dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • property • history • community
gibraltar the
April 2013 Vol. 18 # 06 FREE
Mind Your Mind Gibraltar’s Festival of
Body Painting
Come into My Parlour...
Leading from the Centre The Mighty Minis KPMG eGaming Summit
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • JUNE 2007
dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • property • history • community
g
ibraltar the
April 2013 Vol. 18 # 06 FREE
Mind Your Mind Gibraltar’s Festival of
Body Painting
Come into My Parlour...
Leading from the Centre The Mighty Minis KPMG eGaming Summit
18 # 06 April 2013
Cover image by Bertrand Orsal who will be photographing this month’s Body Painting Festival
The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Ltd PO Box 1124, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748 Email: gibmag@gibraltar.gi
contents Business & Finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 Companies & Tax 14 Fund Opens for External
Health & Well-being 40 Change Your Water
16 19
42 43 44
21 24
Investment The Image Graphics story eGaming: Gross Profits verses turnover tax Spotlight on eGaming Interviewing the Interviewer
Property File 26 Everything you need to
27 30
know about rentals... Property Directory A Brief History of Home Ownership in Gibraltar No Room at the Inn Freshen Up for Spring
Publisher/Editor: Andrea Morton Forde Office Manager: Jolene Gomez
Copyright © 2013 Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine.
Arts & Lifestyle 53 Ruth’s Design to become
www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Magazine & website archived by the British Library @gibmag
18 # 06
32 34
54
59 72
Monument to Women Gibraltar’s Festival of Body Painting Thundercats are Go! Image of the Month
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APriL 2013
41
Change Your Life Childline’s Positve Parenting Health Directory Here’s Health - Let it Shine The Eve Appeal
Past Revisited 52 Portuguese Princess gave
64
the English Tea & Tangier Gibraltar Man Hanged for a Murder he Didn’t Commit
Appetite 78 A Fool’s Paradise 80 Food & Drink Directory 84 Wine Column: Admissions Regulars 66 Puzzle Page 86 Around Town: Information 62 City Centre Map 73 What’s On April 90 Gibraltar Information
36
features 36 46 50
A Need for MotoGP Speed Rock Chef climax The Mighty Minis
People 12 26
Come into my Parlour
60 68 74
Mind Your Mind with Antonia
Danny Feetham: Leading from the Centre Talent is Like Fine Wine.... A Senior Celebration
60
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
finance
companies
business
words | Ian Le Breton
& the tax they do (or don’t) pay It seems that almost everyday another story appears in the press about multinational companies not paying their due in tax. And it’s not just the press. Politicians are also jumping on the bandwagon. UK Prime Minister David Cameron famously took a swipe at Starbucks at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. “Companies need to wake up and smell the coffee, because the customers who buy from them have had enough,” he told business leaders as he promised that making business pay its fair share would be one of three key aims of Britain’s G8 presidency. Last December, the European Commission set out new draft ideas aimed at improving corporate governance and, you will not be surprised to hear, corporate taxation was a key component. The whole issue of companies paying tax
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
and whether or not they are paying their “fair share” is a hugely political issue and with the tax burden on individuals rising around the world, it is perhaps not surprising that many want to see companies suffering as well. I always caution in these columns that I write in a personal capacity and, in my opinion, the issue is not quite as cut-and-dried as it appears. The question we should be posing is why there is so much pressure on companies. Is it generally true that they are not paying their
way? The present unrelenting campaign by the UK press — and it is I suspect supported from the side lines by the government — clearly seeks to appeal to the great British public’s sense of fair play. If, as David Cameron says, “we are all in this together” then how come these really big companies get away with it? The essential point in my view is that companies owe a duty of care to their shareholders to maximise profit; this is nothing new. The remit of any finance director will be to take
business
finance
whatever steps are necessary to reduce the corporate tax bill — and why not? Corporate finance departments exist to reduce costs at all levels. The financial maelstrom through which we are living simply intensifies the need to monitor and reduce all such business costs. But stripping away some of the more lurid headlines, what is it precisely that these big boys are accused of doing? The large household names mentioned — Starbucks and Amazon come to mind — are global businesses with global finance requirements. In a recent article Sovereign Chairman Howard Bilton explains it all far better than I could. Essentially, he argues, Starbucks’ business is built around the world famous brand that we all know. Why might we choose Starbucks when visiting an unfamiliar city? Answer: because it’s a Starbucks and we know what to expect. Alright, so there are those who don’t like the brand but millions do and this is why the company is hugely successful. In such cases where the use of a trade name is so important, this is usually managed by the payment of a royalty fee by the subsidiary (franchisee) to the group and, unless this is organised efficiently, the country where the subsidiary is based will “withhold” tax at source. It is therefore standard business
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n GET INVOLVED If you are an artist with an exhibition, or a club or charity with an event coming up, we’d love to hear from you. This is a community magazine and there is no VIP area. Everyone is welcome to contribute so drop a line, send an email or phone us.
n GET IN TOUCH We’d love to hear from you. Sometimes we get a bit lonely in our office, and we like to get letters, phone calls and emails with your feedback and photos. We might even publish the best so keep them coming. This is your magazine so get involved. Email: gibmag@gibraltar.gi Tel: 200 77748
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practice — and indeed common commercial sense — to seek to reduce that withholding tax where possible. Hence the group will establish a royalty routing plan. There is nothing illegal about this — any firm with a brand name or other form of intellectual property should arrange royalty payments in this way. The Amazon case is quite different. Amazon sells books, CDS and other items in most coun-
Normal world trade rules allow it to manage its business in this way — there is nothing illegal about it, and it’s been this way for many years
tries around the world. But it is not necessarily established in all of them. For example, Amazon does not have a taxable entity in the UK so by definition it must be taxed somewhere else. Normal world trade rules allow it to manage its business in this way — there is nothing illegal about it, and it’s been this way for many years. (If any reader would like to see Howard Bilton’s fascinating piece on this subject, I’ll be happy to send you a complimentary copy.) Perhaps, however, we should allow ourselves to ask an even more fundamental question. Should we view the most important contribution that businesses can make as simply being the income they generate for governments by way of corporation tax? What about the investment they make in people and communities and the opportunities they create for well-paid jobs? After all higher employment produces an “escalator effect” where increased earnings generate increased spending that is ploughed back into the real economy. If people are employed, for example, they can better afford houses and all the goods and services that we put in them. This demand leads to yet more growth, and so it goes on. Higher employment also of course means that governments have to spend less on unemployment benefits. That’s the theory. It works to sustain growth in the good times and should act as the catalyst for growth in the bad times. Wealth generation after all lies at the heart of capitalism. This may not be a fashionable view, but rather than constantly attacking companies — be they large or small — for organising their tax affairs efficiently, surely we should be encouraging them to continue investing and building their businesses to create further employment and wealth from which we can all benefit. Governments, when they are not busy criticising corporations, understand this. After all they are continually seeking to encourage business investment — at local, regional, national and international levels — through a variety of initiatives such as enterprise zones, free
trade zones and generous allowances against expenses of all types. Taking advantage of these types of incentive are part and parcel of the modern way of doing business in the global economy. In my view then, it’s a bit rich, even in a downturn, to then say “hang on a minute, your company isn’t paying its way”. Instead we should be encouraging these firms to invest further, build employment and get us out of the economic quagmire in which we all find ourselves. Can the answer really be this straightforward? Well, no of course not and I should not ignore the darker side of the “problem”. The illegal sheltering of profits or overstating of expenses so as to illegitimately reduce corporate tax. This is evasion. It is unacceptable and wrong. Those of us who work in “offshore” centres — or however we prefer to describe them these days — must be constantly on the alert for such misuse. Our business, for instance, depends on the compliant, intelligent use of international systems to create genuinely efficient cross-border business structures. The intention is to facilitate real business growth using the skills available locally, combined with progressive legislation and proper regulation. In Gibraltar, as in similar specialised finance centres around the world, we are very highly regulated. So much so that it is said to be far easier to launder money in London or New York than it would be here. This is all very well and good but we must never be complacent and if we suspect that companies (or indeed individuals) are involved in illegal tax evasion, we are legally obliged to speak out. So the next time I am in a new city and I fancy a coffee, will I be boycotting Starbucks? Should I avoid Amazon when buying my next e-book? No. As when I buy anything, my decision will be based simply on the quality of the goods or services provided by that brand. It’s my choice and I realise that in order to survive — and more importantly, grow — all corporate bodies, large or small, must mitigate their tax bills along with all their other expenses. So I suggest that we stop the relentless attacks on businesses in general. They are the very organisations that will get us out of this financial mess. Where there is wrongdoing of course let’s stamp it out, but for the vast majority of companies, locally, in the UK and globally, let’s get behind them. Drink more coffee, read more, and generate some growth. Let’s ensure that the light at the end of that long tunnel is the recovery and not another train coming the other way! n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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Tony’s Philosophy
In my installation speech I paid tribute to those fellow citizens who, without any fuss, silently carry out very important work for the community. I pledged to bring them to the Mayor’s Parlour in the City Hall and publicly thank them for what they do. I also pledged to open my Civic doors to the different ethnic groups, and to those who have never been invited to a Civic Reception. I am delighted to note that I am well on track towards fulfilling this aim. Since taking Office some eight months ago, I have hosted coffee mornings and receptions — 18 in total. All-in-all well over 1,000 guests have passed through the doors of my Parlour, the vast majority of them for the first time ever. It is gratifying to me as a person to note I have received over 70 invitations to attend charitable and other events and have felt extremely welcome when I have attended. I have detected a sense of being invited not just because I am the Mayor, but because those organisations have really wanted me to share in what they were celebrating. I have been asked to open numerous exhibitions, present awards and other such matters. I still have much to do. Shortly I shall be hosting the Emergency Services — that brave body of men and women whom we take for granted but are always there to look after our safety. I will also host the Moroccan Community which has contributed so much in support of Gibraltar over many years. The Corps of Royal Engineers will soon be exercising their “Freedom of the City of Gibraltar” right and so will the Royal Gibraltar Regiment later on this year. As Mayor, I will consider it an honour to take the Salute. Recently I saluted the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides as they marched up Main Street on the way to the Anglican Cathedral for Thinking Day Service. I have been invited by the RGR to be the Inspecting Officer at a Gun Salute to commemorate Her Majesty’s Birthday. It seems my public engagements will continue at the present busy, but most enjoyable pace! With God’s help I shall endeavour to do my best in discharging the most prestigious task I have ever been called upon to do in my 67 years.
The Qualities of a Mayor
Though it takes time to digest, whoever occupies the Office of Mayor of Gibraltar, in fact occupies what is without doubt one of the most ancient and historic constitutional Offices in
Gibraltar’s Mayor, Tony Lima
Come into my Parlour Gibraltar’s Mayor, Tony Lima, has achieved a lot in 8 months. A retired Senior Civil Servant and Officer of HM Royal Naval Reserve, Tony has brought together the community in Gibraltar in unprecedented ways during his term of office. Now almost halfway through (he hands over his chain on 1st April 2014) Tony shared his experiences and philosophy as Gibraltar’s Mayor with The Gibraltar Magazine. 12
GIBRALTAR GIBRALTARMAGAZINE MAGAZINE••APRIL APRIL2013 2013
key people Gibraltar. More importantly, he or she represents the interests of all who reside in Gibraltar where civic matters are concerned. A Mayor needs to obtain, and what is probably more difficult, hold the respect which such an important Office requires. He or she must remain above politics at all times and make him/herself available to all sectors of the community regardless of status or creed. He or she should go about their business in a humble and unassuming manner. There is no doubt that for me having an understanding wife, goes a long way towards making a Mayor’s task so much easier.
Special Events
All events have to varying degrees been special in their own way. They vary from those which transmit the excitement of having just returned from participating or assisting with the London Olympics, the air of expectation around you when announcing winners, the sheer determination of the Special Olympics team to attend a farewell coffee morning at the City Hall in the worst winter storm so far this year (when GBC was recommending the public not to go out!) The most genuine expressions of gratitude from guests at having been invited to a reception to celebrate small businesses. These all represented a real pleasure for me. Clearly, the most colourful occasion was when we celebrated Diwali with the Indian Community. The Mayor’s Parlour was graced with ladies wearing beautifully coloured Sarees. After the main reception we all indulged in a variety of Indian sweet specialities which had been presented to me. The event received recognition by Rajan Zed, President of Universal society of Hinduism in Nevada (USA). Who said the Hindu Community Worldwide felt honoured by Gibraltar’s Mayor’s active participation in Diwali and urged Mayors of all the cities around the world to follow the example and be a part of the Diwali celebrations in their respective cities. Amongst the most interesting event was Mrs Eva Clarke, a Holocaust survivor. It was fascinating listening to her experiences. Without doubt what has impressed me most so far, was spending a whole morning at the Victoria Stadium Complex with the ‘Stay and Play’ programme organised as part of the Summer Leisure Activities. It was so rewarding to see so many youngsters looking after those children, some not so young I would add, and doing so voluntarily. At the time it struck me that they could easily have been on the beach enjoying themselves. Yet they were there. It was evident that they were performing such valuable work without regard to any remuneration or personal gain. I take my hat off to Johnny Bugeja of the Gibraltar Chronicle and to Grace Torres of Panorama, they are everywhere capturing practically everything on film. Full marks must also go to Alice Mascarenhas for the excellent way she reports on so many different topics of community interest on a daily basis.
time. A considerable amount of preparatory work is required to ensure the success of an event. There are speeches to be delivered and these require research before one is able to put pen to paper. By choice I prefer to write up my press releases, speeches, etc at home. I am in daily contact with my Secretary via email and I make it a point of attending to my office at the City Hall every other day where we meet to deal with daily correspondence, plan and discuss upcoming events as well as other relevant matters. Luckily, I have a most understanding wife who accepts that, having taken on the huge responsibility of Mayor, I have no option but to devote whatever time is required to ensure I discharge those duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability. As you will be aware, Mayors receive no remuneration for serving Gibraltar. Being appointed Mayor of this fine city is without doubt the highest honour any citizen could expect and no amount of remuneration can match this.
