Olive Press Andalucia issue 468

Jody partner: I’m innocent

THE alleged mastermind behind one of Spain’s biggest investment frauds has insisted he’s innocent.

Darren Kirby, who founded infamous Continental Wealth Management (CWM), told the Olive Press he left Spain with ‘just €50’ in his pocket. This was despite his firm leaving hundreds of elderly expats ‘around €35 million’ out of pocket when it collapsed in 2017.

Having fled Spain, first for Australia and then Cambodia, he is now living in London, working in pubs.

The 60-year-old told the Olive Press this week, he was ‘aware’ of various lawsuits against his former firm and that his ex-partner Jody Smart (top) had just been sentenced to three years in prison. However, he insisted he was innocent and ‘there was no fraud committed by CWM’.

No money

The former financial advisor also claimed he had made ‘no money’ from the offshore investment scheme that he set up in Alicante in 2010.

In a bombshell phone interview from the UK, he insisted his ex-partner Jody, now Jody Pearson, had ‘stolen everything from me’.

“She even took my Savile Row suit and a sculpture of my baby daughter when she was just six months old,” he claimed.

Kirby also insisted he ‘transferred everything’ into Jody’s name in 2015 on the advice of lawyers.

She was left with ‘all the assets, totally, completely,’ he claimed.

This even included the Costa Blanca villa that Kirby had been ‘planning to retire in’.

“Everyone says I ran away – I didn't run away,” he insisted this week, speaking publicly for the first time.

“But as soon as I left, Jody stripped all my assets, the cars – and a lot more too.”

The Olive Press will be revealing more of his sensational claims about the CWM scandal over the coming weeks.

See Payback Time, page 6

MAGICAL

LAMPPOST LADY

THE mayor of Estepona is facing up to three years in jail over the misappropriation of public money.

Jose Garcia Urbano will be forced to answer questions over why his town hall paid an alleged lover to ‘check lamposts and flowerpots’.

The PP ‘heavyweight’ has been accused of handing public money to the ‘intimate female friend’ in 2023.

The judge at Estepona’s Court Number 5 will task a jury to decide if it was lawful to pay the woman €3,642 a month to undertake the bizarre task. Urbano, who has overseen Estepona since 2011, is accused of ‘taking advantage of his position as mayor to help out an intimate friend financially.’

In documents seen by the Olive Press, the case stems from a series of lurid allega-

Mayor facing prison and resignation calls over claims he paid ‘intimate female friend’ thousands to check lampposts and flowerpots

By Walter Finch

tions made by the woman - dubbed the ‘Amante La Farolera’, or ‘lamppost lover’on Spanisk TV - and her policeman ex-husband last year.

The claims by the former Policia Local are linked to Urbano allegedly coercing them into a sordid menage a trois over 18 months.

They alleged that Urbano used a combination of threats and favours - including a free beachside apartment - to control them.

The policeman, who had moved from Cordoba to take the job, claimed he was forced into lots of degrading sex acts involving the mayor.

These involved lurid wife-swapping sessions at the castle/hotel Urbano owned in Monda, near Marbella. However the judge eventually shelved the case on the grounds the unusual relationship had been ‘consensual’.

While the mayor has spoken publicly claiming he was ‘being smeared’, Judge Inigo Jose Villar, decided there were other charges that needed to be filed.

PROOF: Telecinco

that she ‘never once set foot in the town hall’ during this period.

In particular, how the woman, initials ‘CPB’, took home over €5,376 of taxpayer’s money for just 48 days of work between February 13 and March 31, 2023.

CPB testified in an earlier hearing

“I didn’t even go into the office once,” she told the judge.

“When we saw each other he (Urbano) gave me money so that I wouldn’t go, because he knew my financial state, which wasn’t good.

“I couldn’t afford monthly rent so he offered me this position.”

Estepona PSOE Councillor Emma Molina this week told the Olive Press she had called for Urbano’s immediate resignation over the ‘very serious’ charges.

“Handing out public money to a person he had an intimate relationship with – and who never worked there – is surely enough to make him stand down,” she insisted. She added that the PSOE had expelled its own members over similar serious allegations.

The mayor, a former notary and married father-of-four, has consistently maintained the allegations against him are ‘baseless’ and are ‘spuriously motivated to damage my personal image and political career.’

Opinion Page 6

Shining a light on sensational Costa del Sol corruption charges

showed payslips of Urbano’s ‘lover’, while (left) a handy diagram of his affairs

The party season begins

IBIZA is back – and the island is louder, prouder and ready to out-party everywhere on the planet.

The world’s most iconic clubbing Mecca has flicked the switch on summer 2025 with a raucous ‘soft opening’ weekend that felt anything but soft. While the official opening parties kick off later this month,

The Olive Press sent Yzabelle Bostyn and her mum to celebrate her 60th birthday at Ibiza’s opening weekend

By Yzabelle Bostyn in San Antonio

the Olive Press hit the White Isle early – and let’s just say, if this is the warm up, the main event is going to be biblical.

Landing in San Antonio, my mum and I (and friends) joined the early-bird faithful dancing

through April’s warm nights at reopened legends like Es Paradis (home of the famous water parties) and Eden, which hosted tech-house royal ty Deeperfect on April 23.

Big names are lining up to take over the decks this season. Calvin Harris is back at Ushuaïa twice a week, David Guetta’s got Mondays, Martin Garrix owns Thursdays, and the mighty Hï Ibiza next door is bringing back Black Coffee, Hugel and the Martinez Brothers And let’s not forget Ibiza Rocks, where Craig David will Re-rewind once more by the pool. Even the super sleek Chinois is getting in on the act, bagging masked maestro Claptone for its summer run.

But it’s not just for 20-somethings chasing TikTok clout. We came for my mum’s 60th, with a group of family and friends of all ages and ended up dancing

till 4am at the legendary Pacha’s ‘Purple Disco Machine’ night – with Grammy-winning DJ Mousse T spinning feelgood bangers and not a sticky floor in sight.

From age 19 to 61, we all agreed: Ibiza is magic. Sure, the drinks dented the wallet, but the vibes? Priceless.

And with celebs like Maya Jama, Idris Elba, and Rita Ora spotted partying on the island last year, we’ve no doubt Ibiza 2025 will be its most star-studded, beat-thumping, jaw-dropping season yet.

Now pass us the Berocca –we’re booking flights for the real opening weekend!

MULLINS IT OVER

DON’T LEAVE YOUR BRAINS AT THE AIRPORT, SAYS CHARLIE MULLINS

The Costa Nostra

Sun, scams and a shooting near my front gate – welcome to the Costa del Crime, but leave my name out of it!

IMIGHT have only just unpacked the boxes and put the kettle on in my new life as a full-timer on the Costa del Sol, but make no mistake - I’ve had a second home out here for the better part of two decades.

Long enough to notice that the sunshine dream is being slowly soured by a rising tide of crime.

Think less ‘mañana vibes’ and more raw sewage bubbling into the Thames - only with palm trees.

Like many other weary Brits, I came to Spain chasing cleaner air, fewer muggers, and politics that didn’t feel like an episode of Black Mirror. But lately? The Costa’s gone a bit Costa Nostra.

Don’t believe me? Take a stroll through the crime pages of the Daily Mail - assuming you can still stomach the whiny UK rag.

Imagine my delight when my lovely Spanish villa - my little patch of escape - was namechecked in the Mail, no less... as a location marker for a gangland execution!

Yes, a poor bloke was gunned down in Mijas - and the journalist helpfully let readers know it happened ‘just 20 minutes from the villa of Charlie Mullins, Britain’s richest plumber’. How thoughtful!

Honestly, it sounded like they were about to chalk a crime scene outline outside my front gate. Next time something kicks off, maybe give Lord Sugar or Simon Cowell’s gaff a mention instead, eh lads?

Only kidding. Love the coverage. Sort of. All that said, I’m not hanging up the ‘For Sale’ sign just yet. Spain’s still a step up from the dystopian mess the UK has become in 2025 - where being mugged is practically a commuter sport.

FOODIE AFFAIR

HOLLYWOOD bombshell

Charlize Theron has declared her undying love… for croquetas

The Oscar-winning actress, 49, couldn’t stop gushing about Spanish food in a recent interview on US TV’s The Late Show even joking she’d be happy to tie the knot with the deep-fried delicacy.

“Is it legal to marry food in Spain?” David Letterman asked.

“I think you could probably marry a croquette if you wanted to,” Theron quipped, barely holding back the laughter.

The South African star revealed she fell head over heels in love with Spain during a getaway with mates across the country, praising the local cuisine as ‘next level’.

Theron didn’t stop there. She praised Spain’s tapas from tortillas and paellas to fresh seafood and ‘dirty but brilliant’ train rides.

THE LYNX EFFECT

THERE’S a furry frenzy in Doñana National Park as two more Iberian lynx cubs have pounced into the world.

But here’s the bit that really baffles me: Brits scamming other Brits. It’s like we bring our own villains with us.

Maybe it’s the warm weather, or the sangria-induced sense of security - but too many expats leave their street smarts at Malaga Airport and fall straight into the hands of a coach-load of charming con artists with British accents. We’ve seen it before. John Palmer’s dodgy timeshare empire in the ’90s, and now the disgraceful Continental Wealth Management (CWM) scam - €35 million swindled from mostly retired Brits who thought their money was safe in sunny Spain. Is the Iberian Funeral Plan case another one about to shock us?

The Olive Press, I should add, has been all over these scams from day one - hats off to them.

First-time mum Tamesis shocked staff at El Acebuche breeding centre after giving birth to a stillborn - then two days later, she popped out two healthy cubs. It’s the fifth litter of the 2025 season, bringing this year’s total to 14 cubs and counting. Veteran mum Madroña kicked off the season with triplets in March, followed by Parra, Narsil,

and Sardina. Kolia and Oleander are due to give birth next.

Back in 2002 there were just 94 Iberian Lynx left. There are now over 2,000 wild lynxes roaming thanks to conservation efforts.

And just last month, one of the main players in CWM, Jody Smart (aka Jody Pearson), got banged up for three-and-a-half years. Justice, of sorts.

What’s my point in all this? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure - except to say: there are bad apples everywhere, even in paradise. So keep your wits about you. And if a deal sounds too good in

it probably is.

or

PARTY TIME: Yzzy (in black) and her mum (far right) at Pacha

IN LOVE: Charlize fell for croquetas and trains

ISLAND FIXTURES: Idris Elba, Rita Ora and Maya Jama.

AT HOME: In Spain, but watch out for scammers like John Palmer (below) CWM and Iberian Funeral Plan (bottom)

Counting the cost

THE blackout could cost the country up to €4.5 billion in lost economic output, experts warn.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the grid lost 15 gigawatts - around 60% of national demand.

While power was gradually restored, economic activity was severely impacted.

The most severe estimates suggest a potential hit of €4.5 billion - the daily equivalent of Spain’s GDP - but experts say the real figure likely lies between €1 billion and €2.25 billion.

That still represents up to 0.15% of Spain’s annual economic output.

Small businesses and self-employed workers were especially hard hit with average losses of around €650 per person.

