt Water Rates or insurance company located there, continue here instead of poll tax or will still be liable to UK tax. council tax and at lower rates than in Great Britain. Tap water is metered There is no capital gains tax or and charged for to everyone here, inheritance tax in Gibraltar. How- unlike in England & Wales. ever, to escape capital gains tax in the UK, the person must not be resiSocial Insurance is capped at dent or ordinarily resident in the UK relatively low rates for employees and this is not automatically lost by and the self-employed, unlike in the simply being absent from the UK. UK, and is not just another form of But buying and selling property income tax. for profit is a trade and may render the speculator liable to income tax There is no VAT on goods and here on such profits instead. And services but there is import duty the UK wants capital gains tax at modest rates, but only on goods on such profits from those still at (and not on all of them). least ordinarily resident in the UK. There is no actual double tax treaty Government fees for residence between the UK and Gibraltar to permits, self-employment registraprevent a double hit. tion, trade licences, business names Similarly, to escape inheritance registration, company registration tax in the UK, domicile of origin, and renewal/ changes either do not dependence or choice or deemed exist in the UK or cost more here, but domicile (from long-term residence) are still modest. there, must be lost. This is the most difficult tax to escape and applies to all world-wide assets left by a UK domiciled deceased person.

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6 Bank deposit interest is exempt from tax for persons with legitimate sole residence in Gibraltar, as is additional tax from dividend income from listed companies.

7ruleThere is no simple automatic determing the date from which the UK Revenue will accept that all persons moving abroad might have become non-resident in the UK (if at all) and practitioners disagree about when it is safe to make visits there and for how long after wishing to be regarded as non-resident. Similarly, visiting the UK when claiming to be non-domiciled needs care. But never visting the UK is not, in itself, sufficient to lose domicile.

8 Those unable to establish nonresidence in the UK, but wishing

to remain non-domiciled and prepared to pay ÂŁ30,000 a year for the priviledge of not paying UK tax on income from outside the Uk that is not taken into the UK, can continue

photo: JJ Wood

PAUL de BERESFORD recently

retired from a leading local law firm and is a UK-qualified tax practitioner with over 35 year’s experience, mostly in the City of London where he was a partner of a Top-20 firm, and specialises in residence, ordinary residence, tax residence and domicile and is now in private practice part-time and can be contacted on +350 200 400 93 or +350 54004414 or by email to beresford@ gibtelecom.net

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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isola

business

Surviving the Credit Crunch

By Ramon Vasquez Vasquez Consulting Ltd, Accountants & Business Consultants

Well managed businesses can “stick it out” through the bad years and can have the opportunity of increasing their market share and being well positioned when conditions improve. Here are a few guidelines on how you can benefit from good organisation.

The “credit crunch” or “financial crisis” is upon us, how is it going to affect Small Businesses? Firstly, for most business sectors, this will mean a harder slog maintaining sales and greater competition within your business segment. Badly managed businesses with poor profit margins and poor cash management are most at risk to fail under these conditions. However, well managed businesses which can “stick it out” through the bad years have the opportunity of increasing their market share and being well positioned when conditions improve.

The following are a few guidelines that should help: Reduce debtors & Improve Cash Management - A great deal of successful businesses look at their cash position first and then their overall profit. Managing and reducing your debtors will also reduce the need to obtain expensive overdrafts & loans thus saving you bank fees.

Set time aside to chase debts – small businesses don’t tend to spend enough time doing this. Invoice promptly and accurately, offer as many ways of getting paid as you can, send statements regularly to customers and chase late payers actively. Be disciplined in managing your debtors.

Review Costs & Overheads Regularly – Set a specific review to go over your business’s regular costs. Looking at your regular costs will give you visibility of where you are spend-

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ing and where resources can best be utilised.

Cost management is not about cutting costs in any possible way but about spending money effectively to improve your profit.

Manage Stock Levels – For businesses with stock ensure you are working with a practical minimum amount of stock. In times where cash flow is difficult you don’t want to tie up working capital in large levels of stock.

Know your numbers - This means that you have up-to-date records of your revenues and expenses. Depending on the size of your business a good tool for this can range from a simple spreadsheet to various available accounting computer programmes. The important thing is to make sure your records are updated regularly.

Financial information which is 6 months or a year old is pretty much useless as a basis for making decisions.

The main message here is to make sure that your business is efficient. This means spending

Financial information which is 6 months or a year old is pretty much useless as a basis for making decisions

money wisely in order to maintain, or improve, sales and that you are not wasting money on unnecessary costs. In other words “make every Pound count”! The other main area to look out for is cash flow, you must know exactly what your position is as this will allow you to forecast any possible shortfalls in your cash position and take action early. Knowing and checking your financial numbers is critical to the success of your business, especially in difficult market conditions.

The Isolas Small Business Unit (‘ISBU’) has launched the Small Business Clinic this year in association with Vasquez Consulting, Accountants & Business Consultants (www.vasquezconsulting.com / + 350 200 78514).

The ISBU Small Business Clinic gives entrepreneurs setting up or currently running a business the opportunity to consult with a member of the team and a business consultant/accountant, together in one room and in one meeting, helping them to review their current situation and identify areas of concern which need attention. If you require any further information, please contact the ISOLAS Small Business Unit at ISBU@isolas.gi or by phone on +350 200 78363 to arrange to come and see us, the ISBU Small Business Cinic or for any other advice you may require. The appointment is free and on a noobligatory basis. Give us a call, pick up some tips for free and then decide if you want us to help you succeed or whether you’re happy going at it alone.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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6/10/08

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www.gibraltarlawyers.com

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Starting a business?

Running a business?

Need to know what you need to know?

The Small Business Clinic can provide you quickly and efficiently with everything you need to know, with our complimentary New Business Review

Still in business after a couple of years?

Congratulations! Now might be the time to sit down, take stock and plan ahead so the success story continues. Think of it as your Small Business MOT!

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Need a checkup?

The ISOLAS Small Business Unit has recently launched its free Small Business Clinic. Contact us to arrange an appointment for your free and no-obligation consultation with the team, including an accountant from Vasquez Consulting. The consultation will cost you nothing and, should you need any work, together you’ll agree the way forward with your adviser in terms of costs. For your complimentary appointment with our Small Business Clinic please email ISBU@isolas.gi

ISOLAS Portland House Glacis Road PO Box 204 Gibraltar Tel +350 200 78363 www.gibraltarlawyers.com

finance

by Marcus Killick

Looking Forward

“We had a bad banking situation. Some of our bankers had shown themselves either incompetent or dishonest in their handling of the people’s funds. They had used the money entrusted to them in speculations and unwise loans. This was, of course, not true in the vast majority of our banks, but it was true in enough of them to shock the people for a time into a sense of insecurity and to put them into a frame of mind where they did not differentiate, but seemed to assume that the acts of a comparative few had tainted them all. It was the Government’s job to straighten out this situation and do it as quickly as possible. And the job is being performed” Again I preface my article with the date is in being written (11th October). We have just gone through one of the worst weeks on the stock market in living memory. Governments around the world have attempted to act in a coordinated fashion to bring back stability.

The above comment could have been made by anyone of their leaders. It was not. It comes not from the 43rd President of the United Sates but its 32nd, Franklyn Roosevelt in his first fireside chat on 12th March 1933.

He made it just after there had been a massive run on the US banking system. Let him explain what happened: “What, then, happened during the last few

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“It was then that I issued the proclamation providing for the nationwide bank holiday, and this was the first step in the Government’s reconstruction of our financial and economic fabric.

“I issued the proclamation providing for the nationwide bank holiday, and this was the first step in the Government’s reconstruction of our financial and economic fabric.”

days of February and the first few days of March? Because of undermined confidence on the part of the public, there was a general rush by a large portion of our population to turn bank deposits into currency or gold—a rush so great that the soundest banks could not get enough currency to meet the demand.

The reason for this was that on the spur of the moment it was, of course, impossible to sell perfectly sound assets of a bank and convert them into cash except at panic prices far below their real value.

“By the afternoon of 3rd March scarcely a bank in the country was open to do business…

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 18:25:50

finance “It was then that I issued the proclamation providing for the nationwide bank holiday, and this was the first step in the Government’s reconstruction of our financial and economic fabric.

“The second step was the legislation promptly and patriotically passed by the Congress confirming my proclamation and broadening my powers so that it became possible in view of the requirement of time to extend the holiday and lift the ban of that holiday gradually. This law also gave authority to develop a program of rehabilitation of our banking facilities. I want to tell our citizens in every part of the Nation that the national Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — showed by this action a devotion to public welfare and a realization of the emergency and the necessity for speed that it is difficult to match in our history.

“The third stage has been the series of regulations permitting the banks to continue their functions to take care of the distribution of food and household necessities and the payment of payrolls.

“This bank holiday, while resulting in many cases in great inconvenience, is affording us the opportunity to supply the currency necessary to meet the situation. No sound bank is a dollar worse off than it was when it closed its doors last Monday. Neither is any bank which may turn out not to be in a position for immediate opening. The new law allows the twelve Federal Reserve Banks to issue additional currency on good assets and thus the banks which reopen will be able to meet every

legitimate call. The new currency is being sent out by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in large volume to every part of the country.

It is sound currency because it is backed by actual, good assets.

“I do not promise you that every bank will be reopened or that individual losses will not be suffered, but there will be no losses that possibly could be avoided; and there would have been more and greater losses had we continued to drift. I can even promise you salvation for some at least of the sorely pressed banks.

We shall be engaged not merely in reopening sound banks but in the creation of sound banks through reorganization.

“After all, there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system more important than currency, more important than gold, and that is the confidence of the people. Confidence

On 9th March the Emergency Banking Act, to which the president referred in his fireside chat was passed through Congress and signed into law in a little over eight hours

and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have faith; you must not be stampeded by rumours or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system; it is up to you to support and make it work.

“It is your problem no less than it is mine.

Together we cannot fail.”

FDR had been in office a mere eight days.

He had taken over from Herbert Hoover who had effectively become a lame duck. On 9th March the Emergency Banking Act, to which the president referred in his fireside chat was passed through Congress and signed into law in a little over eight hours. This gave the president the power to declare a bank holiday.

On 16th June, FDR signed the Banking Act of 1933, more popularly known as the GlassSteagall Act. This Act made fundamental changes to the system and created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as well as providing for a federal guarantee of bank deposits.

On 1st January 1934, the federal government began to provide coverage of up to $2,500 per depositor, and this immediately vastly improved public confidence as realized the U.S. government was guaranteeing their deposits.

Bank failures dropped from more than 4,000 in 1933 to 62 in 1934, and oily nine of those 62 banks were insured.

Sounds familiar?

History repeats itself, it has to, no one listens the first time.

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21/10/08 18:25:53

regulation

The future of regulation

by David M Parody, Chief Operations Officer, Financial Services Commission

I am writing this in a week of enormous turmoil. Not only have we suffered torrential downpours, flooding and landslides but the financial system has been rocked to the core as the credit crunch turns into a full blown crisis.

Bailouts and nationalisations of entire sectors, once considered the type of intervention that no free market society would consider feasible, now seem the order of the day. It is interesting to sit and watch the edited sound-bites of the US House of Representatives debating the merits and cons of the first failed attempt to get the US $700Bn bailout plan approved. The Conservative Party conference speeches had more than just a passing reference to the need for action.

As we watch some of the most prominent financial giants disappear from existence as they are absorbed by other entities we all ponder where it will go to next? The frightening aspect of this whole debacle is that no-one can give you an answer. Even by the time you read this article more financial institutions will have failed or been taken over. These are happening at a frightening rate.

A new breed of TV personality has emerged from this crisis, the financial expert. You can spot these very easily. Male, receding hairline, pin-stripe suit, gaudy tie, bad hair day, about to be made unemployed.

There is so much information being displayed on the ticker tape that runs at the bottom of the screens of news channels that producers will soon be thinking of speeding up the rate at which this is shown on your TV just so that you can keep up with what is happening.

To date consumers have been largely unaffected but as the crisis deepens it would be a natural for depositors and investors to seek refuge for their savings. The dilemma is that this action is itself likely to give rise to problems of its own. Not that many months ago there were queues outside of every Northern Rock branch as depositors sought to withdraw their funds.

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This, notwithstanding that the problems facing that bank had nothing to do with the ability of the bank to repay depositors. And there lies the root cause of the current crisis, trust.

The lack of trust is exacerbating the issue.

Not trusting the bank to repay its depositors.

Banks not lending to one another for fear that the other bank will not repay them. Lack of trust of the lending banks that its counterparties have within their books more toxic mortgages than they can cope with. Lack of trust in the ability of a free market to regulate itself due to the trading activities of short sellers and hedge funds.

Lack of trust in the senior management of major financial corporations who for years have pursued an ever increasing aggressive strategy of profit over prudence. Of personal gain before corporate social responsibility by lending to those who cannot afford to pay.

Lack of trust in regulators and Governments to sort the problems out.

But do regulators and Governments have the magic potion? I would say not. Government intervention has historically been a model for failure. As soon as market disciplines are removed from an equation a bureaucratic, inef-

“poor regulation” is often banded about as one of the root causes. In considering this statement what exactly is meant by poor regulation?

ficient system takes hold which ends up costing taxpayers more than if the institution had been allowed to fail.

Regulators do not fair any the better. For nearly the past decade banking regulators have been focused on the implementation of Basel II. It was supposed to provide for enough regulatory capital to provide banks with enough capital to sustain major financial shocks based on the experience of the past. Those who work in financial services live by the saying “past performance is not a guide for the future”, never has this saying been more apt.

When looking for a scapegoat for the crisis “poor regulation” is often banded about as one of the root causes. In considering this statement what exactly is meant by poor regulation? Do markets want to be told exactly what, where and how they should conduct themselves? Is the solution to avoid these problems, a centrally controlled and administered system? If so we should renounce a free market economy.

There is no doubt that in the soul searching that will occur once the battle scars have healed a new paradigm of regulation will emerge. Neither is there any doubt that there are academics and bureaucrats who are already scheming Basel III and all sorts of regulatory requirements to avoid a reoccurrence of this type of event.

Only for it to fail spectacularly once some other scheme is devised.

But it makes you wonder if we are missing the big picture. We can all avoid these problems if we go back to the basics of banking. Lend prudently, lend only what you have to give and don’t lend to what you don’t understand.

You don’t need regulation to enforce this, just common sense.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

You don’t have to be that exceptional …

… to get exceptional property financing Are you considering buying a property on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, the Algarve or the French Riviera? Or would you like to release the equity in your existing property in those areas? Then our Keyplan Mortgage may be just what you are looking for.

A tailor-made solution which offers you safe and easy financing, not to mention a number of additional advantages: Loans can be taken out in all major currencies for a term of up to 35 years, with an optional interest-only period for the first 10 years.

But most importantly, our service is based on our long-term experience in the market for property financing on the southern coasts of Europe.

Find out more about the advantages offered by our Keyplan Mortgage.

Contact me today: Tessie Bishop tel. +350 200 59222 tessie@jyskebank.gi

Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. • 76, Main Street • P.O. Box 143 • Gibraltar

Tel. +350 200 72782 • Fax +350 200 76782 • info@jyskebank.gi • www.jyskebank.gi

The Keyplan Mortgage product is offered by Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd., licensed by the Financial Services Commission. License No. FSC 001 00B. Jyske Bank Private Banking is a business unit of Jyske Bank A/S, Vestergade 8-16, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark, CVR-No: 17616617, regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, and the Financial Services Authority. Please remember that your property or home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other loan secured on it. The Keyplan Mortgage may not be offered to everyone, e.g. residents of the USA. 0808_210x297_The_Gibraltar_Magazine_Tessie.indd 1

24-06-2008 09:35:57

personal finance

by Bill Blevins

Personal Financial Planning In a progressively complex financial environment, strategic personal financial planning is necessary to reduce risk, maintain the value of your capital, increase returns and reduce taxation. Mistakes and missed opportunities can be costly in the long run, for yourself or for your beneficiaries in the future.

While the current economic climate is making some people wary about taking financial decisions, this may be precisely the time when you need to review your existing financial planning. Everyone considers the investment risks involved but sometimes the biggest risk of all is doing nothing!

Two of the most important objectives of any strategy are the tax efficiency of your assets and the security of your capital. With these two aspects in mind there are a variety of issues you need to consider:

Bill Blevins Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks

While equities have been taking a bit of a battering, if you have a long-term outlook equities will beat both cash and bonds over the longterm and are the best defence against inflation.

However to reduce risk you need to have sufficient asset allocation and sector/geographical diversity in your portfolio and for most people it is sensible to seek advice from a professional financial adviser.

Taxation You need to understand exactly how the tax regulations in your country of residence are applied to your circumstances. If have assets in both Gibraltar and Spain this can be more complicated.

Once you have established your tax liabilities you should take action, using legitimate arrangements, to avoid unnecessary taxes.

Banking issues It is impossible these days to accurately evaluEstate planning ate the financial strength of any bank and any While there is no estate duty in Gibraltar you bank will fail if confidence falls. The chances are may be liable for UK inheritance tax or Spanish that if a large bank gets into trouble the governsuccession tax if you have assets in Spain. You ment will step in. But in these uncertain days, can often set up your estate planning to reduce this is not guaranteed. inheritance taxes and also to make the transfer One way to remove risk is to spread your of assets as quick and cost effective as possible, money out over a few banks, so that you do avoiding probate wherever possible. not have more than the amount covered by the jurisdiction’s deposit guarantee scheme (which Investment issues varies per country) in any one bank.

Your choice of savings and investments You could also consider institutional money should be targeted for your local investment market funds which invest in a diversified portand inflationary environment. Inflation ­ even folio of high grade short term money market seemingly low inflation – can have significant instruments. They pay a yield that is comparable to impact on your wealth in the long-term if you overnight market rates in the respective currencies. are retired. You need to plan to at least keep These highly rated funds offer a safer haven than pace with inflation. many of the bank deposits available at this time.

One way to remove risk is to spread your money out over a few banks, so that you do not have more than the amount covered by the jurisdiction’s deposit guarantee scheme in any one bank 20

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Pension fund Until recently UK pensions had to remain under the UK’s very restrictive rules, even if you had permanently left the country. Nowadays you can often export your pension offshore, and achieve more flexibility, by transferring your fund into a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

QROPS provide a valuable defence against inflation and exchange rate risk (if it affects you).

Since you now have control over the underlying investments, you can set them up to reflect your local inflationary environment and you can choose the currency of denomination.

You will not be forced to buy an annuity; your heirs can inherit the balance of your fund; it is likely that the pensions rights will be escape UK inheritance tax and you can set it up to be tax efficient in your country of residence.

Financial advice Forge a professional relationship with an independent financial adviser who understands the intricacies of Gibraltar, UK and Spanish (if relevant to you) taxation and who is experienced providing investment advice to people in a similar situation to yourself. He will help you develop a financial planning strategy targeted specifically to address your needs and objectives for the short and long-term.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranksinternational.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 18:53:05

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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finance gold is well above its low of $252 reached in August 1999. However, apart from the looming recession and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East there are plenty of long-term fundamentals that are likely to drive the gold price higher, namely: 1) Central bank buying Central banks in Asia and the Middle East, well known for storing USD dollar reserves, have started to diversify away from the dollar and are purchasing gold as an alternative.

2) Growth in the jewellery trade Demand for gold jewellery will continue to grow as a prosperous middle class emerges in the developing world, where gold is far more popular as a way of storing wealth than in the West.

3) Flat gold-mining production Gold-mine production has been flat or declining since 2001. Peak gold has been reached with production stagnating or declining in 8 of the 12 most important gold producers.

gold

going for

by Mark Maloney Managing Director, Gibraltar Asset Management Limited

4) Price in real terms The previous high of $875 per oz reached in January 1980 is equal to $2,279 after taking into account inflation.

5) Low interest-rate environment With real US interest rates negative (interest earnt on money in the bank does not cover the rise in inflation) this is traditionally good news for gold: negative inflation-adjusted interest rates point to an inflationary environment and mean investors don’t lose out on interest income by holding gold.

6) Gold/Oil ratio The gold/oil ratio is currently 11.35 (the price of gold is 11.35 times the price of oil) compared with the post-war historical average of 17.2.

Should the ratio revert to the historical relationship of 17.2 and assuming an oil price of just $70, the gold price would rise to $1,204 an ounce.

Traditionally gold bullion as an asset class has been difficult for retail investors to access With stock markets making fresh lows and volatility at record highs, with its accompanying high costs of brokerage, transportation, storage and insurance. Howinvestors are fleeing towards the safety of government gilts as well ever with the introduction of exchange-traded as tangible assets, the most popular of which is gold. Indeed there is funds, investors can now buy gold via a single share. The Lyxor Gold Bullion Securities ETF for no other market in the world that has the universal appeal and allure example can be bought on the London Stock Exof the gold market and there are many good reasons for investing in change during normal market hours, in pound sterling with an annual management fee of just these uncertain times.

0.4% which covers the cost of storage (allocated gold is held in a vault by HSBC in New York) 1) A hedge against inflation due to the twin deficits, gold-being priced in and management.

In today’s environment of high inflation, gold dollars-provides a hedge against the weak US provides the perfect hedge-during the inflation- dollar with an inverse correlation of 93%.

House View ary 70’s for example, gold’s real purchasing What’s bad for the economy is good for gold power increased by more than six times.

4) Geopolitical risk so it is a serious contrarian play. Indeed even Geopolitical tension, presently emanating without the current market conditions, gold 2) A hedge against deflation from Russia and the Middle East, is often as- should form part of every diversified portfolio.

Once the current inflationary pressures pass as sociated with a flight to gold with its deserved Successful investing is about diversification and the economic difficulties unfold, gold will also reputation as the ultimate safe haven currency. the management of risk and gold is a great way provide a hedge against deflation. For example, of ensuring wealth preservation and for passing between 1929 and 1934, its purchasing power 4) Low correlation to the stock market wealth from one generation to the next. went up by an astonishing seventeen times.

Gold is the least correlated asset class to equiWith its low correlation to the broader equity ties, bar gilts. In every correction since 1979, gold market (an insignificant correlation of just 0.09 3) The weak US dollar has risen in absolute terms when UK equities to the FTSE All-Share), we believe that a small allocation should provide some protection in With most market commentators predicting a have fallen, rising an average of 305.5%. long-term decline in the value of the US dollar At its current price of over $800 per ounce the current bear market.

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finance

interview by Frankie Hatton Your contract has just been renewed how do you feel about it?

Very happy. It has been a fascinating 5 ½ years.,. The FSC has gone through a great deal of change since my tenure started in 2003. Like the industry we have grown significantly in size and we have an impressive team here. In particular we’ve taken on quite a few younger people to build for the future,. In doing this we’ve sought to recruit people with a good attitude and then develop their skills.

What do you think makes a good regulator then?

Regulators need a number of facets. A key one is that they need to be good listeners. They need to understand what businesses trying to achieve and work with them. This is not a “them and us” situation. Regulators need to know the industry and the context the regulator has in it.

Another is adopting the correct approach to regulating. We are required to implement all EU financial services related directives. For a small regulator this is an immense task and very resource intensive. These must, in so far as possible, be done in a way that is right for Gibraltar.

Regulators must therefore be fit for purpose, what is the right approach in a larger jurisdiction may not be right here and Vis a versa.

In your opinion what is it Gibraltar can do that others can’t?

Obviously as part of the EU, we have access to a huge market which many other small international centres don’t have. Also as a small centre particularly in comparison to others in the EU we can be innovative and introduce new products and services faster than our larger competitors. Because of this we can respond to opportunities more quickly.

Marcus Killick:

Innovation is Key

Gibraltar Magazine had a chat this month with the Financial Services Commission’s Chief Executive Officer Marcus Killick.

Marcus has just had his contract renewed again up until April 2012 which probably means the people in the know around Gibraltar are secure in the knowledge he is the man to steer our regulatory body through the muddy waters of the credit crunch and global economic meltdown. Given his recent headlines he has more reason than most to be upbeat.

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Like what?

For example Shari’ah law based financial products may be a significant opportunity for us. Furthermore, given the Islamic population of the EU and Gibraltar’s geographical proximity to Morocco it is something we could be leaders in developing regionally.

These also have other advantages to these products that many non Muslims may also regard as attractive at this time. I believe some of the tenets of Shari’ah law would have prevented activities such as naked short selling that has perhaps contributed to the current economic crisis.

We also have a regulatory regime that has passed the latest international assessments with flying colours. This also helps in preserving and enhancing our international reputation.

You mentioned the ‘crisis’?

At this time the Gibraltar finance centre is still seeing growth. Nevertheless, as an international finance centre, Gibraltar will not be immune from the crisis. Like the recent events in the Isle of Man and Guernsey following the collapse of the Icelandic banks, sometimes small centres are the victims of errors and problems elsewhere and beyond their control.

The next 12-15 months will be difficult globally and there may be some levelling off of growth here. After all, we are living through a period few, if any, of us have ever seen. However these things are cyclical and, in the medium term, we will see a new dawn.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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business & finance

Local Presence, Global Impact Leeds Celebrates 6 years in Gibraltar Leeds Building Society has had a branch in Gibraltar since 2002 and, in that time, has built up a significant investor base through its branch-based products. The Society also offers Sterling and Euro mortgages to UK residents, UK expatriates and Gibraltarians looking to purchase a holiday home, a second home for retirement or a permanent residence.

Martin Richardson, the Society’s General Manager for Business Development said, “Since opening for business on ‘the Rock’ in 2002 we have seen an excellent response to our presence here. In addition to bringing a new name to Gibraltar’s financial scene, we also gave borrowers in Gibraltar a greater choice of attractive and competitive mortgages. Locals and ex-pats alike were able to choose from a range of mortgages that include features not offered by our competitors. We celebrated our sixth anniversary in Gibraltar on 1st November.

“We have a friendly, helpful and knowledgeable team in the Branch managed by Zoë Frendo, Operations Manager, and including Carmen Ruiz, Assistant Manager. You can find the team on the first floor of Heritage House on the Main Street in Gibraltar.”

Leeds, the 7th largest UK Building Society, offers mortgages for properties in Gibraltar, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, the Balearic and Canary Islands as well as highly competitive offshore and Gibraltar investment bonds.

Zoë Frendo, Gibraltar Operations Manager said, “There are a varied range of investment accounts available, from the short term instant

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access accounts with highly competitive rates, to long term fixed interest with a guaranteed return on your capital (GCA). We also offer our own children’s savings account.

“The Branch offers a range of mortgage products to help customers looking to purchase their new property, move home or even change lenders and are still able to offer up to 90% loan to value against our properties in Gibraltar.

Leeds is the only Building Society in Gibraltar to offer 90% loan to value. We can also help you buy your dream home in Spain with our Euro mortgage offer.

“Gibraltar Branch is heavily involved within the local community and has made annual donations and sponsorships to local charities and organisations. These include the Royal Gibraltar Police Summer Crime Awareness Day and the School Photo Yearbook. The branch also provides support for international charities.

We sold the Jeans for Genes Zip Pulls during September, and the Pink Ribbons for the Breast Cancer campaign during October.

“In addition, during the last couple of years we have run a Fun Day at the Piazza. We raised over £130 for Childline through collection boxes on the day. There was also a Christmas Card competition where we received over 100 entries.

The winning entries have now been selected and given cash prizes. Their designs will be used as the Leeds Building Society Gibraltar Christmas Card and sold in the Branch to members of the public during November and December.”

Recent studies have shown that around 20 million people visit an online dating site a month and 2 out of every 5 internet users between the ages of 24 and 50, use, or have used, online dating services of some kind to find a partner. This perhaps explains why Gibraltar-based company Bone Fish Ltd has spent the last decade taking the industry by storm and evolving a new way in which people can search for a match ­— and others can profit from it.

The concept of online dating began in the late ’90s, and although at first it conjured negative connotations and blurred visions of dating in Cyber Space, two university graduates, Michael Fitzgerald and Graham Hampson, had the foresight to see what the online dating world was going to become ­— a billion dollar industry.

Beginning with an initial project titled “Studentsville” — an online community where university students could interact with other individuals — and having realised the true potential sites of this nature were starting to hold, Mike and Graham went on to launch the world’s first ever “white label dating provider”.

In layman’s terms, this means they created an entire platform and backbone that could be used time and time again as an affiliate programme, so as to create a number of customised niche dating sites that ranged from romance, student networking and gay, to other more risqué themes.

What initially began in the back bedroom of a small flat in the outskirts of Manchester boomed from the outset and now, some nine years later, boasts some 14,000 dating sites and nearly 4 million members.

Bone Fish provides its affiliates with fullybranded, pre-populated dating sites in under 24 hours, and supplies them with customer services and accounts departments to complement the already comprehensive platform they have been given to operate and run professional dating services. (And without them needing any GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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online

It’s important to understand that under no circumstances is this a get-rich-quick scheme but instead, a committed long-term partnership with a revenue share programme

actual infrastructure or expertise at all to get themselves up-and-running in seconds).

However, what’s most attractive of all perhaps is that with the Bone Fish affiliate programme, there’s no set-up cost, no small print and certainly no catch. Instead, any revenue that’s generated through any of the dating sites is split 50/50, allowing the Bone Fish platform and the affiliate’s marketing plan to work hand in hand to establish — in a very short space of time — a very profitable business.

Nevertheless, as Mike Fitzgerald points out: “It’s important to understand that under no circumstances is this a get-rich-quick scheme but instead, a committed long-term partnership with a revenue share programme. Yes, webmasters and online entrepreneurs can earn big commissions, but it certainly doesn’t happen overnight and not without hard work.

After all, to succeed you need comprehensive online marketing knowledge, lots of free time and immense dedication — which not many people have.”

With experts predicting the online dating industry will hit the £1 billion-mark by 2012, it’s little wonder affiliates are signing-up with Bone Fish by the dozen. Over 14,000 alone have opted for this provider, and with the expectation that some 60 million internet users are to enrol in at least one romance site by 2010, both Bone Fish and the industry look set for a date with success.

Bone Fish can be contacted at: International House, 3rd Floor, Bell Lane. Tel: 40335. Email: pr@bone-fish.com; www.bone-fish.com.

What back flat Manc the o nine some nearl

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finance

by Ian Le Breton, Sovereign Group

Photo courtesy Brian T Richards

Annuity rates are at historic lows — exacerbated this year following the turmoil experienced in the international stock markets

Ian Le Breton of Sovereign Group

Debunking the Myths: QROPS Anyone reading the international expatriate press in recent months may well have come across a curious five letter acronym — QROPS. What is it and why should it be considered by anyone who has left the UK for foreign climes? This article attempts to explain QROPS and perhaps along the way may debunk some of the myths and misleading information that has been published.

On moving abroad many British expatriates will have left their UK pension rights retained in their existing arrangements. These private pensions remain subject to UK pensions law. While there are different pension arrangements, many include the effective requirement to purchase an annuity at a later stage (and in any case no

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later than attaining 75 years of age without the later prospect of huge tax charges otherwise).

Additionally UK taxation may be suffered on pension payments. Annuity rates are at historic lows and of course this has been exacerbated this year following the turmoil experienced in the international stock markets, reducing the in-

vestment performance of underlying funds. The second negative aspect of annuities of course is that in the event of the death of the pension holder, any remaining value in the pension fund is lost for all time.

Under UK legislation introduced in 2004, effective from April 2006, expatriates or UK residents who have a demonstrable intention to move overseas may transfer the value of their UK pension rights to a non-UK pension scheme.

In doing this, it is possible to avoid most of the normal restrictions imposed on the pension fund if it remained in the UK. The transfer must be made to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS for short) that is approved

by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Such non-UK schemes may be established in many jurisdictions across the world. Amongst others, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Isle of Man are all considered suitable and of course as British territories, clients may rest assured that their affairs are being well looked after in any of these well regulated jurisdictions.

There are a number of basic conditions that must be fulfilled in order for a transfer to a nonUK pension scheme to be considered advisable.

Cases should be examined on an individual basis but the basic rules are: The pension holder must become non-resident of the UK and remain so for at least five complete UK tax years.

The administrator of the QROPS must report details of the transferred pension to HMRC for five years following the transfer The existing UK pension scheme can be in drawdown (i.e. benefit is being paid from the fund directly ­­ — an approach now referred to as “unsecured income”) before transferring to a QROPS. However, there are restrictions and if the permitted lump sum (nearly always 25% of the value of the pension rights) has been taken, no further lump sums are allowed.

UK rules impose a statutory lifetime allowance relating to the amount payable from UK registered pension schemes that will be treated as tax-privileged. For the tax year 2008/9 this allowance is £1.65m and will rise in stages to £1.8m by 2010/11. Transferring benefits to a QROPS is known as a crystallization event and the value of pension rights transferred in excess of the lifetime allowance will be taxed at the rate of 25%.

QROPS can be established so that the underlying investments are not subject to tax.

With careful on-going planning, the pension fund can be continued until retirement date on a tax free basis. As mentioned above, the other principal benefit in transferring a UK Pension to

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finance QROPS is that the UK requirement to purchase an annuity in later life is avoided. The pension fund can therefore be used by the member for his lifetime and any remaining balance can be passed on to their heirs upon the member’s death.

In order for the pension to qualify for QROPS status, the overseas plan must be regulated in its home territory and HMRC will require confirmation that this is so before recognising the plan.

Individuals who are seeking advice when considering their own pension arrangements have literally dozens of options available to them. As always in financial services, not all QROPS are the same and the advice received may also vary, so here are some general comments on what to look for when taking advice.