Advice to Future Mayors
Take your time when asked. I was approached by the Chief Minister and asked whether I would be prepared to accept nomination to occupy the Office of Mayor. It was a Monday morning and it took me just over four days to consider the matter. It was only after very careful consideration, including consultation with the people that matter to me — my wife Carmen, my son Adrian and his delightful wife Suyenne — that I was able to accept nomination. My advice therefore is, don’t be rushed into taking a decision. Once appointed, it is vitally important that
words
you continue to be yourself. Nothing has changed — all that has happened is that God in his wisdom has thought it fit that you should occupy this High Office. Above all, keep well clear of politics and think twice before expressing an opinion on any matter. Remember you represent all the people of Gibraltar in all you say and do. You follow in very large footsteps. In my case, I felt daunted by the idea. However you end up by making each Mayorship your own, setting your pace and your own standards.
Inspiration
The following poem by Albert Guest has been an inspiration to me in discharging the many different tasks I have been required to do over the years: Someone said it couldn’t be done, But, he with a chuckle replied “That maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If we worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing “That couldn’t be done”, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing “That couldn’t be done” and you’ll do it. n See pages 74-75 for photographs of the latest Civic reception at the Mayor’s Parlour
Commitment
It is no exaggeration when I say that my Mayoral duties take up practically all of my A typical day: Bon Sharpe, Chairman of the Board of AAA Club South from Florida USA, and Mrs Sharpe meet up at the American War Memorial with Gibraltar’s Mayor and his wife Carmen during an official visit to Gibraltar
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
13
business
finance
The Daniel Stewart Mercury Forex Fund Opens for External Investment The Daniel Stewart Mercury Forex Fund (the “Fund”) a new foreign exchange fund, advised by Hassans International Law Firm, announces the start of marketing with trading due to commence in April. Launched by Daniel Stewart Securities, the Fund is established as an open-ended Experienced Investor Fund in Gibraltar. It is managed by Mercury Forex, a Swiss registered, regulated
14
and authorised company. Headed by John Birkins, who has over 30 years’ experience trading in the Forex Markets, Mercury Forex AG has a 16 year track record of generating outstanding returns primarily in spot Forex typically trading the major G7 currencies and their crosses either short-term and intraday. James Lasry, Partner of Hassans Law Firm, commented: “Gibraltar has an extremely appealing investment regime that attracts investors and fund managers from all corners of the
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
finance
business
Invited guests celebrated the launch of the Daniel Stewart Mercury Forex Fund in March
globe, thanks to its simple low tax regime, flexibility, speed to market and firm but light touch regulations. We are delighted that the Daniel Stewart Mercury Forex Fund is domiciled in Gibraltar and believe it will benefit from the advantages that the system has in place for funds of this kind.� n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
15
business
finance
The Image Graphics Story words | Paul Wharton
For the past few months I have been talking to small businesses in Gibraltar, and each business has shown that it is in some way unique to its industry. Finding a niche market has been the solution for many companies, especially at a time when we in Gibraltar are feeling the effects of the issues with the rest of Europe. One thing I have noticed from speaking to each entrepreneur in Gibraltar is that they have had to find a formula that works for their business, and of course, for themselves, which has then led them to success. Speaking to Janet and David Grant, directors of Image Graphics and Micro Business Systems, I have found one of these successful businesses in Gibraltar, but more on their specific key to success later on. First, some history on the company. David said: “The business in Gibraltar grew bit by bit. At first I was concerned because the market is so small and at the time the frontier was closed. Back then, Gibraltar’s economy was probably one-tenth of its size than what it is today.”
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Before his arrival in Gibraltar, David worked for Rank Xerox in London, and started off as a technician before moving onto sales and then sales management. In 1967, he was appointed General Manager for new operations in East Africa, where he launched the Rank Xerox business in Kenya (where he met Janet), and Uganda. The couple returned to London in 1974, and David remained with
Rank Xerox in London until 1976, before arriving on the Rock. Image Graphics was born in 1977 as sole distributors for Xerox Corporation, and has continued to work closely with them to the present day. The company distributes office equipment, such as multifunctional printers, and provides print bureau services — printing, photocopying, binding, shredding — to professionals as well as the public and private sector.
Even from an early stage they have both found the best way to run their business is to delegate responsibilities to others, allowing them to deliver as good if not better than they could themselves
The couple, together with business partners, was involved with Micro Business Systems from its inception in 1991 but took control of the company in 2009. MBS is a provider of records management services and systems, and archival storage. Over the years, Janet and David have seen their companies expand, and although they have an integral role in both businesses, they have a team of 36 employees to help run them, including their daughter Julia who works as a graphic designer. Even from an early stage they have both found the best way to run their business is to delegate responsibilities to others, allowing them to deliver as good if not better than they could themselves. David said: “When you start up a business, you are doing everything yourself and run the risk of burning yourself out. The only solution is to delegate by gradually building up a team. In seeking suitable people, you have to look beyond the immediate role and try to ascertain that they have the potential to do a better job than yourself in the area to which they are being recruited. If you are successful in this, then gradually the whole business takes on a different dynamic due to the ideas and energy of the people involved.” This really is a brave move for the business, and I believe it is the right one, so let me explain why I think this business has been successful. If you are running a business with growth potential and you want to embrace this challenge,
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
finance then you must look at ways to be productive with your own time. Sharing the workload broadly provides that injection of time to business owners and leaders that creates the space for more marketing, additional support for individuals and even creative thinking and strategic planning that so often gets left behind. Another way that delegation works effectively is to build skills in those you employ. While this might seem obvious, many small business owners simply use the skills people were recruited for, without finding out what they might be capable of. In my experience this allows the individual the opportunity to do something new and creates that good feeling you get when you are set a challenge. So the message here is to not allow your employees the opportunity to get bored as when they get bored, a percentage of them become demotivated and look for new challenges, which may well be with another employer. By delegating tasks to stretch and challenge, within a supportive framework, small business owners will build motivated individuals into the teams that provide the resources necessary to grow the
cause of trust. When an employer trusts an individual enough to delegate key tasks to them, they are showing the individual that they have confidence in them, which enables the employee to feel like a part of the business. I believe it is this that has been the secret that has allowed the business to thrive, and has led to 35 successful years of business in Gibraltar. After working with an established company like Rank Xerox, David built on his former experience and made it work for his clients. He said: “With regards to the business, I initially followed a formula that was familiar to me, but over time and with technological advances, one has to adapt to cater for changing market needs. It has always been an important consideration to provide dedicated sales and technical service support for our customers, while equal importance is given to sound administration and logistics to make machines, consumables and spares available as needed.” While his key personnel have been trained to offer this service, David calls for more support for small businesses through the
business
Micro Business Systems Ltd
PO Box 661, Unit 102, New Harbours Walk, New Harbours, Gibraltar Tel: (+350) 200 42723 Fax: (+350) 200 40612 Email: sales@mbs.gi www.mbs.gi
Providers of Records Management Services, Systems & Solutions since 1989 Digital Document Scanning Any document size up to A0, network and standalone access/retrival Document Microfilming Any document size up to A0, network and standalone access/retrival. Long term retention over 100 years File Colour Coding & Barcode Tracking Software Eliminates misplaced files for ever! High Density Filing Systems Huge range of filing supplies and consumables Archival Storage Services Long term and secure. Includes retrieval and collection of records.
Gibraltar’s Leading Data and Records Management Specialists
Main Dealers for
As businesses grow, the critical importance of trained and experienced individuals becomes increasingly defined. In stable businesses key employees are valuable business. Over time, as businesses grow, the critical importance of trained and experienced individuals becomes increasingly defined. In stable businesses key employees are valuable; as they grow with the pace of the business, they become invaluable, although that doesn’t mean they will stay with you and that’s just a risk you have to take. However, creating a team of people ready and willing to step in is critical for the long-term and as you delegate and they grow, you are taking vital steps forward to ensuring longevity and growth. All of the above points are important but there is nothing better than the loyalty you receive be-
provision of more management courses. He also called for more help for small businesses at a time when there is a lack of funding from banks, suppliers are tightening credit terms and a general lack of cash flow in the business, which is always a concern for the business. Despite these challenges, Janet and David remain optimistic about growth in Gibraltar, and the future of the Rock’s economy. n Paul Wharton is writing in his own capacity and none of the above is intended to express the views or opinions of Barclays Bank PLC.
Paul Wharton is Head of Corporate Banking at Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in Gibraltar having arrived on the Rock from the UK six years ago. Paul has over three decades’ experience gained in various roles within Barclays, predominantly in and around London and is passionate about supporting the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) market which he sees as the lifeblood of the Gibraltar economy. Paul has won several awards for his work in Small Business Enterprise markets and has served on the London Board of the Prince’s Trust. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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events
abroad Gibraltar’s Amongst Friends Photos: taken by Mike Brufal at the AGM of the Friends of Gibraltar Heritage Society — a society for people in the UK who are interested in Gibraltar. Many members are Gibraltarian, but membership is open to everyone who wants to support Gibraltar and share an interest in its past, present and future. n
Sir John Chapple
visit friendsofgibraltar.org.uk Pepe Forbes with the Chief Minister
Nick Vasquez and Lady Chapple
Vivian Bassadone
Mary Hirst
A World Premiere: O Calpe - Gibraltar Robin Willow finishes what Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart started... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was commissioned to write music to celebrate the successful defence of Gibraltar during the Great Siege (1779-1783) with the lyrics by Johan Cosmas Denis. At the same time John Singleton Copley was commissioned in 1783 by the City of London to paint a huge painting to mark the event. Copley painted the iconic scene of the defeat of the floating batteries which took place the previous year. It is titled The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar. Mozart was unable to complete the commission. Step forward Robin Willow, a noted composer and singer, who has finished the work by writing the music and lyrics. For the past 10 years he has tried to get the work played in public. Finally he has succeeded and the world premiere of this 22 minute work will take place at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on 5th October 2013. Robin will be the soloist with the Amadeus Orchestra and the Berkshire Youth Choir under the direction of Peter Asprey. n Tickets are available from www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
company
events Gibraltar Company at Lotus Car Charity Event
Ready to run for fun? STM Group is hosting two fun runs in aid of Wobbles Children’s Charity on 14th April. Both beginning at 10am (with assembly from 9.30am in Casemates Square), a 10k route will see competitors run all the way around the Rock, and a shorter 5k circuit will take other participants on a run through the town. Prizes will be awarded for Fastest Man, Fastest Woman, Fastest Team (with the slowest team member’s time recorded as the team’s overall time – minimum 4 runners per team), and Best Fancy Dress. Hoping to nurture a little healthy competition, STM is particularly
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keen to see representatives from as many of Gibraltar’s companies take part as possible. Can your company beat rival firms? All proceeds will go to Wobbles Children’s Charity, and entry fees are as follows: 10k Run: £10 entry if paid in advance (or an entry fee of £15 on the day). 5k Run: £5 entry if paid in advance (or an entry fee of £10 on the day). Children aged 12 and under pay £3 to take part in either run. Event T-shirts can be purchased in advance for £5, but if you raise more than £25, the T-shirt is free! See you on the start line! n For entry forms or info email funrun@stmgroupplc.com
Last month a representative Europa Trust Company Ltd was invited by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund to the Lotus cars “Future for Children Initiative” at the Regent Street Lotus store in London.
