Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 254

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Vol. 10 Issue 254 www.theolivepress.es December 7th - December 20th 2016

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Floody hell

SAVED: Dawson with son

Up to his neck!

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

Photo by Jon Clarke

Two dead and thousands of homes flooded as storms lash southern Spain

WROUGHT in two and tilting on its side, the wreckage of one of the Costa del Sol’s most emblematic beach bars is a chilling reminder of 48 hours of relentless rain which claimed two lives and left thousands more homeless.

The worst flooding for 25 years saw a new river literally carve its way through the middle of Floria, in Manilva, leaving the chiringuito a complete write off in a matter of minutes.

With the toilet ripped out and the contents of its kitchen strewn on the sand, the owners have joined the thousands of desolated home and business

owners in the impossible task of sorting through the wreckage.

Many towns were declared a ‘disaster zone’ and left underwater with roads cut off and houses evacuated.

The heaviest rainfall fell in Estepona, where a 26-year-old woman tragically perished in a basement brothel, while an electrician also drowned in La Linea.

Politicians rallied round, along with the King of Spain who offered condolences, as the cost of the clear up is estimated at tens of millions of euros.

The worst affected areas were Mijas, Estepona, Cartama, Ma-

Rescue

nilva and Casares where land, sea and air rescue teams were deployed to help those stranded.

School was cancelled in all five towns on Monday, while on Tuesday the big clear up continued.

With businesses shut-

See When the heavens opened - Page 6

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He added: “I stupidly didn’t check how bad the weather was outside before going down in the lift.

“As I got closer to the basement water started flowing from everywhere and I couldn’t stop it.

“Within a minute it was up to my chest and I was panicking.”

Luckily, neighbours came to his rescue when Dawson’s partner Sylina heard his screams.

However they were unable to lift the roof of the lift and it was only when he managed to get it to rise by half a storey by continually hitting the up button that he had a bit of breathing space.

Police were soon on the scene and prized open the lift with a crowbar, pulling Dawson, from Derby, to safety.

ting up shop for most of the weekend and residents resigned to their homes, it is only now, that the true extent of the storms is beginning to be realised.

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A BRITISH expat was pulled from a flooded lift in a dramatic two-hour rescue effort.

Bet365 worker Dan Dawson told the Olive Press he feels ‘lucky to be alive’ after he found himself up to his neck in flood water while stuck in a lift during Sunday’s storms.

The nightmare happened when Dawson, 46, attempted to save his five-year-old son Kaled’s Christmas presents from their basement in Duquesa.

“It was absolutely horrific,” Dawson said. “I honestly thought that was going to be it for me.”

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CRIME

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December 7th - December 20th 2016

Sick British paedo nabbed

New lead for Amy THE father and aunt of missing expat girl Amy Fitzpatrick are urging Spanish police to follow up a ‘new line of inquiry’ into the 15-year-old’s disappearance.

Government officials in Ireland have agreed to meet with Christopher Fitzpatrick and Christine Kenny to discuss the case.

Irish politician Mick Barry has now urged the Irish government to prompt Spanish authorities to reopen the case.

“I think the Government should act to prompt Spanish authorities to re-open this,” he said. “For legal reasons I cannot discuss the new line of inquiry in any more detail.”

Amy was last seen on New Year’s Day in 2008 when she went missing from her Mijas apartment where she lived with mum Audrey Fitzpatrick and stepdad Dave Mahon.

Mahon, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison this year after he was found guilty of killing Amy’s brother Dean Fitzpatrick in a broad daylight stabbing in Dublin.

It comes as friends claim Audrey has warned Dave to ´clean up his act´and áppreciate her more´or she will leave him.

A BRITISH paedophile who had fled to Malaga has been arrested by Spanish cops.

Officers arrested the man in Benidorm less than 24 hours

after the warrant was issued.

The paedophile sexually abused two brothers aged 14 and 16 years on 22 occasions between 2007 and 2010.

He had made friends with the parents, who left him in the company of their sons, unaware of what he was doing to them.

More wanted!

‘Dangerous’ British fugitive among 10 most wanted international criminals hiding in Spain

By Rob Horgan

A ‘DANGEROUS’ British fugitive is being hunted by police in Spain.

Wanted for a violent robbery in the UK, 25-year-old Gareth Edwards has been named among 10 most wanted international fugitives by Spanish national police.

Thought to be hiding out on the Costa del Sol or Costa

Blanca, Edwards is facing three life sentences for his crimes.

“He is a very dangerous person and is possibly armed,” a police spokesman said. “He

has a history of being violent.”

In a Crimestoppers-style appeal, Edwards, from Buckinghamshire, was named alongside nine other fugitives including drug dealers, killers

and a member of the Italian Mafia.

Five of the fugitives are wanted by Spanish courts, while the other five are wanted in connection to crimes in Europe and north Africa.

Last month, the Olive Press tracked down most wanted paedophile Matthew Sammon to Fuengirola, leading to his arrest, after a Crimestoppers appeal.

Wanted Ishak Merenvouri, 50, Finnish national of Algerian descent.

Wanted for sexual assault on a child under five years old, committed in Helsinki (Finland). May be residing in coastal areas of Catalonia and Valencian Community.

Rafal Czerwoniek, 46, Polish.

Sentenced in Germany for belonging to a criminal organization dedicated to the distribution of drugs internationally.

He could be residing in the Canary Islands.

Hayet Boughanmi Ep Abbas, AKA Hayet Kaubisch, 32, Tunisian.

Wanted for stabbing a German citizen 53 times to death.

Thought be in Catalonia or Andalucia, posing as a Moroccan.

Esteban Vacas García, 47, Salamanca.

Sentenced to 14 years for sexually assaulting his partner’s daughter, he is thought to be hiding out in Castilla Leon.

Giuglielmo Cirillo, 27, Italian.

Wanted for being part of the Mafia and drug trafficking.

Member of the “Clan Polverino” of the Italian mafia, in which he carried out and coordinated drug trafficking.

Though to be hiding in the Balearic Islands.

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Antonio Jesús Barge Valdés, 48, Madrid, Wanted for raiding a jewelry store in Toledo where he shot and injured three Policemen.

Sentenced to 40 years in prison, he escaped from custody last year.

Francisco de Paula Martorell de la Capilla, 61, Barcelona S e n tenced to 15 years for sexually ass a u l t ing his y o un g e s t daughter for years, Francisco has been on the run since 2014.

Rafael Rubén N u ñ e z Cencerrado, 41, Valencia

Vicente Lamarca Sánchez, 53, Jaén Wanted for heading a criminal organisation which imports cocaine from South America into Madrid.

Wanted for importing cocaine in mass quantities from numerous cartels in Colombia.

If you know the whereabouts of any of the most wanted contact, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 951 273 575.

A police hotline can be reached on 915 824 136

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LOCKED UP: Adams

Adams crime boss jailed over shooting A NOTORIOUS London gangster who had a Spanish hideout has admitted shooting a ‘grass’ in the chest.

Patrick ‘Patsy’ Adams, 60, pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court to grievous bodily harm with intent.

Charges of attempted murder were dropped after the victim, Paul Tiernan, refused to co-operate with detectives.

Adams and his wife Constance fled following the shooting in December 2013.

The north Londoner’s Mallorca villa was raided

by Spanish police in 2015 before the couple were arrested in Holland that year.

Terrorist trapped SPANISH police have arrested four ‘dangerous terrorists’ suspected of having links to the Paris attacks.

Accused of smuggling arms and jihadists from the Middle-East into Europe, the men are now being held at prison’s in Almeria and Galicia following two separate raids.

The Algerian and Moroccan nationals are believed to have been in communication with two of the suspected gunmen arrested in connection to the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris.

Robberies drop

STREET robbery rates have plummeted by almost one quarter in Estepona.

The number of reported incidents in the first nine months of the year was reduced by 22.9% (from 35 to 27) in

comparison with the same period last year.

Those committed in people’s homes have also fallen by 5.2% in the same period.

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Super Sala, super plans THE great and the good of the coast were out in force at the relaunch of La Sala in Puerto Banus.

Footballing legends Stephen Carr and David Bentley mingled with a packed out

NEW HOME: Shakira and Pique

CELEBRITY couple Gerard Pique and Shakira are building a holiday home on the SpainFrance border.

Construction is underway on a holiday home for the Barcelona star and his Colombian wife. Located in the town of Bolvir in the Catalan Pyrenees, the luxury home has set the couple back a cool €3 million.

With five bedrooms, three bathrooms and space for five cars, the retreat also features a games room, outdoor pool and botanical garden. Started last year, the work is expected to done in time for the Christmas break.

Nip slip Miss Universe hopeful shows a little too much to the judges A BEAUTY queen suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction while bidding to become a Miss Spain.

Celina Dominguez, from the Canary Islands, had no idea her nipple had become exposed during a catwalk.

Singing success

After smiling wide in front of the judges, her fellow contestants informed Celina, 27, of the unfortunate ‘nip slip’ and she quickly pulled up her dress and laughed the awkward moment off.

While not chosen to represent Spain at Miss Universe, Dominguez was awarded the Miss Congeniality prize, which is chosen via a popular vote among the contestants.

Three Malaga women were among the 20 ELTON John reportedly plans to retire after a final candidates, although fling in Malaga. the winner was Noelia The UK star, 69, however has denied that he will Freire, from Ciudad call it a day on his long career after a headline show Real.

I’m still standing

JULIO Iglesias has been named as one of Australia’s best selling musicians.

Sony Australia presented the Latin pop star with an award for the large amount of CDs he has sold while he was on tour in the country.

Iglesias, who has a house in Marbella, first visited Australia in the mid 70s along with Asia and has not stopped touring there since.

This year he has sung in 20 countries and is expected to release an album of duets in 2017.

at Starlite festival in Marbella in July.

“There is no truth to the rumours that I am planning to retire. In fact, I am looking forward to celebrating 50 years of collaborating with my partnerin-song, Bernie Taupin,” he said.

Too late now to say sorry?

JUSTIN Bieber has punched one of his ‘Beliebers’ after he got a little too up close and personal during the Spanish leg of his world Purpose tour.

Video footage recorded by a

bystander in Barcelona shows the Canadian pop star punching a fan from the back seat of his car as the man put his arm through the window to touch him.

The fan was left with a bloodied mouth and may press charges.

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Last laugh

Border pad

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crowd while the champagne and vino flowed.

Delicious canapes including giant prawn tempura, tuna tataki and mini hamburgers kept guests happy before various bands played in the newly refurbished Live Lounge.

The whole restaurant has had an elegant makeover offering a classier dining experiGUESTS: ence and the Tancrede chance to enand wife joy top-class acts while dancing the night away.

Commercial director Wayne Elliot said: “It is all part of our strategy to come Marbella’s leading brand next year.”

STAR: New openings Carr for 2017 include a sister version of hip London nightclub Mahiki in Marbella port.

December 7th - December 20th 2016

MALAGUEÑA: Santiago

HE was the much demeaned waiter from Barcelona, always the brunt of his boss, Basil Fawlty’s jokes.

Now the world of comedy is mourning the passing of Fawlty Towers’ Manuel, who has passed away at the ripe old age of 86.

Andrew Sachs, who was best known for his role as the bemused Spanish waiter, passed away after a secret four year battle with dementia.

Sachs created a cult following through his portrayal of the inept but well-meaning Manuel, who became involved in farce after farce in the hotel-based BBC comedy in the 1970s.

Fans will fondly remember some of Sachs’ best moments as Manuel, such as when he tried to hide a dead hotel guest in a laundry basket with hotel owner Basil, played by John Cleese.

But not everyone was a fan of Sachs’ less than flattering portrayal of a Spaniard.

His nationality was switched to Italian in the Spanish dubbed version of the show, while on Catalunya’s TV3 version, Manuel was said to come from Mexico and given a Mexican accent.

Lost Lamb LARRY Lamb has pleaded for his long lost family who live in Spain to get in contact with him.

The 69-year-old Gavin and Stacey actor has not spoken to his first wife Anita, who now lives in Murcia, for more than 40 years.

The pair had a daughter together, but Lamb only saw her once when she was seven months old.

But it has now been revealed that his daughter, Vanessa, has an 18-year-old daughter of her own, prompting Lamb to reach out to the family in a bid to meet his ‘secret’ granddaughter.

The EastEnders star said: “I have to say if my daughter or my granddaughter were to contact me, I, and all my extended family would be thrilled.

“You can’t start denying that sort of thing because it is something deep inside of me.”

Larry’s granddaughter is currently studying at a UK university, while her mother resides in Murcia, where she is a teacher.

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Under the hammer

A BLACK Friday telethon raised €35,000 for charity.

A diamond ring and a bullfighter’s jacket were both nabbed in Talk Radio Europe’s 2016 radio phone-in auction event for the Cudeca hospice.

Martin Nathan, Chairman of TRE, expects the final figure to be higher.

No winners RUNNERS will not be refunded after Malaga Marathon was cancelled.

A total of 3,500 people were due to take part in the December 4 race, which had to be aborted due to the shocking floods.

Many had hoped to recoup the €35 to €65 entry fees but organisers will not pay out.

However, they have promised entrants ‘favourable and advantageous’ conditions should they wish to enter the 2017 race.

Alternatively, entrants can claim a free place in the Gran Canaria marathon on January 22.

Expat arrested over use of sick dogs to pose as homeless man EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

A GERMAN expat who used abandoned dogs to pose as a homeless man has been arrested for animal cruelty.

Frank Wegener (right) was arrested by Guardia Civil officers following complaints of 25 starving and abused dogs at his Estepona finca.

After a denuncia by ani-

NE WS

Bite back! mal rights group Mirada Libre Estepona, many of the 25 dogs have now been taken to Alhaurin’s El Paraiso dog pound.

Animal activists along the coast have long com-

December 7th - December 20th 2016

with complaints about him and the dogs he was keeping,” explained one of the activists at Mirada Libre.

“When we visited the finca it was beyond our worst nightmares.

“The images of dogs starving on the brink of death, crawlIT has been a long time in coming... and would revolutioing because nise the tourist experience of Ronda’s famous old town. they didn’t Yet, a plan to close off the famous Tajo bridge and pedeshave the trianise most of the historic core of the town, has come strength to under fierce opposition from locals. walk, have The idea to reclaim the centre from traffic - which currently cuts across the celebrated Puente Nuevo, which been imopened in 1793 - has been opposed by 2,000 people in a printed on petition. our minds Protesters claim it would cut the town in half and leave forever. some communities stranded.

“It was like an animal holocaust.”

Nine of the animals were immediately taken to a vet in Benahavis as they were in such a serious condition. plained about Wegener, who ‘collected’ stray dogs and allegedly used them to beg for money outside supermarkets in Estepona.

“We denounced Frank after we were inundated

Bridge too far

5

News IN BRIEF

Helping hand CAIXA Bank will give 40 million in payouts to flood victims. €20 million is destined to help damaged businesses, while the other half will be used to help reconstruct devastated farms.

Status quo MOST Spaniards do not want to change the current territorial governance of Spain. A recent poll by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas found they did not want more or less autonomy.

Worst ranking PUPILS in Andalucia perform the worst in science exams in the entire country. Fifteenyear-olds were also ranked second to last in terms of results in reading and maths.

In awe BILL Gates has revealed that Adolfo Suarez is one of his personal idols. He said he was in awe of the strong and effective leadership of Spain’s first democratically elected prime minister.

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fe at u re

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Flood Samaritans IT was a weekend of tragedy and devastation.

But the charitable actions of numerous good samaritans have shone some much needed light on an otherwise bleak time for the Costa del Sol. Untold numbers have come to the aid of neighbours, both of the human and furry kind, who became victims of the floods.

What a heartening sight to see images and hear of people - many of them expats - who have offered up their time to help in the clean up operation, organise food collections and carry animals out of flooded sanctuaries.

Let us hope that out of these kind acts even stronger friendships will grow.