First of all, check that the non-UK pension option you are considering is indeed recognised as a QROPS by the UK revenue authorities. Although it is not obligatory, recognised schemes may choose the option to allow their particular scheme to be listed on HMRC’s own website.

This is a good place to start for obviously to be a QROPS in the first place, HMRC will have subjected the international scheme and the administrators managing it to a rigorous background check.

Secondly, check whether the advisers you are considering using are actively promoting in-house investment funds for the underlying pension, or whether you be allowed the freedom to elect your own investment adviser. As long as the adviser is regulated and you are happy with the performance and fees, this may not be

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Individuals seeking advice when considering their own pension arrangements have literally dozens of options

this article but using this option to immediately close the pension should not be considered. In the industry this is colloquially known as “pensions busting”. As always, professional advice at the outset should be obtained to determine individual options that will depend on current residency, family circumstances, state of health etc.

Be realistic on timing. Once the relevant information has been obtained from the current UK pension holder, the administrators of the international plan may well normally up to 12 weeks to complete the transfer to the new arrangement. This timescale will depend on the existing UK pension provider. Your new pension administrator will normally be responsible for liaising with that provider at all times.

Any necessary costs should be agreed with the individual member in advance.

An independent pension review is normally recommended taking account of an individual’s own circumstances before transferring their UK pension rights to a QROPS. However this is not a legal requirement and can be waived by the member although care should be taken at all times if this is being considered.

Finally, it should be noted that a subsequent withdrawal from a QROPS, perhaps to another scheme, is normally allowed but questions of how this can be arranged and any likely withdrawal costs should also be determined at the outset. Once again this will depend on individual circumstances.

a critical issue for you. But it becomes important when comparing fees as some plans may charge less for the QROPS itself but force you to invest in a restricted list of funds - caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) indeed.

I consider that it is also important that when transferring to a QROPS, the fact that this is a pension designed to provide retirement income should be considered paramount. Whilst not perhaps against the UK rules as they are currently written, the UK revenue authorities take a dim view of “cashing in”. Put another way, that is to use the transfer to a QROPS simply as a way of encashing the pension proceeds and using the released cash for current expenditure – e.g. perhaps to buy a yacht. This was not the intention when the UK government legislated for such transfers to non-UK schemes and it is possible that in the future this will be formally forbidden. The advantages of transferring to a Written by Ian Le Breton, Sovereign Group, Tel: non-UK scheme have been set out elsewhere in 350 200 76173

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insurance

Plain Sailing with Trafalgar If you are a boat owner, you will know that insuring your vessel is never straightforward. Finding an insurer who speaks your language and understands your needs can be a testing, and not something you want to risk placing in the wrong hands. A great deal of time and money goes into looking after your vessel and if things go wrong, you want to know that it will be resolved with speed and efficiency.

If you are one of the many boat owners in Gibraltar or Spain you will be relieved to know that specialist cover is available right on your doorstep. Trafalgar Insurance brokers in Gibraltar have been offering their tailor made ’Euro Marine’ policy for over 2 years covering British, Gibraltarian, Spanish and Portuguese Flags Trafalgar Insurance Brokers offer a bespoke insurance solution for boat owners through Ibex Insurance Services, a cover holder for Lloyd’s, the world’s leading insurance market.

It was Lloyds that initially encouraged Ibex to develop the Euro Marine product, recognising the potential that they had within their team of marine experts and underwriters, who have over 70 years combined insurance experience of pleasure craft ownership.

Bill Pisani, Manager of Trafalgar talks about how Ibex developed the Euro Marine product: “The underwriters at Lloyds noticed that there was a gap in the market for tailor made pleasure vessel insurance, although there are other products available in the market, finding an insurer who really understands boat ownership can be difficult. Ibex has a number of marine experts employed within the company, these are not only

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insurance specialist but boat owners themselves, so when we say we understand boat ownership, we mean it literally! Another reassuring factor is that not only are the policies underwritten at Lloyds, but all staff undergo training with Lloyds to ensure they really understand how the market works. Lloyds have underwritten some of the most advanced regattas in the world, so you can rest assured that your vessel is in safe hands with us!”.

When it comes to claims, Trafalgar and Ibex have also got this down to a tee. If the inevitable were to happen, you can relax in the knowledge

“Lloyds have underwritten some of the most advanced regattas in the world, so you can rest assured that your vessel is in safe hands with us!”

that your claim will be dealt with fast and efficiently. Making a claim is something that we all dread, as if the initial frustration of your possessions being damaged or stolen isn’t enough, we then have to go through the process of dealing with numerous parties to get it resolved. However, Ibex have made the claims process a simple one. Not only will you deal directly with their claims handlers, but a dedicated Marine Claims Handler will take ownership of your claim and will be your only point of contact throughout the process, streamlining the procedure for you.

With the expansion of Ocean Village in Gibraltar attracting new boat owners to the port, Trafalgar looks set to have a busy year ahead of them! The team celebrated Trafalgar’s 3rd Birthday this summer and continue to offer motor, household, pet, travel, medical and legal protection policies in addition to marine insurance to the Gibraltarian and expatriate market.

If you are a boat owner and would like to discuss your insurance needs, or would like to find out more about the policies offered at Trafalgar call into their office on Horse Barack Lane or call 200 44628 for a tailor made insurance solution at a competitive price.

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Cover for British, Spanish and Portuguese flags Underwritten at Lloyd’s of London Direct and personal claims service Loyalty discounts on renewal If you are a boat owner, Trafalgar Insurance Services can provide you with tailor made insurance solutions for your vessel. We are not just Insurance Specialists, we understand boats. Our marine specialists have owned, sailed and raced boats for over 50 years throughout Europe and Worldwide. We understand what it is to be a boat owner. There are many potential risks so our specialists have devised a comprehensive, tailor made policy to give you the freedom to enjoy your boat

Call us for a quote: 200 44628 Email: info@trafalgardirect.com

Trafalgar Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, Gibraltar. Registered address: The Tower, Marina Bay, Gibraltar, Tel: 200 44628 Registered No 77247.

Regulated by the Financial Services Commission – FSC 00643B

finance

Will We Ever Learn?

by Dr DM Sloma, Managing Editor, Gibraltar Financial Services Handbook

All you need to know about Maritime Services in Gibraltar on sale in bookshops £15.00

Below is an extract from a book on the industrial revolution written in 1907 by W. Cunningham DD, FBA, Archdeacon of Ely Cathedral, over 100 years ago about a period of 100 years before that. Shortage of capital and reluctance of banks to lend is no new phenomena.

“It was probably inevitable that, until a considerable body of experience had been accumulated, there should be many and serious blunders as to the nature of credit, and the conditions under which the forms of credit are available to serve as money.

“The men of the 18th century found that they had a new and very powerful economic instrument in their hands, and they only gradually discovered how to use it wisely.

“Strictly speaking credit is not wealth, though a man who has credit is able to procure the use of other people’s wealth. The forms of credit supply a method of anticipating expected wealth, and of obtaining immediate control over certain sums of money, because of expectations in regard to the future.

“Whenever the expectations are mistaken, and the actual wealth obtained falls short of the anticipated wealth, there is a danger of serious loss.

“By the judicious restriction of his advances, the banker may check over-sanguine speculation as to possible gain in the future.

“His readiness to grant loans on easy terms is of course an encouragement to speculation; it increases the quantity of paper money available, and tends to raise the rates of prices, and to render business more remunerative.

“On the other hand, the action of bankers in suddenly withdrawing accustomed facilities may create a feeling of alarm and distrust, which will make men unwilling to accept paper money at all, and cause a sudden fall in value of every kind.”

“Strictly speaking credit is not wealth, though a man who has credit is able to procure the use of other people’s wealth.”

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finance

Boutique Tax Advisory Service from Almanac With over 15 years of international tax experience and firmly settled in Gibraltar, David Frier opens the doors of his new boutique tax advisory service.

David Frier has recently opened the doors of his newly refurbished offices at 11 Governor’s Street — just a few steps up the road from the Cornwall’s Centre. As a chartered tax advisor and trust practitioner he has been advising high net worth individuals on international tax and estate planning for many years.

Originally from Edinburgh and following a banking career and business studies degree, David started his tax career in 1992 working for a global advisory practice.

This included holding managerial posts in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Russia and Poland where he advised multinational firms on structuring inward investment as well as creating effective remuneration strategies for their internation-

ally mobile executives.

In 2005, after working in the Isle of Man for several years, he decided to follow the sun and relocated to Gibraltar working for one of its largest professional firms in the position of International Tax Director.

Now he has realised his ambition to manage his own business, Almanac Ltd, which he sums up as a “boutique advisory for entrepreneurs, international private clients, trustees and company managers” and describes his offering as being “an alternative to dealing with a big firm”.

David can be contacted either through his offices at 11 Governor’s Street, or by calling him on 200 42250, www.almanac.gi

All you need to know about Financial Services in Gibraltar on sale in bookshops £15.00

With over 15 years of international tax experience, David followed the sun and relocated to Gibraltar working for one of its largest professional firms in the position of International Tax Director GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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business & finance

Gibraltar welcomes personal pensions

Bonavia leads Hassans’ Spanish expansion

by David Erhardt, Director, STM Fidecs Life, Health & Pensions Ltd.

Gibraltar’s leading international law firm, Hassans, has appointed Kenneth Bonavia, former managing partner of Stephenson Harwood and DLA Piper in Madrid, to lead its exciting expansion plans into Spain. The appointment will see Kenneth, primarily based at Hassans’ Sotogrande office, develop the Spanish and International practice, with a view to underpinning Hassans position as the eminent leading law firm in Gibraltar.

Senior Partner, James Levy QC, recently awarded global recognition with a lifetime achievement award from Chambers and Partners, said “Kenneth is an established and highly regarded player in the Spanish market and brings a wealth of skills and expertise to us. We are committed to developing the practice in Spain and Kenneth will enable us to achieve this goal”.

Hassans is Gibraltar’s largest law firm with over 70 dedicated lawyers and ranks 1st place in no less than seven specialist practice areas in the Legal 500, 2008 edition.

The firm has a strong international profile and has grown significantly in the last few years maintaining a very strong corporate and commercial practice, handling matters ranging from M & A and tax issues, to high-end portfolio purchases. Additionally, it has seen a groundswell of private client work and is increasingly advising on regulatory matters for major banks. Hassans´ international profile has been bolstered by its highly professional approach to both offshore and overseas work and the establishment of a presence in both the Luxembourg and Spanish markets. Legal

500, 2008, quotes Hassans as having “the best banking and finance teams in Gibraltar,” being “an absolute joy to work with” and having “first- class lawyers”.

Javier Chincotta, Managing Partner of Hassans, said “we are thrilled to have a lawyer of Kenneth’s calibre and experience join us and we look forward to him taking a leading role in developing our Spanish practice” Kenneth himself is a highly rated corporate and commercial lawyer and advises Spanish and international clients on domestic and cross border public and private M&A. Kenneth’s other area of expertise is in the real estate sector, advising clients regularly on property acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, commercial property developments in the retail and leisure industry and hospitality business.

Kenneth comments “I am delighted to be joining Hassans and have been hugely impressed by the firm, its partners and their commitment to establishing a growing presence in Spain. This is an exciting opportunity for me personally and I look forward to the challenge.”

Kenneth himself is a highly rated corporate and commercial lawyer and advises Spanish and international clients on domestic and cross border public and private M&A 34

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It’s been a long time coming, but Gibraltar can finally offer personal pension schemes.

Until now, inflexible retirement annuity contracts or occupational schemes have been the only options, despite Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) being commonplace in the UK for nearly 15 years. This news may be just what the working population has been waiting for, opening the door to those previously excluded.

While Gibraltar’s government has been keen to promote saving for the future, restrictive insurance products and sceptical employers have previously hampered efforts to persuade people to save for the future. But personal pension plan deeds have at last received the blessing of the Tax Office, after Chief Minister, Peter Caruana, paved the way for the legislation during his Budget Speech in June.

What is a personal pension plan?

As the name suggests, a personal pension plan belongs to an individual (rather than their employer) and can only be used to provide benefits in retirement. It differs from normal bank or building society savings because tax relief is available against contributions as an incentive to save for the future. Contributions can be up to 25% of total earnings.

The assets are held under trust by professional trustees who are legally obliged to safeguard them and follow the Trust’s rules. The fund can be placed in a wide range of investments, from cash to property to equities, depending on the individual’s attitude to risk. This is in contrast to savings-type products where investments are limited to insurance-based funds and have been subject to poor performance and high charges.

Demand for SIPPs is so great in the UK that they have grown from 25,000 schemes holding £2m assets in 1995, to 125,000 schemes holding £25m assets today. It is estimated that over the next five years there will be more than 500,000 schemes holding £150m of funds.

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business & finance Why bother with a pension?

With increasing life expectancy, as much as a third of an average person’s life could be spent in retirement. After 45 years or so of hard work, it is natural to want to enjoy this time. And although money doesn’t guarantee happiness, a lack of it can cause misery.

A personal pension is one of the most effective ways to save money for retirement because of the tax relief it offers on contributions. While a State Pension provides a low, regular income, personal pensions can help individuals to achieve the kind of lifestyle they want in later life. A Gibraltar personal pension is an ideal way of attaining this additional income, thanks to the wide range of investment options available.

Moving UK pension funds to Gibraltar For Gibraltar or Spanish residents who have worked in the UK and have retained pension funds there, it is possible to transfer them to a Gibraltar personal pension. These funds are often small due to short work periods in the UK, and run the risk of being lost, eaten up in charges or simply forgotten. Transferring them to Gibraltar puts all the assets in one place, making their organisation, investment and control far easier.

Gibraltar personal pensions can also accept transfers from Gibraltar occupational schemes and retirement annuity contracts, reducing the reliance on employer schemes. Although occupational pension schemes still have a place in pension provision by offering additional employee benefits, and by giving companies an edge over others when it comes to staff

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recruitment and retention. However, not all employers (especially small companies) are able to provide them.

Personal pensions fill the gap by allowing employees to move employment and transfer their schemes even if their new employer does not provide a scheme. Employers can also contribute to an employee’s personal pension

on an individual basis.

The Gibraltar advantage With some of the world’s most favourable pension legislation, Gibraltar finally has the plan to match it. It has been a long time coming, but now that it has arrived, it’s time to make the most of it.

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business focus

by Brian McCann

Rob Parker of Beacon Information Services

Finding the Facts “Many businesses have plenty of good data but they cannot get at the information content, or spend days each month manipulating it to make sense of it.”

Rob Parker of Beacon Information Services was telling me about a modern problem which affects most medium to large businesses and many small ones as well.

Companies typically enter information into multiple computer systems that are independent of each other. This creates problems as the information becomes scattered, difficult to cross-reference and time-consuming to get at.

Staff can spend as much as five days per month pulling information together and manipulating spreadsheets to produce consolidated business reports. This activity distracts workers from their main tasks and becomes an additional business overhead.

‘The fact that it is such a cumbersome and time-consuming process means that very often the information is only gathered once a month or even quarterly, when it can be too late to spot a problem,’ said Rob. In practical terms, a manager might want to see sales figures, running costs, details of goods

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inwards and other information in one concise report. All the information is there in the computer, but finding it, retrieving it and putting it together in an easily comparable way is another matter. As Rob puts it, “It might seem odd to consider data and information as different, but they are. Data is only information if you can get at it quickly, easily and make use of it.”

This is where Rob’s expertise comes in. He will go over your systems with you and devise a tailor-made software solution that will provide all the information you need — and as often as you need it.

Rob knows what he is doing. He has an honours degree in Computer Studies followed by 22 years’ experience, and is a member of the British

Computer Society, the professional body for IT experts. He lived in Sheffield for 23 years and his last seven years in Britain were spent running his own business intelligence consultancy; some of his customers — including HBOS in the UK — continue to be serviced by him from his base here on the Rock, where he has been established for four years. In between he had originally moved to Spain and took time out from his own business to work for PartyGaming in Gibraltar as their Data Warehouse manager, whilst his wife took up a post as a nurse practitioner with the Gibraltar Health Authority.

After a couple of years he decided he wanted to return full-time to his own company, and so Beacon Information Services was born.

He provides all types of IT consultancy, systems design and software development, but his specialist services are data warehousing and business intelligence solutions. In layman’s terms, these are solutions that consolidate data from all areas of a business and all of its systems.

This is where Beacon adds value: it turns data into information and lets managers access it on demand in a way that can be used to measure performance, understand customer behaviour and model what may happen if certain market forces change.

In other words, Beacon’s solutions provide a single repository of information that its customers can use for management reporting, customer or supplier analysis, targeted marketing, ‘what if?’ modelling and strategic planning - without having to worry about which system the information originated from or understand how to work with databases.

In his short time here, Rob’s business has attracted a mix of local and UK companies, including some in England who were relieved to see him available once again. Locally, his client base includes such go-ahead firms as Saccone & Speed, Stan James and the Specialist Medical Clinic, all of whom have seen the benefits of having every piece of management information at their fingertips in an easily digestible form.

More will follow, but the constraints of the general size of Gibraltar ’s businesses will limit the local development. Whilst Rob would like to do more in Gibraltar, he is nonetheless grateful that the nature of his business means he can work from almost anywhere to provide his services.

One aspect that might help him is for more small businesses to become aware that prices start at around £1000, and a one-man band could find having one of Beacon’s systems a real boon in the amount of time and headaches saved as well as the value of the information that would be easily accessed.

Rob is happy to work at whatever times suits the customer, and in spite of being busy he still manages to do some voluntary work with Childline Gibraltar; he’s also a keen closet guitarist but planning to step out soon — so if any one wants to jam he’d be glad to hear from them too.

To find out more, you can have a look at Beacon Information Services’ website, www.bis.gi; or call Rob on (+350) 200 40500; enquiries@bis.gi

“It might seem odd to consider data and information as different, but they are. Data is only information if you can get at it quickly, easily and make use of it.”

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communication

CTS bring telecoms competition to the Rock For the first time in the history of Gibraltar, competition in the telecoms marketplace has arrived in the form of telephone and internet network operator, CTS. With the recent change from the 5 digit to 8 digit numbering plan, CTS has announced its 216 prefix in competition to the current provider´s 200 number. The launch of the 216 numbers offers consumers choice and is a truly monumental occasion for digital communications technology in Gibraltar.

The service is available today in all CTS cabled

areas and is being extended to other areas of Gibraltar with the roll-out planned to take place over the coming months.

This introduction will allow CTS to continue its mission to drive down telecommunication costs on the Rock and to bring prices more in line with those in the UK and elsewhere. The introduction of 216 numbers enables CTS to

offer reduced fixed line rental charges and call costs and will allow landline telehone numbers to be connected over the company´s Wireless Broadband network.

As a licensed network operator CTS has been allocated landline and mobile numbers which will allow customers to re-arrange their existing numbers to a logical consecutive pattern, replacing sporadic numbering and other inconveniences. Companies or individuals wishing to take advantage of lower call costs and line rental can keep their existing 5 digit number and simply use a 216 prefix. Number choice will be available to customers on a first come, first served basis.

CTS have played a pioneering role in bringing Internet and call costs down and are continuing to do so. By entering the mobile marketplace CTS are offering further competition in Gibraltar. CTS is currently building a state of the art 3G mobile network providing all of the traditional voice services and supporting all of the advanced features available on a modern mobile handset including high speed mobile broadband.

CTS has been trading for over 22 years, have offices in the UK, Spain and Gibraltar. CTS is unique in that it has a wealth of experience in both IT and Telecommunications and is able to offer cutting edge telephone systems, IT hardware and software, hosting services, disaster recovery, video conference equipment hire and facilities, cabling services and 24/7 support.

CTS have further cost cutting schemes in their cornucopia of offerings and will be announcing further products and services designed for local users over the course of the next few months.

Their most exciting offering currently is the mobile phone service and CTS are running a competition for the design of their “Top Up” cards where the winner will not only see their design on CTS’ “Top Up” cards but will also win one of a range of prizes including a 3G mobile handset in time for Christmas.

A spokesperson for CTS said “This is a truly monumental occasion and CTS are pleased to have been part of another first for Gibraltar.”

Gibraltar Day in London 2008 If ever there was a display of Gibraltar’s determination to show the world we are here, then this year’s Gibraltar Day in London was it.

Gibraltar Magazine was given a personal tour of ‘Gibraltar House’ by the Chief Minister. Outlining the facilities available for Gibraltarians wanting to do business, hold exhibitions or just in need of a friendly face when in a crisis the 6 storey townhouse looks magnificent. Sitting at 150 The Strand the building has even had the Chief Minister’s hand in its décor. It’s not about how much it cost it’s about how much does it look like it cost and Gibraltar House is visually right up there.

The Chief Minister addressed London’s financiers at a lunch in the RAC Club (pictured left) during Gibraltar Day in London. Outlining Gibraltar’s current situation he said “The world is in recession, the UK is in recession but the Gibraltar economy is solid and robust. Gibraltar continues to grow economically. 9% in 2006, 12% in 2007 and this year again we are showing growth despite the world economic downturn.”

In the evening the reception held at London’s historic Guildhall was attended by some 1200 people, three ex-Governors, as well as several MPs and ‘friends’ of Gibraltar. The event was a huge success apart from the rain which saw off the sunset ceremony but music was still provided by the Band of the Corps of the Royal Engineers, the London Scottish Pipes and Drums and the Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

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careers

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development

Dr. Bill Snaith and Ms. Jane Walker of Durham Business School receive plaques from the RGP in thanks for their help with the Investors in People award

Gibraltar Businesses Invest in People Gibraltar’s business environment has changed dramatically over the past 30 years and as a result Gibraltar‘s managers have had to constantly generate new ideas to maintain and expand their businesses, or to create new ones from the opportunities presented.

Within this spirit of innovation and change, however, until recently established managers had little access to personal or business development education in Gibraltar. All that changed in 1998 when the Durham Business School team, sponsored by the Gibraltar Government, arrived here to present their first course.

Headed by Dr. Bill Snaith and Ms. Jane Walker the team has provided Gibraltar’s managers at all levels with a helping hand in the form of world class management development and consultancy.

Durham Business School is part of Durham University, and is one of the longest established business schools in the UK, combining academic excellence, internationally-rated research and superb student support services to give students the very best business education, in the UK and in Gibraltar.

As part of this business education Durham Business School introduced the Investors in People Standard to Gibraltar in 2006 and is working with various organisations to achieve this standard. The Investors in People award

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places emphasis on maximising the contribution of employees to an organisation, and offers a framework to maximise your return on staff development.

Aimed at both the public and private sectors, the Investors in People standard has recently

been achieved by the Royal Gibraltar Police.

In the final audit of the organisation by one UK assessor, the RGP was praised as a highly regulated statutory body which was nonetheless able to adopt a flexible and inclusive approach to its people, both officers and civilians.

Police Commissioner Louis Wink commented that while the RGP was an organisation where discipline played a crucial role “people are treated a people here. Their ideas count.”

In fact, the assessors were so impressed with the RGP that they have made it a ‘case study of excellence’ for other organisation worldwide aspiring to accreditation. The RGP has also been made an Investors in People ‘Champion Organisation’ to assist other aspiring organisations worldwide as they work towards accreditation.

The Investors in People Standard provides straightforward, proven frameworks for delivering business improvement through people.

In the UK over 30,000 organisations are recognised as Investors in People, covering a wide spectrum of industries. It doesn’t matter what size or type of organisation it is, the Investors in People Standard helps improve the way an organisation works.

In Gibraltar, although the RGP is the first public organisation to obtain the award, several private companies have already achieved the standard, including Redwood International, the Financial Services Commission, Bassadone, and most recently Wyse Hire.

Whatever their size, from the RGP to Wyse Hire, all organisations have to meet the same criteria — or ‘indicators’ — but Investors in People recognises these will be met in different ways as organisations use different means to achieve success through their people. It does not prescribe any one method but provides a framework to help organisations find the most suitable means for achieving success through people, improving their productivity and performance and realising their full potential.

Sally Welch of Wyse Hire commented “Investors in People is not about paper and procedures its about people! People are at the heart of every organisation and they need to feel included and developed.

“In a small business like Wyse Hire understanding this has significant business advantages. Once recognised as an Investor in People I hope it will have a positive effect on staff motivation which in turn will help us achieve our business goals. Working towards this with Durham University’s support on the Government funded pilot scheme has provided my business with a solid foundation for further growth and development.”

For more information on Investors in People or the Durham Business School contact : +44 191 445 5548 Mrs. Vicky Welsh, or email vicky.welsh@ durham.ac.uk

Whatever their size, from the RGP to Wyse Hire, all organisations have to meet the same criteria — or ‘indicators’ — but Investors in People recognises these will be met in different ways as organisations use different means to achieve success through people GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:16:21

creativity

The Tailcast.com team — Peter, Jon and Oliver

What makes an Entrepreneur?

What inspires someone to give up a lucrative career to go it alone in a pioneering business start-up?

Some would say madness, others would say creativity and drive. For one of Gibraltar’s entrepreneurs it was a case of the risk of regret outwaying the risk of failure. We talked to Peter Howitt about tailcast.com Firstly Peter, what brought you to Gibraltar?

I joined Partygaming PLC (PG) in 2005 after five years as a commercial lawyer in London.

The move to PG and the experiences I had there really set light to what was, until then, a fairly dormant entrepreneurial spirit.

At the time I joined, just before the amazing IPO which valued the company at approximately $8bn, PG was a tremendously creative and energetic environment. Obviously the legal issues in the US (and elsewhere) curbed some of the creative energy and drive and made the business much more serious.

Whilst being a cliché it is nonetheless true to say the best thing about my time at PG was the quality of people I was able to interact with.

At some stage you decided to set up on your own, that was a brave step, what made you take the plunge?

I left PG in 2006 following a difference of opinion with the then CEO who left PG earlier this year. In 2007 I worked in a legal/commercial role for a wealthy family-run investment business (legal, commercial and tax structuring).

Ultimately I had the bug to start something of my own and thought the risk of regret was greater than the risk of failure.

I left in January 2008 when I established Internet Media Marketing Limited (IMM) – with

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a little help from a friend. I now work with a graphic designer (Jon), artist (Oliver) who are based in Gibraltar and Tarifa and a technology expert (Catalin) who is based in Romania.

What is the concept behind IMM Limited?

The purpose of IMM Limited is to create hybrid businesses that utilise the power of social networks and online communities with the revenue earning potential of the ecommerce sector. Our first fledgling business is www. tailcast.com.

Tailcast.com is a new social network for artists writers and musicians to promote their work and collaborate on multimedia projects (video, audio, articles, images and ebooks). We have

We have around 1,800 members in various countries and we are currently developing the social network aspects of the site to make it easier to publish and share music, poetry, artwork, photography, stories and articles with other members

around 1,800 members in various countries and we are currently developing the social network aspects of the site to make it easier to publish and share music, poetry, artwork, photography, stories and articles with other members and family and friends.

The name tailcast means “broadcasting the long end of the tail”.

The concept is that whilst individual downloads and prints of the person on the street’s work may be small when you add them altogether they can outperform the famous bands, authors and artists in sheer aggregate quantity.

To give you an example, in just one month after launch, myspace.com (a social network site) had over a billion songs by members streamed to other members. If you add books, greeting cards and artwork the potential market is in the 10s of billions of pounds each year. Greeting card spending alone amounted to over $40bn in just the UK and US in 2008.

To test demand and our ability to meet it, later this year we will be introducing a print on demand service to enable our members to buy greeting cards and posters featuring artwork from our site and deliver them to friends in North America, the UK, Gibraltar and Spain.

And what of the future for Tailcast.com?

If things go well, or we can raise more finance,

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creativity in 2009 we will be introducing book publishing for members, a more advanced music streaming service, improved video hosting and streaming for film makers and a site that is enabled for mobile phone (including iphone) browsing and publishing. We will also be looking for partnerships with other online businesses and offline businesses to help syndicate the content on our site.

Given the current downturn in the world markets, shortly to be followed by a real and severe downturn for the man on the street, you might say that there couldn’t be a worse time to launch a speculative business like this. To that end I am now working on and looking for part-time and project specific legal and commercial work in Gibraltar.

We are also looking at ways in which we can use our online and offline creative, print and market-

ing skills to provide services for businesses in Gibraltar, the Costas and the UK. However, in the words of the eminently wise businessman Henry Ford: “Business is never so healthy as when, like a chicken, it must do a certain amount of scratching around for what it gets.”

Here’s hoping the tough times ahead next year will put Tailcast in better shape for a long and prosperous future.

Do you have any advice for other budding entrepreneurs out there?

Be utterly unswerving in your objective and absolutely flexible in the means to achieve it. Remember that you have as many hours in the day available to you as the successful and wealthy business people you admire, so don’t envy their wealth, emulate their work ethic!

Gibraltar Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Managers For information on the member firms of GASIM who provide investment and stockbroking services to private individuals, company managers, lawyers and accountants visit

www.gasim.gi

Vin’s Gallery opens at the Rock Hotel Celebration Halls (10 to 70 people) Conference Halls and Auditorium Exhibition Halls (more than 1000m2) Services include: • Catering • Hostesses • Technicians • State-of-the-Art Technology • Parking • Direct Access to Hotel Iberostar

w w w . p a l a c i o d e l a l i n e a . e s

photo: John Shepard

Avda. Príncipe de Asturias s/n La Línea de la Concepción 11300 (Cádiz) T. 956 174 899 E. info@palaciodelalinea.es

Vin with Mayor Momy Levy and friend Donna Montegriffo atthe opening

The well know local artist, Vin Mifsud, recently opened the doors to her new gallery at the Rock Hotel.

At last Vin has a permanent showcase, where you can browse and buy a wide range of products ranging from original pictures, signed prints, art cards and even peg-bags, T-towels and a wide range of souvenirs which carry her paintings and designs.

The gallery will appeal to allcomers who enjoy Vin’s perspective of Gibraltar. So whether you’re local, or a passing tourist you’ll find the perfect gift or souvenir, not just of Gibraltar, but of the work of one of the most established names in the local art industry.

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LOST 9 year old female

Yorkshire Terrier Lost Saturday 18th October evening in the DEVILS TOWER ROAD area.

Last spotted in NAAFI area Devils Tower Camp 7.30am Sunday 19th October.

If seen or have some information

please contact 54107000.

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profile

Rosie Peach of Politics

by Frankie Hatton

In the last election women featured on the hustings slightly more than in previous years, in fact the PDP seem to have cornered the market at the moment with five women on their executive committee.

One of these is Rosie Peach who without seemingly any interest in public life has over the past few years been more than a little active here and there. A mother of four with a full time job and a full time community career as well she’s more than a match for some of our men.

Born in St Bernard’s hospital Rosie Peach spent the first 12 or so years of her life living in Richardson’s Passage in Upper Town. It wasn’t quite the building it is now but it was home at the time. Although too young to recall much of those years she does remember her greatgrandmother, who was born and lived in La Caleta, feeding them homemade soup when the family visited her.

“I didn’t like soup to be honest but when we went there I was always first with a bowl.”

Rosie’s family have been in Gibraltar for generation after generation.

“I’ve tried to research the family history but with my maternal grandmother dying when my Mum was young there is a distinct lack of information on us. I was too young to remember the things my great-grandmother talked about and she lived to be 100 years old.”

Most of her father’s relatives had moved to the UK and so, for family reasons did Rosie and her parents when she was around 12 years old.

“My father was a prison officer and my mother worked in St Bernard’s Hospital but there came a time where he wanted to spend more time with his elderly mum so we moved to south London, not too far from Tower Bridge.

“I must have liked it in the long term but I was enrolled at St Aylwin’s School for girls and I hated it. Having come from the Loreto High Grammar School for girls it came as quite a culture shock. It was the roughest school you could imagine and although I did try I was so unhappy there it wasn’t conducive to good learning.

“As school came to an end I’d had a rather bizarre careers interview where I was asked what

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I liked to do and I hadn’t given it any thought up till then. When he asked if I liked cooking I just said ‘yes’ so he rang up a college and got me onto a hotel catering and management course.

Absolutely ridiculous now but it happened and I then began an uninspiring (although I actually really enjoyed it there!) period of learning at Lewisham South East Technical College.

“Whilst there, I decided to try and make the best of a bad job and took extra qualifications in photography, French and others to improve my learning and skills. Eventually I accepted that hotel catering wasn’t me and after passing all my exams decided to drop out of the hotel industry and travel.

“I decided to go to Benidorm (it was all the rage at the time) and then to visit family in Gibraltar I hadn’t seen for ages. I needed money, obviously, so I went in search of work and ended up in a travel agents selling Greyhound bus tickets to people holidaying in North America.

I never actually got there myself but it was a

As school came to an end I’d had a rather bizarre careers interview where I was asked what I liked to do and I hadn’t given it any thought up till then. When he asked if I liked cooking I just said ‘yes’ so he rang up a college and got me onto a hotel catering and management course

job I really loved.

“Meeting people, and helping them sort out their travel plans was something I enjoyed and after the holiday what I intended as a job for a month ended up as a year. I was even on the publicity for the agents with a picture of me and a live greyhound in the shop window — utterly mad.

“Eventually I felt I wanted a change and applied for several jobs one of which was for an insurance company. This was probably the most weird job interview ever. I arrived at the building and the boss was out so I was shown into a waiting room with a bar in it. I was offered drinks and snacks until the boss arrived and he was an hour late. He apologised then proceeded to chat about the job probably spending more time talking about himself than me. He finally thanked me and I left somewhat bemused by the whole incident.