Europa Trust Company is a proud supporter of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and at the event, Aslam Farikullah COO
of Group Lotus PLC, announced that they too would be supporters of the charity and 25% of purchases made during their initiative would go towards the Children’s Fund (originally set up by President Mandela in 1994). Rachael Ward Head of Fundraising for The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund expressed her delight at the continued commitment Europa Trust has made to the fund. She stated how pleased she was with efforts Europa Trust had made in bringing awareness of the charity to Gibraltar and ongoing support of the fund. The evening brought together individuals and representatives of companies who take their corporate charity responsibilities seriously. n
Kathi Scott Executive Director, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund; Igbal Meer former lawyer for Nelson Mandela; Kathija Haimet; Rachael Ward Head of Fundraising, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund; Maria Namiiro, Miss Uganda, Brett Dale Bridge, Europa Trust Company Limited
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Spotlight on Gaming: Preview of Themes & Speakers for KPMG eGaming Summit words | Micky Swindale, Associate Director at KPMG Gibraltar & Isle of Man
As Mike Harvey outlined in his article last month, 2011 and 2012 were eventful years for the Gaming sector, and have provided us with extensive material for our eGaming Summit at the Caleta Hotel on 11th April. The conference will be opened, as it was in 2012, by the Honourable Gilbert Licudi QC, after which Phill Brear will give us the now traditional Regulator’s Update. Phill will then go on to consider the highly topical subject of social gaming — this is particularly relevant locally since 888 Holdings and Gamesys both secured deals to provide real-money gaming on Facebook, and the increasing interest of operators and players in this area means that an insight into the Regulator’s view of social gaming will be invaluable for many of the summit attendees. The approach of key European countries to regulation and licensing has also been a topic of great scrutiny over the past two years, especially closer to home with the novel approach by Spain to retrospectively issue tax demands to online operators who were at the same time submitting applications for licences to operate in Spain. We are therefore delighted that glo-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
bal law firm DLA Piper have agreed to bring to Gibraltar their gaming specialists from London, Madrid, Milan and Munich to man a summit panel session which will consider ‘The Evolution of Remote Gambling Regulation’. This leads nicely onto the intentions of the EU Commission in this area — Commissioner Barnier has made it clear that national laws on gambling must comply with EU law, and so the final session of the morning will update on the progress being made by the group of experts on gambling services set up by
the Commission on 5th December 2012. The group is tasked with assisting the Commission to develop a ‘comprehensive European framework on online gambling’ and will focus on five stated priorities: ● compliance of national regulatory frameworks with EU law ● enhancing administrative cooperation and efficient enforcement ● protecting consumers and citizens, minors and vulnerable groups ● preventing fraud and money laundering
eGaming News KPMG are to hold the third annual eGaming Summit in Gibraltar on Thursday 11th April 2013 at the Caleta Hotel, where they will bring the sector’s major stakeholders and service providers together to discuss the jurisdiction’s potential in the global marketplace and wider trends for the eGaming Industry as a whole. For more information on this event, please contact Abby Kimber abbykimber@kpmg.gi. 21
summit
gaming
Micky Swindale, Associate Director KPMG Gibraltar & Isle of Man, Graeme Brooks, Brand Strategist & Events Manager Ashgrove Marketing, Isle of Man and Abby Kimber, Marketing Communications Executive, KPMG Gibraltar & Isle of Man
● safeguarding the integrity of sports and preventing match-fixing Naturally the other key area for Gibraltar, and the eGaming industry as a whole, is the UK Government’s plans to “protect” UK consumers by requiring companies who wish to serve the UK market to be licensed in the UK (with the small matter of also being liable for UK tax at the point of consumption). As has been widely reported over the past few months, this is encountering increasingly strong resistance, particularly in Gibraltar. The statement issued by the Gibraltar Gaming and Betting Association in late January appealed to the Department of Culture Media and Sport to call off its plans to introduce the new regime — and it gave notice that it is serious in its intention to fight the bill, advising: “In the event that the Government determines to proceed with the proposed legislation and fiscal reforms, the GBGA will regrettably have little alternative but to institute judicial review proceedings to challenge these measures.” The Association has the necessary financial clout to make good on this threat, having raised a GBP 500,000 war chest from its 24 member companies for the fight, and the GBGA characterised the proposed changes as discriminatory and disproportionate, saying they were based on a flawed perception of the competitive threat to British-licensed companies. On a similar note, the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority also raised objections to the UK’s intentions; with Phill Brear claiming that the proposals contradicted reality, research and the evidence base — it will be interesting to see if he expands on this in his update. Gibraltar’s David v Goliath stance was augmented by Malta’s recent filing with the European Commission of a complaint which, whilst the detailed content has not been made public, is believed to argue that implementing a law such as the proposed UK point of con-
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With the wealth of material and the quality of speakers and panellists available this year, we are assured of a day rich in debate and learning, as well as a valued opportunity to network
sumption tax would be against EU legislation because it would give an unfair advantage to genuine UK ventures over companies based outside the UK, thereby undermining the European principle of free movement of services between member states. Shortly afterwards, on 4th March, the European Commission announced it was extending its review period for the proposed tax. With this backdrop, summit attendees will be particularly interested in the last two sessions of the day: Sue Rossiter (Head of Policy & Projects for the Remote Gambling Association) and Simon Trussler (Director of Economics & Regulation for KPMG UK), will present together on ‘Unintended Consequences’: The potential pitfalls of introducing a new tax structure for online gaming. Peter Montegriffo, the local legal authority on gaming, will moderate a panel of individuals drawn from the heart of the sector, on ‘The Future of Gaming’. The interest in Gibraltar and the sector is evidenced by the increasing number of summit speakers and delegates drawn from outside the jurisdiction. Whilst most of our speakers are travelling from within Europe, we will also be joined from Tel Aviv by Stuart Ballan of Counting House, and from Canada by Michael Tobin of Continent 8 — so an international field indeed — now we just have to pray for good landing conditions at Gibraltar that week! With the wealth of material and the quality of speakers and panellists available this year, we are assured of a day rich in debate and learning, as well as a valued opportunity to network with our clients and contacts — we look forward to seeing you there. n Micky is Associate Director for KPMG’s Advisory practice in Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, and also Head of People and Change for KPMG’s Offshore Group. She is a key member of the KPMG eGaming team, organises the summits in both locations, and leads the team which operates the online multi-jurisdiction KPMG Remuneration & Benefits Survey for the eGaming sector.
Archie Watt (KPMG Isle of Man), Russell Kelly (KPMG Isle of Man) and Mike Harvey (KPMG Gibraltar) at the 2012 KPMG Gibraltar eGaming Summit GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Gibraltar Law firm ranked No1 in Chambers & Partners Hassans international law firm is once again delighted to be ranked No 1 in the independent legal directory, Chambers Global 2012. Its stand-alone position further strengthens the firms’ reputation, expertise and quality of service to clients. In total, 20 of Hassans lawyers have been individually ranked with Ian Felice, partner, Richard Buttigieg, partner, and Julian Santos, associate, entering the individual rankings this year. Chambers quotes “Ian Felice enters the rankings having earned excellent client reviews. As one source observed, ‘he takes a huge amount of pride in his work and I can’t speak highly enough of him’.” Top-notch lawyer Richard Buttigieg is also
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
legal
business
“
This acknowledgement from the industry underpins our growth strategy and the investment we make in our staff
”
lauded by clients for his corporate expertise. Associate Julian Santos is highlighted as a rising star in the litigation department. He is increasingly visible on high-profile mandates and is praised for his ability to effectively bridge the cultural divide on cross-border deals involving both common and civil law jurisdictions. Javier Chincotta, Managing Partner at Hassans says, “As we constantly strive to maintain excellence in client service, it gives a certain satisfaction to be ranked in this way, particularly given that the basis of position is dependent upon client interviews. We have been in the No1 stand-alone position for some years now and this acknowledgement from
the industry underpins our growth strategy and the investment we make in our staff.” Chambers and Partners select firms for rankings based on a three step process; submissions put forward by legal practices; client interviews during the course of research; and their own database resources. James Levy comments “I am delighted to see the hard work of some of our young lawyers and partners recognised for the first time. I am very proud to be at the helm of this firm whose future remains bright and firmly established in this exciting and growing jurisdiction and to lead such an exceptional team of professionals, who work hard to provide excellent client service.” n
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business
recruitment
Do You Have Any Questions
?
Interviewing the Interviewer
Questions you should be asking in your interview words | SRG Europe, intelligent recruitment
So, you’ve landed that interview you were waiting for and you prepare and prepare and then prepare some more for the big day. You run through all the questions that they might ask you, but have you asked yourself the most important one? Why do you want to work there? How well do you know this company? When going for an interview it’s just as important to ask your own questions as it is to answer theirs. It’s not always easy knowing the best ones to ask in an interview, but whether you ask the right questions or the wrong ones can make or break your chances.
Questions you don’t want to ask
Any questions that deal with benefits as an employee should not be asked during the interview process. If you are in a first interview with a hiring manager who has just met you and probably their fifth interview of the day, you do not want to be the one who asked “how many sick days do I get?” These can be valid questions and should be part of making your final decision, but it’s moot if you don’t actually get to offer stage. The offer stage is the best time to ask these questions. If it is brought up by the interviewer in the interview stage then feel free to ask, but only if prompted. Questions about things such as local weather or the best pubs can get into hot water as well as they might send the impression that you are more interested in your personal life than the job on offer. Perhaps ask friends and acquaintances these questions instead.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
recruitment Best Questions to Ask at an Interview If I were to get the job, what would be the first thing on my “to-do” list?
It’s impossible to get a full understanding of what a new job is going to entail. To a certain extent you have to dive into the job to really know what is going to be asked of you. This is an excellent question to ask in order to make diving in a little easier. While asking this question can be beneficial to you in getting more information, it also shows initiative and your willingness to hit the ground running. Where do you see me being in the business in 5 years time?
Many interviewers ask this question to candidates, but it can be turned around to your benefit as well. This is an excellent question for seeing what sort of growth opportunities this job might offer. It can answer the question “Where do you see my career progressing within the company in the short and long term?” if answered properly. It can also serve as a warning if your interviewer is unable to answer it very well. If the answer is good and detailed, it can help to determine if your goals are in line with those of the company. Too often people start a new job with goals in mind only to find out later on that their employer has a different path in mind. Or no path at all sometimes. This can be very disappointing.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
What improvements or changes do you expect from the person filling this position? This question can be helpful in understanding where the person before you might have gone wrong and it is so much more eloquent than “why did the other person leave?”. Again, it also shows initiative and motivation to per-
If the answer is good and detailed, it can help to determine if your goals are in line with those of the company form and succeed in the position. Do you like working here?
This is a scary one and a bit unorthodox, but if you have a comfortable rapport with your interviewer (which is ideal) then why not ask? If you’re going to work for this company it’s good to find out how others feel about the work environment. Who better to ask than your interviewer?
business
If they answer “yes” without hesitation or calmly, then great. If they shift in their seat when looking for an answer or can’t look you in the eye, then maybe do some further research into the company. You might be able to find others who have worked there who can give more insight into the work environment. Is there anything about myself that requires clarification? What you’re really trying to get at with a question like this is if there is any reason they might not think you are a match for the position. It might be that you simply aren’t the best match for the job once you move into this area of questioning, but it could also be a case of that you haven’t explained a skill or area of experience well enough. This is why it is good to make sure the interviewer absolutely has all the information they need in making their decision. If you feel comfortable enough then even go so far as to ask them what they think might stop you from being best suited for the job? A lot of job seekers don’t fully understand the importance of questions, but if you think about it, this is the premise of all interviews. The best interviews are those that are a two way conversation which means that you, the interviewee, need to be engaged in the conversation as well. Any good interviewee has their own questions prepared and a great interviewee has the right questions ready. n
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poltics
file
Danny Feetham
Leading from the Centre words | Frankie Hatton
W
ith the standard Gibraltar-born early childhood, finishing his education in Bayside before heading to Reading University to study classical history, Danny came from a very socialist background by virtue of his father’s strong influence. He wasn’t very career orientated because, in his own words, he was a slow developer. “My father wanted both Nigel [his brother] and myself to study law, but the more he mentioned it the more I resisted. It’s the way many young people react I suppose. In fact by the time I finished my history degree Nigel was already studying law at Manchester University. I decided to take up the challenge, took a loan and funded my time at the same university to study law. “After I finished my studies I managed to obtain a training place or pupillage in London. I was lucky because the competition for places
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The recently elected Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Feetham, takes centre stage this month. We knew plenty about the outgoing Leader, but read on to find out a bit more about Danny. was fierce and I managed to obtain some of the best training you can get. “During my time at university I met my wife who is English, so we decided to settle nearby in the Forest of Boland near Manchester where I joined a practice.” The Feethams enjoyed life in Manchester where their son was born — a total contrast to London for Danny. “London is culturally great, shopping, theatre, and so on, but Manchester has those things on a smaller scale, and more community spirit where London can be a little soulless. Naturally, like most Gibraltarians, I wanted to come back home at some point but the pull for my wife wasn’t so strong. Her parents still lived in Worksop and, even though that is the other side of the Pennines from where we lived, for her the move was a real upheaval. “It is great credit to her that we finally came back. Our son was three years old and she
was pregnant with our second child, a child I wanted to be born here. We arrived home in January 2000 and our daughter was born in the February. I continued in law and was later offered a partnership in Hassans where I continue to work.” Danny has always had an interest in politics and, with his father being so heavily involved, it was just a part of life. That interest spilled over into practical involvement in the UK where he was a Labour party activist in the Blackburn area — Jack Straw’s constituency. “I was always one of these activists that felt the Labour Party needed to resist the far left and move to the centre. In 1982 there had been a schism within the Labour Party when David Own, a former Foreign Secretary in a Labour Government, Shirley Williams, Jenkins and Roberts left to form the Social Democratic Party because they felt Michael Foot was taking Labour too far left.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
politics “The struggle between the left and centrists continued until the 1990s when first Neil Kinnock, then the late John Smith and, of course, Tony Blair managed to move the party to more moderate centre left ground. And that is where I have always been politically. “Every true social democrat has the twin principles social and civil justice as part of their core values. You have a responsibility to the least advantaged and you must recognise that you not only have rights as a people but also as individuals within a people. Of course, the economy does well because businesses do well and in my view you cannot control an economy centrally or impose restrictions on the labour market that acts as a disincentive to business. “If I have to name someone whose pure political philosophy most approximates mine it is probably Bernard Linares, who was a Trade Unionist with my father, a former headmaster of Bayside and GSD Minister.” How does Danny reconcile those values with the GSD? “Well those are the core values of the GSD. It has allowed many people from the left of the political spectrum to join it. No one has done more for ordinary Gibraltarians and the less well off. But the GSD has also been a broad based political party for many years and there have been MPs that have come from every sector of society, from business and trade unions, and also people with very deep religious convictions and we cannot lose that broad base appeal. “People in Gibraltar are very moderate in
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
their views, they are not prone to the kind of political correctness that grips other places. That is the Gibraltarian way, and I believe that is the GSD way too. “I also want the GSD to continue to project the calm, intelligent, mature and confident way of dealing with our relations with Spain which epitomised Peter Caruana. I want that
“
There is a sense of entitlement in Gibraltar that is not sustainable politically or economically in the long run
”
to continue to epitomise the GSD under my leadership. Always be prepared to engage Spain to find solutions to problems, to achieve normality but at the same time never crossing the red lines that are so fundamental to this community.” One of the biggest issues for for Danny must have been convincing his family, after that terrible day in 2010 when he was stabbed in public, that he still wanted to be involved
file
in politics. “To be honest, yes it was. They were very reticent to agree to it after that event. I was holding my children by the hands either side of me when I was stabbed with an eight inch knife. It cut my spleen in half and I had stab wounds to my leg, chest and hands. Luckily I kept myself fit, particularly weight training, and I believe that strength saved me. “I am proud of the way my family dealt with the situation and the fact that within three weeks of coming out of an intensive care ward I was back at work to complete the projects I was handling as a Minister, in particular the law courts. “Peter Caruana told me that without me the party would be weakened and I owe the GSD a lot. I could not turn my back on the party at a critical time. “I’m grateful to my family for supporting my decision in the end.” Recently elected as Leader of the Opposition after a leadership election within the GSD, we asked Danny what his priorities for the party were? “My main priority is to reorganise the party into a well-oiled machine, open up democracy and project a strong sense of values. “One of the things I want to also do is talk more about the ‘politics of responsibility’ in order to curb the unrealistic and unaffordable promises politicians make at election time and the expectations of people. There is a sense of entitlement in Gibraltar that is not sustainable politically or economically in the long run.” n
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property
file
Everything you need to know about rentals, but were afaid to ask... We asked Chesterton’s rentals queen Jacky DyerCarreras
Jacky, can you tell us a bit of background about yourself, and how you became involved in real estate rental locally? I was born and raised in Gibraltar. I carried out all my education here and at the age of 17 I took my first employment with a company called Gibrepair. I had several temporary jobs after Gibrepair and at the age of 23 I made the decision to leave Gib for a short while to gain work experience in London. My first employment in London was as a temporary secretary to three architects in Chancery Lane. This was the springboard for me to gain permanent employment and having completed the temp role, I joined an American company trading as an oil broker in Piccadilly. I mainly processed the administrative side of international oil deals. I must have done okay as it wasn’t long after joining the company that I took an internal transfer to the accounts department. What was meant to be a short stint in London to seek work experience ended up as a 10 year stay. I eventually returned home to Gibraltar in June 2000. My first employment on my return was with Credit Suisse as one of their part time receptionists. After a couple of years of being part time, I was ready and eager to find full time employment. It was then that I accepted a job vacancy at Norwich and Peterborough Estate Agents as an administrator. At the time they only had a number of rental apartments on their books, but I soon found myself preparing rental tenancies and helping out with the odd rental instruction, viewings and general property management tasks.
