The Leader Newspaper 5 July 21 – Edition 874

No 874 Monday 5th - Sunday 11th July 2021

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Keeping people safe and informed for over 17 years - The Costa Blanca’s oldest ‘FREE’ English language newspaper

PROPERTY LAW REVOKED TO AID BRITISH BUYERS

A submarine undergoing repairs at the Cartagena Naval Base

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from the Ministry of Defence in order to buy property within areas considered to be close to Strategic Defence Points.

As of 2 July Spain no longer requires non-EU buyers to seek a special permit

The announcement was made on Friday by the Alicante Association of Promoters (Provia), which last January denounced the regulations, saying that they could stop at least 800 annual purchases in the Alicante Province alone.

he Ministry of Defence has removed the obligation that foreigners from outside the EU must obtain permission to buy a house in parts of the Vega Baja and Costa Calida, after pressure from developers

A spokesman for the group said it had been made possible thanks to the joint efforts of the General Directorate of Tourism, the Alicante Chamber of Commerce and Alicante Socialist Deputies, who have managed to convince the Ministry of the negative impact that the procedure has had, economically and on the portrayal of the country.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Property Law Revoked ADVERTISING SALES

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The law was drafted in the last year of the Franco regime as a way to protect national security by preventing strategic sites being bought up by foreigners.

It came into effect under Royal Decree 689 published in 1978 and has only now been revoked.

Locally, the areas affected included Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, San Miguel de Salinas Pilar de la Horadada, and much of the Vega Baja, along with the Costa Calida and Mazarron, which, due to their proximity to the naval base in Cartagena all fall within the military zone.

The order, issued by the Ministry of Defence, now establishes that in those municipalities affected by the regulation, even if the land has been approved in a partial plan or is classified as urban land, it will no longer be necessary to apply for a military per-

Orihuela refuses transfer of Old Courts as documentation is in Valenciano The Orihuela City Council has refused to accept the transfer of the property of the old courts that was recently approved by the Ministry of Finance,

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mit.

Only those homes that are on undeveloped land will now have to request this permit.

Until now, for non nationals and non EU members, the obligation to obtain authorisation meant providing a whole battery of documentation, including a police clearance certificate from the purchaser’s country of origin, and usually much more. All needed to be duly translated and, at least in duplicate, with many buyers having to wait between 6 and 8 months to complete the sales process.

After the UK left the EU on 1 January following BREXIT, Spanish Promoters and Realtors quickly realised the catastrophic effect that the legislation would have on their principal market and although Provia have been contesting the regulations for many years, added pressure from the Ministry of Tourism saw the Ministry of Defence recommend the retraction of the Royal decree on Friday. because the document sent by the Consell to amend the ownership is written only in Valencian.

The local government, of PP and Cs, has refused to accept the document and will not do so until the Consell sends it again, but in Spanish.

The document approving the transfer of the property was received on May 21 but the Orihuela government says that it does not comply with the decree of the Consell which states that, "Communications from the Administration of the Generalitat with Local Administrations or agencies, will be drawn up in Valencian and Spanish."

Monthly dog walk to raise funds at SAT Once a month we welcome everyone to join us on a fun walk with or without a dog in aid of SAT, it´s a 50 min walk with the opportunity to turn back for a 30 min walk.

Great exercise for you and your dog and all for €5 euros.

We start and finish the walk at El Rancho Los Montesinos a dog friendly cafe where water and biscuits are waiting for the dogs. Contact Angela on 696 426 783 for info

On Friday the PSOE spokeswoman, Carolina Gracia, spoke about what she considered to be an "unjustified delay" by the Department of Heritage led by Cllr Rafael Almagro in attending to the matter.

Council relent as residents demand improved access The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, met with residents of the urbanization Jardín del Mar III last week to check progress on the construction works of a pedestrian walkway between the nearby cul-de-sac to C/Joaquín García Sánchez, an area known as Doña Inés.

The works, which have a budget of 9,707 euros, began last Monday, and are expected to be fully completed during this coming week.

The walkway is being erected following pressure

from residents who demanded the need for improved access in and around the residential area.

The footbridge is being built using non-slip grooved boards with handrails on both sides, on a base of corrosion-protected steel.

The mayor said that the walkway will allow pedestrians to move through the area safely and comfortably, in accordance with current regulations on accessibility to the urban environment.

AGAMED have carried out a modification to a section of the drinking water network, thus allowing the construction of the staircase adjacent to the existing wall.

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The Provincial Court in Alicante where the trial took place

F OU RTE E N YE AR S F OR ATTE M PTE D M U R DE R OF H I S SCOTTI S H PART N E R n Alicante Court has imposed a sentence of more than fourteen years in prison on a Scottish man who, four years ago, stabbed his ex-partner in the town of Rojales.

“As soon as he was gone, I started screaming for help.

The victim, 60 year old Mhairi Campbell from East Kilbride, a former finalist in the Miss Scotland Beauty Pageant, spent several days in hospital recovering from her injuries. She said that she had been left scarred for life and has since suffered post-traumatic stress as well as depression as a result of the attack.

Last month, state prosecutors asked trial judges to imprison McDonald for eight years if found guilty, but on Friday it emerged he had been handed a 14 year, 11 month prison sentence after the three judges sided with a private lawyer acting for Mhairi, who said his crime warranted a stiffer punishment.

William McDonald, aged 61, tried to stab Ms Campbell in a "surprise attack" when she had her back turned to him.

He said that McDonald took advantage of the fact that the victim had her back turned to pick up a knife and stab her unexpectedly.

The victim split with McDonald, from Rutherglen near Glasgow, around two weeks before the stabbing, following a five-year relationship. The attack occurred at her holiday home in Rojales near Torrevieja in the early hours of 19 July 2017 after he showed up, despite a restraining order, and they began to row.

The victim said that she felt a punch in her back and when she fell to the ground and turned around, she could see her attacker with a knife in his hand and realized that he was stabbing her. As she raised her arm, she received the second stab wound.

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The court sentencing document said it had been proven Mhairi was attacked after asking him to leave the property when he started shouting at her and demanding money.

The victim told him to leave and was stabbed as she walked toward the front door, having turned her back on him. Already on the ground, she received a second stab wound to the arm, according to the prosecution.

While she was lying on the floor bleeding, she asked him for help, but he only cleaned up the blood with bleach and left the house with a suitcase. Her cries for help were heard by the neighbours, who alerted the Civil Guard.

“I kept begging him to get me help. I told him I’d tell the police it was an accident but he still said no. So I asked him to go, told him to run – anything to get him out of the apartment.

“Eventually, that’s what he did.

“He said he’d call an ambulance from a pay phone but he never did.

“My neighbour saved my life. She heard me and called for help.”

They said that even though the victim survived the stabbing, the defendant "used all appropriate means to cause her death, which did not occur, but due only to reasons beyond his control".

The presiding judge said “The weapon used was capable of causing death and the area where the stabbings occurred put the victim’s life at risk. “There is no doubt about the defendant’s wish to kill his victim and not just to injure her.”

The ruling also requires McDonald to compensate the victim with 5,600 euros for the injuries, 14,900 for the consequences and another 5,000 for non-pecuniary damage.

The judges also impose a restraining order whereby the accused will not be able to approach or communicate with the victim for the next 24 years.

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TOURISM IN EU FELL BY 61% DURING THE PANDEMIC

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Meanwhile the United Nations published a report on 1 July stating that the world economy could lose more than 4 trillion dollars between this year and last due to the impact of the pandemic on tourism, warning that losses in 2021 would be in a range between 1.9% and 2.7% of world GDP.

n its latest published report, the European statistics provider, EUROSTAT, has revealed that Tourism in the EU fell by 61% During the Pandemic with Malta, Spain, Greece and Portugal the most affected countries.

The figure for the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation dropped by 61 per cent from April 2020 to March 2021, accounting for 1.1 billion tourists, whereas 12 months before the pandemic struck (April 2019 to March 2020), there were 2.8 billion tourists accommodated for overnight stays.

Malta has marked a -80 per cent decline in overnight stays, being the hardest-hit destination by the pandemic. Tourism dropped by 78 per cent in Spain, placing the country’s tourism second on the list of countries hit by the pandemic. Greece’s tourism declined by -74 per cent while Portugal experienced a -70 per cent decrease, and Hungary hit a 61 per cent low.

Meanwhile, Denmark and the Netherlands reported the lowest shortfall of the EU member states, marking a -36 per cent decline.

However, internal tourism increased in Slovenia by 25 per cent and Malta by 20 per cent, compared to the same period. Yet, this increase was unable to balance the sharp drop in international tourism.

For Spain, this range would be between 1.3% and 2.4% of GDP. However, the Spanish government has improved the expected number of tourists this summer to 17 million (compared to the 15.5 million forecast just a month ago by the Executive and three times more than in 2020), although it would still be 20 million fewer tourists than those who visited the country in the high season of 2019.

Back in August 2020, the Spanish government approved a €14,445 Million fund in a bid to support 111,080 companies to recover from the damages caused by the pandemic, after Spain’s tourism risked losing more than €40 billion due to Coronavirus.

However, the country was hopeful for tourism to start recovering in April 2021, with the press reporting a 20 million international visits loss during 2020.

European Court reports on increasing number of Failures to Refund Flights Cancelled Due to COVID-19

In terms of flight bookings for the next 12 months, the companies have registered 46% of those delivered in the same period for 201920, with 80% in the case of the Balearic Islands and 62% in the Canary Islands.

Tthe Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés, said that this could be even greater if the British Government lifts the restrictions on travel to Spain on 15 July. If the Government’s new forecasts are met, it would still be 45% below the figures recorded in the summer of 2019.

Cyber attack prevents Ireland introducing EU Covid Passport Despite all other member states implementing access to the EU Digital COVID Passport on 1 July the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders has said that Ireland is the only Member State that is not ready to implement the system.

As such, over 1.5 million of it’s citizens are being denied their right to travel because of the failure.

It is understood that the passport will not be available to issue in Ireland until the second half of July.

Reynders said that the delay was due to a cyber attack in Ireland making it difficult to reach the goal to have all of the technical solutions in place.

The Chief Executive of Ryanair DAC Edward Wilson has asked the Minister of Transport, Eamon Ryan, to give an explanation on why the country is not issuing the certificates until July 19, while the other 24 EU Member States implemented the system back in June.

He said that as a result, more than 1.5 million Irish vaccinated travellers will not be able to travel freely.

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has criticised governments and airlines for making no effort to reimburse many millions of travellers who lost their money in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced airlines to cancel almost all of their flights.