Despite the disruption, economists do not expect the government to revise national growth forecasts. The impact is expected to shave 0.1% to 0.3% off annual GDP.

Blackout wake-up

Spain’s blackout is a warning for europe’s fragile power grids

THE massive blackout - the worst in Europe in over 20 years - has sent shockwaves far beyond the Iberian Peninsula. As investigators probe what caused half of Spain’s electricity generation to fail in seconds, experts warn that the incident must serve as a turning point for Europe’s energy transition. Without urgent upgrades to its ageing power infrastructure, the continent risks more widespread and prolonged outages in the near future.

The 12.33pm fault in southwest Spain caused a cascade of

LEFT HANGING

DRAMATIC stories continue to emerge about the blackout - like that of two window cleaners left dangling 200 metres above Madrid.

Jonathan Bernal and his colleague Ruben were cleaning the windows of a Cuatro Torres skyscraper when the power failed, stranding them outside the 53rd floor. Their scaffold froze, and with phone signals down, they were unable to call for help.

By Dilip Kuner

grid failures that rippled across the peninsula.

Trains ground to a halt, mobile networks collapsed, traffic lights went dark, and hospitals were forced to suspend routine operations.

While the precise cause remains under investigation, Spain’s rapid growth in solar and wind power - without sufficient grid modernisation or energy storage - has left its electricity system stretched and vulnerable.

“It was distressing and frustrating not knowing how to reach anyone,” said Jonathan. Fortunately, two women inside the building saw them and signaled through the glass. Jonathan eventually managed to alert his wife, and a colleague manually lowered the platform from the 58th floor. Elsewhere, emergency services were overwhelmed. In Valladolid, firefighters had to break through a wall to rescue a man stuck in a lift for five hours. In Madrid alone, 286 rescues were carried out, with public transport thrown into chaos nationwide.

That warning should resonate across Europe, where many countries are similarly increasing renewables without adapting their networks to cope with intermittent supply.

“This isn’t just Spain’s problem - it’s Europe’s preview,” said Janusz Bialek, a power systems expert at Imperial College London.

“Our grids were designed for steady, centralised power plants. But the new era of distributed renewables needs an entirely different architecture.”

Wind and solar power, while essential to decarbonisation, do not provide the natural inertia of fossil fuel turbines, which help stabilise frequency and prevent blackouts.

Without significant investment in grid-balancing technologies - such as batteries, flywheels, or synthetic inertia - Europe risks falling behind its climate goals and energy security.

The Energy Transitions Commission estimates the world will need to double its electricity grid length by 2050, with around $800 billion in annual investment in the 2030s and

DESPERATE FOR NEWS: Residents in Barcelona crowd around a radio for updates

2040s.

Europe alone ‘must inject €584 billion into its grid this decade’, according to the European Commission.

Yet progress remains slow, stymied by regulatory lag and fragmented planning.

“There’s a missing money problem across technologies,” said Kristian Ruby, head of Eurelectric. “Storage, transmission, and system flexibility need urgent financial and political backing.”

Countries like China are already investing tens of billions to expand and reinforce their grids, accepting some inefficiency in exchange for resilience.

Spain’s failure shows what can happen when those investments are delayed.

As Helge Barlen of Wood Mackenzie put it: “It was an accident waiting to happen.”

Europe has the tools and technology to avoid similar disasters. But it must act now - not after the next blackout.

See Extraordinary Times, p8

SPAIN’S government was warned in January that the national power grid was at risk of major failure due to the unmanaged integration of renewable energy. Red Electrica, the national grid operator, alerted the Ministry for the Ecological Transition to ‘critical vulnerabilities’ in the country’s ‘anti-blackout shield’ - a system meant to prevent large-scale outages. A report warned high renewable output and low demand could cause protection systems to fail to pick up faults, leading to cascading failures.

Inaction

The report, which urged ‘immediate upgrades’, reached top energy official Manuel Garcia. It warned that solar and wind power, without adequate backup from nuclear, hydro, or gas, could overload parts of the system.

Opposition leaders cited another major grid incident just days before the blackout and criticised the government for inaction. The Ministry defended itself, saying the warning was for long-term planning.

ON TRIAL!

RELATIVES of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad have denied stealing and laundering €700 million through Spain and Gibraltar.

A total of six family members of Assad’s uncle and two other close associates are accused of using a series of companies in Marbella and on the Rock to launder the illicit earnings stolen from Syria. While Assad’s 87-year-old uncle Rifaat al-Assad was deemed unfit to stand trial at a court this week in Madrid, most of the accused are his sons.

The so-called ‘Butcher of Hama’ - who poisoned tens of thousands of his own people - is believed to have pillaged around €4 billion from his country’s treasury.

Moscow

He fled along with his nephew, Bashar, who is currently believed to be living near Moscow.

The history of the Assads’ involvement in Spain traces back to 1986, when the family acquired 244 parking spaces through a company based in Gibraltar.

Other investments include the purchase of an incredible 507 properties and businesses around Malaga province.

They include a giant estate in Benahavis, and two large hotels in Puerto Banus.

In addition to the amounts ‘illegally taken’ from the Syrian treasury, vast

Copper chaos

TRAIN travellers were left twiddling their thumbs after copper cable thieves sabotaged the Malaga-Madrid high-speed AVE line, stranding thousands across Andalucia.

Four separate thefts in a 10km stretch crippled signalling systems, halting services from Malaga, Sevilla and Granada.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente slammed the ‘serious sabotage’ and confirmed a Guardia Civil probe. Services resumed by Monday morning.

HOUSE OF CARDS

IN a turn of events more suited to a political drama, a vote of no confidence has ousted Manilva PP mayor Jose Fernandez.

Various left-wing factions have reunited to bring back Mario Jimenez (pictured), a veteran of Manilva's political scene who returns to the mayoralty. Jimenez, who previously served as mayor in 2016 and 2019, regained control after Fernandez’s coalition - composed of the PP with VOX and Compromiso support - collapsed.

The mayor had been criticised for refusing to audit town hall finances and a lack of investments in important matters.

It leaves the role of expat councillor Dean Tyler Shelton in jeopardy after he strongly pushed for the PP and Fernandez over recent years.

“Nothing is easy, there is lots of paperwork to sort out but we are slowly getting there,” the new mayor Jimenez told the Olive Press this week.

Former Syrian dictator's family on trial for allegedly laundering millions through Spain and Gibraltar

By Samantha Mythen

sums came from smuggling, drug trafficking, extortion and threats. Many millions were also acquired via the theft of archaeological treasures.

Members of the group are facing six years in prison each. The trial was suspended yesterday (Tuesday) after the defence insisted the trial should be sent to Malaga Provincial court.

Bulls are back!

BULLFIGHTING in Spain seems to be having something of a revival.

Despite being despised in many sectors around the country and abroad, it is receiving record viewing figures on television.

One recent bullfight on May 1 during Sevilla’s Feria de Mayo registered a million viewers.

The corrida at the Maestranza arena, featuring Morante de la Puebla, 45, had 725,000 spectators tune in on Canal Sur and 200,000 via its online pay-per-view channel, while 127,000 watched on YouTube.

The actual venue was also sold out, with fans gasping as Morante, a local lad, took on six bulls.

EXILE: Basher al-Assad now lives near Moscow

Voted

top expat paper

in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION

Telling the truth shouldn’t cost us or the public

THE unfolding scandal in Estepona where Mayor Jose Garcia Urbano allegedly paid a lover thousands of euros for ‘checking lampposts and flowerpots,’ is more than a lurid headline.

It’s a window into the kind of unchecked cronyism and misuse of public funds that continues to taint local politics in Spain.

Even more disturbing is how many town halls manage their image - by quietly funnelling tens of thousands of euros into ‘advertising’ with friendly or politically-aligned media outlets.

This isn’t just about promoting local events or tourism. It’s about buying silence.

At the Olive Press, we regularly see how critical reporting - especially when it shines a light on corruption - can lead to the loss of important advertising contracts from public institutions.

Town halls that freely spend up to €100,000-a-year of taxpayer money promoting themselves in rival publications often pull their ads from us when we ask uncomfortable questions.

And yet, we refuse to look the other way.

Our duty is to the public, not to the powerful. We believe taxpayers have the right to know how their money is spent - whether it’s on fake jobs, inflated contracts, or dubious ad deals.

If exposing this costs us, so be it.

Journalism must serve democracy, not convenience. We won’t stop reporting the truth. And the Estepona case, with its bizarre mix of alleged sexual coercion, political favouritism, and possible fraud, is a truth the public deserves to know.

Until transparency becomes the norm, stories like this will keep surfacing.

The questions are: how many more lamppost scandals must we see before real accountability begins? And should public advertising budgets be audited to protect press independence and ensure real transparency?

The answers are ‘likely many’ and ‘yes, about time too’.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Samantha Mythen samantha@theolivepress.es

Tom Ewart Smith tom@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

PAYBACK TIME!

WHEN a court on the Costa Blanca dismissed a case against the conmen behind the Continental Wealth Management (CWM) fraud in 2023, the Olive Press couldn’t find a single victim willing to talk.

All too exhausted after years of private litigation in one of Spain’s greatest expat scandals, they declined to even comment on their devastation.

The Denia court had ruled there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to prosecute four executives of the shameful ‘independent offshore investment company’.

Years of careful legal preparation showing how thousands of victims had collectively lost 35 million euros when CWM collapsed in 2017, apparently went down the drain. Meanwhile the crooks who stole their retirement savings looked to have gotten away with it, as they lorded it from their multi-million euro mansions in the Javea hills or exclusive beach clubs nearby.

One of those laughing all the way to the bank was a small-time TV presenter and glamour model going by the name of Jody Kirby. She was listed as the sole director of Continental Wealth Trust, the successor company after CWM was wound up by her ex-partnerin-crime Darren Kirby, a financial advisor

A recent conviction sending infamous expat Jody Smart to prison casts a glimmer of light at the end of the long dark tunnel in the 35 million euro Continental Wealth Management scandal

By Walter Finch

from Henley, in the UK.

While Darren fled to Australia and later Cambodia, and somehow avoided prosecution to end up ‘working shifts as a pub chef in Surrey’, Jody stayed in Valencia.

Changing her name to Jody Bell and then to Jody Smart, she eventually became Jody Pearson, when she married an actual chef Franco Pearson, who was also based on the Costa Blanca.

She had already launched a fashion label, Jody Bell London, through the money she made from CWM and was even making regular trips, business class, of course, to promote it in New York, Miami and Milan.

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Joshua Parfitt josh@theolivepress.es

Dylan Wagemans dylan@theolivepress.es

OFFICE MANAGER

Estefania Marquez (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 154 841 distribution@ theolivepress.es

IT HAS been six months since floods ripped through Valencia, killing 228 people and leaving entire communities drowning in grief.

But while nature may have sparked the disaster, many believe the true devastation was man-made.

Now, some of those responsible are finally being held to account.

On October 29, Valencia faced one of Europe’s most catastrophic weather events in recent memory.