Supreme battle THIS week’s Supreme Court case is one of the most important legal challenges ever heard in the UK. For the first time, all 11 judges will sit to rule on a decision that could have far-reaching constitutional and political consequences.

Journalists from more than 80 countries have assembled in London for the case.

At stake is whether the government needs the authority of Parliament to trigger Article 50, the process for the UK to leave the EU. Theresa May’s government believes it has the right to do so.

Local campaigner Paul Cartwright and the People’s Challenge are one of the groups that stand in their way.

The battle lines have been drawn.

Let’s hope British justice...and, above all, common sense prevail.

Publisher/ Editor

Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

Newsdesk newsdesk@theolivepress.es Tel: (+34) 665 798 618

Chris Birkett - Head of Sales chris@theolivepress.es (+34) 652 512 956

Rob Horgan rob@theolivepress.es Joe Duggan joe@theolivepress.es Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es Chloe Glover chloe@theolivepress.es

Admin & Accounts (+34) 951 273 575 Maria González admin@theolivepress.es Admin and accounts coordinator Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress.es Maria Angeles Vázquez mangeles@theolivepress.es Admin and account assistant

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2012 - 2016

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

December 7th - December 20th 2016

€25m €60,000 1,200 Damage has been caused in the province, according to the Consorcio de Compensacion de Seguros

Worth of damage was done to Estepona police headquarters

Clean up operation gets underway after millions of flood damage leaves Costa del Sol battered

D

EATH and destruction swept the Costa del Sol after almost a week of relentless rain.

At least two people died, while hundreds more were forced to abandon their homes in floods of biblical proportions.

Many homes were left without electricity as emergency centres were set up and the mass clean up operation got underway in dozens of towns.

In the worst storms seen in Andalucia in quarter of a century, it is estimated that up to 300 litres of rain per square metre fell across the region in 72 hours.

In total, it is going to cost the Junta a staggering €4 million to cover the damage to streets alone.

Much of this came from landslides, while walls and bridges collapsed in some areas, leading to cars becoming trapped.

Mud, rocks and dirt turned many streets into an apocalypse-esque disaster zone.

Incredibly 103 litres of rain per square metre fell in just two hours in Mijas and Fuengirola, causing more than 100 landslides along the Mijas-Alhaurin road as the entire Costa del Sol was put on ‘red alert’.

British expat David Blinder told the Olive Press that he has ‘never been more scared’ as he was forced to swerve between debris falling from the cliffs on either side of the Mijas-Alhaurin road.

Emergency incidents were attended across Malaga province by half a million emergency workers, according to Miguel Briones, a Malaga government spokesman

800 Emergency calls in Malaga province on Sunday

When the heavens opened

Landslides

“It was the scariest drive I have ever done,” he said.“At least three quarters of the road was blocked and more landslides were falling as I was driving along.”

Despite a dramatic rescue attempt by scuba divers a 26-year-old prostitute drowned in a basement brothel in Estepona.

Meanwhile an electrician lost his life in La Linea after heading out to repair damaged lines, only to become trapped in his van as the floods rose around him.

Washed out cars abandoned at the height of the storm on Sunday morning still littered the streets, as further downpours continued on Monday. Many were completely submerged with their electrics badly affected.

The finger has now pointed to the cause of the flooding, with many blaming a lack of planning to clear river beds, construction on floodplains and little emergency cover on Sunday night.

A week earlier, one British expat in Fuengirola contacted the Olive Press to complain about the lack of preparation work with water levels already ‘dangerously high’ in the town’s main river.

He said: “The river mouth leading out into the sea has not been cleared all week despite the heavy rain.

“The water levels are already very high and if nothing is done the town will be under water.”

Tragically his prediction was eerily accurate as roads were cut off and houses flooded in Fuengirola.

And it was a similar story along the coast.

In Los Barrios a bridge collapsed, crushing three parked cars, while Gibraltar had 157% of its average December rainfall in 48 hours.

Meanwhile, almost every home in popular Casares Marina urbanisation saw around a metre of water flood in.

Nearby in Manilva, Dutch-run Floria beach bar was all but destroyed as high winds battered the wooden structure.

In Sabinillas the A-7 underpass was left com-

A CHANGE THAT LED TO FLOODS

A CHANGE in the Jet stream and a blocking high pressure over the UK, saw low pressure moving southeast into the Iberian Peninsula where it became slow-

moving on Friday before pushing eastwards through the weekend and Monday. A combination of colder polar air aloft and warm air/seas over southern Iberia

pletely flooded, while ground floor homes and businesses were left in ruins on either side of the motorway. An emergency centre was set up in the town hall for flood victims after it was declared a disaster zone.

Duquesa port saw a raging torrent flow right through it.

In neighbouring Estepona the port was flooded and pretty much all frontline bars and restaurants shut up shop and spent the day bailing water.

Dolphin rescue A BABY dolphin was rescued from a Costa del Sol beach after becoming lost during the flood chaos.

An unsung hero spotted the calf struggling off an Estepona beach and stepped in to help until emergency services arrived three hours later.

It is being cared for at the Centro de Recuperacion de Especies Marinas Amenazadas (CREAM) and will soon be returned to the sea.

led to the very unstable conditions which saw torrential slow-moving and thundery downpours affecting large parts of the south.

In Cartama, Jackie Minion, from Reading, was left devastated after her horse Ronnie vanished when his stables were engulfed in floodwater.

Meanwhile, horses were forced to wade through the floods in San Pedro after a similar animal sanctuary was engulfed in water.

Expat writer Natalie Rose Kern came home to find her basement in Marbella completely underwater, with hundreds of books, clothes and other priceless possessions ruined.

At least, she managed to keep her sense of humour by wearing a Wonder Woman outfit to clear up the mess the following day.

Scottish expat Kayleigh Smith meanwhile, was among a group of 20 drivers forced to reverse down the A-7 into oncoming traffic after floods cut off the road.

With cars already abandoned, Smith had to head 100 metres back the way they she came as a ‘small lake’ formed on the A-7 near to Selwo zoo in Estepona.

“It was terrible,” she told the Olive Press. “I had to give up trying to get to work as the A-7 was completely flooded and cars were already trapped in the rain.

Helicopters had to be called in in Cartama to rescue a driver and his pet dog from the roof of their car as the waters rose around them. And with more rainy days forecast for the rest of the month, more floods could - unfortunately - be on their way.

WEBSITE

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300 85% 76 Emergency calls in Marbella on Sunday

Of Marbella reservoir La Concepcion is nowalmost full thanks to the rain.

People were rescued from their homes in Alhaurín de la Torre, Cártama, Álora, Marbella and Estepona

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Some 105,000 visitors flocked to our Spain and Gibraltar sites to read about the destruction. As well as a dozen stories and many pictures and information from our loyal

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olive press online October 2015

Towns suspended school - Estepona, Manilva, Casares, Mijas pueblo and Cartama Estacion.

Readers flood in for Olive Press record OUR round the clock coverage of the floods has smashed our website records after bringing in more than 366,000 pageviews in 48 hours.

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es December 7th - December 20th 2016 And our site is updated daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

readers, we had two links to the Daily Mail.

The bandwagon didn’t stop even on Monday when the lights fused and we continued working by candlelight!

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English Page views:xxxxxxxxx daily news website Visitors: xxxxxxxx

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DISASTER: Boat rescue in Cartama, flooded N340 tunnel in Sabinillas, a car crushed in Los Barrios, Natalie as Wonder Woman and dogs rescued in Malaga

Day Casares Marina became suitable… only for boats

I

By Miguel Jimenez

GOT a phone call from a neighbour early on Sunday morning explaining that our road in Casares was basically a river.

He told me there was over a metre of water in most people’s houses and that further heavy rain was expected soon after midday.

My heart sunk as my plan for a pleasant weekend walk with the kids turned into a day of damage limitation and disbelief.

After the heaviest rainfall for a quarter century, my appropriately-named urbanisation, Casares Marina, had become just that... suitable only for boats.

My drive down from Jimena was hairy to say the least. The red alert declared meant that almost nobody was on the roads… and for good reason.

There were landslides everywhere, debris all over the road and a downpour that even left the

mountain goats looking confused.

The N-340 underpass in Sabinillas was totally submerged and the motorway along the coast was impassable in many places. Only the toll road was open and in two places it was a foot deep in water, with police somehow managing to keep it open.

But nothing prepared me for what I found in

Casares. My road was still a few inches in water, my back garden a lake, my house; a swimming pool full of furniture floating around the sitting room.

Most neighbours had managed to move their cars, but a few had left it too late and found them completely submerged.

One had been awoken to a loud crack at 4am, as his front door caved in to a deluge of water.

Within 15 minutes he had a metre of water in his living room and only managed to save a couple of items.

Predictably there were no emergency services on hand, no-one from the council helping out and, of course, much of it was to do with a lack of planning: Rivers not properly cleared, pointless walls put up without openings and, blatantly, not enough warnings.

This week has been about picking up the pieces. Trying to get through to insurers, trying to get the electricity back and sifting through 20 years of photos, records, CDs and other mementos that could possibly be saved.

Of course, in the end it is just stuff and we must remember the two people who died on Sunday.

But, ultimately what a strange place Andalucia is where around a third of the year’s annual rainfall drops in just one night. Desastre.

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- December 20th 2016 PDecember oli t7thics

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Days in the dock!

BREXIT campaigners have been battling the UK government in a landmark Supreme Court case over who should make the decision over the triggering of Article 50.

Theresa May’s lawyers have been grilled by all 11 Supreme Court judges for the first time in history.

Gibraltar campaigner Paul Cartwright, part of the People’s Challenge, is determined to show May ‘she is wrong’ after he travelled to London for the historic showdown

“For Gibraltar, it is so important we stay in the European Union,” Cartwright told the Olive Press from London.

“Even being in the EU, we have had so many issues with Spain. We are here to make sure that parliament’s sovereignty is respected.

“We have already won in the High Court so we have proved to the rest of the world that we are right and she [May] is wrong.”

The case is due to end on Thursday.

Zero accountability ‘Scandal’ after expats fail to get compensation for illegal homes not built

This comes despite Zurgena (Almeria) planning boss Carlos Berbel being suspended of investment lost in an ille- from public office for three gal development. years for allowing 94 houses to be built on protected land.

However, a court ruled that no compensation should be given to the expat buyers who invested millions in deposits in homes at Los Cabreras resort, that were never built.

In total some €9 million has been lost as a result of Berbel’s permissions.

According to the judge, ‘Berbel’s crime does not correspond to any right to claim THOUSANDS of people have taken to the streets to demand more compensation’. independence for Andalucia.

Protesters in Sevilla want more control over the military and other key areas.

Scandal They came out on mass on the 39th anniversary of the historic ‘4D’ President of expat manifestation, which was a catalyst for a chain of events that led to housing group AUAN greater regional autonomy in the 1970s.

Maura Hillen has slammed the ruling as ‘scandalous’.

“It is a complete scandal,” she told the Olive Press. “If the law AN ex-mayor of Este- prison in 2008, is one allows good-faith pona has been grilled of the main political buyers to lose €9 milfor eight hours over officials fingered in lion in an urbanizaplanning crimes, mon- the 2007 Astapa antition deemed illegal, ey laundering, bribery corruption investigathen the law is effecand embezzlement. tion, which has finally tively saying that the Antonio Barcome to trial. victims are to blame.” rientos who He was accused of She added: “The rulresigned his fiddling administraings sends out a mespost before tive records and ursage that principles spending six ban developments of responsibility have months in made while in no place in public adcharge. ministration.

The case “It also sends out a could conmessage that Spain tinue until is a land of zero acmid 2017. countability and that buyers have no protection in Spain.”

EXPAT campaign groups have hit out at a court ruling after British buyers were told they would not be compensated for millions worth

By Rob Horgan

More independence

Sleaze trial begins

People power

CITIZENS have had their say in Marbella’s first ever participatory budget.

All registered adults in the town were able to cast their vote on how they wanted to see €2 million spent by the town hall in 2017.

They were able to choose between a total of 42 diverse projects.

Mobile voting buses were driven around different neighbourhoods during the five-day process.

The results are not yet known.

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Picardo abuser guilty A LOCAL man who abused Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on social media has been sentenced to three months in jail.

Abdellah Abida pleaded guilty to charges including posssession of a bladed weapon following his arrest in September.

Police held him over the Facebook postings, which insulted Picardo and head of the Moroccan Community Association Ali Doussi.

Abida will be released from prison as he has already served the time.

Liverpool billionaire owner John Henry thought to have bought Gibraltar superyacht

By Joe Duggan

A LUXURY £68 million superyacht moored in Gibraltar has been snapped up by US billionaire John Henry, who owns Premier League giants Liverpool.

The American businessman, who also owns the Boston Red Sox, is understood to have bought the sleek 216foot Ester III, which has been moored on Queensway Quay for around three months.

Now renamed Iroquois, the yacht can accommodate 12 guests and 17 crew, and has its own helipad, gym, swimming pool and spa including a massage room, sauna and steam room.

G ibr a ltar

Kop a look at this YACHTMAN: Henry

A source close to the sale told the Olive Press Henry had recently visited Gibraltar to inspect the luxury vessel, which can reach top speeds of 15 knots (17mph).

The boat was bought from a Russian oligarch who had been wanted for questioning on fraud allegations in his homeland.

Vneshprombank co-owner

THE family of Private Matthew Boyd have spoken of their ‘unbearable pain’ after a Welsh boxer was convicted of his murder.

Jake Vallely, 24, the self-confessed ‘hardest man in Brecon’ was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court after a jury heard he used his ‘right arm as a piston’ to punch Boyd, 20, to death.

Vallely’s co-defendant, Aaeron Evans, 23, was found not guilty of manslaughter.

The court heard that Vallely sent text messages

to friends following the attack, saying ‘We’re going down for that’ and ‘I need to get out of this shirt, it’s got blood on it. I think it’s my own’.

Outside the court, a statement was read on behalf of the Boyd family by Detective Constable Zoe Powell.

“He was born prematurely and he was taken from us prematurely in the blink of an eye without warning,” it read.

Vallely will be sentenced on December 8.

11

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‘A void that will never be filled’

ABUSED: Picardo

December 7th - December 20th 2016

A DEBATE should be held on the decriminalisation of cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, Neil Costa, the Health and Justice Minister, has said.

Threat test Georgy Bedzhamov, fled to Monaco where he was arrested in April after an international warrant was issued for his arrest on fraud charges.

The 52-year-old businessman was released on bail after two months.

Russia’s central bank had stripped Vneshprombank of its licence after a shortfall of £2.52 billion was discovered at the bank.

Gibraltar’s Supreme Court ordered the sale of Ester III on November 15 after a claim was filed by BNP Paribas.

It was listed for sale in August through agents Fraser Yachts, who last night confirmed to the Olive Press that the yacht had been sold and paid for in full.

Henry, who has a net worth of £1.9 billion according to Forbes, also owns the Boston Globe newspaper and a NASCAR racing team.

TERRORIST threats, serious road traffic collisions and threats to national security have been tested in Gibraltar’s annual GIBEX test.

Staying safe A SAFETY campaign has been launched by the Royal Gibraltar Police to keep people safe in the run up to Christmas.

New bill DISABLED people will have stronger protection against discrimination in Gibraltar from this month, thanks to the new Disability bill.

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A xar q u i a

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Bottoms up AN ARTISAN beer festival is returning to town.

The Feria de la Cerveza Artesanal will bring early Christmas cheer to Rincón de la Victoria on December 17, for the second year in a row.

Scores of local breweries have signed up to take part in the event, which will take place from noon until midnight in the Plaza José Novo in the Huerta Julián neighbourhood.

Visitors will be able to enjoy tastings from brewers such as Rosas, Murex and Gaitanejo.

Food stands, a market and a bouncy castle will also be available for children.

Two bands will also play with Nito Inza at 2pm and Sótano Sur 9pm.

On track

7th - December 20th December 7thDecember - December 20th 2016

Closed tramline set to re-open at last

A SCAR on the face of Axarquia is to finally be removed with an injection of €1.5 million.