Annemie Turtelboom, who is a Member of the ECA, said that the number of people complaining about their flights’ lack of refund had “literally exploded from March 2020, and will have affected hundreds of millions, and doubtlessly several million across Europe”.

EU law establishes that airlines must reimburse travellers in case of cancellations, by law, if their flights and cancelled, but she also added that, because neither airlines, the European Commission nor Individual EU Members had reported definitive figures, no-one actually knows how many people have been affected by a lack of refund. She said that Airlines are unforthcoming because they consider these numbers to be very sensitive from a commercial and financial perspective.

“We find ourselves in a situation where everyone knows that there are victims, but no one wants to know.

Governments are burying their head in the sand. In the ECA, we have meanwhile estimated that there were at least 50 million cancelled tickets, which the companies have not refunded,” Turtelboom said.

Several companies refused to offer refunds during the height of the pandemic cancellations and instead asked passengers to exchange their flights. Many companies even removed their refund websites.

“All too often, the client is caught in a game of ping-pong between the airline company and the travel agency, with each saying it’s the other’s responsibility,” Turtelboom said, while at the same time airlines received record government aid of almost €35 billion due to the COVID crisis.

About 15 EU member states, including France, allowed their airline companies to lift their obligation of offering refunds during the first months of the COVID-19 crisis.

“With over 1.5 million Irish adults fully vaccinated, less than 45 Covid patients in hospital and less than 15 in intensive care units, there is no justification for any further delays,”

Wilson argued.

Countries not in the EU, like the UK, have started rolling out their own systems. England has its own COVID-19 pass through the National Health Service (NHS), which can also show proof of vaccination, recent test result, or past infection. People in Scotland and Wales can get a paper version. The EU does not currently recognize the NHS pass, although some individual countries within the EU do, and that could change as countries work to make the systems compatible.

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Council mismanagement could see Aguamarina section of Coastal Walkway closed S ix years ago there was delight among the general public and holidaymakers who know the area, when the section of the Cabo Roig Walkway between Aguamarina and La Caleta beach was opened up. Only the residents of Bellavista urbanisation objected against the move as the route passed in front of their properties.

The Orihuela Council carried out the demolition of the private wall that the residents of the urbanisation had erected at both ends – up until which time the pathway was private, serving only the 52 homeowners.

In May 2017 the Provincial Coastal Service indicated that the land in Aguamarina is affected by a right of way and, therefore, the residents could not close it and had to leave the passage free.

Well it seems now that the many hundreds of people who pass along the path in front of the Bellavista urbanisation on

a daily basis could once again be forced to make the two-kilometre detour to cross that section of just 60 metres next to the sea, as was the case prior to 2015.

For this reason, it urges the Ayuntamiento to initiate "immediately" the acquisition of the land, through expropriation.

In the intervening period the Bellavista Residents have continued to fight their case and now, after three judicial decisions, the last one from the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV), it seems that the judges agree with the residents and require that the private wall must be erected once again because its demolition by the Council was illegal.

The affected owners commissioned the expropriation be valued in 2019 from an office of engineers and urban planners, which they estimated at 700,000 euros, a sum that was unnaccepatable to the City Council, which proposed, to avoid it, by building a continuation of the walkway along the seafront, but under the current path, which they own.

However the project was rejected by the Coastal Service.

In their judgement they highlighted the mismanagement of the Consistory in the matter "since the local government has had more than enough time to have started the expropriation file."

Faced with this last judgement, the Council has filed a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court, even though the City Council's own lawyer recognises that the possibilities of approval are "certainly remote."

Another Black Flag for Cala Mosca

The Bellavista residents complain that their homes have been devalued by 20% as they no longer enjoy the views of the sea without members of the public passing regularly in front of their gardens.

As such the Consistory must urgently reconsider the expropriation value, and sit down with the residents to negotiate a fair price unless the walkway is to close once again..

This is not the first time that Ecologists in Action have awarded a ‘Black Flag’ to Cala Mosca

Every summer, the Ecologists in Action organisation publishes their "Black Flags" report, where it classifies the 48 worst beaches for pollution or poor environmental management after analysing almost 8,000 kilometres of Spanish coastline.

This year, Cala Mosca is again one of the names on that humiliating report, the only coastal area in Orihuela that is not urbanised, but on which there is an outstanding development project that will completely change its appearance, and see it covered with over 1500 new properties.

For this reason, the environmental organisation has awarded this degrading to the Cala Mosca beach, justifying the their decision by the environmental "mismanagement" of this unique area.

Cala Mosca was declared developable in the 1990 PGOU even though it was never

POETS CORNER YOU THREW ME A LEMON by MIGUEL HERNANDEZ (IV: From ‘El Rayo Que No Cesa’) You threw me a lemon, so bitter, with a hand warm and so pure, that its shape was not spoiled, and I tasted its bitterness regardless.

With that yellow blow, from a sweet lethargy, my blood passed to an anxious fever, feeling the bite of the tip of a breast that was firm and full.

But on gazing at you and seeing the smile that broke from you, at this acid act, so different from my voracious malice, my blood stood still, inside my shirt, and became that porous and golden breast a pointed and dazzling pain.

Orihuela’s most famous son, Hernandez died in Alicante jail in 1942

submitted to an environmental evaluation.

However there is still some hope that the area will remain as primary land following the issuance of a report from the General Directorate of Roads in which the construction of this project is said to be unfavourable.

The environmental organization proposes to the Oriolano council, based on all the irregularities that have arisen in the administrative process, that it now rejects the approval of the urbanisation of the only virgin area of the Orihuela coast, which already has a high saturation of residential housing.

In it’s judgement the Valencia Superior Court highlighted the mismanagement of the Consistory in the matter

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Almost 4,000 people in Spain owe over a million euros in unpaid taxes This seventh list includes a total of 3,869 debtors who each owe more than one million euros The Spain Tax Agency has published a new update of its list of defaulters who owe the Hacienda more than one million euros in unpaid taxes, with notable new additions including the new Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, with a debt of around 1.4 million euros and the Spanish lawyer and author from Barcelona, Ildefonso Falcones, who owes 1.3 million euros.

The Elche builder Ramón Salvador, with his company Residencial Mira Llevant SL, heads the list of the largest debtors in the province, with 41.8 million euros, practically the same Elche builder Ramón Salvador leaving the courts

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amount as last year. In addition, the businessman himself has a personal debt with the treasury of another 2.26 million euros.

Other prominent debtors on the Treasury list include the Spanish actress Paz Vega, who appears again with just over 3 million; and Agapito Sánchez, the eternal defaulter, who remains on the list with a debt of 15.4 million euros.

Construction company Sacyr, Energy giant Abengoa, Valencia TV Network Canal Nou, along with actor Kiko Matamoros, are other notables featuring on the Hacienda list.

From the football world, the former FC Barcelona and current PSG player, Neymar, is no longer on the list, but the Catalan team still feature with their Brazilian full back Dani Alves, who owes 2.89 million.

This seventh list includes a total of 3,869 debtors who each owed more than one million euros to the Tax Agency at the end of last year, a combined amount of the debt, 14,100 million euros, which is 1% lower than 2020.

Welcome back to the Hondón Valley Branch “Getting back to normal” at the June Branch Meeting Members arrived at Tipsy Terrace Restaurant in Hondón de los Frailes on 22nd June for just the second time this year. Although the evening clashed with various football matches on the tv, the “turnout” was superb.

We were delighted to welcome not only new members but those returning to the area and renewing friendships within the Branch.

Members heard of plans for future events, including a Golf Day in November, Poppy Ball and the Remembrance Service. There was also an update on welfare items for Overseas Branches and the amounts paid out by the Legion in the last year to support the Armed Forces Community living overseas.

The evening ended with members attempting to identify footballers in one of the Chairman (Neil’s) fiendishly obscure competitions!

One couple amazed others when they got all 18 questions correct!.

New members are always very welcome and details about the date and location of the July meeting can be obtained from the secretary on hondonvalley.secretary@rbl.community.

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Members completing Neil’s competition

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A historic trip to Cartagena

By Linda Bentley

W

e can now travel out of Valencia, but if you are like me, and lots of others still a bit wary about going too far and mixing with too many people just yet, only 45 mins South is Cartagena. A lovely city to visit for a day trip or longer.

It used to have so many visitors from the cruise liners that used to stop in the port before Covid days - but now there are fewer. Trade must be a lot slower for all there now.

For us though is it so close to go to and so much there in this 2,500 year old city, with so many historic features to visit and explore.

One of the oldest features is the Roman Theatre, built in the reign of Emperor Augustus and has been restored and is open to visitors. First you can venture through the indoor museum where artefacts found when excavating the Roman Theatre

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are exhibited, then onto the outside theatre. Built between the 5th and 1st Century BC the theatre had remained hidden for several centuries. It is a must see with seating excavated out of the rock and a stage of around 43 metres in length and a wealth of restored artefacts.

Muralla del Mar Promenade runs along the seafront where you can stop for a drink in the sunshine and soak up the scene of the boats bobbing on the water’s edge. There used to be several picturesque cafes along here, but for the moment they seem to have disappeared, hopefully they will return soon - but there is a Burger King!!!

The promenade leads down towards the port where there is the Midshipmen’s School, the General Services Centre and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

There is a huge carpark under the promenade on the front, and as you come out you are met by a huge bronze statue of a naked man, sitting, hugging his legs in hopelessness. It is nearly 5 metres in height, and it is there to pay homage of the city to the victims of terrorism. This is one of several statues around the city. Charles III, Guardian Angel, Columbus, The Whales Tail in the waters of the port (5 metres high by 8 metres

In front of he the old sailors training barracks are 12 artillery canons, decommissioned from the Spanish Fleet and were used in the 18th and 19th century

Unveiled in 2009 The Naked Man pays homage to the victims of terrorism high) to name a few.

take in this lovely city.

Before the façade of the old sailors training barracks are 12 artillery canons, decommissioned from the Spanish Fleet and were used in the 18th and 19th century and come from different origins.

Their origins can be seen on the markings on the barrels.

There are boats trips on the tourist boat now and they are doing a 45minute trip and a 3hr voyage.

The trips take you out to the headland where you can see Christmas Fort, Fuerte de Navidad, on the right-hand side. Some of the trips stop here so you can visit this coastal battery, which is now a museum showing the everyday life of military men in the 19th century.

Amongst the many Museums to see are the Navy Museum, Historical Military Museum, Civil War Museum, and Modern Arts. The Palacio Consistorial was built between 1900 and 1907. Its façade is extremely ornate, exquisite in its design, with lots of decorative elements.

The Palace is open to the public and you can wander around the ornate rooms and magnificent staircase.

