050 april torrevieja outlook copia 5 by Andy Ormiston

Torrevieja Outlook

Nº 50 April 2018

050 November 2018

April calendar – Easter Sunday – fiestas of the month – Callosa de Segura – San Vicente Moors & Christians – Picnic Day and Mona – Banyeres de Mariola and Saint George – Santa Faz – Banda de la Huerta – Musical Tunas – Burial of the Sardine – Agricultural Fayre of Murcia – Moors & Christian listing – Pedro Valero Memorial Bench – Spies & Seamstresses – Model Boat Exhibition.

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Torrevieja Outlook

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Torrevieja Outlook

Nยบ 50 April 2018

Torrevieja Outlook

Nยบ 50 April 2018

This year Easter Sunday falls on April 1st when the last of the Passion week processions finishes. In Torrevieja this means an early morning procession with the figures of John the Evangelist accompanying the image of la Inmaculada which wears a black veil. This is a tradition and for decades a member of the same family has taken off the veil when the statue comes face to face with another small procession in which the priest carries the Blessed Sacrament. So the veil comes off as Mary realizes her son has risen from the dead. There was a bit of discussion as many people felt that this should be shared between different families rather than the same one. So we shall see next year.

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Dia de la Mona is a camping expericnece for many who camp with permission in the natural park of la Mata. This falls on the second Monday after Easter Sunday and is a local holiday. La mona is traditionally eaten at this time, and sometimes has a boiled egg encrusted in it or even chocolate. foto Joaquin Carrion

On Easter weekend (Good Friday to Sunday) an Artesan Fayre is held in XĂ bia. Easter Sunday in Alcoy sees a magnificent procession of the Encuentro. This is held in several towns. The Monday following Easter Monday is the feast of San Vicente Ferrer, known as the day of la mona. Some towns celebrate it before or after the day. A Romeria is held in Benidoleig: other fiestas are in Benejama, Biar, Guardamar del Segura, La Nucia, Torrevieja. Moors & Christians parades in Teulada and San Viicente d Raspeig hold wonderful parades over this weekend. On this weekend thousands of people take part in the Romeria of the Virgen del Rosario in Albatera. This event dates back to the 16th century, the group ending up at the sanctuary of Serralba at the foot of the mountains. Usually the town lays on a giant paella for the occasion after the mass.

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Nº 50 April 2018

One of the largest pilgrimages is that of Santa Faz in Alicante which falls on the the second Thursday after Easter. The Moors & Christian festivities in Busot are held for 4 days falling on the weekend after Easter Sunday. 11 April Virgen del Milagro procession in Relleu. 18 - 19th Cocentaina holds the Mare de Déu del Miracle fiestas. 22 April Hogueras in the streets of Onil.

22 - 24th April Moors & Christian Fiestas in honour of Saint George in Alcoy. 22/&23 St. George festivities in many towns including in Orihuela Playa in the parking lot behind the satellite town hall which is converted into a market, stage with various dancers and musicians plus a load of bars and take away stalls. 22 - 25th April Moors & Christian Fiestas of Banyares de Mariola. Mig Any in Alfas del Pi On the Second Thursday after Easter Sunday an enormous romería of la Santa Faz in Alicante. On the 4th Sunday, from the previous Friday, the patronal fiestas of Benissa last for a week in honour of the Purissima Xiqueta Virn.. 23rd April - 1 May Benifallima hold Moors & Christians parades. 27th April to 3 May Jávea celebrates the fiestas of Jesús Nazareno. Last Saturday of the month the Festa de Romer takes place in Xaló. 28th April - 1 May Moors & Christians fiestas in Onil. Third Saturday after Easter Castalla celebrates the Focs de Sant Francesc. 30th April - 3rd May Moors & Christians in Granja de Rocamora. The last week of April into May: Fiestas in honour of Jesus Nazareno in Javea. aormi@icloud.com

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Callosa de Segura shows tolerance Callosa de Segura is an inland town that is fast coming to grips with the idea that it can benefit from rural tourism.In this section we will look at several of the celebrations of Callosa de Segura as they are typical of similar ones elsewhere. In 2000 the Medieval Meeting of Three Cultures was introduced and has been a very successful venture. Based on the historical fact that Moors, Christians and Jews lived prosperously and successfully together during the medieval ages, the customs of these three religious cultures are brought together as a tourist attraction. There is a medieval market, music and dancing of those times, in addition to other attractions. The idea is not just to be a tourist centre but also act as an example of how different races were tolerant of each other and still can be. The tolerance of several centuries between the three cultures was broken by the fanaticism of both the arabs and the Christians, each intent on converting everyone to their way of

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Nº 50 April 2018

thinking: added to this the wiles of political kings seeking more power and using the Church as a means to obtain it. San Jorge (St. George) is a very popular figure in Spain and features large in many fiestas, especially those of the annual battles held in memory of the battles between Moors and Christians.