The unsightly Velez-Malaga and Torre del Mar tram line has been lying neglected for four years, since the town council axed the popular 6km service.

But now it looks set to reopen after thejunta agreed to stump up 40% of the costs to repair damage

HUGE: Residents cook mammoth meal

Breaking bread wreaked on the line while it was closed.

The town hall will front the

Wonderstruck AN AXARQUIA town has been named one of the seven rural wonders of Spain.

Frigiliana near Nerja was given the 2016 honour by booking website Top Rural.

It chose the mountain-side community, which sits at the foot of Sierra de Almijara, due to being somewhere one can enjoy both the ´fresh mountain air and the salty smell of the Mediterranean sea.´ The town boasts steep cobbled alleyways and white houses adorned with flower displays.

The only other Andalucian village to be named in the top seven was Setenil de las Bodegas in Cadiz.

other 60% and believes the trams could be put back in action during 2017, once an agreement between the two authorities has been signed.

The trams, which visited 12 stops, are currently on loan in Australia but will be returned when the line is renovated.

It was closed to reduce town hall costs.

Talking about the plan, Felipe López, a town councillor, said: “The political option is to work on improving public transport and that we share this deficit between the City Council and the Ministry, and that is what we are going to do."

The tram system was constructed in 2003 and served people wanting to travel between the two communities for six years from 2006.

A FESTIVE feast is making a comeback for the 35th year in a row.

Torrox’s celebrated Fiesta de las Migas will feed much more than the 5,000 on December 18, when a huge breadcrumb based meal is cooked up.

PLANS for an ambitious ‘green’ peTens of thousands of destrian boulevard are blossoming. visitors are expected Velez-Malaga council says work to come sample the is getting underway to construct a simple shepherd’s 1,300 metre footpath in the town’s dish, which will be Parque María Zambrano which will cooked with wine link up to the famed walking route and served in the Gran Senda de Malaga.

Plaza de la ConstiThe project, which will be situated tución at 12.30pm. opposite Calle Aceituneros, is part of Singers and danca €590,000 plan to encourage more ers will perform in people to walk in the area. the plaza later in the The four metre-wide walkway will day. be flanked by trees, while a hedge Walking tours will separate it from the existing bike will also be held path. from 10am on the Once complete, it will be linked to day in the Llano the 650km circular Gran Senda de de la Almazara, Malaga route that stretches from along with an arNerja to Estepona and through the tisan market from Sierra range.

11.30am.

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Twisting in A FEARLESS videographer captured the terrifying moment when a twister suddenly touched down in the Huelva town of Palos de la Frontera at 6.45pm on Thursday.

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the freak weather event, which left a trail of destruction over five minutes in the La Rabida district.

At least two walls were destroyed by the tornado, one of which crushed a car as its bricks fell.

An untold number of front doors were ripped off homes, while a sky light was torn off an old people’s homes.

It also ravaged part of the plaza de abastos and several nearby fruit farms.

“It lasted for five minutes and caused quite a lot of material damage but did not harm any people”, said Carmelo Romero, the town’s mayor, to Europa Press.

British expat launches appeal to unplug WiFi in her town

WiFi is ruining my life!

A BRITISH woman is campaigning to have WiFi removed from her town as exposure to mobile phone and computer signals threaten to ruin her life.

Expat Rosi Gladwell has launched her campaign in Polopus, in Granada, to minimise the risks of electromagnetic radiation exposure.

Suffering from extreme migraines and breathing problems, Gladwell was diagnosed with electromagnetic sensitivity four years ago.

Forced to rid her property of mobile phones and computers, Gladwell is now launching a campaign to educate others about the condition.

Following a meeting with mayor Matias Gonzalez EXCLUSIVE Braos, the 67-year-old from

By Rob Horgan Devon is confident that meaGladwell told the Olive Press. sures will be put in place.

“I am immensely impressed “When talking about the danwith our local mayor and how gers of WiFi technology, he seriously he is taking this,” came up with the idea of limit-

ing the hours of access in the village by putting timer switches on the routers in the school, Town Hall and doctor's surgery.

“This means that we are afforded protection from the emissions but are not cut off

Picture perfect TWO Spanish photographers are in the running to be crowned wildlife photographer of the year.

Stunning snaps by Mario Cea and Cristobal Serrano have made it into the Natural History Museum’s shortlist, after beating off competition from almost 50,000 other entries.

Cea’s photo shows the reflection of a kingfisher at the moment it enters a pool of water, while Serrano captured a hummingbird drinking nectar from a flower.

People can vote for their favourite before January 10.

Winter wonder THE SIERRA Nevada ski season has got off to a flying start thanks to an abundance of snow.

Forty two kilometres of routes were open to snow lovers at the opening weekend of the Granada resort, one of the largest amounts for the start of the season in recent memory.

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 50.32% Same week last year: 56.17% Same week in 2006: 54.55%

Dozens of the 124 slopes are currently open at the resort, whose ski season will not end until April 30.

A spokesperson for the resort, said: “It´s one of the largest number of kilometres we´ve had open at the beginning of the season that we can remember.

“We´re really pleased.”

Bird control PIGEONS are being put on the pill to reduce the number of young flyers in Spanish skies.

Officials in Barcelona are testing a contraceptive pill to prevent the 85,000-strong population of city pigeons from expanding.

The ‘bird control’ pill was thought up after an initial proposal to cull the birds by shooting them was gunned down by animal activist protests.

The contraceptive will be distributed via 40 pill-dispensing bird feeders installed throughout the city.

from communication.”

Gladwell has had to alter her entire life to avoid electromagnetic signals after being diagnosed with the condition.

In fact, she cannot stay in many hotels or eat in busy restaurants as the exposure to WiFi leaves her so ill.

“It is amazing how badly informed people are,” she added. “I truly feel that the public at large will also eventually be subject to the detrimental side effects.”

When contacted by the Olive Press, a spokesman for Polopos and La Mamola town hall confirmed that the mayor was looking at ways to reduce radiation.

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Mountain plea A HUGE banner has been unveiled in the fight to get a Sierra mountain named a national park.

Activists and politicians stood behind it at the Palacio de Congresos in Estepona to highlight their bid to obtain the special status for Estepona’s Sierra Bermeja, a sight of ecological importance.

They want the body responsible for making the decision, the Junta de Andalucia, to reply to their recent bid to have the mountain designated a national park together with the neighbouring Sierra de las Nieves in Ronda.

Campaigners believe Sierra Bermeja is the more important mountain of the two, but think a joint bid is more likely to lead to success as junta officials will not grant the status for the mountain on its own.

If granted, the status would offer more funding to conserve both mountain ranges.

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LE TT E R S

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Unfair fight BRITISH people have created cash flow, new businesses and employment for Spain for decades now.

Reading stories of corruption within the Spanish elite really makes my blood boil, especially when on the next page I read about brits being blamed for illegal constructions because of bad advice from bent lawyers, dodgy town halls or crooked estate agents.

‘Fine the innocent foreigners, not the corrupt lawyers, mayors or council officials,’ is the mantra in Spain.

Viva Espana!

Teresa Keegan,

One-way madness

Be warned

AS a British veteran traveller who has visited around 40 countries now, I thought on my first visit to Gibraltar a few weeks ago that it was the most unique place I had ever been.

Given the size of the place, Gibraltar it seems remarkable to me that it has an airport at all! I work and live in Bristol and am thrilled that there is a direct flight from Gibraltar to Bristol.

Lionel Hutt, Somerset

Kim’s trying hard KIM has been around for years she rescues dogs that would otherwise be dead on the road (Collared, issue 253).

Her set up may not be perfect but what she does is what many wouldnt do. She never looks glamourous and does what she can to help.

WELL done to Cristiano Ronaldo for becoming the first-ever billion-

city prices in Spain between 2006 to 2015, which a green group said had helped push up to seven million people into energy poverty.

THE town hall should have provided another comparable home so they could go ahead with the one way system. But what kind of home can they buy with €35,000 – none at all. Now what will the Nasty party do to rectify this – nothing at all.

No one listens or pays heed to the weak.

IT is ludicrous to suggest that the council has demolished the Grays’ house because they are foreign.

Presupposing that this happened because they are Brits simply is

Credit’s due

56% was the jump in electri-

Party poopers

One rule for all

Robert Reynolds, Mijas

22%

of all top professional jobs in Spain are held by women, according to Yo Dona magazine.

Jennifer Rolt, Marbella

Phil, Mijas

Kim has always had problems caused by other people, why don’t they try and help her rather than shutting her down.

You shouldn’t have a go at someone who helps the many dogs dumped by the Spanish and many, many Brits.

Number crunching

not the case.

Even ‘locals’ have to cope with similar situations all across the country.

I AM gutted for the couple who are losing their home for a oneway system (Broken promise, issue 253), but this is just another of the many reasons to be wary about where you buy property in Spain. You have zero protection against the government of this country just deciding to take your home. Sadly, foreigners are still simply not wanted in Spain.

Axarquia

Frequent flyer

December 7th - December 20th 2016

80% of Andalucian actors

do not get paid above the poverty threshold for work in the sector alone, pushing them into getting secondary jobs to survive.

590 kg

Stuart Crawford, Coin

THE most fascinating thing in the Russian Museum are not the paintings, but the indescribable atmosphere of barely hidden surveillance by the Russian KGB which you will feel just after entering this very white and cool building (cool in the sense of a fridge). When you switch from one exhibition-hall to the other you notice in your back the piercing Luna Taylor, gaze of the middle-aged, mouse-grey Benalmadena men and women who are carefully watching

aire footballer, he earns every cent (Billionaire footballer, issue 253). I can’t stand the man or his team but without him Real Madrid would not have won what they have nor would the turnstiles click over every time he plays.

One of best player’s in the World if not the best. Take a bow Ronnie.

Moody museum

Katy Lynch, Malaga

Has anything peeked your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

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known assassination attempts were made on Fidel Castro’s life by the CIA.

29,980 premature

deaths were caused by air pollution in Spain in 2013 according to a recent report published by the European Environment Agency.

500,000 kilos of food were donated in Malaga province to people in need for this year’s Gran Recogida charity drive.

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la cultura

December 7th - December 20th 2016

December 7th - December 20th 2016

History men

Absolutely Brillante INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed film director Brillante Mendoza bagged the ‘Best Director’ award at the annual Gijon International Film Festival.

Garlanded for his film

Ma’Rosa, the movie also came up trumps in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Earlier this year Jaclyn Jose won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Ma’Rosa.

Charity chart topper?

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Dump Trump

New Calahonda musician releases Christmas song to raise money for cancer charities

PEDRO ALMODOVAR has TheTrump Oliveis Press said Donald the perfect inspiration for a ‘disaster movie’.

TOP for news in Spain!

The Spanish director said the reality TV star-turned president elect has a largerthan-life persona that is the A LOCAL musician has released a Christmas “It is the first ever charity single I’ve written”,

By Chloe Glover stuff of filmmaking lore. single to help cancer charities.

Steve told the Olive Press, who gigs regularly He said: “I think that Trump Calahonda-based Steve Hughes, whose par- Steve, 67, volunteers for Cudeca and hopes on the Costa del Sol and wanted to do someis going to provide a lot of ents died of the disease, has penned Una the song, which has also been recorded in thing over the festive period to support their creative inspiration, espe- Navidad Mas (One More Christmas) to raise English, will help charities in the UK and five important work. cially for comedians. He money for Spanish hospice Cudeca. other countries too.

“I’ve been volunteering with Cudeca for four would inspire a disaster years and before that I helped movie.”

British charity Mitchell Huth Speaking at a retrospective Foundation which supports the of his films at Manhattan’s families of children affected by Museum of Modern Art, the Meanwhile, another of Steve’s songs could be- Jacob Cheek, who is one of the final 30 musi- neuroblastoma. two-time Academy Award come Spain’s next Eurovision hit. cians in the running to represent Spain in the “My mum died of cervical cancer and my dad winner added: “The bad Just Wouldn’t Wait has been chosen by singer May 17 contest next year. of stomach thing is that we are all going cancer. Two to suffer, above all Ameridear friends cans will, have also “We have to put up with died because him, and in reality, he of it recently. should be a seen as a huge A GLITTERING film awards night mentaries and clips submitted “It’s such a disaster.” will premier in Puerto Banus. from 88 different countries will horrible dis-

Could it be a song for EU?

Cannes comes to Costa The second ever Filmmaker International Film Festival finale will celebrate the best upcoming directors and actors of independent films at the Teatro Goya from 7pm.

Some 800 features, shorts, docu-

bid for prizes in 23 categories.

The event is being hosted by MakingNoizeFilms, which is working with Marbella’s Department of Culture.

Marbella actress and filmmaker Mari Cielo Pajare will present the awards, along with the Councillor Gema Midón.

Cinephiles will be able to watch some of the shortlisted films at the cinema today, between 9am and 3pm.

GLAMOUR: At film festival

Walk this way TICKETS have gone on sale for spring entry to El Caminito del Rey. A total of 104,000 entries to the famous narrow walkway in the El Chorro gorge are on offer for the months of February to the end of May 2017.

Francisco Campano, manager of the attraction, said that while there is a big demand for visits on weekends and public holidays, tickets can be easily obtained at other times.

Passes cost €10 each and can be bought alongside those for the shuttle bus, which transports people back down after they finish the linear 3km route.

These are priced at €1.55.

PO Boxes Available

ease that also has a massive impact on families.

“I’ve put on numerous free shows for each, including the annual one in March at the Millenium bar in Calahonda.

“The song is poppy, upbeat and a bit out of my comfort zone if I’m honest but I’ve had great fun writing it.

The single costs €6 but people can opt to pay more.

It can be bought from onewishsteve.bandcamp.com

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THE second series of the University of Gibraltar’s history lectures will take place between January 20 and March 24.

Tito Vallejo will give talks on Operation Felix and The Evacuation, with Victor Hermida giving a talk on the Northern Defences.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia will host a talk on Gibraltar’s political development.

Identity crisis A GIBRALTARIAN author has journeyed to the heart of what it means to be from the Rock in a new book.

M.G. Sanchez’s Past: A Memoir recounts his family struggles to repatriate his father’s remains to Gibraltar following his death on a cycling trip in July 2013.

The tragedy happened during one of the most difficult recent periods in Gibraltar and Spanish border relations.

The book takes a look at Sanchez’s experiences living in the U.K, where he experienced racism following June’s Brexit referendum.

Christmas read A BRITISH expat has penned her debut children’s book in time for Christmas.

In the process of a 20-book series, Jaen resident Ruby Molly Hawkins’ Christmas at Number 61 is ready to hit the bookshelves.

Following the lives of the Hawkins family Ruby, 41, says the book draws on events in her own life.

"From an early age, I was always encouraged to keep a diary,” she explained. “Due to these entries I can recall events that occurred within my family, and I have based my stories on these."

Christmas at Number 61 is available on Amazon.

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December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016

Chloe Glover takes a look at the fierce females making waves in Spain

Andalucia’s most powerful women T

HEY say that behind every successful man is a woman.

But respected national newspaper El Mundo’s has just mapped out Spain’s 500 women it be-

Isabel Ambrosio, mayor of Córdoba

Pilar Aranda, president of the Universidad de Granada

Despite being born in Madrid, PSOE party member Ambrosio has dedicated most of her working life to the people of Andalucia. Prior to ascending to mayor, she has focused on disability, business, tourism and sport.

Illustrious Aranda is a leading brain in the field of physiology but also has a background in pharmacy and sports science. Through her career, she has worked in universities around Spain and in Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador. One of her latest focuses has been on digestive health and nutrition.

Fatima Banez, minister of employment and social security, Huelva High-flying Fatima Banez was previously an economist and lawyer before turning to politics.The PP member has been widely credited with having reduced Spanish unemployment, from a high of 27.16% in 2013 to 18.9% in 2016.

lieves are the most powerful in their own right.

Here the Olive Press shines a light on the strong Andalucian women who have made it onto the 2016 list.

