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Issue 547
SEE PAGE 20
SOUTH EDITION roundtownnews.co.uk
Good, bad or indifferent?
Rebecca reports on the recent Easter holidays and if businesses have seen an increase over business and the calls for Orihuela Town Hall to stop holding fiestas in car parks. • p3
99 April April -- 15 15 April April 2010 2010
Almost home
The elephant is leaving the room
Michael Olmer from Link Point talks about the new laws which will help stop money laundering in Spain. • p30
Vibin’ ‘n’ Scribin’ Tony Poole’s new weekly column telling readers about jazz festivals and concerts on the costa. This week Tony features Matthew Simon Acoustic Jazz Trio who will be appearing on Saturday. • p42
Figures that batter Blatter
Andy Kay reviews the comments made by Fifa president Sepp Blatter and his thoughts on the English Premier League • p62
Senior rates of HMS Monmouth, with ‘Scotty’ Hillman sixth from the left, see page 19 for his story
by Chris Sinclair
ON ITS long awaited return to Plymouth in Devon, the last port of call following a six and a half month deployment to the Arabian Gulf for Royal Navy Type 23 frigate, HMS Monmouth, was the city of Valencia. Arriving at the dockyard, Monmouth was easily recognised
by the black flag she flies from the main mast in honour of her namesake, James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth. Since her departure from Plymouth in September, and as part of a multi-national task group carrying out maritime security operations in and around the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Gulf, ‘The Black Duke’, as she is fondly
known, has participated in several operations in the region. In an area now synonymous with piracy, terrorist activity, drug trafficking and people smuggling, Monmouth covered an area of nearly 2.4million sq/miles and contributed to operations involving 24 countries. Her main role during OP TELIC was to patrol exclusion zones around Iraqi oil platforms, and
as these represent nearly 90% of Iraqi national income they are a key part of the present and future stability of Iraq and its surrounding region. With a view to Iraq achieving self-sufficiency with their force protection, Monmouth also took part in mutual training opportunities with Iraqi navy elements. Continued on page 18