Moors & Christians since 1761 In September 2003 a contingent of 100 Moors and Christians from Callosa ‘invaded’ the French town of Sommières, invited by the town to participate in their annual celebrations. They marched with the Mayor of Callosa at their head and accompanied by the Callosa musicians “La Filarmónica”. This is typical of many of the groups of fiestas, namely, that they take part with their costumes in the celebrations of other towns and countries. The Moors & Christians fiestas of Callosa go back at least to 1761 and are known as the “Bajada de la Puerta del Santo” (lowering of the saint’s gateway). Further fiestas were held in October, 1798, hence the bicentenary celebrations held in 1998. These first fiestas included a parade with a dozen pairs of Turks in suitable garb. This group was followed by a triumphal cart drawn by two obstinate mules, according to the documents. Then there was a group of musicians. Even as early as this guns were fired by ‘soldiers’, who presumably were the Christians, and rockets let off. This procession also had direct relations to the Semana Santa processions.

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This early tradition is still followed and the cart now holds the queen and dames of honour representing the beauty of the town. Among present groups are two recent ones - the Estudiantes, and the Comparsa Huertana. The Estudiantes dress in the typical uniforms worn by university students in the late 16th century. One of the principal groups is Los Sarracenos (the Saracens) with files of SarrahĂs, Quaysies, Bembrillos, Taifas, Elegidas and others. Then there is the Corsarios, representing the pirate scourge of the Mediterranean, and the Moros Benimezines

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Nº 50 April 2018

On the Christian side you have the Caballeros del Cid, including a group of girls, the Filá Alainas. The Arabs built a castle although only a few walls remain, but if you want to have a wonderful view over the area then do have a climb up to the castle remains. At one time there was a ladder built into the stone face and one report says that there is a tunnel leading to inside the castle but it is now bricked up. The Christian Reconquest was led by Jaime I on 11th November, 1265, the feast of San Martin, hence the town’s dedication to this saint.

Other fiestas in Callosa del Segura Lighting the Lamp

While looking at this Vega Baja town wee can see that once again political sides are facing up to each other as could be seen recently when the memorial cross to the dead of the ciivl war was removed as some people saw it as a memorial to Francoism. On 5th August the traditional ’Subida del Farol Venancio’ dating back to the 18th century when a shepherd named Venancio fell down a precipice and called on San Roque to help him out of his dilemma and his life was saved. In return the pastor promised to light a warning lantern in the rocky area which could be seen throughout the Vega Baja on the novena of the Saint. Today the Grupo Excursionista Locals undertake to light the lantern each year carrying the lamp supported on a rod and carried by two men dressed in traditional peasant clothing. A young girl is chosen to represent the pastor. aormi@icloud.com

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Nº 50 April 2018

Auroras singing tradition In Autumn, during October, the ‘Auroras’ are held, a precious legacy of religious music. Those involved go through the streets with a lantern singing old songs. Later at Christmas time they return. Also at Christmas time the ‘bacalao meneao’ is eaten oil, garlic and pieces of white cod. This is a common event in the Vega Baja area where several aurora choirs exist.

October pIlgrimage 12th October is a national holiday in honour of the Virgen of El Pîlar and this is marked by a romeria or pilgrimage to the hermitage on the hilltop of the sierra and women dress in traditional costumes, playing castanets as they dance their way up and down the hillside. Local wine and food is consumed during the romeria, which although of a penitential nature is still a festive occasion. This spot is a beautiful pine tree clad area, where barbecues and picnics are popular. Look for the SD or short-distance paths which lead through the sierra.

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Another picnic area is at the entrance of the town coming from Redovan. This is nicknamed the smoky cave in a valley, or Cueva Ahumada and is also an area where local mountaineers practice their sport. There are some very old wells here. The townspeople are aware of the value of inland tourism and there are many rambling routes in the area.