Also, there is a panoramic Elevator that takes you high up to the top of Colina de la Conception.

From the top you can enjoy stunning views over the city with its beautiful exemplary buildings.

As you venture into the city the buildings have been restored in such a beautiful way retaining the look of when they were originally built. There are several well-known shops here if you wanted to browse but you can wander around further and

Cruise liners are beginning to return to the port

There are also plenty of guided walking trips for the more energetic.

You can see where they slept, relaxed, and ate and even learn to handle a canon.

Cartagena is a historic enthusiasts dream as there is so much to see and marvel at.

Not everyone is aware that Cartagena has a beach, and it has the most picturesque bay.

Cala Cortina is made up of two small bays with one fish restaurant to cater for your dietary needs whether it be tapas or a full delicious meal. I recommend not going on a Sunday as it gets very busy with the locals. It has a carpark with steps leading down to the bay.

Also, there is a dive centre here with many divers taking to the waters.

This little bit of paradise is certainly worth a visit.

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The merger between Bankia and Caixa alone will see over 100 more branches close in the Province

Banks close a branch in the province of Alicante every 4 days The number of branch offices of banks that are now operating in the Alicante Province has dropped to 739, the lowest figure since June 1978 when the province had 800,000 fewer inhabitants and a much lower volume of economic activity.

In that time more than 5,400 jobs have been lost. In the last 12 months alone, banks have closed 89 branches in the province of Alicante, that is, one every four days, according to the latest official data from the Bank of Spain, resulting on over 400 job losses.

It is a figure that will soon be reduced again, with the EREs of BBVA and CaixaBank and with the continued network reductions that the rest of the banks also foresee. No one dares to predict when they will end.

As the recession began to kick in, 13,398 bank

workers were recorded by Social Security, a figure that currently stands at 7,974.

The feeling of constantly living on a tightrope has taken its toll on bank staff, who in recent years have undergone a radical change in the tasks they perform. If before, a large proportion of the staff focused on servicing members of the public, cashiers have now become sales people as the commercial tasks are now the most important.

"What we hope is that the situation stabilises at some point and that the remaining workers are able to continue working in good economic conditions," says the head of the financial sector at UGT, Laura García, although she said that she regrets the labour conditions in the sector continue to worsen as cuts will carry on for some little time yet.

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on with similar projects right now.

Also, private landlords should be aided instead of frustrated when they attempt to provide rental accommodation by way of ‘buy to rent’s.

Not all Landlords are Louts …

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report on RTE news yesterday told us that house prices have increased by 13 per cent in rural Ireland. There are a number of reason for this spiral and one is that people working from home will continue to be the new norm.

These workers do not have to live near their work anymore and they are moving from city to the more tranquil country life.

Another reason is the fact that there is a shortage of houses available on the market. The old adage of ‘supply and demand’ has come into play. I don’t know if the pattern is similar in the US, but I do know that house prices there are at a thirty year high.

Some will tell you that it is more difficult now than ever before for first time buyers to get on the property ladder. I’m not so sure about this: It was never easy. Back in the day we had to have 20 per cent of the required mortgage on deposit for a year with the building society. Buying a house was never easy for most people in any generation.

So what about renting? There is a strong case to be made for renting rather than buying. We Irish like to own our own house, and we have one of the highest level of home ownership in the world, but if this proves to be a difficult or stressful target, a leaf should be taken from the American or German manual and just continue renting?

Landlords are constantly getting bad press, but most that I know are decent, fair people. There are bad landlords – same as there are bad tenants. Your average landlord is not the owner of huge blocks of apartments.

He or she is generally somebody who has worked and saved to own a second house or two as an investment.

People who invest in houses to rent become a significant asset in alleviating the housing shortage. They should be encouraged and aided by grants or tax-breaks, but in actual fact, the opposite is the case. If landlords are taxed out of the sector, more tenants will be left ‘without a roof over their head.’

Tenant and landlord should be an equal partnership, with mutual respect and with both sets of rights protected.

Tenant and landlord should be an equal partnership, and with mutual respect with both sets of rights protected. The renter deserves a long-term agreement and security of tenure. This works well in other countries. The landlord must receive his rent on time and without having to go looking for it.

‘A roof over your head’ should be a basic human right, but it should not be landlords alone who carry the burden of providing citizens with a roof over their head. That is the responsibility of the State.

I know, the satisfaction of owning your own house is immense – but you can still have the same benefits from a house, whether you rent or buy.

But if the thing was done correctly, private landlords, sinking their savings into bricks and mortar, can form an amicable business partnership with a renter looking for a home.

I have told you this story before but it is worth repeating: A farmer who lived near me left his farm to his trusted farm-hand ‘for his day’. The will stated that the farm was to pass on to family members after the workman’s death.

It is a bad sign that so many landlords are getting out of the business in recent years. Unfortunately, a minority of tenants stop paying rent and ‘dig in’ for as long as the protracted legal proceedings take to get them out.

A neighbour met the grateful workman on the road one day and remarked that it was a pity his former boss had only left him the farm ‘for his day.’ The simple workman’s reply is worth remembering. ‘But he too only had it for his day!’

The landlord gets soured by the experience, gets out of the business, and misses out on the good tenant looking for a home. In order to increase the supply of rentals, the owner must have a sustainable return

In poor times the local authorities built cottages for those entitled to low rent accommodation. The government of today needs to push

There is an urgency about tackling both the homeless situation and the housing crisis. A housing scheme of temporary rows of cheap

GARDEN FELIX ....... Zinnias attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies

Z

innias are mostly annual plants, and very popular because of their colourful, daisy-like flowers with vivid colours from red, orange and deep pink to green.

They have a long flowering season, from summer right up to the first frosts and are perfect for filling gaps in the border and planting in container displays. The long stemmed varieties make great cut flowers.

Attractive to all pollinating insects, including bees and butterflies, and especially hoverflies.

Zinnias thrive in hot, dry conditions, so grow them in well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered spot.

Best grown from fresh seed every year. When flowers have faded, seeds are found behind the base of the petals.

Store the seeds in an airtight container, until ready to sow in Spring.

accommodation surely cannot be that difficult to achieve by local authorities?

Give those who are entitled to it the opportunity of say a year in a ‘starter home?’ ‘Direct Provision’ is a disaster. Families should neither be split up nor herded into a hotel room.

We all know that there are good tenants out there: But it needs to be said that not all landlords are louts!

Don’t Forget Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.

Bernie.comaskey@gmail.com *Author, entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, Bernie Comaskey, now spends most of his time on a farm in Ireland; but he retains his strong links with the Costa Blanca.

Bernie has published four books; ‘If Ever a Man Suffered’, ‘The Best of Bernie’, ‘The Team’, and ‘Just Between Ourselves’.

Bernie’s books are available at half price, on sale from either Spanish Solutions or ‘The Leader.’ Call 637 227 385 for info.

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PAGE 11

Pascual Flores arrives back in it’s home port of Torrevieja T

he Schooner Pascual Flores arrived back into it’s home port of Torrevieja on Tuesday, for the first stop on its international tour of European waters, now equipped as a travelling ambassador of the tourist and cultural heritage of the city.

The mayor, Eduardo Dolón, together with his Councillor for Culture, Antonio Quesada, and the president of the Nao Victoria Foundation, José Fernández de Cabo, were all on hand to welcome the Torrevieja ship as it docked, under the command of its captain, Manuel Murube, along with 12 crew members.

The ship, now decked out as a floating museum, contains a multitude of exhibition and educational material, highlighting the history of pailebotes as transporters of salt, and as such it may now be visited by schoolchildren and the general public in all of the ports where it docks.

The mayor, skipper and officials

In each of the seaports it will provide a program of activities, designed with the cooperation of the "Joaquín Chapaprieta" Municipal Institute of Culture.

WELCOME HOME: Arriving in Torrevieja with it’s crew on Tuesday.

During the period of it’s stay in Torrevieja the schooner was visited by many hundreds of people, schoolchildren an adults, who were able to see first hand the meticulous work carried out during it’s refit.

Following it’s stay in Torrevieja, today Monday, the ship will move to Germany, making several stops along the way at different Spanish ports, including Huelva, A Coruña and Santander, prior to visiting harbours in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

From 9 to 12 August it will take part in the Bremerhaven Maritime Festival, along with other great and historic ships from all over the world, becoming the very first Torrevieja ship to participate in an international maritime festival.

It is expected that the Pascual Flores will then return to Spain, and will be back in Torrevieja, during Christmas, when it may, once again, be visited by residents and tourists during the holiday period.

José Fernández de Cabo explained that the restoration and overhaul work began last November 2020, when the boat was pulled out of the water at the Punta Umbria shipyard (Huelva), and where more than 100 tradesmen, including carpenters, caulkers, welders, blacksmiths, engi-

neers and auxiliary services, restored it to a perfect condition.

The mayor congratulated the president of the Nao Victoria Foundation for the excellent restoration

work saying that he now hopes that the Pascual Flores will become a great tourist ambassador which will promote the culture and seafaring roots of the city, across the world.

PAGE 12

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My Music Memories 1958 – Johnny Cash signed with Columbia Records, where he would remain for the next 30 years releasing over 60 albums.

1964 - The Beatles film A Hard Day's Night premiered at The Pavilion in London. Filmed during the height of Beatlemania, the film was made in the style of a mockumentary. In the same year 200,000 Liverpudlians took to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the premiere of the group's first film 'A Hard Day's Night.' The group were honoured in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall.

1967 - Pink Floyd made their first appearance on BBC TV music show Top Of The Pops to promote their new single 'See Emily Play'.

1971 – American jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died. He had many hits including 'Hello Dolly!', 'What A Wonderful World’ and ‘We Have All the Time in the World.’

Also in this year over-enthusiastic fans at a Mott The Hoople gig at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England, caused some injuries and two damaged boxes, prompting a temporary ban on rock gigs at the venue. The group paid £1,467 for damages to property.

Monday 5th - Sunday 11th July, 2021

singles chart with 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You'. The 18 year old from Hawaii was one of the youngest males to reach the top of the charts.

1989 - It was announced that for the first time compact discs were out selling vinyl albums.

1996 - 'Three Lions by comedians Baddiel and Skinner and The Lightning Seeds was at No.1 on the UK singles chart, (the official song of The England Football team).

2001 - A pair of Sir Elton John's sandals was set to become the most expensive shoes in history when they went under the hammer for charity.

Offers over £20,000 were invited for the Salvatore Ferragamo sandals to raise funds for Elton's Aid Trust.