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really busy. Demand for property continues to be strong. Which properties are most sought after by renters and which is there a shortage of? We have a real problem at the moment. We cannot get enough rental properties on our books for the demand we have from tenants. This is true up to about the £1,800 pcm rent level. Most tenants want to pay below this and live somewhere close to amenities, their workplace, shops and the border. So Ocean Village is always one of the most popular but so is King’s Wharf and Marina Bay. Currently the market is very competitive but in spite of this we are doing extremely well. What do you most enjoy about your job? The best thing about my job is the number of different people I meet on a daily basis. Tenants could come from a number of different countries, including Gibraltar, and we meet new tenants every day. Whereas, I tend to know many of the landlords and like building a good relationship with them over the longer term. There’s a good number of characters who visit our office for whatever reason and there never seems to be a dull moment. So I suppose it is the general buzz of the office I like. Do you find you can easily match renters to the properties they will rent or do they still surprise you? Yes, I think I have a very good idea of what type of property each tenant wants quite quickly, although sourcing it is another challenge. Cat II property searches are some of the most straightforward as it is often just a cost issue. The harder challenge is a rental house for a family not used to Gibraltar. That I was approached by Chesterton in 2008 takes time. when their office was being established here in Gibraltar. I was ready for a new challenge and If I was building the ideal rental block, liked the idea of working for an international where would it be and how would it be company as Gibraltar was becoming increas- configured? It would be near the border, near town and ingly international itself. The job has gone well for me here and last month I was promoted to walking distance to Ocean Village and Europort. It would have parking, a gym and some Head of Lettings at Chesterton. attractive outdoor space with shared pools. Large terraces are popular as well. Then we How have you seen the rental market need to make sure there are enough one and evolve over the years? Ten years ago it was predominantly local two bedroom apartments in the development people in the Gibraltar property market with below, say, £450,000 so they can be purchased just a handful of ex-pats. Slowly and surely, by buy-to-let investors as well as owner ocnew developments have been built and, to- cupiers, meaning many apartments would gether with the growth in the number of inter- become available for rental and help the curnational companies establishing here, this has rent shortage. Finally, I would give Chesterton attracted many more non-Gibraltarians into the sole agency! property market: investors and employees. Although Chesterton established here in What advice would you give to a renter? Gibraltar just as the financial crisis was un- Landlord? Prospective buy to let? I would advise a renter to only use an agent folding all around, I can’t remember a single time in the last five years when I haven’t been that uses proper client accounting which means receiving the rent and holding the tenant deposit in a proper ring-fenced bank account. Same advice to the landlord but also to ensure the agent is allowed to hold onto a certain sum, say £500, and given the authority to deal with issues promptly as they arise. This makes the tenant happy which is good for the landlord long term. My advice to prospective buy-to-let landlords is to buy now whilst there are still some good purchase prices around and tenant demand is high. n
We cannot get enough rental properties on our books for the demand we have from tenants. This is true up to about the £1,800 pcm rent level
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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histpry
files
A Brief History of Home Ownership in Gibraltar Many young couples today aspire to have their own homes... almost as a right and not just a wish, but very few are aware how bad the situation was 30 years ago when home ownership accounted for a mere 5% of the total housing stock in Gibraltar. words | Brian Francis FRICS, Managing Director, Brian Francis & Associates
30 30
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• APRIL APRIL 2013 2013 GIBRALTAR
property Most young married couples then had no option but to live with their parents or in-laws in either Government or private rented accommodation and bide their time in the distant hope that one day they would climb up the Government Housing Waiting list, or come by a windfall which would enable them to buy a very scarce commodity — property. Official records show that in 1970 home ownership accounted for only 4.1% of the total housing stock in Gibraltar. (See table below) Category
No.
%
Government Rented Private Rented Owner Occupied
3741 2170 253
60.7% 35.2% 4.1%
Total
6164
100%
It is not at all surprising that the home ownership rate was so low compared to Spain and even the United Kingdom where the average rate was around 60-70% but then again, this abnormality has to be viewed in the historical context of the situation at the time. The 25 years post-war era (1945-1970) had witnessed a massive investment in Government housing following the civilian repatriation where many local families lived for many years in corrugated iron Nissen huts until the more permanent estates such as Alameda Estate, Laguna Estate and Moorish Castle Estate, to name a few of the larger ones, were completed. Many Gibraltarian families lived in the Spanish hinterland but when Spain closed the land frontier in 1969 the problem was aggravated and the Gibraltar Government depended on UK Overseas Aid funding in order to build more Government housing. Several estates were built, the largest being Varyl Begg Estate and Glacis Estate, which as a recently graduated Building Surveyor in 1973 I had to snag for Government as part of my work experience. A few other smaller Government estates were built around the same time, but little was done to promote home ownership as shown in the following Table extracted from Official 1986 Statistics : Category
No.
%
Government Rented Private Rented Owner Occupied
5320 2063 463
67.8% 26.3% 5.9%
Total
7846
100%
Apart from the failed attempts of the then administration to sell Government flats to their sitting tenants, an initiative took place in the early 1980s which planted the seeds of home ownership. This involved awarding by tender neglected ex-MOD properties. The main consideration in selecting the preferred tenderers was not financial but rather based on how many persons could be accommodated in the redeveloped properties. Around the same time the Government re-activated its policy of selling flats to their sitting tenants and this met with some success with the sale of 18 townhouses at Shorthorn
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Estate. Also, local developers were beginning to show interest in building affordable housing for sale to the local market — Vineyards, comprising some 200 flats, developed by Benpar Properties, was a pioneer in that area — and that in turn encouraged lending institutions to develop competitive mortgage products in response to the tax incentives introduced by Government for first-time buyers. However, home ownership on a massive scale had to await a change of Government in 1988, when shortly after, the Westside Reclamation projects (now known as Montagu Gardens and Harbour Views) were
Brian Francis FRICS
“
Apart from the sudden availability of low cost properties, there also began to develop a two tier market as homeowners began to experience the benefits of climbing the home ownership ladder
”
file
Most of the apartments were sold off-plan at very affordable prices ranging between £25,000 for a two bedroom flat to £48,000 for a four bedroom flat with garage space. This sudden increase in home ownership to 41.73% of the total housing stock was reflected in the official statistics of the 2001 Census reproduced in the following table. Category
No.
%
Government Rented Private Rented Owner Occupied
4276 1388 4021
44.38% 13.89% 41.73%
Total
9635
100%
Selling so many apartments off-plan in record time was a challenging experience. Most buyers had to be initiated into the whole concept of home ownership and in particular the management of the communal areas and facilities. Apart from explaining the financial and legal procedures this was perhaps the most difficult to explain and indeed convince prospective buyers that the effective management of the communal areas would improve their quality of life. The general view was that although Government flats provided good accommodation at very attractive rents, the common areas left much to be desired as some tenants did not have any civic pride in the upkeep of these communal areas. In short, the mentality of shared responsibility for all areas outside the ‘front door’ had to be changed dramatically and this was achieved by giving owners financial control and responsibility for the management of all the common areas. Apart from the sudden availability of low cost properties, there also began to develop a two tier market as homeowners began to experience the benefits of “climbing the home ownership ladder”. Hence, new developments such as Queensway, Rosia Plaza, Europlaza, Portland House, Peninsular Heights and Westview Park filled that gap. It will be interesting to see what the 2011 Census figures on home ownership will reveal. My guess is that home ownership will have increased to well over 50% of the total housing stock but this figure may have been affected by the past Government’s building of the Mid Harbour Estate for rental purposes. On the other hand one must not forget that the more recent luxury developments such as Kings Wharf, Ocean Village and Tradewinds will also feature strongly in the statistical analysis. We at BFA Group are proud to have contributed to the success of home ownership in Gibraltar over the last 27 years... firstly as BFA Valuers advising on market values, secondly as BFA Estate Agents marketing and selling thousands of homes in all categories and finally, as BFA Managers assisting Management Companies in ensuring best practice for the upkeep and management of all the communal areas. n
commenced. Paradoxically although I had tried very hard, as Director of Crown Lands from 1982-1986, to promote home ownership it was shortly after I left the Civil Service in September 1986 to start my private practice, that I was given the exciting opportunity to form part of the consultancy team advising Gibraltar Homes Limited — a consortium of three local companies which built 1500 low For further information on BFA’s professional cost flats in a record time of just three years services visit the website at www.bfagib.com or Tel: 200 71131 in 1989-1992.
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property
file
No room at the inn... words | Mike Nicholls
A phenomenon not seen for a good few years has returned to the Gibraltar property scene. Since the start of the new year and in each of the commercial, residential sales and residential lettings sectors, we have encountered a variety of gazumping instances from other parties interested in the same Gibraltar property. The first example was on a residential apartment where the price was agreed between the buyer and the seller and the legal conveyancing process was underway. The vendor was still allowing viewings and he received a higher offer. Dilemma or no brainer? The vendor accepted the higher offer and the first deal collapsed. A few weeks later we experienced a similar scenario but on a residential letting, which is far more unusual. This time, our client met the asking price but on the same day, the landlord received a higher offer from another agent. During the following 48 hour period there was some counter-
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bidding and the landlord agreed better terms with our client. For this to have happened on a rental (as opposed to a sale) is quite revealing. Take a look at any of the main agents’ websites and look for the availability of residential property rentals. The number available is at the lowest it has been for many years and in my opinion this trend is set to continue. At Chesterton, we maintain records of the Gibraltar property supply and presented graphically, there is a clear downward trend over the last few years.
During the property development years of Ocean Village starting in 2003 and King’s Wharf completing in 2010, nearly 1,000 apartments were built for the open market. All of these have sold and are therefore owned or rented. That means 1,000 new occupants came into the property market during those years. This trend has continued, say 150 – 200 new residents for these type of properties each year, yet no new properties have been built or are due to be built on a large scale. So any slack in the market has been absorbed and the availability of rental apart-
ments is now at a minimum. This explains why we encountered some gazumping in the rental sector for the first time. And explains why it is going to become harder to place incoming employees and high net worth individuals wishing to reside in Gibraltar. In my article last month I commented on how supply and demand imbalance this would impact prices and buy to let yields for investors. My point in this article, is that Gibraltar will soon be posting a “No Vacancies” sign at the entrance because that is where we are heading unless we can unlock
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
file
property
The Sanctuary There’s a fair amount of interest regarding the old Maida Vale site in Engineer’s Road adjacent to the Nature Reserve. The site is being prepared ahead of an imminent development called the Sanctuary and passersby can visualise the sheer scale of the site together whether the breath-taking views from that location. The Sanctuary is a private gated development, consisting of five detached villas, each with a built area of 1,400 square metres and distributed over six storeys. Every villa will have its own private pool, indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, waterfalls, open air en-suite bathrooms, a gymnasium with sauna and jacuzzi and an expansive rooftop garden. In-house automation and security cameras accessible worldwide will further ensure that this development is unique.
There is now a shortage of all types of properties in Gibraltar and the search for the right premises is getting harder again
some bank finance to encourage property developers back into the market and / or entice vendors to become landlords. The third example was in the commercial office sector. Two companies vying for the same well-presented large office space. There could only be one winner and unfortunately the party that didn’t secure the property has had to return to the market and select an alternative. There is excess demand around with companies still moving in to Gibraltar. And it’s the same story, there are no new office developments being built and hence the new supply is coming exclusively from the refurbishment of some of the older buildings in and around Main Street. Rental prices are increasing and the choice for the companies seeking to expand or move into Gibraltar reduces virtually by the week. On the face of it, it’s a nice
The final touches are now being made on the design before the properties are priced and made available for sale which we think will be around May or June 2013. As sole agent, Chesterton will be marketing the properties locally and internationally.
problem to have. The attraction of Gibraltar continues across international borders. Companies relocate here bringing jobs and increased economic activity locally. However, there must come a time, which is possibly quite soon, when we are losing out to other jurisdictions in our desire to attract companies or individuals, due to the price or lack of availability of suitable accommodation. n
Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a board member of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar and runs a real estate investment solutions consultancy. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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property
interiors
Need a Stylish New Kitchen or Bathroom? Priding themselves on being able to give customers a showroom finish in their home, SK Kitchens & Bathrooms offers start to finish solutions for customers, from design, installation and tiling to electrics — including the kitchen sink! SK Kitchens & Bathrooms is a Gibraltar plumbing company run by husband and wife team, Steven and Kirsty Davis. Not just a refurbishment company, they understand the importance of the little details, and how vital it is to know a good plumber who is close by when the need arises. For peace of mind, SK Kitchens & Bathrooms can be there for any plumbing emergency — from mending a leaking washer,
to fixing a boiler, to handling a full on flood. They provide a prompt, clean, reliable and professional service at all times. As a family run company, SK Kitchens & Bathrooms provides a personal service for refurbishments — Steve will be there for the whole job, from the initial consultation down to the last tile being laid and Kirsty is always on the end of the phone to help arrange everything, taking the stress away from the process. With their cheerful happy to help approach to work, the team at SK Kitchens & Bathrooms are a delight to work with on any plumbing, bathroom or kitchen project. n For more information, please contact SK Kitchen & Bathrooms on Tel: 20065354 or mobile: 54034703.