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Nº 50 April 2018

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS HONOUR SAN VICENTE FERRER Another town with a notable Moors and Christian celebration is that of San Vicente. In 1836 San Vicente del Raspeig received its mandate as a town to make it independent of Alicante. During the era of the Moors it was a large agricultural centre and still visible today are some of the agricultural systems introduced by the Moors. In the 15th century Pedro Maltés, an Alicante gentleman, founded the parish church on the site of the present building, so that people did not have to travel to Alicante or Villafranqueza for Mass. The sanctuary of Vicente Ferrer was dedicated to a local saint who had been a well known preacher in the Valencian region. At the time of the Civil War some images at the sanctuary were destroyed, but the actual church building remained intact. During the annual Moors and Christian festivities some 5,000 people take part. These are held on the weekend following Easter as, San Vicente Ferrer, the town’s patronal saint’s day, falls on the second Monday after Easter. This is one of the most

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Nº 50 April 2018

splendid parades in the Alicante Province. One week after Good Friday the pregon, or official decree, is pronounced and the nine comparsas take to the streets in a fiesta that has been held for an hundred years. Files of brightly garbed soldiers of both armies march in unison to the sound of music, led by officers on horseback (or even on camels). The Moors leader is carried on an enormous carriage flanked by four cobras as he leads the nine groups of his army. On the actual feastday there is a Floral Offering in the morning. In the evening after the Solemn Mass, there is another procession with a concert in the Plaza de España and a spectacular fireworks display. Most of the parades are held at both weekends while the rest of the week is used for partying with traditional dancing and music, a cinema programme for the children, Los Gigantes, various competitions, sporting events.

Torrevieja’s Day of the Picnic In Torrevieja San Vicente Ferrer’s day has been celebrated for almost a century. It is always on the Monday after Easter Monday and requires an early morning rise for the faithful and including some of the councilors a procession wends its way through the streets with the priest carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance. Previously this was a procession to the local pensioners residence in the town centre known as the “hospital” where the sick were blessed and given communion. But when the residence moved further away the procession continued but visited several houses where there were sick people who are blessed and receive communion.

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It is a local holiday also known as picnic day because many people and families retire to the nearby pine woods and beaches or to their weekend homes to enjoy a brotherly camaraderie and eat the traditional mona, a bread cake that is associated with Easter and often has a boiled egg inside it, although many are decorated with chocolate or cream. It was a successful event thatt all be implemented again this year. This day ends the Easter celebrations and a return to school on the next day, Tuesday.

Saint George in Banyeres de Mariola This feast of San Jorge is also held in Banyeres de Mariola where once again the Moors and Christians parades take over the town from 22nd to 25th April. There are ten comparsas (groups) five Christians and five Moors. The Christian army has five groups - Estudiants, Cristians, Contrabandistas, Jordians and Maseros. The Moors field five comparsas - Moros Vells, Moros Nous, Marrocs, Pirates, Califes. In 2001 for the first time women were allowed to take part in the comparsas. The fiestas begin with the transfer of the image of San Jorge from the Ermita to the church of Santa Maria through the streets on 21st April at 19.00. This is carried by a different comparsa each year.

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The following day is the important Entrada is held and announced by the church bells ringing out at one in the morning, followed by fireworks. By 11.00 the comparsas are congregated in the Plaza de los PlĂĄtanos accompanied by groups of musicians to make a Floral Offering to honour San Jorge. 12.00 is time for the Angelus and the cracking of fireworks. Each musical band attached to the comparsas plays its own assigned pasadoble as part of a musical competition. Throughout the day there are different parades and events held. At 17.00 Children in costume parade followed at 19.00 by the procession to San Jorge finishing in the Plaza Mayor with more fireworks. The 23rd starts at 7.30 with a Gran Diana reveille call; throughout the day the town is alive with troops marching and countermarching until the evening when around 19.00 the solemn procession of San Jorge is held finalised by more fireworks. The 24th has an early start at 7.30 a.m. with a Diana and the festivities continue with the groups celebrating a breakfast meal. Battle begins at 10.45 initiated by the captains and embassadors of the two opposing sides. At 17.30 battle continues ending with groups entertaining in dance, song and humour in the castle set up in the Plaza Mayor. If you have managed to stay on your feet you can enjoy the pasacalle at midnight by the Christian band followed by the Moors. On the 25th, the DĂa del Santo Cristo, festeros dance with their flags at 8.00 in el Morer, this is an intricate movement of both arms and legs presenting a splendid moving and colourful sight. They then march to the San Jorge hermitage where a blast of firearms is fired into the air by each comparsa. The procession continues to the cemetary where another salvo of gunfire rents the air, followed by a Mass for those who have died. At midday the captains sign the Libro de Oro del Santo Cristo signifying the peaceful accord. At 13.00 the Conversion of the Moors is celebrated at the La Malena hermitage followed by the Moro Ball. Later at 17.00 once again the Flag Dance is held in the Plaza Mayor.