Maria Angeles Carmon, head of the Observatorio contra la Violencia Doméstica del Consejo General del Poder Judicial, Sevilla Carmona has been fighting to stop gender violence in Andalucia since she became a judicial secretary in 1994. She has worked in courts in Sevilla and is a key policy maker regarding school safety.

Rocío González Torres, fighter pilot, Sevilla

Susana Diaz, president of Andalucía

Carmen Sanchez-Cortes secretary of state justice, Sevilla

One of only four female Spanish military pilots and the only one who has flown for over 1,000 hours, Gonzalez has truly reached for the skies. One of her completed solo missions was a dangerous, unarmed flight over Libya during the country’s 2011 civil war.

She has allegations of corruption hanging over her head. But unbelievably, this was not enough to keep Diaz off this year’s list. The controversial socialist politician is tipped to become the next leader of PSOE.

A former law student, Sanchez held dozens of high-ranking government posts before ascending to her current role. She was also the administrative director of the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología.

Specialist Clinic for Dental Implantology and Advanced Oral Rehabilitation C.C Costasol 951 272 267 Estepona

The second youngest on the list, 25-year-old Molina is a well-known face in Spanish cinema, TV and theatre. She won her first Goya award for best newcomer in 2014 for her role in Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados.

She was awarded another for best actress this year and has gained a string of other prizes.

Sara Mesa, novelist, Sevilla Mesa was named winner of the renowned Premio Ojo Crítico last year for her book Cicatriz. She has penned half a dozen successful novels, short stories and a book of poems.

Soheil S. Mark Sam Mark Master degree in Implantology and oral Rehabilitation

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Natalia de Molina, actress, Linares Jaen

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Missed off

Household names El Mundo’s list contains many names that should be well known to all. Keep your eye on the following in 2017.

Leonor Borbon, Princess of Asturias 2016 has proved to be a transformational year for this future queen, if El Mundo’s opinion is anything to go by. They said she has blossomed from a child into a princess.

Penelope cruz, actress and model

Carolina Marin, badminton star, Huelva

Surely no introduction is needed for Spain’s most famous export. 2016 saw her star in three films- Zoolander no.2, Grimsby and La reina de España.

Ranked number one in the world, badminton players come no better than Marin. The 23-year-old, the youngest on our list, won her first women’s singles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was the first Spaniard to win the BWF World Championships and the Grand Prix Gold title.

Soroya Saenz de Santamaria, vice president of the government This former state lawyer has held this top post since November.

Ana Ferrer García, Magistrada de la Sala de lo Penal del Tribunal Supremo, Linares Jaen Not long after beginning her career in the court rooms of Juzgados de Primera Instancia and Instrucción in Linares that fastclimbing Ferrer was called up to preside over courts in Madrid.

She made history in 2014 when she became the first woman to be elected to the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court.

Carmen Thyssen, art collector with museum in Malaga Although not a resident of Andalucia,multi-millionaire art collector Thyssen has strong links to the region thanks to her eponymous art museum in Malaga. Her fortune is today estimated to total €900,000,000.

Cristina de Parias, director of BBVA Spain, Sevilla Despite studying law at the University of Sevilla, Parias found her calling in banking. She was recognised for helping the bank gain a place in the Great Place to Work rankings of 2016.

Eugenia Martinez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro An aristocrat and socialite, who works for the Tous Designer House.

Prior to moving to BBVA she worked at Banco Español de Crédito, Citibank y Argentaria.

Elvira Navarro, novelist Huelva Philosophy graduate Navarro was named as one to watch early on in her career, following the release of her first novel La ciudad en invierno. Since then, the 37-year-old has published five more novels and contributed to an impressive amount of collective works. Some of her books have been translated into six different languages.

Reyes Hellin, Sevilla

With 1.3 million Instagram followers, Pereira is one of the most influential online fashion writers around.

Shockingly, many worthy Andalucian names did not appear in this year’s El Mundo list.

We pay tribute to some of them here.

Ana Pastor, president of Congress

María Pujol, triathlete, Sevilla

This PP heavyweight also has a degree in medicine and surgery and used to be the minister of health.

At the tender age of 10, Pujol had already won dozens of regional and national contests. She is now a multi-time national competition winner and was named in the 2014’s Las Top 100 Mujeres Líderes en España.

Sandra Ortega Mera, shareholder in Inditex Worth 7.5 million, she is the oldest daughter of Amancio Ortega, the creator of Inditex.

Yayo Herrero, ex-head of Ecologistas en Accion Herrero has been described as the Spanish Naomi Klein thanks to her inexhaustible social activism.

Mireia Belmonte, Olympic champion swimmer A freestyle, butterfly and medley expert, she became the first Spanish woman to win an Olympic swimming gold medal when she won the 200-meter butterfly at the 2016 event.

Ana Bella Estevez, social activist, Sevilla

María Teresa Campos, journalist presenter, Malaga

Marina del Corral Tellez, government general secretary of immigration and emigration, Velez-Malaga

Magdalena Trillo, director of Granada Hoy Tenacious Trillo started at the paper back in 2003, when she was named its head of culture.

Alaya is best known for presiding over the billion euro ERE fraud case that involved the siphoning of money from public funds. She is also known for working on a case involving embezzlement of funds through the sale of the Real Betis Balompié football team.

Guirao is behind a huge drive to change how Spain cares for those with learning disabilities.

She has also worked at Ideal newspapers in Granada and Jaen and has also taken part in TV and radio debates.

Although now based in Madrid, Campos made Malaga her home for several years. She studied philosophy at the university before going onto become a household name, thanks to her starring roles in dozens of TV news programmes.

Mercedes Alaya, judge, Sevilla

Isabel Guirao, social activist, Almeria

landmark shop in the city also stocks brands by some of the most sought-after designers in the world.

SALE Spain’s milliner par excellence was born and made in Sevilla. Her

Lovely Pepa (Alexandra Pereira), fashion blogger

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Corral studied law at the University of Granada before becoming a professional specialising in EU law and rights of societies and markets. She also currently holds the post of vice president of the General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad and president of the labour commission.

She is also involved in the NGO Cipie, which helps Latin Americans living in Spain.

Estevez created Fundación Ana Bella after being subject to abuse by her own husband. She helps and empowers women who have experienced maltreatment.

Celia Jimenez Caballero Jimenez was the first Andalucian woman to receive an illustrious Michelin star, which she earned while chef de partie at Marbella’s El Lago in 2002. She now has her own restaurant in Cordoba.

Concha Lopez Narvaez, Sevilla This accomplished children’s author has written enough books to stock a small library on their own.

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December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016

WWII DRAMA: A young Cristian Bale in Empire of the Sun

SHERIFF TOWN: Sean Connery in Robin and Marian

Slow to jump on the blockbuster bandwagon, now Spain too has plans to premier location vacations, popularly known as Set Jetting, writes film buff Robert Yareham

Lights, camera, action-packed tour!

FANTASY: Game of Thrones has beautiful locations across Spain

C

INEMA tourism is a hot ticket, and you only have to do the math to work that one out.

Following the release of Out of Africa, the number of visitors set jetting to Kenya skyrocketed by 500%, while tourism to the Wallace Monument rose by 300% following the release of Braveheart.

Meanwhile The Crown Hotel in Amersham, had to put up the ‘No Vacancies’ sign for three years following the hot, steamy scenes between Hugh Grant and Andie McDowell filmed there during Four Weddings FAMOUS FACE: Clooney in Tomorrowland and a Funeral. And the list goes on.

Spain has been slow to follow the trend, nothing to take advantage of the filming which is surprising considering that it is the of Tomorrowland with George Clooney and non-English speaking country with most Hugh Laurie at the City of Arts and SciEnglish language films ever shot; over 700 ences. The authorities at Trebujena, Cádiz, tore down the Japanese POW and counting. camp built there by Steven I have been trying to do someSpielberg for Empire of the thing about that for years, There isn’t a Sun. And with a few glorious encouraging Town Halls and provincial governments to de- country in the world exceptions, the making of all these films is not being harvelop this rewarding form of that hasn’t been nessed by tourism entities in tourism. order to attract new visitors. represented by My book, Movies Made in Putting my money where my Spain, identifies the locaSpanish scenery mouth is, I am now involved tions of 720 films and miniin plans to reverse that trend. series filmed partly or wholly Together with Catalan tourin Spain and shot in English. ism expert Jaume Palau, auAnd there isn’t a country in the world (and thor of books about the locations of James one or two planets) that haven’t been repBond films and the Game of Thrones series resented by Spanish scenery.

But it’s been an uphill task. The authori- in which Spain has played starring roles, ties in Valencia, for example, have done we are organising an event in Cuenca to

premier a private-public cinema weekend meeting, with presentations from experts (or week). in cinema history, tourism, local monuThe event will pay homage to big movie loca- ments and products. But beyond the talktions in the province, which has hosted a ing there are plans to produce a pilot long list of Hollywood’s finest. It includes tour to tap into the unexploited marRichard Lester, Sergio Leone, Stanket for cinema tourism. ley Kramer, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, If the project is a success, we hope Pierce Brosnan, Charlton Heston, Benithe idea will spread to other provcio del Toro, Tim Robbins, Robert de Niro, inces, especially to movie hotspots Oliver Reed, Michael York and Geraldine where few tourists have gone beChaplin. And that’s just for starters. fore, such as Atienza in Guadalajara Cuenca is an enchanting province, but where Katherine Hepburn not one that is saturated by tourists. and Vanessa Redgrave Its most sought-after locations filmed The Trojan Women, include the spectacular old hillor Artajona and Navarra top town town, the castle of Belwhere Sean Connery and monte, the monastery of Uclés Audrey Hepburn shot the and the bizarre, geological rock swashbuckling Robin formations of La Ciudad Encanand Marian. tada and Los Callejones de Las The resulting tour, in Majadas.

Spanish, English or both, Local politicians, tourist organis likely to be launched isations, film producers, tour next spring. It will comoperators, hotel and restaubine screenings and rant owners and other potenlocation visits with a tial merchandising manufacshowcase to regional turers have started signing up gastronomy, produce for the event, to be held on and entertainment.

February 4 next year at the Participation in the Parador Nacional de Cuenca February 4 event is (where ‘Brosnan, Pierce free and open to anyBrosnan’ stayed while one who is interested filming The World is not For more information Enough). email bobyareham@ It will be a round table STUNNER: Halle Berry in Die another day gmail.com

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Vol. 10

ll about Issue 254

Not so secret supporters

www.theolivepress.es

Revamped Dining Secrets of Andalucia gets the backing of top chefs and restaurateurs from around the world and region

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December 7th - December 20th 2016 June 26 - July 9 2014

NDALUCIA’S top chefs and restaurateurs are backing the relaunch of www.diningsecretsofandalucia. com, the region’s best dedicated restaurant website.

A host of star names, including Michelinstar chefs, have come out singing the praises of the new-look site, owned by the Olive Press group, which already has over 100 top places to eat..

December 7th - December 20th 2016

GRILLING: Ferran Adria ‘salutes’ Dining Secrets site

Revamped to include in-depth reviews, Top Five lists and an interactive map of the region, finding a knockout meal in Andalucia

e ctiv era ap t n I m

Extraordinary - Ferran Adria Celebrated Spanish chef Ferran Adria, of El Bulli, told the Olive Press: “I’m sure the website will do very well. People are always struggling to find the very essence of what makes Andalucia great and you are definitely doing your best to find it.”

He added: “I love it down here, particularly as Andalucia is in my blood, with my grandmother coming from Huercal Overa, in Almeria.

“The region really is extraordinary now and just keeps getting better and better.

“There are at least five or six really amazing restaurants here that did not exist a decade ago and creativity is now very much at the fore, with some talented young chefs like Dani Garcia.”

Great initiative - Frank Rottering Frank Rottgering, of El Muelle restaurant, in Arriate, near Ronda, consistently voted one of the best in Andalucia, said: “Dining Secrets is a great initiative and vital for the region. It is a great website for information and easy to follow.

“It also has a great range of restaurants in all eight provinces of Andalucia.

He added: “One thing for certain in Andalucia you probably have one of the best range of good produce of anywhere in the world.

We can get fabulous and diverse ingredients locally.

“Dining Secrets is all about exactly that. Fingers crossed for your success.”

has never been so easy. coming.

“It is great to finally have a site that gives The El Bulli maestro, added: “There are so us access and opinion on those places that many unknown gems here and amazing don't live off starlights, bling, Alaskan crab ingredients. It is great what you are doing claws and caviar,” said Mark Wardell, boss and I salute you.” of one of the coast’s biggest hotel Sunset He and many other of Spain’s leading Beach Club in Benalmadena. chefs are regularly resharing posts on our “We need to support the little guys that live dedicated Instagram and Twitter feeds for and breath quality food, value a n d the site. great friendly service… and t h e r e These include America’s Eleven Madiare so many places out there. son Park star Daniel Humm, who ex“It is great to see that Dining Secrets plained: “Dedicated sites that chamhas already found so many of them pion real authentic food are vital around the region." for the industry. And you guys Restaurateur Andy Chapell, of Moclearly know your onions.” lino del Santo, in Benaojan, near Meanwhile, Madrid’s creative Ronda, added: “Andalucia reRodrigo de la Calle, who has ally needed a dedicated site like retweeted a number of our this, where we can all share our articles, insisted: “Andaluthoughts and experiences.” cia is an amazing place and Speaking to the Olive Press reI love it down here. Dining cently in Marbella, Spain’s most Secrets is a great resource. I famous chef Ferran Adria said: am sure it will do well.”

“Championing the best of AnFrench masterchef Joel Rodalucia has been a long time in CELEBRATED: Roubuchon buchon added: “Good luck with the venture.”

Uncovering the best-kept culinary secrets in the region, publisher Jon Clarke has been scouring the region’s eight provinces since launching the book edition of Dining Secrets in 2008.

Owner of Marbella’s successful Unsatisfied with TripAdvisor recommendSala Group Ian Radford thinks Dining ice cream parlours and sub-standard ing Secrets will be a ‘fantastic adtapas bars, Dining Secrets brings in depth, dition’ to the Costa del Sol’s food honest and expert reviews of restaurants and travel guides. With the power around the region. of the Olive Press online pres-

Fantastic addition - Ian Radford

ence, i’m sure Dining Secrets will really support the promotion of the very best venues available on the coast,” he said. We wish you the best of luck and look forward to seeing it grow.”

Important work! Andy Chapell Andy Chapell, boss of one of Andalucia’s longest-running rural restaurants Molino del Santo, in Benaojan, near Ronda, said: “I’m delighted to see the new and updated Dining Secrets. I love individual places where people are doing thoughtful and creative food served in pleasant environments so look forward to exploring the area with Dining Secrets on my phone. It’s really important that we all share our thoughts and experiences to support all of the places doing such good work.”

SUPPORTIVE: Daniel Humm says site is ‘vital’

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June 26 - July 9 2014

December 7th - December 20th 2016 December December7th 7th- -December December20th 20th2016 2016

Snap snack

before

you

Picture-perfect meals are to be enjoyed across Andalucia. Check out the best food photos around the region on Dining Secrets of Andalucia’s Instagram feed or via Twitter @DiningSecrets

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Turning down a life in the air force, Jose Melero has set up one of Andalucia’s most famous fish restaurants, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia publisher Jon Clarke

S

TANDING at the pass, with orders flying out by minute and waiters baying for dishes, Jose Melero exudes an impressive Zen-like calm.

It is fortunate this seasoned chef turned down a career in the air force to run his fish restaurant, which is probably one of Andalucia’s most famous.

For on a busy summer day he can be serving over 350 people… and over the three months of summer around 18,000 meals.

A haunt for celebrities, politicians and chefs from all over Spain, El Campero is best known for its amazing blue fin tuna.

Cooked in almost 30 different guises, that include tuna lasagna and three types of tuna salad, you can even eat the heart and eggs, a delicacy, which come in at around 300 euros per kilo.