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2003 – Johnny Cash made his last ever live performance when he appeared at the Carter Ranch.

Before singing "Ring of Fire", Cash read a statement about his late wife that he had written shortly before taking the stage.

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on Broad Street that the brass paving star meant more to him that than any Hollywood accolade.

2004 - David Bowie was forced to cancel a string of European shows after emergency heart surgery.

2007 - Ozzy Osbourne became the first artist to be honoured on Birmingham's own Hollywoodstyle Walk of Fame.

The singer, from Aston, told more than 1,000 fans 2009 - Michael Jackson's family and fans said farewell to the pop superstar at an emotional memorial service. The singer's coffin was placed in front of the stage during the event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after an earlier private funeral.

Baddiel and Skinner at Wembley last Saturday

Jackson's daughter Paris, 11, fought back tears to describe him as "the best father you could ever imagine". Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey paid tribute before the family joined a sombre finale on stage. Motown boss Berry Gordy, who signed the Jackson Five, ended his tribute with the words: "Michael, thank you for the joy, thank you for the love. You will live in my heart forever."

1972 - Donny Osmond was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Paul Anka song 'Puppy Love.' The first of three solo No.1's for Donny.

1977 - Elvis Costello quit his day job at Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics to become a full time musician.

1988 – Glenn Medeiros was at No.1 on the UK

Summer Youth programs released for Torrevieja and Orihuela The Summer Youth Progams were released in Torrevieja and Orihuela last week which it is hoped will keep youngsters, from across the region, occupied during the long school holiday.

In Torrevieja, which seems to have a far more ambitious agenda than it’s neighbour, there are a total of 12 educational leisure activities, courses and events that are being organised for young people who are residents of the city.

An Urban Youth Camp for youngsters from 12 to 17 years of age will begin on 12 July, lasting for two weeks. There will also be a Crazy Urban Festival, with performances by well-known urban artists, on August 13 and 14, in the Eras de la Sal, which will also feature exhibitions and presentations of urban art, prior to each of the concerts, that will also move around a number of different locations in the city, from July 30 to August 12, featuring young local artists from Torrevieja with disciplines such as graffiti, break dance, hip-hop and urban dance.

Comarcon 2.1, a leisure and entertainment event, will be held remotely from August 13 to 15, featuring youth associations and volunteering.

La Troupe, joins with the CIAJ to present the musical “On Air”, with a theatre workshop and rehearsals, all of which will be open to participation by the youth of Torrevieja, at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre. The premiere of the musical will be on August 31 at the Municipal Theatre.

Training and languages will feature an ecological and environmental creative recycling workshop, an advanced web design course, an English course for the E.S.O and two study techniques

workshops have also been programmed for students of different educational levels.

girls able to benefit from these organised activities.

There will also be leisure outings for young people with functional diversity held throughout the summer and, as of September 15, conversations in English will be resumed with British volunteers.

There will also be places available for students of the Infant Education units of 2 years in dedicated, San Bartolomé, Villar Palasí, Torremendo and La Aparecida, with up to 72 places on offer.

More information and registration in the youth social networks, telephone 965 71 4072, whatsapp 606 055 291, email youth@torrevieja.eu and in the youth section on the municipal website www.torrevieja.es Registration is also open for the 2021 Summer School to be held across the Orihuela municipality, from July 19 to August 31 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) including the coast, during the months of July and August, is now open.

This year the number of available places has increased significantly with up to 1,277 boys and

The price of the Summer School will be 60 euros for students who enrol for a full month and 30 euros for those who only enrol for a fortnight.

The Summer School is expected to take place at the facilities of CEIP Miguel Hernández, CEIP Villar Palasí and Fernando de Loaces in Orihuela, as well as on the coast and districts provided that a minimum of 12 registrations per centre is exceeded.

Registrations can be made by downloading and completing the forms available on the Ayuntamiento/ Department of Education webpage.

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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

QUICKIE CROSSWORD

ANSWERS Week 873

ACROSS 1.

Scorn (8) 5.

Pack (4) 9.

Aid (4) 10. Last (8) 11. Prohibition (5) 12. Base (7) 13. Powers of memory (13) 18. Monument (8) 19. Intellect (4) 20. Repeat (7) 21. Viper (5) 22. Location (4) 23. Misanthropy (8) CAN YOU MASTER THE SUDOKU CHALLENGE? Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on Page 23

DOWN 2.

Work (7)

3.

First-rate (3-4)

4.

Rashly (13)

6.

Bother (7)

7.

Testimony (7)

8.

Border (6)

13.

Relics (7)

14.

Storm (7)

15.

Regular (6)

16.

Wandering (7)

17.

Perfect (7)

QUICK ACROSS: 1 Supernatural; 7 Sides; 8 Bravo; 9 Toe; 10 Dissenter; 11 Inform; 12 Slalom; 15 Heaviness; 17 Oar; 18 Eying; 19 Exile; 21 Run-of-the-mill.

DOWN: 1 Short-sighted; 2 Red; 3 Assess; 4 Umbrellas; 5 Apart; 6 Court martial; 7 Shelf; 10 Derring-do; 13 Loose; 14 Recent; 16 Adieu; 20 Ice. CRYPTIC CRYPTIC ACROSS: 1 Little people; 7 Depot; 8 Sever; 9 Don; 10 Death-blow; 11 Spring; 12 Puffin; 15 Addressee; 17 Sap; 18 Calls; 19 Large; 21 Catty remarks.

DOWN: 1 Long-distance; 2 Lop; 3 Potman; 4 Oast house; 5 Level; 6 Growing-pains; 7 Donor; 10 Dinner-set; 13 Feste; 14 Ostler; 16 Delia; 20 Rum.

ACROSS 1.

Various needs are expressed in music (8) 5. Young bird lacking the knowledge to be fashionable (4) 9. Mail diverted to African state (4) 10. Musicians get together to make it up (8) 11. Open tarts, perhaps (5) 12. Mother goes first to point out part of the mast (7) 13. Minimum fare for those barred from free travel? (5,3,5) 18. Well brought up, but lacking refinement (5,3) 19. High spots of a European tour (4) 20. An old Empire sofa (7) 21. Seat of battle? (5) 22. A wrong to right (4) 23. Guiding line about two similar points (8)

L EA D E R T R I V I A Q U I Z 1.What is the celestial sounding name of the major port city on the White Sea? 2. Which 1880 novel from Lew Wallace, later a Hollywood blockbuster and Academy Award winner, was the first work of fiction to be blessed by a Pope?

3. Manitoulin Island in Canada holds which superlative?

4. Which word in the film Gremlins is Cantonese for monster or demon?

5. Which two US manned space programs preceded Apollo?

6. The following are the first words to which famous Sci-fi book? "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended."

7. With 1,038 km, what is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula?

8. With 3 hours and 54 minutes (234 min), which Oscar winner for best picture is the longest?

9. Which fabled writer is credited with the following words of wisdom?

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch" 10. The following words are from songs with the word 'Pretty' in the title.

Can you name the song? a. Cause her hair glows like the sun, and her eyes can light the sky. b. I don't believe you, you're not the truth. c. Don't ask us to attend 'cos we're not all there. d. Wake up you sleepy head, put

DOWN 2. Once in the theatre he demands his money?s-worth (7) 3.

Time to take in a strange rite by the Red Sea (7)

4.

Keep the matter dark? Not at all! (4,7,2)

6.

Tabitha makes a place for animals and plants (7)

7.

No quick-growing plant (7)

8.

Give notice (6)

13. Don?t keep a promise to move a car from the garage? (4,3) 14. It provides no latitude for the navigator (7) 15. Dark thoughts? (6) 16. No expert, but someone of a mature disposition (7) 17. Give reason for broken axle-pin (7)

( A n s we r s o n p a g e 2 3 ) on some clothes, shake up your bed 11. What couldn't cope recently at 47 47?

12. 'Two Socks' plays a role in which Academy Award winning film for Best Picture?

13. Name the city in which the following airports are found? a. Lester B. Pearson International, b. George Bush Intercontinental, c.

Schiphol, d. Batman Airport, e. Pudong International 14. Donald Duck's penny pinching uncle Scrooge was born in which European city?

15. With the aid of the following initials, name the Beatles songs with a womans name in the title. a. D P, b. M M D, c. P P, d. S S, e. A (G T H) 16. Sagarmatha (goddess of the sky) is better known in English as what?

17. Name the six female tennis players who have won 18 or more Grand Slam Singles Titles.

18. What are the six most populated cities in Canada? One point for each correct answer.

19. What is the Greek word for an Egyptian Christian?

20. What was Ivanhoe's first name?

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Delays of up to 18 days in health centres This summer it very much looks as though health management is going to be overwhelmed once again, as many health centres are already warning of long delays, which they say are going to get even lengthier as medical staff begin to take their seasonal leave. They warn that many patients are already unable to contact their centres, even by telephone.

The accrual of several bank holidays and the beginning of holidays among health staff has already led some of these departments issuing guidelines aimed at forcing family doctors to cover daily up to 70 patients, compared to the current, and usually heavy workload, of fifty.

Medical Centres that serve a greater number of people, the numbers of which increase during the summer, such as Cabo de las Huertas in Alicante, are now facing delays for telephone-only appointments of up to 18 days.

Queues last week outside the Medical Centre in San Miguel de Salinas

It is a similar situation in Benalúa, where staff cannot cope, despite the fact that the centre is one that is traditionally among those that have the least delay. In this clinic, which is located in a central area of Alicante, the delay is now three days longer for a telephone appointment than face-to-face.

The queues also overflow in Florida Babel, with patients stating that they are completely "fed up" of trying to get through by phone, without success, hence their attendance at the centre with the intention of making an appointment, during the next few days.

In the areas covered by the Elche Department of Health the delays are not quite so pronounced but they still amount to a week or more for both face-to-face and telephone appointments.

Medical Unions are claiming that only 21% and

27% of the doctors in the health centres supporting Alicante, Elche and the coastal areas, are being replaced with holiday cover, while in areas such as Elche-Vinalopó, that figure drops to only 13%.

Similar percentages are replicated in Orihuela, Elda and the Marina Baixa, where only between 20% and 40% of the doctors receive holiday cover.

"These are not adequate figures in any circumstance, and even less so in the current epidemiological situation that, let us remember, has not yet been resolved", said a spokesperson for the CESM provincial delegation.

The accumulated fatigue among health workers has also practically exhausted their willingness to work overtime in attempts to reduce the accumulated delay in health centres, as the stressful

year of fighting the pandemic has significantly reduced the number of doctors offering to work extended hours.