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Nº 50 April 2018

ALICANTE - SANTA FAZ PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimages are a popular way for the people to combine religious observance while at the same time having good fun, often dressing up in traditional costumes. There are many pilgrimages held which are unique to various parts of Spain. One of the most important in Alicante province is that of Santa Faz when over two hundred thousand people walk on the second Thursday after Easter from Alicante to San Juan. The week prior to this day thousands of pilgrims visit the 15th century monastery where the holy relic is kept. The Santa Faz is a relic that is a linen sheet on which Christ´s face is seen, with a single tear falling from the right eye. On 17th March, 1489, the reliquary was being carried by a Franciscan priest, padre Villafranca, in the direction of Los Angeles hermitage, at the Barranco de Lloixa, when he felt it becoming heavier and heavier, so much so, that he was borne to the ground. His cries attracted other people who witnessed the teardrop. According to tradition this tear appeared a week later at a pilgrimage held on 25th March 1489, during a solemn rogatory for rain when there was a long drought when the River Monnegre which irrigated the crops, was almost dry. The crowd was so large that the Mass had to be celebrated outside the hermitage. Legend says that a caballero could´nt believe his eyes and touched the teardrop which burst out anew; after this unexpected apparition the caballero wore a silver thimble over his finger until his dying day. The d r o u g h t disappeared and the rains came down: this pilgrimage has been held ever since.

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Nº 50 April 2018

Celebrating Spring, new life and Resurrection As an agricultural area the principal fiestas of Murcia swing around Easter and Spring, but continue in the city and throughout the year as well as in all parts of the region. Murcia is a marvelous town to visit any time of the year as there is so much to do, good museums, wonderful theatres and an underground life weaned by the university students. As Lent approaches Murcia prepares for this sombre period with a carnival on seven different days with music, dancing, drinking and of course masks and fancy dress. Fiestas are the excuse (if you need one) to forget the hum-drum of everyday life and do something different. Carnival is definitely different and the district of Beniaján is famous for its carnival festivities which are held on various days over the period of a month. This will include a parade for the children and another one featuring the battle between Don Carnal and Doña Sardina, intermingling myths and traditions with a gay imagination. The carnival held in Cabezo de Torres is over 125 years old.

Around the 19th April the senior and infant queens of the spring festival are elected in the Palacio de Deportes (in front of the Atalayas commercial centre. Two days after Easter the festival of the Bando de la Huerta (22 April) begins, an acknowledgement of the importance throughout the centuries of the part played by the city and region in agriculture as Murcia is known as ‘The Orchard of Europe’. aormi@icloud.com

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This fiesta over 150 years old. In the middle of the 18th century official edicts were pinned to public buildings with strict laws relating to agriculture. A century later similar edicts were stuck to the same buildings bycitizens, but lampooning some of the ruling class and their manner of speaking. By the end of the 19th century combined manifestations of town citizens and those of the countryside led to joint celebrations cooking traditional meals using local produce. An important element is the election of the infant and senior queens and the streets are strewn with flowers and leafy branches. The traditional dress is a decorated embroidered refajo (underskirt), an embroidered apron, a bodice (corpiño), a decorated shawl, decorated stockings and a flower hairpiece set, which will cost around 360 euros. Men wear an embroidered silk waistcoat, wide pleated breeches and a coloured cummerbund. ‘Country cottages’ are built in parks and gardens to show off handicrafts.

Tuna Music Two days after the Bando de la Huerta there is the Spring Parade full of colourful flowers from local garden nurseries. This parade has flower bedecked carriages accompanied by bands of music. During these dates the annual Certamen Internacional de Tunas ‘Costa Calida’ is held in the San Basilio district with colourful and animated groups playing this medieval style of music as they wander around the city. Each Faculty of the university has its own tuna group and originally they arose because poorer students couldn’t afford fees, so they wandered around restaurants busking as troubadours for the diners to make a little more money and amuse themselves at the same time. There are tunas in several of the faculties aormi@icloud.com

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Nº 50 April 2018

including one female group. The Tuna de Distrito University (formed in 1912) has released the fourth CD of their style of music under the title of ‘Mujer’ dedicated to the beautiful women of Murcia.