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contemporary finishes in bathrooms and kitchens
The team provides a prompt, clean, reliable and professional service at all times
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Freshen up for Spring!
Once the Spring cleaning is done and dusted, many of us decide perhaps it is a good time to revamp our interior design and inject some vibrant Spring colours into our home.
A few simple changes can make a big difference to your interior space, to welcome the freshness of Spring. Wallpaper is an economical way to change a room drastically. Pinks, oranges and greens with stripey or symmetrical patterns are in style this year, as well as hand sketching and wall writing. Graphic artists are starting to collaborating with interior designers to create original wall imprints. A recent trend is for wallpaper to be complimented by similar accessories, such as table cloths or table mats (see photo). Home designers are in search of touchable textures, which inspire comfort as a way to engage and experience a proper homely atmosphere. Fun and quirky accessories are not only extremely decorative, but also very much in fashion. Get creative! n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
35
Outside the circuit - Jerez 2012
a need for MotoGP speed words | Jolene Gomez
“
MotoGP has a huge fan base in Gibraltar and enthusiasts have been travelling to races together since 2006.
Our passion for the sport has taken us to many places, including Portugal, UK, Barcelona, Valencia and Italy, and we have countless photos of the group, meeting the riders, and cheering Valentino Rossi on,” explains Stephanie Finlayson, who organises the trips. The group has been featured on the official MotoGP website, the screens at the circuit, the Valentino Rossi fan club page, and Eurosport’s website amongst others. Originally just four people back in 2006, the group has kept expanding from there — it peaked at 90 people in 2012 — with friends of friends wanting to experience the thrill. “Lots of locals love MotoGP, but never managed to take the plunge and travel the short distance to Jerez to see it live. They preferred the comfort of their own living room, thinking it was much better viewing rather than actually bothering with the hassle of pushing through the crowds to see it live,” says Stephanie. “I decided to take it on myself to make it easier for everybody, by organising the trip and buying the tickets, so they did not have to worry about the ins and outs of dealing with the circuit themselves. Once they actually made it up to Jerez, and experienced it live, most will never watch it from their sofas again! The atmosphere, the adrenaline — it’s an amazing experience,” she grins.
In 2009, a group of around 30 travelled to Jerez, and had the idea of using lettered t shirts, to grab the attention of the legendary rider who most of their group support — Valentino Rossi. With
five T-shirts sporting the letters ROSSI, they managed to appear on the screens placed around the circuit, and then on MotoGP Jerez review videos on www.motogp. com and www.eurosport.com.
The group has been featured on the official MotoGP website, the screens at the circuit, the Valentino Rossi fan club page, and Eurosport’s website
From that moment, the group’s popularity grew, and they became famous around the circuit, and their numbers climbed for the following year. The next year, there were enough lettered T-shirts to spell VALENTINO ROSSI and were accompanied by yellow Afro wigs — a trademark of The Doctor a.k.a Valentino. “This time, we were grabbed by the Valentino Rossi Official Fan Club photographer, and soon after the race weekend, there were photos of us appearing on the official fan club website, proudly carrying our Gibraltar flag! Our faces and yellow hair once again appeared on the circuit screens, and as can be seen in the photos, on all the reviews in the MotoGP websites,” she says. In 2011, the group numbered around 75 people and the T-shirts extended to VALENTINO ROSSI / FORZA DUCATI in support of his legendary move to Ducati. The weekend was plagued by rain, but exciting nonetheless, as the group watched Valentino’s closest fight for the top spot, while riding his Ducati monster. Last year was another story, as 90 people went to watch the race, with 50 people grouped together in the official campsite outside the circuit — all organised by Stephanie, which she describes as nearly a full time job! “Due to our large numbers, I was contacted by the campsite organiser, who has become a very
Meeting Valentino - Jerez
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
fan file
sport
Rossi at Jerez testing
good friend of mine, and was told that Tele5 wanted to do a report on our group to show on TV during the race weekend. They proposed following us from the frontier right up to the circuit and watching us set up camp, go to the race etc. This was a big thing to organise, and since the group did not travel together we declined, opting instead for interviews to be carried out while at the camp site — this took place on Saturday afternoon and our faces and Gibraltar flag appeared on the Tele5 news that same day,” Stephanie smiles. That year also marked a difference, as the group carried a black armband with number 58, in memory of Marco Simoncelli who passed away tragically while competing, and his photo was next to the Gibraltar flag. Stephanie then took the initiative of using the group to raise money for the charity Riders for Health. Established in the late 1980s, Riders for Health was founded in the grand prix paddock by American racing legend Randy Mamola, and Andrea and Barry Coleman. It is an international non-profit organisation which provides health care to rural African villages using reliable and
“
Jerez 2012
Most will never watch it from their sofas again! The atmosphere, the adrenaline — it’s an amazing experience well maintained motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles. By providing health care doorto-door, the organisation is hoping to help fight easily preventable and treatable diseases like malaria, measles and HIV. With a reliable motorcycle a health worker can see six times more patients in rural villages, making sure they get much-needed medicine. Riders for Health are now the official charity for MotoGP, and are supported by motorcyclists around the world. People in Gibraltar may know them through the Riders for Health Day (a.k.a Day of Champions), which is organised for the Thurs-
”
you want to take your bike around the track. All proceeds go to Riders for Health. For more information, contact Nigel Jeffries on email nigel.jef@gmail.com. “I decided to use the large group to put some extra money together,” Stephanie explains. “So, when collecting the money for the tickets, I asked for £5 extra from everyone. We also got together to watch races at bars around Gibraltar and a bucket was passed round to raise more money. Dress down days organised at work, added to this total, which was handed over to Riders during the race weekend last year. Over £800 was raised.” To raise funds this year, a raffle is being organised with a fantastic prize — two paddock passes for the Saturday 4th May event in Jerez. Raffle tickets cost £2, and can be purchased by contacting Nigel or Stephanie. Although 2013 will see a smaller group of 50 people travelling, it still promises to be very exciting! The race is on 5th May, so if you can’t make it yourself, switch on your screens as you are sure to see the group jumping around at some point, cheering the riders on. n
day before the race weekend every year, when the public is allowed to pay for the privilege of being able to wander around the MotoGP paddock, see their favourite riders, get photos with them, autographs etc. If you are lucky, you will also have the chance to witness the teams setting up the boxes for the race weekend, and more importantly the tuning of the bikes for the race ahead. If you have your own motorbike you can also get the chance to ride around the track, although this experience depends on numbers. Prices range from approximately For further info, contact Stephanie Finlay80 euro per person and 120 euro, if son by e-mail: tempres75@hotmail.com.
Jerez 2010 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
37
Facing the Future with Confidence
Before
After
Exploring the enduring popularity of the facelift Marilyn Monroe in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ told us that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Well, who doesn’t enjoy a little luxury? Yet these days maybe it’s truer to suggest that our best friend is our Cosmetic Surgeon, since with the latest non-invasive techniques both men and women can look more youthful with face and neck lifts and get natural looking results. Talking to clients of Aria Medical Group and one soon understands how having facial surgery can delivery genuine, positive effects to the person’s life. A facelift (known as rhytidectomy) can’t stop this aging process. What it can do is ‘turn back the clock’, improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat and tissue, tightening underlying muscles, and repositioning the skin of the face and neck. Thanks to a number of discreet and highly effective techniques, a face and/or neck lift can successfully smooth out wrinkles, tighten underlying tissue, remove excess skin on the cheeks and neck, and give a more youthful appearance overall.
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With these techniques and the skill of an experienced surgeon, like Dr. Vricella, the natural results can be seen straight away after surgery. Take for example these ‘before’ and ‘after´ photographs.
Free Consultations If you want to find out more, then Dr. Vricella holds free consultations at College Clinic, Regal House, Gibraltar every 2 weeks – for dates and to book an appointment please call :
This client of Aria Medical Group had a lower face and neck lift. The ‘after’ photo was taken 2 days after the procedure was performed and one can see that bruising and swelling are minimal and that the only obvious signs of surgery are the discreet ‘steristrips’ which protect the incision areas during the healing and recovery time. Over time, as swelling reduces, results are even more natural.
+ 34 952 895 088
It’s worth noting that often the best candidates for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.
+ Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
or email: info@ariamedicalgroup.com
www.ariamedicalgroup.com Some of our most popular procedures: + Breast Augmentation + Breast Uplift (Mastopexy) + Breast Reduction + Liposuction + Face Lifts + Eyebag Removal (Blepharoplasty) + Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) + Weight-loss Surgery / Gastric Band + Cosmetic Dentistry
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
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a c, r :
Because You’re Beautiful! + Breast Augmentation + Breast Uplift + Breast Reduction + Tummy Tuck + Buttock Augmentation + Liposuction + Facial Injections + Face Lifts + Eyebag Removal + Rhinoplasty + Gastric Surgery + Cosmetic Dentistry
Book your FREE consultation
(+34) 952 895 088 in English (+34) 662 936 058 en Español e: info@ariamedicalgroup.com When choosing your surgeon check their credentials. They should be registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC), the Spanish CGM and also on the UK Specialist Register of Plastic Surgeons (SRPC).
www.ariamedicalgroup.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2013
Cosmetic Cosmetic Surgery Surgery
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Gibraltar Gibraltar
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Marbella Marbella
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Madrid Madrid
health
& well-being
Change your water, Change your life! The Home of Your Beauty is once again keeping up to date with recent developments while improving our well-being. The salon has now introduced an innovative Alkaline Water machine known as Kangen Water™. Kangen Water™ has many purposes, including being purified alkaline drinking water, and water used for cooking, cleaning and of course, beauty. Depending on the pH of the water you select, it works to restore your body to a more alkaline state for optimal health. Ionized alkaline water is an excellent source of healthy hydration, not only because it tastes better, but it is also more readily absorbed by the body. Preliminary studies have evidenced a phenomenon identified as micro-clustering, which refers to the exceptionally small “structured” molecules of alkaline water.
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This increases the drinkability of water by reducing the usual feeling of being bloated from drinking the recommended daily allowance of eight glasses per day. In sideby-side tests, most people can also taste the difference. Scientifically recognised benefits of water include the support of wellness and longevity. The natural benefits of Kangen Water™ are enhanced by its alkalinity. The alkaline water provides an abundance of alkaline minerals that neutralise acidic waste in the tissues and blood. While internally your body is healthiest when it is alkaline, the optimum skin pH is more
acidic. For beauty purposes, Kangen Water™ can be transformed into mildly acidic water to help skin feel moisturised, supple and hydrated. Beauty water, as is commonly known, has eliminated many skin ailments such as facial blemishes and acne. The Home of Your Beauty is holding an open evening at their premises situated at 125/1 Main
Street, Gibraltar on Tuesday 16th April from 7pm. This will include a talk by Claudia Norris, Nutritional Therapist Dip(BCHN) MA(Hons), on Kangen Water™ and its benefits. Go along for your free 10 day trial of Kangen Water™. n For info, Tel: Beatrix 54003035, email weilandbeatrix13@gmail.com, or via The Home of Your Beauty Facebook page.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APriL 2013
well-being &
health
Childline launches Positive Parenting Course Everyone could do with a little help when it comes to the minefield that is parenting, so Childline Gibraltar is launching its first course on Positive Parenting starting on Wednesday 10th April at the John Mackintosh Hall. The course aims to encourage better behaviour through techniques that work well with every child, regardless of their age, temperament, background, culture or tradition. These techniques build on your child’s wish to please you, guaranteeing a better-behaved, happy child and less-stressed parents. They work by allowing you to: • Create a good relationship with your child by showing love and affection • Emphasise all the things that please you about your child • Be a good example — your children will take their lead from what you do • Praise the behaviour you want to see in your children • Listen to your child’s views and negotiate solutions to problems together • Avoid harsh punishments like smacking or shouting excessively • Have clear limits that are fair and age appropriate, expressing your wishes in a way that shows you mean what you say.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
We all know that raising children is a physical and emotional rollercoaster and it seems that parents today are under more pressure than ever before. Childline Gibraltar is committed to supporting mums and dads and one of the ways we do this is through our Positive Parenting courses. Practical, preventative, relationship-based, friendly and accessible, we have been told that parents find them literally life-changing. Childline Gibraltar would like to thank The Bonita Trust for funding this project as part of the charity’s ongoing Schools Educational Programme. n Each course has limited places which must be reserved in advance. If you would like to register please contact positive-parenting-gibraltar@hotmail.com or call 54028331.
These techniques build on your child’s wish to please you, guaranteeing a better behaved, happy child and less-stressed parents
Don’t expect to be a perfect parent – just do your best! Children want 5 minutes, not £5. Love is spelt t-i-m-e. There are no substitutes – and children know it. Don’t postpone having fun. Make time to play a game together or have a chat. Giving children time improves their behavior. Sometimes they ‘act up’ simply to get our attention. Notice and praise good behaviour, including behaviour that is better than before. Criticising, threatening and shouting at children amounts to ‘verbal smacking’ and damages their self-esteem. Be as consistent as you can. Say ‘No’ and mean it! Don’t be afraid to be firm with them. Say sorry if you have acted unfairly. Children learn from example.