Mormo, medallones, contramormo, tarantelo, the best cuts though are morillo and ventresco, which cost around 50 euros per kilo.

June 26 - July 9 2014

December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016

Top gun

Having your say!

Latest user reviews on

ZEN-LIKE: Chef Jose Melero in El Campero And Melero – often dubbed ‘the master of tuna’ – is scrupulous about where he gets the endangered fish from.

“We never buy tuna less than 30 kilos in weight and mostly around 10 years old,” explains Jose. “We are extremely careful who we buy it from and we freeze it at minus 60 degrees – or ‘calidad sashimi’ – so we can use it all year round.”

He adds: “I think the rules on catching blue fin tuna need to be strict and I think they are finally starting to bear fruit with numbers picking up again.”

He has spent over two decades perfecting his art, having first set up a restaurant in Barbate’s port with his father.

Now in a modern place in a rather

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La Sala, Marbella nondescript square, El Campero is a four-speed operation, with everything from formal dining room to bar tapas.

And on a Tuesday lunchtime in November the place was packed to the gills.

Top tips… the traditional tuna encebellado, or stew, was deli-

cious served up with oregano, onion and pepper, while the carpaccio of tarantelo with wasabi was superb.

Best of all was the tartare though, which comes from the tuna tails. It literally melted in the mouth, like good tuna is meant to.

Oh, to eat every lunch here.

Brilliant food and staff! The food was absolutely excellent and was matched by the friendly and bubbly staff who always make sure you are being attended to without harassing you. Will definitely be visiting again. I recommend the sticky pork belly, to die for!

- James on La Sala

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31 st Dec of emb Part er y

Bookings: +34 952 459 836 / info@cassllodemonda.com www.cassllodemonda.com

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From previous page

December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th Dec 7th2016 - Dec 20th 2016

Latest user reviews on www.DiningSecretsofAndalucia.com

Patria, Vejer

El Muelle, Arriate

We love this place. We have been going since it opened and have taken vicarious pleasure in watching it grow into one of the best restaurants in Andalucia.

Thomas and Ase are delightful and perfect hosts. The food is wonderful and using local ingredients it produces dishes that you will not find anywhere else in the area. It is the first place we think of going every time we visit our house in Vejer. I am wary of being too fulsome as I don’t want it to become too difficult to get a table! If you are in the area, make the effort to go up to Patria, I promise you will not be disappointed. - Damian C on Patria

I’ve been coming to Frank’s fantastic place since it opened around five years ago and watched it develop into one of the most charming, consistently good quality places to eat in Andalucia. His local chef Isa Molinillo, from Setenil, just keeps getting better and better, there are loads of specials and Frank is the best host by a country mile! - Alfred Clark on El Muelle

Venta el Castillejo, Olvera Castillo de Monda, Monda A place one can see from the road - it's semi-hidden. Approach is down either of two tracks. The setting is rural, calming and beautiful.

Charming family running the business. Food is simple, but excellent in quality.

Fine lamb, and the best tomato salad in Spain.

A place impossible to leave without feeling much better. Well worth a visit. Patrick Mearns on Venta el Castillejo

One of the most picturesque settings in Andalucia, the Castillo de Monda is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. While it isn’t the cheapest, the brilliant food is more than worth it. On my trip we had oysters in orange ice, a delicious steak tartar and a refreshing tomato salad to start.

This was followed by the lamb which literally fell apart at the lightest of touches. Presented beautifully, the service was also top-rate. The only downside being the acoustics...

With a party of 50 people at the end of the dining hall, with singer in tow, the racket made the dining hall feel somewhat like a school canteen and made it almost impossible to chat across the table... I am sure with smaller groups this would not have been a problem and we were just unlucky. Also in the summer an outside terrace is available and again would help with the noise issues inside. - Rob on Castillo de Monda

Three top picks

Arrieros, Cinares de la Sierra restaurant | lunch and dinner

WWW.ELMUELLE-ARRIATE.COM ESTACIÓON DE ARRIATE | ARRIATE (MA 7400, KM 4) 0034 637 784 416 | 0034 952 166 370 CLOSED ON MONDAYS

IN terms of true secrets – real hidden gems – this comes right at the top. Few places have such a smack in the gob, romantic impact right from the word go.

The fact that you have to hunt high and low for it in one of the last cobbled street villages in Andalucia certainly helps.

Linares is about as good an example as any of what Spain must have been like in the Middle Ages. No frills, no big signs, the modern world thankfully at bay . . .and one of Andalucia's most alluring restaurants. Arriero fits in perfectly.

A small simple meson, with an unobtrusive front door and sign, you walk into the typical village house with trepidation. Well restored with wooden beams, a large open fireplace and a huge pebble pattern floor typical of the area.

You dine in two parts; in the main entrance hall, or a side annexe, when it is very busy on weekends.

Simply furnished, while the menu is no flag of adventure, its strength lies in the carefully chosen and lovingly prepared local, and mostly organic, ingredients.

Bought by a successful photographer Luismi, who is now the cook, and his elegant wife primary school teacher Adela, who is front of house, you couldn't ask for nicer hosts. “We get our meat straight from the local slaughterhouse,” she explains.

“We want it fresh and the best quality possible. It helps to be living in the pork and ham capital of Spain.”

La Costa, El Ejido WILD horses wouldn't normally drag one to El Ejido... and unless you have a fruit and veg business, chances are, you won't even have heard of it.

But this big market town, which sits in heart of Almeria's famous plasticulture belt, has one of Andalucia's best restaurants.

Ignore the town and its modern, purpose-built blocks, ignore the environs and the plague of plastic greenhouses that strech out in all directions, but miss La Costa at your peril.

Run as a family business, with chef Jose at the reigns, the restaurant has just got better and better as the demand for winter vegetables in northern Europe has grown.

Aponiente, El Puerto de Santa Maria ANGEL LEON is to fish what Ferran Adria is to, well, most other things. One of the trio of Andalucia's cookery wunderkinds (Dani Garcia and Kisko Garcia being the others), he has spent the last ten years getting to know his sea-food.

And what a surprise you are in for. Not just content with

knocking out cod and chips, at Aponiente you will have a fish supper you will never forget. Shrimp served in a rolled up prawn fritata, fried fish served as bread sticks (they are actually an unfashionable fish called acedias carefully stuffed with Iberican ham), this is ingenious.

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A luxury housing development is to receive €250 million investment.

London-based Round Hill Capital is the developer behind the ambitious Palo Alto World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst employs 75 home project in Ojén, Marbella lawyer to reclaim lost deposit which will start to be conOlive Press structedThe in January.

The 50 hectare gated com- ENGLAND’S World Cup hero Sir Geoff Legal firm Bufete Salmeron has alHurst is desperately fighting to recoup ready retrieved lost deposits a number munity willfor initially TOP newsinclude in Spain!

60 two, three and four bed- hundreds of thousands of euros lost in of Spanish firms and Hurst has now asked them to pursue his claim. rooms and 15 penthouses of a Marbella property nightmare. three and four bedrooms, The 1966 World Cup final hat-trick Hurst, like thousands more, lost his which will go on the market hero is among thousands of British citi- deposit in 2008 when the developer for in between €440,000 and zens hoping to recoup money lost dur- failed to meet bank loan repayments ing the property crash. and went bust. €1 million .

A health club and a business Soliciting Marbella-based law firm Until now, banks have not been accentre will also be built and Bufete Salmeron, Hurst is hoping to countable for returning the lost deresidents will benefit from reclaim the €270,000 he put down as posits, but a court ruling in 2013 now a deposit on a dream hope in Marbella means that banks must return depos24-hour security. its.

José Antonio Gómez Sán- in 2004. chez, mayor of Ojén said the “We loved holidaying in Spain and In total 100,000 Brits are said to have project would benefit the it was a natural step to buy,” he said. lost €4 billion in deposits on off-plan whole of the Costa del Sol, “Until now I had written off the money, properties that were never built. due to the fact that “it will however we have renewed the case now Bufete Salmeron confirmed it isfollowinvigorate the area, both so- that some similar cases have seen their ing up Hurst’s claim as well as a nummoney returned.” ber of other British investors. cially and economically.”

Rent or selling property in Spain has required an energy certificate since 2013

I

Property

RANKED No.1 for

olive press

Currency Exchange

Don’t miss 20thRoll2016 December 7th - December on

A need to CEE

F you own a property in Spain and are think- The first page of a CEE report features a bar ing of selling or renting, there is – unsurpris- chart, similar to those on electronics and white ingly – quite a lot of paperwork to get in order goods, that rates a property’s overall efficiency, beforehand. in terms of the power it will consume and the For sellers, that includes copies of the deeds amount of CO2 equivalent it produces, on a (escritura) or an extract (nota simple) from the colour-coded scale of A to G, where A is the most Property Registry; receipts that prove municipal efficient. property tax (Impuesto de Bienes Inmuebles (IBI), Once you have a CEE, you are then required to better known as rates in the UK), refuse collec- register it, within a period of one month, with the tion (basura), and, if applicable, community fees Andalucian Registry of Energy Certificates, oper(gastos de comunidad) are paid ated by the Junta (the regional up to date; and an energy effigovernment). ciency certificate (Certificado de In either case, whether you deFailure to comply cide to sell or let via an estate Eficiencia Energetica (CEE)).

While those who intend to rent agent like us at Terra Meridiwith the law a property are not required to ana or independently, in accorhave quite so many pieces of leaves owners at dance with Article 12.2 of the paper, they also need to be in Real Decreto, the property’s risk of fines from energy efficiency rating has to possession of a CEE. Since June 2013, when be included in any advertising €300 to €6,000 Spain passed Real Decreto or promotional materials used 235/2013 to comply with the in its sale or rental. As a result, terms of European Union Diowners need to obtain a CEE rective 2010/31/UE, obtaining a CEE has been before starting to market a property, rather than mandatory for everyone who builds, sells or just in time for exchanging or signing contracts. rents a property anywhere in the country. The While there are a few exceptions to the rule, the law has two goals: to promote energy efficiency most relevant for the kind of clients we usually and to better inform buyers and users, via the work for is properties that are used for less than use of objective criteria. four months a year. In this case, owners are To get a CEE, owners are required to contract a not obliged to obtain a CEE. Instead, they have registered technician to produce a report that to provide a formal declaration in writing and, includes such information as: location and ori- upon sale, have to ensure that the notary adds entation; details about construction; installed a clause to the deeds that specifies their exempenergy systems, such as heating and lighting, tion from the requirement to have a CEE for that and projected consumption in kWh/m2 on an reason. annual basis; recommendations for improve- Failure to comply with the law leaves ownments; and a description of the tests carried out ers at risk of fines ranging from €300to obtain the data. Once issued, a CEE is valid 6,000, depending on the seriousness of for 10 years. the infraction.

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CLAIMANT: Geoff Hurst

www.theolivepress.es

Special report by Iona Napier

BOSSES: Cox and Wells

IN COME THE BIG BUCKS! A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments.

The American bosses behind Real Capital Solutions have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast.

The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.

“We have spent around €86 million here so far and have a fund of €100 million to spend,” explained Managing Partner Peter Wells, based in Colorado.

“We are one of the largest developers on the Costa del Sol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.”

He added: “Also we do things transparently and always try and deliver on price and quality.”

The company - which made hundreds of millions buying and selling distressed properties in the US - has 16 staff working out of its office at Centro Plaza.

Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting to come alive and it’s a pleasure to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

& Money Transfers

May 25th - June 7th 2016

Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum

ESTATE agents in Spain and Gibraltar are lining themselves up for the busiest July on record.

It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to the forthcoming EU referendum on June 23.

Most agents the Olive Press spoke to confirmed they had various sales currently ‘paused’ awaiting the result, despite the British market remaining strong.

The majority believe that the expected result - to stay in Europe - will lead to the pound strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow.

Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the referendum lead up as a ‘pause for thought for British buyers’ due to concerns over the weak pound.

“After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the year - and a sudden wave of bids from British buyers,” he told the Olive Press.

One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing extra staff for July. Savills director Sammy Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on hold due to Brexit, but I am convinced we will stay in Europe and am taking on extra staff in July to deal with the expected deluge of business.”

Benahavis agent Scott Marshall of Proper-

Remain

tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’.

He said: “It’s a combination of the uncertainty of the vote and the exchange rate right now.”

While many agents have a couple of sales currently on hold, some have seen more.

“We have up to ten sales currently on hold until after the referendum,” said Victor Witkowski, boss of Castles, in Manilva.

“Buyers are not necessarily pulling out, but they are biding their time to see what happens.”

Fellow Manilva agent, Shani Hamilton, also confirmed a slowdown, but added: “We are predicting a huge influx of business as soon as a decision is made.”

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Deals

Spanish property sales by nationality and quarter

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com Source: Registradores Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016

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Where is Gillian buying?

Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home.

Respected analyst Mark Stucklin insists that foreign demand for Spanish property was up 16% in the first quarter with Brits the biggest group of foreign buyers at 22% of the market share.

“The British still dominate the foreign market for property and there is no evidence of a noticeable decline in demand as yet,” he said.

And certainly not everyone is suffering.

One agent, Graham Govier of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up.

“In fact it is the opposite. Prices are extremely cheap right now and we are selling two times as many properties as we were last year,” he said.

He added: “My salesman Paul - already a bit of a local celebrity - has just completed his seventh consecutive sale and people are buying because they can see that the incredible deals won’t wait around for them forever,” he added.

Paul made headlines in the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.

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Hotels cheque in INVESTMENTS in hotels in Spain have marked a record year-on-year increase.

Some €537 million has invested into hotels in the third quarter of 2016, a staggering increase of 162% from the same period in 2015.

Jorge Ruiz Andres from Spain’s CBRE Hotels said: “Spain is on the rise not only due to intensifying economic fundamentals but also general performance growth across the country and attractive asset prices compared to other European destinations.”

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PROPERTY

www.theolivepress.es World’s best house named in Spain

BOOM TIME: In Almeria

Hotting up A NEW influx of foreign buyers has turned the once overlooked region of Almeria into a property hotspot.

With sales up 93% year-onyear, the province is officially Spain’s biggest mover in terms of property sales.

Head of research at property site Kyero.com, Richard Speigal suggests that post-Brexit bargain searches have led buyers east of traditionally more popular Malaga.

He said: “We’ve been studying the latest sales data, looking for patterns across the Spanish provinces in the wake of the Brexit vote and our own data has already revealed that British buyers are increasingly focused on value for money since the referendum.

“Now we’re seeing Almeria emerge as the clear choice for those looking for good value Spanish property.”

In Almeria the average property costs just €129,000 compared to €295,000 in Malaga. .

IT’S official: The best house in the world is in Spain!

Claiming the top gong at the World Architecture Festival, MM House in Palma, Mallorca, fought off competition from luxury properties around the globe.

Designed by Mallorcan architect firm Oliver Hernaiz Architecture Lab (OHLAB), the house is constructed from a series of white boxes stacked on top of one another in a modern take on the classic pueblo blanco.

December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016

House of honours

Responsibility

Each box was purposely constructed to mark the different sections of the property, separating the kitchen, living room, dining room and the properties two bedrooms.

Designed with an ‘environmental conscience’, a spokesman for OHLAB said that modern architects have a ‘moral responsibility’ to care

WORLD BEATER: Home in Palma wins top gong for their surroundings.

“MM House is designed as a home that promotes envi-

ronmental and sustainability values,” he said. “The pitched roofs have a system for col-

lecting rainwater - three of them collect water for irrigation and general use while a

Invest in photos A SPANISH property website has urged estate agents to invest in photos.

Kyero.com, which works with Andalucia-based companies, said that good images can increase potential buyers’ interest in a house by 54%.

The company also said research found quality photos encourage people to stay on the web page of a listing for longer.

It conducted the research to better understand the wants of online buyers.

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Hard facts

I

The lack of systems and rules in the property game in Spain is ridiculous

N most northern European countries, including Scotland, but sadly not England, all sellers of properties have to provide factually correct information packs - ‘Home Reports’ - to potential buyers.