Meanwhile user Paul Stimpson contacted The Leader about the extremely poor service he says is currently being afforded to the public at the Cabo Roig Health Centre.

He said that it has deteriorated enormously during the last 18 months, now reaching the point where you can't make an appointment online because the portal doesn't let you.

“You can call the health centre but they don't answer the phones, so you have to drive up, or get a taxi, to simply make appointment. You have to queue up outside in direct sunlight during the heat of the day as they won’t let you inside, and if you finally get past the reception it takes over 2 weeks to get an appointment.”

PAGE 16

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Here s an idea for you ..........

MAYBE BABY Failure to conceive spells misery for many couples, who wonder if their dreams will ever come true.

The more they obsess about it, too, the worse it gets. aturopath and herbalist Francesca Naish has been treating infertile couples for more than thirty years at her clinic in Australia. Over and over again, she has proved that a comprehensive overhaul of diet, lifestyle and general health, with a continuous input of supportive herbal medicine and ongoing monitoring throughout, can have a happy outcome in the shape of a healthy bouncing baby.

N

'It's been suggested to me that my job description should be fairy godmother,' she laughs.

Over the years she and her carefully trained staff have successfully treated thousands of couples, many in their early forties, many with a history of miscarriage, some who have tried IVF without success, some about to try it as a last resort, and many of them diagnosed infertile. Many of them conceive within four months of starting the programme.

Excess pounds can diminish your chances of conception.

Try Gymnema sylvestre, an Indian herb whose common name of gurmar actually means 'sugar destroyer'.

When you take it you lose your taste for sugar, as well as the craving for sweet foods. It's sometimes combined with black pepper which contains chromium - a mineral essential to the body's metabolism of carbohydrates.

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Couples embarking on the programme are asked to use natural contraception methods for the first four months while they get their act cleaned up.

Dietary stipulations are rigorous: no coffee, alcohol or white sugar and only organic foods, to exclude pesticide and antibiotic residues.

'Treatment starts with an extremely thorough detox.

'Schisandra stands out as a liver-cleanser and tonic,' Francesca says, and I also use dandelion, milk thistle, rosemary, lots of nettle and cleavers.'

Rosemary is a great general tonic, which improves both general digestion and liver function. It's also extremely rich in antioxidants, to protect vulnerable sperm or egg from free-radical damage.

Cleavers - that odd clinging weed found in hedgerows - is another terrific cleanser, boosting lymphatic drainage to help clear wastes from the body, while milk thistle protects and stimulates the liver.

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ashwaganda, sometimes known as Indian ginseng, and a wonderful strengthening tonic for men and women alike, which is both safe and effective. For more details of her treatment, visit www.fertility.com.au.

Even if you can't follow Francesca's programme personally, you can still learn a lot from her approach. Especially important are her insistence on the necessity of thorough cleansing and detox - using herbs such as burdock, dandelion and nettle - and the building of outstanding general health and stress resistance, calling on wonderful tonics like ashwaganda, Siberian ginseng or shatavari.

As always, however, you shouldn't take herbal medicines if you are already on prescription drugs without discussing it with your doctor. And for more specific help for complex reproductive problems, always consult a trained herbalist, who can compose your own personal prescription, matching herbs to your specific problems.

'Radiation can be a huge factor in fertility problems, affecting both DNA and chromosomes,' Francesca points out.

Burdock and Siberian ginseng are two herbs she finds terrific at sorting out radiation problems; Siberian ginseng is also helpful for improving general resistance to stress, whether mental or physical.

In Francesca's programme, both men and women are treated with herbs that nourish the reproductive system and improve fertility. One outstanding herb here is Tribulus terrestris leaf, which has been shown to raise testosterone concentration, restore libido and up both sperm count and sperm motility.

For women, she often prescribes an Indian herb, shatavari root, which in Ayurvedic medicine is considered the supreme rejuvenating tonic for women. Traditionally, shatavari is reputed to nourish and strengthen the whole reproductive system. Not for nothing, perhaps, does its Indian common name translate as 'she who possesses a hundred husbands'.

Infertile couples are usually deeply stressed by months of alternating hope and despair. A great herb to know here is

NEXT WEEK: Time of the month....

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DALEKS OF THE PANDEMIC

W

e never thought we would invite a killer into our lives, did we? And yet most of us are queueing up to do just that at present. You are reminding me that some words mean different things at different times in history, being as insightful as usual. I can tell you've had your morning coffee.

Most vaccines work by inducing antibodies, but for some diseases (guess which) antibodies on their own aren't enough. We need -- I really wish my laptop had a Drum Roll key -- T cells (Hurrah!) as well.

T is for thymus, an organ just above the heart, which initially sounds quite romantic, until you learn it is about the size of a deck of playing cards, the cause of many a broken heart. T cells are heartless in their own way -- once exposed to the virus they become precision hunter-killers, directly eliminating virus-infected cells.

They can even recruit other cells to help them, when they need a T-break, perhaps? (How could I resist that?) They are the Daleks of the Pandamic: "Exterminate!"

The fact that we now welcome killers with open arms made me realise how downright fickle and misleading some terms eventually become, like the words 'British Summertime' or 'Prince Harry.' Fortunately, our doctors are no longer referred to as 'leeches', a name that came from lekjaz, 'he who speaks magic words'. ("Stop malingering and snap out of it," was as near as we sometimes came to medical advice back in the day.)

When a word mutates, wordsmiths call it semantic drift,

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by David Aitken

which sounds as if it might change its meaning during your afternoon siesta. People can sometimes drift off even when I'm awake and talking, hard as that is to believe.

A villein in medieval times was a tenant who paid rent, before he became a modern villain who was always several months in arrears, or skipped town altogether. The title 'Cheater' was given to royal officers who looked after a king's escheats, land he acquired when someone died without a legal heir.

Some cheaters -- well, you can guess what happened next. Let's just say they lost their heads. In the past, a stripe was a mark on the skin from a lash, rather than a fashion statement on pyjamas, and 'naughty' meant having naught, which probably led to naughty behaviour on occasion.

Most curious of all, a girl used to refer to any young person, regardless of their gender.

Shakespeare bamboozled one of his female characters, Viola, by shipwrecking her during a terrible storm, setting her down in a strange country, causing her to believe her brother had drowned, dressing her as a man and then making her fall in love with a man who wasn't aware she was a woman.

What a way to treat a girl, whether she was a girl or not.

Modern young offenders might be equally bamboozled by references to their T cells, especially if they hadn't been assigned to T Wing. Personally I was pleased to

learn that T cells are made in our bone marrow, like all red and white wine, I mean all red and white blood cells. As far as I know, my own blood cells are absolutely rosy at the moment.

I think I've spelled that right.

PAGE 17

Los Montesinos declares war on plastic

By Andrew Atkinson Los Montesinos council have taken steps to end the use of plastic bags in a bid to help the environment along with promoting local commerce.

"We have launched this campaign of war against plastic," said Mayor Jose Manuel Butron.

For every five plastic bags you can exchange them for a cloth bag - with the slogan 'Take me shopping in Los Montesinos'.

"We will exchange plastic bags for cloth bags in an initiative that aims to contribute to caring for the environment and promote local commerce," said Mayor Butron.

"With this exchange it is intended to get out of circulation plastic bags - the more the better - and instead use fabric. We thank Ferrovial for sponsoring the cloth bags with which we will fight against plastic bags," added Mayor Butron.

The council will give a cloth bag in exchange for five plastic ones at Los Montesinos Town Hall from 9am-2pm and on Fridays at the market.

PAGE 18

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Church Bible Study: Thursday 1.30p.m. House groups in Torrevieja, La Siesta – Contact: 966 752 543 / 617 215 463. Phone: 966 799 273 / 966 752 543 / 617 215 463. www.icatorrevieja.org

CAR SALES The Car of the Month at Automoviles Crespo is a 2019 Ford Ecosport petrol which is on Special Offer priced at just 18,500 euro. Come along to our showroom in Elche and see our vast range of new and used cars or call 96 666 22 60 for all our latest offers. The biggest and best for price, choice and quality. ENGLISH SPOKEN

SOCIAL AND CLUBS CHURCHES AND SERVICES La Siesta Evangelical Church hold services each Sunday.

Our 11.15am Services are held every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the month (and on the 5th Sunday, if this applies.) On the 1st and 3rd Sunday’s our Services are at 9.30 am. Our choir sings at our 11.15 am Services and there is also a Sunday School, Stepping Stones, on these Sundays. For info see www.lasiestaevangelicalchurch.org Join us at the SALT CHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. We are a friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship. Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, Polígono Ind.

HELEN...

Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. We are a lively, friendly church and look forward to meeting you. (Covid19 aware) The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) in Torrevieja meet at 10.00 each Sunday in their chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. All Welcome.

Phone or whatsapp the missionaries on 648 914 347 International Christian Assembly, Calle Urbano Arregui, 23, Torrevieja Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday service 11a.m.; Sunday school; Prayer meetings; craft and computer clubs. Ladies Bible Study: Thursday 11a.m.

The next meeting of the Royal British Legion Orihuela Costa and District Branch will be held at 7 for 7.30 pm on Thursday 15 July at the Olympia Pool Bar in Mil Palmeras. Everyone welcome, incl non members. Seated aerobics. Call Jean for info on: 630 28 08 99.

The Royal British Legion, Torrevieja Branch - Will meet at the Oasis, formerly the Casa Ventura, San Luis. Details will be announced when it reopens.

New members are always welcome. You do not have to be ex-services. For more info please contact:gill.burden20@gmail.com Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur is here to help you with problem solving and well being for

the over 50’s. We need volunteer Drivers and people to join our Residential Home Visiting Team. to visit people in a Residential Home, and take them out for a coffee. If you think you can help call into our centre at C/Paganini s/n, Urb. La Siesta 03184 Torrevieja or ring 966 786 887. Or email: costablanca@ageconcern.org.es Almoradi Meal Club. If do you fancy a meal out and meeting new friends, come and join our English speaking club. We have twice monthly meals at various restaurants in and around Almoradi. For info go to FaceBook or email: davedanie@gmail.com.

Badminton in Pilar de la Horadada. Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-12.30 pm.

Call John on 634 658 506 ...currently postponed Royal Naval Association, Torrevieja Branch now meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1700 (5pm) at CHE LOCO bar/restaurant, El

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Chaparral urbanisation, Torrevieja. For more information please contact Chairman Tony Jenkins on 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Danny Kay on 966 71 6274 or Secretary Margaret Forshaw on 966 92 1966.

Royal Air Force Association Costa Blanca Branch.The association supports the welfare needs of ex-members of the RAF and their dependents.