Burial of the Sardine This year it is on 6th to 8th April. On the Saturday concluding the Spring Festivals a fun filled parade takes place (begun in 1851 by university students). Another carnival style celebration is the “Entierro de la Sardina” (the burial of the sardine) taken directly from a similar fiesta held in Madrid on Ash Wednesday. The participants assemble at San Antolín and form a funeral cortege presided by a giant wooden ‘sardine’, the fish a symbol of Lenten fasting and abstinence. This is an imaginative, humourous carnival parade that ends up at the bridge Puente Viejo with fireworks and the burning of the ‘sardine’. Fire is the origin of the Mediterranean spirit, a theme central to this particular fiestas when dusk and dawn are illuminated and united by flame.

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Musical Festivals During late Spring two major events are the Festival International de Orquestas de Jóvenes when young musicians congregate in the streets and plazas to play. Around the same time is the Festival International de Jazz. Once again university students are actively engaged as they have a very good musical conservatory and marvellous talented musicians able to swap from chamber music to jazz. A further musical heritage of this part of Spain is found in the Auroras, choral groups who keep alive traditional music, including sacred music dating back to the XVI century. In fact one piece is the “Correlativa of Byzantine” whose origin has roots in the 6th century. The Auroras take part during the Holy Week processions, then at Christmas and on the vigil of the 1st May, St. Joseph the Worker feastday.

Agricultural Fayre The Murcia region is renowned for its produce, its cattle and sheep, with many recognised ‘vias pecuarias’ or rights of way, where cattle and sheep were driven for many kilometres to fresh pastures or to market. Today several of these pecuarias are used as recognized rambling routes. During the reign of Alfonso X, the privilege was granted to Murcia to hold a Farm Fayre to begin on the day of San Miguel and last for fifteen days. This agricultural gathering takes place in September ending

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with a romería in honour of the Virgen de la Fuensanta (16 Sept) with the image being carried amid a shower of rose petals. During the Fayre the annual Moors & Christian parades take place. A further recent addition was a new cabila known as ‘Moros Almohades de Murcia’. The federation of Moors and Christian say that any new cabila must have at least 25 members and this new one started off with over 40. The Moorish tribe of Almohades dominated the city from 1172 to 1224. The festivity of the Moors and Christians is a prime example of people´s longing to incarnate protagonists from the past. Most are based on the blueprint offered by Alcoy´s fiestas in April. The battle or storming of the castle is adapted to local history, the intervention of the patron saint of the town, the Moors entry (Entramoro) and The Relations (Las Relaciones) tells of the conversion of the Moors after the theft and recovery of a sacred image. Most of them have their origins in the 17th century although some may be earlier. 1571 is a date quoted as the year in which street processions commemorated the victory of Lepanto and «the Squadron of Utiel» enlivened the feasts by simulating a combat between Turks and Christians. Moors & Christians celebrations in the Valencian Communidad

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The following is an alphabetical list of towns celebrating Moors & Christians but there may be changes depending on other parades.

Adsubia: - 1st Sunday of Sept. Adzanete de Albaida: last Sunday Sept. Agost : 29 June Agullent: 2nd Monday after Easter Aielo de Malferit : 5 - 8 August Aigües: Last Sunday of August Alaquàs: 1st Sunday of Sept. Albaida: 8 - 11 Oct. Albatera: 17 - 26 July Alcoy: 22 - 24 April Alfarrasí: 3rd Sunday of August Alicante: Barrio Altozano: 15 Aug. Barrrio Miguel Hernandez: 20 - 23 Aug. Barrio San Blas Last fortnight in July with Mig Any in February. Barrio Villafranqueza: 19 March. Almoradi: 29 - 31 July Almudaina: last week of August. Alqueria de Aznar: last week of Sept. Altea: 26 - 29 Sept. aormi@icloud.com

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Aras de Alpuente: Last fortnight of Aug (every 7 years) Aspe: 13 - 16 Aug. Benilloba: 14 - 17 Aug Denía: 14 - 16 August Alicante:Barrio Altozano: 15 Aug. El Verger: 15 August Aras de Alpuente: Last fortnight of Aug (every 7 years) Alicante:Barrrio Miguel Hernandez: 20 - 23 Aug. Xixona: 21 - 23 August. Campo de Mirra: 22 - 26 Aug Ontinyent: 21 - 23 Aug. Paterna: 2nd fortnight of August Miramar: 2nd Sunday of August Alfarrasí: 3rd Sunday of August Godella: 3rd Sunday of August Aigües: Last Sunday of August Facheca: last Sunday of August Confrides: last Sunday of Aug. Almudaina: last week of August. Cases del Senyor (Monóvar): last week of August Potríes: last week of August. Fontanars dels Alforins: 30 August Penáguila: 4th Sunday in August. Villanueva de Castellón: Last Sunday of August.