In some countries, these are prepared by state registered inspectors, whilst in others the estate agent is legally responsible for any errors or omissions.

If the packs prove to be significantly erroneous or even fraudulent, the seller can withdraw from the sale, even after they have moved into the property.

Unfortunately, it's a completely liberated system in Spain, where nobody takes responsibility for anything and even the buyer can renege, pleading ‘in good faith’ if they didn’t check anything themselves. Property descriptions by agents on the internet and in their details, can be at best ‘mistaken’, but sometimes, either through their or the seller’s ‘optimism’, appear to be deliberately misleading.

What has brought on this rant? We are researching properties all the time and this morning we’ve found a property listed seven times by different agents on a multi-listing website, that are all different in price, floor area and plot size, but which all have photos that are either identical or are clearly of the same building. And how many will have a current Nota Simple and Energy certificate available for all enquirers, as required by law?

Damn few in my experience.

The Nota Simple I can understand, as some properties take months and years to sell and to keep it no less than 3 month’s old would be a running expense. But the energy certificate

fourth collects water for consumption.”

It also features intelligent technology and insulation systems to ensure heating and cooling is energy efficient and sustainable.

Each box is also positioned to take advantage of the natural light and surroundings.

The judges of the World Architecture Awards said MM House ‘transcends the beauty of the everyday, as well as being an inspiring paradigm for the art of the possible’.

13 11+

years experience in

ALL PROPERTY MATTERS

BY CAMPBELL FERGUSON

RICS BUILDING SURVEYORS & VALUERS

For peace of mind follow these property buying rules (CEE in Spain) is inexcusable. It lasts for 10 years, is obligatory to have to register the sale, Find Your both the seller and the agent will Property be fined if the Junta’s inspectors find it's not available to potential buyers, and still the majority of properties on the Costas are marketed without it.

That’s just silly.

Instruct Instruct Talking of silly things, there’s Now Building SurveyorBrexit.Lawyer there’s talk of more potential for ‘Brexit Lite’ or ‘Brexit Descafeinado’ as I’ve heard it called here, where the UK will pay the EU to keep some of the privileges. So,Buywewith pull out of the Knowledge Confidence EU to save money and then&pay that money to receive less privileges than we had before.

That’s clever!

The Brexit effect may+34only be creeping into the 952 923 520 Connect with us!

UK economy, but it'sadmin@surveyspain.com hit here with a bang.

A recent survey by surveyspain.com Spanish Property Insight has reported that the Spanish Property Registrars have recorded 16% less sales to UK buyers in the 3rd quarter 2016 compared to last year; the first drop for many years. The overall picture in SPI’s survey was of a big decline in British buyer interest in the months leading up to, and just after the referendum, with that interest now continuing at a much lower level.

But it's not bad news for everyone. The reduction in numbers of UK sterling buyers was compensated for by euro or other currency buyers, taking advantage of reduced competition and sterling sellers being prepared to accept lower euro prices as the conversion to sterling meant they were still receiving more pounds than expected.

So, parlez-vous anglais, sprichtst du Englisch, spreekt u Engels, pratar de Engelska, or even ¿habla usted Inglés?

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

PROPERTY

25

www.theolivepress.es

Dec 7th - Dec 20th

Rented rooms best MILLENNIALS in Spain are turning their backs on their parents’ dreams of owning a home.

The devastating real estate crash and ensuing rise in property prices has made long-term renting a much more attractive option for the younger generation.

The emerging trend is leading Merlin

Imprisoned Marbella officials back in court to face fresh corruption charges for planning offences A PAIR of jailed Marbella officials are being dragged back into court to face fresh corruption charges.

Julian Muñoz, the former mayor, and Juan Antonio Roca, the former town planning advisor, are be-

Properties Socimi to bet it can overtake Goldman Sachs and Blackstone Group in the rental market.

Spain’s biggest real estate investment trust is planning to almost double the units it has for rent by the end of the year, according to boss Ismael Clemente.

Back in the dock ing investigated at court in Malaga over alleged accounting irregularities

Trouble makers BARCELONA has fined home-sharing websites Airbnb and Homeaway €1.2 million.

The Catalan government has ordered the companies to pay €600,000 each for advertising and renting out apartments to tourists without a license.

The fines were levied by left-wing mayor Ada Colau as part of a crackdown on unregulated tourism which has reportedly seen a rise in rental sites marketing apartments without listing them on the Catalan Tourism Register, as is required by law.

The Barcelona council said that Airbnb and Homeaway are repeat offenders having illegally advertised 3,812 and 1,744 properties respectively.

Name changer STREET names across Spain that are named after men from the Franco era will soon be changed to honour pioneering women.

Rosa Parks, Hypatia of Alexandria and Spanish author Carmen Martin Gaite will be among those to receive the honour.

The idea is to have as many street names named after women as men, and to challenge Spain’s patriarchal society that can disadvantage women.

Cadiz, one of four provinces taking part, currently only has BARCELONA’S property ineight streets dustry is booming thanks to named after its status as a top city for stuwomen comdents. pared to 736 Demand for student accomnamed after modation in the Catalunyan men. capital outstrips the public Valencia, Masupply almost threefold, with drid, Oviedo, 33,000 students compared to Barcelona and 11,000 rooms.

Leon are also The findings were compiled committing to by estate agent expert Yulia. the plan.

Diamond digs

while in power.

The prosecutor wants the pair to face 10 years more each in jail if found guilty of the charge, which relates to accounts concerning urban construction agreements made between the town hall and interested parties.

The prosecution alleges changes were made to accounts between 1995 and 1997.

In court, Muñoz, a former waiter, stressed that he did not understand what he was signing and did not receive any money for doing so.

He said: “I UNDER am a humble FIRE: waiter… I’m Munoz sorry and I regret it.”

Meanwhile, Roca attested that while he had negotiated some “600 or 700 agreements” he had no part in the irregularities being investigated.

“I would not mind acknowledging that I have done this had I but I haven’t” he said.

Both parties are currently serving time for various other corruption charges.

Roca headed the Malaya plot, through which 53 officials embezzled public funds.

Muñoz, who BENT: was incarRoca cerated for one year in the same case, was last month sentenced to a further year for crimes against land use planning.

December 7th - December 20th 2016 December 7th - December 20th 2016

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www.allaboutandalucia.com PHONING HOME: Shane

Out of this world lesson

@allaboutandalucia @aboutandalucia @allaboutandalucia All about Andalucia

December 7th - December 20th 2016

Dec 7th - Dec 20th 2016

Locked up

The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

There is a whole new way to discover Andalucia

education

IT must go down as one the most ‘out-of-this-world’ lesson plans of all time.

A total of 600 students at a school in Barcelona were treated to a live broadcast from the International Space Station.

Astronaut Shane Kimbrough radioed down to the school to celebrate the Collegi Asuncion de Nuestra Senora’s 140th anniversary.

A spokesman for the school, which has children aged from 6 to 16, said it was a perfect way to celebrate the anniversary.

“It was very rewarding for all of us to finish the anniversary contacting the International Space Station,” he said.

“Our aim is to engage every student in these activities, which cover geography, languages, history and other subjects.”

During the broadcast, children asked Kimbrough questions ranging from ‘Would you like to travel to Mars?’ to ‘What does the Space Station smell like?’

Expat teacher banged up for alleged affair with 15 year old A DISGRACED British teacher has been locked up in Almeria for having an alleged affair with an under-age student.

Carlo Troiano, from Wirral, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl at St. George’s, at the privately-run school in Almeria.

Father-of-two Troiano moved to Spain after being sacked from his job in the UK following a probe into allegations of sexual offences with students.

He was acquitted at trial in 2010 but the Cheshire school sacked the IT teacher regardless.

Spanish police were alerted to Troiano after the teenager’s mum reported that he had conducted a nine-month affair with her daughter.

St George’s has already cancelled Troiano’s contact following his arrest.

BEHIND BARS: Troiano

Headteacher Neil Morris told the Olive Press: “Teacher Carlo Troiano ceased working at the school from November 14.

“The school management is adopting all necessary measures and cooperating actively in order to make this judicial investigation as fast and efficient as possible.

THE homework strike across Spain has drawn to a Troiano was found close. not guilty of three Throughout the month of November parents across charges of causing the country encouraged their children to boycott or enticing sexuall homework in an attempt to reduce the strain on al activity with a youngsters.

16-year-old pupil in While the protest received attention around the a classroom in Januworld, not everyone was impressed. ary 2010.

Leading the counter-protest, Valencia’s Catholic He is being held at Parents Association said that parents were being Almeria’s El Acebu‘irresponsible’ and ‘sending the wrong message to che prison. their children’.

Homework strike ends

Schooling

SCHOOLS in Spain will be the first in Europe to implement an EU aquaculture campaign.

Aimed at improving sealife, the EU initiative aims to educate children as young as 12 about the dangers of overfishing and polluting the world’s oceans.

The campaign will be rolled out across Europe over the next five years but will be trialled in Spain from the start of next term.

Waste not, want not A SPANISH university is among 50 institutions clubbing together across Europe to reduce food wast-

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Bad teacher fails to pass

age. The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid is one of 13 European universities in the consortium aiming to improve ‘food awareness’ in order A SPANISH teacher has to reduce the been arrested in Shanghai amount wastfor smuggling marijuana. ed across the The 28-year-old confessed planet. to carrying €1,200-worth Run by the Euof marijuana from Spain to ropean Instithe Chinese city inside his tute of Innovastomach. tion and TechWhen he failed nology (EIT), to expel the 24 six Spanish parcels from his institutions insides, he told and companies officers of his have signed up crime and was to the initiarushed to hospital. tive.

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

SOCIALMEDIA

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BUSINESS round-up

olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs NEWS IN BRIEF

Happy BE ‘APPY! workers SPAIN has ranked 18th in the world for the most happy and loyal workforce, despite working some of the Download longest our hours in app now and Europe.

begin enjoying the best Spanish news on the go.

December 7th - December 20th 2016

Spain has seen the biggest unemployment rate fall in the eurozone.

The amount of unemployed people dropped by 2% in one year, more than in any of the other 18 countries that have the euro as their currency.

But the rate still remains the second highest in the EU at 19.2%, with only Greece faring worse.

Eurostat, who revealed the drop, also said that the rate of unemployment across the EU as a whole has lowered to 9.8%, the best rate since July 2009.

A €40 MILLION arms deal between Spain and APPLE pay - which Saudi Arabia has finally allows iPhone usbeen pushed through. ers to pay for goods The sale was delayed for with their phones around six months amid - has launched in fears that the weapons Spain for Santander would be used in Yemen. customers.

The Olive Press However, the deal has now been brokered on the eve of King Felipe’s royal Festive TOP for spree news in Spain! visit to the Middle East.

CHRISTMAS spending in Spain will be 30% Respect above the European The state visit was origiaverage, with the avnally scheduled for Januerage Spaniard set to ary but was cancelled after spend €682 each. the Saudi kingdom executed 47 people.

Anti-corruption party New friends Podemos and Catalan party ERC are openly opAMBASSADOR of Spain posed to the arms deal Carlos Morales has said and the royal visit, while his country is hoping Ciudadanos leader Albert to expand business ties Rivera has asked the king with a ‘fast-developing’ to ‘demand respect for huPakistan. man rights’.

December 7th - December 20th 2016

Bouncing back

Unemployment drop

Fruitful

2727

MANUFACTURING growth in Spain has defied the odds in November.

Figures have revealed that the Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, rose to 54.5, up 1.2 from October.

The growth has come following much poorer predictions of a 0.6 growth.

Any reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector, and the strengthening of business conditions has been the most marked since January.

Royal go-between Spain seal multi-million euro arms deal

A letter from Amnesty International sent to the King also urges him to use his influence to end the ongoing attacks on Yemen’s civilian population, which have killed at least 7,000 people so far.

Saudi Arabia is one of the Spanish military industry’s top clients, purchasing €546 million-worth of equipment in 2015 alone.

Museum farewell SPAIN’S Prado art museum will be saying goodbye to its director Miguel Zugaza after a highly successful 15-year run.

After overseeing the biggest ever expansion of the Madrid museum, Zugaza, 52, will return to his previous role as director of Bilbao’s Fine Arts Museum.

The Prado, home to masterpieces by Francisco Goya and Diego Velazquez, said Zugaza told the culture ministry that he is ‘grateful for all the support he received’.

Under his watch, the museum’s numbers jumped from 1.7 million a year in 2002 to nearly 2.7 million last year.

Property AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

New ruling threatens hundreds of expats’ court cases

T

Brexit backlash

HE effects of Brexit appear to have reached some Spanish government offices, including some courts of law.

The Directorate General of Registrars and Notaries (DGRN), a regulatory body equivalent to the UK Notaries Society, has recently issued a startling ruling rejecting the validity of all Powers of Attorney (PoA) granted by a qualified United Kingdom “Notary Public”, on grounds that the authority and competence of these British professionals is not equivalent to that of their Spanish peers.

The ruling went as far as unbelievably stating that only UK-qualified “notaries-at-law” or “lawyer notaries” could validly issue powers of attorney, negating this prerogative to plain “notaries public”.

As was expected and with immediate effect, the erratic decision sent shock waves throughout the network of thousands of professionals, directly or indirectly, involved with expat legal work. And for a reason: hundreds of court cases could be dismissed (one of Lawbird Legal Services’ cases among many), thousands of property transactions could be voided (on the upside, along with their mortgage loans) whenever such PoAs were used and overall, legal chaos.

Alerted by this misguided ruling, the Nota-

ries Society, based in Ipswich, issued the following statement: 1. A Notary is a qualified lawyer whose work is recognized internationally, unlike the work of Solicitors. The primary function of a Notary therefore, is the preparation of documents and the authentication of clients’ identities and signatures principally for use abroad.

2. Some Notaries are also “Scriveners”, who mostly operate in London.

3. “Notaries-at-law” or “lawyer notaries” do not exist as a separate profession.

Hundreds of Spanish Notaries and Registrars, fully aware that their regulator’s historical cock up would certain bring embarrassment to their reputation but more importantly, cause incalculable financial damage, have taken an unusual step: completely ignore this binding ruling and fully accept the Powers of Attorney correctly granted by UK Notaries Public.

And as if to soften the blow, the International Law Registrars Council has issued a non-binding report where it is confirmed that documents signed by UK Notaries Public, who are appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and are regulated by laws as ancient as the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533, an Act of the Parliament of England.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es

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A SPANISH space startup is building Europe’s first ever reusable rockets.

Based in Elche, PLD Space have sealed €1.2 million of investment to fund the space development.

Backed by the Spanish government and the European Space Agency, the aim of the programme is to develop reusable rockets for satellite missions.

The aim is to have a working prototype by 2018, with the rockets ready to launch for real in 2020.

Tech revolution SPAIN is driving the golden age of technology.

A new generation of business founders has seen the country become one of the most important in the world for technopreneurs and startups.

The number of technology companies in Spain is up 150% compared to five years ago.

There is also an increased interest from international buyers in acquiring Spanish startups..

In August, eBay acquired Madrid-based Ticketbis, an online marketplace for tickets to events of all kinds, for a reported €150 million.

A result for Spain

Economy minister claims Brexit and Trump votes are good news for nation THE British referendum and US election results have turned up double trumps for Spain, says the country’s Economy Minister.

Luis de Guindos claims that controversial votes for Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US President act as a ‘very big advantage’.

He claims that for the first time since Franco, the political microscope has moved away from Spain.

“Spain has a very big adKIND-HEARTED expats and locals are bevantage now: we are off ing encouraged to donate a gift for Malathe radar screen in terms ga’s orphans this Christmas. of political uncertainty,” Specsavers Opticas is collaborating with said de Guindos. “This charities along the coast to ensure no means we can continue to child goes without a present this Decemstrengthen our economic ber 25. recovery without the worry In aid of Malaga orphanage and the Amuof political turmoil.” suvig shelters, the campaign gives out new While unemployment is or nearly-new wrapped toys to brighten still at around 19%, the up Christmas for hundreds of less-fortuminister forecasted a 3.2% nate children. economic growth for this Gifts can be dropped off at Specsavyear - twice the pace at ers Marbella or Fuengirola and must be which the Eurozone is exwrapped and labelled with whether the panding. item is suitable for a boy or girl, and of De Guindos also pointed to what age group. a growing property market For more information visit the Costa and an ‘increasingly lively’ Christmas Collection Facebook page. startup scene, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.