A gota fria storm system - long forecast by meteorologists - unleashed a year's worth of rain in just hours.

Ravines became raging rivers. Cars floated through the streets of towns, where dozens died returning from work.

Families were swept away. Lives were lost in garages, homes, and on the roads.

And yet - as catastrophe closed in - the warning never came.

The region’s emergency alert system remained silent until 8.11pm.

Yes - pm, not am.

By then, it was too late. Weather agency

Aemet had issued a red alert before sun rise and the university and schools had closed.

Emergency calls then flooded the sys tem all day. But the regional govern ment - led by Carlos Mazon (right) - wait ed until nightfall to act.

“The damage couldn’t have been avoided,” said Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra in a recent ruling.

“But the deaths could have.”

During saccharine promotional videos she bragged of her friendship with celebrities, including Denise Van Outen, and opened up her wardrobe to show off her hundreds of pairs of shoes and thousand-euro frocks.

Boasting of her glamorous lifestyle on Instagram, where she dubbed herself ‘a yoga teacher, fashion designer and weeding planner’ she told her 9,000 followers about her trips to Thailand, Puerto Rico and Dubai, over an extraordinary 2,600 posts.

Using her upmarket Oceana beach club, in Benissa, as a base, she organised weddings and tried to reinvent herself as a philanthropist and entrepreneur, egged on by close friends who gushed about her business acumen and ‘big heart’.

For the victims though - many of them ruined and with an uncertain future in old age - there was to be some sweet vengeance.

MAZON MUST GO!

By Tom Ewart Smith

Tobarra, who is leading the criminal investigation into officials’ failure of duty, highlights an uncomfortable truth: The real tragedy lay not in the natural disaster, but the lack of leadership that followed.

Two senior officials - former emergency chief Emilio Argueso and Salome Pradas, who oversaw alerts - now face manslaughter charges.

Shockingly Pradas admitted she didn’t even know about the emergency alert system until the afternoon it was needed.

The message that was eventually sent was not only late, but vague - asking people to avoid travel, even though many had already died in their homes.

Both were sacked. Yet Carlos Mazon

His failings didn’t start on the day of

A year earlier, Mazon had scrapped the Valencian Emergency Unit, a specialised flood-response unit formed after fatal storms in

His government also promoted construction in flood-prone areas and rolled back cli-

For like a bolt from the blue, they received news, via the Olive Press, that Jody had been convicted of fraud in an Alicante court last month.

A three-and-a-half year jail sentence for Jody was like a gift from providence for the victims who had long resigned themselves to the innate cruelty of the world. While the first judge in Denia court failed to wrap his head around the enormous, multinational complexities of the scandal - or didn’t want tothe National Court of Alicante had no problems in finding Jody guilty in a smaller case hived off from the main prosecution.

mate protections.

While experts warned of increasing risk, Mazon prioritised cuts over caution.

In Paiporta, 62 people died. In Catarroja, 25. Many never had a chance - not because of what nature did, but because of what their leaders didn’t do.

Natural disasters are inevitable. Death on this scale is not.

Today, the scars remain.

The metro between Paiporta and Valencia still runs on a bus replacement.

Rubble fills the doorways of homes and businesses. Every cracked wall and broken shopfront is a brutal reminder of a nightmare that never needed to be this bad.

The anger hasn’t subsided either. Protesters have demanded Mazon’s resignation during SIX spearate protests.

One proposal submitted to Valencia City Hall suggests building a clay statue of the president - a tribute to his absence during the floods.

The satirical inscription would read: “Carlos

AT COURT: Jody arrives with her legal team, while (right) pension specialist Angie Brooks and lawyer Antonio Bertomeu

OPLIVERESS

It was a joint prosecution brought by three separate victims, although tragically the most affected, Mark Davison, who lost nearly a million euros, died before the verdict.

“I think the difference between this case where Jody was found guilty and 2023 was this one was nice and simple,” pension campaigner Angie Brooks told the Olive Press this week.

Granada-based Brooks has dedicated years to help compile the case against CWM on behalf of victim groups. Alongside various Spanish lawyers, she is now compiling ‘a much larger case’ against other executives behind the fraud, while she is aware of various separate cases representing victims on the Isle of Man.

“In the recent case there was no need to explain complicated pension rules and trusts and insurance bonds. They simply took the money and kept it, and that was it,” she continued.

While Smart told the Olive Press, via a lawyer, the fraud was ‘a consequence of loans between individuals, in which my…signature does not appear’, the judge, Francisco Javier Guirau, waved it away.

In fact, he dismissed her entire defence, claiming her ex-lover Darren Kirby (above) had ‘coercively’ taken advantage of her ignorance to make her the sole administrator of the com-

DEVASTATION:

Leader Mazon (left) vanished for hours and failed to send out warnings as 228 people drowned

Mazon. I was informed at all times.”

However, amid the grief, there is a glimmer of hope - provided by Judge Tobarra, who has quietly become a symbol of justice.

Her own courthouse in Catarroja was flooded that day, but since then she’s gathered testimony from over 250 families, listened with empathy, and acted with resolve.

Victims describe her as more than a judge‘like a close friend,’ said one grieving relative. She has worked steadily to determine who held responsibility for warning the public, concluding that civil protection was a regional duty.

Even with the alert system overlooked, she noted, officials could have warned residents through radio, TV, or digital media.

While Mazon himself can only be charged by the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia, he has twice declined to testify, and still hasn’t explained where he was during those critical hours.

October’s unprecedented ‘natural’ disaster could yet become a landmark legal case.

GLAMOUR: While Jody has published 2,600

pany – and set her up as the fall guy.

In his verdict he wrote that Jody had ‘closed her eyes to the fraudulent activities of Kirby… because she was benefiting personally and handsomely.’

And indeed she had. Despite her protestations, Jody had not raised the alarm when receiving over €2 million in transfers over the space of two years from a Continental Wealth Trust bank account.

And exactly €652,800 winged its way into the accounts of her fashion label, Jody Bell, between 2015 and 2017.

According to bank statements presented to the court, a further €1.34 million landed in her property company, Mercurio Compro, during the same period.

As well as now facing prison, Jody was ordered to pay €70,000 to one victim defrauded through a sham loan agreement and €300,000 to another who was tricked into buying a property from CWM that was not even theirs to sell.

It marks an ignominious fall from grace for the costa socialite, who freely admitted in 2017 that ‘although I work in finance, I’m not a qualified financial adviser’.

By several accounts, she started life in Spain ‘cleaning the pool and toilets’ at the Oliva villa of Darren Kirby’s brother Patrick at the start of 2016. Darren immediately fell in love and quickly took her off scrubbing to promote her to a job at the CWM headquarters, near Javea.

Together, they lost over half a million of their pension savings, despite having indicated a ‘low-to-medium’ risk preference.

Shamefully, they used a range of dubious shady tactics, including even asking a client to sign and return a blank dealing instruction.

One British victim, who lost €200,000, told the Olive Press: “My paperwork that I sent was altered, my risk changed from medium to high risk and my dealing instructions were photocopied repeatedly buying and selling assets I didn’t authorise.”

He added: “Some people have lost everything and don’t have enough to live on. One person only has 50,000 euros left from 480,000 euros.”

Marbella-based lawyer Antonio Flores, of Lawbird, who was representing various victims, said signing blank sheets was ‘very worrying’.

“This negates the very essence of financial advisory services,” he said.

And while the CWM clients’ life savings tanked catastrophically in risky insurance bonds and other financial vehicles, bosses took up to 8% in commissions and fees each year.

But a series of clever and tactical payouts meant that victims, the majority expats based in Spain, kept coming to them with their life savings.

The money was really rolling in, millions of euros each year, in fact, and Kirby and his colleagues including Alan Gorringe, now dead, Dennis Radford, Paul Clarke and Ward, who was based in Moraira, were living high on the hog.

They used a wide range of dubious and shady tactics

But aside from giving her a job in his office he – crucially – convinced her to sign the documents that would eventually get her convicted in 2025.

The Olive Press established during a long investigation (top) that CWM had started operating on the Costa Blanca around 2011.

While we only started exposing their fraudulent activity in 2017, the first reports of clients losing their life savings came as early as 2012.

It was Angie Brooks’ company Pension Life, based out of Lanjaron, that first started to hear the horror stories.

She told the Olive Press one couple, named only as ‘Pete and Val’, were convinced to lump their entire pension pot into a high-risk QROPS (Qualifying Recognising Overseas Pension Scheme) by a seasoned conman Stephen Ward of Premier Pension Solutions.

The former British government pensions advisor, who has a Florida real estate empire, did not work for CWM. However, ‘his company was accused of scores of transfers of retirement funds on its behalf’. They were largely disastrous. In the case of ‘Pete’ a CWM investment of £250,000, was soon worth only £93,000 – meaning a loss of 63%. While Val’s was ‘even more catastrophic’ dropping from £280,000 to just £50,000.

SHINING A LIGHT

THE historic blackout on April 28 sent millions of businesses and organisations into a tailspin.

At around 12.30pm, wifi went down across the country, traffic lights stopped working and millions of worried workers gave up for the day.

But not at the Olive Press.

We were one of the few media outlets able to soldier on through the fog of war, providing readers with comprehensive reporting of the day as it unfolded.

We were there on the dot to break the news that an unprecedented power outage was to blame even as many people still assumed it was just in their own building.

This was thanks to the ingenuity of our new digital editor Walter Finch, who crossed the border into Gibraltar, hearing that the power hadn’t turned off there.

Set up with electricity and functioning wifi, the Olive Press was able to keep our readers informed, from breaking news stories to regular social media updates.

We reported regular updates from the Spanish national grid and the nearby Junta – while Pedro Sanchez remained suspiciously quiet until power had returned to many places. Everyone wanted to know what had caused it? Was it a cyberattack? Our friends from Russia? We remained cautious and didn’t spread ‘bulos’ or fake news as was the case by certain rivals during COVID.

We reported on tales of people trapped in lifts, a woman giving birth in a hotel lobby and window cleaners left dangling from the side of skyscrapers.

Our editor-at-large Jon Clarke meanwhile, provided a gripping first-person account of the confusion and anxiety of ‘zero day’, as everyone – including the politicians – tried to under stand what was happening.

And we’ve been reporting on the fallout ever since.

That was until, suddenly, at the end of 2017, clients received notice from Momentum Pensions Malta, the trustee company responsible for safeguarding and administering the pension funds, that CWM had ceased trading.

And then the dominoes started to tumble.

How did they think they could get away with it?

“People like Jody, Darren and co never really thought more than the next step” reflected Brooks this week.

“There was no thought given to what's going to happen to the victim,” she continued. “Because they're not very bright, they didn’t think ahead to what could happen to them, either.”

She added the philosophy of the CWM team was simple: “'I've taken money off this guy, and I know he's never going to get it back, but I don't care, as long as I get money to feed my coke habit, my champagne habit, my Jimmy Choo habit.’ That's really all they thought about.”

While Jody is currently appealing her sentence, it's highly doubtful she’ll be able to convince the judge she doesn’t bear responsibility as the sole administrator, given her name is clearly on the documents.