“Some days later I got a lovely letter saying again how sorry he was that he was late and how good the interview went but the crux of the matter was I hadn’t got the job because I could do so much better elsewhere. It was a lovely letter but definitely a strange way to do business.

“Finally I got a job as a receptionist at Bank of America in Old Park Lane. I was there for sevenyears and through a series of on the job training courses I moved through the company ending up working for the Assistant Vice President of Credit Lines for the Middle Eastern Area Office.

“It was for me an interesting job not least dealing with all our people in the Middle East but more so because it was the time of the Middle East crisis, the Revolution in Iran and GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2008 2008 GIBRALTAR

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profile the troubles in Beirut. Through the phone we had first hand accounts of what was happening and it opened my eyes to the media as what was reported on TV was far different to the reality out there.

“It was also around this time I met and married my husband Kevin, during the late ’70s early ’80s. He was playing keyboard in a band at my god-daughter’s christening. He says it was love at first sight [she laughs]. We now have four grown up children of our own, Chris, Steve, Danny and Louise.

“Once the first two children arrived I had to give up working for Bank of America and concentrate on bringing them up. I did work to supplement our income, and my sanity. I worked in a sweet shop, as a dinner lady at a school, also as a home economics assistant in school and I tried my hand at jewellery sales too.

‘Klondike’ was a firm that gave you jewellery and you had a party at someone’s home so sell it. Of course these days it’s not just jewellery they sell that way but was interesting to be able to work in the evenings and at the time very innovative.

“However, things were about to change for good. My husband, Kev had literally fallen in love with Gibraltar on visits and suggested we should make our life there. I wasn’t against the idea but leaving my parents and the whole wrench of picking up everything and starting again even somewhere that has your roots is not easy after so long. Finally there was no doubt it would be better for us as a family, it took some organising and, leaving that life behind in the UK, we moved lock stock and four kids in around 1992.”

Once back home Rosie started working as a receptionist in a local law firm before eventually getting a job as a conveyancing assistant with Isolas where she remains to this day.

One of life’s organisers Rosie has been instrumental in helping to organise around three cavalcade floats for Isolas.

“I used to take my children every year to the Lord Mayor’s pageant in London. It is a fantastic and magical event particularly for children.

When discussing the move to Gibraltar with our children I told them about our cavalcade and promised them we would see an event just as magical every year. This is one of the reasons I got involved to help make it magical for every child.

“I helped on a few of them spread out over the years as it is very demanding on time and effort.

My favourite was the Harry Potter float. We had

CHARLES GOMEZ& COMPANY

around 76 people on it and I made most of the costumes. The people that made the props and set, mostly family and friends, were fantastic we even won a prize for it.”

Rosie had a huge smile on her face by now remembering the event.

“Are you still involved in the floats?” I asked.

“Not for a while but I love getting involved in organising stuff and particularly community events. I will go to any lengths to support charity events, and even took part in a 15,000 foot tandem skydive last year for our PJ Isola Foundation which collects for local charities. Just

I love my homeland.

We have a rich history; we have pride in our flag, real pride. Unlike some nations we have a ‘just’ sense of national pride as well and if you don’t support each other then you lose it

for that event we raised around £10,000. Not a bad sum for what was an awesome day for those who took part. Taking part in community events is important to me.”

“Which probably takes us on to politics I imagine, can you explain how you got into politics when it seems there was no interest in the past?”

“Well I was asked to take part in a Viewpoint programme on GBC to do with the change of school hours. I was seen on the show and a representative of the Gibraltar Women’s Association rang me and asked if would like to join. Once involved we did various things like a petition against the joint sovereignty deal just getting more involved in public things and unknowingly becoming more politically aware.

“The new Labour party came about at that time so our chairperson was asked to join and the ‘Chair’ became vacant and at a meeting I was asked to take the position which I did, very pleased at being given such a opportunity.

“So for over four years I carried on in that way— interested in politics but not interested in being a politician. Then one day Keith Azopardi and Nick Cruz contacted me and asked if I would be interested in joining a new party which was being formed. By that time I felt ready to take on the challenge and with that I helped to found this new party which we eventually called the PDP. “So how are you finding your role within the wannabies of Gibraltar politics?” I asked.

“I’m enjoying it very much. I’m getting to meet people with real concerns and hopefully helping them address their problems. Our party is different in many ways not least because we have five women on our executive, women of principle who have a real say in the party. I enjoyed the run at the last election and, naturally disappointed, I was overall pleased with the votes I got.”

“Would you run again next time?”

“Personally yes but we have a team and we do what is best at the time, we listen to each other and when that time comes then we will decide.”

“Finally, Rosie are you glad you came back?”

“Definitely, yes! I love my homeland. We have a rich history; we have pride in our flag, real pride. Unlike some nations we have a ‘just’ sense of national pride as well and if you don’t support each other then you lose it. Me and my family are glad to be part of it. The ‘Rock’ is a special place.”

Barristers & Acting Solicitors C o m m i ss i o n e r s f o r o a t h s c o n ta c t u s : Po b o x 6 5 9 , 5 S e c r e t a r y ’s L a n e , G i b r a l t a r Te l : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 4 9 9 8 F a x : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 3 0 7 4 email: charles@gomezco.gi w e b s i t e : w w w. g o m e z c o . g i

C l e a r Simple Legal Advice GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2008 2008 GIBRALTAR

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insurance

Yacht Terminal (Opposite Marina Bay) Opening Hours: 7 days a week 0800 - 2000 (closes 1800 winter)

Paula Coulthard, Director of Peninsula

Peninsula Underwriting announces Brit Insurance tie-up

Gibraltar

Telephone 200 48232 Fax 200 48227

For all your Fuel and Lubricant requirements

Many of the insurance needs in Gibraltar and surrounding Spain are served by the London insurance market, the largest in the world.

However due to the scale and complexities of Gibraltar business, it is sometimes difficult for Gibraltar-based intermediaries to obtain the service levels and facilities they require.

This created an opportunity in the market for Peninsula, which holds exclusive facilities with a number of A-rated UK underwriting companies, and promises to deliver service levels second to none.

Brit Insurance will provide a facility to Peninsula for Commercial Property & Liability insurance, which will be sold through intermediaries in the area alongside Peninsula’s other facilities for corporate insurances, such as Medical Malpractice, Professional Indemnity and Liability classes.

Paula Coulthard, Director of Peninsula, said: “We’re proud to have established this link with Brit Insurance. As an international financial services centre Gibraltar can only benefit from close relationships with blue chip companies such as this.”

John Curtis, International Property Class Underwriter at Brit Insurance, commented: “Gibraltar is a well-respected domicile, and we are pleased to be able to cement our connection with the territory through our relationship with Peninsula.”

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Email: eurolinx@sapphirenet.gi www.eurolinx.gi

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Jewellery

21/10/08 19:12:56

finance events

SG Hambros Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd celebrates the acquisition of ABN AMRO’s Private Banking activities in Gibraltar Following the recent acquisition of ABN Amro’s Private Banking activities in Gibraltar, SG Hambros Bank (Gibraltar) Limited, hosted a cocktail reception at the Open Air Theatre in the Botanical Gardens, on 2nd October, to celebrate the successful completion of the acquisition on 12th September 2008.

Torrential rain, for days before the event, threatened to dampen the reception yet a perfectly still and sunny evening developed to enhance the natural beauty of the theatre.

The stunning setting was transformed into a Moroccan extravaganza with marquees, décor and entertainment, delighting over 250 guests from local dignitaries, intermediaries, clients and staff.

A welcoming speech was given by Eric Barnett, SG Hambros Chief Executive Office, and local Managing Director, Emma Perez, after which drinks and exquisite canapés were served. The event was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

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The acquisition which brought in £700m of AUMs represents a significant strategic development for SG Hambros in Gibraltar and the combined business, which is approximately twice the size of the previous operation, reinforces SG Hambros’ position as one of the leading private banks in Gibraltar and one of the largest employers in the financial sector in the jurisdiction. .

This deal was completed in September of this year and followed the SG Hambros’ acquisition of ABN Amro’s London-based private banking business in December 2007. This fits with SG Private Banking’s global strategy to increase its presence in key established markets for private banking and wealth management business

through both internal and external growth.

Emma Perez says there is a critical mass that will benefit clients “who are being quite active and diversifying their investments more than they have done in the past”.

Since the formal announcement of the deal on 1 July 2008, over 50 staff drawn from different functions across the SG Hambros Group have contributed to this complex and challenging project. The migration phase of the project alone has involved over 800 internal man-days effort and well over 6000 hours have been worked in order to ensure a successful completion. This project clearly represents a major achievement and senior management pass on their thanks and congratulations to everyone involved.

The integration of the combined business is ongoing and a warm welcome is extended to the 34 staff members that have recently joined SG Hambros in Gibraltar as a result of the acquisition. For the time being, operations will be conducted from two offices in Gibraltar. However, the intention is to combine all staff into a single office location as soon as possible in 2009.

Hambro House at 32 Line Wall Road remains the registered office and the new office address, where the majority of the combined front office staff are based is Suite 731-4, Europort.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:10:42

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insurance

by Brian McCann

Director Alan Montegriffo and Managing Director John Lister of Eurolinx (Gibraltar) Ltd.

Eurolinx: More than insured Some people whose property suffered in last month’s ferocious storm soon learned Eurolinx’s 18-year dedication to service was something very real.

“The word ‘service’ is a frequently-used cliché in many cases,” said Eurolinx sales director Alan Montegriffo, “but since we founded our insurance brokerage in 1990 we have shown that to us it is a serious commitment — and that’s why customers tend to stay with us, it’s very rare for us to lose a client.”

During the period following the October storm, all of the Eurolinx customers who had a serious insurance claim were pleased when Alan turned up to see them. At first they thought he was acting as an assessor or surveyor for the insurance company, but no — he was there to make sure they knew exactly how to go about making the claim and to give them all the advice (and sympathy) they needed.

Now entering its 19th year, Eurolinx was one of the first insurance brokers in Gibraltar but it has been the combination of caring friendliness and professionalism that has made them stand out over the years.

Alan, whose personal experience in insurance goes back a long way, said that, as brokers, Eurolinx is not tied to any company, so he and his specialist staff will always find the best deal for their clients. As they say, “why spend time and money ringing around all the companies when we will do that for you at no extra charge?’’ Eurolinx also has strong links with the London insurance market, which allows them to secure better quotations through

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a broader spectrum of underwriters, a factor that has complemented their reputation for service in locating the best policies in terms of price and quality.

Mortgages are an important area where the right advice is essential, an area which also encompasses insurance needs in the form of mortgage protection, investment, and home & contents cover. While seeking to further develop the business by passporting into

Mortgages are an important area where the right advice is essential, an area which also encompasses insurance needs in the form of mortgage protection, investment, and home & contents cover

Spain and Britain, Eurolinx is committed to its continued growth within Gibraltar, and managing director John Lister said that despite Gibraltar’s limitations in size there is still a lot of scope for expansion. They are particularly looking forward to helping the purchasers of new properties throughout Gibraltar, such as Waterport Terraces.

As intermediaries, Eurolinx staff are able to sit down with the client and explain the differences between the various options in all types of insurance and mortgages, such as the difference between an endowment and a capital & interest repayment mortgage.

Every type of insurance is included in the Eurolinx service, as well as financial advice on the array of investments, pensions, savings and life cover plans available to maximize tax benefits. Thorough attention is given to these matters, and you can expect to have at least three meetings with Eurolinx while they make sure you are getting what you want and at the price you want.

The full scope of the company is too vast to list here, but you can look on page 90 of the current Yellow Pages, or go online to www. eurolinx.gi for the full story.

Eurolinx is at Suites 21/22 Victoria House in Main Street; telephone 20040240 or email eurolinx@sapphirenet.gi. Contacting them could make a big difference in your life.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:05:37

BANKING

SAVINGS

MORTGAGES

ESTATE AGENCY

Plan your financial future with a name you can trust N&P has been looking after financial needs in Gibraltar since 1990.

Find out how we can help you - drop into our branch on Main Street today.

Tel: 200 45050

Tel: 200 48532

www.npbs-gibraltar.co.uk

www.npestates.com

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission No. FSC00472A. P.O. Box 535, 198-200 Main Street, Gibraltar. Telephone: 200 45050 Fax: 200 45051 Principal Office: Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6WZ, England. Telephone: +44 01733 372372 Norwich and Peterborough Estate Agents Ltd Registered Office: Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6WZ, England. Telephone: +44 01733 372372 Company Registration No. 6304778

workplace

the most valuable thing you may ever learn

First Aid for the Workplace However stringent a company’s health and safety measures are and however seemingly safe an environment is, it is unrealistic to expect no accidents will happen in the workplace.

As an employer, having trained first aiders or appointed persons on the premises at all times is about much more than simply fulfilling your legal duty of care. By preventing minor injuries and illnesses becoming major ones, trained first aiders help reduce lost time, and cut costs. They also save lives.

St John Ambulance offers a range of quality courses in first aid including Emergency Aid for Appointed Persons and First Aid at Work. First aid by definition is medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred. It often consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and requires little technology or training to administer. Every year in Gibraltar, St John’s trains hundreds of people to provide emergency first aid, preparing them to deal with anything from a cut finger to cardiac arrest.

In fact, it is a legal requirement for all employers to have in place the sufficient number qualified first aiders as determined by their risk assessment.

At the St John’s training centre fully qualified, professional trainers combine the latest techniques with real-world experience to ensure company employees come away with relevant practical skills, not just theory. And while they may be learning first aid for their workplace unlike most other types of safety training, the skills and knowledge are also applicable to an

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individual’s daily life.

The four day First Aid at Work course covers the practical skills needed by nominated workplace first aiders, or anyone wanting a comprehensive introduction to first aid in the modern workplace. The course gives staff the confidence and knowledge to deal with first aid emergencies including accidents and illness, using a first aid kit, simple record keeping, treatment of an unconscious casualty, heart attacks,

It is about much more than simply fulfilling your legal duty of care. By preventing minor injuries and illnesses becoming major ones, trained first aiders help reduce lost time, and cut costs.

They also save lives

resuscitation, shock, choking, bleeding, burns and scalds, poisoning and fractures.

The course is compliant with the current UK Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

Upon successful completion of this course, first aiders receive an HSE ‘First Aid at Work’ certificate to allow them to practise for three years after which a requalification course becomes necessary. Requalification is a shorter two day course.

Skills/Practice Sessions are available (and recommended) for all courses throughout the three year period of qualification.

To combat skills fade, St John’s recommends candiates attend a two hour refresher session at least once during the three year period as a qualified first aider but, to keep skills really sharp, every 9-12 months is preferred.

The one day Emergency Aid for Appointed Persons course is ideal for very small workplaces that present few health and safety risks, where a nominated or appointed person is required to take charge in the event of an illness or accident. Appointed persons are also used as support to First Aiders.

Candidates learn basic lifesaving first aid and workplace health and safety regulations including Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations, managing an incident, the priorities of first aid, treatment of an unconscious casualty, resuscitation, shock, bleeding, common work-

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:04:19

workplace

place injuries.

Once your employees are First Aid qualified and are confident about using their First Aid skills, they will need a professional First Aid kit to make the most of them. First Aid kits and refill items for these are also available from St John.

First aiders will be fully trained to ensure they know all the requirements for your business. You never know, it might be your life they save.

More information on courses and first aid from St John House, Training Centre Tel: 200 77390 or visit www.stjohn.gi

First aiders will be fully trained to ensure they know all the requirements for your business. You never know, it might be your life they save

The Specialist Medical Clinic

New in Gibraltar. Fast, reliable, medical care by accredited UK, Gibraltar and Spanish based consultants, available on your doorstep from specialists with international experience.

•

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Aesthetic Surgery

Breast augmentation/reduction Eye lid and facial surgery Hand surgery Nerve releases/carpal tunnel Prominent ear correction Torn earlobes Tummy tucks

Bariatric/Obesity Surgery

Balloons Gastric Bands Gastric By-pass

•

Cardiology

•

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General Surgery

Abdominal surgery including gall stones Breast surgery Hernia Lumps and Bumps removal Peri-anal problems Varicose veins Vasectomy & Circumcision

•

Neurology

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Oncology

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Orthopaedic Surgery

General Medicine

Diabetes/Endocrinology Gastroenterology Respiratory medicine

Unit F7 1st Floor, ICC Building Casemates Square Gibraltar

For more information visit us at www.smg.gi or come to see us between 10.00 – 18.00 Mon to Fri 10.00 – 12.00 Saturday

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Rheumatology

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Radiology

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Sports Injuries

•

Urology

4-D Baby scans Abdominal scans Breast Ultrasound CT scan reviews Echo-cardiology Gynaecological scans MRI scan reviews Soft tissue scanning Ultrasound scanning X-Ray film reviews

Phone 00 350 2004 9999 Fax 00 350 2004 9999 e-mail info@smg.gi web www.smg.gi

Part of the Specialist Medical Group, a Gibraltar Limited Company

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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natural history

by Bernard Capurro

The Unexpected Guest

seen such a beast. Luckily there was a camera on board, and once they had regained their composure they had plenty of time to take a couple of snaps before it let go, having presumably decided that yellow fibreglass was not as tasty as it looked.

On his return home, Aaron searched for ‘sea eel’ on the Internet. Having looked at countless eels, swimming, cooked, jellied or peeping out of caves, he finally recognised the distinctive line of seven holes behind the eye of a Lamprey.

He googled ‘lamprey’ and there on his screen was his new acquaintance sucking the life out of a salmon. Other pictures showed the gruesome mouth he had nearly swum with earlier that day.

Like the salmon, the lamprey is a marine species that returns to rivers to spawn. It stops feeding when in fresh water and heads upstream in search of gravel beds in which to lay its eggs.

Measuring up to a metre in length, this slimy critter is no eel, but a primitive ancestor of the shark, and like the shark, it has a skeleton made of flexible cartilage. It has no jaws though, and uses its sucker-like mouth to attach itself to its prey. It grinds away the skin with an armoury of teeth and sucks the blood. The seven holes on each side are its gills. Young lamprey can live in riverbed silt for up to six years before finally turning into adults and migrating to sea.

If you can ignore its appearance, the lamprey is apparently very good to eat. King Henry I is said to have died from a ‘surfeit of lamprey’, his favourite dish.

The call of ‘suppertime’ cut short Aaron’s internet search. His face fell as he got to the table. Fish!

It was an idyllic Sunday afternoon in September. Aaron Matto was sailing his 13-foot dinghy just off the detached mole; the gentle breeze fanning him and his crew of two. Jordan lazily dropped his hand over the side, and felt the water flow between his fingers. He looked down, and jerked his hand back up.

“Vaya el bicho que se ha pegado aqui atras!” A snake-like creature seemed to have taken a bite at the Transom, and was holding on. It was as long as his arm.

The other two looked over the stern to see the uninvited hitchhiker, and nearly joined it in the water as the small boat lurched under their moving weight. None of them had ever

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The Lamprey is a primitive ancestor of the shark, and like the shark, it has a skeleton made of flexible cartilage

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:04:34

health & safety

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history

Gunner Strange became Canadian Hero

by Reg Reynolds

Last month in Gibraltar Magazine I wrote about Sgt. Lindsay of the Royal Artillery who distinguished himself at Gibraltar and in the wild west of Canada. I found his story in a book titled Gunner Jingo’s Jubilee, the autobiography of Thomas Bland Strange.

Strange was Sgt Lindsay’s battery commander at Gibraltar and so I figured there had to be a story there. I found a book about him titled Jingo by James Lamb (Macmillan, Canada 1992). Strange’s story turned out to be far more dramatic than I could have imagined and I was utterly surprised to learn that he played a major role in the putting down of the Northwest Rebellion, the most infamous rebellion in Canadian history.

Thomas Bland Strang (the ‘e’ was added so often by army clerks that he found it easier to accept than to complain) was born in Meerut, India to a Scottish Colonel and his Anglo-Irish wife. The family had a long military history and it was a forgone conclusion that the boy would join the army. A tall, skinny youth, Thomas attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, London, passed out near the top of his class in 1851 and was awarded a commission in the 1st Artillery Regiment.

Thomas had been such an enthusiastic and patriotic student that a classmate gave him the nickname of ‘Jingo’ taken from the music hall song of the time: “We don’t want to fight, but, by Jingo, if we do, We’ve got ships, we’ve got men, we’ve got the money too!

The nickname proved perfectly apt and stuck with him for the rest of his life. Letters addressed to Lieutenant Jingo would be delivered without delay to wherever he might be posted.

The first posting turned out to be Gibraltar, which at the time was undergoing extensive alteration and strengthening of its defences. In

his A History of Gibraltar, Capt. J. Sayer wrote: “No civilian concerns were allowed to impede the strengthening works; the Rock was a fortress, first and foremost, and the civil town a mere appendage, so that any building obstructing a clear line of fire was pulled down, and gun muzzles peeped from the most unlikely places in orchards or gardens.”

Strange was quartered in the Moorish Castle but his second home became the magnificent Garrison Library which is much the same today as it was when he would retire there to study technical journals and read books on Gibraltar history.

As well as enjoying cerebral pursuits young Lt. Strange was very athletic and he enjoyed boxing (often with Sgt. Lindsay of last month’s article) rock climbing and riding with the Calpe Hunt.

Twice during his stay at Gibraltar Strange had brushes with death. On the first occasion he and four artillery subalterns went sailing in a small yacht. They were caught in a gale off the Barbary Coast and were marooned near Tetuan. The local Pasha placed them under guard. They were at liberty to wander about until they could find passage home but they would have to pay for ‘protection’.

The young men had no money and were forced to survive on whatever game they could shoot. One day while they were out hunting they came upon a Bedouin wedding procession winding through the hills. Infuriated that their women had been seen by ‘Faringi’ the Bedouin men opened fire and the lads had to flee for their lives.

Strange was quartered in the Moorish Castle but his second home became the magnificent Garrison Library which is much the same today.

Twice during his stay at Gibraltar Stange had brushes with death 56

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history In time a small trading ship arrived in port and the Captain agreed to pay their ransom and transport them back to Gibraltar in return for payment on arrival.

The second time Strange nearly bought the farm was during gunnery practice. His Alameda-based battery was training with ‘red-hot’ shot (made famous for its effectiveness during the Great Siege). This was a dangerous procedure as only a wet wad separated the red-hot cannon ball from the propellant gunpowder.

Any delay in firing could result in the ball burning through the wad and igniting the powder. This happened to the gun next to Strange’s. Fortunately Strange was saved from the full force of the explosion by a large tree.

He was stunned and temporarily deafened but otherwise unhurt.

The unlucky subaltern in command of the burst gun was crushed and painfully wounded but calmly lit a cigar and directed the surgeon to attend to his crew before letting them see to his own wounds.

While in Gibraltar Strange learned to speak Spanish, he liked to say with the help of several “charming, dark-skinned dictionaries”. When he got his first extensive leave he decided to travel through Spain in the guise of a Spanish gentleman. Don Quixote-like, with his lanky frame atop a large stallion he travelled through, Estepona, Marbella, Fuengirola, Malaga, Granada and then Cordoba before returning via Ronda. Everywhere he was treated kindly by the locals but they weren’t fooled by his clothes or his Spanish and nicknamed him ‘el loco Inglese’.

From Gibraltar Strange was shipped to India and fought in the Indian Mutiny taking part in the relief of Lucknow. With peace restored he was sent to the Punjab to train artillerymen.

His gun teams soon became noted for their speed and accuracy in the field. The region was very hot and dry and Strange came down with a bad case of ague. He was given sick leave and took the opportunity to travel through the Himalayas, becoming one of the first Europeans to visit Tibet.

Strange returned from his travels healthier and happier and returned to gunnery training.

He also met and married Maria Taylor, the widow of a fellow soldier. Their marriage would last 50 years and produce five children.

Following the wedding Strange was posted back to Woolwich and in 1871was promoted to major. He was 40-years-old and married with two children but could see there was little chance for further advancement in a peacetime army so, when he was offered the job of organizing a regular army for the new (July 1, 1867) country of Canada he accepted without hesitation.

Strange brought the traditions of the Royal Artillery with him to Canada and urged the Government in Ottawa to institute a military college. This finally came into being in 1876 with the opening of the Royal Military College at Kingston, Ontario.

After ten years in the service of Canada Strange had reached the rank of Major General and was respected throughout the young country. Then out of the blue he got a letter from England informing him that he must resign his Canadian post or lose his British Army pension.

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Strange had no intention of leaving Canada and he appealed the decision but to no avail.

In order to preserve his pension he resigned his commission but angry and disillusioned quit the Army, moved his family out west to Alberta and became a rancher.

In the years that Strange was making a success out of managing the horse ranch a feeling of rebellion was fomenting in the Metis community (descendents of European trappers and native women), of what is today southern Manitoba. Their leader was Louis Riel, the son of a Scandinavian father and Irish-native mother. Riel had made a petition to the Conservative Government of John A. Macdonald (Canada’s Father of Confederation) seeking property rights and formation of an independent state. In 1869, without approval, Riel announced the formation of a provisional Government. Foolishly he quickly threw away any hope of gaining acceptance from Ottawa by ordering the execution a government official named Thomas Scott. The Northwest Mounted Police were sent to arrest Riel but he escaped to the United States where he remained in exile for sixteen years.

Returning north of the border in 1885, this time to Saskatchewan, Riel rallied his people and convinced Indian chiefs Poundmaker and Big Bear, leaders of a total of 9,000 natives, to join in an armed uprising. The Rebels scored initial success at the Battle of Duck Lake where

Strange brought the traditions of the Royal Artillery with him to Canada and urged the Government in Ottawa to institute a military college. This finally came into being in 1876

they killed nine soldiers of a volunteer army.

That was the situation when Strange received a telegram from an old friend, Adolphe Caron, who was now Minister of Militia for Canada.

It read: “March 29, 1885. Can you get up corps?

Would like to see you in the front again. Trust you as ever. Arms and ammunition will be sent upon a telegram from you?”

Strange put together a force from the cowboys on the ranch and reported for duty to General Middleton who was commanding the Militia. Middleton decided to split his small army of about 1200 men into three divisions.

He would lead the main force northwest to Batoche, the seat of the rebellion. A second force, under Lt-Col. William Otter, was to secure the key town of North Battleford while Strange’s task was to track down Big Bear, capture him and liberate any prisoners. It was belieed Big Bear had taken captives after sacking and burning the Hudson’s Bay Company posts at Fort Pitt and Frog Lake. Nine people, including women, had been killed at Frog Lake. Some had been scalded and burned before death, four had been beheaded and the body of one woman, arms and legs cut off, was found at the bottom of a well.

Strange’s force met up with Major Sam Steele of the Mounted Police. Steele had been tracking Big Bear and he led the way to the Indian encampment on the top of a small hill at Frenchman’s Creek. Strange estimated the enemy force to be about 500 strong and it would have been suicidal to attack uphill over open ground. So ‘Gunner Jingo’ did what you would have expected and opened fire with artillery. This fire was so effective that the Indians withdrew leaving the prisoners behind.

Meanwhile, Middleton, who had captured Riel at Batoche, arrived and took command of the encampment.

After a weeks of being hunted through woods and marshland by hundreds of police and militia a dejected and hungry Big Bear surrendered to an astonished lone Mountie who had been left to guard a ferry slip at Fort Carleton.

The Northwest Rebellion ended with Big Bear sentenced to life in prison (he was released after serving a token term) and Louis Riel being tried as a traitor and hanged.

Things didn’t go well for Strange either.

The British Army informed him that because he had been employed by a colonial power he had forfeited his pension. To make matters worse the corporation fired him from his job as manager of the ranch.

At loose ends for the first time in his life Strange returned to England where he found a job as a salesman for Maxim machine guns. He made his first sale in person to King Kalakua of the Cook Islands. He lived for a time in Ireland but returned to England at the outbreak of World War I. Thomas ‘Gunner Jingo’ Strange drew his last breath at Camberley, west of London, on July 9, 1925. He was 93 years old.

Despite his contributions to the Canadian military and the opening of the Canadian northwest the only memorials to Strange are the small railway siding of Strangmuir, Alberta and Strange Hall in the Canadian Forces Base at Shilo, Manitoba.

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That Nail Place

ELOY PIÑERO MORENO

JEWELLERY REPAIRS

Nail Extensions DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA DIGITAL CAMERA - MOBILE PHONES - GPS - PDA ACCESSORIES

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Unit F22A 1st Floor, ICC. Tel: 200 73211

~ Visit The Two Best Pubs In Town ~

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Fresh Homemade Food from Breakfasts and Jackets to Entrecote Steak and Battered Cod

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Tel: 200 77444

g5 Hearty Tunnellers’ Charcoal Grill Pasta, Breakfast (until midday), Sizzling Dishes, Light Bites, Salads, Baguettes, kid’s menu etc 8 Casemates Sq Tel: 200 74946

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open12 noon till late Unit 2 B The Tower Marina BayTel: 46668

Sacha’s

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

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Artists’ Corner

Oil & Watercolours, hand-painted silks, decoupage, jewellery, prints & framing

Tel: 200 59700 Tel: 200 50020

58-59map.indd 36

Kiosk No. 2 5 Waterport Wharf Tel: 200 47587www.gibraltararts.com

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THE TASTY BITE 59A Irish Town Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321

Quality Kitchen Ware Gibraltar’s Best Stocked Cook Shop k8

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Homecooking . our speciality .

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46 Irish Town Tel: 200 75188 Fax: 200 72653

Open Monday to Saturday

the silver shop

for beautiful silver jewellery & gifts 3 locations in gibraltar casemates arcade • 275 main st horse barrack lane

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Seabreeze Launderette

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Irish Town Antiques

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Marina Bay Washing, Drying, Ironing Free Collection and Delivery in Gibraltar Boat Valeting, House/Apartment Cleaning by Professional Trained Staff Tel: 200 47559 / 54023397

Accountants Durante Carboni Jardim..............w6 ESV Hassan & Co........................h7 GA Olivera Accountants.............m7 Business/Financial Services AI Couriers (DHL).......................k6 Barclays Bank.............................m7 GibraltarAssetManagement..........l8 Jyske Bank...................................k7 Masbro Insurance........................m7 Mossack Fonseca.........................a6 Sovereign Trust...........................m7 Business Services Call Centre...................................v6 Datatec.........................................g9 Global Business Centre................ r6 JD Web Solutions.........................p5 PointOne....................................d10 Waste Management......................z8 Business Supplies Beacon Press................................n9 Glasshouse..................................m8 Image Graphics...........................m7 Stitch Design................................p6

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Car Sales A. M. Capurro & Sons Ltd ......... n9 Computers & Cableing Image Graphics...........................m7 Newton Systems.........................m5 PC Clinic...................................... u6 Food & Drink 14 on the Quay............................. c8 Al Baraka..................................... x9 Barbary Ape................................ A5 All Sports Bar ............................. n5 Birdie Cafe Restaurant............... d10 The Boatyard................................ y9 Buddies Pasta Casa...................... p7 Cafe Rojo......................................l8 Café Solo...................................... g6 Casa Pepe..................................... z9 Fresh ........................................... g7 Garcia’s Take-Away..................... c3 Gauchos Restaurant......................f8 Get Joost.................................h6, r7 Get Stuffed................................... a5 House of Sacarello........................l8 Just-a-Nibble.................................i7 Just Desserts..................................i7

184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun) Khans...........................................c10 Lord Nelson.................................. h5 Mumtaz......................................... n5 El Patio.......................................... g8 Picadilly Gardens.......................... b6 Pickwicks Bar............................... q6 Pig and Whistle Bar.................... d10 Pusser’s Landing . .........................c8 Royal Calpe................................... p8 Smiths Fish and Chips.................. v6 Solo Express................................. h7 Star Bar.......................................... j7 The Three Roses........................... q5 Time Out...................................... j12 Waterfront..................................... y9 Funeral Services Codali Funeral Services................ u6 Hair & Beauty Salons Classic Cuts.................................. m6 Extend-it Plus................................ n7 Joya’s Gents Hairdressers............. n7 Renaissance Beauty....................... j7 Roots..............................................s7 Short Cut........................................ i9 Sissi Salon..................................... h7

Jewellery Sales/Repair Jewellery Repairs.......................... k6 Mathew’s Jewellery.......................i6 Leisure Complete Fitness............................r6 Dolphin Safari............................... a6 Rock Turf Accountants ���������������� h5 Shoreleave......................................l6 Legal Services Budhrani Lawyers......................... k7 Charles Gomez...............................t8 Hassans......................................... q9 Isolas............................................. e7 S. ffrench-Davis............................ n5 Triay & Triay................................ k8 Medical / Health Bell Pharmacy..............................m6 Claudia’s Clinic............................. 26 Dr. Crump, Steven, Chiropractor h7 Gib-Lab...................................... h 7 Gtec Maritime Training................ a5 Health Food Store......................... o7 Louis Pharmacy............................ h7 M. Clark Dentist.............................t5

k8

Irish Town Tel: 200 70411

McTimoney chiropractor............. k7 John Miles - Chiropodist.............. k9 Smart Puls Centre......................... i9 Specialist Medical Clinic............. h7 Sport-On - Sports Therapy........... q7 Steiner Chiropractor..................... k9 Pet Services / Supplies Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic...........h7 Property Sales / Estate Agents1 Bray Property............................... n7 Norwich & Peterborough............. p7 Seekers......................................... k6 Solomon Levy . ........................... u6 Property Services Balban (electrician)...................... h5 Balloqui . ..................................... o6 LP Borge......................................w6 CIAP............................................ m8 Denville Designs........................... l6 Fashion House Interiors............... q5 Gibstainless.................................c10 Greenarc.......................................w7 Larbi upholstery........................... q6

Seabreeze Laundry...................... a5 Space Interiors.............................i6 Shopping — General Anuska........................................ 87 Arcade Keys.................................j7 Baby Love................................... h7 Flair............................................m6 Gallery Mosaic...........................m8 Sheppard’s Chandlery................. d7 Terry’s........................................m8 Woodstock & Wembley............. j7 Shopping — Fashion/Clothing Esprit........................................... d7 Hot Gossip.................................. 06 Recruitment Atlas.............................................l6 RecruitGibraltar.......................... n9 Quad.............................................t5 Wemploy..................................... k6 Transport / Marine Services Autoelectrical............................ c10 Shell Bunkering.......................... h8 Tarik Oil.................................... c10

Map adapted from an original by DM Parody ©

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Sports Trophies, Awards & Engravers

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58-59map.indd 37

GIBRALTAR BOOKSHOP

BAR NOW OPEN 8.30 - midnight Breakfast from 8.30-10am

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22/10/08 13:03:03

issues

wasted

Gibraltar’s households produce more waste than the average, so Jon Lewes looks at the Gibraltar Waste Strategy and the Gibraltar Climate Change Programme to find out what steps are to be taken to reduce the quantity of waste.