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Pedro Valero Memorial Bench Last year a former councillor of Torrevieja town council died of cancer. He was Pedro Valero Mazon responsible for integration of foreigners and in charge of the local office aimed at assisting foreigners. During his time in office he was widely respected by the British community in general assisting them in many projects, such as European Day which was intended touring different nationalities together but this present communist council decided to get rid of it along with many other innovations of Pedro. He was instrumental in allowing the British Legion and other military services associations to hold a remembrance Day service at La Siesta church, with a small memorial garden. Many people felt that there should be some sort of memorial dedicated to him and one day Andy Ormiston was waiting for a taxi at the Acequion Clinic and had the idea of seat for those waiting. So what better than a memorial bench dedicated to Pedro Valero. He contacted Pedroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former aide, Graham Knight, and together contacted possible donors, selected a bench and arranged with the director of the Health, Hipolito Caro, to place the bench n the grounds of Acequion close to the taxi rank. At the presentation of the memorial bench, Pedroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife and daughter were accompanied by many friends of Pedro and a local priest gave a blessing.

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Spies and Seamstresses by Pat Hynd This month I would like to talk about a book that has connections with Spain, Britain and set during the Second World War and both about two heroic women. The Seamstress is a novel and the other is an autobiography.!

"The Seamstress" aka "The Time In Between" by Maria Duenas! Many people will have seen this blockbuster as an award winning Spanish produced television series "El Tiempo Entre Costuras" starring the enticing Sira Quiroga and the dashing Englishman Marcus Logan. The actor Peter Vives is an interesting man of his times as he is one of this generation being brought up bilingual with parents of different nationalities. The series faithfully follows the exciting, racy and extremely well written love/spy story by María Dueñas. ! The storyline starts with a young illegitimate Spanish girl who lives with her mother in Madrid and is taught how to be a seamstress. Her first love dotes on her, but she falls for another exciting man who enthralls her in a passionate affair. But the Spanish civil war is looming and her natural father, a high up politician, decides to meet his daughter and bestows part of her inheritance, making her very well off. Her lover offers to marry her and sweeps her off to Tetuán in North Africa that was under Spanish rule. He uses her money and jewels, leaves her in the lurch expecting their baby and penniless, with a pile of debts that leads to her imprisonment, but thanks to a sympathetic police officer is put to work in an hostal to pay off her debts, and it here that she blossoms, not aormi@icloud.com

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just as a seamstress, but fashion designer. Her work brings her into contact with British and German ladies, mostly wives of high ranking German and Nazi officers. ! Enter the British spy masters who use her to report on gossip from the Germans which proves to be beneficial. Here she meets up with Rosalind Fox, born in British governed India, but estranged from her husband. They become really good friends and our seamstress is introduced to a young English reporter and so another love affair evolves. As the Spanish civil war draws to a close and the Second World War gets underway, her spy master asks her to return to Madrid to continue to work there, both as seamstress and spy. This takes her to neutral Portugal where her former British lover appears, as well as her friend Rosalind Fox. Love conflicts and near death escapes add to the suspense.!

Suffice to say it is a racy story, with brilliant characters, full of drama and narrow escapes from death..and she meets up again with her English lover. It would be fair to say that both the book and the series are riveting and will appeal to both, or nowadays, all sexes. ! The connection between the two books is that Rosalind Fox was a real person who helped the British secret services and also wrote a book about her life.

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15th Model Boat Exhibition

Now an annual event in its 15th year, the Model Naval boat exhibition is a great attraction for families and it is open for a month from until 6th May in the 'Los Aljibes' Exhibition Centre in the Park of the Nations. This is a joint event organised by the Torrevieja Association of Naval Modalism and the Torrevieja Sea & Salt Museum with boats of all shapes and sizes from all over Spain from Roman galleys, Spanish galleons to modern aircraft carrier. At weekends enthusiasts can play with their boats in the lake.!

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My apologies for this shortened version of April Torrevieja Outlook, but I have been unable to use my computer for several weeks as I was in hospital. I hope that the May edition will have more body to it.

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