Meanwhile, a new ensemble of lawyers in Madrid has been instructed on a fresh round of legal action against Jody, Darren and the remaining culprits, many who still remain at large on the Spanish costs. Only time will tell, but finally, at least, some justice is being served.

This is why over 70,000 of you have now registered to get our regular newsletters and thou sands are also paying for our service, avoid ing ads and getting lots of special of fers.

For under a euro a day you get a daily newsletter/update plus four other newsletters on Property, Health, Travel, plus a weekend missive from our oneman news army, digital editor Walter Finch.

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Extraordinary times

Jon Clarke recalls how Zero Day unravelled for him on the Costa del Sol as cash is king and the supermarkets shut their doors

IT was around 12.30pm.

The first sign of something strange was the giant wind turbines on the road between Gaucin and Manilva on the Costa del Sol standing totally still. It came despite the strong Poniente wind buffeting the car. But they just didn’t move.

And then The Rest is Politics podcast cut off on Spotify and when I tried to call my wife on WhatsApp it just wouldn’t connect.

Next I noticed the phone had changed to ‘SOS’ only with a strange symbol next to it.

I had no idea things were becoming like Robert De Niro’s gripping new Netflix White House drama Zero Day where terrorists paralyzed the power grid in the US leading to widespread chaos, including multiple plane crashes.

By the time I got onto the main N-340 motorway, cars were driving slowly in parallel lines and all the tunnels had oddly dropped the speed limit to 60… then my wife called to ask if I’d heard about the Spain-wide power cut, ‘what was going on’? She had neither electricity nor water in Marbella. Could I find out ? When was I coming home? She sounded worried. Then she cut off.

Next I had a call from Valencia, from our sales rep, telling me all the power was out in the city and finally I spoke

to our digital editor Walt, who is based in La Linea. He told me he had no power either but had somehow got a story online and was trying to post news on social media ‘when the reception comes back from time to time’.

He said Gibraltar was apparently fine and he would head across the border to keep things going.

Our news editor Dilip meanwhile had sensibly left the office to drive home and finally phoned to say he’d got there and would try and work with his mobile phone hotspot.

I got home and discovered my teenage son at home. “Every one just left school,” he told me.

“Loads of parents turned up and it was a sort of stampede.

All the kids went home.”

All the nation al radio stations were out, including Radio Classica, Radio 5, Radio 3. All we could listen to were the few people in the studio in Madrid on Radio 1 who occasionally got a call in from a reporter, perhaps

on a satellite phone.

Nobody really knew what was going on but they started to talk to people stuck in trains, and then the discussion turned to people ‘stuck in lifts’.

I decided to go out to investigate and found firstly the local health centre clos-

ing at 2pm as there was no power.

“We have no generator,” a nurse told me.

“If it’s an emergency we can take you into A&E but it will all be dealt with manually.

“Anything really urgent you’ll need to go to La Linea or Costa del Sol hospital.”

Nearby the pharmacy was shutting. The owner Victor Navarro was trying to close the shutters but couldn’t do it without power. “We’ve been trying to give people urgent medicines in cash but it’s hard to monitor it without a register,” he told me.

Around the corner the Día supermarket was closed and a dozen staff sat around outside on a wall not knowing what to do … “nobody’s told us anything, but the tills and everything are out,” said one.

It was the same situation at nearby Carrefour. But at least a helpful member of staff pointed us towards Mercadona. “The one up by the roundabout is open but there are apparently very big queues.”

Not when we got there however, with angry customers,

who had apparently queued to get in for ages, suddenly seeing the lights go out as the generator’s fuel ran out. They had been left, literally in the dark with no chance of checking out. There were long rows of full trolleys just left by check out. Across the road we found what was probably the only shop working - the BP petrol station. But it was ‘cash-only’ and there was a queue of over 100 cars jostling to get in. So many punters had headed here the local police had four agents guiding traffic at strategic nearby points to avoid a total collapse.

Cool

I had 10 euros in my pocket so bought some gazpacho, Doritos, chocolate and ice to keep the milk cool in the fridge back home.

“It’s the busiest we’ve ever been,” said the manager. “Extraordinary. I didn’t know so many people still had so much cash.”

As I got home at 5pm I was told the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, was about to speak as rumours swirled on the radio about some strange ‘adverse atmospheric phenomenon’.

Having sat there for an hour he finally told us diddly squat: “We are discounting nothing. We are just trying to get the power back on,” he promised. It was time to go to the beach!

SHUTTING UP SHOP: Victor Navarro couldn’t close the shutters, the health centre was helpless and (right) workers at Dia did not know what to do

RARE SIGHT: Malaga was plunged into darkness, with the occasional building lit by generator

Pedro’s honour

SPAIN’S double-Oscar winning filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has been in New York to receive a Charles Chaplin Award.

The event was held at the Lincoln Centre and celebrated distinguished movie directors and actors. The awards were created by Kiera Chaplin, the grand-daughter of the legendary film star. Previous winners have included Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock.

Almodovar said: “Sharing this honour with these figures exceeds my wildest dreams and next to Billy Wilder I will always be a humble student."

He also slammed US President, Donald Trump, who he branded as an ‘authoritarian and narcissistic lunatic who does not respect human rights’.

Quite a catch!

Medieval shipwreck discovered beneath fish market construction site stuns archaeologists

BUILDERS digging up an old fish market in Barcelona have stumbled upon a giant medieval shipwreck buried five metres beneath their feet.

An archaeological excavation has now uncovered a 10-metre-long wooden vessel dating back as early as the 15th century and dubbed Ciutadella I.

Hidden just five metres below sea level, the wreck has lain undisturbed for up to 600 years, astonishing experts with its remarkable state of preservation.

Experts think the ship went down in a fierce storm centu-

Egyptian find

OVER a dozen glass beads from Egypt and the Near East have been found at three archaeological sites in south-east Spain. They date back to the Late Bronze Age (1650- 1100 BC).

Experts from Alicante University and its counterpart in Augsburg, Germany, say the discoveries are important evidence of long-distance trading in that era. They are also an indication of sophisticated glass-making techniques. The beads were made of glass using natron, which was a type of salt used by Egyptian glassmakers. This type of glass is known as faience, and are the first-such faience beads to be discovered in Spain.

By Dilip Kuner

ries ago, only to be rediscovered during work on a new science centre near the city’s historic Ciutadella Park.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” said lead archaeologist Santi Palacios. “We always thought we might find something, but a whole boat? Incredible!”

The ship’s broken stern, over 30 curved ribs, and ironnailed frame are still intact –giving researchers a glimpse into how medieval ships were built and sailed across the

Mediterranean. Fragments of pottery, tools, and organic material found

In tuna with the times

FISHERMEN in Andalucia are continuing a 3000-year old tradition, as the almadraba tuna season kicks off. First employed by the Phoenicians, the exact method is still utilized in four Cadiz towns, Conil, Tarifa, Zahara and Barbate.

All on the Costa de la Luz, fish are lured into a complex maze of nets called the calamento, eventually reaching the copo pool where a net at the bottom that hoists the fish up.

The almadraberos (trappers), armed with spearguns, then dive into the water and shoot the tuna.

During the opening few days in Barbate more than 80 Atlantic bluefin tuna were caught.

nearby may also provide clues about the ship’s crew and cargo.

Earlier digs at the site have unearthed an old air-raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War and traces of 18th-century Barcelona. But nothing quite like this.

Conservationists are now working round the clock to keep the fragile wood from falling apart. “It has to stay wet or it’ll crack and crumble,” warned specialist Delia Eguiluz.

The ship will be carefully dismantled, studied, and preserved using wax treatments – hopefully revealing secrets of medieval maritime life and seafaring trade routes.

A STUNNING exhibition of works by 17th-century Spanish master Francisco Zurbaran is now on display at the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Malaga.

Titled Santas, the show runs throughout May and features 10 portraits of female saints painted by Zurbaran and his workshop during the peak of his artistic career.

Well known for his dramatic use of light and devotional intensity, Zurbaran was a major figure of the Spanish Golden Age.

The exhibited paintings reflect both his technical mastery and his workshop’s creative flourish during a period of exceptional productivity. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm.

EYE-OPENING: Ribs, stern and iron-nailed frame

LA CULTURA

FECUND: The hillside botanical garden is a must visit claimed from the Mediterranean, until in the mid-20th century it became the city’s fruit, fish and meat market. A stained-glass window (1973) recalls the relationship between the market and the not-too-distant sea.

If you’re overnighting in Malaga and you fancy seeing a flamenco performance, you could do a lot worse than pay a visit to Vino Mio, a small restaurant to the left of the Cervantes Theatre in Plaza Jeronimo Cuervo.

A small group of enthusiasts puts on an intimate show each evening, Wednesday to Sunday, usually starting at about 8:30pm. There is no table charge (contrary to the spirit of true flamenco, a lot of Malaga bars will ask you to pay 25 euros simply for being there!), but if you come for the flamenco, you will be expected to eat and drink. This place is not a tourist spectacular kind of

A subtropical garden that feels like something out of a 19thcentury novel

joint – it’s ‘bijou’, but the young artists are serious about what they do, and you will probably see some dancing. Still exploring? Pop into the English Cemetery – Malaga’s oldest non-Catholic burial ground – a peaceful hillside garden that tells stories of shipwrecks, poets and adventurers. Or duck into the Museum of Glass and Crystal in a quiet backstreet of the San Felipe Neri district – a beautiful 18th-century house filled with antique stained glass and charming family history.

Don’t overlook the Jardin Botanico Historico La Concepcion, a subtropical garden just outside the city that feels like something out of a 19th-century novel. For something different, head to the

Centre Pompidou – yes, that Pompidou –housed in a colourful glass cube down by the port. The modern art exhibitions are fresh, quirky, and rarely crowded. Or take the lift up to the rooftop of the AC Hotel Malaga Palacio, where you’ll find one of the best panoramic views in town, with a cocktail bar to match –no reservation needed, just a little sense of adventure. I could easily have written a second article, without exhausting Malaga’s delights –and we still haven’t mentioned Picasso!

UNIQUE: The English Cemetery is full of celebrated protestant graves

UNCHANGED: The sherry bar Antigua Casa de Guardia serves the bet vinos in town

From front page

VIVA LOS NOVIOS!

After the ceremony - having breathed a sigh of relief now the deed was finally done - we wandered through the cobbled streets in full wedding regalia, to cries of ‘Viva los novios’ (long live the newlyweds) from locals.

Then, in the leafy park at the top of the village, we had the obligatory photos taken with the classic sweeping views over the Mediterranean, a backdrop so stunning it felt like a painting.

That day remains etched in my heart - timeless, romantic, and perfectly Mijas.

So it’s no surprise that Mijas has become one of the most popular venues for weddings on the coast. Couples from all round Spain come

PERFECT LOCATION:

here for that same charm we fell in love with - a combination of historic elegance, Andalucian character, and unforgettable vistas.

Best of all, these days they’ve got a lot less paperwork!

Intact

The village of Mijas has grown massively in popularity over the last few decades, but its soul has remained beautifully intact.