The town of Osnabrück in Germany requires by law not only that every householder must be active in recycling but also, following the permanent closure in 2006 of all landfill sites in Germany, domestic refuse waste should be separated by the householder.

Gibraltar may need to follow the Osnabrück example because in Gibraltar, according to the Gibraltar Climate Change Programme, “the average person disposes of more than three quarters of a tonne of municipal waste per year.

This is higher than the average amount disposed of by most developed European countries and shows that better practices need to be employed both at home and at work so as to minimise waste production.”

This average amount of waste produced annually by households in Gibraltar is equivalent

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to some five kilos a day per household, which contrasts unfavourably with the figure of three kilos per day of other European households — neither figure may sound high but each year, across the whole of Europe, it results in a total of nearly 250 million tonnes of municipal waste requiring appropriate treatment, somehow and

In Gibraltar, according to the Gibraltar Climate Change Programme, “the average person disposes of more than three quarters of a tonne of municipal waste per year”

somewhere, and year on year even more waste is being produced.

The Gibraltar Climate Change Programme goes on to point out that “contrary to popular belief, the sorting component of recycling is already taking place in Gibraltar for certain types of waste. This includes batteries, oils, cardboard, metals and refrigerators... Environmental representatives should therefore make sure that these materials enter the appropriate waste stream and that they are not disposed of incorrectly”.

The Government’s Gibraltar Waste Strategy has brought on to the streets of Gibraltar in May this year, colour-coded bins into which householders are asked to place steel/aluminium and glass — the best method to use to deal with domestic food waste in still in the process of consultation.

Meanwhile, householders are getting to know that the green-coloured bins are to be used for ”glass bottles, drinking glasses, tumblers and jars only” and the yellow bins for “aluminium and steel drink cans, steel food tins, household aerosols and clean aluminium foil as well as the metal bottle tops and metal lids from the glass bottles and jars”.

The Ministry also tells householders that “In terms of the actual location of the recycling bins, it should be stressed that this involves a process of trial and error whereby Government will identify those areas where there is a larger demand for containers and in doing so will have to relocate its resources accordingly.

The size of the bins and the collection vehicle is also a limiting factor prohibiting the bins being placed in certain areas around Gibraltar.

Nevertheless the bins are meant to be disposal points rather than the standard litter bins which are found throughout Gibraltar. The location of the recycling bins is therefore under close review with the intention of providing the best possible service for recycling tin and glass in Gibraltar.”

Suggestions are being made that it may be more efficient in terms of time and results to haul all the unsorted household waste off to a separation facility and let the waste be separated more efficiently by skilled workers, rather than taking up the time of individual householders as they muddle through the sorting process. This is the approach taken by the local authorities of Osnabruck — “to encourage imaginative and environmental attitudes in its citizens, yellow sacks are issued free to householders, in which to collect plastics, synthetics, tins and mixed material cartons and containers which are then collected by the local authority on set dates”. The yellow sacks are collected and taken for sorting at the recycling centre.

Any system of recycling used may well ensure that the waste figures are not rising even faster but one commentator in UK, Tim Worstall, writing in the Guardian, comments, “Do the benefits of recycling justify the time it takes?” He refers to the question by the UKip MP, Dr Bob Spink, put to the UK environment secretary, “What estimate has been made of the average time per year spent by a household in sorting and recycling rubbish.” The answer came back from Jane Kennedy, minister of state in the department, “No such estimate has been made”.

Nevertheless, whichever method or collection process is used for dealing with the waste that can be recycled, the question remains as

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issues to how best to collect and dispose of domestic and catering food waste — leaving the waste in a bag or bin awaiting collection once a week is not a healthy option during a hot Gibraltar summer. Food waste from the home which could be composted, rather than be thrown away with the main rubbish, makes up 30% of the waste generated by an average European household. When mixed with other materials in landfill sites green waste has the potential to produce polluting liquids along with methane gases which contribute to global warming, while good composting on the other hand can produce valuable nutrients which can be passed back into earth. Composting units alongside the colour-coded recycling bins may be one viable system, units similar to the Jora units used in Scandinavia, to generate enough compost annually to become a viable product for sale or reuse in public green areas.

The waste management model used by the Gibraltar’s Ministry for the Environment shows the most favoured options for effective and efficient management of the community’s waste to be “prevention, minimisation and reuse” and the least favoured options are “recycling,

energy recovery, disposal”. At the 39th British Islands & Mediterranean Region Conference May 2008, hosted by Gibraltar, and focused on the Environment and Climate Change, it was made clear “the best option is simply to reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place, an option which requires an imaginative and environmentally conscious society... reducing waste produced is perhaps one of the best indicators of our progress towards sustainable development”.

Reduce and Reuse is where the emphasis now

“the best option is simply to reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place, an option which requires an imaginative and environmentally conscious society...”

lies, to reduce the quantities to recycle, but, as the government makes clear in its report, Gibraltar Waste Strategy - An overview of the existing situation, burn is to be the solution: “the smaller communities like Gibraltar have difficulties in complying with all EU requirements on waste...

Historically this has been realised through the operation of an energy-from-waste plant although the unplanned closure of the facility in the year 2000 resulted in Gibraltar having to review its waste management strategy and temporarily substituting energy-from-waste with landfill. Most of our municipal waste produced today therefore ends up in the Complejo Medioambiental Sur de Europa — a waste complex, located in neighbouring Spain”.

Because the availability of the waste complex may soon come to an end because of the EU Landfill Directive that will reduce and eventually stop the amounts of waste that can be landfilled, the Ministry of the Environment has decided that “After careful consideration of the various options it is Gibraltar’s intention to replace the old incinerator with a new state-ofthe-art energy from waste plant at the previous incinerator site.”

tackling the waste issue - bit by bit The best way to manage waste is to not produce it in the first place, here are some tips for reducing your waste without too much effort.

Use re-useable shopping bags It’s incredibly easy to lower your carbon footprint by minimising your use of disposable plastic and paper bags. Both are bad for the environment, and both can be avoided.

Reusable bags are for sale at Morrisons and throughout town.

Proactive recycling - precyling!

Precycling is preventing waste before it happens, i.e. you’re being proactive about how much waste you’re going to produce.

By reducing, reusing and buying products carefully, your can minimise the amount of waste you create as well as conserving resources. eg: Do you need a plastic bag for one courgette?

Buy recycled materials Taking stuff for recycling is only half the battle,

it’s important to also buy products made with recycled material content such as toilet roll. In case you are wondered recycled toilet paper is made from used high quality printer paper.

Switch from bottled to tap water Bottled water is many times more expensive than tap water. Plastic bottles are harmful for the environment due to their inability to break down in a sensible time frame, not to mention the huge energy costs in production and shipping of water bottles. In Gibraltar, tap water quality is exceptionally high and there’s no real reason to use bottled water — purchase a water filter instead to get taint-free drinking water.

Ditch your coffee cups Use a mug instead, or reuse styrofoam cups several times. It’s not much, but simply changing the way you have your morning coffee can have

a real impact on the amount of waste you send to the landfill.

Compost your food waste Composting your food waste is a very easy way to save the earth and there are many benefits. Go to www.wigglywigglers. co.uk for information. Also look out for the “compostible” logo on food packaging, even if you don’t compost directly these plastics and boards will decompose harmlessly in landfill.

Printout Only When Essential Print from your computer only when you really need to — at home and at work. If you do print, try to use both sides of the paper.

Use Storage Containers Use re-usable containers for storing leftover food – instead of clingfilm and foil.

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Tel: 200 74352 Fax: 200 40304 e-mail: sales@beaconpress.gi web: www.thebeaconpress.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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memorabilia

by Brian McCann

Look What I’ve Found A signed football shirt or even an autographed football itself?

Or perhaps a star’s guitar is more to your taste?

Well, the authentic guitar line at Woodstock & Wembley includes one autographed by Pink Floyd which could be yours for £500, or perhaps a Barcelona shirt signed by half the team, which you could take home for £200.

I say ‘could’ because there isn’t much that sits around for long at the Woodstock & Wembley Memorabilia shop, run by Londoner Nick Green.

Nick and his wife Wendy only started the business in June, but while I was visiting the shop there was a constant stream of people making enquiries or buying from the stock.

And before I left, in marched none less than the Mayor of Gibraltar, Solomon ‘Momy’ Levy. This wasn’t his first visit either, and I got the impression it wouldn’t be his last. The great attraction for Momy was the plethora of signed Arsenal photos, a team that he is devoted to.

There are all sorts of football gear, almost equally matched by musical items – many with certificates confirming their origin; exceptions include some of the smaller novelty items, such as miniature guitars or Fender plectrums which have no special provenance but are very popular with the public. Other sporting memorabilia in the shop includes boxing gloves as well as Superbike, Formula 1 and World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly WWF) photos and other paraphernalia.

Woodstock & Wembley Memorabilia is a small shop in Don House Arcade, but it’s bright, neat and well filled with items of interest. However, much of Nick’s trade does not lie in goods waiting to be sold: people regularly come in and

Other items of interest in the shop include an American guitar signed by Slash, former lead guitarist of Guns ‘n’ Roses, which can be yours for only £750

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ask him if he can get hold of a particular item, usually sporting or musical but also for various other categories. Nick has a high success rate in tracking down the required items through his network of contacts, and only charges if he finds what the customer wants. ‘It’s no find, no fee,’ he told me. ‘I really enjoy sourcing the goods and have provided plenty so far for people in Gibraltar, and some of the items have been quite rare.’

The pieces in stock in the shop are less rare but attract many sports, music and movie fans and are also suitable for tourists who can’t wait for an order. ‘A lot of tourists buy things here as original souvenirs that they or their friends back home will definitely appreciate,’ Nick said, and there is also a steady stream of visitors who take advantage of the shop’s worldwide delivery service for items that are too big to take with them. This service has also been used by local people who want to send an article as a gift to someone in another country.

Signed LPs are a feature of the shop, with autographed vinyl discs in their original covers by stars such as Eric Clapton, Tina Turner and Jon Bon Jovi, as well as signed photos by more modern stars such as those in the exceptionally popular hit High School Musical.

On one occasion he sold a Rolling Stones double album at an average price, and was amazed when the customer told him why he’d bought it. ‘There was a fire in the UK factory that made the records, so they went to Ireland to continue production for a couple of weeks and this was one of those rare ones that were made there,’ said Nick. ‘The customer knew – but I didn’t!’ He happily admits that there are serious bargains to be found in his shop by astute memorabilia collectors such as the one just mentioned.

Other items of interest in the shop include an American guitar signed by Slash, former lead guitarist of Guns ‘n’ Roses, which can be yours for only £750, or as a great gift for a fan.

Talking of gifts, popular demand had led to Nick and Wendy providing Gift Vouchers. These can be for any value and will solve many a present problem. If you know the recipient is into

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memorabilia any of the subjects covered (although I haven’t been able to mention everything) then this is the way to ensure they get exactly what they want.

The vouchers are available now at face value – no surcharge.

Nick is planning on bringing in some brand new guitars for Christmas - a guitarist himself, he feels there should be more choice for local musicians and is happy to do his bit to help.

Having a last look around at the goods in stock, before they are snapped up, I saw a Fernando Torres football boot which came with a photo of him signing that same piece of professional footwear; a rare playable Jon Bon Jovi and a whole wall covered with autographed LP made of platinum, a signed Joe Trohman football photos. (lead guitar to The Fall Out Boy) limited edition Nick asked me to mention that he often guitar, Beatles discs that had been gold-plated obtains collectors’ items for a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary, and, with Christmas coming up, he wants to emphasis the importance of leaving enough time for him to source a special order and get it to Gibraltar.

If it’s something that’s not in stock then you shouldn’t leave it later than mid-November ­— earlier if possible.

Woodstock & Wembley Memorabilia is in the Don House Arcade; it’s just inside the arcade on the right as you enter from Main Street. It’s open from 10.30 to 6.30, Monday to Friday; and the number for any enquiries is 200 52533, email Nickgreen.fab@hotmail.com. Nick and Wendy are also working on an on-line store, so watch out for the announcement when it opens.

The final word came from Nick, who emphasised that browsers are as welcome as buyers. “I think it’s great that I’m doing a job that is also a hobby I love; and I’m always happy to chat to people about it.”

Signed LPs are a feature of the shop, with autographed vinyl discs in their original covers by stars such as Eric Clapton, Tina Turner & Jon Bon Jovi

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Nick Green of Woodstock & Wembley

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music

Surianne next year. Then in June she performed on the Unplugged stage of the London International Music Show, sharing the stage with the likes of Dominic Miller ­— more commonly known as Sting’s guitarist.

Her growing experience within the London music scene (she’s played support to Suzanne Vega, Steve Balsamo and the Gibraltar group, Breed77) and her unique style derived from a blend of various cultures, have now taken her into the finals for a coveted place at the Media and Industry show at the Maldives Music Carnival.

Her work is cut out though. To win the UK finals the group need to be placed in the top

To win the UK vote, Surianne needs to be placed in the top 5 from the audience vote and then convince a panel of judges from top names in the music industry.

It’s a well know fact that there’s a wealth of talent on the local music scene, and Surianne is part of that wealth. As a singer and songwriter based in London, she’s recently made it through to the finals of the Jar Music “Maldives UK Breakout Festival” showcase being held on 16th November playing main stage at the Carling Academy in Islington, London.

Surianne plays a mix of acoustic, Latin, rock and flamenco music and being self-managed is currently in the process of recording a new EP with her group of talented band mates originating from Brazil and Spain: Adrian on acoustic guitar; Bononi, acoustic bass and Christian percussion and cajon (a flamenco rhythm box).

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five positions from the audience vote out of the 12 finalists. Then, the top five bands will be put to a panel of judges made up from top names in the music industry: VMTV, MTV Asia, Interscope, U Music, AMG Live Nation, Helter Skelter, AOL to name a few. Between them they will make the final decision on which band is most complete and capable to enter the Maldives festival.

The reward for winning? A trip to the Maldives to play in the festival, the opportunity to release a single, valuable publicity in the US and Asia and UK support dates coupled with touring with the Carling Academy right across the UK. The British leg of the competition in Islington will be held on 16th November at 6pm, and if you happen to be in the area and would like to give Surianne some local support tickets are priced at £8.50. You can order them through her by email: surianne@surianne.com You can find out more and keep track of how she’s doing at www.surianne.com, www.myspace.com/ surianne and www.youtube.com/suriannerocks

2008 has proved to be a busy and eventful year for Surianne. Back in April she collaborated with UK DJ & producer, Clive Mead, where she co-wrote Blue Tears and Did you love me, two tracks which form part of his debut album Atlanta, with a down-tempo/lounge/electronic music feel, which will be released in the UK GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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BFA

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photo: Prem Mahtani

rescue

The Fedra at the moment of impact — she later broke in two

MV Fedra Disaster

behindthescenes This month we take a peek behind a totally different scene, a real life scenario, one of danger and threat to life, a real disaster partly caused by mother nature. Of course we refer to the recent tanker accident where the MV Fedra dragged its anchors and crashed into Europa Point.

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by Claudia Schiel This article solely covers the evening of the event — and all the effort put in by the civilian teams present through that night — to bring to the foreground some of the people who where involved in the rescue of the Fedra’s crew.

These people put in their all without question, and remained in the background, as for them just being able to make something possible was enough reward. We thought it only fair they too should be mentioned to make the general public aware of what a big part these background people play. In so many different scenarios, and various situations, you will always find them, giving everything of themselves with very little exposure — they rarely get the chance to take a bow at curtains down.

Having heard from a good source about Elias Tapiero’s involvement, I felt it was a story worth highlighting. After managing to contact Elias at Steelmac, he very kindly agreed to meet to give us the opportunity to be lead through this, his very personal experience, of that dreadful stormy windy night in October.

But contrary to what I set out to do — to tell Elias’s story — things turned out slightly differently as he would not allow me to mention him without mentioning all the other civilians who were involved.

“We were a team and we all worked together,” he said.

Impressed by this man’s modesty I continued the interview. So this is what happened and how it all went, seen through Elias’s eyes.

It was Friday evening and therefore the Jewish day of Shabbat. Being Jewish Elias was at home with all telephone connections switched off. Titan Salvage the company which co-ordinated the operation therefore had to call Richard Martin from Steelmac, who personally went to Elias’s house to tell him of the disaster at hand.

Elias immediately set about arranging for a special crane to be brought to Gibraltar, which was essential to the rescue of the crew.

To achieve this on a Friday evening and at such short notice was not the easiest of tasks, yet he managed to get hold of the owner of the Spanish company Euro Gruas, which he also feels needs to be given a big mention.

Jose Antonio Perez owner of Euro Gruas, without any hesitation or even questioning the form of payment, responded positively and immediately to Elias’s plea of help.

Having arranged the crane he then had to make other essential arrangements. There had to be a police escort ready to accompany the crane, he had to get the go ahead from the Chief Minister to bring the crane into Gibraltar and to have the escort waiting for it — a 160 ton crane can hardly drive through Gibraltar streets on it’s own, can it now.

Everything was done under a lot of pressure and time was of an essence. The fact this special crane arrived in Gibraltar only one hour after Elias started to get everything on the road, is really not far from a record.

So with the crane in Gibraltar things could get underway, but due to the wind being too strong at this point, frustratingly everything had to be delayed until around 7pm when the operation began.

Visibility was near to zero, and the task of lowering the special metal cages down to the ship was a real challenge. The harsh wind together with the powerful spray of water was only part of the problem, the other was the sand

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rescue and the many stones being carried around by the storm. Conditions not many of the public can imagine, but conditions that were endured by the rescue workers.

Elias said we need to thank one person (who we don’t know the name of), who managed to get 50 goggles in the early hours of the morning to aid the rescuers’ visibility. This made things so much easier and improved everyone’s vision.

Elias emphasised ‘‘You cannot imagine what a difference these goggles made to us.”

Proof once again, that even the smaller and simpler actions are crucial.

The Spanish rescue helicopter on the scene had to make an emergency landing, leaving their scuba diver behind on the ship. He was brought up in one of the cages from the crane and said conditions on the ship were not the best — all onboard were very much at their limits and they needed to hurry with the rescue.

One can envisage the scenario, surrounded by these terrible weather conditions and now the immense pressure of having to ensure everyone on this ship would come out of this unharmed.

The tension must have been felt everywhere.

But as we already know, all the crew were saved and all are unharmed. A total of 27 people where lifted from the ship in the steel cages, and apart from obviously being in shock and very shaken and cold, it was a miracle everyone was okay. Very much a miracle made possible by a team of very brave and selfless people.

Steelmac’s team, Elias together with Richard Martin and Juan Carlos Robba, were there throughout the entire night and did not go home and rest until the last of the people in danger

The Steelmac team, Elias, Richard and Juan Carlos

were saved, things were finally in control and Elias also told me, how much it impressed him to see both the Chief Minister Peter Caruana and they were not needed anymore.

Minister Joe Holliday personally at the scene. He said not only were they both there throughout the night, but they were outside, not under shelter, therefore getting cold and wet just like everyone else — this must have been encouraging for all the teams.

So as all ends well with the rescue side of this operation, what remains is for us all to give a well deserved standing ovation to these so very brave men who volunteered in this operation.

The civilian rescue teams were from the companies Titan Salvage, Steelmac and Euro Gruas.

Everything was done under a lot of pressure and time was of an essence. The fact this special crane arrived in Gibraltar only one hour after Elias started to get everything on the road, is really not far from a record

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Jewellery

22/10/08 17:42:05

lifestyle

Going back to our Roots I’ve always said that every individual or youngster, especially, should leave the Rock for a period of time to broaden their horizons and assimilate the fact there is a bigger picture beyond our borders. Many, if not most however, will return to their birth place... A place called home.

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by Richard Cartwright I left Gibraltar in the early ’60s, a time when many emigrated to the UK and other countries.

Hundreds, if not thousands left the neighbouring town of La Linea around that time, also when the frontier closed and work was hard to come by in the Campo area.

I would say there is no match for leaving your home town for a few years to get a taste of what life’s all about. When stinky socks aren’t going to wash themselves and a plate of sausage, egg and chips is not going to appear on the table if you don’t get up on a cold, English winter morning and get out to find a job. It’s an experience and a half.

Being in a foreign country and not knowing a soul, so having to cope in a different culture and meeting new people is a must. And that is educational, it enriches your mind and viewpoint, perception and everything else that makes you a better, more informed individual.

The fact that so many Gibraltarian youngsters leave the Rock to go to university these days is a major plus in developing a more mature population, professional studies apart.

So what happens to those who have either completed their studies and returned to the Rock then maybe gone off again to put into practice what they’ve learned, and to those who left in search of a new and, hopefully, better life?

At what stage do they start thinking of coming back to their home? Are there many who perhaps don’t entertain the idea at all?

I would really like to know what percentage of emigrants from any given country returns home to their place of birth. A number of them inevitably are struck by one of Cupid’s little arrows and fall head over heals in love with a native of the country they are domiciled, go on to produce offspring and before you know it they too have children. Years pass and you stay put, because your ‘new’ family has taken root there and it’s pretty much impossible to wrench yourself away from kids and grandchildren and come back home.

Others simply make a better life for themselves, whether financially or otherwise, and don’t return. They make plans, get themselves an education and plough their way through job opportunities until they achieve what they aimed for and make a jolly good living for themselves and their family and maybe only return for a holiday or short visit or never return at all.

The fact remains that for many, “there’s no place like home” wherever it is.

Going back to those who left La Linea in the ’60s, for example, many have come back to join their extended family and friends to enjoy, what is often said, is a better quality of life.

I often wonder how many ex-pats living on the Costal del Sol and other sun drenched paradises follow the same pattern of returning home or, do they stay in their chosen paradise because it doesn’t make sense to return to the place they escaped because of the weather and possibly also, financial constraints.

In their case many are retirees and the ones I speak to seem quite determined not to return.

They are content to live their lives to the full in their new places of residence.

In Gibraltar there is a constant stream of locals returning to the Rock after many years in the UK and other places. In some cases the returnees are of a more mature age and fancy living out what’s left of their lives in their home town.

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lifestyle There have been some who have come back to Gib and have left almost immediately or some time later because they can’t get used to the local way of life.

It’s a question of “that was then and this is now” for them, and what was once home is not their cup of tea anymore. They’ve grown out of and moved away from that ‘village mentality’ they were once part of.

Despite the above however, many of those returning come back and live across the border.

The acquired love of gardens, open spaces and of course lower cost housing are major deciding factors in choosing to live in the hinterland.

This is now the case with many ‘local locals’ who either live in Spain because they have to (can’t afford or can’t find a place in Gib) or have purchased a second home there and live there permanently or at weekends.

It’s a case of horses for courses. You come back to live here because the quality of life in the UK or elsewhere is reduced substantially: perhaps you’ve been living in fear of something terrible happening to the kids — you must never let them out of your sight, we hear — or the expense of travel, drink and cigarettes (there are still plenty out there who do indulge) and spending half the week on the road commuting to and from work, becomes too burdensome.

Funnily enough the dreaded chore of commuting continues if you go for living in Spain and have to deal with a, depending on the climate of whatever dictates a point scoring issue, fickle frontier. Those normally living on the Rock, who in recent times, have chosen to live in Spain can well advise returning Gibraltarians what that is all about.

ocean village

For some it’s making the most of both worlds.

Working and educating your children on the Rock and living in the open spaces in more relaxing surroundings and environmentally friendly ambience in Spain.

Which do you prefer? Gibraltar has a limited amount of space so those advantages are in short supply although there are some places on the Rock that are not particularly noisy where you can enjoy a relatively peaceful existence.

The bottom line is, whichever side of the border you’re on (as far as Gibraltar is concerned) coming home must be an innate desire to return to whence you came to seek a perceivably better life for the rest of your days.

You’ve exhausted your ideas and the yearning to live out fantasies of some sort or gain achievable goals and aspirations and now it’s time to go home because, home is where the heart is and for a great majority, the heart is home!

ocean village The fact that so many Gibraltarian youngsters leave the Rock to go to university these days is a ocean village major plus in developing oceanmature village a more population, professional studies apart

ocean village

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Home is a concept. While a house or a residential dwelling is often referred to as a “home”, the concept of “home” expresses itself upon a much broader denotation of a physical dwelling.

Many people think of home in terms of where they grew up or where they lived, a place that brings back old memories or feelings, and a home can even be a time rather than an actual place.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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What is Home?

pertnership store 2 ocean village

Jewellery

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health & medical directory

health& fitness Bell Pharmacy

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

Tel: 200 44797

McTimoney Chiropractor

Your Family Chemists

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

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

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

ChiropraCtors

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS

Chiropractic Health Clinic

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC

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

Member of the British Chiropractic Association

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

College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777

PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists

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

The Health Store

5 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 20073765 Suppliers of Glucosamine, Ginkgo Biloba and all vitamins.

Body Building Products (Creatine etc) Open: 9am - 1pm & 3pm - 6pm

For all your Pharmaceutical needs

Louis’ Pharmacy Open: 9 - 7 Monday - Friday, Saturday 10 -1.30pm, Closed Sundays Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797

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

DentAL SURGEONS Daniel N. Borge BDS MSc MFDS RCS(Eng) Borge Dental/Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel: 200 75790 Mike Clark BDS The Dental Practice, Baudelaire House, 15D-1 Town Range Tel/Fax: 200 52882

completefitness Sports Massage Therapy & Personal Training

Keith J Vinnicombe BDS (Wales) LDS RCS (Eng) MFGDP (UK)

Unit F5B ICC, 2a Main Street Tel/Fax: 200 40747 Emergency: 200 78756

Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Gibraltar Tel: 200 51113

ORTHODONTISTS

JOHN W. MILES BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S

Clinical Analysis Laboratory

STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Treatment of all Foot Problems • Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Removal • Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotics including Children • Wart (Verruca) Clinic • Diabetics

• Microbiology • Hematology • Biochemistry • Immunology confidential service

Full Report Printout • General Health Checks: • Glucose levels • Cholesterol levels • Anaemia screens • Blood groups F19 ICC Tel: 42330 Fax: 45521 gibraltar@gib-lab.com

GUARANTEED

You pre-pay at today’s prices, we provide your chosen service whenever it is eventually required and whatever it eventually costs Brochures on Pre-Paid Funeral Planning Available from:

Tel: 200 77777

College Clinic, Regal House, Queensway ALSO AVAILABLE FOR HOME VISITS

11 Convent Place Tel: 200 75747

Codali Funeral Services

Dr Hasse Lundgaard DDS Borge Dental & Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790

Physicians Dr Norbert V Borge FRCP (London) 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790

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

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

PERSONAL TRAINERS

Need somebody to talk to? days a week 6-10pm

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Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113 Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) 3/8 Turnbull’s Lane Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2008 2008

22/10/08 17:49:20

health&welfare

by Jason Easter, Health Promotion Officer, GHA

Does your smile give away your age?

The Flu Virus

Fighting Influenza Coughs, colds and sniffles are usual for this time of year.

Generally, they are short-lived and cause no lasting harm.

Also six out of seven people with symptoms have a cold, not flu.

For most people, flu is a nasty but brief illness. The best treatment is to rest and treat yourself at home.

However, if you are in a ‘high-risk’ group of people, flu can be dangerous and it is strongly advised that you get a flu jab to prevent it.

Flu Facts Flu is caused by the influenza virus and mostly infects the top part of the breathing system — the nose, throat, sinuses and the main breathing tubes (bronchi) leading to the lungs. It spreads easily from person to person through the air — when someone nearby breathes in the tiny droplets of a sneeze or cough.

Once the virus has got into your breathing system, it multiplies and within a few days many millions more will have been produced.

The infection can then be spread to other people.

Natural defences Flu makes you feel ill for a few days, but thanks to the natural defences of your immune system you are usually able to fight off the infection. Your body does this by producing special proteins (antibodies) that circulate in the blood to stop the virus from multiplying. This is the beginning of your recovery.

The worst symptoms of the flu are usually over in a few days, though some people feel weak for longer.

Most people with the flu get better without needing to see their GP. Is it the flu?

There is no quick and 100% reliable way of deciding whether you have flu, or another infection that

causes similar symptoms. GPs usually have to make a judgement based on your symptoms. To get a firm diagnosis, a doctor would have to take a swab from your nose or throat and send it off to a laboratory for testing. This can take several days — by which time you would probably be feeling better anyway.

Treating the flu at home The best advice is to: • Drink plenty of fluids. Hot drinks can have a soothing effect. If you don’t feel like eating try soup • Take Paracetamol tablets every 6-8 hours in the recommended dose for your age. This will ease your sore throat and muscle aches • Don’t strenuously exercise • Avoid spreading viruses, cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze • Use disposable tissues instead of a linen handkerchief for hygienic purposes • Wash your hands regularly • Keep your bedroom well ventilated • Take it easy. Ensure you rest. If necessary, take time off work or school for a full recovery

We can help solve the problem using the latest in porcelain technology, with whiter shades to achieve that “Hollywood” smile.

A: This illustrates the pre-operative condition of the patient - discoloured, slightly crooked teeth, ugly old porcelain crowns on upper front teeth.

Porcelain Veneers Smile enhancement Whitening

B: The condition of the patient after preparation has taken place. There are temporary crowns on three upper front teeth, the other teeth have been minimally prepared for porcelain veneers.

Botox / fillers Dental Implants C: Shows the condition of the patient just 1 week after the treatment began.

We have a special interest in the management of nervous patients.

Non-surgical correction of wrinkles and lip enhancement now available.

www.mikeclarkdental.com Baudelaire House 15D-1 Town Range, Gibraltar Tel/Fax: +350 200 52882

The flu vaccine The flu vaccine is available at the Primary Care Centre (Blood Clinic), Monday -Fridays between 2-4pm.

If you have previously received the vaccine you may attend without prior appointment, if you have not you should make an appointment with you GP who will then refer to the vaccination clinic.

For info contact the Primary Care Centre 200 70143 ext. 3210 or 200 72355.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Discoloured and crooked teeth show their age.

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community

Aurelia and friends

Awards: Making a Difference The JM Memorial Foundation presented its annual award to four individuals in the community who make a difference to others.

The foundation, which was registered as a charitable institution in 1996 and is now in its 12th year, is run by a trustee committee with the help of many volunteers. It is involved in projects of a cultural, educational and social nature, and its underlying philosophy is that it can make a difference by helping empower individuals or groups into action in a way which then creates the support necessary for these individuals to continue assisting others.

“In celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2006 it was decided to present the awards for the first time to five individuals in memory of the late Gladys Martinez who touched the lives of many with years of dedication to the Health Service as a midwife,” said Trustee Mark Montovio.

“We want to publicly recognise the contribution that different members of our community make through their dedication to others who are less fortunate or find themselves in a moment of need and we want to highlight their commitment to ideals and important values.

“The Foundation received nine nominations in total for the year 2008 and chose five nominees out of the nine very deserving individuals presented by different members of the community.

Four of the recipients were able to attend a reception and the fifth individual, who was not in

Gibraltar then, will be presented with his award at a suitable time in the near future.”

The awards were presented to: Jose Netto for his contribution to the Trade Union Movement: for his untiring defence of others, for his commitment to equality, respect and dignity and for voicing with determination what many may not have wanted to hear in defence of these values and in representation of those with no voice.

Myra Zayas was nominated by Sonia Golt for her untiring dedication to fundraising and voluntary work in particular in relation to Cancer Research. “Myra continues to work tirelessly,” said Sonia, “despite the fact that she herself was diagnosed with Breast Cancer some years ago.”

Aurelia Beiso was nominated by Teresa Rodriguez and Lourdes Lima. “Even though

“We want to publicly recognise the contribution that different members of our community make”

Mayra and Jose with Mark Montovio

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Aurelia herself is 88 years old, that does not stop her from going every Monday to the Day Care Centre, where she takes it upon herself to buy food and cook for the service users,” said friend Lourdes Lima. She has also helped organise bingo sessions at Mount Alvernia and often visits people who live on their own and are in need. Aurelia does not let her age stand in the way of helping others and is always ready and willing to give to society.”

