Lovable rascal

THERE have been many self ­ proclaimed ‘lovable rascals’ living on the Costa del Sol and one of the most memorable, Ronnie Knight recently passed away aged 89.

Initially best known to the general public as the husband of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, who was his second wife in a partnership that lasted 21 years, he found a second home in Spain prior to any extradition treaty coming into effect.

of understanding and impulse control. Secure pools with childproof barriers, lock gates and remove any objects that could potentially allow them to climb over barriers.

Enrol your child in swimming lessons as early as possible. Swimming skills can instill confidence in the water, teach children how to stay afloat, and enable them to handle emergencies better.

When selecting swimming suits for your children, opt for bright and easily visible colours. Brightly coloured swimsuits increase their visibility in the water. Avoid choosing swimming suits in shades of blue or grey, as these colours can blend with the water.

In case of an emergency, the designated emergency services number is 112.

His knowledge of the law ensured that he was acquitted in 1980 after being charged with the murder of gangster Alfredo ‘Italian Tony’ Zomparelli, who stabbed and killed his brother David, but when he later confirmed in 1998 that he had hired a ‘hitman’ (which he denied again in 2002), he couldn’t be charged again due to the ‘double jeopardy’ law.

He ran away to the Costa del Sol in 1984, on the same day that his brother John was arrested on suspicion of being involved in a major robbery at Security Express the previous year.

Thus began his 10 ­ year ­ sojourn on Spain’s Costa del Sol where he opened an Indian restaurant as well as a nightclub and bar and once established in Fuengirola and having kept possession of a local property following his divorce from Barbara Windsor, he had a high profile marriage to third wife Sue Haylock.

With money troubles, he was lured back to the UK by the News of the World with a promise of big money for his exclusive story, he was arrested and charged with handling £315,000 of the cash stolen from Security Express.

Since his release he moved to Cambridge and died from pneumonia on June 12 having suffered from Parkinson’s disease.

Interest rates up Brits in Spain

IN an effort to control inflation, a major move by the Bank Of England saw them raise interest rates by half a point to 5 per cent.

As reported on Thursday, June 22 the Bank Of England increased interest rates to combat inflation which is causing misery for households up and down the UK, according to a news source.

The Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) took the bold move of a half­point increase rather than the anticipated quarter­point rise. This will be the 13th consecutive hike in rates since December 2021, bringing it to the highest level since 2008.

Following the announcement, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would “remain steadfast in its course” to slow down rising inflation, a decision which comes amid growing calls to intervene as millions of householders are struggling with mortgage payments.