Much of that authenticity is thanks to locals like my stepmother, Shelagh Tennant, a long-time resident who settled here decades ago. Shelagh wasn’t just part of the community; she WAS the community.

She knew everyone - from shopkeep-

ers to the mayor - and could often be found chatting with neighbours in the square or - most likely - in one of the bars.

Quite a character, she is credited with translating for the Beatles when they came to Spain and had her own bar, which had one of the best collections of music on the Costa del Sol.

Sadly she’s no longer with us, but what certainly is are the hordes of tourists who come in droves, pouring out of tour buses for a quick wander and the obligatory photo with the donkey statue.

But Mijas has always had layersand it rewards those who venture deeper.

Yes, you can enjoy a relaxed morning or evening here, especially if you’re travelling with family. It’s a short 15-minute drive from the coast, and the village is well-equipped with a huge multi-storey car park that costs just €1 a day.

You’ll find the main square just steps away - leafy and inviting, with a playground for the kids, donkey taxis lined up for a trot around the vil lage, and plenty of cafés offering local tapas and cool drinks.

But the real Mijas - the one that convinced us to get married here - is waiting quietly for the curious wanderer.

Keep walking past the central square and into the meandering backstreets. These quieter corners unravel like a ribbon along the Si erra de Mijas mountainside, with tucked-away fountains and pictur esque old doorways blooming with bougainvillaea.

And for those with energy to spare, hiking trails thread their way out of

DELIGHTFUL: Bougainvilla frames many doorways in Mijas, while the flower pots are in blue throughout the village

the village and into the pine-covered hills.

From the Puerto del Pino trail to the

Duendes, or maybe a short stroll to the old Cantera El Puerto

Shelagh lived in Mijas for decades

there’s no shortage of breathtaking views, especially now in spring when wildflowers and the scent of lavender fill the air.

Overhead, it’s not unusual to spot eagles or even griffon vultures circling the cliffs. Back in the heart of the village, cultural gems like the municipal museum offer fascinating glimpses into local historyespecially the story of the Mole of Mijas (see page 18), a former mayor who famously hid for 30 years in his own

quarry,

Ruta de los

GLOWING:

The Town Hall hosts many wedding services

Don’t miss in Mijas

Visitors are often curious to know why there are two sculptures of the Roman God Hercules flanking the entrance to Mijas Ethnological Museum of Mijas. They were put there to symbolise the burden of responsibility of the old Mijas political leaders. Clearly they had a Herculean task.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

If you thought you knew all there was to know about Mijas, these fascinating facts could make you think twice

MIRACULOUS MIJAS

One of the treasures of Mijas is the Virgen de la Peña sanctuary where, according to legend, the Madonna appeared to two shepherds. As a tribute, a hermitage was hollowed out in stone which has become a point of pilgrimage.

MOVIE MAKER MIJAS

BURIED TREASURE

Traces of Punic-Phoenician temples have been found in only eight locations throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Mijas is one.

During excavations in 2013 two bronze pieces representing the Eyes of Astarte the goddess were found within the old city walls, suggesting that the site was once a sanctuary to a healing cult.

During the 1960s Mijas was a much sought-after backdrop for movie makers for its the typical Andalucian charm.

Brigitte Bardot (above), Raquel Welch and the Spanish actress and singer Marisol respectively strolled its romantic streets in Les Bijoutiers du clair de lune (1958), Fathom (1967) and Solos los dos (1968).

Marble-ous Mijas

Who would guess there are pieces of Mijas all over Spain. Marble was its main export during the XVII and XVIII centuries when it was used to embellish many important places of worship, including the cathedrals of Malaga and Sevilla, San Pedro Church in Granada and

SIAMESE TWIN

Once upon a time Fuengirola didn’t exist - it was all part of Mijas, including the castle on the coast. In 1841 the two towns were separated although one still merges into the other so that the difference is almost imperceptible, like identical twins.

SHAPE-SHIFTING

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Most bullrings are round but Mijas has one of the few oval plazas de toros in Spain. Built in 1900 by popular demand, it’s not easy to pick out, so well is it camouflaged among the white village houses.

May 2025

All about Mijas

Close shave

THE Spanish have a saying about villagers: “They’ll talk about you, and if there’s nothing to say, they’ll invent it”.

This is the story of an Andalucian man – the mayor of his village – who hid in his own house from 1939 to 1969 - yes, incredibly 30 years - and only his immediate family had any idea he was there! Manuel Cortes Quero (1906–1991) was the last Republican mayor of Mijas between March 3, 1936, and November 23 of that same year.

He was the village barber, as well as the mayor. In the 1930s Mijas was a

How the village barber and mayor had to dive for cover when the Spanish Civil War broke out… and didn’t emerge again for three entire decades

solidly socialist village, where most adult men worked in agriculture.

When the civil war broke out in the summer of 1936, Manolo knew he had to ‘do his bit’.

He said goodbye to his wife (Juliana) and his daughter (Maria) and went off to war.

By Michael Coy

He served the entire three years of Malaga.

the conflict on the Aragon Front and when the war ended in April 1939, he made his way back to

Travel wasn’t easy, especially for a defeated ‘leftie’, but he made it to Fuengirola, late one night. In those days, motorised vehicles were almost unheard of in the villages. The only time you ever saw a car in Mijas was if someone was seriously ill and needed to be taken to hospital in Marbella.

But on this occasion Manolo was lucky. A truck driver in Fuengirola was delivering fish: he recognised the mayor and gave him a lift back to the village.

“Are you mad?” asked Juliana, when he walked in after midnight. “If the new mayor hears that you’re back, you’re a dead man.”

She rattled off a list of men who had been ‘disposed of’ in Manolo’s absence. There was nothing for it. He’d have to hide. He had no money to pay for travel. Juliana would simply say he’d been killed in Aragon.

And so for 30 years, he lived in a walled-off cell inside his own house.

Rattled off a list of men who had been ‘disposed of’ in Manolo’s absence

The worst moment, he said, came one summer in the 1950s when a barbecue in the backyard got out of hand and set fire to the house. (Luckily, the neighbours extinguished the blaze.)

In 1972, an English resident in Mijas, Ronald Fraser, published a book about Manolo’s ‘underground’ life. Entitled In Hiding, it sold well and is still available on Amazon.

Fraser interviewed Manolo and his family at length for the book.

Readers will agree with Fraser that

Juliana is the true heroine of the story. Not only did she bear the 30 years of the stress in fending-off questions about her husband, but she had, somehow, to make a living for all three – herself, Manolo and Maria. She started by asking neighbours with hens to give her any spare eggs they might have. And she then walked 18 miles every day to Fuengirola to sell the eggs. Then she came home to Mijas to cook and clean.

Finally, in 1969, rumours started to circulate that Franco was thinking of an amnesty, pardoning ‘offenders’ from the civil war period. Manolo refused to come out – even though he’d heard it on the radio – until the amnesty was published in the state’s official bulletin. When, on March 28, 1969, he learned that the government had declared a statute of limitations, he decided to leave his confinement. The then mayor of Mijas, Miguel Gonzalez, accompanied him to the Malaga Guardia Civil Headquarters, where he was told what he had waited so many years to hear: "You are free."

HIDEOUT: The Mole’s room in the heart of Mijas

CREDIT: Manuel H. Martin

KEEPING AN EAR TO THE UNDERGROUND: Manuel Cortes

TRAPPED: Cortes was a prisoner in his own home

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

Meet one of the last four esparto weavers in Andalucia as she strives to preserve the traditional craft

By Yzabelle Bostyn

WOVEN baskets, espadrilles and rugs often come to mind when people think about Mijas.

These items are made from a coarse, wild grass known as esparto

Once a sign of poverty, esparto was originally used as a cheap material to weave a myriad of useful items. Now, this traditional handicraft is getting a modern makeover with artisans like Sonia Lekuona leading the way.

She is one of four official esparto weavers left in Andalucia, the former epicentre of this craft.

Hailing from Santander, the 51-yearold discovered weaving over a decade ago when she moved to Mijas after initially taking an interest in it during her university days.

The 2008 financial crash saw her lose her job as an archaeologist, so she started a children’s clothing business, Musketa.

This allowed her to connect with other local artists, one of whom offered to teach her esparto weaving.

Francisco Moreno Tamayo began teaching her in 2014 and 11 years later she is at the forefront of Andalucia’s drive to preserve this dying art.

“Esparto weaving fell out of use because of its association with poverty,” Lekuona told the Olive Press.

“But it has a long history in this area, with evidence dating back to Neolithic times.”

Lekuona is travelling the region to preserve this rich history, going from town to town to learn their unique stitches before it's too late.

“There are still some older people who remember how to do it, so we run workshops where

grandparents can teach their grandchildren how to weave,” she said.

“It’s amazing. I once taught a class in a nursing home for people with dementia and this lady kept insisting she didn’t know how to weave, but at the same time, her fingers were already doing the work for her. Her mind didn’t remember but her hands did.”

As well as teaching the next generation, Lekouna is updating this ancient art by combining ceramics, fabrics, pom poms and feathers to bring weaving back into the modern age.

The former archaeologist also creates art and decorations from the grass, a departure from its traditional functional use.

She experiments from her workshop at the Puerta del Agora artisan space in Mijas Pueblo alongside four other artists. There, she teaches the next generation of weavers and holds workshops for beginners.

She is also a university

teacher in ‘experimental archaeology’ courses where students get to learn the crafts they are studying and she holds therapeutic courses for mentally ill or disabled people.

I was lucky enough to become one of Lekuona’s students for the day when she invited the Olive Press along for a taster session.

A warm presence from the get go, Lekuona began by explaining what esparto is and its cultural context as well as the technical side of how it is cultivated, harvested and prepared for weaving.

Esparto is a wild plant, meaning it is not farmed in the traditional sense but collected from where it naturally grows.

This makes it very sustainable and natural, especially when paired with organic dyes made from turmeric, spirulina and cinnamon.

During our whistlestop workshop of about two hours, Lekuona guided us patiently through the process of making a brush to clean tables, which could also be fashioned into a keyring if you preferred.

A long but rewarding process, it was delightful to see a scrubby bushel

of grass transformed into a useful handicraft.

Our group had a variety of skill levels, from a keen crocheter to someone who hadn’t touched a craft box since primary school, but nonetheless,

From baskets to mounted donkey heads, there is a workshop for all wannabe weavers.

If you’re interested, get in touch with Lekuona at musketa.com or visit Puerta del Agora in Mijas Pueblo. each of us came out proud of our creations.

Lekuona was a calm, adaptable and friendly teacher, perfect to help you learn something new.

AU NATUREL: Esparto’s natural condition is perfectly paired with organic dyes

STEADY ON: Patience and attention to detail are key in the weaving process

Greener steel

SPAIN will use €60 million of EU money to fund a zero-carbon steel mill in the central Castilla-La Mancha region.

The World Economic Forum has described it as one of the 'five most important industrial decarbonisation initiatives in the world'.

It will be set up in Puertollano and use green hydrogen to produce sponge iron, which will then be mixed with scrap to produce up to 1.5 million tonnes of rolled steel a year.