John Morris was nominated by Barbara Sellors, who said “As a stalwart of Childline Gibraltar, he has guided the charity and kept us on a truly professional path that has enabled us to help very many of Gibraltar’s children. John, despite the painful effects of arthritis always puts his own ills to one side and even though he is officially retired continues to work selflessly for children in a variety of ways: acting as Appropriate Adult in police interviews with children, as Guardian Ad Litem in the courts, attending meetings of the Child Protection Committee, conducting training for the police on child protection matters and liaising with the Minister for Justice over the yet to come to fruition Children’s Act. I have come over time to realise just how fortunate we are to have him in our midst.”

John Morris GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

22/10/08 17:59:25

Office Refurbishments & Fitting Out

Home Renovations & Refurbishments

SOLUTIONS

PO Box 598 Tel: 57185000 Fax: 77041

BLINDS & BLIND SYSTEMS

62 Engineers Lane Tel: 200 44012 Email: jane@denvilledesigns.com www.denvilledesigns.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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prize puzzle

SUDOKU

by Alan Gravett 2

1

4

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8 10

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No prize for this one — you’ll be doing it for the glory!

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Send completed crossword to: FIRST PRIZE: The Cannon Bar, Lunch for 2 at Cannon Lane, Gibraltar.

The Cannon Bar One entry per person.

Winner notified in next issue of The Gibraltar Magazine.

Closing date: 24th November 2008 LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Sympathetic, Quit, Thompson, Phyllis, Snowy, Herge, Castile, Filleted, Chip, Dutofaction Down: Smut, Captain, Shoot, Step on it, South Mexico, Cromwellian, Haddock, Stuff, Coil

Crossword Winner Voucher will be posted to you

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Across 1) Such as Miss Marple might look into (6,4) 6) First person? (4) 10) Name; rank (5) 11) Away from the South (9) 12) Rostrum (8) 13) Hindu religious teacher (5) 15) Passed into law (7) 17) Capable of being answered; a 1) across

might be! (7) 19) Towards the wind (7) 21) Confused mixture (7) 22) Donkeys; idiots (5) 24) Utter (8) 27) Expel from University (9) 28) Repast (5) 29) Legal document; action (4) 30) Military, rather than civil, control (7,3) Down 1) Chum; end of chess game (abbr.) (4) 2) Hit back (9) 3) Build (5) 4) British version of a now defunct Anglo

French civil aircraft (7) 5) Small edible crustaceans (7) 7) Play; fuss (5) 8) Citizens of the capital of Spain in their own

language (10) 9) Artist; piper (8) 14) Spanish football team (4,6) 16) Pierce (8) 18) Outdoor plaything for use on the sand (9) 20) Miniature scene using models (7) 21) Detachable furnishing (7) 23) Girl’s name (5) 25) Below, especially when referring a reader to a later page (5) 26) Ragout etc. (4)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

22/10/08 17:55:09

events

HMS Ark Royal

British Forces Open Day in Gibraltar British Forces Gibraltar will be hosting a public Open Day on Saturday 8th November 2008 from 11am until 4pm. The event will be staged at HM Naval Base where HMS Ark Royal will be moored alongside throughout the day.

Members of the Rotary Club of Gibraltar will be assisting the British Forces Command — both in the run up to the event and on the day itself.

There are several objectives associated with the Open Day. Fund raising will be an important part of the day: all proceeds will be divided between service charities and the Rotary Club where funds raised will be used to support Gibraltar-based good causes.

This will be an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the British Forces in Gibraltar and for the general public to see at first hand the workings of the Naval Base — as well as to see the magnificent Ark Royal. Commenting on the plans for the day, Chief of Staff Col Julian Lyne-Purkis said “We are looking forward to putting on a great show for both the residents

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of Gibraltar and visitors to the Rock that day. It will be a great chance to show off our capability and by generating interest and goodwill.

Perhaps we also hope to be able to recruit some new people!”

Plans are well advanced: in addition to the visiting ship, the base will be packed with things to do and see for all the family. Many members of the British Forces will be giving up their day to participate in the event.

Entrance to the Open Day itself will be free.

There will be many opportunities to watch free military displays and there will be plenty of refreshments available for purchase. Additionally there will be several fund raising stalls where the public will be invited to dig deep into their pockets as all charity funds raised will be going to excellent causes.

Rotary Club President Bea Adams is delighted that the Club has been asked to assist the British Forces and has committed the Club and its almost fifty members to helping out. She told Gibraltar Magazine that “We hope to start the day by assembling in Casemates and walking through town towards the Naval Base, getting there in time for the official opening at 11am by the Commander British Forces”.

So, mark your diaries now for what promises to be an exciting, action-packed day at the Naval Base. Further details will be published closer to 8th November itself.

Anyone wishing to have further information or indeed who is willing to volunteer some help is invited to contact either Bea Adams on 200 48532 or her fellow Rotarian Ian Le Breton on 200 76173

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A

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566

leisurewear

hair & beauty Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 2pm

54 City Mill Lane Tel/Fax: 200 45966 Email: sandra4stichdesign@yahoo.com

We do Silk Screen Printing, Embroidery, Transfers on:

Polo-Shirts, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, School Logo, Baseball Caps, Work Wear, Foot Wear, Sweets, Stickers, Chefs, Waiters + Domestic Uniforms, Umbrellas, Pens, Lighters, Key-rings, Stickers, Protective clothing, Uniforms and loads more promotional items too many to mention.

Tel: 200 79997 Mobile: 54022083 email: stitchandprint@gibtelecom.net

shopping & gifts

LADIES SALON & BARBER’S SHOP

Shopping &Beauty SUNRISE

shopping & gifts

Anuska

Pick ’n’ Mix Sweets & Chocolates

Flowers by

your interflora agent

Treasured memories require something truly special 226 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 77076 Fax: 200 74116

Matthew’s Jewellery Repairs For all your Jewellery requirements at guaranteed low prices

Units G & H Don Arcade (next to the Breadbin) Tel: 200 44407

Tel: 200 73786

ELOY PIÑERO MORENO

JEWELLERY REPAIRS 77 Main Street 1st Floor Gibraltar Tel: 00 350 200 79470 00 34 629 739 877

Gift Vouchers Available

Also Jewellery repairs, engraving, diamond setting, Jewellery appraisals

4/4 Crutchetts Ramp Tel/Fax: 200 50478 Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

solid, silver dolphin charm £14

the silver shop casemates arcade, gibraltar

84 Irish Town Tel: 200 71238

La alhambrA Mini Market Wine, Spirits, Tobacconist, Groceries, Indian Spices

To advertise in this section of The Gibraltar Magazine Tel: (+350) 200 77748 Email: gibmag@gibraltar.gi

hair & beauty H

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lassic I

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NOW RETAILING:

10 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77337 Cornwall’s Centre Tel: 200 77774

Gibraltar’s Longest Established Toy Shop

Bargain Stores 1-5 Governor’s Street Tel: 20077915

Free Gift with every Purchase while stocks last

Enjoy the experience of having your hair styled in a relaxed and friendly environment, with massaging backwash chair and a welcoming team of top stylists

Interiors Boutique - Gifts

WE SELL FIREWORKS

A fusion of Mediterranean and Colonial styles to add the Gibraltarian Flair to your Home 8 Bell Lane Tel: 200 75257

The Flowers of Gibraltar 76 76

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LONDON HAIR DESIGNS 4 Horse Barrack Lane Tel: 200 70706 open 5 days 10am-5pm - late night Thurs & Fri

Renaissance

Health & Beauty Salon

at Don House Arcade Tel: 77311

• Aromatherapy • Sugar Waxing • Manicures • Pedicures • Facials • Eyelash/Eyebrow Tinting • Bodywraps for instant inch loss • Reflexology • Luxury Organic 2 hour face and body treatment Open: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 9pm

by Leslie Linares, Arthur Harper and John Cortes

Book on sale at Gibraltar Book Shops GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JULY 2008 GIBRALTAR MAGAziNE • NOVEMBER

22/10/08 11:36:53

events Gibraltar Youth Service and Santos Productions present

teen tales

A Creative Writing Programme

Charity Christmas Concert with Stephen Lloyd-Morgan

The Arts Trust has organised a Charity Christmas Concert, headlined by the critically acclaimed and popular Welsh Tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, which will be held in the magnificent setting of St. Michael’s Cave, Gibraltar on Friday 12th December.

Renowned Music Impresario Victor O’Gilvie has worked in the industry for over 30 years, and has organised concerts for many top international artists along the Costa del Sol, including BB King, Ray Charles, Gloria Gaynor, Paco de Lucia, Elton John and George Benson. Steven has seen many talented singers during the years he’s been involved in the music business, and recently suggested “... surely Steve is one of the most talented performers to come through in this particular area [opera and musical theatre] in many years”.

The concert will also feature award-winning international Spanish Classical Guitarist and Chairman of the Arts Trust, Stephen Greenwood (www.stephengreenwood.org), who will be donating his performance fee and Orchestra.

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The full proceeds from ticket sales will be shared out between a variety of charities, such as Clic Sargent Cancer Care for Children, the Naomi House Hospice and the Harley Jae Trust. The concert itself will be fully funded by sponsorship.

Tickets are available from Sacarello’s Coffee Shop on Irish Town, priced at 35 Euros each, which includes a return shuttle bus service from the town centre to St. Michael’s Cave. If you’re based up the coast, you can find tickets on sale from various locations, including Cards4All in Estepona, Visage Hair & Beauty in Sabanillas and Baccy’s in Monte Duquesa.

You can also book your tickets in advance by phoning 0034 697 783 942 or online at www. slmlive.com/concert

Following the success of ‘Performing Issues’ in June 2008 the Youth Service together with Santos Productions have designed a new programme that gives the opportunity for young people to experience creative writing with more social time and many learning opportunities with the end result of potentially publishing a book of a compilation of the work produced by the participants.

‘Teen tales’ is a programme about creative writing where the participants can express their views in a safe environment. The participants can explore teenage experiences and issues affecting them in a non-invasive manner. We will invite guest speakers to come in and talk about their particular field of writing.

We will offer a range of different genres such as poetry, lyrics/song writing, diary/memoir, fiction, image and text, dramatic, comedy, horror and script writing.

Each genre will give the participants an opportunity to develop their personal skills such as planning, research, setting goals, time management, working in a team as well as self awareness and confidence building. It is a chance for them to explore their creativity and enhance their skills in literacy and selfdevelopment.

It will be a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn from themselves and their peers in a non-formal educational setting. A chance to meet new people, learn from the guest speakers and their skills as well having a positive and productive experience in a youth work setting.

The programme will run for eight months and will be open to any young person between the ages of 13-19 years olds (in or out of education, involved in employment or training) The programme will run every Tuesday starting on Tuesday 4th November ending June 2009 at the Youth Centre from 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm. The group will close in December so any person wanting to join must do so only during the month of November.

For enquires please call 20040293 / 20075020 or email youthcentre@gibtelecom.net.

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one career

Dr Sam Abudarham PhD, FRCSLT, MSc, Cert.Ed., LCST, DipCST:

Speaking Out Gibraltarians under 60 have no idea what post World War II years were like for some 90% of the population who wished to improve their financial position and their social standing.

Then, unless the family was in the top 10% of the socioeconomic ladder, it was difficult to secure funding for university education. At the time, there were but two further education scholarships available — one Government, the other the John Mackintosh Trust.

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by Mike Brufal One Gibraltarian who had the wit, cunning and good fortune to buck this system was 63 year old Sam Abudarham. Like talented Gibraltarians such as John Galliano and Albert Hammond, he had to leave the Rock in order to become one of the foremost experts in his field.

Sam was born on the Rock in 1945 and educated at the Hebrew School (5-11), Lourdes Secondary and the Grammar Schools. At this stage in his life, young Abudarham was not academically inclined. It took a few re-sits to achieve a respectable number of ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.

Though his father recommended him to study Dentistry, he wanted to study Psychology. Either way, he needed to acquire the essential ‘A’ levels so he went to the Hasmonean (Jewish) Grammar School (London) and then to Tottenham Polytechnic. He subsequently returned to the Rock, still undecided about his future. He applied for a post as unqualified teacher at the Lourdes School. Other than being in charge of a class of his own, he also taught children with special needs.

His passion was Psychology. He was told by the then Director of Education that Government would never fund such studies as it saw no need for such a Psychologist. It was youth/ community leader, Elio Victor, who introduced him to speech therapy. The course was attractive and included linguistics, psychiatry, neurology and psychology. At the same time he was recommended for a Government sponsored British Council scholarship. Until then only a part time speech therapist worked for Government. He shadowed Irene Morrish and liked the field.

In 1966, Sam started a three year diploma at the West End Speech Therapy Training School, Portland Place, London. He was one of 16 students in the ten speech therapy courses in the UK to graduate with a Distinction, the equivalent of a First Class Honours degree.

On returning to Gibraltar, he was shocked to see no one was expecting him. He went to see the Medical Administrator, Captain Murchison, and Hospital Secretary, Manolo Cavilla, and was told he would be expected to work on Saturdays.

He told them his religion would not allow him to work on his Sabbath under any circumstances so he offered to work on Sundays instead. An amicable arrangement was negotiated and, though inexperienced, he set about starting a full time service from scratch.

Soon he found there was neither equipment nor appropriate clinical accommodation at St Bernard’s Hospital. At one time he had a short sharp dust up with Dr Jaime Giraldi who during a ward round challenged Sam regarding when he would be seeing his patients.

Sam replied, “When I have the equipment with which to assess them.”

The Doctor instructed him to “forget assessments, just treat the patients!”

Sam stood his ground saying he could not do that. The panjandrum’s entourage, mindful that no one dared speak to this Doctor like that, swiftly bundled Sam away.

In the meantime, Sam embarked on talks to teachers explaining his role and gave them pointers to help them identify pupils eligible for speech therapy. He also treated hospital out- and in-patient adults referred to him by GPs and consultants. At the time, he worked very closely with his first cousin, now retired, Dr Sam Benady, then consultant paediatrician.

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one career Soon the statutory two year contract was terminating. A mere £650 annual salary was not going to keep him on the Rock. Out of the blue, a few months before the end of his contract, his former College Principal wrote inviting him to apply for a newly-created post as First Year Supervisor of Studies, at an annual salary of £1,800.

Initially, though flattered that not even two years into his career he was being head-hunted, he was quite reticent. As a student she had insisted he attend lectures on a religious holiday, or risk not being allowed to sit exams, and had once had to walk from Kilburn to the West End. On being reminded, she said as a ‘lecturer’ he would not be required to teach on Saturdays or Holy days. He could work time in ‘lieu’, in the evenings. He remained lecturing and giving clinical demonstrations to his students at this alma mater from 1971 to 1974.

Discovering his salary at this NHS-run college was half the equivalent Birmingham LEA-run Polytechnic (now the Central England University), salary, he successfully applied for the £2,700 a year post.

Before leaving for Birmingham, Sam decided to propose to London-born, bilingual PA, Shirley (née Lyons). They married in London in December 1974, eventually having three Brummie girls and a boy; the two eldest daughters and the boy read Law at Oxford University and their youngest daughter read Psychology at Birmingham University.

Soon after this appointment he started a taught MSc in Human Communication. In addition to his lecturing and administrative responsibilities, he had to rise very early twice a week to attend lectures in London.

One of his favourite subjects was Bilingualism. In 1972, he was awarded funding by the Polytechnic’s Research Committee to carry out research abroad for his MSc thesis, and subsequently for his PhD, in Gibraltar, with Gibraltarian school children. He recalls with gratitude the tremendous help given by the Directors of Education Julio Alcantara and Leslie Lester and several head teachers.

Before embarking on his PhD, his mentor advised him to publish a book and include chapters on his research. He edited his first book entitled Bilingualism and the Bilingual in 1978. At the time, SLTs’ (Speech and Language Therapists) work with bilingual clients was almost non-existent and somewhat enigmatic.

Few therapists understood the basic problems, not knowing how to assess or diagnose communication impairment in these individuals

and, much less, know how to remediate such impairments.

He published many papers, mainly based on his radical proposals for the correct way of assessing bilingual children’s language and diagnosing communication impairments, and presented many of these in a number of International conferences. As a result, he became an acknowledged expert in the field. SLTs in many parts of the world adopted his approach.

By retirement, he had published over 40 peerreviewed papers in learned journals, mostly in the field of bilingualism but also on the design and development of speech and language tests for the use of Health Visitors, Hypnotherapy, and Forensic Speech Pathology.

His academic and professional contributions earned him a College of Speech Therapists (CST) Fellowship (1991) and a Personal Chair (Professorship) from the University of Central England (1999). At an International Conference in Israel,

Sam with UK MP Andrew Rossindell

Few therapists understood the basic problems, not knowing how to assess or diagnose communication impairment in these individuals and, much less, know how to remediate such impairments

he successfully proposed the establishment of an International Multilingual Affairs Committee, becoming a founder member.

Sam also made a substantial contribution to the work of the professional body, the CST. In 1978, he was elected to its Council. The following year, he was appointed the first college’s Advisor for the whole profession in the field of bilingualism and multiculturalism, thus pioneering such work.

In 1980, he was appointed Honorary Treasurer. CST had made a loss of £8,000 the previous year — a large sum of money even then. Within 18 months of his tenure, he turned the loss into a profit of £100,000. This was the beginning of profitable years, enabling the college subsequently to buy a larger building.

He also entered the college history books by ‘computerising’ the administration. As if his time was not fully accounted for, he became CST’s Pamphlets Editor and served in a number of CST committees. Some years later, he was invited to be a consultant in the Finance Committee to advise on CST dwindling finances. He was later elected Hon. Treasurer a second time, achieving a similar success.

In his professional life, Sam has been a consultant in a number of fields and was a CST Expert Witness for the Law Society. Between 1996-99, he was invited to be the External Examiner for the first SLT degree course in Spain, which was accredited by Manchester University. His input resulted in radical developments in the course.

But his life has not focused on just his professional activities. Very soon after arriving in Birmingham, he and Shirley became very involved in voluntary work. Among the tasks he took on at different times were a 10 year stint as head teacher of Sunday religious classes in Solihull, Chairman of the University Chaplaincy Board, of his synagogue and later of the Representative of Birmingham & Midlands Jewry. Whilst the latter, he gained a Lottery grant and also founded the first Jewish-Indian association in the West Midlands. The results of the census he carried out of the local Jewish community is now used officially by the Board of Jewish Deputies.

He has also written two original musicals which were staged and profits went to charities.

By this time he had been awarded his PhD and had become involved in the use of hypnotherapy for the treatment of psychologically-based communication impairments, such as stuttering and voice disorders. He ran hypnotherapy courses for members of the health care professions. At

Irish Town Antiques Antiques & Collectables Irish Town Gibraltar Tel: 200 70411

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community

Sam’s career demonstrates how latent academic success shouldn’t discourage anyone from excelling, provided grit and determination exist the time, only clinical psychologists or psychiatrists could attend hypnotherapy courses.

Ever the pioneer and initiator, Sam was able to convince the CST that hypnotherapy had a role in SLT as an adjunct to the more traditional therapies. He was subsequently invited to join a working party and succeeded in establishing his own course design and content as the basis for all approved CST hypnotherapy courses.

In 1981, and as a result of the courses he had pioneered, he edited and published a practical text book entitled Hypnotherapy in Practice. He also founded the first Association of Hypnotherapists in Health Care in the UK and became its first chairman.

Having conducted a five year research project in the communication development in Down Syndrome infants, and since one of his lecturing subjects was ‘Learning Disability’, he recognised most books on special needs were written by teachers for teachers. There did not seem to be any written by, and for SLTs. He thus, took the initiative and in 2002, he published a book entitled The Management of Communication Needs in People with Learning Disability which became a text book in many SLT courses.

After 30 years in Birmingham, he decided higher education in the UK had become a farce with political correctness forcing some establishments of higher education to accept (potentially) underachieving students. He says it was virtually impossible to refuse a place to a member of a minority group — if refused, a college could be hauled before a tribunal.

In 2004, Sam and Shirley decided to retire to Gibraltar - he was returning ‘home’ (his words) rather than Israel and so, on the 12th August, Shirley and Sam arrived back on the Rock and naturally attended his family’s name sake synagogue in Parliament Lane. Obviously, not a man to sit at home, he became involved with the Jewish community and started with bringing a party of disabled Israeli soldiers to Gibraltar.

This was a great success. He was elected to the Managing Board of the Jewish Community (MBJC) in 2006. He also brought the London Jewish Male Choir to Gibraltar twice, one as part of this year’s Spring Festival.

But his best known project was to persuade the MBJC to publish a quarterly colour magazine, under his editorship - a first for the Jewish community. Issue No 11 of ‘Kesher’ has just been published and it is most successful.

Sam’s career demonstrates how latent academic success shouldn’t discourage anyone from excelling, provided grit and determination exist. Gibraltar’s educational facilities have improved since. Today, university attendance is generously funded by Government scholarships.

Sam’s career is a testimonial to a talented Gibraltarian who left the Rock determined to reach the top of his profession.

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Making Dreams Come True Dreamflight was founded in 1987 by a British Airways stewardess called Patricia Pearce. Back then, she decided to charter a jumbo jet and fill it with 200 very special and deserving children to take them on their holiday of a lifetime to the theme parks of Florida.

Over the past 22 years the charity has grown and matured. Patricia has since retired from flying duties yet continues as Trustee of the charity.

While other charities concentrate on important medical research, Dreamflight believes that joy, fun and laughter is equally important in the lives of these children, all of whom have life-limiting conditions and spend most of their childhood in and out of hospital. Fund-raisers such as Sarah Merkell, a British Airways Stewardess, who raises funds locally and was aboard the Orlando flight this year, make it possible to send the children on a holiday of a lifetime each year.

This year’s trip is really special as it’s the first time children from Gibraltar have been invited.

Sarah said in a speech at the departure of the flight for the UK to transfer to Florida “All our sponsors have embraced Dreamflight… yet special thanks goes to our main sponsor, The Lions Club of Gibraltar.”

The children boarding the flight were Manar Ben Tahayekt (who celebrated her 15th birthday at the airport) — she suffers with cerebral palsy; and Abigail Prescott (11yrs old) who is totally blind following the successful removal of a tumour at the age of 3 years.

Becca Fortunato is the children’s escort, she’s a physiotherapist at St Bernard’s Hospital and she gives her time voluntarily to the cause.

The children will visit Disney, Universal Studios, Seaworld, Blizzard Beach, Hollywood Studios, Islands of Adventure and Discovery Cove.

Manar Celebrates her 15th Birthday at the airport

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

23/10/08 09:36:41

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

hobbies&pastimes

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

leisure & tuition framing&photos

dating

FREDDIE PARODY

newsagents Sun Daily Mail Star Express Mirror Available Daily on the Rock Every Morning from

Book Wholesalers

L. SACARELLO 96 Main St Tel: 200 78723 Fax: 200 78723

• Book Distribution • Social Stationery • Novelties

Booksellers, Newsagents & Stationers

Europa Business Centre Tel/Fax: 20075842

leisure&sport

ROCK TURF ACCOUNTANTS LTD

GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830

Daily live SIS coverage on all UK racing plus an extensive sports betting service

• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers

11 Casemates Square Tel: 20079720 15 Tuckey’s Lane Tel: 20075560 Fax: 20077015

photography

travel&hotels BAR NOW OPEN 8.30 - midnight Breakfast CANNON from H O T E Li 8.30-10am 9 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 51711 Fax: 200 51789

Licencees of Gibcon Ltd

266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757

SKY

SHOP

For newspapers, magazines, confectionery & more, visit the Sky Shop at Gibraltar Airport.

Open: 9.30am - 9pm 7 days a week

Your last stop before the frontier Gibraltar Airport Tel/Fax: 200 42639

lessons&tuition Frost Language Centre (Co. Registered in Gibraltar)

Spanish lessons. Private Tuition. www.medgolf.gi medgolf@gibraltar.gi Tel: 200 79575 Fax: 200 44307

If you would like to learn Spanish or improve your knowledge of the language, please contact Margaret for more info

on 956 173384 or e.mail rmf2@telefonica.net

Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant

Tel: (+350) 20074000 Fax: 20040030

Gibraltar Connections

by Reg Reynolds 60 riveting true stories of people and events connected to the world’s most famous Rock. Available at book shops and newsagents throughout Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE • • NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2008 2008

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history

“How can you have a civil war when you have a country like this where the skies are blue and the sun is warm in February and the swallows are here already.”

The Lady Spy with the Loose Lips!

Sheila Grant Duff was one relieved spy when she crossed the border at Gibraltar at the height of the Spanish Civil War.

The young journalist had been sent to Malaga to report on the situation in the city since its recent capture (February 1937) by General Francisco Franco and his Nationalist forces.

Grant Duff did fulfill her role but it was a close run thing.

The mission to Malaga came about at the behest of the Spanish Republican Government, which Franco was attempting to overthrow. A Government spokesman approached reporter Ed Mowrer of the Chicago Daily News. But he was too well known as a Republican supporter to venture into Nationalist-held territory and

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alist officers, and apparently the conversation was almost exclusively about the horrors of Communist rule.

An attractive young woman (she was only 23 at the time) Grant Duff was invited back to the officers’ hotel which turned out to be Franco’s headquarters.

To illustrate their stories of Red terror the officers produced photographs and became agitated when she refused to look at them.

In her book A Parting of Ways Grant Duff wrote: “Suddenly one of them looked at his watch.

‘Good heavens!’ he said, ‘Twenty minutes to midnight. Do you want to come to the execution with us?’ Silence fell and all three looked at me.

I felt confronted as I had never been confronted before, with a stark choice the consequences of which would stay with me for ever. For a young journalist it would be a sensational coup; for a spy it was precisely one of the things I had been sent to find out; for a human being, it would be to stand and watch people whom I regarded as friends and allies being put to death in cold blood. I knew I would never be able to live with this. I did not go.”

The Nationalist officers, one in particular, grew even more suspicious the following morning when Grant Duff let slip a few ill-chosen words. Displaying a naivety unworthy of a proper spy she wondered aloud: “How can you have a civil war when you have a country like this where the skies are blue and the sun is warm in February and the swallows are here already.”

The most aggressive of the officers said angrily, “You are talking liked a Red,” and demanded to see her passport.

Grant Duff’s passport was only three days old as she had replaced it because there was a Soviet visa in it. The suspicious officers said they would escort her to Seville where they would hold a full investigation into her background. Fortunately for Grant Duff the officers were due at the front.

They warned her not to leave Malaga but gave her permission to gather materials. Instead she caught a bus to La Linea and crossed into Gibraltar, “trembling but safe”.

That was the end of Grant Duff’s life as a spy but she went on to have a long and successful career as a highly respected journalist, author and foreign correspondent. Sheila Grant Duff was born in 1913 into an aristocratic family. Her father was killed in World War I in 1914. At the age of 21 she became the first British woman to work as a foreign correspondent, covering Hitler’s take over of the Saar in 1935. She died in 2004.

he asked the little known Grant Duff to take the risky assignment.

Grant Duff’s task was to find out how Republican prisoners were being treated and to find out where the writer Arthur Koestler * (See Author’s note), who had been arrested as a spy, was being held.

In her memoirs Grant Duff wrote that Mowrer had chosen her “…as someone who might slip in unnoticed”.

Grant Duff made her way to Malaga via North Africa and contacted the American Consul. She *Author’s Note: Koestler was later freed thanks to was invited to a dinner, which included Nation- efforts of the British Government.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

22/10/08 11:31:20

fashion

Dress from the

feet up

Gentlemen of Gibraltar it is time to turn your attention to your feet! It is said that a man’s shoes are the most important part of his clothing.

If you are wearing a suit or even a pair of jeans, wearing an ugly pair of shoes destroys the whole look in an instance.

‘Shoe’ can be found at 178 Main Street, carrying an excellent range of Men’s footwear as well as ladies footwear and bags.

For a sharp formal look Jeffery-West fits the bill, constructed with the best materials and offering a superior level of luxury and comfort. Mark Jeffery and Guy West, founders of Jeffery-West believe a customer will only ever buy a poor make of shoes once, but once you buy into JefferyWest you will revisit time and time again. The brand is a testament to the old adage that ‘style never goes out of fashion’.

Newly introduced is Hudson.

Established in 1990, Hudson were awarded ‘Best Men’s Footwear Brand’ by Maxim maga-

zine in 2002, the same year they collaborated with Paul Weller on a unique collection. The brand continues to go from strength to strength, securing its reputation as a leader in Men’s contemporary footwear. Hudson offers something a little less formal than Jeffery-West, styles that can easily be worn with

suits or dressed down with jeans. Leathers are soft and hand stained in natural dyes but still at affordable prices.

With most footwear manufacturers farming out ubiquitous styles to be knocked up in the Far East or opting for injection moulded plastic footwear a n d cemented sole units, it’s refreshing to see commitment to hand-finishing over computer programming, design over blandness and style with a huge degree of substance. After all, it is well worth spending money on a decent pair of shoes.

It’s refreshing to see commitment to hand-finishing over computer programming, design over blandness and style with a huge degree of substance

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2008 2008 GIBRALTAR

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COMMERCIAL INTERIORS SPECIALISTS

2 Crutchett’s Ramp, Gibraltar Tel: 00 350 200 73992 Fax: 00 350 200 41724 Mobile: 00 350 5400 6335 email: loraine@spaceinteriors.gi www.spaceinteriors.gi 83

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history

HMAS Nestor being sunk by depth charges

U-Boat’s First Patrol was its Last thanks to French Destroyer

by Reg Reynolds

It’s bad enough to die in war but to die before you even get a chance to fight must be the worst of fates for a soldier.

I often think about this while watching war documentaries of such events as the D-Day landings. You see some poor soul gunned down the instant he hits the beach. He never even got a chance to fire a shot in anger. All that hard work and deprivation; all that training, only to be cannon fodder.

Recently while reading a book about World War II I couldn’t help but spare some sympathy for the fate of a German U-boat sunk near Gibraltar in 1941. I have no love lost for U-boats or the destruction and loss of life they wrought in World War II (*see end of story) but the crews of the ‘iron coffins’ also suffered greatly. Most of the U-boat crews were young men in their late teens and early 20s; many captains were under30 years old. This would have been the case for U-127 although her captain, Bruno Hansmann, was a relatively ancient 34.

In 1941 U-127 made a training patrol from 24th April to 1st November. Immediately the training was over — the crew didn’t even get a day off — she was sent on her first mission, which was to take her through the treacherous Straits of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean.

On 15th December, 1941, while approaching the Straits U-127 was spotted by HMAS Nestor.

The modern Australian destroyer was equipped with sonar and was state of the art for the time.

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The captain ordered depth charges fired and U-127 went down with all 51 hands.

Although somewhat more successful than her victim, HMAS Nestor, would also have a short life. As fate would have it Nestor was commissioned in February 1941, the same month that U-127 was launched. Nestor was ordered to Gibraltar to work as ­ an escort for cruisers protecting convoys carrying vital supplies to the besieged island of Malta.

In June 1942 Nestor was escorting a convoy from Alexandria to Malta when she was attacked by Italian and German bombers. At six in the evening two bombs fell very close to Nestor causing a large breach in her hull and severe damage to her engines. Nestor went dead in the water, fire broke out and the number one boiler room flooded killing all crew working there.

Nestor began to list badly but her captain believed he could save his ship. The fires were got under control and the damaged bulkheads were shored up. Shortly before midnight the crippled ship was taken in tow by HMS Javelin.

By daylight they had managed only 80 miles and Alexandria was still 230 miles away. Fearing more air attacks and the possible loss of Javelin it was decided that Nestor would have to be scuttled.

Nestor’s crew were transferred to Javelin and at 8am on the morning of 16th June the vanquisher of U-127 was herself sent to the bottom by a barrage of depth charges. Out of a compliment of 183 the casualties were four dead and one wounded.

Two warships of World War II, one of them got to fight and most of her crew lived to see wars end. The sad record for the other — one patrol, no shipping sunk, 51 dead. *Author’s note: My father was the survivor of a U-boat attack on 16th November 1942, also near Gibraltar. Fortunately Commander Oelrich of U-92 was a humane person and he allowed the crew and commandoes aboard the freighter Clan McTaggart to abandon ship before he finished it off. Only one commando and three crewmen were killed.

At six in the evening two bombs fell very close to Nestor causing a large breach in her hull and severe damage to her engines GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

21/10/08 19:32:39

appointments

The Revd John Hill Appointed Command Chaplain HQBF The Revd John Hill recently took up post as Command Chaplain to the British Forces in Gibraltar and Chaplain to the King’s Chapel.

Having completed a career in the Metropolitan Police which spanned from 1976 to 1994 during which time he saw duty at the Harrod’s bombing, the Clapham and Purley rail disaster and the Iranian and Lybian sieges, his career took a turn when in 1986 he was recommended for the Ordained Ministry in the Church of England.

Subsequently, he trained on the Southwark Ordination Course and was ordained Priest in 1989. The first four years of his ministry overlapped with his police career, where he served as a Minister in Secular Employment.

In January 1994, he accepted a Short Service commission as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was appointed to HMS Warrior. Since then he has served on a variety of naval vessels and held posts on HMS Invincible and, up to June 2008, HMS Ark Royal.