We also provide a social hub for members by organising monthly events. To fund Welfare we raise money through the Wings Appeal.

New members are very welcome. To find out more contact Chairman Tony at tony.elaine.cuenta@gmail.com For Welfare contact Bill or Pauline on 0034 634 38 99 83 or email rafacbpresident2@gmail.com.

For general information on RAFA visit www.rafa.org.uk.

HAH CB need you to help us help those in need in their own homes, short or long term medical conditions of all ages and nationalities. Contact our head office on 965 328 794 or e:charitycentrehelpathomecb @gmail.com.

Curious about the work of Samaritans in Spain? Have a few hours a week to help with the charity shop, fundraising or admin? Come and join us for a chat at our Centre in the Punta Marina Shopping Centre. Volunteers are unpaid but expenses are met. Email: spainsamsrecruits @outlook.com The Orihuela Costa Drop In Centre in C/Cipres, Lomas de Cabo Roig, is currently closed.

We will reopen as soon as we are able when we can offer you a full range of activities Info at: oc.communitycare @gmail.com

office@theleader.info

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HOLD THE FRONT PAGE Quote: 'At the Libyan Government Press in Tripoli I spent my 28th birthday - 600 miles in the middle of the Sahara Desert! - putting in a new Linotype machine in Sheba.

The remotest place I've ever worked'.

I

ANDREW ATKINSON talks to Los Altos, Orihuela based Frank Stanhope, in Part 1 of a Leader Exclusive, about the end of an era when newspapers switched Linotype hot metal during the 1970-80s, replaced by phototypesetting, computerised and page composition systems.

Frank retired to Los Altos Orihuela in 2006.

Frank (third, left) in Libya.

"One day I was getting ready to go to work and he received a message on his radio, that sounded strange.

"I asked Farag what was happening and he said that there had been a Revolution. 'Where', I asked. 'Here', he replied.

Frank's apprenticeship began as an office boy, during the time breaking news arrived on the 1958 Manchester United Munich Air Disaster with 23 deaths.

"I then had an opportunity to repair and instal machines at the Daily Post and Liverpool Echo in 1964, becoming a Liverpool fan," said Manchester born Frank, 80.

"I had some good times at The Echo, but sad times too, one being the day news came through about the Aberfan Disaster in 1966, when 24 adults and 116 children died when a colliery spoil

"A new machine I installed for the Government Press was in a hotel in Benghazi - to watch the 1969 historic Apollo 11 Moon landing," added Frank.

What happened next was unexpected: "I shared accommodation with a press worker in Tripoli called Farag.

was in the newspaper industry for 34 years, undertaking maintenance to Linotype hot metal machines, starting my apprenticeship in 1956 at Linotype & Machinery Altrincham, Cheshire, said Octogenarian Frank.

"When my apprenticeship was over in the early 60s I was qualified to repair and instal machines, the first being for D.C. Thompson printers for the Dandy and Beano comics.

I've ever worked," said Frank.

"I went to the window to have a look out and saw a soldier at the gate - with a gun - waving his hand for me to get back in! tip collapsed.

"The Daily Post was printed in the morning and the Echo for evening editions. By noon of the Aberfan disaster a Special Edition was on the streets. It was a sad day," recalled Frank.

On Saturday football match days, Frank said: "Sports writers wearing headphones came to the Composing room at 4.30pm, plugged in headsets and wrote the reports and results.

"Copy was given to the Linotype com-

MAR MENOR

positors, who typed it up for late football editions."

In printing and typography, hot metal typesetting (also called mechanical typesetting, hot lead typesetting, hot metal, and hot type) is a technology for typesetting text in letterpress printing.

After working at the Daily Post and Echo, Frank worked with the Libyan Government Press in Tripoli.

"A Government building was just a short distance away with soldiers on the roof - one of them took a pot shot at me - luckily it missed. I didn't hang around for more!"

"I started work in the Libyan Government Press in Tripoli in 1969, spending my 28th birthday - 600 miles in the middle of the Sahara Desert!

Once called the ‘eighth wonder of the world’ by Thomas Edison, Linotype

"I was putting in a new Linotype machine in Sheba - the remotest place

NEWS

The Messenger RNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna were seen to reduce risks of residents dying from coronavirus by 97%.

Data from December 27, 2020 to April 4, 2021 saw vaccines reduce chances of contracting COVID-19 by 71%, according to the Ministry of Health. The study was conducted in conjunction with the Carlos III Health Institute.

*Part 2 of a Leader Exclusive continues next week. Algeria, Fleet Street, USA, the end of hot metal and moving to Spain.

Marijuana and 2,835 found in car

by Torrevieja Civil Guard Alicante

By Andrew Atkinson

Over 20,000 patients have died in care homes in Spain during the coronavirus pandemic.

SAN Juan bonfires went ahead on the beaches of Los Alcazares on June 23 despite many councils - including Cartagena - prohibiting celebrations for a second consecutive year, due to COVID-19.

The 58,923 public employees, who provide service in the Murcia Community, will receive a 0.9 percent increase in their salary the month of July.

A maximum of 30 people were allowed to celebrate San Juan, but only with the compulsory wearing of masks and with prior notice given to the local police and Civil Protection.

"It was necessary to close social centres, due to many elderly people going through a tough time, being a group mostly affected by COVID-19," said San Javier mayor Jose Miguel Luengo.

"They can now resume their lives, with the peace of mind that being vaccinated gives them. Littleby-little we can return to normality," he added.

Monitoring of 33,133 residents in care homes in Spain was carried out after vaccinations were given against COVID-19.

The Josè Benedicto and Josè Espinosa centres in San Pedro are once again seeing activity in their common rooms following easing of coronavirus restrictions, with the favourite pastime of playing cards and dominoes taking place. Capacity is restricted to 50% with groups limited to six per table.

"It was two weeks before we returned to work. During that time I was putting washing out on a flat roof.

This method injects molten type metal into a mold that has the shape of one or more glyphs.

Andrew Atkinson reports from Los Alcazares, San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagan, Murcia.

In San Pedro del Pinatar, Lo Pagan and San Javier Social centres for pensioners have reopened after 15 months closure.

typecasting machines revolutionised publishing when invented in 1886, remaining for nearly a century.

This increase, approved in the General State Budget, and included in the Community Budgets for this year, will involve a cost of about 25 million euros and will also apply to the more than 5,700 teachers in subsidised schools.

The increase will be backdated to 1 January.

A human head has been found floating in the waters of Mazarrón, One of the theories is that it could belong to a person who was trying to reach the Murcian coastline by boat. In March, Mazarrón was the scene of the fatal shipwreck of a barge .

The head was caught up in the nets of a fishing vessel which immediately raised the alarm.

The remains were taken to the Murcia Institute of Legal Medicine, as indicated by the protocol.

According to early information, it belonged to a middle-aged man.

Currently there are half a dozen unidentified corpses in the Murcia morgue. Some are the remains of people found floating on the high seas, which are assumed to be immigrants who lost their lives whilst they were attempting to reach the Region.

A German has appeared in court accused of drug trafficking 23 kilos of marijuana in Torrevieja.

The man was arrested in May 2020, when Civil Guard patrols from Torrevieja conducted a routine check of vehicles.

Following a police search the vehicle was found to contain 23 kilos of marijuana in the rear seats of the passenger compartment - stacked in black plastic bags.

In the boot, another eight bags were discovered. In addition, €2,834 was found.

The bags contained dried, pressed and vacuum-packed marijuana buds, which did not give-off a strong characteristic smell, therefore making it difficult to detect.

The male 30-year-old driver had travelled alone to Spain from Germany, with the alleged intention of taking the drugs to northern Europe.

The accused was placed under the jurisdiction of Torrevieja Investigating Court, which transferred him to prison, without bail.

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SAN LUIS BOWLS CLUB by Sheila Cammack

Emerald Isle Bowls Club The delayed club internals have been taking place and the following finals have been concluded

They say every dog has its day and on Monday, with the last match of our 6 team internal trips league, it was The SPANIELS (Brian, Ray & Derrick+ subs Pete & Pam) who came out as top dogs with wagging rights & a clean lead, winning 10pts + 28 shots, keeping the TERRIERS (Helen, Ann, Scott) in 2nd place; 6pts +18 shots.

Over the 5 weeks there were some very close matches and some unexpected results! Even starting at 10:00 a.m. & limiting the matches to 14 ends, it was still hard to keep going in the heat but we made it and obviously it helps having Oasis outdoor bar open to provide us with cool drinks & snacks.

Bowling for members will continue on Monday mornings for those who want to play and on other days as well, earlier if they wish. On Wednesdays bowling has already moved to the evening 5:30 for 6:00 & Friday play will also move to the evening.

The Saturday CHICKEN DRIVE will continue at present 9:30 for 10:00 & is OPEN to federated bowlers, from any club as before; obviously following current distancing directions.

The usual green fee of 4€ applies to non SL members +1€ entry fee per person.

If you have any queries please contact Pete

PAGE 21

MENS 4 WOOD. Dave Morrison 21-9 Mel Odell LADIES 4 WOODS. Ann Marie Gerrard 21-11 Cas Thomas MENS PAIRS. Mike Veale Mel Odell 20-19 G Ponsford E Bennett. This game went to an extra end LADIES PAIRS. Sandra Kavanagh, Ann Marie Gerrard 21-6 Sue Bosworth, Linda Freeman Mixed Trips. Ann Marie Gerrard, Drew Gerrard, Colin Lindgren 20-6 Norman Prior, Jan Bright, Dave Morrison LUKE BURKE. Dave Morrison 21-19 Graham Shoots Ayres: pete.ayres1@gmail.com

7 months Green fees 1/10/21 - 30/4/22 - 140€

The number of teams each club is planning to enter has to be notified to LLB by mid August so people will have to make decisions soon about where they intend to bowl for the winter season.

+ FED fees - TBA

If players are prepared to commit themselves to San Luis B.C by 1st August, Gareth has agreed that for this year membership will be for 13 months, from 1st August 2021.

Information for anyone wanting to join us at San Luis: SLBC Membership fees 2021/22 - 15€ 13 months Green fees 1/8/21 - 31/8/22 - 200€

For non-resident players, limited to 90 days out of 180; (Brexit) membership is available (60€) for 3 CONSECUTIVE months. If the 90 days are split, then the 7 months Green fees would apply.

For further information contact June Jones: 691903773 email: keithjones81@hotmail.com San Luis B.C. has been around for 20 years, we’ve flourished this far & with a strong, committed membership we will continue, why not come and join us?

H

Subject to government restrictions, possibly to be introduced in the coming 6 weeks or so, an August AGM is being scheduled, with an anticipated September start date.