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health & medical directory
health& fitness Bell Pharmacy
McTimoney Chiropractor
Your Family Chemists
Gentle holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems and sports injuries Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Floor, 58 Main Street Tel: 200 41733 or after hours: 200 40026
Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions Consult us at 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989
STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS
Chiropractic Health Clinic
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC
Dr Steven J. Crump B.Sc, DC, MCC Open: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.30pm
Member of the British Chiropractic Association
Back to better health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries. College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777
CHEMISTS
Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989
PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD
Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
British Registered Optometrists
Chiropodists
38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi
John W Miles BSc (Podiatry), MChS College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777
ChiropraCtors
Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC ICC F5C 1st Flr, Casemates. Tel: 200 44226 Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Flr, 58 Main St Tel: 200 41733 After hours: 200 40026
Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries Tel: 200 44226
ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor, Casemates, Gibraltar Member of British Chiropractic Association
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal Hse Tel: 200 77777
Counselling
Patrick Gabay AQA Adv Dip in Counselling Tel: 200 59955 / 54014124 Now at Unit F5, 1st Floor, ICC Isabella Jimenez, Sports Therapist (BSc Hons) Tel: 54002226 Email: sportongib@gmail.com
Health Clubs
Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa Tel: 200 48147
Health Stores The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 200 73765
JOHN W. MILES
HEARING CENTRE
BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S
Oigamas Hearing Centre Unit S3h 2nd Floor, ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 63644 Email: info@oigamas.com
STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST Treatment of all Foot Problems • Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Removal
Opticians / Optometrists
• Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotics including Children
Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757
• Wart (Verruca) Clinic
L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544
• Diabetics
PERSONAL TRAINERS
Tel: 200 77777
Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113
College Clinic, Regal House, Queensway TEL: 54029587 FOR HOME VISITS
Need somebody to talk to?
Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) Unit 5, 1st Floor, ICC Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com
Physicians
Dr Norbert V Borge FRCP (London) 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790 College Clinic, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway. Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi
Primary Care Centre 2nd Flr International Commercial Centre Weekend & Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance) Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm
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SPECIALISTS
7 days a week 5pm-9pm
College Clinic, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway. Tel: 200 77777 www.collegeclinic.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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well-being health
Helping the Here’s Health Hearing Impaired Anyone who has a decrease or a total lack of hearing in one or both ears is referred to as hearing impaired. You can help communication with hearing impaired people by following this guide prepared by the Hearing Centre in the ICC. People who are affected by hearing impairment often choose to use sign language to communicate or wear a hearing aid. A person who suffers from hearing loss and wears hearing aids does not regain normal hearing. A hearing aid amplifies the sound helping the patient, but in many cases it is not enough. It can be very frustrating to be hearing impaired. People do not always understand the disability, and communication can become difficult. There are ways you can help the hearing impaired and by making a few small changes, you can communicate more effectively. Understand that deaf and hearing-impaired people are intelligent, functioning adults. Do not talk down to a hearing-im-
paired person as though they are a child. Many people with normal hearing feel they have to speak louder to a person with hearing loss. When a person wears hearing aids we do not need to shout since the problem is not the intensity of the sound but the pronunciation of each word. Speak slowly and clearly, but never exaggerate. Do not change conversations very quickly, give them time to adjust to the discussion. When hearing is not perfect, the person who suffers from the loss will have to make an extraordinary use of the rest of their senses. Their eyesight, touch and intuition will become an important tool when communicating. Remember that some hard of hearing people lip-read. Face the person while speaking to them, and keep your hands away from your mouth. Be a hard-of-hearing advocate. Do everything you can to make yourself understood. If one method fails, try another, but do not give up. The hearing impaired person you are speaking to is worthy of your time and attention. Do not be dismissive just because they have a disability. Always treat a hearing impaired person with respect. Be patient and attentive to any other of the person’s needs. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Let it Shine Do you struggle with dull, lifeless hair? Beautiful, shiny hair comes from within, so adjusting or supplementing your diet to include certain vitamins may be the key to luscious locks. Beta-carotene works directly to produce shinier hair. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A and uses it to produce sebum. This light yellow secretion of the skin moisturizes and nourishes the scalp, follicles and the roots of the hair. Well-hydrated hair appears shiny and full of luster. Get more of this vitamin by eating carrots, peaches, apricots, broccoli, milk and eggs. Biotin, a keratin-producing vitamin, strengthens hair, skin and nails. Part of the vitamin B complex family, it promotes the health and growth of your hair. Although your body does produce small amounts naturally, try adding egg yolks, rice, oatmeal and milk to your diet. Flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids that increase circulation and nourish the hair follicles. Add more salmon, mackerel and tuna, or flaxseed oil to your diet to give your hair a beautiful luster. Vitamin E, an antioxidant, increases blood circulation to the scalp, delivering oxygen to the hair follicles and promoting the overall health of your hair. Eat raw seeds and nuts, leafy green vegetables, soybeans, milk and wheat germ oil.
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health
& well-being
The Eve Appeal
by Colleene Wink
The Eve Appeal is a charity registered in the UK, formed in 2005 by Peter Vagn-Jensen and Professor Ian Jacobs, two men each affected by ovarian cancer in different ways. Peter Vagn-Jensen, who’s name some might recall as the former owner of Marina Bay, had known his future wife, Lone, for only one year when she was diagnosed. The couple decided to tackle the disease head-on and set up a fundraising charity (now known as The Eve Appeal) in 1996. Unfortunately, Lone lost her battle with ovarian cancer eight years later, as even the best surgeons and treatments were unable to save her life. Professor Ian Jacobs, a gynaecologist was appalled by the poor survival rates of the women he saw with advanced ovarian cancer. He developed a vision for groundbreaking research that would revolutionise cancer detection, prevention, treatment and care. That vision has become reality in his pioneering the Department
of Women’s Cancer, University College London (UCL). Today, the Department’s goal is to improve risk prediction and early detection of all gynaecological cancers. The Eve Appeal is dedicated to funding its life-saving work and has consistently contributed about 15% of the total research income, and is committed to raising £2 million of the £3,200,000 cost of the university’s Promise 2016 project. The charity is the largest single funder of the project which is an international collaboration under the direction of Professor Isa Jacobs at the University of Manchester and carried out in conduction with the University of Cambridge, the University of Southern California and Harvard Medical School. Promise 2016 aims to:
• Develop and validate methods for predicting risk of ovarian cancer • Develop and validate methods for earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer • Develop an accurate, economically and socially viable method for screening appropriate populations for ovarian cancer
In addition to its fundraising for the research carried out by the university, The Eve Appeal also works to promote awareness and publicises and provides information on all five gynaecological cancers. There are around one million new cases of gynaecological cancers in the world every year. This is just 200,000 fewer than the
Slender Bodies for Summer In March, the Chiropractic Health Clinic introduced the Lipo Body Slender, for those who wants to shape up for the summer months ahead. Lipo Laser Suction, or Lipo Laser as it is more commonly referred to, has been available in the UK for about four years and is growing in popularity for the removal of stubborn and unwanted fatty deposits. Unlike traditional liposuction, which is a form of surgical liposuction in which fatty deposits are removed through a surgical procedure, Lipo Laser is non-invasive, requires no surgery and has no recovery time. In fact, it has been referred to as “lunch-time lipo” because many people pop in during their lunch hour for their treatment (please note, though, that treatment is by appointment only).
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
well-being &
health
There are around one million new cases of gynaecological cancers in the world every year and of these new cases over 850,000 women die!
Despite shocking statistics, gynaecological cancers are neither well profiled or a well funded cause and The Eve Appeal is determined to change this number of women diagnosed with breast cancer and of these new cases over 850,000 women die! However despite these shocking statistics, gynaecological cancers are neither well profiled or a well funded cause and The Eve Appeal is determined to change this. I am currently working with the charity in order to assist them in raising awareness in relation to all five gynaecological cancers, which, when combined, is the third largest cancer killer of women in the UK. March was Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and saw the first event on behalf of the charity in Gibraltar with a tea party held at the Convent Cloister. n Watch this space for info on events in June as part of cervical cancer awareness week and September as part of gynaecological cancer awareness month.
Lipo Laser is sometimes confused with Smart Lipo, but whereas Smart Lipo requires a small incision and the use of a local anaesthetic, Lipo Laser needs neither of these to achieve great results. Moreover, it is instant, permanent and can be used on all areas of the body. Additionally, as well as removing fat, Lipo Laser aids skin tightening. At the Chiropractic Health Clinic, you can book your appointment for a thorough consultation with Dr Steven Crump, and later Catherine will place the laser pads carefully on the treatment area and secured using elasticated straps. Two smaller pads will then be placed on the appropriate lymph nodes in order to stimulate the body’s lymphatic system. Once the treatment begins, you
may feel the larger probes getting slightly warm, but this is normal and nothing to worry about. The treatment itself will be made up of either three or four ten-minute sessions depending on your requirements, with the pads being moved after each session . The Lipo Body Slender procedure usually lasts between 10 and 20 minutes, after which you will need to exercise for about 40 minutes within the next 24 hours to release the fatty deposits. The treatment course is eight sessions, twice a week, for four weeks. This month there is a special offer at only £49 for the first session. n For more information or to book an appointment, call Catherine 200 44610.
Unlike traditional liposuction, which is a form of surgical liposuction in which fatty deposits are removed through a surgical procedure, Lipo Laser is non-invasive, requires no surgery and has no recovery time
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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take one
career
The chefs — Zoe Torres, Benjamin Trinidad, Paul Cartwright, Sonia de la Rosa, Ian Estella, Ainslie Andrews, Lisa Alvez, Esteban Rodriguez, Jane Hart, Lianne Azzopardi, Kevin Davis and Nigel Triay
Rock Chef: GBC crowns Gib’s 1st TV chef words | Elena Scialtiel
Ladies ad gentlemen, preheat your ovens and brandish your ladles: it’s a showdown to the last toque standing, for twelve hopefuls contending for a career-changing culinary course in the UK. After months of preparation, anticipation and strict pre-selection, the Yanito big cook-off Rock Chef is eventually aired on GBC Television this month, for seven yummy episodes that will make you wish that ‘smellevision’ had been invented already. The project is one of biggest undertaken by GibMedia Limited, which raises to the twelfth power, and adds a competitive edge to, the successful format of Pepe’s Pot and Vicky’s Kitchen. It is the brainchild of the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses’ Chair Gemma Arias, who hopes to encourage new entrepreneurs and give exposure to old ones while publicising the varied, sophisticated and creative cuisine Gibraltar can offer to the most exigent palate. All locations except one will be the kitchens of local restaurants: Nuno’s at the Caleta Hotel, Yellow House, the Landing — and the Mons Calpe Suite for the black-tie three-course dinner final, where the celebrity chef who judged Master Chef Australia will crown the winner in front of the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. With an overwhelming response of almost
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50 applicants, the production team had to narrow it down to a quarter through testing their skills and creativity in cooking the proverbial omelette. “We held that round at El Capote over two days, and we tasted all omelettes one by one. Often I wished I could eat it all, so nice it was, but I couldn’t get stuffed on the first ones, so I just tasted one bite and moved on to the next... and I haven’t eaten an omelette since!” Gemma jokes, while the rest of the team nods and giggles. Eventually the judges picked seven men and five women, young and less young, from all
With an overwhelming response of almost 50 applicants, the production team had to narrow it down to a quarter through testing their skills and creativity in cooking the proverbial omelette
walks of life, none a professional cook. Some took up the challenge to prove to themselves, more than to the audience, that their hobby is a talent beyond pastime, others did it just for fun, others are seriously seeking to further their career in the catering industry. Zoe, Benjamin, Paul, Sonia, Ian, Ainslie, Lisa, Esteban, Jane, Lianne, Kevin and Nigel’s gastronomic exploits were filmed at the stateof-the-art Westside School’s Home Ecs lab, turned into a steamy restaurant kitchen, and pervaded with lingering heavenly aroma. In the first two episodes, six contestants each race against the clock to make and present a local dish in one hour, elbow to elbow, avoiding distractions, under the scrutiny of the cameras and Club 55’s chef Scott Casey. For the show, he morphs into the perfect ‘Simon Cookwell’ who raises a sceptic eyebrow when inspecting their progress, histrionically keeps poker-faced and, standing in front of the huge timer clock on the wall, thunders the worst news ever: “Five minutes to utensils down, guys!” The X Factor format here is evident, with the contestants taking a mini-walk of shame to a confession booth, where they vent their hind-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
television sight and self-evaluation in a very vitaminic shot, as they sit in front of juicy fresh produce, including a large cabbage overhead. For the first round, the contestants were required to supply their own ingredients and utensils, from pots and pans down to the last pinch of salt. They arrived with bulging suitcases fit for a transatlantic cruise, and unpacked on their assigned worktop any kind of delicacy necessary to whisk up their own interpretation of a local dish carrying a special significance to them. Ingredients had to be fresh and preferably purchased from small businesses, since the whole concept is a savoury way to promote just that: buying locally and eating healthy. Although there will be plenty of rollitos, rosto, pastel de acelga and calentita, not all contestants have chosen a savoury dish for their first, and last, impression on the judges: a minority opted for tickling their sweet tooth with typically Yanito desserts, which many lament — and I subscribe fully — don’t feature enough in our restaurants’ menus. However, the judges don’t sugar-coat their assessment of the dish, based on 15 professional criteria: they indeed call a spoon a spoon when the presentation is not ‘nouvelle cuisine enough’, or the texture is too chewy, the chicken is too dry, the sauce too salty and the buttered vegetables too... buttery. All dishes seem quite attractive to the eye, in contemporary bistro style, with particular panache for sculptural and colourful presentation, so much so it is almost a sin to smash those ‘edible art’ masterpieces with your merciless fork, but hey, once they meet your taste buds, you’ll become best buddies! One contestant for instance slices his maxi rollito in two diagonally, and makes the halves stand in line on their flat ends, so that they suggest the double-pointed profile of the Rock; another spices up some un-photogenic chocolate profiteroles with fresh strawberries and caramel lace; another serves his fried fish in large balls accompanied by a bright green cream; another overdoes it with saffron and gives his chicken the ‘yellow fever’... Mindful never to talk with their mouth full, and yet dispensing a mouthful in the violet glow of the judgement room, Victoria Bishop of Vicky’s Catering and Scott don’t spare peppery morsels of constructive criticism to the candidates. Showbiz-wise, they bounce well off each other playing good chef/bad chef and surely you wouldn’t want to be in the apron of the wannabe standing before them for a couple of endless minutes. If ‘break a leg’ is the meme for actors, let’s wish these Rock chefs ‘may your toque be on fire’. n
Ingredients had to be fresh and preferably purchased from small businesses, since the whole concept is a savoury way to promote just that: buying locally and eating healthy GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
photos: GibMedia
take one
James Neish with Chef Scott Casey
Rock Chef: One Presenter’s Paradise words | Richard Cartwright
Slowly in search of better produced programmes, GBC TV’s commissioning of TV production companies here and in the surrounding area is one way of obtaining professional results and improving what’s on our local screens... Hiring top GBC presenter James Neish to front Rock Chef is a good start. “When I was first approached to present the programme I wasn’t really keen on the idea,” James explains. “Here we go again, another food programme, I thought. Then the idea was explained to me further by the producer, Jordan Lopez. That did it for me and I have no regrets having taken it on.” A little surprising perhaps, knowing James as a ‘throw it in the microwave cook’ would be an enormous and very generous over statement. “Yes, it really is amazing how interesting — if you’re prepared to work hard and have your heart in it — cooking is. It’s hard
work and too often we take for granted the work that’s undertaken in the kitchen.” Rock Chef is a seven part series where 12 contestants put their culinary skills to the test. The series slowly draws to an end with three semi finalists, who battle in a hot kitchen, beat the clock and produce the best dishes, in quality and presentation. They will be seen running the Caleta Hotel kitchen to feed a restaurant full of hungry diners who will help choose the finalists. Throughout the series cooking skills are being tested as they go head to head, not only before
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take one
television
the daunting television cameras, but closely scrutinised by someone who really knows what it’s all about. Providing an eagle eye over the contestants and their efforts during the making of the series is top Aussie professional chef, Scott Casey, who, like most masters of the kitchen, doesn’t suffer fools gladly or sloppiness when it comes to working with food. “Scott is a great personality and doesn’t let anything go by that’s not just right. Like most chefs he can reprimand his kitchen crew in no uncertain terms,” James assures. The series was originally commissioned for GBC by the GFSB (Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses) to promote local product in all its forms. You’ll recall their Christmas slogan was ‘Think Local, Buy Local’. “And the production company is local too,” James adds. “GibMedia is run by Jordan Lopez who has considerable experience working abroad as a cameraman and producer for Channel Four, Fox Television and others and working in Spain also. There’s been a five, sometimes six, man crew on the production which has involved intense filming of up to 12 and 13 hour days. That’s been followed by an even heavier schedule of post production to put the programmes together. But it was a fantastic experience and has raised my interest in cooking, and not just eating food!” When he’s not eating food or presenting cookery programmes, James is busy running Radio Gibraltar and GBC Online as his main, daytime ‘proper job.’ His experience in television and radio presentation goes back 15 years and includes the whole gamut of radio and television from light entertainment to news and politics, working in the UK with top BBC television crews when on location reporting on Gibraltar related issues, on SKY News, in the States, reporting from the UN in New York and covering sporting events and Miss World
Pageants in other countries. James has presented many light entertainment programmes on local television. He certainly is a busy bee but, there’s no rest for the wicked... He too heads a production company, Stage One, which has produced many stage shows on the Rock including The Sound of Music and Yesterday When I was Young the Live Show. Stage One has produced six Miss Gibraltar Shows and the company is presently preparing the 2013 Miss Gibraltar Pageant. Jordan, Rock Chef’s producer, also works with James’ Stage One providing much of the audio visual content of its shows. So what does the winner of Rock Chef get? James explains; “There is also a fabulous prize to be won. The winning chef will receive £2000 or a week’s Master Class at a UK culinary school.”