A keen amateur musician, he plays French

The Revd John Hill meets with Gibraltar‘s Mayor Momy Levy last month

Horn and is a member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Band Service he is also a professional member of the Third Order of St. Francis and is involved with the AF Region and RN Groups

of HCPT who support special needs children and young adults of Service families with holiday/pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

For all your home painting & decorating needs... all under one roof!

SPECIAL OFFER For the purchase of 2 x 5 litre cans of paint from our shop you will receive a free 9” paint roller set worth £7.00 or a choice of 3” or 4” paint brushes worth £6.00 POUND PER CAN For every 5 litre can of paint we sell until the end of the year we will donate £1.00 to RICC (Research Into Childhood Cancer)

60 Devil’s Tower Road, Gibraltar. Tel: 200 70100 Fax: 200 76018 Email: jratcliffe@gibtelecom.net GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Survivors of the East Side Botanically speaking, the East Side of the Rock forms a unique and rich habitat. Here we include all the natural habitat from the talus north of Catalan Bay to the talus south of Sandy Bay, and includes not just the sand slopes but the rocky shoreline between these two points. But this habitat is continually under threat not only from developers, but from the dumping of rubbish, rubble, etc.

Thankfully many of the plants growing in this area are as tough as old boots, having evolved to survive the harshest of environments, and do so against all the odds.

coastal fumitory

Wild Flowers of Gibraltar text and photos by Leslie Linares ARPS

Cutandia maritima

One of these is the southern birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus creticus. It is a branched perennial with stems up to 1m long, which spread over the ground. The plant is quite distinctive as stems and leaves are densely covered with tiny silvergrey hairs which give the entire plant a grey appearance. The bright yellow flowers are around 1.5cm long, and form umbels of 2 to 7 flowers. The cylindrical seed pods are from 2 to 6 cm long, and look like the feet of birds.

The branched toadflax, Linaria pedunculata, is a member of the snapdragon family. It is a delicate, branched annual with stems from 15 to 30 cm tall. The leaves are rather succulent, and this helps the plant survive in the habitat. The flowers are up to 1.5cm long, and vary in colour from yellow to violet, or a mixture of both. This spe-

cies is only found on coastal sands.

It is not very common locally, and is only found on the East Side.

Cutandia maritima is a grass of coastal sands, and apart from the East Side it also grows on Western Beach. The erect stems can be up to 40 cm tall, and the flowers form a lax panicle up to 15cm long. The whole plant has a grey-green appearance, a colour quite common in plants of coastal regions. This is due to either a coating of fine hairs or, as in this case, the plant having a waxy coating. Both of these mechanisms serve to protect the plant from loss of water and excessive exposure to sunlight.

Another species of sandy soil near the coast is the sand storksbill, Erodium laciniatum. This species belongs to the geranium family.

It is only found on the East Side sand slopes, and is quite rare. The

The branched toadfax is a member of the snapdragod family with flowers which vary in colour from yellow to violet, or a mixture of both 86

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natural history violet-pink flowers are 1.5 to 2 cm across, and grow in umbels of 3 to 10 flowers. The leaves are deeply cut into segments. The stems usually spread over the ground and can be up to 70cm long.

The prickly saltwort, Salsola kali, is a much-branched, prickly annual, which has the appearance of a dense shrub 20 to 70 cm tall.

The spreading stems can be green, grey-green or tinged with red.

The spiny-tipped leaves are up to 3 cm long, and the flowers are quite small, green or reddish. It is not common on the Rock, where it grows on coastal sands and rocks.

The narrow-leaved spurge, Euphorbia terracina, is an important species of sandy soil and of coastal dunes. It is a protected species, and habitats containing it are usually protected as well. On the Rock it is found on North Front Cemetery where its continued existence is under threat by the drastic strimming of vegetation practised there, and also on the East Side sand slopes. Its branched stems can be erect or spreading, and reach up to 70cm tall.

Medicks are members of the pea family, with tiny yellow flowers, and with seed pods very much like small pea pods but which are tightly coiled up into barrel-shaped structures, sometimes with spreading spines. The shore medick, Medicago littoralis, is one such species, which is found on sandy soil and stony ground near the sea. On the Rock it is very common along the East Side and at Europa Point.

annual pearlwort

sand storksbill

The flowers are around 5mm long, and the pods up to 6mm diameter.

These pods may be disc-shaped or cylindrical, with 3 to 6 turns, and with or without spines.

The coastal fumitory, Fumaria

sepium, is a branched, grey-green annual, with spreading stems that can be up to 1m long. The flowers are around 1cm long, white to purplish-pink, with a red tint near the dark purple tip. They are arranged

in an elongated raceme of up to 15 flowers. It is a plant of areas near the coast, and is fairly common on the Rock where it is generally found along the East Side.

The prickly salwort is not common on the Rock, where it grows on coastal sands and rocks

branched toadfax

prickly salwort

narrow leaved spurge

southern birdsfoot trefoil

shore medick GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• april NOVEMBER GIBRALTAR 2006 2008

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1st FLOOR 1

3

2

Stairs to Ground Floor

onthesquare

Gibraltar Museum (special exhibition rooms)

4

5

6

7

8

9 10

Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits

• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams

NOW OFFERING DAILY SPECIALS

Casemates Gates

Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449

17 18 19

14

23 24 25

Casemates Square 29

Tourist Office

(See pages 97-107 for restaurant & bar information)

Q: From where does the name come?

The word Casemates, meaning a bomb proof compartment, usually of masonry, to house a magazine or troop quarters, comes from the Italian ‘Casamatta’ from the Latin ‘Casa’ (house) and ‘Matto’ (mad) originating from the Latin ‘Mattus’ (drunk)!

33 Visit us and step back in history

Line Wall Road

32 International Commercial Centre

P

TAXIS

(shops, offices, health centre)

30

Main Street

➨

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

27 28

PS

Fruit & Veg, Fish & Meat

15 16

SHO

Public Market

12 13

20 21 22

Casemates Tunnel

11

Casemates Arcade

Ground FLOOR

Main Entrance / Stairs

Casemates Square Tel: 200 72987

1-3. Arts & Crafts Galleries 11. Cafe Solo 12. All’s Well 14. The Tunnel 19. The Silver Shop 26. El Cottage 27. Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 28. El Patio Restaurant 29. Rock Turf Accountants 30. Baby Love (in ICC) 32. Solo Express

10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009

RESTAURANTE

El Patio

Basque & Continental Cuisine Speciality Fish

now also in Casemates

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11 Casemates Square Tel: 200 70822

Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 1pm Watergate House, Casemates Square Tel/Fax: 200 74982 Email: tourism@gibraltar.gi Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MAY2008 2008

21/10/08 19:28:19

WHAT’S ON November

Events which form part of the Autumn Festival (3rd-14th November 2008) are marked with a leaf

Presents ‘In for the Kill’ - a thriller by Derek Benfield, 8.30pm Ince’s Hall Theatre. Tickets £10 and £8, pensioners £5, schoolchildren £5 available weekdays 5-7pm from the Theatre’s Booking Office

3rd November Poetry Competition Prize Giving 4pm John Mackintosh Hall – Charles Hunt Room. Winning entries will be published in The Gibraltar Chronicle

13th November GONHS topic - Barbary Macaques by Eric Shaw atThe Cottage, Alameda Botanic Gardens 7.30-9pm. Tel: 20072639

3rd-8th November Stage One Production of the Musical ‘The Sound of Music’ 7.30pm John Mackintosh Hall Theatre (Saturday 8th 3pm & 8pm). Tickets £10 from Blands, 6-8 Market Lane 5th-14th November International Art Exhibition, Casemates Exhibition Galleries. Exhibition Times: weekdays 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am1pm. Entrance free 6th November Vienna Philharmonic Soloists Series, Cello Recital by Tamas Varga, Bela Simon, pianoforte. 8.30pm The Convent. Organised

by Gibraltar Philharmonic Society, sponsored by Bonita Trust. Tickets £20 from Sacarello’s, Irish Town & The Silver Shop, 275 Main St. Senior Citizens £10 (limited number) from John Mackintosh Hall.

6th November Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society Natural History Course - Topic/Theme: “Birds” by John Cortes at The Cottage, Alameda Botanic Gardens 7.30-9pm. For further information contact GONHS Tel: 20041235

13th & 14th November Zarzuela – ‘La Verbena de La Paloma’ 8pm John Mackintosh Hall. Tickets £5 from the Hall from Monday 3rd November 11am-2pm. Sale of tickets limited to 6 per person 14th November Gibraltar National Dance Team presentation for World Show Dance Championships 7.30pm Tercentenary Sports Hall.

Entrance free.

15th November GONHS Natural History Course visit to the apes feeding areas & Bruce’s Farm - meet Jew’s Gate. Tel: 20041235 Email: gonhs@gonhs.org Gibraltar Botanic garden tour George Don Gates (south end Grand Parade) 10.30am. Free - donations welcome. Tel: 20072639 Gibraltar Heritage Trust - The Great Siege Tunnels - talk by Pepe Rosado 10am. Tel: 20042844 for venue.

15th & 16th November GONHS overnight trip planned to El Rocio and the Coto de Doñana. Tel: 20074944 Email: jill@gonhs.org

7th November Fancy Dress Party at The Mount £20 per person includes DJ & Music Entertainment. Open bar, party food buffet 9pm.

For tickets email: coach.gtb@gibtelecom. net or Tel: 20047904

19th November - 2nd December Photographic & Painting Exhibition “MH Bland Yesterday,Today & Tomorrow” at John Mackintosh Hall Gallery 10am9.30pm. Entrance free. Tel: 20079478 Email: administrator@mhbland.com

8th November GONHS outing. A trip into woodland to find mushrooms with Manolo Barcel. Meet Spanish side of Frontier 8am. For info Tel: 20072689 Email: gonhs@gonhs.org

20th November GONHS Natural History Course. Theme: Marine Life by Eric Shaw at The Cottage, Alameda Botanic Gardens 7.30-9pm. Tel: 20041235

GONHS Natural History Course outing -led by Paul Acolina & Harry Vangls at The Cottage, Alameda Botanic Gardens 7.30-9pm. Tel: 20072639

22nd November Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society Natural History Course. Theme: Marine Life led by Albert Yome (the sea shore). Tel: 20041235

9th November Remembrance Sunday at the Cross of Sacrifice 12.00 noon. Tel: 20055083 10th-21st November The Tale of Lundravar The Dragon by John A Blakey book launch & illustrations’ exhibition. Official opening 7pm 10th November, Fine Arts Gallery, Casemates.

Exhibition & Story Telling weekdays 11am1pm, 4-6pm. Entrance free.

11th November GONHS meeting The Wetlands of Northern Morocco - their importance for birds, with John Cortes. Tel: 20072639 Armistice Day at Parliament House 11am Tel: 20055083 11th-13th November Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association

24th November Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Cello Recital at the Convent £20 from Solomon Levy Estate Agent – Convent Place & Sacarello’s Coffee Shop, Irish Town.

For info/credit/debit card purchase Tel: 20072134 Email: tgpsociety@gibtelecom.net 26th November Calpe Rambles meet Spanish Side of Frontier to the right of the Aduana Vehicle Exit at 8am. Tel: 20071956 or 20074645 27th November GONHS-Natural History Course Theme: Conservation by John Cortes. End of course drinks and presentation.. Tel: 20041235

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Starters 1. Chicken Liver Pate Served with toasted rustic bread and a lightly dressed salad, accompanied with redcurrant jelly

2. Prawn & Mango Cocktail Atlantic prawns smothered with our Marie Rose sauce with mango slices served on a bed of fresh leaves

3. Deep Fried Mushrooms Breaded Mushrooms served with a salad garnish and garlic dip

4. Mussels Au Gratin Fresh mussels in our special white wine & cream sauce, then smothered with melted cheese

5. Melon Parcel's Melon wrapped in Jamón Ibérico served on a crispy bed of salad

Main Courses 1. Fresh Fillet of Beef Steak Irish fillet cooked to your taste, plain grilled or served with a pepper or blue cheese sauce.

2. Shoulder of Lamb Marinated in our chef's rich mint sauce, then slow roasted. Served with a thick gravy.

3. Grilled Swordfish Steak Served either plain grilled or with our tomato and basil sauce.

4. Roast Turkey Traditional roast turkey with a sage and apple stuffing, accompanied with all the trimmings.

5. Stuffed Breast of Chicken Chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and spinach, and finished with a Diana sauce.

6. Stuffed Aubergines Filled with fresh vegetables and coated with our almond sauce. (V) All main courses are served with sautéed potatoes and fresh vegetables or our chef's special salad.

Desserts 1. Home Made Banoffee Pie Sticky toffee served on a biscuit base accompanied by pistachio ice cream.

2. Home Made Lemon Cheese Cake Everyone's favourite dessert! Served with cream or ice cream.

3. Double Chocolate Cake Every woman's dream! Served with cream or ice cream.

4. Profiteroles Little choux buns filled with cream and covered in a chocolate sauce makes a rather special ending to your special party at the Lord Nelson!

£23.50 per person Tel: 200 50009

FREE DRAW! As in previous years, everyone who visits us for a Christmas or New Year party enters our free draw. 1st prize is a weekend for 2 in the five star Montecastillo Hotel & Spa Jerez, this can be taken anytime in 2009!

Please book your Christmas Party early to avoid disappointment, contact Dominique dp@lordnelson.gi

All Christmas & New Year party bookings clients will receive an exclusive invitation to a special O’Reilly’s launch party during our opening week which includes a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival. Be one of the first guests to experience Gibraltar’s only authentic Victorian Irish Bar, located on Leisure Island, Ocean Village.

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21/10/08 19:28:38

fashion

by Sonia Golt

Sylvanna amongst her colleagues and friends minutes before the show starts

making it up Sylvanna Ellis

Sylvanna Ellis, is now SM Seruya’s cosmetic Manager, she is extremely popular and loved by all, at work and at play. One of Sylvanna’s attributes is she helps others in any way she can. She is an extremely charitable person and very spiritual too. Her artistic flair comes to the fore when she is surrounded by cosmetics as she has an ability to know what suits each person and what colours combine with the colour of their skins and eyes (she has made brides’ dreams come true by transforming them into a bridal magazine cover girl on the day of their wedding). Sylvanna sees potential in every woman she meets so everybody who goes to her leaves with a positive frame of mind…

In her early days as a beautician her paints and brushes touched many well known artists’ faces, mostly singers like Rocio Jurado and Francisco amongst others, as she was based in Spain at the time where she did her studies.

She still travels to Madrid, Barcelona and Paris on a regular basis to be kept up to date with new products to keep skin youthful and to make women feel and look more beautiful — these products are then imported to Gibraltar for the benefit of us all!

The many years dedicated to this field since she entered it as a teenager in Palma de Mallorca, have given her the expertise to create not only beautiful faces but to also try her hand at producing shows for her company Seruya called the ‘Seruya Nights’ — extremely successful events which she has been involved in since 2003. These shows have been dedicated to famous women and based around a theme — Fashion, Musicals, Films, the Eurovision Song Contest and this year, the first Saturday of November will see a show with a real Christmas

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spirit, again full of fashion, glamour and show biz… something to look forward to.

These enjoyable shows have always been very well attended partly because the money raised

The many years dedicated to this field since she entered it as a teenager in Palma de Mallorca, have given her the expertise to create not only beautiful faces but to also try her hand at producing shows for her company Seruya called the ‘Seruya Nights’

Sylvanna’s daughter Carla in the blue dress made by her grandmother the year she won the best creative dress design award

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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fashion

These enjoyable shows have always been very well attended partly because the money raised from the event goes to local charities and in aid of cancer charities including RICC, and the GBC Open Day which itself donates to other local charities too. from the event goes to local charities and in aid of cancer charities including RICC, and the GBC Open Day which itself donates to other local charities too.

Tickets for this year’s show are already on sale from 165 Main Street. You must book soon to avoid disappointment because even though the show is staged on three consecutive Saturdays at the Casino, it sells out really quickly to around 250 women each Saturday — a show produced by women for women.

Sylvanna is proud of the work all her colleagues and friends have dedicated to these events — the costumes they have made and

Participants at last year’s ‘Seruya Nights’

above all the solidarity with the idea that originated when the Seruya’s decided to start a VIP card for its best clients, this was followed with the first production as a thank you to all these ladies. The overwhelming success of this first ever ‘Seruya Nights’ made it into an annual

SiSSi Beauty Salon & Hair Salon

charity event where the audience has fun but so do those participating.

Sylvanna’s son Byron and daughter Carla also take part in each and every show mum produces, as being divorced she prefers to take them with her to rehearsals.

58 Main Street, 1st Floor. Tel: 200 74040 Regular Clinics

Sissi is a sanctuary where treatments are carried out in a serene and tranquil environment.

You will enjoy a special experience with us.

We offer a whole range of beauty treatments.

F9, 1st Floor, ICC Tel: 200 70146

Claudia Schiel Health/Beauty Therapist Auriculo Medicine for Stop Smoking Dermatological Peels Non Surgical Lifting Specialising in all kinds of skin problems Holistic Therapies for various conditions - Reflexology - Medicinal Pedicures - Hair Extensions

Lymphatic Drainage Sports Injuries - Cervical Problems Collagen Implants Botox Injections - Sclerotherapy (Thread Vein Treatment) New Clinics FAKE BAKE NEW in Gibraltar - revolutionary fake tanning system

Gillian Schirmer MA DC UK McTimoney Chiropractor

Laser Clinic Permanent Hair Removal, Pigmentation and anti-aging

Gentle and Effective Chiropractic Treatment for all Muscular and Joint Pains, especially Sports Injuries, Pregnancy. Headaches, and Migraines. Suitable for all ages.

Health / Weight Loss UNIQUE new programme starting 2008

Cheryl Sant Health/Beauty Therapist - Facials - Waxing - Electrolysis Massages - Slimming Treatments NEW! Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal Hollywood & Brazilian Waxing

Dermatologist Cryotherapy - Warts Age Spots - Pigmentations Skin Lesions and Imperfections.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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21/10/08 19:26:35

the story behind...

The place chosen for the trials was Gibraltar — to be precise, hangar “A” of the aircraft carrier, Eagle. The jury comprised eight naval captains in full regalia, including cocked hats (which they did not remove)

Captain Kenneth Dewar, captain of HMS ‘’Royal Oak’’ 1927-1928.

Controversially court-martialled in the Royal Oak “Mutiny” trial of March-April 1928

The Royal Oak “Mutiny” Fiasco As a Monty Python sketch it might have rivalled the legendary dead parrot. As an example of British stiff upper lip solemnity in the face of absurdity it has few equals. But it was a serious business — the courts martial of Commander Henry Martin Daniel and Captain Kenneth Gilbert Balmain Dewar. The time was April 1928. The place: Gibraltar.

It started not with a kiss, but with a dance. On January 12th 1928, the battleship Royal Oak was at anchor in Malta. The Great War had been over for a decade. The next major conflict, though only Nostradamus knew it, lay two decades in the future. It was an untroubled, innocent age,

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and to underline the fact a dance was planned that evening on the quarterdeck.

On board, besides Captain Dewar, were Rear Admiral Bernard St. George Collard (Dewar was his flag captain) and Commander Henry Daniel.

The dance began well. The quarterdeck was soon awash with men, officers and guests enjoying the evening and dancing to the music of the Royal Marine Band. Anyone wishing to turn the ensuing events into an improbable farce would give the bandmaster an outrageously comic name like “Percy Barnacle”, but God got there first. On the night of 12th January 1928 the Royal Marine Band was indeed under the baton of Percy Barnacle.

Admiral Collard was a bluff, gruff bull of a man who wouldn’t have known how to mince his words even if he’d wanted to. When he hesitated to call a spade a spade, he called it a damn shovel. Collard didn’t think much of the band that night, and said so, denouncing its music as “the worst bloody noise he had heard in his life”. He took a particular dislike to Bandmaster Barnacle and bellowed, “I won’t have a bugger like that on this ship”.

He was also appalled to see so many unaccompanied ladies sitting idly around. The blame for this he placed squarely on Commander Daniel, who he felt was not doing his duty by flitting among the tables making formal introductions. No respectable lady would dance with a gentleman to whom she had not been properly introduced. Loudly, he berated Captain Dewar for not ordering Daniel to simultaneously pull his socks up and get his finger out.

It would be iniquitous to suggest that Admiral Collard had been a little too free with the decanter, but disgraceful comments of that kind were surely whispered at some of the cheaper tables.

At Collard’s insistence, Barnacle’s ensemble was dismissed and, from somewhere in the Mediterranean night, a jazz band summoned.

It is a curious thing that a jazz band, otherwise unemployed, should be haunting the dockside streets of Malta waiting to climb aboard and launch immediately into Tiger Rag, but history — invariably tight-lipped when asked to explain its mysteries — insists this was so.

Below decks, resentment simmered. Nevertheless, the ill-feeling might have passed quickly and been soon forgotten had not Dewar and Daniel written letters complaining that Collard’s “vindictive fault-finding” and “unacceptable behaviour” had humiliated them in front of the crew.

As befits a farce, the details are confusing.

Some reports say the letters were addressed to Collard’s superior, Vice-Admiral John Kelly; others that they were first sent to Collard himself who passed them to Kelly, who in turn gave

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

22/10/08 12:54:25

the story behind...

by Dave Wood them to Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Roger Keyes. No matter. By daring to write such letters, Dewar and Daniel were deemed to have authored “subversive documents” calculated to undermine discipline and bring a superior officer into contempt.

Admiral Keyes ordered all three men to return immediately to England, forcing the postponement (albeit by only 15 hours) of a major naval exercise. Once there, Dewar and Daniel put pen to paper again, requesting reinstatement or the opportunity to clear their names in a courtmartial. They were granted the latter, and in an early example of the wild exaggeration of the tabloid press, the ludicrous affair was soon dubbed “the Royal Oak mutiny”.

The place chosen for the trials was Gibraltar — to be precise, hangar “A” of the aircraft carrier, Eagle.

With their American counsel, Day Kimball, former Assistant Attorney General of Massachusetts, the two men sailed to the Rock on the P&O liner, Malwa, arriving on 27th March.

Daniel’s trial was set for 30th March, with Dewar’s to follow immediately afterwards.

The jury comprised eight naval captains in full regalia, including cocked hats (which they did not remove). Gravely they took formal possession of the defendants’ swords and signalled for the proceedings to begin.

March 30th was a warm day in Gibraltar, and Kimball resembled a character from a comic opera as he sweated beneath the heavy British barrister’s wig he was required to wear. Commander Daniel faced four charges — two related to the writing of his letter, and two to reading it aloud to fellow officers. He was found guilty on all counts, dismissed from his ship, and severely reprimanded.

Unsurprisingly, he was disillusioned with life in the navy, and resigned. He later tried his hand unsuccessfully at journalism, and eventually vanished into obscurity in South Africa.

Captain Dewar was charged with accepting and forwarding a subversive letter — presumably Daniel’s rather than his own. He personally cross-examined RearAdmiral Collard, but got short shrift: “Now, sir, I ask you to imagine yourself in the place of Bandmaster Barnacle.”

“I have no intention of imagining myself a bandmaster!”

“Did you ever say you were fed up with the ship on which I was your flag captain?”

“I said I was fed up with you.”

“Answer yes or no.”

“I will not! I will answer as I see fit.”

And on they went, like an old married couple bickering over the washing up.

Dewar asked Collard if he had called Bandmaster Barnacle “a bugger”. He admitted he had, but wondered who on Earth had “called the bugger a bandmaster”.

As the cross-examination continued, both men grew progressively angrier until their exchanges were more like the prelude to a bar-room brawl than a court-martial. Collard grew so purple-faced that apoplexy seemed imminent. There can be little doubt had there not been such a disparity in their respective ranks, the matter would have been settled on the night of the dance, with the loser going over

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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the side, and the winner being court-martialled for murder.

What should have been clear to everyone was that Bernard St George Collard was an arrogant buffoon who should not have been in charge of a rowing boat, let alone a battleship, and that Daniel and Dewar had acted with almost saintly restraint, but military men see things differently. Nothing is more important to the military mind than discipline and the chain of command. Collard was the superior man, and consequently no matter how insufferable he must, for the purposes of the court-martial, be vindicated.

Had he been mere “Mr” Collard, suing Dewar and Daniel for libel, the case would have been laughed out of court and he would have found himself with a hefty bill for costs. But he was “Admiral” Collard, and this was the Navy.

Yet even here there must have been some unease, for Dewar’s predictable conviction was only half-hearted. He was found guilty of accepting and forwarding a subversive letter but, curiously, cleared of infringing the King’s Regulations by so doing. And despite hedging their bets by going as far as they could to show their disapproval of Collard, the court had no option but to dismiss Dewar from his ship, thus potentially destroying his career.

There was, however, considerable public sym-

“Did you ever say you were fed up with the ship on which I was your flag captain?”

“I said I was fed up with you.”

“Answer yes or no.”

“I will not! I will answer as I see fit.”

pathy for the convicted men. After questions were asked in parliament, it was announced positions would be found for them in the Navy “as soon as vacancies arose”. Daniel, as noted above, was unimpressed, and moved on, but Dewar was determined to stand fast.

Collard did not escape entirely unscathed.

The authorities decided he had provoked the situation and he was ordered to resign his commission. Despite his enforced retirement he retained the rank of Rear-Admiral and later published a typically ill-tempered and opinionated rant of a book, The Navy From Within.

Remarkably, Dewar’s career survived. After a series of insultingly minor commands he took charge, on 5th November 1928, of Tiger, a battle cruiser used mainly for training purposes.

In 1929 he moved on to HMS Iron Duke and became aide-de-camp to King George V. On 4th August of the same year he was promoted to Rear-Admiral, and, possibly savouring the irony of attaining the same rank as his nemesis, promptly retired from the service.

In 1931, Dewar turned to politics, standing in the General Election as the Labour Party candidate for the Portsmouth North constituency. It was a brave move.

Portsmouth is a navy town, and there can be little doubt many voters still regarded him, whatever anyone else might say, as a mutinous trouble-maker. He didn’t help his cause by issuing a series of posters that appeared to equate the First World War Battle of Jutland with the recent “Invergordon Mutiny” — a two-day strike of around a thousand sailors protesting against proposed pay cuts. Jutland veterans were outraged.

Dewar tried to distance himself from the posters, denying any hand in their design and production, but it was too late. He lost the election. Nevertheless, although he had retired from the navy several years before, he was elevated to the rank of ViceAdmiral (Retd.) in July 1934.

He was too old for active service when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, but returned to the Admiralty to work alongside his brother, Alfred, in the Historical Section of the Training and Staff Duties Division.

His name was in the news again in 1953 when, aged 74, he sued BrigadierGeneral Aspinall Oglander for libel. In a biography of Admiral Keyes, Oglander had suggested that at the time of his court-martial, Dewar had collaborated suspiciously closely with the press. Dewar won the case and received a public apology and substantial damages.

In 1912, Dewar had been among the eight founders of The Naval Review. 45 years later, in 1957, he was still writing provocative articles for the magazine criticising aspects of officer training, and tackling other controversial subjects.

Henry Daniel, his co-defendant in the case of the Ark Royal “mutiny” was long forgotten, perhaps even dead.

That Kenneth Dewar should have survived the debacle to enjoy a lengthy and reasonably successful career on both sea and land showed commendable courage and tenacity.

He died peacefully at home in Worthing, Sussex, on 8th September 1965, just two weeks short of his 85th birthday.

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fitness

Exercising your Options at King’s Bastion The King’s Bastion Leisure Centre Fitness Gym is now open and is taking memberships. Superbly fitted out and open to everyone from daily sessions or monthly memberships to annual “all hours” membership for £250.00, the King’s Bastion Fitness Gym is sure to be a resounding success.

Although a public gym, the Fitness Gym has been designed to provide the look, feel, and intimacy of a private fitness/training facility and provides access to top-of-the-line fitness equipment and amenities in a custom designed setting.

Fully qualified staff provide supervision and induction sessions for users of the gym, and in addition spinning and Tai chi classes will be held. The brand new changing rooms and shower facilities are exclusively for the use of the two floor facility which can be entered from

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Line Wall Road, or from within the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre.

Access for those with mobility problems to a specially designated area is via a lift, and includes separate specially designed showers and changing facilities.

The gym is open 8am to 11pm on weekdays but is closed all day on Sundays and Saturdays after 3pm.

For further information contact 200 59834 email: fitnessgym@kingsbastion.gov.gi or visit the leisure centre’s website at www.kingbastion.gov.gi

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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KING’S BASTION LEISURE CENTRE FITNESS GYM - NOW OPEN! The King’s Bastion Leisure Centre Fitness Gym opened its doors to the public on Wednesday 1st October 2008.

The Fitness Gym is located on two floors at the southern end of the Line Wall Road entrance to the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre.

The King’s Bastion Leisure Centre Fitness Gym boasts an extensive range of equipment for use in a range of fitness regimes including strength training, cardiovascular and aerobic training. Additionally, the Gym is programmed to hold Spinning classes and Tai Chi sessions in a holistic approach to fitness, catering for as wide a range as possible of users. Full changing room and shower facilities are also provided.

Furthermore, an area within the Gym has been designated for persons with mobility problems and the facilities include full access for the disabled including a lift and separate changing and shower facilities.

Qualified staff, under the management of the Gibraltar Sports & Leisure Authority, will supervise the use of the facilities, ensuring their proper use, and will also provide the required induction courses.

Membership Fees are as follows: •

Annual Membership - ‘All Hours’

-

£250.00

(Includes induction)

•

Annual Membership - ‘Off Peak’ (Monday to Friday 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00)

-

£150.00

(Includes induction)

•

Monthly Membership - ‘All Hours’

-

£25.00

(Induction Fee not included)

•

Monthly Membership - ‘Off Peak’ (Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4.30pm)

£15.00

(Induction Fee not included)

•

Daily Sessions (Maximum 1 ½ hrs).

£5.00

•

Induction Fee £25.00 (This applies to monthly membership only. Induction course must be renewed every 12 months)

-

The Gym will be fully operational as from Monday 6th October. Opening times will then be Monday to Friday 8am to 11pm and Saturday 8am to 3pm.

For further information please contact: King’s Bastion Leisure Centre Fitness Gym King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, Queensway, Gibraltar Tel: (+350) 200 59834 or (+350) 200 44777 Fax:(+350) 200 44798 Email: fitnessgym@kingsbastion.gov.gi or info@kingsbastion.gov.gi Web :www.kingsbastion.gov.gi

Untitled-2 1

29/1/09 10:30:41

food & drink

Herbs&Spices

by Jonathan Bull

I love to dabble in the kitchen from time to time.

Sometimes I get it right, other times it can be a massive disaster (like the time I though it would be interesting to cook lamb with chorizo... Don’t bother). However, I do love my herbs and spices and on every visit to the supermarket I have a quick browse to see if there’s something I’m missing from my collection.

Pickwicks on Governor’s Parade (opposite the Eliott Hotel)

The Best Sandwiches made especially for you as well as Jackets•Salads•Burgers and a whole lot more

open Monday to Friday from 9.30am

You do need to be a little careful about what you pick up though, as on more than one occasion you go to the cupboard to find that spice you know is there to find it’s solidified in the jar, or the stem Ginger’s gone mouldy (and you only bought it three days ago). It’s down to storage and knowing what you’re most likely to use and how often.

Spices should be stored in a cool dark place and you’ll find that heat, excessive light and humidity will mean the spices lose some of their flavour. A good way to get round this is to use airtight containers and i swear by my spice drawer built into the fitted kitchen. You’ll find that with proper storage ground spices will last for up to a year and whole spices anything up to five year. Another trick for large quantities of herbs and spices is to keep them in an airtight container in the freezer (You can do this with ground coffee to to keep it’s flavour

just right).

I’ve learned to use my spices with a mix of trial and error and by following recipes and making a note of the combinations which I’ve most enjoyed. Keep either a mental or written note on what’s worked and you’ll find that you can apply the spices to different dishes to change their flavour without too much risk of making a hash of it.

There are a few simple rules you can follow to get the best out of the spices, but it’s more common sense than rocket science.

The longer you cook spices, the stronger the flavour, so if you’re adding spices to a long-cooking dish, you might find it best to add spices around about an hour before serving. For quick recipes, add any dry spices early in the cooking and herbs towards the end, and I’d crush the herbs first to enhance the flavour to the dish.