The Montesinos Mini-League teams competing are: The Courtyard (2), Dilly's San Luis, O’Brien’s El Raso, Mickey's Bar, Laguna Bar Entre Naranjos, George Bar San Luis and La Hacienda Lo Crispin.

"There are 14 fixtures, being seven at home and seven away, that runs from July 7 until October 7," James Green told The Leader.

"The Montesinos Mini-League was formed to help bring bars back together following the Torrevieja Pool League summer season being postponed," said James.

Following the coronavirus pandemic lockdown restrictions in place Torrevieja Pool League fixtures were postponed.

A return not to return to the green baize in the summer was announced

by Chairman Alan Boswell in early June.

"After great thought and deliberation I decided not to run a summer competition," Alan told The Leader.

"Teams that were interested are far too spread apart, from La Zenia, El Raso, Montesinos and Entre Naranjos, with only two teams in Torrevieja," reasoned Alan.

"Hopefully the Torrevieja pool league will return back to normal come October for the winter league," added Alan.

And of course our ever popular SAPS is running on Saturdays at 9.30am. Cost 5 euro gives you 2 hours of bowling with a coach if needed, shoes and Bowls supplied with a bar. By Elwyn Morris

The results of matches played in the trips internal league are as follows.....On Monday morning

aving endured two seasons of Covid 19 disruption, the Thursday darts committee are planning to resume formalities for a potential new '21 / 22 season.

A Montesinos Mini-League has been inaugurated by The Courtyard proprietors Samantha Barton and James Green, with eight teams set to get the summer season underway on July 7.

On a sad note this is the last year that Mel Odell will run internal comps. He has done a great job over the years, so now take a well-earned rest and leave the new comp Sec Norman Prior take the strain.

By Dave Webb

By Andrew Atkinson Exclusive

A new Mini-Pool League has been formed in the wake of the Torrevieja Summer Pool League being postponed this year.

Mens and Ladies Summer 2 woods comp will commence soon as will the Seamus Moran trophy as, so plenty going on at club

Greenlands Bowls Club

Mini-Pool League formed in wake of Torrevieja Summer League postponment

Club Representatives

The Mixed Pairs and Rinks Finals are delayed until September due to players being unavailable

Covid and Brexit matters have influenced many teams / individuals, Brexit, particularly affecting non residents, now facing 90 day compliance about turns, no good for respective captains expecting a full complement of players over a 7 month season.

The result has seen several teams reluctantly withdrawing, leaving a number of players without a Thursday side. Anyone finding themselves in this position should contact Simone de Lacy, for reassignment, where possible to other teams etc.

New teams wishing to join the popular league, or teams planning to change venues, should register their intent to Simone on simonedelacy@hotmail.co.uk

by August 7th.

Spain Rugby International scuppered by Covid The much anticipated 2023 World Cup Qualifying match between the Russian National Rugby Team and Spain, due to be held last Saturday at the Villajoyosa, Municipal Rugby Stadium, was called off late last week after 3 members of the Russian squad tested positive for Covid.

The Russian squad, consisting of over 50 players and support staff, had been staying at the brand new Barcelo Nucia Hills Hotel since 20 June, while training in the magnificent facilities of the Camilo Cano de La Nucia Olympic Stadium, kindly loaned to them by the La Nucia City Council in preparation for the match.

The authorities have requested the strict isolation of the 3 players concerned as well as anyone who might have had close contact.

The encounter will now be rearranged following discussion between the two Federations

The Oaks were at home to the Beech, Final scores were - total shots for - 50, shots against - 35. Points 8-0.

Highest scoring rink were - John Rosati, Carol Stobbart, skip Keith Stobbart, - 18-9. With this result, the Oaks play their last match against the Ash with an overall 2 pt advantage, should have the makings of a great final.

Monday afternoon saw the Ash play the Cedars, Final scores were - Total shots for the Ash 54, total shots against - 29, Points 8-0. Highest scoring rink were Brian Tomlin, Mary Lockley, skip Phil Lockley, 22-5.

Carp R Us Angling Club Not many years ago members looked forward to matches on the Eden stretch of the Rio Seguro, they were usually evenly contested with many pegs capable of producing winning weights and you could almost guarantee that everyone caught something.

Sadly, this is no longer the case and even when conditions are reasonable, the fishing is extremely hard.

Whether this is due to the of Blue Crabs that invaded the river a few years ago (fortunately they now seem to have disappeared) or some other reason, no one knows, but whatever the cause, the fishing is now poor with almost half of those fishing todays Carp-R-Us match not catching.

One person who did find a few fish was Roy Buttress who had 3.63kg from peg 2 using feeder and corn.

Second, from peg 7 was Roy Dainty with 2.40kg using pole and corn.

Third was Jeremy Fardoe with 2.32kg caught using pole and bread on peg 18.28kg caught on 14 and fourth was Steve Fell with 0.15kg from peg 6.

For more information, visit our website http://www.carp-r-us.weebly.com Take care in the heat this weekend

PAGE 22

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ALFIES GOLF SOCIETY Lo Romero –Thursday 24thJune 2021 32 members from Alfie’s GS played at Lo Romero last Thursday. As usual the course was in first class condition, the greens were true although the weather played its part in what was at times a blustery cloudy day, however scoring could be good.

This year’s Captain’s Charity is Help at Home (Costa Blanca), and so far Alfies has Raised 705.00 Euros towards this fine organisation, helping those less fortunate in our local community.

The Blind pairs were won by Steve Barlow and Ian Ingledew.

Our winner of the Gold Division was our President Tony Hall playing off 18 with a score of 39 points.

Second place went to Dave Steward playing off 20, with a score of 37 stableford points The winner of the Silver Division was Wayne Stevenson playing off 24 with a score of 42 points.

Second place went to Gary Armstrong playing off 21 with 39 points.

Nearest the pin on the 5th – went to Gary Conroy, Gary won an Albatross Golf Voucher.

Longest Drive on the 16th – sponsored by Tony Hall went to, Clive Beresford.

Nearest the pin in 2 shots on the 9th - went to Geoff Sinclair, Geoff won an Albatross Golf Voucher.

Best Net score at Hole 10, went to Ian Connell in 3 shots playing off 24, Ian won an Albatross golf voucher.

Nearest the pin at hole 12 was won by Garry Roberts, Garry won a bottle sponsored by The Avenue Pub. Garry also won the nearest the pin in 3 shots at the 17th, winning an Albatross Golf Voucher.

Best Gross Score at Hole 18 was won by Bram Numiejers, Bram won an Albatross Golf Voucher.

So our overall winner on the day, with 42 points was our Match Secretary, Mr Wayne Stevenson.

Many thanks to all our sponsors for supporting Alfie’s Golf Society.

Our next outing is at Vistabella on the 29th July 2021 for the second outing of our Eclectic Cup Competition, and at the time of writing there were 26 on the list. Ian Connell

where he hosted the 2018 British Masters. The news that the competition was being relocated from Portugal's Quinto do Lago course received a raspberry from the young competitors, who had been hoping for a few days in the sun.

The 2018 British Masters was washed out, and last year's Ladies Series was cut short after a fire, so let's hope a plague of locusts doesn't descend on Justin at Walton Heath.

George’s is a magnificent golf course, not INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE 495- South Andrew Atkinson talks -tothe former yard par-four (par five for members) fourth despite it's unpredictability but because of it. hole at Royal St. Georges, Sandwich. The This is links golf at its finest. If you don’t 40ft deep bunker has a carry of 239 yards like it, then, by George, you don’t like golf.' and can be murder when the south coast THE 2nd ROSE Ladies Series involves 11 gales make a nonsense of yardages. one-day events across the UK coinciding Members tend to play out backwards. In the with gaps in the LET schedule. In 2020 1979 English Amateur Championship Reg Justin and Kate Rose contributed £35.000 in Glading's ball lodged itself near the top prize money and other UK sponsors matched under the lip of the bunker. He swung his it. Venues offered their facilities for free. club and tumbled head over heels (putting it This year the Series heads to Scotland for the politely) back down the slope. first time on August 7 at Scotscraig. North The last round of the 1938 Open was perHants on September 20 and haps the worst in the championship’s history, Buckinghamshire GC on September 23 will the exhibition tent was shredded and flatbe followed by the Grand Final at Bearwood tened, its contents blown to the sea. Only Lakes on September 25, with a £20,000 prize seven players broke 80. At the 140th Open for the winner. in 2011 the rain and wind caused turmoil, although Darren Clarke, unfazed, romped home for his first major and a celebratory Guinness. Today's Golfer says: ' Royal St.

Mike Probert talks Golf H

ere on the Costa’s golf is one of the biggest leisure time activities for both tourists and resident alike and with this in mind we have secured the services of Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services to provide a weekly round up of local golfing events and topics and in conjunction with us at THE LEADER will provide discounted golf prices to all of our readers.

PLUMB BOBBING In previous articles I have discussed the hidden enemies that can be faced by all golfer on the putting greens, in particular the impact of ‘grain’ on a putt.

One of the other problems faced by golfers is the slight slope or break on a putt that just can’t be seen by the eye but there is one method that can be of assistance to many golfers in this instance, namely ‘plumb bobbing’.

We at THE LEADER are committed to providing to our golfing readers affordable golf. The deals shown in the table are some of the best prices currently available to you: Course Alenda Alicante Altorreal Bonalba Campoamor Don Cayo (Altea) El Plantio

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Comments Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy Two Green Fees & Buggy

Justin will also be hosting and sponsoring the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship in October at Walton Heath,

Now I am not talking here about the games you play at Halloween where you put your face in a bowl of cold water and try to grab apples and oranges with your teeth.

Correctly practised the ‘plumb bobbing’ technique will establish for you a true vertical line to the green and indicates the amount of break present on the putt.

Before you use this technique you must know which of your eyes is dominant, the eye that looks straight ahead.

How do I know this I hear you scream!

Simply keep both eyes open and hold a thumb up at arms length and ‘sight’ along it to a target in the distance.

Now close one eye and if the target remains in line with the sighted target then you have identified your dominant eye.

To correctly ‘plumb bob’ on the golf course you should stand approx 10 ft behind the ball and in direct line with the hole.

Hold the putter up at arms length using the arm that corresponds with your dominant eye (left eye, left arm and visa versa).

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PHIL MICKELSON (49) puts his recent success down to exercise, healthy eating and – coffee! He and performance coach Dave Phillips came up with 'Coffee for Wellness' - a gourmet blend which consists of beans ethically sourced from Africa and South America and roasted to preserve coffee’s natural antioxidants. It is then combined with ‘The Good Stuff’— Phil & Dave's special invention made in powder form and poured directly into a cup of their special blend.