The plant will create around 1,000 jobs and depending on the timing of formal approval for the project to go ahead, site construction could start before the end of this year.

17 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL

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Toxic decision

Fears over imminent reopening of mine responsible for Andalucia’s worst environmental catastrophe

A NOTORIOUS mine behind Andalucia's worst-ever environmental disaster is poised to reopen – sparking fears of a second toxic tsunami.

The Aznalcollar mine, which unleashed a river of poison in 1998, has been given the green light to resume operations this July. Environmental campaigners are warning it’s a ticking time bomb. They claim a jaw-dropping 85.5 BILLION litres of toxic wastewater could be pumped straight into the Guadalquivir Riv er – threatening tourist

ORCA RESCUE

CONSERVATIONISTS are struggling to free a vulnerable orca hat has become entangled in fishing gear in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The mammal was spotted with ropes and buoys wrapped around its fin, making it very difficult to swim or feed.

By Walter Finch

hotspots like Sevilla, Cadiz and the Costa de la Luz.

“This will flood the river with deadly metals – arsenic, lead, cadmium, the works,” blasted a furious Greenpeace rep. “It’s an ecological massacre in the making.”

The mine is being revived by Mexican company Min - la that could see the entire project axed – but that hasn’t stopped the Junta Locals aren’t having it. May -

A specialised team has been tracking the orca for the last week to try and free it from the objects -- but so far without success. The rescue operation, which also involved the Spanish coast guard, has had to observe strict legal protections for Spain’s vulnerable orca population.

Officials have urged fishermen to avoid throwing old fishing gear into the sea as it remains a major threat during the busy whale season in this key migratory route.

Trump tariff mayhem

THERE is a lot of economic anxiety around the world at the moment. This comes after Trump’s April 2 announcement of tariffs on every single US trading partner. Liberation Day’, as he called it, threw the multi-trillion euro global trading system in the air. The uncertainty it created hasn’t subsided - if anything it has grown.

The massive impact of those policies is impossible to measure. The global economy is incredibly integrated, not just in terms of goods but also services. As the focal point of this tumult, the USA will be most affected, but no country will escape its impact.

Currently, Trump has suspended full implementation of these tariffs, opting instead for a temporary 10% rate during a 90-day ‘grace period’ intended for renegotiation. Over a month in, however, no trade deals have emerged. Even close allies like Japan are pushing back against U.S. demands, signaling a likely summer of economic instability.

In Spain’s case, the direct effects may be limited. The country runs a $10 billion trade deficit with the US, importing $28 billion and exporting $18 billion in 2024. The US is only Spain’s fifth-largest trading partner.

A CaixaBank report estimates the direct impact of a 10% tariff at €1.39 billion, or 0.1% of GDP. At a 20% tariff rate, the impact could reach €3.18 billion (0.2% of GDP). These are manageable figures, especially when weighed against Spain’s strong growth - 3.2% in 2024 and a projected 2.5% in 2025, according to the IMF.

The Spanish government has acted swiftly, announcing a €14 billion aid

Will they affect the Spanish real estate market, asks Property Insider

Adam Neale

package for affected industries and accelerating trade diversification efforts. Recent summits with Vietnam and China highlight this pivot.

Despite the turbulence, there are reasons to remain optimistic about Spanish real estate.

Hydrogen bombshell

FEARS: of arsenic, lead and cadmium poisoning

ors, farmers, fishermen, medics, scientists and even the Andalucian Ombudsman have banded together, demanding an independent probe into the risks.

Campaigners are especially alarmed about the threat to Doñana National Park, a UNESCO-listed paradise teeming with rare wildlife.

The original disaster in 1998 saw six million cubic metres of sludge devastate 60km of river and cost taxpayers €240 million. The Swedish firm behind it, Boliden, never paid a cent.

With the grim anniversary looming, eco groups are issuing a final warning: “This river is Andalucia’s lifeblood - the Junta must not make the same mistake twice.”

SPAIN is making waves with plans to build its first offshore green hydrogen plant off Gran Canaria’s coast, aiming to cut fossil fuel use and boost energy independence in the Canary Islands.

Spearheaded by marine experts at PLOCAN (Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands), the H2VERDE project will be located 1.5 km off the island’s northeast shore, using solar, wave, and wind energy to produce clean hydrogen. Funded with €6 million from the Canary Islands government and the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the facility will generate 15,000 kg of hydrogen annually.

Gold

It will feature Spain’s first offshore hydrogen refuelling station, initially supplying port machinery before expanding to ships.

The project could cut 200 tonnes of CO₂ each year and reduce the Canaries’ 95% reliance on fossil fuels.

“This is about energy sovereignty,” says project lead Alejandro Romero. “The Canaries spend €18 billion yearly on fossil fuel imports, Spain spends €90 billion. Green hydrogen is our ticket to freedom.”

Locals are calling it a green gold rush, expecting jobs, innovation, and a clean-energy boom.

For one, U.S. instability may boost demand from Americans relocating abroad. The number of Americans purchasing property in Spain nearly tripled from 1,089 in 2019 to 2,800 in 2024. They now account for 2% of foreign home purchases.

Americans also spend the most per square metre - €3,390 - well above average prices in Spain, though still a bargain com pared to U.S. cities. Marbella and the Costa del Sol remain hotspots for these buyers. But it’s not just Americans showing inter est. Chinese buyers have grown from 4,370 in 2019 to 5,220 today. Although they pay

about two-thirds as much per square metre as Americans, their presence reflects broader global interest in Spanish property.

Adding to this is a shift in tourism patterns. Reports of Europeans detained by U.S. border agents have hurt America’s image. In March, before tariffs took effect, European travel to the U.S. had already declined by 17%, with overall foreign tourism down 12%.

Many of these travelers will stay in Europe—and increasingly, in Spain. These higher-income tourists contribute not just to hospitality revenues but may also become property investors, particularly in

Even before this turmoil, the Spanish real estate market was already outperforming much of the EU. Unlike many

of its neighbors, Spain continues to see population growth, with 450,000 new residents in 2024, creating 112,000 new households. Though building permits are finally rising after years of stagnation, supply has struggled to keep up with demand. As a result, real estate prices increased by nearly 6% last year. In high-demand areas like Malaga province, prices jumped 14%, and in the city of Malaga, a striking 22%.

A recent CaixaBank study noted that 2024 was the first year in a long time where new construction permits exceeded new household formation - a 16.5% yearover-year increase. This signals a healthy adjustment in supply.

shocks—its exposure is half the EU average. The government’s rapid response, economic resilience, and proactive diversification are all encouraging signs.

As a result, real estate prices increased by nearly 6% last year

With the European Central Bank expected to continue easing interest rates, mortgage costs may fall toward 2%, further boosting affordability and activity in the housing market.

Spain remains one of the least exposed EU countries to U.S. trade

If global turmoil accelerates foreign interest in Spanish real estate - particularly from Americans and Chinese buyers—and tourism rebounds locally, Spain could emerge from this period stronger. The combination of moderate risk, quick policy action, and continued housing demand paints a promising picture for 2025.

If managed well, the current crisis might even position Spain as a leader in a new, reshaped global trade landscape. That would be excellent news for real estate.

The Property Insider by Adam Neale

LAUNCH: To celebrate the Michelin bash in Malaga

FOR the first time, the prestigious Michelin Star gala is heading to Andalucia, with Malaga chosen as the host city for Spain’s biggest night in gastronomy. It highlights Malaga’s

Star turn

growing reputation in the culinary world. The gala rotates cities annually - previously visiting Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Murcia.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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Around €1 million will be invested to bring the event to Malaga, with an estimated €30 million in media and tourism returns expected.

The province currently holds 11 Michelin stars across nine restaurants.

Marbella’s Skina, led by Marcos Granda, is a strong contender for a third star, which would place it among Spain’s top restaurants. Michelin’s awards remain secretive, judged by anonymous in spectors.

PACK your bags and ditch the all-inclusive drudgery – a sizzling new Spanish itinerary has just been crowned one of the most ‘authentic’ travel experiences in the country!

The Villages with Soul: Routes of Andalucia tour, cooked up by Booking.com and the Junta, scooped the prize at the Traveller Review Awards 2025 in Cordoba – and it's based on a whopping 360 million real-life reviews.

Picture-perfect

Winding through eight picture-perfect pueblos – Cazorla, Las Negras, El Gastor, Competa, Carmona, Aracena, Priego de Cordoba and Montefrio –this route is a feast for the senses.

Think cobbled streets, whitewashed walls, sizzling tapas, and locals who treat you like family.

CASHING IN ON DEMOS

BRITISH holidaymakers are heading to Spain in record numbers, but fresh figures reveal many are swerving traditional island hotspots after a wave of angry anti-tourism protests. New stats from Spanish airport operator AENA show a massive 21% surge in UK passenger numbers this March compared to last year and their eternal love affair with the Spanish sun. Brits made up nearly a quarter of the 16 million international arrivals, clinging to their spot as Spain’s top foreign visitors by numbers.

Popular

But while mainland airports like Malaga and Alicante are thriving – with traffic up 13% and 18% respectively –the popular island regions

By Walter Finch

are losing their shine. The Balearic Islands, home to Ibiza and Mallorca, saw an actual drop in passengers. The Canary Islands, usually a safe bet for sunseekers, only just managed to match last year’s levels. It’s no coincidence. The islands have been rocked by furious protests, with locals hitting the streets over mass tourism, rising rents and disappearing local culture. Graffiti like ‘Tourists go home!’ and ‘This island is not for sale’ have become common sights in resort towns.

While Brits are quietly avoiding the drama, other nationalities are filling the gap. Italian tourist numbers

They’re still chasing the sun –but Brits are beginning to sidestep Spain’s protest-hit islands

Get authentic Speedy service

PROTESTS: Spaniards have taken to the streets in their tens of thousands demanding action

soared by a whopping 30% in March. Spain’s still a winner for holidaymakers - but many are

rethinking where they go. The costas are rising, and the islands might be losing their crown.

A NEW high-speed AVE train now rockets passengers from sizzling Sevilla to buzzing Barcelona –without the dreaded Madrid stopover. The service slashes journey times to just over six hours. The earliest northbound train departs Sevilla Santa Justa at 6am, making scheduled stops in Cordoba, Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Zaragoza, Lleida, and Tarragona, before arriving at Barcelona Sants at 12.41pm.

Barcelona

Passengers have the option to continue onward to Girona and Figueres, expanding the journey into northeastern Spain. A second daily service from Sevilla will depart at 9.36am, beginning May 5, arriving in Barcelona at 3.44pm.

ON THE TRACK OF TRAVEL GEMS

We start off with the old station in the Andalucian city of Almeria.

Designed by a French architect at the end of the 19th century, the building stands as a great example of the iron and glass blend architecture that was popular during the Industrial Revolution.

The building was damaged in a fascist bombing raid in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, but rebuilt back to its former glory.

The station has been defunct since the coming of the 21st century, but there are plans to transform the building into an event hall.