Try not to use more than three

NOVEMBER 2008 Date Sun 02

Mon 03 Wed 05

Thu 06

Fri 07 Sat 08

Sun 09

Tue 11 Wed 12 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 Mon 17 Thu 20 Sun 23

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Fri 28

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Vessel ETA Empress 0800 Rotterdam 0800 Thomson Destiny 0800 Wind Spirit 1200 Seadream II 1400 Ocean Village Two 0800 Bleu de France 1130 Seabourn Legend 0800 Queen Elizabeth 2 0700 C’sta Mediterranea 1300 Prinsendam 1000 Silver Wind 1400 Zenith 0800 Wind Star 1200 Queen Elizabeth 2 0900 Discovery 0800 C’sta Mediterranea 1300 Celebrity Century 1300 Island Escape 0800 Aurora 0800 Arcadia 1300 C’sta Mediterranea 1300 Balmoral 0800 Grand Princess 0800 Black Prince 0800 Norwegian Jade 0700

ETD 1500 1700 1800 1800 2200 1800 1800 1600 1400 1900 1700 1900 1400 1800 1700 1200 1900 1900 1900 1700 1800 1900 1400 1700 1300 1300

Pass Spanish American British American American British French American British Italian American American Spanish American British British Italian American British British British Italian British American British American

Capacity From To 1600 Malaga Lisbon 1316 Barcelona Cadiz 1595 Almeria Casablanca 148 Almeria Cadiz 110 1664 Cartagena Funchal 600 Marseille Funchal 212 Seville Malaga 1778 Piraeus Vigo 2100 Lisbon Alicante 758 Cartagena Cadiz 296 Lisbon Cadiz 1375 148 Almeria Cadiz 1778 Lisbon Civitavecchia 751 Almeria Lisbon 2100 Lisbon Alicante 1778 Ajaccio Casablanca 1512 1975 Tunis Lisbon 1968 CivitavecchiaS’thampton 2100 Lisbon Alicante 1050 Valencia Lisbon 2600 Barcelona Casablanca 450 Malta Dublin 2400 Cadiz Palma

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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food & drink

N

W O N

spices in any one dish. Herbs and spices are meant to add a touch of flavour, not thousands all trying to compete with each other (unless it’s a curry or specific recipe that asks for more). You can also try substituting herbs and spices for others, for example if the recipe asks for

Oregano, try Marjoram instead, or Corriander instead of Parsley. With a bit of experimentation you’ll be a spice junky in no time!

Most importantly, if your much expected creation turns out to be a disaster, don’t despair, just make a note: “Don’t do that one again!”

The longer you cook spices, the stronger the flavour, so if you’re adding spices to a long-cooking dish, you might find it best to add spices around about an hour before serving

E OP

14 On the Quay Restaurant Come and try our new

A La Carte Menu 12:30 to 3:00 & 7:00 to 10:45

Surprise!

Snack Menu & Cocktails available from 3 - 6 pm

Unit 14, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar

Marie’s surprise 40th birthday party at Cafe Rojo

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Opening Hours 12.30pm - 11.00pm last orders 10.45pm Telephone +350 200 43731 97

22/10/08 15:24:19

good food Winter Vegetable Soup ½ medium sized onion ½ leek 1 carrot 1/4 turnip or squash 1/4 winter cabbage 25g butter bouquet garni grated nutmeg 1/4 tsp yeast extract 250 ml vegetable stock 15g soup pasta 250 ml milk salt and pepper

soup

Chop the onion and leek, grate the carrot and turnip coarsely, and shred the cabbage. Heat the butter in a deep saucepan, add the onion, leek, carrot, and turnip, and fry gently until they begin to brown. Add the cabbage with the bouquet garni, nutmeg, and yeast extract, and cook gently for 3 minutes. Heat the stock to boiling point and pour it on to the vegetables. Add the pasta and simmer until the vegetables are soft.

Remove the bouquet garni. Add the milk and re heat the soup. Season.

Serve with grated cheese.

There is nothing better on a cool evening than a hot and hearty soup for supper for lunch. This month we give you four delicious soup recipies for some of our favourite soups.

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Mushroom Soup

500g mushrooms 90g butter 2 medium onions, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 tbsp plain flour 1l hot vegetable stock 1 bay leaf 120ml cream salt & freshly-ground black pepper Clean the mushrooms and roughly

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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good food

chop the caps and stems. Heat the butter in a pan and add the garlic and onion. Cook until the onion becomes soft and translucent then add the mushrooms and cook over high heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Sprinkle the flour over the top and mix well to combine. Add the hot vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Add the bayleaf and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the bayleaf, allow to cool a little then use a hand blender to blend until smooth. Return to the heat, season with salt and pepper and reheat until boiling.

Stir-in the cream and serve.

Tomato Basil Soup

2 red onions, peeled and diced 6 garlic gloves, peeled and diced olive oil 300ml water 20 plum tomatoes quartered 1 x 800g tin plum tomatoes salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ loaf of French bread ½ packet fresh basil Heat about 3 tbsp of olive oil in a pan and cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes to soften them slightly. Add the water and all the tomatoes. Cover with a lid, bring to the boil and season with salt and lots of pepper. Dice the bread and stir it into the soup, along with the freshly ripped basil leaves. Place in a bowl,

and drizzle with olive oil on the top.

Serve with hot crusty bread and pesto to spread.

Saffron Fish Soup

115g skate wing, no skin/cartilage 2 large scallops 6 mussels 115g Monkfish,cleaned (remove skin and all dark coloured flesh) 1 large onion 1 bulb fennel 1 clove garlic 1 tomato 3 tbs olive oil 400ml water 2 bay leaf 1 pinch saffron strands salt & freshly ground black pepper 4 thin slices French bread, lightly toasted and rubbed with raw garlic.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Rinse all seafood in salted water.

Finely chop the onion, fennel and garlic. Roughly chop the tomato.In a sauté pan, add olive oil and sauté the vegetables until tender. Add the chopped tomatoes, bay leaf, saffron and water. Gently lay the fish in the pan and cover. Set the fish in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Remove the fish from the pan and separate between two bowls. Season to taste. Pour the broth over the fish and serve. Garnish each soup with 2 garlic rubbed croutons and chopped chives.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Modern

Relaxed

Dining

Open: 10am - late Closed Sundays + Saturday lunch

Irish Town Tel: 200 51738 to reserve

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food & drink

El Patio Celebrates 30 Years of Business

Rosemary and Manuel at El Patio Restaurant

El Patio restaurant, tucked in the corner of Casemate’s Square, is celebrating 30 years of business this month.

Restaurateurs Rosemary and Manuel have put on a special evening menu selection for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights throughout November to give customers ­— old and new — the chance to celebrate the achievement with them.

It’s an excellent opportunity to spend an evening with them in their cosy and elegant restaurant and raise a glass to their continued success.

We wish them all the best for the future.

106 Eurotowers, Europort Road, Gibraltar Tel: 200 76044 Fax: 200 72760

Full Takeaway Service

Available for Private Functions • Party Menus from £4.95 per head

~ Full Sports Coverage on 3 Screens ~ Breakfasts (Full English to Egg or Beans &Toast)• Breakfast Baguettes (all day) • Baguettes / Sandwiches (Egg Mayo to Honey Roasted Ham to Steak & Onion) • Time Out Open Sandwiches

(Mozzarella, Basil & Red Pepper • Cajun Chicken • Honey Roasted Ham & Cheese • Chargrilled Chicken & Avocado • Tuna, Prawn, Lemon & Créme Fraiche) • Wraps (Chicken Caesar • BLT • Feta, Olive, Mint & Yoghurt Dressing • Chargrilled Chicken, Red Pepper & Onion)• Panini • Starters & side dishes (Onion Rings & Nachos to Potato Skins) • Mains (from Chicken Tikka Masala to Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash or Quiche or Roast of the Day) • Salads (from Chicken Caesar or Greek to Ploughman’s)• Jackets (Chilli & Cheese to Smoked Salmon) • Desserts • Drinks etc

100

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class Catering with a touch of Breakfasts • Lunch Afternoon Tea (£1.99) Vegetarian & Non-Vegetarian Menus Homemade Desserts Eat-in or Take-away SENSIBLE PRICES

Outside Catering Service Open: 8am - 4.30pm Monday - Friday

Tel: 200 48014 1st Floor ICC

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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food & drink

enjoy relax relax

Contemporary Mediterranean Dining

Back Behind The Bar Jane’s back, hiding behind the taps at the Cannon Bar and serving with a smile.

Jane’s been running the Cannon Bar for the last 20 years, and after taking a break from her traditional place behind the bar, she’s now back serving with a smile. If you’re after a cool pint after a hard day’s work, or looking for a good quality lunch, you can’t beat the Cannon’s fish and chips — voted the best in Gibraltar by the Lonely Planet guide.

Free christmas Raffle Get Your FREE Ticket when you

enjoy relax delicious Grand Casemates Square Tel:

200 44449

View our menu on our website www.casemates.gi

The Taste Indian Restaurant

spend £5 or more at Just A Nibble on the 1st Floor, ICC

The Draw will be held on Wednesday 17th December and you can win a hamper

Bigger Than You’ve Ever Seen Before

Bob, Marie & the team will be donating a cheque to Research Into Childhood Cancer

THE NEW ROYAL CALPE

2 EVENING MEALS

£7.95

176 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75890 royalcalpe@gibtelecom.net GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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An Exclusive Eating Experience in Amazing Surroundings Reservations Advisable Tel: 00 34 856 12 29 18 / 00 34 626 88 40 38 Take-Away Service Private Dining Room Facility open: every day 5pm to late, Friday Saturday and Sunday 1pm to late Avda. del Ejercito, esq. Calle Gibraltar, 11300 La Linea - in front of the Frontier

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wine column

November and Winter Blues

(and reds and whites) Winter is icumen in Llhude sing Goddam Passeth bus and sloppeth us And how the wind doth ramm Sing: Goddam.

Ezra Pound’s magnificent parody of the Old English cuckoo (‘cuccu’) song is appropriate as the evenings get shorter and cooler and the rains start. However, there are some saving graces.

First is to turn on the television and watch a football game transmitted from England, especially Manchester or virtually anywhere else in the desolate North, and see the players having to run around in order to prevent icicles forming.

Secondly, one can open a bottle of wine.

The latter will also help you cope with the world’s financial crisis. This is, it must be remembered, nobody’s fault except, perhaps, that of the ultimate investor (you and me). The bankers were all acting entirely within the rules set by the regulators. The regulators made sure that all the correct boxes were ticked. Governments made sure that regulators were appointed and did the job they were told to do. But you

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and I were stupid enough to take out a mortgage which we could not afford, put our money in a savings account offering a higher rate of interest without enquiring why the interest rate was so high, and then we have the temerity to ask why no-one told us that the foundations of the whole edifice were built on sand. We shouldn’t have been so greedy. The bankers, the regulators and the governments were just trying (while drawing healthy salaries) to save us from ourselves and we must now pay for our own cupidity (and continue to pay the salaries).

The squeals of all concerned would be amusing if they were not also tragic. The whirlwind caused by bucks being passed at great speed by all concerned obscures the root of the problem.

It is in no way related to our own greed, or that of those who fed off us. It is all the fault of Higgs Boson.

Did you not wonder why the Large Hadron Collider at CERN which was looking for Higgs Boson crashed? (By the way, the Large Hadron Collider itself is probably fictional and should be preceded by the words “Harry Potter and”.)

And then a few short weeks later the world’s financial system lay in near ruin? Since being expelled from Eton, Higgs Boson has always been something of a flash character and has

wasted away most of the wealth created by the efforts of hard-working folk, either by reason of the amount spent seeking him high and low or by encouraging others like him to buy expensive yachts. Now we have someone to blame, what is to be done?

The answer lies in the one area as yet unaffected, except marginally, by the machinations of Higgs Boson. Enjoy a bottle of wine. There is over-production at the cheaper end and a reduction in price at the expensive end. This year’s vintage, despite the wet summer, promises to be good with some September sunshine. HB was concentrating his efforts on climate change in order to ruin everyone’s holiday and did not take account of the fattening of the grape with late ripening.

With winter almost upon us you can banish all thought of HB – who may be, anyway, a figment of an over-excited imagination – by opening a Marques de Caceres crianza 2004 (about £7.50 from all outlets). Nothing particularly special about it but good solid stuff. If the sun shines, try a white from the same stable. Neither will fly you over the moon but they will keep the slops from the passing bus away and induce a feeling of general contentment.

For more expensive wines, the prevailing wind is definitely in the East. Leaving aside the ill effects of such a wind in dashing ships against our shores and washing away the foundations of our buildings, there are some advantages.

Because of the prospective recession expensive wines are not selling well. Retailers do not want expensive wines remaining on the shelves cluttering up both the shelves and the cash flow.

Please imagine that I am whispering now, and that this is for your ears only: try a bit of negotiation. Look for vintages that are marked in the books as ‘drink soon’ or ‘declining’. Make an offer. You will be pleasantly surprised. It may still be expensive but you should be able to buy a few Marques de Caceres on the saving, as well as enjoying the vintage stuff. But beware: do not tell anyone or you will create a demand where there was none before and so prices will not fall.

In fact, now I think of it, please ignore this paragraph completely and leave the field to me.

The essential message, as winter comes, is that you should not be downcast. The cold, the wet and the wind – even Higgs Boson himself — may do their worst but you can be insulated from their effects. And before you know it summer will be icumen in and the cuckoo singing loudly.

This year’s vintage, despite the wet summer, promises to be good with some September sunshine. Higgs Boson was concentrating his efforts on climate change in order to ruin everyone’s holiday and did not take account of the fattening of the grape with late ripening GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Birdie Bar Restaurant

Just A Nibble

& Chinese Food Takeaway

Licensed Cafeteria Let the ‘A’ Team serve you up a snack or a meal.

Daily Specials • Varied Menu

Open: Monday - Friday 10-3.30, 6.30-11 Saturday-Sunday 6.30-11.30

Open from 9am First Floor ICC, Main Street THE PLACE TO MEET

16 Watergardens II Tel: 200 72885

thyme

Sail 3B Ocean Village Promenade Ocean Village, Gibraltar Tel: 21622162 (temporary phone number 200 51083 press #) Caribbean Flavour 10am till late, Delicious 7 days a week Rum Cocktails

dining rooms

Fabulous Food with a

restaurant &bar guide

turn to pages 104-106 for full restaurant and bar listings

5 Cornwall’s Lane. Tel: 200 49199 Email: thymegib@hotmail.com

Ground Floor Bar open from 10.30 daily Pool Table • TV • Machines

First Floor ’Hoots’ open from 1pm

2 Pool Table s• Darts • Machines Tel: 20077446

2nd Floor ‘The Nest’ open from 5pm

American Pool • Card Table

Traditional English Pub with the best of English beers

Get Stuffed!

Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006

Sunny Terrace

WORLDWIDE SPORTS

Showing 4 digital channels on 5 TVs just off Main Street - 4 Cornwall’s Parade Tel: 200 59997

Piccadilly Garden Bar

Homemade Food Daily Specials

RESTAURANT • Sunshine Terrace

Big Screen TV live football Pig & Whistle Open: 10-midnight (Fri-Sat 11am-1am) Unit 18, Watergardens,

Gibraltar Tel: 20076167

THREE 60 Governor’s Street

English Fresh Fish Breakfasts Prawns Churros Squid Hamburgers Clams Toast Meats Take-away Rosia Rd. Tel: 200 75758 • Menu of the day £6

ROSES

Wembley Bar

Tel: 200 51614

10 South Barrack Ramp.

Tel: 200 78004

Fully Air-Conditioned with 3 Plasma TVs

The One and Only Scottish Embassy Open 7 Days a Week

• Hot & cold bar snacks • Function room

Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967

BUDDIES pasta casa

Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations

Open 8-7 Mon-Fri, 10-7 Sat, 11-6 Sun 248 Main St - delivery Tel/Fax: 200 76699

BY DAY

BY NIGHT Made-to-order Lounge Bar Sandwiches, Soups, Happy Hours 7-9pm Salads, Wraps, Free Tapas Fridays Baguettes etc 5-7pm 5 Waterport Plaza - (Public Market)

SMITH’S

open: from 8.30am

FRESHLY BAKED

bread, brioche, rolls, bagels, croissants, cakes

HOME DELIVERY Open

FISH & CHIPS HADDOCK PLAICE • COD FRESH FRIED IN CRISPY BATTER

AMAR’S BAKERY & COFFEE SHOP

1a Convent Place (opp. the Convent) Tel: 200 73516 Wide variety of ready-made food now available for take-away or sitdown All food is Kosher

Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special EveryDay salads, quiches, pastas, pies, muffins, all home made Open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat

57 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: 200 70625

295 MAIN ST Tel: 200 74254

7

days a week Glacis Estate

Tel: 200 71992

Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Beers & Soft Drinks Distributors Est. 1839

35 Devil’s Tower Road, Gibraltar. Telephone: (350) 200 74600 Telefax: (350) 200 77031 e-mail: mail@sacspeed.gi A Member of The Saccone & Speed (Gibraltar) Group of Companies GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 2008 2008

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The Mexican Grill and Bar Unit 2B The Tower, Marina Bay Tel: 200 46668 Brand new to Gibraltar and already proving popular, The Mexican Grill and Bar serves all the favourite Mexican dishes from Nachos, Quesadillas and Chimichangas (rolled flour tortilla with spicy chicken, chilli beef or vegetables, deep fried, served with Mexican rice and salad and guacamole, salsa or sour cream), to Burritos (like Chimichangas but oven baked), El Gringos Chilli con Carne, or Cheese Holy Mole Enchiladas. Don’t forget Big Eat Homemade Burgers (5 to choose from) and from the grill barbecue combos, steaks and chicken. Salads and sides to order. Decorated is warm Mexican colours with comfortable seating in the no-smoking interior or outside on the enclosed and heated patio, great for a fun night out.

Open: lunch and dinner 12 noon to late

restaurants The Boatyard Queensway Quay Tel: 200 50540 Stylish dining right on the quayside at Queenway Quay.

Lunch and dinner served including appetisers of honey roasted figs, blue cheese & walnut stuffing, or warm tiger prawns, avocado & red onion salsa, lime ginger & palm sugar vinaigrette; salads such as Thai poached chicken breast, Asian herb slaw, toasted coconut ‘nuoc cham’ dressing, and mains to tempt you including crab crusted seabass fillet, sweetcorn and chive mash, steamed asparagus, fennel & watercress salad, or grilled rack of New Zealand lamb, cumin roasted chorizo & potato, steamed green beans, flamed peppers, rosemary & red wine jus. Sharing plates for 2 people include Australasian, Thai/Asian and Modern European (ie: spiced lamb cutlets, chorizo & beef skewers, warm tiger prawns with avocado salsa, chicken and mushroom risotto balls.

Open: 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449 Modern Italian eatery set in the 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 pizzas (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Good daily specials menu on blackboard.

Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738 Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant.

Red comfy arm chairs in separate area for a relaxing drink or coffee. Brunch menu (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 (chocolate mousse in a must). Lunch 12 - 3pm and dinner 7-10pm includes salads of coconut coated langostines (deep fried in a coconut batter, sweet chilli and ginger dressing); and warm goats cheese & fresh spinach with sautéed mushrooms, croutons, basil & balsamic dressing; pasta dishes such as langostine pil pil; sautéed chorizo, chicken and langostines; and fresh salmon & spinach; and main courses including chargrilled fillet steak; wrapped chicken; lamb shoulder; and fresh salmon fillet with sesame crust.

Open: from 10am. Closed all day Sundays, and Saturday lunch.

Casa Pepe 18 Queensway Quay Marina. Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe.gib@gmail.com Situated right on the water front at Queensway Quay, Casa Pepe has a comprehensive a la carte menu which includes dishes such as melon & Serrano ham, stuffed piquillo peppers and filled mushrooms to start, followed by a choice of salads, rice and noodles and fish, poultry and meat dishes which include King Prawns Macarena (cooked with fresh ginger, tomatoes, mangos and bananas served with basmati rice, fried bread and bananas), Medallions of monkfish cooked with white wine and lobster sauce, duck breast Armanac-style (with Cognac, mushrooms and pine nuts), Medallions of pork loin cooked with Serrano ham and dry Jerez sherry, and fillet steak Malagueña cooked in creamy garlic mushrooms and sweet sherry sauce topped with prawns. Wide range of tapas/raciones also available.

Open: Monday to Saturday 11am till late.

Restaurante El Patio 11 Casemates Square Tel: 200 70822 Tucked in the corner of Casemates Square this classic fish restaurant specialises in fresh fish and Basque and Continental cuisines. Relaxed dining at the front next to the square, formal dining room to the rear - try the

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fresh caught specials.

Open: 1pm - 4pm, 8.30pm - 11pm Closed all day Sunday (plus Saturdays during August).

14 on the Quay Unit 14, Queensway Quay Tel: 200 43731 The latest addition to the beautiful Queensway Quay marina, 14 on the Quay is open for lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails and dinner. The fine dining includes lobsters fresh from the tank, and the setting with its spectacular sunsets is perfect.

Open: 12.30 - 11pm (last orders 10.45pm) Gauchos Waterport Casemates Tel: 200 59700 Nestled just next to Waterport roundabout within the city walls. Opened by renowned local restaurateur André of the Tunnel fame, Gauchos offers some interesting dishes with a tempting South American Gaucho theme. Try the Chorizo Criolla de Argentina (spicy sausage grilled over coal and wood), or the Mariscos del Rio Plata or Empanada de Queso Azul (blue cheese oven baked in a black pepper pasty) to start, or for main course perhaps the Fillet de Salmon Chimichurri (salmon with grilled banana, mango and avocado sauce), or Crepe Argenteuil (with grilled asparagus and wild mushrooms), or one of the steaks (lots from Lomo de Alto, Solomillo, and T-bone to Corazon de Cuadril - tender heart of rump, well matured). There is lots more too — Parrillada de Gaucho (for two - steak, sausages, chicken, pork and lamb), salads (try the Remolacha Tostada con Queso de Cabra - tasty goat’s cheese salad) — and the desserts are to die for too! They say “this is a great experience for you to savour”.... give it a try! Call 200 59700 to reserve your table. Open: 7.30pm - late.

Laziz Sail 2.2 Ocean Village Marina. Tel: 200 40971 www.lazizrestaurant.com Laziz is a plush Indian cuisine restaurant right on the waterfront at Ocean Village (in fact it’s built over the water). This tastefully fitted out restaurant has two menus — evolved and traditional. Each dish is berautifully served and presented, and you will find lots of unusual and delicious dishes to choose from — a real pleasure for the taste buds. Seating is in comfortable booths or on tables at the waterside (the restaurant’s big glazed windows open right up in the summer for an outdoor feel).

Open: daily 11-midnight. Kitchen open: 12-3, 6-11.

Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay For a reservations Tel: 200 76501 E-mail reservations@caletahotel.gi Nunos Italian restaurant and terrace at the Caleta Hotel, overlooks the Mediterranean and is extremely popular with both hotel guests and the local market. Recognised for its eclectic interior, atmosphere and cuisine. Bread, pasta and desserts from the a la carte menu are all homemade and contribute to create a genuine and exciting dining experience.

Thyme Restaurant 5 Cornwall’s Lane. Tel: 200 49199 Email: thymegib@hotmail.com Open for 5 years, this modern wine bar serves refreshing cocktails and a wide range of New World and European wines in a cool lively atmosphere, and on the 1st floor above is the restaurant serving bistro cuisine with a menu featuring dishes from all over the world. Try one of these dishes from the wide selection: starters include Buffalo Mozzarella, Plum Tomato, Grilled Chilli & Landcress Salad, Basil Oil & Balsamic; Crab & Coriander Spring Roll, String Hopper Noodle Salad, Cucumber & Chilli Salsa; Steamed Mussels flavoured with ginger, Lemon Grass, Chilli & Coconut Milk; try main courses such as Grilled Salmon Darne, Crisp Pancetta, Thai Spiced Lentils, Cool Mint Yoghurt Dressing; Confit of Lamb Shoulder Shank, Warm Couscous Salad, Chickpea & Coriander Salsa, Onion & Sultana Chutney; or Open Ravioli of Slow Roast Squash, Basil & Ricotta, Roast Garlic Cream Sauce. Everything made on the premises using only the best, fresh ingredients. Two seperate dining rooms - smoking and non smoking.

Menu changed seasonally, daily specials.

Open 7 days a week. Closed Saturday lunchtimes.

The Waterfront Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 45666 The Waterfront is a very popular restaurant located right on the quayside at Queensway Quay Marina. There are different areas for drinks, the main restaurant (with mezanine level seating), a large covered terrace with chandeliers and a quayside open terrace. The food is served in hearty portions and includes starters of grilled goat’s cheese, crab with lemon mayonnaise, moules mariniere, and prawn and lobster salad. There is a barbecue in the summer month and grills which include 8oz fillet steaks. Favourites are pan fried chicken with wild mushrooms and Madeira sauce, beef and ale pie with a puff pastry lid, and whole lamb shoulder. Fish dishes from grilled swordfish to salmon and crayfish ravioli, and vegetarian dishes such as mushroom stroganoff, and vegetable wellington sit alongside the menu from the Orient which includes Madras chicken or vegetables, chicken tikka masala, and crispy duck with pancakes and cucumber.

Open: 7 days a week from 9am to late.

informaleating Al Baraka Take-away Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 46993 Take-away and restaurant. Tasty Middle Eastern food including falafels and kebabs plus Indian specialities.

Large covered terrace to the side of Queensway Quay with marina views.

Open: 7 days a week from 10am to 12 midnight.

Amar’s Bakery & Coffee Shop 1a Convent Place (opp. The Convent). Tel: 200 73516 Amar’s Coffee Shop and Bakery is just opposite the Convent, where it serves up a wide range of light lunch options. There’s jacket potatoes, fish & chips, pasta dishes with different sauces, burekas, pizzas, quiche, sandwiches, bagels, various salads and tortilla. All the food is made on the premises and the menu is fully

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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take away in the International Commercial Centre near Casemates. Everything from sandwiches and panini, to soups, fish, salads, and mixed platters with pork and chicken options. Maillo will also cook for summer picnics, and they make some great desserts.

Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm

Kosher. Bakery serves breads and bagels etc.

Open: Monday to Friday from 8.30am.

The Barbary Ape Boyd Street (near Cable Car) Tel: 200 44380 A restaurant situated right near the Cable Car is the ideal place to have lunch with perfect view of the Rock.

With local delicacies such as albondigas, calamares, and boquerones offered as raciones or tapas; and various options for main courses such as fish & chips, steak, burgers, sandwiches and salads, there is something for everyone on this menu including the new pizza and pasta dishes.

Birdie Cafe/Restaurant No 16 Watergardens II. Tel: 200 72885 Owned by David, previously of the Hong Kong restaurant, this golf themed cafe/restaurant now serves all the Hong Kong favourites. Everything from Wan Ton Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, Butterfly Prawns, Mix Veg Singapore Noodles, Pork Balls Sweetand Sour, and King Prawn Curry to Fish in Ginger Spring Onion Sauce, Mixed Chicken and Pork with Cashew Nuts, and Beef in Oyster Sauce. If you liked the Hong Kong, you’ll love this friendly little place. Full take-away available.

Open: Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, 6.30pm-11, Saturday and Sunday 6.30pm - 11.30pm.

Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627 Tasty Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include fettuccine de formaggio, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and entrecote al whisky to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines.

Open: Monday - Wednesday 10am - 5pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm and 7pm-midnight.

Fresh 5 Waterport Plaza (Public Market) Tel: 200 52611 By day Fresh is a sandwich bar serving all sort of delicious food from made-to-order sandwiches and hot and cold drinks to baguettes, wraps, salads, toasties and soups. Open early for coffees and toast. By night, (from 4.30pm) Fresh transforms into a cosy lounge bar with free tapas on a Friday from 5pm-7pm and happy hours daily from 7-9pm. Decorated for relaxation, this is a pleasant place to enjoy a drink and some conversation.

As if this isn’t enough Fresh offers outside catering for private parties, at home, or at the office, and you can book Fresh for private parties in the evenings.

Open: 8am-midnight Mon - Thurs, 8am-1am Fridays, 9am-1am Saturdays, closed Sundays.

Garcia’s Take-Away Glacis Estate. Tel: 200 71992 Open 7 days a week this good take-away also does home deliveries of tasty fish and chips, hamburgers, kebabs, donner kebabs and much much more. Make sure you have their number handy for a night in without the hassle of cooking!

Get Joost 248 Main Street & Casemates. Tel/Fax: 200 76699 Smoothies are vitamin packed super-food and increasingly popular for the health concious. Get Joost makes delicious fresh fruit juices and smoothies made from natural ingredients which are a meal in a cup. The

Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 50022/33 Good Indian cuisine for eating in or taking away, from snacks such as samosas, bhajias, and pakoras to lamb, chicken and fish dishes with sauces such as korma, tikka masala, bhuna, do piaza... in fact all you would expect from an Indian cuisine take-away. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food is available, as is outside catering for parties and meetings. Sunday specials include all Mumbai favourites such as Dosa and Choley Bhature.

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

top five smoothies they sell are wild strawberry; breakie on the run; energy blast; raspberry ice; and tropical surrender. Tel/Fax: 200 76699 for delivery.

Open: 8-7 Mon -Friday, 10-7 Saturday, 10-6 Sunday.

Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006 Take-away, sandwich bar and hot food. Serving all homemade sandwiches, salads, quiches, pasta, pies, muffins, plus hot and cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties.

Open: 8am - 6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat. Just A Nibble 1st Flr International Commercial Ctr. Tel: 200 78052 Full licensed cafe serving English breakfast, vast range of toasties, rolls, and other snacks. Meals include, Bob’s famous chicken curry/chilli con carne, and a great new range of pies (from Bob’s chicken and leek to steak and kidney plus a whole range of tasty alternatives) plus all the old favourites; jacket spuds, burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, and daily specials. Ideal meeting place.

Open: Monday - Saturday from 9am.

Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC Tel: 200 48014 Comfortable bright, airy cafe serving vegetarian and nonvegetarian cuisine from breakfast and lunch to afternoon tea. Homemade desserts a speciality. Eat-in or takeaway at sensible prices. Outside catering.

Open: 8am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Khan’s Indian Cuisine Unit 7-8, Watergardens. Tel: 200 50015 Eat-in or take-away at this traditional Indian eatery.

Everything from onion bhajia and green pepperpakora to chicken tikka, tandoori king prawns, Khan’s special fish curry, chicken jalfrezi, lamb rogan josh, naan bread, rices, vegetable dishes and everything in between!

Many new dishes added to the menu, plus specialities every Sunday.

Maillo Take Away Unit F5A 1st Floor ICC Tel: 54002598 Homemade Spanish food is available at this cafe and

Mumtaz Indian Cuisine Take-away 20 Cornwall’s Lane Tel: 200 4457 Good Indian take-away service serving all the favourites from masala naan and spinach bhajia to lamb biryani, chicken tikka masala, king prawn korma and tandoori chicken kebab roll. Sauces and vegetarian dishes plus speciality dishes each Sunday (all dishes reasonably priced).

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

Munchies Cafe 24 Main Street. Tel: 200 43840 Fax: 200 42390 A great sandwich bar/cafe offering an unusual range of sandwiches on white or granary bread, plus salads, baguettes, soups, desserts, homemade ice-cream and hot/cold drinks. Business lunches, parties and kids parties also catered for (for party and office platters phone or fax order by 5.30pm day before - minium orders for delivery £12).

Open: Monday - Friday 8.30-7, Sat 9 - 4, Closed Sun. Pusser’s Landing Ocean Village Promenade. Tel: 216 22162 Straight from the BVI, home of Pusser’s Rum, Pusser’s Landing has opened at Ocean Village and offers a wide range of Caribbean food and drinks. From Crab Cakes to Jerk Chicken Salad, Jamaican escoveitche Flying Fish and Bajan herb grilled Mahi Mahi imported especially from the Caribbean. The traditional burgers and sandwiches with a Caribbean twist are also on offer, plus a Dockside Grill selection of steaks, ribs and rack of lamb with different sauces as an option. And vegeterians need not worry, there’s plenty of offer such as Cap’n Danny’s Veggie Pastry Delight. A special mention must go to the different cocktails on offer, made with Pusser’s Rum, the Cherry Bomb and the different Martinis are definitely a selling point.

Open: 10am till late, 7 days a week Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625

Converted coffee warehouse, ideal for coffee, homemade cakes/afternoon tea, plus menu including excellent salad bar, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Art exhibitions.

Available for parties and functions in the evenings.

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

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

The Barbary Ape BAR RESTAURANT Now Serving

Pizzas & Pastas Boyd Street (nr. Cable Car) Tel: 200 44380 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

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Smith’s Fish & Chips 295 Main Street. Tel: 200 74254 Traditional British fish and chip shop with tables/seating available or take-away wrapped in newspaper.

Menu: Cod, haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish pasties, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers.

Open: 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. Breakfast from 8.

Located: Main Street opposite the Convent.

Solo Express Ground Floor, International Commercial Centre Solo Express, located right next to Pizza Hut, serves a good variety of salads and baguettes (white, brown & ciabatta) filled with a wide deli selection of things such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or hummous, avocado and roasted red pepper. The salads are fresh and tasty and include Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta, etc and are great value. Jacket potatoes, quiches, tea, coffee etc plus cakes (such as flapjacks and muffins) are also available throughout the day. Eat-in available. Soups in winter months.

The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321 Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken, kebabs and everything else you can think of!

Open: Monday - Saturday.

The Terrace WaterportWharf Right next to Gauchos and part of the same team, The Terrace is an outdoor cafe/eatery which serves all day breakfast, baguettes, toasties, wraps, salads, jackets, baguette pizzas plus The Ultimate Grill — fresh food grilled on a sword! Everything from Argentine beef, to Tandoori specialities. The Terrace is set against the old city walls and has a large wooden bar serving drinks and coffees all day — a great place for a snack or something more substantial. Open: 10am-late Time Out Café Bar 106 Eurotowers, Europort Rd Tel: 200 76044 Delicious food from full English breakfast to wraps, jackets, baguettes and sandwiches, plus main courses from fish and chips to banger & mash. Take-away service. Private functions. Full sports coverage on 3 screens.

bars&pubs All Sports Bar 4 Cornwall’s Lane Tel: 200 59997 This pub is geared up to televised sporting events when top sports are on TV, and when they are not there is always someone around to talk sports with. It’s not just for football fans either, and not just for one team — hung around the bar are flags from all the major teams and supporters of the smaller sides are also made very welcome.