The Good Stuff contains: MCT powder, to boost metabolism; L-Theanine, to sharpen focus; Collagen for skin health; Cinnamon for joint health; and Himalayan pink salt, which supplies electrolytes to the system. “Coffee for Wellness reduces stress and fatigue and improves golfers' cognitive function.” says the blurb. Clever old Phil, another million dollars towards his pension.

THE BIG BERTHA DRIVER celebrates it's 30th anniversary this year. Ely Callaway, a textile magnate with a passion for golf, and Richard Helmstetter a billiard cue designer, made golfing history with their driver, named after the WW1 howitzer gun which could launch 3000lb shells 30 miles behind enemy lines. The Big Bertha driver looked out of this world and performed like it; offering the promise of forgiveness to the golfer who until now had stood trembling on the tee attempting to hit the ball with a miniscule sliver of wood.

Although the head volume was only 190cc compared with the 460cc beasts of today, it's perimeter weighted thin-face construction enabled it to launch the ball a long distance, and its sleek design proved an instant hit. Followed in due course by bigger and better Big Berthas, and the current range of Big Bertha B21 drivers and irons, it literally changed the face of the game. Happy Birthday to the BB, you gave us the opportunity to hit a bad one and still get away with it.

Until next time: Happy Golfing.

Looking with your dominant eye, line the putter shaft with the ball and then look at the hole.

If the shaft, line and ball are all lined up then there is no break in the putt.

However if the hole appears to the left of the putter shaft then you must aim to the right of the hole to allow for the break on the putt and visa versa of course.

You will of course need to practise the technique to determine the amount of break to allow but as usual practise makes perfect.

From a psychological point of view this action or routine takes your mind from the putt at hand and temporarily with your conscious mind occupied you forget all of the things that can go wrong or the importance of the outcome of the putt.

If you are having difficulties in determining the amount of break on a putt why not give the ’plumb bob’ technique a try.

What is the worst thing that can happen?

Mar Menor €120 Two Green Fees & Buggy New Sierra Golf €68 Two Green Fees & Buggy Puig Campana €98 Two Green Fees & Buggy Roda €115 Two Green Fees & Buggy (1.06pm) Saurines €100 Two Green Fees & Buggy Villaitana Levante €90 Two Green Fees & Buggy Villaitana Poniente €70 Two Green Fees & Buggy Villamartin €130 Two Green Fees & Buggy (11-2pm) Vistabella €105 Two Green Fees & Buggy ( 1.00pm) For Bookings and info Mike at info@costa-blanca-greenfees.com quoting reference LEADER or on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931

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Ramon Carrasco to continue at Murada CD Murada and Ramon Carrasco, together with their coaching staff, have reached an agreement to continue at the helm of the first team during the 2021-2022 season.

"Both the work and the dedication shown by Carrasco during this season have been positively valued from the Muradeño team, having achieved the best classification in our short history.

"The understanding between both parties has been complete, so now is the time to work and lay the foundations for the club to achieve its objectives for the season ahead," said a club spokesperson.

CD Murada Benjamin players selected for Vega Baja training CD Murada were represented in a training session in Jacarilla with the Vega Baja Selection squad.

Benjamin players, Rubén Ruiz and

office@theleader.info

Kira Tiscar, and youngsters Cristian Vicente, Ivan Cabello and Álvaro Rocamora were invited to the training camp.

"There is nothing that makes us more proud than to see how our young players progress and advance as footballers.

"For our part, we will continue working by and for them," said a spokesperson from the club.

New board for Racing San Miguel Racing San Miguel have renewed part of its board of directors with the incorporation of Chema Valero as president, Óscar Verdún as vice president and Darío García as secretary. The new members join Juanma Lorente and Rosi Quesada, who remain as member and treasurer, respectively.

Chema Valero (San Miguel de Salinas, 1993) is a journalist and academic researcher at the Miguel Hernández University in Elche. He served as press officer for Orihuela C.F. of the Third Division for three

Mark’s feeling under par!

Monday 5th - Sunday 11th July, 2021

seasons, until 2019.

He has been a fan of Racing San Miguel since its foundation, and has collaborated with the club in communication tasks at specific times during the last decade, being responsible for this area since November 2020.

"Our objective is to offer San Miguel as a local competitive project, which encourages the young people to get involved in one of the many activities that exists in the town," said a club spokesperson. Óscar Verdún arrived at the San Miguelero club from Racing Playas de Orihuela in the 2018/2019 season, and has been involved in various support tasks for the board in the management of grassroots football and the first team. A born worker, he is always the first to help with the organisation of and projects.

Darío García also has a passion for Racing San Miguel, which he has followed closely since its foundation in the 2011/2012 season, first as a fan and later as a delegate for the regional and youth teams.

La Marina Golf Society

1st July - This week we were at the Font Del Llop Golf Course where 20 of its Friedel Knebel, Mike Brentnall, Anne Marie Weisheit and members were competing for the Founders ‘Albert’ were our winners in Monday’s ‘Waltzer 1-2-3’.

Trophy.

Just one point behind them was myself, Graham Murray, The weather was bright and sunny and the Pat Cassidy and ‘Albert’. greens were in excellent condition which Scoring five birdies along the way Mark Western probably contributed to all the players coming in had his best ever round of golf in Wednesday’s Stableford. with some high scores.

Hans Mikaelsson won the Founders Trophy Playing off a handicap of 8, he finished 2 under par gross and the Gold Division with 37 points and and amassed an awesome 46 points!

Louvain Smith won the Silver division Friedel Knebel (representing Germany) saw his efforts with 36 points. come up short (for his country’s second time this week) by Nearest the pin winners were, Jimmy Scott taking the runners up spot with a tremendous 44 points. on hole 3, Hans Mikaelsson on hole 8, Just two ‘2’s; with Olga Douglas and Mike Brentnall both Graham Bovington on hole 12 and Lesley earning a few euros each.

Cullen on hole 16.

Friday’s ‘Change Partners’ saw Lindsay Forbes, John The twos pot was split between 3 players, Dobson, Petina Murray and Andrea Martin take the glory Graham Bovington, Han Mikealsson and with 85 points. A close second, with 83, were Andy Martin, Jeff Wiszniewski.

Paul Brown, Heinz Lei and ‘Albert’. I noted that over a Sadly, this week we lost one of our beer after the game a lot of people were making end of the Founder members Colin Yarnton, Colin world jokes like there’s no tomorrow! was one of life’s true gentlemen and will

By Peter Reffell be missed by everyone in the Society.

Las Ramblas Golf Society, w/c 28.6.21

SUDUKO SOLUTION From From page 14

TRIVEA QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 14: 1. Archangel or Arkhangelsk, 2. Ben Hur, A Tale Of The Christ. (blessed by Pope Leo XIII), 3. World's largest inland island, 4. Mogwai, 5. Mercury and Gemini, 6.

2001 A Space Odyssey (Arthur C Clarke), 7. Tagus, Tajo, Tejo, 8. Gone With The Wind, 9. Aesop, 10. a. Pretty Flamingo (Manfred Mann), b. Oh Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison), c. Pretty Vacant (Sex Pistols), d. Oh You Pretty Things (Bowie).

11. The electronic score board. (on Court 18 during the marathon match between Isner and Mahut at Wimbledon), 12.

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PAGE 23

Praise for San Javier star Marta amid loss of Grandfather

By Andrew Atkinson San Javier born Marta Penalver is amongst the Italian Serie A Citta di Falconara squad who have been praised by the club despite losing out in the race for the 2020-21 Championship title.

In a statement to club supporters it said: "You sang, rejoiced, screamed, and cried with us. And for us this goes far beyond every word and every concept of supporters.

"We did not win the championship, but we found an indescribable affection and warmth, well beyond the confines of the small Via Stadio. And this is worth more than any victory on the pitch.

"That 'Falconara alé' still echoes at Pala Badiali and we get goosebumps. We started from nothing, and it is perhaps from nothing that the most beautiful things are born.

"The newspapers and televisions say that we have done something extraordinary, that we have written history, but as you well know we are stubborn - we wanted to become a legend, for us and for you, who have never left us alone.

"We always say that Falconara dies every night and rises again every morning. Why? Because she is driven by her people, her people who saved her and who will save her.

"From tomorrow we will start again, stronger than before, and we do not speak in terms of staff who are exceptional and irreplaceable, but we will start again stronger, because we are an increasingly united family.”

San Javier football star Marta pays tribute to grandfather

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, Marta payed tribute to her grandfather.

“Playing in the Championship Final in Italy with Citta di Falconara, amid his passing has not been easy as I could not say goodbye to him, that still hurts me," said San Javier born Marta.”

"I hope that one day my grandfather can be half as proud, as I am of him," said Marta.

"He has been the purest example of simplicity and goodness that this world needs," she said.

"I know that he will follow me wherever he is, and I will think of him constantly in every moment that I live," added Marta.

A statement from Citta de Falconara said: "It was not easy for Marta to show up the professionalism and determination that she did after such a loss.

"We knew what her grandfather meant and we are infinitely saddened by her loss.”

COM E C AT SAI LI NG

Dances With Wolves (Two Socks is the lone wolf), 13. a. Toronto, b. Houston, c.

Amsterdam, d. Batman (Turkey), e.

Shanghai. 14. Glasgow (Scrooge McDuck), 15. a. Dear Prudence, b.

Martha My Dear, c. Polythene Pam, d.

Sexy Sadie, e. Anna (Go To Him), 16. Mt. Everest, 17. Margret Smith Court (24), Serena Williams (23), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19), Martina Navratilova (18) and Chris Evert (18). 18.

In order, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton and Mississauga. 19.

Copt or Coptic, 20. Wilfred (Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe)

Sailing takes many forms, from sedate cruising to fun-filled dinghy sailing, but for many people, the most exhilarating form of the sport is to sail a small catamaran, particularly the popular Hobie cat.

When the wind is right and the sails are filled, these catamarans literally fly and you could easily end up hiked out on a trapeze as you race across the sea, providing a counter-balance to the sails.

There is nothing more exciting, trust me.

With the Costa Blanca Yacht Club, members can now join us in sailing these catamarans.

We meet every Friday at 3 pm during the summer at Las Antipodas Watersports, Los Bassetes, Benissa Costa for a fun-filled afternoon with experienced skippers to show you the ropes.

See https://cbya.org/ for our low-cost membership plans and for details of all of our activities (which incidentally also include dinghy sailing, cruising and numerous social events).

PAGE 24

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