The gift of giving

Full steam ahead TRAIN manufacturer Talgo has been awarded a multi-million euro contract to supply and maintain 15 new high-speed trains.

In a deal worth €786 million, the Spanish train maker beat off rival bids from German company Siemens and France's Alstom.

The initial contract is to build 15 new high-speed trains and maintain them for 30 years.

In total 1,000 jobs will be created for Talgo, with the estimated construction time taking five years.

Health

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INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EXPATRIATES

Brit left with pierced stomach after Spanish dentist fumbles tool

A SPANISH dentist has come under fire after dropping a three-centimetre spike down a patient’s throat.

Brit Vanessa Snary, 29, began to choke during a root canal operation after Dr Ester Torrejimeno dropped a pin file during the procedure.

Slipping down her throat, X-rays later showed that the tool had pierced her upper stomach.

The former helpdesk manager has now slammed the dental surgery in Bristol for not offering her a mouth guard.

“Five or six members of staff were called in and just watched me choke on it.

“Then my body pushed it down and it reached my stomach. Nobody at this point had called for an ambulance.”

Indeed, Torrejimeno insisted on driving the patient to hospital herself rather than calling an ambulance.

Left with stomach and voice box injuries, Snary also claims that she lost her job after going off sick from work.

Torrejimeno has since apologised for the ‘unfortunate incident’ and even sent Snary a card and flowers after the surgery at Smile Pad’s Oldbury Court Dental Centre in Bristol.

A tonic for the valley MORE than 100 health professionals have been drafted in to a brand spanking new hospital in Malaga.

Capable of handling 200 patients a day, the Guadalhorce Valley now has its own hospital.

The silent destroyer of sight

T

o celebrate Día de Santa Lucia and honour Spain’s patron saint of the blind, we’re focusing on glaucoma.

Known as the silent destroyer of sight, it is one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness in the world which makes it doubly important to spot the condition early on.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a buildup of fluid on the eye which increases pressure and damages the optic nerve. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent tunnel vision and blindness. Often there are no symptoms in the first stages and vision loss occurs gradually, therefore it’s hard to spot before severe damage has been done. There is no cure for this vision loss, so it’s extremely important to have regular eye tests to diagnose the disease as early as possible, so you can be referred to a specialist for treatment.

Who is at risk?

The over-60s are more at risk of glaucoma but babies and young adults can also be affected. People of African origin are

NEW COUNTRY. NEW BEGINNINGS. NEW EXPERIENCES. WE’RE WITH YOU. ALL THE WAY.

Near to Cartama, the hospital has a 24hour A&E service.

The hospital is expected to help relieve the workload on Malaga’s Hospital Clinic, with 100,000 people in the catchment area of the new centre.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, writes Amrik Sappal, Store Director from Specsavers Opticas Fuengirola more at risk and at a younger age. Other high-risk groups include anyone with family history of glaucoma, people who are severely short sighted, and diabetics.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

An in-depth eye test is all that is required to diagnose glaucoma early. If your optometrist sees any signs of the disease they will refer you to the correct medical professional. There are three tests optometrists perform to spot glaucoma; a visual examination of the optic nerve head, a check of the field of vision and measurement of the pressure within the eye.

Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola are currently offering free eye tests. Our opticians provide professional, comprehensive checks of your eyes and vision. The test lasts about 20 minutes and includes the use of specialist equipment to examine eye health and to determine the correct lens strength and type for you.

To make an appointment or find your nearest store, visit www.specsavers. es.

Wherever life takes you, Cigna Global can protect your health and well-being every step of the way. We’ve been serving expatriates for decades—so we’ve tailored our products to meet your unique needs.

Our flexible plans provide access to over 1 million providers in 200 countries, 24/7 support from medical professionals and much more.

Embrace the new—start building your personalised plan today.

Visit www.cignaglobal.com/IPMI or call +44(0)1475 777625 today.

The Cigna name, logo and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. licensed for use by Cigna Corporation and its operating subsidiaries. “Cigna” refers to Cigna Corporation and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Products and services are provided by, or through such operating subsidiaries and not by Cigna Corporation.

Products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions and are expressly excluded where prohibited by applicable law.

Nothing in this communication constitutes legal, tax, financial planning or health or medical advice.

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Suicide tragedy A BRITISH man who was ‘anxious’ over Brexit was found hanged by his wife just weeks after the referendum result.

Kirkpatrick Macmillan, 69, had a breakdown in June after becoming extremely fearful that the UK would vote to exit the EU. He could not sleep at night and sought help from a psychiatrist, but promised his GP he ‘would never’ end his life.

But just over a month after the result, his wife found him hanging in their home in Kent.

Assistant coroner for South East Kent, Christopher Morris, said: ““This is a very, very sad case, he sounds like a very remarkable human being.

“His wife Pauline was confronted by the most terrible discovery. She found him hanging by a scarf around his neck.

“Attempts were made to resuscitate him but he tragically died the following day.”

BREXIT Bulletin

Support for Gibraltar offered by European Green Party A EUROPE-WIDE Green Party has vowed to fight for Gibraltar’s right to remain in the EU should a hard Brexit go ahead.

European representatives for the party are exploring ‘all options’ to keep Gibraltar in the EU. The European arm of the Green party (GreensEuropean Free Alliance) pledged its support to Gibraltar, as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland.

At a conference in Glasgow, a spokesman for the party said: “All options will be explored to ensure Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar and their people can retain their membership of the EU.” The European group currently holds 50 seats in the European Parliament with MEPs from Sweden, Luxembourg and Greece

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Green guide making up most of that number.

Scottish Greens European spokesperson Ross Greer added: “The Greens are committed to respecting Scottish democracy.

Fantastic

“It has been fantastic to have our European family in Glasgow this weekend, not just offering their solidarity but meaningful support for our position of staying in Europe.

He added: “It is clear that Scotland as well as Northern Ireland and Gibraltar will have Green allies throughout the 27 other

At risk UP to one million EU citizens living in the UK are at risk of deportation, the government has been warned.

The 3 Million, a campaign group lobbying for the rights of non-British citizens living in the UK, has told the home secretary it would take 47 years to process all the applications for permanent residency.

Each application is 85 pages long and there are currently three million EU citizens residing in the country, and there has already been a backlog of 100,000 applications.

In a letter to home secretary Amber Rudd, head of The 3 Million Nicolas Hatton said: “EU citizens have been feeling very anxious. We call on you to remove the threat of deportation without notice and give us, today, guarantees that all EU citizens living legally in the UK will be able to exercise their right to remain before the UK leaves the EU.”

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A TV drama about Brexit is in the works.

The critically acclaimed writer James Graham has said his new series will ‘specifically tackle what happened’ in the run up to the vote.

"I think [Brexit] is going to be the main occupying idea in all writers' heads for the next five or 10 years," he said.

Graham’s previous TV dramas include a play set in a polling station, The Vote, which aired on More4 on the night of the 2015 general election.

EU nations, ready to fight our corner when Westminster will not.”

“The challenge is now for us to explore every option which will make our European future possible, including that of a referendum on independence, which would allow Scotland to take our place in the European family of nations as a full member state.”

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have met several times since the EU referendum to discuss the prospect of a post-Brexit pact between the two countries.

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Softly does it ZAC Goldsmith’s loss in the Richmond byelection in London could force the UK government to opt for a softer Brexit.

Sarah Olney from the Liberal Democrats - a pro-EU party - won the election with a swing of 23% from Goldsmith in what was dubbed the ‘Brexit by-election’.

It prompted the government to release a statement insisting that ‘this result doesn’t change anything’.

“The government remains committed to leaving the EU and triggering Article 50 by the end of March next year,” it read. But analysts have said the result - now part of a wider trend of Lib Dem resurgence - could leave Conservative MPs in marginal seats nervous about the impact of a hard Brexit on their futures, while also encouraging Remain-leaning MPs to be more confident in demanding a vote on Article 50.

Brief By Charles Gomez

Europe and not just its ‘admin offices’ are going through a paradigm shift.

CAREFUL WHAT EU WISH FOR P ARADIGM is a fine word bequeathed to us by our Greek cousins, the ancestral defenders of Europe (watch the Battle of Thermopylae in Zack Snyder’s Hollywood box office triumph 300). A paradigm(“paradeignma”) shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

To my mind the question is not what is changing but what is not changing?

If as recently as 2015 Angela Merkel, Martin Schultz, Jean Claude Junckers and Donald Tusk were the accepted, if greyish faces of European polity; that has changed. Rightly or wrongly many among the 500,000,000 EU citizens see them and their ilk as woefully detached from their own realities and aspirations.

The shift away from internationalism is happening at great speed. Post the Brexit referendum Theresa May has understood that the tectonic plates are shifting. At the Lord Mayor’s banquet in early November the Prime Minister spoke of “change in the air” and warned the political élites not to ignore the people who she said: “see their communities changing around them and don’t remember giving their permission for that to be the case.”

I think that these are only the early tremors of a political earthquake which could shatter the EU as we know it today.

Looming ever closer, it would seem, is a breed of politicians the like of which Europe has not seen for many decades. As I write the Austrian presidential election has not taken place; it is due on the 4th December. The far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) candidate Norbert Hofer is apparently in with a very good chance of

becoming President of Austria. In France the Front National’s Marine Le Pen seems headed towards the Élysée Palace at elections taking place in 2017. Another right-winger Geert Wilders is hotly tipped to be the Dutch Prime Minister in elections also set for 2017. In Germany, a right –wing party formed as recently as 2013 has already won seats in 10 out of the 16 German regional governments and 6 seats in the European Parliament and in opinion polls has scored higher than Frau Merkel’s Christian Democrats. Then there is Poland and Hungary and so on.

Self-conscious Europeans tend to look across the Atlantic at our colonial cousins (for we have cousins everywhere) for moral justification and support. In Washington they now see a nationalist President Elect, Donald Trump, vocal admirer of Brexit battler Nigel Farrage.

So what impact will the tilt to nationalism and the right have on the “European Institutions”?

They certainly will not remain dominated by the middle of the road folk that now run them.

The European Council after all is comprised of the heads of state or government of the Member States. Similarly each member of the European Commission is appointed by a Member State and it is obvious that the current broadly centrist commissioners will not survive the paradigm shift. Judges and Advocates General of the European court of Justice are also appointed on a country by country basis.

Think about it. It would be foolish to think that even as the European pendulum swings to the right, the European Union will remain a bulwark of middle of the road liberalism; it will however be a very powerful machine in the hands of whoever takes over.

Readers of the Olive Press are invited to discuss this or any other legal matter with Charles Gomez by emailing charles@gomezco.gi

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Drink to that

SPAIN’S celebrity chef trio the Roca tional food. brothers are cooking up a storm with The brothers designed a special menu their latest documentary. for each city they visited, using only local Joan, Josep, and Jordi Roca, best known ingredients, to pay tribute to their experias owners of El Celler de Can Roca in ences.

TOP for Spain!

VALENCIA maynews be thein home Girona, are getting rave reviews for The The ‘food-umentary’ is the follow-up to of paella but Malaga rustles Turkish Way, screened at the recent Van- through the country to learn more about their first foray into cinema, the 2015 up a fair rice dish too. couver Film Festival. its cuisine and the movement among its Cooking Up a Tribute, which covers their In fact, the best of paellas and The film follows their culinary journey most talented chefs to modernise tradi- travels in Mexico, Colombia and Peru. rice dishes in the region have Both documentaries have been hunted out by Spanish been produced in partfood critic Fernando Sanchez nership with Spanish Gomez. bank BBVA. Unveiling his latest book, Recently, the brothers Best Paellas and Rice Recicompleted another tour pes in Malaga, Gomez enterMORE than 22 tonnes of food have The collections were made bewhich took them to Lontained selected guests in San been donated during Spain’s an- tween November 25 and 26 and it don, Hong Kong, the USA Pedro. nual ‘big collection’. is estimated they will help over 1.5 and Chile.

Featuring more than 200 Food bank charities have said million people during the festive Now they have set up a recipes, other contributors their targets set for this year have season. project that will allow the include food journalist Enbeen ‘more than met’ thanks to The donations will be sent to 56 talented student chefs rique Bellver and wine colthe kindness of Spaniards up and food bank associations nationthey met on the road to umnist AJ Linn. down the country. wide. train at their famous restaurant.

Famous chefs cook up storm with new documentary

A TAPAS bar run by Spain’s answer to Jamie Oliver is going from strength to strength in London.

Omar Allibhoy’s Tapas Revolution Shoreditch has joined forces with Cocktail Trading Co to add a new cocktail menu to his offering.

The eatery decided to introduce the range of Spanishinfluenced tipples following a successful first 21 months in the area.

Tis’ goodwill season

K

Cheers to the beer tipplers BEER is challenging wine’s popularity in Spain.

New research has shown that the drink is outperforming the old vino favourite, as more and more consumers are bypassing the wine shelf and sticking a crate of

Sun kissed A MALAGA restaurant has received a top ranking award.

Arte de Cozina in Antequera has been bestowed with a Guía Repsol sol mark, the Spanish equivalent of the Michelin star.

The eatery, headed by Charo Carmona, was the only one in the province to receive the honour and one of only 63 in the country.

REVOLUTION: Allibhoy

KOKOMO RESTAURANT, GARDEN & GRILL

lager in their trolley instead.

Consumption rates of beer among Spaniards has increased by 2.41% since 2011, while consumption in wine has decreased by 2.75%.

Analysts also offered a further breakdown of the numbers and found that the biggest growth in the beer market can be seen in the low, light and no alcohol segment - a trend that aligns with increasing health preoccupations.

“The increasing popularity of light/ no/low alcohol beer is a sign of changing attitudes toward beer and consumers becoming more health-conscious and more responsible with alcohol intake,” said Mintel’s global drinks analyst Jonny Forsyth.

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Truly delicious dozen and two clear winners

Chloe Glover goes on a tour of Andalucia’s Michelin restaurants

S

PAIN’S foodie firmament is glittering more brightly since Michelin conferred three-star status on yet another of its restaurants in its prestigious 2017 guide to the world’s top

tables.

The anointing of Martín Berasategui’s Barcelona

Friday Curry Nite Every Friday, 20:30 21:00 h

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Aponiente, El Puerto de Santa Maria

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Abantal, Sevilla

Well-established but well off Sevilla’s beaten tourist track, it’s worth going out of your way for Abantal. And with Sevilla-trained Julio Fernandez Quintero at the helm, it’s a homegrown success story – just like the sea and mountain produce that stars on his menus.

Current delights include red tuna with fried tomatoes, pepper gel, roasted garlic and basil, and Iberian ham marinated with truffled cream of roasted pumpkin, mushrooms, grapefruit and lime.

Dani Garcia, Marbella

The wunderkind of Andalucian cuisine continues his class act at Marbella’s Hotel Puente Romano. The region’s top produce plays a starring role in his increasingly inventive repertoire, such as his knockout prawn gazpacho and a tocino de cielo with a mango twist. Look out for more Asian flavours, Dani promises, following his trip to The Philippines earlier in the year.

Angel León, better known as Spain’s Chef of the Sea, is renowned for his prodigious technical ability and reverence for ocean produce which culminates in cuisine that leaves no one missing meat. His restaurant recently moved to stunning new premises in an 18th-century flour mill overlooking the salt marshes.

CURRY TASTING MENU + DESSERT + 1 DRINK

RESTAURANT

joint Lasarte with a triple star gives Spain the most three-starred restaurants in Europe, after France (25) and Germany (10) and ahead of Italy (8) and the UK (4).