James is impressed with how the programme has been turning out and says it’s of a very high standard for Gibraltar. It’s only a small production crew by comparison to bigger television companies elsewhere, but large by the GBC norm, bearing in mind there were, on some occasions, up to 18 professionals working on that series, and that series only. This is something of a first for GBC, with the extreme sports series Living on the Edge being the only other commissioned programme produced by an independent company to be aired so far. There are others in the pipeline. The question is, is James Neish now passionate about cooking and not just eating food, or is it back to microwave lasagne again tonight? He just smiled. You can see Rock Chef on GBC Television this month. n
Behind the scenes at the Caleta Hotel
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
community
update
New Horizons (Gibraltar) — You Are Not Alone
A support group for divorced, widowed and unmarried people has been launched under the banner New Horizons.
clients presenting problems but realised that peer support is also essential.
The group has been formed with the support of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which felt it provided the services needed to deal with
New Horizons (Gibraltar) will also provide information and advice or counselling and is free, confidential and open to everyone of all ages.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
New Horizons (Gibraltar)’s aim is to help empower people who have lost a partner through separation, divorce, death or who live alone. The group will provide moral and emotional support for people on their own, and encourages peer support from people in similar situations.
The initial meeting was held in mid-March and a committee has been formed. New Horizons (Gibraltar) plans to meet fortnightly and is currently in the process of looking for suitable premises. n More information on the support group can be found on Facebook, by visiting www.newhorizonsgibraltar. wix.com/newhorizons, by emailing new.horizons. gibraltar@gmail.com or calling Chairman Tony Morillo Tel 56894000.
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Photo: The Eagles
arts
The Mighty Minis
Did you know, over 100 children — boys and girls — are involved with Mini Rugby in Gibraltar? Neither did we, so we caught up with coach Tom Tunbridge and found out more about this fun after school activity. “Mini rugby has existed for many years in Gibraltar however not necessarily in the form it does today,” explains Tom. Tom plays for the Gibraltar Seniors and saw that there was no opportunity for new, young players to start
The Hawks in training
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climbing the ladder before the U14s. “Our initial aim was to introduce tag rugby for first and middle school children so they would get a love for the game of rugby without the dangers of contact. There are many principles in the game of rugby that need to be instilled at an early age, which do not involve the physical side — that can be developed later. The skills learned in the teaching of tag rugby we feel make for better players in future life,” he adds. The Minis in its present format began in November 2010 on the archery pitch of Victoria Stadium with literally a handful of players (4 or 5) turning up regularly. This grew to about 15 by the end of the season. By October 2011 there were 35 and by September 2012 this was up to 70. There are currently just under 100 members aged 5 to 12 with about 60 to 70 regularly attending training. “With the increase in numbers we have had to create age groups in which we assign set coaching staff in order to teach age appropriate skills so the children can develop as the right speed and in a safe environment,” says Tom. The children are split into four groups. Newcomers from reception to year three are known as our Robins. The emphasis in this group is fun and learning the principles of the game. “Things must be fun as this is the fast growing and largest group we have.” Next come the Hawks. These are mainly
year 2 and 3 children who have been playing for longer or who have a better understanding of the game. “The emphasis by this stage is compliance with the rules of the game and the development of team spirit, with the need to support runners at the forefront of our thoughts.” Next are the Falcons. This group is in years 4 and 5. “The coaches in this age group have developed the group this season to move away from the tag belts and into touch rugby.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
The principles are the same but it introduces the need to get hands on with your opponent without moving to full contact.” Finally there are the Eagles, made up of children in year 6 and 7. This group move at the beginning of the season from tag rugby to full contact. “They all seemed physically ready for the challenge and many have played tag for over a year and understand the game of rugby well enough to take the step up,” Tom explains. This group has also grown fast from a dozen to about 24 members during the course of the season. “We have been able to pit them against Spanish opposition and after a hard baptism of fire they have managed to record a few wins,” Tom says proudly. Rugby is about team work and develops skills in the children, used away from the game. Players learn to rely and trust in their team, developing discipline, confidence and co-ordination. Parents mention how their children have changed since joining, “Our son now shakes hands with his opponents after a badminton match!” said one. The club has gone from strength to strength despite many obstacles, mainly with training facilities. WTom puts this success down to focussing on the children and their needs at all times. “We try to make things fun but disciplined,” he adds. “At the end of the day rugby is a way of life not just a game. We stand for no back chat, bad behaviour or arguing with the coach/ referee. The principle is never what others are doing wrong against you but what you can do better to help your team overcome any perceived adversity. “We also have always tried to make the club as inclusive as possible and we welcome the assistance from parents at all stages,” he states. “There are always jobs to do and without the help of parents willing to coach we could never have expanded as we have.” Any parents out there who think they would like to coach please get in touch with the Gibraltar Minis and join in the fun. Feedback from those who have volunteered in the past has proved it can be as rewarding for the parents as it is for the children. It is not just on the coaching side where parents can get involved. As the club has grown there is a plethora of administration jobs that need doing to make the club tick and any parents who want to help will be welcomed. When parents were asked what they thought
Coach Tom Tunbridge (back right) with some of the Hawks and parent coach Ludo Leroy
of the Gibraltar Minis they were unanimous in their praise of Tom Tunbridge’s enthusiasm, commitment, drive and patience. Second to that they commended the coaches, some of who play in the National and Veteran teams, who put so much time and effort in to the training sessions; their reward simply the children progressing in the game. The teams currently train at Devil’s Tower Camp on a temporary basis. This is not ideal as, for security reasons, anyone not on a weekly updated list cannot come in. Therefore newcomers have to contact the club a few days in advance to get their names down. However by the time this goes to print the teams may
be training at new facilities at Europa which are being developed as we write. “Initial views on this surface are that it may be unsuitable for our needs,” Tom says, so contact them using the details below and they will let you know where and when they are training. Anyone can join, for a membership fee of £40 for the first year, which covers their KPMG team shirt and insurance. Every year after that is £15. n If you would like to get in touch to play or to help out visit the GRFU website: www.super4s.ngo.gi/index.php, the Minis Facebook page: Gibraltar Rugby Minis or telephone Tom Tunbridge on his mobile: 54018889.
photo: Jon Segui
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
51
Reg’s
pages from history
words | Reg Reynolds developed a taste for tea. The first relation was short-lived but the love affair with the latter is still going strong. Prior to the arrival of Catherine, the English typically drank ale with their meals but the new Queen loved her tea and every morning enjoyed a ‘cuppa’ with her breakfast. Admirers emulated her and England quickly became the tea-loving nation it is today. Things did not go so well at Tangier. The Moroccan port had been a possession of Portugal since 1471 and was given to Charles II and England as part of Catherine’s dowry. In reality the Portuguese were happy to be rid of the place as it had been subject to almost continuous attack and harassment from the Moors. The English, urged on by the famed diarist Samuel Pepys, believed it was a great opportunity to have a port at the entrance to the Mediterranean. So in June 1662, as the Portuguese inhabitants returned to their homeland, a force of 3,000 English troops and necessary civilians arrived to take up station. The city was given a charter which made it equal to English towns. In an attempt to provide a more secure harbour £340,000 was spent on a mole that was 1,500 feet long and 100 feet wide. It proved necessary
In 1684 James II decided that maintaining Tangier was not worth the cost and the city was abandoned, the English blew up the mole and all important buildings before leaving
Portuguese Princess Gave the English Tea & Tangier Half a century before the capture of Gibraltar the English gained the much desired possession of a Mediterranean port — Tangier.
Since the rule of Oliver Cromwell, the English had been seeking to establish a base near the entrance of the Mediterranean. Ironically the person who achieved this goal was the son of the King (Charles I) Cromwell had beheaded. In 1654, five years after winning the Civil War and the execution of Charles I, Cromwell sent a fleet under the command of Admiral Robert Blake to show the flag in the Mediterranean and investigate the possibility of estab-
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lishing a base in the region. Blake returned to inform the ‘Lord Protector’ of the enormous strategic importance of Gibraltar. Cromwell did make plans to capture Gibraltar and dig a channel to separate the Rock from the mainland but nothing had been done before his death in 1658. Charles II (crowned at Scone, Scotland in 1651), the son of Charles I, had attempted to oust Cromwell but was defeated in battle at Worcester and spent the next nine years in exile. Cromwell was succeeded by his son Richard but chaos ensued and the younger Cromwell was exiled to France. Charles II claimed the throne in 1661. In 1662 Charles II married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza and that is how the English gained possession of Tangier and
to build a ring of forts around the town. But because of the continuing enmity of the Moors, Tangier was in an almost constant state of siege. The water supply was poor and there were frequent food shortages as most victuals had to be sailed over from England. Finally in 1684 James II decided that maintaining Tangier was not worth the cost and the city was abandoned, the English blew up the mole and all important buildings before leaving. Pepys was sent over to assist in the evacuation and upon observation he agreed that the situation was hopeless: “Overseen quite round the town,” he wrote, “no water but Fountain Fort at this time, which the Moors, if they knew might prevent us of; the Mole not to be stood upon for the great seas.” Sultan Moulay Ismail reclaimed Tangier for Morocco but through the centuries the city would endure more foreign occupations by France and Spain and in 1923 was declared an international zone under the authority of France, Spain and Britain. Spain took control again during World War II and Tangier only found freedom from foreign governance when Morocco gained full sovereignty in 1956. And of course England had long before got what it wanted with the capture of Gibraltar in 1704. n GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE••APRIL APRIL2013 2013
image
arts
Ruth’s Design to become a Monument to Women Local architect Ruth Massias Greenberg has won the government’s competition to design a Monument to Women for the Sundial Roundabout on Winston Churchill Avenue.