Located in the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon, the neo-plateresque station of Zamora stands out, with its four towers, coats of arms and its central clock.

Although it was designed in 1927, the building wasn’t completed until 1958, as the Spanish Civil War slowed down much of the construction.

The station played a crucial

From neo-Romanic to modernist: These are the six most beautiful train stations in Spain

By Dylan Wagemans

TRAIN travel is undeniably romantic - the gentle rhythm of the rails, the slow reveal of rolling hills and dramatic coastlines, and the grand old stations that serve as gateways to adventure.

Spain boasts over 15,000 kilometres of railway lines and more than 200 stations, and the journey often begins - and ends - in buildings so beautiful they deserve a trip in their own right.

Many of the country’s railway stations are steeped in history, culture, and jaw-dropping architecture.

From ornate Belle Epoque masterpieces to Moorish-inspired gems, these stations aren’t just transport hubsthey’re living museums, bursting with stories and style. Some still hum with the bustle of daily commuters, others have been restored and repurposed into hotels, galleries, or cultural centres.

Whether you're a rail enthusiast, a history buff, or just someone who appreciates fine design, Spain’s most beautiful stations offer a journey through time, culture, and craftsmanship.

And the best part? They’re scattered across the country, giving you the perfect excuse to hop on a train and discover the artistry of the tracks at leisure.

So pack your bags, grab your ticket, and let the Olive Press guide you to seven of Spain’s most beautiful train stations. These are destinations in themselves that prove the magic of travel begins long before you reach your final stop.

role in the post-war economic recovery, facilitating the transport of essential goods and the movement of people at a time when other forms of transport were limited.

In addition, the station building became an architectural emblem of Zamora, representing the rebirth of the railway infrastructure after years of conflict.

Opened in 1917, Valencia’s main station is an icon of Valencian modernism.

The building fascinates with its façade adorned throughout with motifs inspired by local agriculture, such as oranges and flowers.

As the main station of Valencia, it receives around 15 million passengers every year.

Due to its architectural characteristics and ornamental attributes, it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1961 and an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1983.

The Concordia station in Bilbao is a jewel of Basque modernism with colourful stained glass windows and ceramic decorations throughout.

Opened in 1902, the station serves as a terminus for several narrow-gauge railway services in the area.

Narrow-gauge tracks were laid down due to the region’s difficult topography.

After the construction of a new high speed line is finished, Bilbao-Abando station will be renovated to accommodate all railway services starting in Abando, which will include the narrow-gauge services currently starting at this station.

Bilbao-Concordia will cease to serve as a railway station after then, and its future use is still unclear.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

For decades it was considered the most spectacular international station in Europe. Built in 1928 in the middle of the Pyrenees, Canfranc was a key railway link between Spain and France. This came to an abrupt end in 1970 when a train derailment damaged an important bridge in France. With only minimal services over five decades, Canfranc station experienced a major decline and neglect, resulting in much of the site becoming derelict.

As of 2024, the site has been reborn as a luxury hotel, with the original platforms and façade still preserved.

WHILE Spain’s major cities boast grand and bustling train stations, some of the country’s most charming stops are found in its rural heartlands. Nestled along the historic ‘Mr Henderson’ line, which runs from Ronda to Algeciras, two particularly picturesque stations stand out.

Benaojan Station, built in 1892, remains one of the most popular stops along the line.

Its appeal lies not just in its quaint design, but also in its proximity to the famous village of Benaojan, renowned for its traditional sausage-making.

With three trains a day running to Algeciras, Ronda, and Granada, it offers a convenient link for both locals and travellers.

The station itself is an architectural delight. A woodfringed canopy, supported by elegant wrought-iron pillars that stretch across the adjacent platform, evokes a dis tinctively Anglo - or even colonial Indian - atmosphere. Further along the line lies Jimera de Libar Station, also

Small scale beauty

dating back to 1892.

With its alpine feel and dramatic mountain backdrop, it could easily be mistaken for a station somewhere in the Swiss Alps.

History buffs will appreciate the remains of the original steam-engine water tower base, still visible today.

The station once featured a well-loved restaurant and bar that made head lines in 2008 when former British PM David Cameron (left) stopped by for drinks during a hike.

Unfortunately, the establishment closed its doors in 2019, but the memory adds to the station’s colourful past.

It’s the busiest station in the whole of Spain and one of the most recognizable icons, but Atocha isn’t just functional: it’s also a visual spectacle. Atocha is the main hub for Spain’s AVE high-speed trains to major cities like Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, and Malaga. Redesigned in the 1990’s after a devastating bombing by Islamist terrorists, the old terminal now houses a tropical garden inside the station, which is open to the public and features 7,000 plants. Its interior tropical garden stands out, where hundreds of plants coexist under an iron and glass dome.

RURAL: Jimera de Libar Station sits amid natural magnificence

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Battle to save Med diet

Top chefs Pedro Subijana and Jesus Sanchez tell Olive Press a lack of education is behind alarming obesity growth among Spain’s youngsters, writes Jon Clarke

IT has ‘never been more important’ to teach children to cook.

This is the view of the ‘Godfather of Spanish cuisine’, Pedro Subijana (pictured with Olive Press editor Jon Clarke)

The celebrated three Michelin star chef, from San Sebastian, told the Olive Press, Spain risks losing its cherished Mediterranean diet if youngsters aren’t taught to ‘eat healthier’.

“It is not just up to parents to explain healthy dietary habits, the government should be making it compulsory for classes at primary school,” insisted Subijana.

I LOVE THE EXCITING GROWTH IN ANDALUCIA

“It’s great that so many new restaurants are opening in Sevilla, Jaen and Cordoba,” insists masterchef Pedro Sanchez (above), from three Michelin star joint Cenador de Amos.

“There are so many small, independent private initiatives opening up all the time. The talent has truly come south.”

And he should know, having begun his glittering career at Taberna del Alabardero in Puerto Banus.

“I love the amazing evolution here, in particular in Malaga, with Jose Carlos Garcia and Benito at Bardal, in Ronda, where I ate last night.

“I really think Benito or Marcos at Skina in Marbella will win a third star in November. Maybe both of them.”

“We need to teach them as youngsters. They need to learn about the big health problems that exist. Obesity is a huge problem in Spain and it is getting worse.”

His message comes after it emerged Spain has one of the worst obesity rates in Europe, with 40% of children being overweight or obese, a figure which has doubled in two decades.

He was speaking at a Chefs for Children charity event in Benahavis, where 150 youngsters with diabetes were taught how to cook by 44 of Spain’s leading chefs.

To remedy the problem, the 76-year-old behind Akelarre restaurant insists we need to protect the culture of the Med-

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FOUR DECADES WITH TWO STARS OR MORE

Pedro Subijana has cooked in his kitchen at Akelarre restaurant in San Sebastian for 50 years.

“And I’ve had three Mi- chelin stars for 18 years now and had two stars for 25 years before that,” he told the Olive Press.

“I love coming in to cook and we have lots of young chefs who come up with new ideas and formulas every day and I am the lucky one who gets to try them and de- velop them,” he added.

iterranean diet, the importance of fish, fresh vegetables, olive oil and pulses.

“We often have youngsters coming into our restaurant to learn and events like this are a brilliant way to encourage and spread the message,” continued Subijana.

His words were backed up meanwhile by another celebrated chef Jesus Sanchez, of Cantabria’s famous Cenador de Amos restaurant.

“We have simply forgotten the roots of Spanish cuisine and it’s very worrying,” said the three Michelin star talent.

“There is far too much Asiatic and fusion cooking and we need to get back to the Mediterranean diet.

“It’s a scandal that we are not eating more fish. Salmon, sea bass and sardines are so good for us. The benefits are enormous.

“I would like to see more government help in supporting young chefs who are going back to their roots. I really hope those in Madrid hear us”. Pilar Candil, organiser of the event, now in its seventh year, said: “It was particularly great to work with kids with Type 1 diabetes this year as more than anyone they need to know how to eat well.

“I think we are now getting over the message that eating healthily can and should be fun.”

GENERATION

Passing down skills from mother to daughter or father to son is one of the keys of the successful ChefsForChildren event

WHEN leading Spanish masterchef Mario Sandoval’s son was two years old, he was taken to hospital in a coma, soon to be diagnosed with diabetes.

“I didn’t really understand what this disease was about,” the two-Michelin-star chef, from Madrid, explained.

“As the doctors began to fill us in, I thought: ‘my goodness, what awaits my son and us for the rest of our lives’.”

Sandoval, of Coque restaurant, is the third generation of a family that has long cooked in Spain’s capital.

“Both my mother and grandfather cooked in the kitchen of Coque before me,” he told the Olive Press.

“I have three girls and one boy and it is possible my son will become a chef. I would really love to be able to teach him as it’s the loveliest job in the world.”

Sandoval is one of 44 of Spain's top chefs who gathered in Benahavis to raise funds for charity DiabetesCERO in its search for a Type 1 diabetes cure.

The main protagonists of the Chefs for Children event were not the celebrity cooks, nor even the nationwide blackout that was shutting down the

By Samantha Mythen

country at the time… but the

150 local children who had gathered to learn about healthy eating.

It was great to watch the chefs work side by side with the local children, teaching them the best cutting techniques and the most delicious food pairings as they built simple canapes to share with their parents and critics, delighting the crowd around them.

The children were oblivious to the stars they worked alongside and did not worry about the power outage taking over the whole Iberian Peninsula.

Their sole focus was preparing the fresh ingredients spread out on tables in front of them, cheekily grabbing a bite of watermelon or a slice of jamon, encouraged by the chefs.

A fair few had dollops of cream on their noses, the icing bag accidentally misplaced.

Many of the chefs have children of their own, and creat-

ing culinary feasts and nurturing a love of good food and nutrition has remained a family affair.

Juan Mari Arzak and his daughter Elena, who was present during Monday’s

event, share the three-Michelin-starred Arzak kitchen in San Sebastian.

“I love being able to participate and raise awareness for a cause, like diabetes, which could happen to any of us,” said Elena.

“And being able to teach children what we know how to do best - gastronomy.”

The Arzak restaurant had humble beginnings - as a simple wine shop and tavern built and owned by Elena's great-grandparents.

Her father, Juan, learned his culinary skills from his mother, then passed down the generational Basque recipes to his daughter. It’s a lovely example of what the annual event, now in its seventh year, was about: healthy eating starts at home.

TASTY!: The Madrid trio of leading two-Michelin star chefs Paco Roncero, Ramon Freixa and Mario Sandoval

LEGEND: Pedro Subijana, 76

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

MASTERCLASS

A woman’s role in the professional kitchen

Mother-daughter duo Fina Puigdevall and Martina Puigvert Puigdevall (below left) share the kitchen of Two-Michelin-starred Les Cols, in Catalunya. Travelling from Olot for the day's event, they worked with a giggling group of students, Martina demonstrating the sweet scent of a sprig of mint, to adorn the

healthy fruit dessert the children were creating.

The students mirror Martina, just as she followed in her own mother’s footsteps. Martina and Fina both told the Olive Press that they are both proud to represent women in the kitchen, especially in front of their young students for the day.