And Andalucia can share in the limelight, thanks to the presence of 13 establishments that have retained a prestigious one or two-star rating from the illustrious guide, and a newcomer to the posh pack.

Noor, in Cordoba, has won another star for the city - Restaurant Choco also has one - thanks to ambitious local chef Paco Morales, who won his first at tennis ace Juan Carlos Ferrero’s hotel in Valencia.

Trained with the best of the best at El Bulli and Mugaritz, 35-year-old Morales has been awarded for bringing the Moorish cuisine of Al Andaluz out of the shadows at Noor, which means ‘light’ in Arabic.

If that’s whetted your appetite, check out our guide to all Andalucia’s one- and two-starred restaurants that made the cut. It’s a star trek!

Acanthum, Huelva

Restaurateur Xanty Elías is responsible for bringing the first Michelin star to Huelva. The passion the young chef has for his work is evident from the title of his ‘Menu 100% Emocion’.

Diverse influences have found their way into his dishes, a mix of traditional and exotic offerings ranging from fresh Huelva prawns to coral pate with peanuts.

Food, drink & travel

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Alejandro, Roquetas del Mar

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Choco, Cordoba

Kisko Garcia has built up a local reputation, much enhanced with his regular trips abroad to China, the US and France. High on modern technique and one of the best for presentation, his team’s delicate and avant garde dishes look more like works of art than food.

Dining in the kitchen will further enhance your experience here.

Right in the port where the boats bring in their morning catch, it’s no surprise that fish and seafood are this restaurant’s strong point.

Freshness is guaranteed and, topped off with great presentation and flavour, this young team has gone from strength to strength. Order a la carte or from the two tasting menus, the more pocket-friendly priced at €50 a head.

5

El Lago, Marbella

One of the home grown success stories of the last decade, El Lago was set up by four friends from Malaga’s celebrated cookery school, La Consula and won its first Michelin star in 2005. The team continues to pile on the surprises with dishes like smoked payoyo goat cheese cream, venison sirloin with roasted pumpkin and pigeon with turnip noodles and pickled beetroot.

International Tapas • Wraps • Salads Cocktails • Smoothies • Pizzas

Open Everyday The Hairy Lemon Sotogrande

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Kabuki Raw Casares

Reservations: 956 790 124 email: thehairylemonsoto@yahoo.com Puerto Deportivo • 11310 Sotogrande

This restaurant boasts elegance, distinction and all the gastronomic qualities of the award-winning Kabuki restaurants in Madrid. Expect to find a good choice of Japanese fusion cuisine, spectacularly yet delicately presented like fine art pieces.

8 6

La Costa, El Ejido

Ignore the big market town at the heart of Almeria’s famous plasticulture belt, and its modern, purpose-built blocks, but miss La Costa at your peril. Run as a family business, with chef Jose at the helm, the restaurant has just got better and better as the demand for winter vegetables in northern Europe has grown. One of its current landmark dishes is an intriguing courgette millefeuille with pate, boletus mushrooms and salmon.

Jose Carlos Garcia, Malaga

Situated opposite the chic Muelle Uno quay, this glass-fronted eatery has a swish yet chilled-out feel, helped by only having six tables. Its innovative cuisine changes regularly.

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Messina, Marbella

Renowned for its highly attentive service. The attractive à la carte menu, featuring an array of delicious, innovative dishes, is tried, tested and well-designed, with recipes originating from Spain, South America and Asia such as the smoked eel with dashi and pork jowl with beans and oriental sauce.

P.S

10

Skina, Marbella

Beautifully lit, this cosy and intimate eatery in the heart of Marbella old town can only seat 20 diners in winter time, and just a few more outside in summer.

The restaurant´s magic extends to its stunningly-presented food, which blends creative flair with a traditional ingredient base.

Noor, Corboba

Although outside the city’s historic centre, the decor captures the essence of Andalucia’s Moorish heritage and the cuisine is similarly inspired. Modern culinary techniques combine with the flavours, aromas and subtleties of dishes from the area’s past, when the caliphate of Cordoba was at the height of its power. Vegetarians should have no problem finding something to eat here.

Olive Press owner Jon Clarke has beaten the Michelin inspectors to it on a number of occasions while researching restaurants for Dining Secrets of Andalucia (the book and the website. “I wrote about Messina, Choco and La Costa before they got their stars and discovered the future chef of Sollo in Granada’s Algarinejo, writing about him

in my book,” he says.

“When I first came here 15 years ago there was only one Michelin-starred restaurant in the whole of Andalucia, which was Dani Garcia’s Tragabuches in Ronda.

“That’s why I launched my book to champion all the good places that deserve to be in it.

“Now it seems that Michelin is finally catching up .”

12

Sollo, Fuengirola

Brazilian chef Diego Gallegos is best known as the caviar king and works solely with ecologically-reared river fish, including his favourite species, the Andalucian sturgeon. He is installing fish tanks into the Hilton Hotel-based restaurant to cultivate his own carp, catfish and trout.

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Sharks, wild cats and jabali give me the heebiejeebies but a much smaller creature keeps me up at night

A

FEW months ago I wrote about my distinct feeling that the animal population was out to get me. This followed the sightings of an alleged big cat near Estepona, shark off the beaches of Fuengirola and the usual scurrying of boar close to the Casita.

Last week, however, it was the turn of the insect population to have a pop at me. Luckily, as the Casita sits on a reservoir where the water level rises and falls – and trust me, it has risen rapidly after the recent rains – I don’t have that much of a problem with mosquitoes as there’s no stagnant water for the little buggers to breed in.

A Bug’s Life

Pity

I often pity those who buy frontline golf villas, imagining themselves enjoying tranquil summer evenings on the terrace overlooking the fairways, only to be driven inside after incessant mozzie attacks. The owners are forced to either beat a retreat or fight back with enough insect repellent to breach the Geneva Convention on Chemical Weapons, never mind putting a large hole in the ozone layer.

I also had a run-in with a rather large bee a few summers ago that decided, despite my ‘Save the Bee’ posts on social media, to commit apis harakiri and sting me on the soft flesh on the inside of my Big Toe. The pain, dear reader, was something to experience. Worse than that was the ad- LEATHERED: Wasp nest vice of my French friend and adventure

expert Sebastian, who was having a coffee with me at the time. ‘You need to find a blue Biro, not black, and draw all over the toe. The ink will bring the sting out.’

I duly obeyed orders and retired to bed.

The next morning I woke up with a swollen, incredibly painful bright blue toe.

I called my friend to complain that his method wasn’t working. ‘Oh my God!!!

You actually did zis???’ he laughed...

Rather than bees, however, wasps have been my biggest problem. One famously flew into my hoodie on a morning run, causing me to rapidly and painfully slap myself in the face. With the onset of the cold weather, I put on my favourite leather jacket and grabbed a coffee on the coast. What I couldn’t work out was where all the mud was coming from around me and why I was getting strange looks from other people in the café.

It was only later in the day that I discovered a swarm of potter wasps had been building their nest on the right sleeve of my jacket.

I’ve always wanted animal attraction, but it seems that I’ll have to settle for insect attraction instead!

With the ecopolitical world in turmoil, OP blogger Malcolm Dick wonders why we’re trying to reinvent the classic British cuppa?

‘DESPERATELY seeking software data specialist, spends 11 hours making cup of tea’ … It’s a line from an extraordinary article in the British press about ‘tech whizz’ Mark Rittman ‘suffering’ untold hardship whilst attempting to raise a small quantity of water to boiling point using his WiFi-enabled kettle!

What with the base station undergoing mandatory resetting, difficulties with integration and multiple port scanning… well, beam me up Scotty, I’m surprised you haven’t frazzled your USB mate! Probably forgot to set the clock…

WHAT is going ON! Are we just bored or something? Haven’t we got enough to do? I mean let’s face it, the eco-political world is close to going down the khazi and we’re busy trying to make it as hard as possible to rustle up a brew. What would the Tetley Tea Men say?

Why do we have this unquench-

Why-fi? able thirst for RAM-based ridiculousness? From techy kettles to cars awash with WAP and web connectivity, along with with factory-standard faults, which are no longer ‘faults’ of course, just glitches that need an update or a software ‘fix’.

Back in the day, if something needed fixing, it was broken!

They’re selling us broken goods! And of course you’ve never got enough memory or speed. We’re losing the plot!

The planet’s going off its axis… can you hear that rumbling?.

That’s the Earth’s axle bearings overheating and the one at the north end is melting the bloody ice cap… Aaaaagh!

In contrast, I’m here in the silent centre of Celtic Spain, a

home in a hamlet. If that dog over there could be bothered to get up, it might bark. Were it not for modern communications, the world, from here, really would seem at perfect peace.

In fact ‘the quiet’ here is truly silent, it almost demands your attention. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve found myself wandering along a country lane and felt compelled to stop, thinking ‘What is that I hear?’ And of course it is actually, nothing.

Sitting here at the end of the marble topped island unit with aga built in, just about the only sound I can detect, is the mild commotion of liquid in a large pot… boiling water. Think I’ll have a cup of tea.

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A VICTIM of paedophile Barry Bennell has spoken out about a ‘chilling’ trip to Spain where Crewe Alexandra youth players were sexually abused.

In a TV interview alongside other victims, Andy Woodward revealed that Bennell abused a different boy each night during a week-long trip to Gran Canaria.

Woodward said that seven boys were

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taken on the trip that ‘makes Saville look like a choirboy’. He said: "There were seven of us who went, for seven days and he had one every night."

Since Woodward come out against Bennell, more than 20 more victims have contacted the police about their own abuse.

Waiving their right to anonymity, England internationals David White and

Paul Stewart are among the victims to The 44-year-old said he was ‘frozen speak out. out’ of the team after telling his abuser The abuse isMayfairSportsBar said to have taken place to "f*** off". when the young men, aged between He said: "I told him where to go, I connine and 14, were training with the fronted him. I'll never forget the deathclub's youthTel: team. 632 56 33 38 ly stare he gave me.

One victim,Calle Jason de Dunford, Sabinillas,revealed Local 22, "After that, Bennell began to torment that if a young player refused to go to me - dropping me from the team, tellUrb. El Pilar 29680 Estepona bed with Bennell then he would be ing me I would play, but on the Sunday dropped from the team. dropping me again."

Star-studded support

World Cup winners back Gibraltar’s bid for European qualification

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TOP for news in Spain!

RUGBY legends David Campese and Jason Leonard have backed Gibraltar’s bid for Rugby Europe membership.

Attending a special dinner at Grand Battery House, the World Cup winners told the Olive Press that Gibraltar ‘deserved’ a place among Europe’s top sides.

Australian winger Campese was particularly buoyant about Gibraltar’s Rugby future.

“I am backing Gibraltar’s move to be included in Rugby Europe,” he told the Olive Press at the black tie event. “They have every right to be competing.

“It is a shame that politics, and obviously politics in Spain, gets in the way.

“The next step is to get into Rugby Europe and to test them-

39 39

EXCLUSIVE

By Jon Clarke

STARS: Campese and Leonard and (inset) Wright with Clarke

selves against the big boys.”

He and Leonard, England’s most capped prop, gave an entertaining performance at Gibraltar’s annual rugby dinner.

Leonard recalled how he was the first international to be cited for foul play and predicted, rightly, that England would beat Australia at the weekend.

While in Gibraltar, the players held a training session with the Rock’s junior side and Gibraltar’s Super IV’s side.

Gibraltar Rugby Manager Kim Chang said: “We are delighted to have David Campese and Leonard on the Rock for Wednesday’s black-tie dinner.”

GRFU Spokesperson Jack

CRISTIANO Ronaldo could face prison over allegations of tax fraud worth up to €150million Spanish tax workers’ union Gethsa has demanded the country’s Inland Revenue pass on any files to the authorities, with Ronaldo suspected of using offshore accounts to commit fraud.

Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho have been accused by The Sunday Times and El Mundo of misleading tax authorities in Britain and Spain.

Mourinho has denied the allegations with Ronaldo’s representatives GestiFute defending the Portuguese duo.

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Milner added: “Jason Leonard and David Campese boast a collective 215 games for their respective countries and boast a wealth of experience to pass onto Gibraltar’s Super IV players during their stint on the Rock.

“It proved a wonderful occasion for all involved with Gibraltar Rugby.”

Prop forward Leonard won the World Cup with England in 2003, with Campese inspiring Australia to the trophy in 1991, scoring six tries.

Comedian Josh Daniel also performed at the dinner, attended by the entire Gibraltar rugby squad as well as a number of distinguished guests.

Fine time ahead

Taxing times

The Olive Press Insider’s Guide

BARCELONA are facing a heavy fine after Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to homophobic chants during the 1-1 El Clasico fixture with Real Madrid.

The club face a La Liga disciplinary hearing after ‘pockets’ of their 98,000 supporters sang ‘Cristiano come out of the closet’ ´during the game at the Nou Camp.

While most of the chants were drowned out by whistles and boos from the majority of Barcelona fans, La Liga chief Javier Tebas said the league is likely to take action.

Portuguese forward Ronaldo has been subjected to several instances of homophobia since Atletico Madrid star Koke branded him a ´f****t during a fixture last month.

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AN Islamist spy working in the upper levels of Germany’s domestic security service has been revealed to have once been a Spanish gay porn actor.

Congrats THE Spanish government has congratulated Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, who used to be a security guard at an Argos store in London.

New levy

FAGS, booze and sugary treats are to become more expensive after the government raised taxes on the goods to help lower Spain’s national deficit.

Vol. 10 Issue 254 www.theolivepress.es December 7th - December 20th 2016

More than a name IT’S time to rewrite the travel guides, tear down the road signs and re-register every property in Palma (or is that Palma de Mallorca?)

For the third time in eight years the Mallorcan city has changed its name.

Dropping the ‘de Mallorca’, the Balearic island’s capital is now to be known as Palma after a vote in regional government.

Made Palma in 2008 by the PSOE, the PP brought back ‘de Mallorca’ in 2012.

Claiming that the ‘de Mallorca’ tag is a ‘left-over’ from the Franco-era, the PSOE have long campaigned for it to be called simply Palma.

Poo-dunnit?

December 7th - December 20th 2016

A DOG DNA register is the new weapon in Malaga dog poo wars.

The city is launching its scheme to help inspectors trace dog poo left on the streets back to the offending mutt.

Malaga council officials will bring the register into force from May next year.

There will be hefty fines of €150 to €600 for owners who do not ensure a blood sample is taken within six months of it launching.

Vets will carry out the procedures, with officials claiming the register will also help control abandoned animals and stop others being mistreated.

A similar scheme has been set up in Gibraltar, whose register opened on December 1.

The register has already been set up in Mislata in Valencia and there are plans to do the same in Guadalajara, in Castilla-La Mancha.

Curiosity killed the cat

Brothel flooded by misplaced moggie

A DEAD cat stuck in a pipe has caused a flood at an Estepona brothel.

Firefighters were forced to drill through the road near to Alcazaba Golf after the club began flooding in the early hours of the morning.

Disappointed punters were forced out onto the streets as the establishment was forced to call in the authorities.

After two hours working in the rain, firefighters pulled the dead moggie from the pipe.

Faking it

VILLAGERS in Spain have blasted the media for letting a fake story about their town get ‘completely out of hand.’

The BBC and Independent, among others, reported that Antonio Fernandez, the billionaire founder of Mexico’s Corona beer, had left €2 million to everyone in his hometown of Guadalajara, in Castilla y Leon, where the popular beer is still brewed.

“It’s simply not true, unfortunately,” said Lucia Alaejos from the Fundación Cerezales Antonino y Cinia. “It seems someone got the wrong end of the stick and the story has just grown and grown, it’s got completely out of hand.”

While he may not have directly paid residents his generosity will have a lasting impact on the town. “Every summer he would visit, and he paid for the restoration of the church and square, brought running water to every home in the town, funded the resurfacing of roads and founded a cultural centre for the village,” Alaejos added.

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The property offers fantastic views overlooking the town and towards the Bay and Africa.

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