Gaming machines. Terrace seating available.

Open: 11am-midnight Sun-Thurs, 11am -1am Fri/Sat. All’s Well Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987 Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practice of locking the Gates to the city at night when the guard announced ‘All’s Well’ before handing the keys to the watch. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast served all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod and chips and steak & ale pie are complimented by a range of salads and filled jacket potatoes. Large terrace. Karaoke every Monday and Wednesday until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm.

The Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288 Jane is still at the Cannon Bar — over 20 years now! Fish and chips voted the best in Gib by Lonely Planet. Terrace just off Main Street. Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral.

The Gibraltar Arms 184 Main St. Tel: 200 72133 www.gibraltararms.gi Good food served all day at this typical pub right on Main Street. Everything from all day breakfast to Irish fillet steak roll, burritos, and the popular fresh local mussels. Draught lager, bitter, cider and Murphys plus free WiFi. Terrace seating right on Main Street to watch the world go by.

Open: from 8am (10am Sundays) until late.

The Horseshoe 193 Main Street. Tel: 200 77444 Right in the centre of town, the Horseshoe is a popular, busy bar. Good menu from full English breakfast, to burgers/mixed grills. Curry and chilli specials on Sunday.

Open: 9am to late, Sunday 10am - late.

Facilities: Main Street terrace.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Sq. Tel: 200 50009 www.lordnelson.gi E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi Attractive bar/brasserie in historic Casemates building.

Done out to respresent Nelson’s ship with cloud and sky ceiling crossed with beams and sails. Spacious terrace Menu: Starter & snacks include fresh local mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, Lordy’s potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses cover a range from chilli con carne and chicken and mushroom pie, to crispy aromatic duck burrito and British fish and chips.

Try one of the salads or Nelson’s platters. Jacket potatoes, burgers and children’s menu. Credit cards accepted. Live music Venue of the Year, with live music on stage every night. Free Wifi.

Open: from 10am till very late.

Pickwicks Governor’s Parade. Tel: 200 76488

Run by well-known friendly face, Mandy, this small pub with a large terrace is situated in Governor’s Parade away from the traffic and safe for all the family. Good food available including the best freshly made sandwiches and jacket potatoes, salads and burgers.

Open: Mon - Fri from 9.30am Location: turn off Main St at Marks & Spencer, go up steps to Governor’s Parade (opposite the Elliot Hotel).

The Pig and Whistle Unit 18, Watergardens. Tel: 200 76167 A comfortable pleasant little pub with pool table and terrace on the quayside. Big screen television for all sporting events.

Open: 10-midnight (Fri-Sat 11-1am) The Quarter Deck Unit 26, Block 2 Watergardens Tel: 200 44520 Located opposite Ocean Village, the Quarterdeck is a busy little pub with terrace seating and food served all day. Breakfasts start at just £2.70 and a hearty Sunday lunch (£4.95) is served from 1.30pm. Seating outside overlooking Ocean Village.

Open: 9am to late.

Royal Calpe 176 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75890 Email: royalcalpe@gibtelecom.net Named after Gibraltar’s Royal Calpe Hunt, the pub is situated opposite the Cathedral on Main Street. It boasts Gibraltar’s only beer garden and conservatory for a relaxing atmosphere al fresco to get away from it all or for that private function. Good food from traditional pub fare to

The Quarter Deck Kitchen open all day Breakfast from £2.70 Sunday Lunch served from 1.30pm £4.95 open 9am till late opp. Ocean Village, Watergardens Tel: 200 44520

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salads is available throughout the day. Wide selection of draught beer and cider.

The Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924

Reputedly the oldest bar in Gib, this small cosy bar opens early for breakfast (English or toast & cereal). Lunch/ evening menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Home of Med Golf and Tottenham Hotspur FC supporters club.

Facilities: Outside seating.

Open: from 7am every day.

Located: first right off Main St (walking from N to S).

The Three Owls Irish Town 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, games machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ — 2 match pool tables, poker machines, darts board, games machine, bar — open from 1pm daily. Second Floor ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, games machine, card table, bar — open from 5pm daily.

The Three Roses Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 51614

Now under the management of Peter and Ian, previously of the Coach & Horses, this bar is fully air-conditioned with 3 plasma TVs and pool table. Happy hours Mon-Fri 5-6pm. Home of the Esteporkers Golf Society.

Open: 7 days. Mon-Sat from 11am, Sun from midday.

Wembley Bar 10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 200 78004 Popular bar for hot and cold bar snacks, function room, in south district. Fridays 10am for breakfast. Air conditioned. The home of the Real Madrid Supporter’s Club.

Open: 11am - midnight Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 1am Friday, 11am - 1am Saturdays.

acrosstheborder The Taste Indian Restaurant Avda. del Ejercito, esq. Calle Gibraltar, La Linea Tel: 00 34 856 12 29 18 / 00 34 626 88 40 38 Very good Indian restaurant convenient walk from the frontier. All the favourites from chicken Madras to lamb channa, and king prawn vindaloo. Specialities include Chicken Tikka Krahi (chicken tikka topped with fresh chillies, herbs and spices), Bhindi Ghost (lamb with okra in a spicy sauce), and Special Mixed Balti. Lots of vegetable dishes, bread and rices. Pleasant service.

Open: every day 5pm-late, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1pm-late.

Located: On the corner of Plaza de la Constitucion, which is about 400m straight across from frontier.

The Dog & Duck Next to Plaza de Contitucion, La Linea Tel: 00 34 956171375 Little pub on the square serving British beers at 3 euros a pint. Pleasant sun terrace and all live sporting events shown.

Open: 3pm-late Mon - Fri, 1pm - late Sat & Sun. Located: 400m straight across from frontier (next to Taste Indian Restaurant).

Liverpool Bar 4 Avenida España. Tel: 00 34 956767770 UK beers served in this little pub along with full English breakfast and Sunday lunches, plus much more in a friendly atmosphere.

Open: 7 days a week 10am - late Located: 400m straight across from frontier.

THE FIRST & LAST PUBS IN SPAIN ALL BRITISH BEERS E3.00 A PINT ~ sun terrace ~ ~ live sports ~ next to the Plaza de Constitucion & the Taste Indian Restaurant Tel: 00 34 956171375

Liverpool Bar open 7 days a week 10-late

UK BEERS FUll English Breakfast + much more Avenida España No 4 (400m from the Frontier) Tel: 00 34 956767770

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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food&drink

Café Rojo Busy from day one, Café Rojo is now entering its third year of fine food and a friendly atmosphere — and with a new menu too “We do get very busy at lunchtimes and evenings,” said Annette. “So we always advise our customers to book to be sure of a table for lunch or dinner.”

Annette knows how to cater. Dedicated to customer service, she ran her own pub in her native Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire; and in total she spent 21 years in catering in Britain as a chef as well as front-of-house manager. With her five years in Gibraltar she has now passed her quarter-century in the business; so it’s not really a surprise that Café Rojo became such a big success almost from the very first day.

Full credit also has to go to her chef and partner Luís Ansaldo López for his imaginative way with food; a style of cooking that has appealed to discerning diners in Gibraltar for many years.

The clientele tends to be business people and professionals — it’s much loved by lawyers — and at mid-morning and late afternoon it’s top of the coffee shops for many groups of pensioners and housewives.

“They all like the relaxed atmosphere,” said Annette. “It’s not too noisy, just gentle background music. And a lot of them have kept coming back, right from the beginning.” The tables, which seat a total of 35 diners, are spaciously arranged — which adds considerably to the comfort factor.

I had to ask how she managed to always be so bright and friendly, with a big smile and a friendly welcome for all. “It’s simply because I love this job,” she said. “You have to: it’s not a business for the half-hearted. I really enjoy working with people.”

Her outlook is also clearly shared by her righthand lady Aida, who has been there since Café Rojo opened.

The new menu isn’t totally new. Just launched, it has retained all of the dishes that have proved so popular over the last two years, whilst Luís has added some tantalising specialities to freshen up the fare on offer and give greater variety to the regular customers. Annette explained this

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Annette and Luís of Café Rojo

is why they like to vary the menu three times a year, and the customers do look forward to seeing what’s new from time to time.

Fresh items range from salads, such as roast duck, leek & pine nut with cranberry dressing for £8.50; to goats’ cheese with fresh spinach, mushrooms, croutons, basil & balsamic for £7.25.

Pastas now include langoustines & mango with a creamy curry sauce for £8.25; and sautéed chorizo & scallops with fresh spinach and garlic oil at £8.75, amongst others.

Main courses can now be fillet of grouper with mint pesto crust and lemon and balsamic dressing (£13.25); chicken breast stuffed with blue cheese, fresh spinach & cashew nuts with red wine syrup (£11.25) or an excellent vegetable curry for £8.95; plus plenty of well known favourites, of course.

Talking of favourites, two things still on the

Annette always has a big smile and a friendly welcome for all.

“It’s simply because I love this job,” she said.

“You have to: it’s not a business for the halfhearted. I really enjoy working with people.”

menu are the chocolate mousse (‘this is to die for!’ being a frequent comment) and the crisp freshness of the raspberry cheesecake. Both are made in Café Rojo’s kitchen — in fact virtually everything is fresh and home made.

Chef Luís, who is assisted by his brother Jordi, has been cooking at top restaurants in Gibraltar for 13 years and buys all of the ingredients himself locally. His lunchtime menu is the same as for evening meals, but without the starters.

Another star attraction of Café Rojo is the Christmas menu. Last year over 600 people booked for it, and by the middle of last month 400 had made reservations for this year, but there were still plenty of dates left. The menu is as sumptuous as you would expect from this cosy restaurant and is excellent value at £26.50, for three courses — all with choices.

Parties are also catered for all year round, usually in the evenings when Annette and Luís put on memorable meals for up to 42 guests at a time.

Coffee, croissants, toast and sandwich brunches are served from 10am to 12 noon only; then lunches from 12 to 3pm (last orders), followed by coffees, tea, croissants and desserts until 7pm when the evening meals start to be served. Last orders of the day are at 10pm. These hours apply every day except Saturdays when it’s open during the evening from 7-10; and Sundays, Christmas Day and other public holidays when the café/restaurant is closed all day.

Bang opposite Jyske House in Irish Town, Café Rojo’s telephone number for bookings and party enquiries is 20051738.

Finally Annette would like to say “Thank you to customers old and new who have contributed to Café Rojo”s success.” Here’s to the next few years!

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A ro u n d To w n .. .

a light-he arte d look at Gibralta r soc iety

November is here and Christmas menus pinned up everywhere are testament to the fact Christmas is just around the corner. It doesn’t seem so long ago we were looking forward to summer starting. This month we have the autumn festival with lots of cultural events, plays and exhibitions to keep us occupied on these darker evenings.

If you are not too busy with your Guy on Bonfire Night (5th November) you can take a trip down south to enjoy the New Orleans Jump Band at the Waterfront Restaurant, Queensway Quay.

It’s a great night out, but book your table for dinner early.

Marina Life There were a few mishaps recently during the “great October storm of 2008”. Down at the Marina tents and hookah pipes swirled past in the wind, but you could have been forgiven for not believing your eyes if you saw a portaloo take flight from the tenth floor! I imagine it’s not often a portaloo gets a chance to make a break for freedom... Donny and Marie at Ocean Village lost their sunbed in a gust, but fortunately Marie found it safe and sound on Waterport roundabout the next day, and Donny was able to nip down to recover it!

Congratulations Congratulations to Scots on the Rock Chas of Stan James and Lorna of the Silver Shop who got married last month in Las Vegas.

Ricky of Bassadone motors reaches the milestone 40 this month and it’s also Heidi Larson of HBC’s birthday on 4th, and Anne Adamson is 21 again on 1st.

It might be best to stay off the streets on 22nd November when Laura of Atlas Recruitment’s hen party will hit the streets. She and Nick are not tying the knot until February but it may well take her that long to recover from the hen night!

Hello Goodbye Farewell to Sarah Gomersall of Quad who left these shores for pasture new in Jersey. And welcome back to roving sax player Chris Kenningley who is back on the Rock and is sure to crop up here and there with his silky sax in tow.

Mandolin Melody Another of our many local talents is Angela Sergant who can often be seen wandering along Main Street with a strange instrument strapped to her back. We asked her what it was and

Photos this page: Boatshed yacht brokerage launch at Pizza Express

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John Morris with the Childline volunteers

apparently it’s a mandolin she inherited and is now having lesson to learn how to play. She claims to be the only owner/player on the Rock, and we can well believe it!

Fit but Foolish Gibraltar is certainly taking shape with several new gyms opening and the popularity of Wii Fits locally... everyone seems to have one. Not wanting to be left behind in the fitness stakes, we at the Gibraltar Magazine decided it was time we jumped on the fitness balance board and got ourselves into shape. We had no idea how difficult it would be... the balance exercises were all but impossible and the combined fitness ages would have challenged Methusula. All that changed though when we realised we had the balance board the wrong way round! Phew....

Just One Small Click of the Mouse Booking flights on line has made everything so much easier for everyone and when Jonathan of the Gibraltar Magazine visited the UK recently he arranged everything with the click of a mouse. Unfortunately when he got to Gatwick for the return flight there seemed to be a problem with the booking. “What’s wrong?” he asked... “it’s all booked and this is the right day and time,” he insisted. “Yes, sir,” came the reply, “but it’s the wrong month!” Ahhh how easy it is to click the wrong box.

Drinks on the quayside

Legging it Poor David Evans came a cropper recently and ended up a member of the bad leg club. You may well see him hopping around town in a plaster cast. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Good Boy! Now out of his plaster cast, Brendan of Image Graphics was spotted recently with a packet of Jumbones (dog treats) in his packed lunch. We wonder if he does tricks?.. woof woof!

That’s it for this month, see you on Main Street!

Relaxing in Casemates

Chef Mike at the opening of 14 on the Quay, Queensway Quay GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2007 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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Giordano, Lorraine and Johnny at the opening of 14 on the Quay

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clubs&activities Arts & Crafts The Arts Centre, Prince Edward’s Rd. Art classes for children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults (Mon - Tues 6.30pm-8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm-9pm). Tel: 200 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11am - 2pm.

Arts & Crafts Gallery (next door) opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer) -6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm.

The Poetry Society meets on 20th of each month. Tel: Audrey Batty on 200 44355 .

Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet John Mackintosh Hall Mondays. Bank holidays changed to Thursday same week. 7pm-11pm All welcome. Tel: 200 73660 or 200 75995.

The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm.

Dance Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm (beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome. www.gibnynex.gi/inst/cccseqdance/ Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday.

The DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, beginners 7.30pm. Tel: 200 78282 or e-mail manvio@gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome.

Senior Citizens Teatime Dances at The Youth Centre, Line Wall Rd on Mondays 2 - 5.30pm.

All senior citizens welcome for coffee, tea and biscuits. Entrance free.

Classical Ballet classes for children 4+, Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance, 3rd floor, Methodist Church, 297/299 Main St. Classes Weds & Fri from 6pm at Chiltern Court (4Cs). Tel: 58111000.

Hip Hop classes for adults Mondays 6.15pm to 7.15pm, Hip Hop classes for boys and girls Tuesdays 4.15pm to 5.15 - Urban Dance, Jumpers Dance Studio The Gibraltar Pointes Dance School - R.A.D ballet, I.S.T.D modern and tap, jazz and contempory dance. Unit 19F Europa Business Centre. Contact Cheryll Bossino and Sabina Pitaluga at Studio: 200 45145, Home: 200 51187/ 200 46400.

History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844.

The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles.

Members/vehicles meet 1st Sunday of month, Morrison’s car park from 10am. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643.

Music The Gibraltar Music Centre Trust Complete spectrum of instrument learning strings drums etc. Theory lessons- Five days a week 4pm-9pm. Tel: 200 75558 for details.

The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Monday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm. New singers of all ages welcome. Tel: Lili 200 40035, 54006727 St Andrew ’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, musical workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc. Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Calpe Ramblers This group walks on last Sunday each month, except July and August.

Meeting place is the Spanish side of the frontier 8am just to the right of and opposite the Aduana vehicle exit. For any information contact co-ordinators Ray Murphy 200 71956 or John Murphy 200 74645.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting self-development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and chal-

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Don’t be bored... do something fun! lenging activities. For further details contact The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road, Gibraltar Tel: 200 59818 Reg. Charity No: 61 Quizzes Cannon Bar quizzes are held on Tuesdays with at least three quizzes per night. Starting with a warm up, then two other quizzes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm, all welcome and prizes are given. Free entrance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapas served after the quiz.

The Tunnel in Casemates has a pub quiz and entertainment on Sunday nights.

Social Clubs Scots on the Rock: Any Scots visiting the Rock can contact Charles Polson (Tel: 200 78142) for assistance or information.

Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm. Examining Council, 3rd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm.

Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm.

Tuesday Ladies’ Club meets 8pm, Queensway Club first Tuesday of month. For women who enjoy making new friends. Non-profit making, proceeds donated to charity. Tel: Anne 200 43869, or Margaret 200 70816.

Special Interest Clubs & Societies Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets first Thurs of month 6pm, John Mackintosh Hall.

Annual Spring Flower Show. Also slide shows, demos on flower arrangements and outings to garden centres plus annual tour of Alameda Gardens. All welcome.

The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at around 8pm, Wellington Front.

Basic courses, competitions etc.

Harley Davidson Owners’ Club www. hdcgib.com UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108.

Sports Supporters Clubs The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call the Star Bar prior to matches to check if the game is being televised. The pub does great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For more info on membership etc call Mario on 56280000.

Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association club for beginners, juniors and squad at Bayside School in evenings. Tel: 200 Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium.

Badminton: Recreational badminton is available weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to IBA & EBA) has leagues and training for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 200 44045 or Linda 200 74753.

Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727 or Kirsty (minis) 200 49441.

Billiards & Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) round leagues and competitions at various venues.

New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 200 72142 or Peter 200 77307.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory (200 75513 w, 200 42788 h).

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association.

Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket Association (member ICC) runs leagues/competitions at Europa Point/Victoria Stadium. Junior/senior training.

Tel: Tom 200 79461 or Adrian 200 44281.

Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF) mens/ladies/youth leagues/competitions.Tel: Darren 54027171 “Secretary”, Dyson “Youth Rep” 54024149, Justin “President” 54022622 Email: info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association - leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 200 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 200 41515, Junior Tel: Richard 58654000, Women’s Tel: Brian 200 52299. Recreational football for over 35s Tel: Richard 200 70320.

Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly.

Tel: 200 79575 for tournament venues/dates.

Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 200 78844.

Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/ training for adults and juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730.

Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front.

Tel: Charlie 200 73116 or Peter 200 73225.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rd). Tel: Tony 200 79855 or club 200 47259.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradings and demos at Karate Clubhouse, 41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 200 48908.

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

Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior / junior leagues. Tel: Moira 200 41795 or Suzette 200 41874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: Francis 200 70929.

Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season. Tel: Linda 200 74753.

Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards weekday evenings.

Tel: Christine 200 74661 or 54015533.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct - April. Tel: James 200 72185 Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/senior competitive programme through season (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 200 48847.

Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (members FIPS-M & CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs participating.

Tel: Mario 200 72622 or Charlie 200 74337.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation over 14s only. Rifle, Europa Point range (Joe 200 74973); clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Fidel 200 71990).

Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association opens its Skate Park, Coaling Island, Queensway, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, from 5pm til 8pm Saturday & Sunday, from 2pm til 5pm Thursday & Friday, closedSat 2-6pm. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey training). Tel: Eric 200 70710 (after 5) or just turn up.

Snorkelling & Spear Fishing: Over 14s welcome for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishi n g . Te l : Joseph 200 75020.

Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, The Squash

Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/coaching.

Tel: 200 44922 or 200 73260.

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 200 44606, Noah’s Dive Club Tel: Leslie 200 79601, 888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 200 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 7-8.45am, 12- 4pm, 8- 9pm. Junior lessons , squad for committed swimmers, water polo (Rebecca 200 72869).

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (members ITTA) training / playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Lizanne 200 45071/54020477 or Eugene 58014000.

Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: 200 Mari 44142.

Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 200 77035.

Ten-Pin Bowling: Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling Association (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues at Ultra Bowl, training for juniors and squad.

Tel: Gary 200 42447 or Charlie 200 71125.

Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (members ITU) Chris 200 75857 or Harvey 200 55847.

Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W & EVF) training, leagues, competitions for juniors/seniors. Tony 200 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000.

Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome.

Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street E-mail: gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 200 42237 www. geocities.com/gibdrama Trafalgar Theatre Group meet 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.

Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk Clubs, Associations, should submit details to The Gibraltar Magazine (Fax: 200 77748)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008

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support

roundup

Support Groups/ Associations Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues and Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774.

A Step Forward support group for single, separated, divorced or widowed people. Meet 8pm Mondays at St Andrew’s Church.

Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 7pm - 11pm.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@ cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge.

Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial.

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

Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meetings are held alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For more details 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 of those with compulsive overeating problem. Tel: helpline for details of meetings 200 42581.

Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren.

Tel: Richard 200 46536, Jason 200 76618, Dominic 54019602.

Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Weekly Meetings Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and exService personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. E-mail olivero@sapphirenet.gi With Dignity Gibraltar support group for separated, divorced, widowed or unattached people. Meetings Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: Flor 54007181 or Marie 200 79957.

Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence.

Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hours).

MED GOLF NEWS

else will no doubt long remember their visit to one of Europe’s finest golf venues.

EPI Iberia Med Golf Masters 2008

The latest Med Golf competition was at Montenmedio on Sunday 12th October, where the sponsors were SG Hambros and it was a successful day for John Dale who won the crystal trophy and the weekend for two at the 5-star La Cala Resort. In second place was Duncan Balban, with John Hunter third and they both won vouchers to exchange in the pro shop. The senior division was won by John Caruana, the top lady was Barabara Briggs, with Joe Sanchez and Stefan Larsson taking the team prize.

Other prize winners were George Desoisa, Paul Appleyard, Neville Dennitt and Simon Young.

The next competition is at Estepona on Sunday 16th November where the Gala Casino is the sponsor. All the usual trophies and prizes are on offer, along with a weekend for two at a 5-star resort for the winner and tee times can be booked by ringing Johnthan Goodson on Spain (0034) 639741886 or by e-mail at jg@medgolf.gi

Valderrama was the venue on Saturday 27th September for Med Golf when they welcomed the ten “player of the year” qualifiers from their 2007/08 season to compete for the EPI Iberia Med Golf Masters trophy. They were joined by the event sponsors and guests who were playing for their own corporate trophy. Even the wet conditions at the start couldn’t dampen the

Corporate winner Claudio D’Ascenzi and Med Golf Masters winner John McHale with Simon Young from sponsors EPI Iberia Ltd.

Religious Services Bahia Tel: 200 43637 for meetings.

Bethel Christian Fellowship Tel: 200 52002. 47 Queensway. Sunday service at 11am.

Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Tel: 200 78377. Sung Eucharist, Sunday 10.30am. Sunday School.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Suite 21a Don House, 30-38 Main Street. Tel: 200 50433. Sundays 10am.

Church of Scotland St Andrew’s, Governor’s Pde. Tel: 200 77040. Worship & Sunday School 10.30am. Bible Study

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player ’s spirits and fortunately sunshine eventually replaced the rain. After a fine round of golf, John McHale was crowned the EPI Iberia Med Golf Masters champion for 2008 and Claudio D’Ascensi won the corporate trophy in front of his ecstatic family and friends. The day was concluded by a special dinner in the Valderrama club house where all the trophies were presented by sponsors EPI Iberia Ltd. Congratulations to John and Claudio, who along with every one

Tues 7.30pm.

Evangelical Bretheren Assembly, Queensway Quay. Sun 11am, Tues Bible Study 6pm, Thurs Prayer Meeting 6pm.

Hindu Engineer’s Lane Tel: 200 42515.

Jehovah’s Witness Line Wall Rd Tel: 200 50186.

Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 200 72606.

Methodist 297 Main Street Gibraltar Tel/Fax 200 40870 email minister@methodist.org. gi Minister: Revd Fidel Patron. Sunday 11am Morning Worship, 8pm Evening Service. Prayer meetings Monday and Wednesday to Friday 7pm and Tuesdays

SG Hambros Trophy

Full details are on the Med Golf web site www.teetimespain.com 8pm. Communion celebrated on 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings of the month, and other special occasions. Alpha Course: held Thursdays 8pm. House Groups meet for Christian fellowship, prayer and study on a regular basis Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Sunday School meets Sunday mornings alongside morning worship.

Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned, 215 Main St Tel: 200 76688.

The Cityline Church 13 Castle St Tel: 200 75755 email: citylinegib@yahoo. com. Meeting: Tues 8pm, Sundays 11am.

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propertysales

SALES / RENTALS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & Maintenance Furniture Packages

propertyservices

info@gbpropertymanagement.com www.gbpropertymanagement.com Tel: 00 34 667 465 890 00 34 667 465 891

299a Main Street Tel: 200 71131 Email: info@bfagib.com www.bfagib.com

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M.B.E., E.D., J.P., F.R.I.C.S., F.R.S.H.

AUCTIONEER, ESTATE AGENT & VALUER

For Property Advice, Contact Us 3 Convent Place Tel: 200 77789 or 200 42818 Fax: 200 42527 Email: slevy@gibraltar.gi

propertyservices Sheet Metal Works Ventilation Ductwork Stainless Steel Cabinets, Canopies Shelves etc Tel: 200 79732 Fax: 40415 COLD-AIRE ENGINEERING Unit No. 28 The New Harbours

DGS

Unit F2A ICC, Gibraltar Tel: 200 49494 email: info@propertyworld.gi

www.propertyworld.gi

SCAFFOLDING (Gib. Ltd) mobile: (+350) 54348000 PO Box 1229

Airconditioning & Ventilation Design, Installation & Maintenance Tel: 200 79732 Fax: 200 40415 Unit No. 28 The New Harbours

COLD-AIRE ENGINEERING

M.J. Electrical & Fire Services UK fully qualified electricians

Electrical • Security • Fire Alarms from a blown fuse to a re-wire No call out charge Martin Joyce Tel: 54026717 or 200 44664 Seekers Ltd • Tel: (350) 200 44955 info@seekerspropertysolutions.com • Electrical Contractors • Security & Fire Alarm Systems • Repairs to Electrical Machinery & Equipment

charteredsurveyors Manufacturers & Suppliers of HIGH PRESSURE HOSES AND ACCESSORIES Visit us at 43 Harbours Deck, New Harbours, Gibraltar Call us on 200 50337 email: shop@jjhire.com or see our website: www.jjhire.com

• Property Advice • Valuations • Rent Reviews •Development •Consultancy Tel: 200 46579 gibsurv@nicholasgale.com

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008 June 2004

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property directory constructionservices

marineservices

HAYMILLS

Haymills (Gibraltar) Ltd

Unit F17 Europa Business Centre PO Box 476, Gibraltar Tel: 200 73119 Fax: 200 45008 E-mail: portman@gibtelecom.net

Limited

Builders • Civil Engineers Roofing Specialists • Electrical Contractors 4 Shackleton Road Tel: 200 46887 Gibraltar Fax: 200 46089

homes&interiors

CIAP (CONSTRUCTION) LTD

Curtain Makers Home Interiors Fabrics Bedding

BUILDERS MERCHANTS GIBRALTAR 325a Main St. Tel: 200 40787 Fax: 200 40799 80b Devil’s Tower Rd. 104-106 Irish Town Tel: 200 40746 Tel: 200 75220

Replacement LED bulbs

Hire & Sale of Portable Cabin Units (Office, Toilet Units etc)

We sell LED a wide range of lighting

General Suppliers

buy now at

Portman Ltd

www.gibstainless.com

We manufacture and fit aluminium windows, doors, blinds, shutters, mosquito nettings, UPVC windows, glaziers and also bathroom and shower screens at reasonable prices.

For a Free Estimate Call Us

TARIK

Welding & Custom Fabrication

Tel: 200 45955 Fax: 200 45955 Mobile: 58641000

Repairs & Chandlery Sheppard’s Chandlery, M. Sheppard & Co. Ltd Waterport, Gibraltar. Tel: 200 77183 • 200 42535

The Strait’s only stockists for 316 marine grade stainless steel

WINDOWS

• General Surfacing • Building • Building Renovations • Demolition • Painting & Decorating • Roadworks • Civil Engineering • Asphalt/Aggregate supplier • Comprehensive Plant Holding For prompt & competitively priced tenders contact AMCO P.O. Box 382 Tel: 200 40840 Fax: 200 40841

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

25Watergardens Block 5, Gibraltar Tel Mike: 200 52304 Mobile: 54015406 Spain 00 34 628445182 Email: metelmicky@hotmail.com

Now at 94 Harbours Walk New Harbours Tel: 200 40690 Fax: 200 74797 Email: tony.harris@haymills.com Website: www.haymills.com

transportservices

Full Bunkering & Yacht Refuelling Service Spain: 15/5a Virgen del Carmen Algeciras (Cadiz), Spain Tel/Fax: 34 56 630418 After Hrs: Gib 200 70982

y

Gibraltar: Tel: (350) 200 72836 Fax: (350) 200 72861 Cables: TARIK GIB TLX: 2343 TRATAR

ACHT SCENE SAILORS’ GUIDE

on sale at £5.00 at chandleries & bookshops

NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR 2009

open

Bring your own fabric or choose from our The Fashion House Ltd 85 Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 52938 E-mail: thefashionhouse@gibtelecom.net Fax: 200 52988

STARTER MOTORS & ALTERNATORS Repairs, Reconditioning, Exchange or Brand New

THE GIBRALTAR MARITIME SERVICES HANDBOOK 2008 edition

Now on sale at Gibraltar Bookshops

AUTOELECTRICAL SERVICES Unit 25 Rear of Block 5, Watergardens.

Tel: 200 47000 Mobile: 58850000

18 Town Range Tel: 200 73036 Office & Workshop G17 Europa Business Ctr. Tel/Fax: 20042603

Don’t miss May 2009’s Property & Interiors Issue of The Gibraltar Magazine 39-41 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar Tel: 200 78105 Fax: 200 42510

marineservices

• Electrical Contractors • Security & Fire Alarm Systems • Repairs to Electrical Machinery & Equipment

wastemanagement Environment and Waste Management Service

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Services Domestic + Industrial • Electrical • Mechanical • Plumbing • Air-Conditioning 94 Harbour’s Walk, New Harbours Tel: 200 48774 Fax: 200 45249

Furnishing Fabrics, Wallpapers, Furniture, Wood Floorings, Carpets & Rugs

June 2004 MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2008 GIBRALTAR

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4 King’s Yard Lane Tel: 200 74445 Fax: 200 76353

E.W.M.S. R25B, Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay, PO Box 4, Gibraltar Tel: 200 44220 Fax: 200 44221 E-mail: ewmsgib@gibtelecom.net

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information

A

dmission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites within the Park - 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 £7/ Children 5-12 years: £4, Children age 4 and under free, vehicles £1.50. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times and it’s advisable to take a Rock Tour by taxi/mini bus. The Natural History & Heritage Park is also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm).

T

he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered to be of great conservational value. It’s a perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa, but 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 is found at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall.

A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used. A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide.

The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary Macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it!

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to any man who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. It was a Sgt. Major Ince who suggested tunnelling and there are now over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside the tunnels.

of the earliest British building on the Rock.

Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726.

The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad (“Gibraltar” is a corruption of the Arabic words “Jebel Tarik” - Tarik’s mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu’l Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain.

Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain.

Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are currently 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 of charge with Nature Reserve ticket.

Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction).

Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. A narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of underground tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Once housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a

unique sandwich of armour plate and teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’. TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. 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 Road, open 9am - 7pm daily (admission free).

Business Information

Gibraltar Financial Services Commission ......Tel: 200 40283/4 website: www.fsc.gi 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

General Information

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. Special exhibitions also held at museum premises in Casemates gallery.

Registry Office...................Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours of arrival. 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, Gibraltar

Emergency Services Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance.......................Tel: 190 Police...............................Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number...............Tel: 112

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 the civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one

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.

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Gibraltar Bus Company Routes

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.

Tourist Board.....................Tel: 200 74950 Gibraltar Tourist Board, Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square, Gibraltar.

UK Tel: 0207 836 0777 giblondon@aol.com John Mackintosh Hall.......Tel: 200 75669 Centre of Gib’s cultural life, includes a 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.

Public Holidays 2008

New Year’s Day 1 January Commonwealth Day 10 March Good Friday 21 March Easter Monday 24 March May Day 5 May Spring Bank Holiday 26 May Queen’s Birthday 16 June Late Summer Bank Holiday 25 August Gibraltar National Day 10 September Christmas Day 25 December Boxing Day 26 December Spain Fixed: New Year’s Day 1 January, Epiphany 6 January, St Joseph’s Day 19 March, Labour Day 1 May, St John 24 June, St James 25 July, Assumption Day 15 August, National Day 12 October, All Saints 1 November, Immaculate Conception 8 December, Christmas 25 December Moveable: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Corpus Christi Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station..........Tel: 200 75728 Police...............................Tel: 200 72500 Gibraltar Services Police: Emergency Nos: ....Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598

The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, 1st Floor 113 Main Street, Gibraltar.

Tel/Fax: (+350) 77748

Natural History & Heritage Park

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