“My mother really believes in herself and works really hard, especially from when she started out, and it was much more difficult than it is now to be a fe-

male chef,” Martina said.

“I think it’s important for all women to support each other.”

It’s a strong female kitchen as Fina has three daughters. She said her own mother helped support her in her dedication to growing as a chef, looking after her granddaughters, which allowed Fina time to focus on her career.

A significant part of their Les Cols restaurant, Martina said, is the connection to the garden where they grow the ingredients

used in their meals.

“It’s important that people know where their food comes from,” she said.

“It’s the full circle moment. And we always serve what the season offers. This contact with nature is really important, healthy and natural.”

This is something they tried to convey to the children, hoping to inspire a new generation of healthy, happy kids, and maybe a few future Michelin star chefs one day too.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

MYSTIC FOREST

Visit the woods filled with American trees that could become some of the tallest in the world

TRAVELLERS wandering through Northern Spain could be forgiven for rubbing their eyes in disbelief when they stumble across a scene straight from California.

Just three kilometres from sleepy Cabezon de la Sal in Cantabria lurks a forest that would be more at home in Northern California, packed with towering giants that have locals and tourists alike gawping in disbelief.

More than 800 giant sequoias, each soaring above 40 metres and with two metre diameter trunks, have turned Monte Cabezon into Spain’s

By Dylan Wagemans

very own Jurassic Park - of trees. Planted back in the 1940s during Franco’s reign, these colossal trees were meant for industry – but nobody ever chopped them down. Now, they’ve grown into a natural monument that’s got everyone talking.

Nature lovers are flocking to this ‘hidden gem’ for a taste of California in Cantabria. The two-kilometre hiking trail is a doddle, and it’s fully

accessible – so everyone can get in on the action.

Sequoias need enormous amounts of water, that’s probably why Cantabria, with its wetter and foggier climate than the rest of Spain, was chosen to harbour these trees.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

They have a bark that can be up to 30 centimetres thick, protecting them from forest fires.

That’s one of the reasons why some specimens can live up to 2000 years - meaning these trees - big as they are - are merely saplings compared to some of their American cousins.

And they have a long way to go before they surpass Spain’s tallest tree.

That title goes to El Abuelo de Chavin, a eucalyptus tree in Lugo, Galicia, which is 67 metres tall and its girth is 10.5 metres.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling.

Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist.

For further information call:

+350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

www.visitgibraltar.gi

GIANTS: Sequoias are the world’s oldest trees and live over 2,000 years while (above) a fallen tree in the US

GIANT: A historic picture from California gives an idea of how large the trees can grow

LETTERS

Ready for next blackout?

ANYONE who lives in the countryside should be prepared anyway, no matter what country you live in.

Roberto, Almeria

IT’S not a question of if there will be another, but when.

Adrian Day, Marbella

BUILD more nuclear power stations. That’s the answer.

Ray Devlin, Estepona

CAN’T do anything about it. Just sit back and wait in the candlelight with a ham sandwich and a glass of vino.

Maureen Croft Pearson, Granada

Raising the roof

Property protests set for June 15 in major tourist hotspots

DEAR Editor,

I’m perplexed as to why protesters targeting property prices focus their anger on tourists rather than demanding action from the government. There are proven solutions - if only officials would learn from them.

Take Singapore, for example. Its government tackled housing affordability by investing in high-quality public housing, sold, at cost, exclusively to citizens. These homes came with strict conditions: they could only be resold to fellow citizens and could not be rented out, ensuring long-term stability. Instead of driving away tourists - a

THE problem isn’t the tourists. It’s the lack of affordable housing, as there’s no social housing in Spain. But that’s one for the government. They should target their corrupt government that taxes people to death and offers very little in return.

Adda Macchich, Torrevieja

NOT SO SMART

She describes herself as a ‘fashion designer, wellness expert, philanthropist, and wedding planner’. You can add ‘prison inmate’ to that after the Olive Press helped to expose CWM and bring Jodie to justice.

WE have been ripped off by these con people, not as much as some but it was still our hard earned money. When we signed up for the pension scheme it was through a so called ‘friend’.

Gail Leah, by email

MY father in law was scammed by a well known company operating in Spain.

From fraud, forgery, duplicated signatures on dealing instructions, even a meeting with the client to sell commission earning assets six days after he died, with the adviser somehow managing to get this deceased client’s signature and witnessing it. These guys are predators. Can I back my claims here? Absolutely, and with forensic reports. Time to expose the scammers and how they roll.

Brian Clarke, via Facebook

In regards to our online story, (also p2)You’ve got to be choking me! about a Chinese tourist who choked out a thief in Barcelona...

WELL done sir. That might teach the little scumbag - I wonder how many tourists have been victims of his crimes.

Eileen Bracken, via Facebook

WELL done that man! In the UK, the Chinese man would have been arrested for assault!

Gail Owen, via Facebook

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self-defeating strategy that harms local livelihoods - why not pressure policymakers to adopt similar measures? I’d love to see t he Olive Press explore this angle. A shift in focus could spark real change and encourage other Spanish national press outlets to follow suit.

David White, by email

PROTESTORS have a point but it is very hard on tourists. Why don’t they protest outside government buildings? No tourism, no economy.

Jackie O’Brien, Limerick, Ireland

SHE stole my mothers pension, if anyone has any contacts for someone who can help please reach out.

Kara Gomersall-Godfrey, Los Angeles

BETWEEN one thing and another, a lot of us Brits have been ripped off by our fellow-countrymen here in Spain. The Spanish judiciary mostly don’t care.

Lenox Napier, Almeria

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What truly sets La Fabrica de Traducciones apart is their commitment to using only native-speaking professionals.

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Every translation, whether it’s a legal document, a company blog post or a restaurant menu, is completed by a linguist who speaks the target language as their mother tongue.

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That means not only accuracy, but cultural fluency and natural flow - something that machine translation simply can’t replicate.

CONTACT:

hola@lafabricadetraducciones.es

The company offers sworn translations with full legal validity, ideal for official use in Spain or abroad.

+34 680 186 708 www.lafabricadetraducciones.es

It also provides general translation services for all types of documents, from tourism brochures and websites to medical and academic material.

More than 30 language combinations

For businesses looking to grow their presence online, the agency’s team also delivers creative, SEO-friendly content that’s tailored to reach and engage international audiences. Interpreting services are also available on request, including liaison, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting for meetings, events and more.

With over 10 years of experience and the capacity to translate up to 1.5 million words per month, La Fabrica de Traducciones is perfectly equipped to handle everything from single-page documents to large-scale projects.

Best of all, they offer free quotes and expert advice to help you find the best language solution for your needs.

For more information, please call +34 680 186 708, email; hola@lafabricadetraducciones.es or visit the website at www.lafabricadetraducciones.es today.

PROFESSIONAL LINGUISTIC SERVICES

SWORN TRANSLATION

We provide official translations with legal validity, carried out by sworn translators

TRANSLATION

We can translate any kind of document: touristic, websites, medical etc

INTERPRETING SERVICE

Liaison, consecutive, simultaneous and whisper interpreting

SEO FRIENDLY COPYWRITING

For blogs and websites

GET IN TOUCH FOR A FREE QUOTE

CONTACT: hola@lafabricadetraducciones.es

+34 680 186 708 www.lafabricadetraducciones.es

More than 30 language combinations

CREDIT:

Freyr

Gylfason

The man did something himself instead of looking for sympathy. Good on him.

Andrew Brimfield, Abersychan (Wales)

CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

LIVE-IN CARE

TEL:

Puzzle solutions

Across: 6 Shanghai, 8 Omit, 9 Debtor, 10 Caters, 11 Mortar, 14 Snags, 15 Leave, 17 Darwin, 21 Ethnic, 22 Hearty, 24 Size, 25 In denial.

Down: 1 Phlegm, 2 Sherpa, 3 Ditch, 4 Don’t-know, 5 Oil rig, 7 Net, 12 Revenues, 13 Rod, 16 Entail, 18 Aphids, 19 Not far, 20 Acrid, 23 Ann.

O P LIVE RESS ANDALUCÍA

Gael force!

BOTH the men’s and women’s gaelic football teams in Costa del Sol have qualified for the Iberian finals. The women’s team have been unbeaten all season so far.

Blow me

RUSSIAN tennis hothead Svyatoslav Gulin was booted from a World Tour match after yelling ‘You, suck me’! in Spanish at the court umpire, while grabbing his crotch.

Beers

TIKTOKER Harry Poulton was astounded after stumbling across beer on the menu at Burger King’s branch in Benidorm. He was disappointed at the €3.06 price tag though.

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

FORGET the millionaire lifestyle of Marbella or Ibiza - if you want to be happy, head for the more modest seaside town of Chipiona.

The little-known beachside beauty, tucked away in Cadiz, has just bagged the title of ‘Happiest Town in Spain 2025’ – and locals are grinning from ear to ear.

The sunny spot, known for its end- less

By Tom Ewart Smith

sandy beaches and the tallest traditional lighthouse in Spain, shot to number one in a nationwide YouGov survey for sugar brand Azucarera – beating out tourist darlings like Ronda and Nerja.

So what’s the secret? According to the report, it’s all down to Chipiona’s ‘people, climate, and philosophy of life’. In other words: sunshine, smiles, and siestas.

Last year, Chipiona came third – but this time, it’s claimed the crown, and proudly so. The poll, part of the ‘Los pueblos más felices de España’ study, quizzed over 2,000 Spaniards on what towns made them feel most joyful –

Spain’s happiest town is a tiny seaside gem you’ve probably never heard of

then had them rate their top picks.

Andalucia dominated the leaderboard, with seven out of the top 10 towns coming from the southern region. Beachy Cadiz and sunny Malaga were the stars of the show, with Tarifa, Zahara de los Atunes, and Benalmadena all making the cut.

The only non-Andalucian town

in the top five was Valencia’s medieval gem Peñiscola.

Sunshine, beauty, and nature topped the list of happiness boosters – though northern towns like Santillana del Mar scored big for food and scenery.

So if you’re after joy in 2025 –forget the crowds and head to Chipiona. Happiness, it seems, wears flip-flops.

Pigeon Pete’s wrong turn

A CLUELESS racing pigeon flapped his way into the history books after taking a wrong turn on his way from Mallorca to Ibliza - and ended up 5,000km off course in Canada.

Pigeon No. 9950, a first-time flyer from Mallorca, was meant to race a mere 125km to his neighbouring island. But he somehow ended up in Nova Scotia a month later - looking ruffled and a bit worse for wear.

Owner David Fernandez reckons he hitched a ride on a cargo ship, calling the bird’s survival ‘amazing’. Now called Peter, the plucky pigeon has found fame and a new home in a Canadian rehab centre.

He was a little underweight, slightly dehydrated, and had some bad bruising when he arrived but has made a full recovery.

“If they have grown fond of him, I am not going to take Peter away from them,” said David, no doubt with one eye on the ‘complicated’ paperwork he would have to fill in to get Peter back.

TALL STORY: Chipiona has Spain’s tallest lighthouse AND happiest locals