“The strength of a woman can carry the weight of the world” - Sarah Pezdek Smith GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
The competition for this monument was organised by the previous government way back in 2010, however the present administration’s commitment to the monument was announced by the Chief Minister in his speech on International Women’s Day in March. A panel from the Ministry for Culture met to select the winning piece from the 23 entries. The Minister for Equality and Social Services, Samantha Sacramento, announced the winner at a reception held at the Mayor’s Parlour in mid-March. The panel also commended the entries of Alan John Perez, Terence Orciel, Stephen Wong and Gillaine Vanessa Pau. Ruth says she was “Thrilled, but mostly honoured, ” to have won the competition, the first she has entered in Gibraltar. “I felt I had to enter the competition as it is a cause I feel quite strongly about and believe in.” Ruth explains that her winning design “stands as a symbol of the strength of women. It depicts three women symbolically carrying
a stylised representation of Rock of Gibraltar. Although throughout history women seemingly took a background role due to repressive societal restraints the strength of a woman was always present.” The design suggests the use of cut steel, oxidised to give a deep rich dark brown finish, and its prominent location will mean it will be seen by all visitors to Gibraltar arriving via the land frontier or air. Ruth, currently working for a local firm of architects, is about to leave to begin her freelance career. She specialises in 3D presentation and says she loves every minute of designing this type of project. “I really enjoyed my time designing this sculpture,” she says with a big smile. “Time just flies when I am working on something like this. It is something I love doing.” n Visit Ruth’s website to find out more about Ruth and her projects and to view the full winning competition entry — www.gamma.gi .
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photo: Bertrand Orsal - Maskerade 2012 Lynn Schokmel, Marco Mazzini, Katrin Hilgert
GIBRALTAR’S FESTIVAL OF
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GIBRALTARMAGAZINE MAGAZINE••APRIL APRIL2013 2013 GIBRALTAR
creatives arts There will be some quite spectacular things to see from Friday 12th to Monday 15th April at Gibraltar’s first International Face and Body Painting Festival. The Gibraltar Magazine caught up with organiser Hamish Dalmedo to find out more about his passion for this living, breathing art form, and how the idea for the festival came about.
What gave you the idea of the Body Painting festival? The original idea wasn’t of a festival; it came from seeing a charity body painting calendar from one of the top American face/body painting artists, Brian Wolfe, who is going through the process of treatment for pancreatic cancer. Some of his artist friends had prepared various pictures of theirs and set up the calendar, and all proceeds go to pay for his care and treatment. I thought of attempting the same for a local charity, without really knowing the support I would get. After a few months of unsuccessful pitching to various individuals about the project, I had been to a painting jam in Malaga, where a few painters had gathered in a friend’s living room, and it gave me the idea of doing it in Gibraltar where we have large enough halls to fit everyone and their kits. The idea started as a day event for any painters, local or from the area, and I had left it as a ‘day jam’. As interest and numbers grew, I started to realise that one day wouldn’t be able to accommodate everyone so I decided to make it a weekend and include a few competitions as an extra incentive. With a growing inter-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
photo: Bertrand Orsal - World Body Painting Festival 2012
Hamish, tell us how you got into body painting? How long have you been involved? It started while I was in university (during my first term in the art and design department). There were a few large photos up on the walls showing previous projects that students had prepared, including different period costumes, FX costumes and body painting. From then I tried to go to any event on campus or in the area which had these types of projects being worked on — volunteering in the backstage team or as part of the painting team. I have been involved on/off in this type of art for the last 12 years, but it has become more a hobby lately. While travelling on my 15 month gap ‘year’ I would plan ahead for each country I visited and try to contact local artists and find out about festivals and events being held, and was lucky enough to have been to a few events around Thailand, Japan, Australia and New Zealand — from small face painting meet-ups to a full national festival.
est from artists from America and main land Europe wanting to enter the competitions and present their workshops, the final decision was to expand the event to four days with various competitions, workshops and live demos, and to re-structure it as the full festival it is today and, if successful, come back to the original calendar project. Some of the body painting in the photographs you have shown us is amazing, can anyone learn the basics? Yes, anyone can learn the basics — it has a very easy learning curve and each person can learn at their own pace to produce very interesting works. There are plenty of guides and step-by-step videos which anyone can learn very quickly. I have become a member of FABA TV which is an online video tutorial website with classes from some of the best painters from around the world, including some who are coming to our festival. However, it does take time to master certain techniques and a steady hand goes a long way,
as does a very patient and understanding volunteer. What are the keys to a good design? The main key to a good design is to have an open mind, plenty of imagination, to not be afraid to try new things and see the idea to the end. Planning it out beforehand always helps. Most designs start as a sketch, or various sketches, on a piece of paper which looks more
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How long does it take, on average, to produce a whole body design? It really depends on the overall design of the session and what the project is for. An airbrush can be used to paint a full body in maybe 20 to 30 minutes in one base colour, the time is then mostly spent with the detailing of the design such as the stripes and hair of a tiger or the shading and stitching of clothing for example. Some projects require volunteers to be painted in the early hours of the morning, in less than two hours, with advertising logos so they can be promoting the products the remainder of the day, but it can take up to six hours when competing in any number of competitions, preparing props and a full routine for the volunteer to perform.
photo: Julie Böhm & Bertrand Orsal - World Body Painting Festival 2011
Who is your favourite body painting artist? That is a very difficult question — there are too many to name and don’t like to be biased, each have their own unique style of art; which makes them stand out of the crowd at any event they take part in.
like something from a fashion show designer’s sketch book. From there the designs, colours and equipment can be modified, to allow enough time for the model to be painted and both be happy with the end result.
they prefer to use, but a good set of brushes is always needed. Face and body paints have changed considerably in the last 10 years since I first started. Where they used to be pigments, makeup and oil-based, which would leave dark stains for What equipment is needed and is the days, not just on the props but on the skin, paint easy to remove? now they are water and alcohol based and The types of equipment vary greatly e.g. designed to be as skin-friendly as possible airbrush, wet-brush, dry-brush, sponges, sten- and easily removable with warm water and cils, etc. It comes down to the artist and what a bit of soap.
The main key to a good design is to have an open mind, plenty of imagination, to not be afraid to try new things and see the idea to the end 56
Can you tell us a bit more about the festival? Who will attend — as delegates and as instructors, performers? We have various delegates, artists and performers from a few countries and art companies taking part in the various events. During the Friday we will have a live body painting demo by Liliana Sepulveda Hopman at the John Mackintosh Hall. She will paint a local dancer and a dancer from the Holland National Ballet Company. We will also have Pashur and Jay Bautista preparing a few face and full body painting demos during both Saturday and Sunday, to run side by side with the competitions, and they will be the judges for each of the three categories available. They are also presenting, as part of their world tour, their extreme face painting workshops to include boy and girls designs. We are also very lucky to have Bertrand Orsal of Holland, a photographer who specialises in body painting and has won various awards and competitions for his photos. He will be available over the festival for the photo shoots at the end of the each day, so the volunteers can buy a souvenir of their time at the festival. From the UK we have the editors of Illusion magazine, which is one of the top magazines for face and body painting. They are not only coming over to do some painting, present goodie bags and prizes to participants and winners, but have had family stationed here and would like to see how much Gibraltar has changed since they were last here. Also from UK is Glyn Goodwin who represents FACE, which is an association of face painters, the main goals of which are raising and maintaining standards of face painting, promoting and training within the industry, and the use of safe products and techniques. She will be available over the weekend for those wanting to take the FACE exam and become registered members. Unfortunately not everyone was able to come but most have been kind enough to send us donations for prizes such paints, books,
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
events arts
photo: Bertrand Orsal - World Body Painting Festival 2012 - Bella Volen, Anna Barendregt
stencils, shirts etc. These include, Chameleon Paints, thefacepaintingshop, World Body Painting Festival, and the European Body Art Association. A large group of local volunteers have signed up to be face and body painted by the visiting artists, and a few local artists have signed up for the various workshops and competitions — but there is always room for plenty more. This is the first festival in Gibraltar, how do you see it developing in the future? Being the first festival of this type in Gibraltar I still feel nervous as it is a new concept and I still don’t know the full response from the local community and the reactions to it, which I’m sure we will be getting plenty of. We have had very strong interest locally and from abroad and, looking forward, I do see it developing into an annual event. Hopefully we can encourage this growing art form while meeting up with artists from around the world. If all goes well this year and with the blessing of the culture department (who have been very supportive of this event since day one, helping out with locations and equipment) we would like to include it in future Spring Festival seasons. This will broaden interest not only from artists but anyone wanting to see something new and completely different and perhaps take part, even in some small capacity. n For more information about the festival Hamish Dalmedo can be contacted on 54015139 or DA000980@ hotmail.com
and now Librarian Emeritus, will visit Gibraltar to give this lecture. Once Private Secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Assistant Secretary to the Prince of Wales, Oliver has written the official guide book to the Castle, taught its history, written articles and contributed to books and TV programmes. n
Gibraltar Decorative & Fine Arts Society lecture
The Drama Behind the Taj Mahal
Guests are welcome and pay £10 at the door. For further information about the Society, contact: Ian Le Breton Tel: 200 76173 email: ilebreton@SovereignGroup. com or Claus Olesen Tel: 200 02024 email: claus.olesen@sghambros.com or visit www.nadfas.org/gibraltar
Wednesday, 17th April 7.30pm (pre-lecture drinks 6.30pm) at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel This lecture is based on the Islamic manuscript, the Padshahnama - Chronicle of the King of the World, which is the unique official history of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, who ruled India from 1628 to 1658. He is best remembered for building the Taj Mahal, a tomb for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The Padshahnama is illustrated with 44 of the finest Mughal paintings in the world, each vividly depicting the most dramatic events of the Emperor’s reign and the years before it. The book is the finest Islamic manuscript in the Royal Library and was given to George
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
III in 1797 by the ruler of the North Indian State of Oudah. For a second time, one of the Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s most popular and knowledgeable speakers, Oliver Everett, Librarian in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle since 1984
Padshahnama: The Siege of Kandahar, 1631
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fashion
leisure & sport
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Retail& Activities hair & beauty
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Archive editions of The Gibraltar Magazine now available online at www.thegibraltarmagazine.com
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAziNE • APRIL 2013
adrenaline events
Photo: Chris Davies
ThunderCats are go! There will be a spectacular show of powerboat racing at Eastern Beach from 5th - 7th April when the ThunderCats are here for the first leg of the Racing National Championship. ThunderCats are one of the top growing powerboat adrenaline sports globally, with over 15 countries participating. Where this sport wins, is it is spectator friendly, on the edge and cool. “It’s the World’s wildest beach culture” says Fiona Pascoe, ThunderCat Racing Organiser. What is ThunderCat Racing? ThunderCats are four metre inflatable catamarans which take part in competitive racing at more than 50 mph around a course less than 10m from the beach! This close action powerboat racing is exhilarating for both racers and spectators. Powered by standardised 50hp outboards, these boats are equally at home skimming across the water at tremendous speeds or jumping big surf. Crews consist of a pilot and a co-pilot. The pilot drives from the rear of the ThunderCat, while the co-pilot uses his weight to adjust
the trim of the boat. Would you like to get involved? The ThunderCat Racing community now prospers due to the surge in growth, not only in competitors and volunteers but long term partnerships with charities and like-minded associations.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Whether you want to become a racer, official, fan or partner, Thundercat Racing welcomes all to become part of their exciting action packed lifestyle. The sport also gives participants opportunities to make life-long friendships, assist local communities and a chance
to make a difference. You don’t need to own a boat to become a member. Visit www.thundercatracing. co.uk or go along to Eastern Beach on 5th to 7th April to find out what ThunderCat Racing is all about. n
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write on
profile
MIND YOUR MIND words | Elena Scialtiel
Socrates invented it some 2,500 years ago and called it maieutic method, the Middle Ages made it a confession booth prerogative, the Age of Enlightenment confided in the common sense and loyalty of butlers, Romantic spinsters penned it to and fro the oceans in epistolary friendships... ... But it was only in the late 20th Century that life coaching was raised to science, and in the Noughties when it shaped up as a respectable academic and professional career. A life coach is like a tennis coach, but, instead of focusing on the ball, a life coach helps you explore your full potential in focusing, targeting and channelling your emotions and thoughts to better manage your life, achieve your goals and relieve unnecessary stress. A life coach doesn’t usually deal with anxiety, bereavement, mental health disorders — that is a job for counsellors and psychologists — and definitely doesn’t dwell too much on negativities or the past, but focuses on enhancing the positive in the present and future, and the possibilities that lay ahead for an individual, once he or she is empowered to grab them. “I help my clients become aware of themselves, and make informed choices,” says young and driven Life Coach and Psychology student Antonia Behan, who knows the right questions to ask to bring out the best in you, to unleash your personal and professional development, and ultimately, your ‘true you’. Her expertise is now gracing Gibraltar in a fresh format. Compact and snappy to fit our busy lives, she calls it ‘Coffee Break Solutions’, but in reality it is a one-hour long round table — ‘a Spanish style coffee break!’ she jokes — held at sophisticated venues like a cafe or hotel lounge.
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As attendance is free, although limited to eight people, this becomes an affordable alternative to one-to-one sessions, with the added bonus of group therapy where discussion is an extra tool to question one’s (or each other’s) core values and self-imposed boundaries. Indeed Antonia likes to ask uncomfortable questions to shake the foundations of your
Often you won’t like your own answers as you realise you could have been a better person down a different path, if only you enjoyed this hindsight earlier house of cards and have you wonder how much in control of your own life you are, how conformed versus how informed you are, and what excuses you are unconsciously making to procrastinate the realisation of your dreams and sorting your life priorities. Of course the right questions lead to awareness of answers which were within yourself all along, but were repressed by negative emotions
and social conditioning, like decorum, traditions, family expectations, loyalties, personal insecurities and fears, poor motivation or simply the old wives’ philosophy of ‘better the devil you know’... Often you won’t like your own answers as you realise you could have been a better person down a different path, if only you enjoyed this hindsight earlier. It is never too late to restart from scratch, without renegading one’s past, but stopping it from getting in the way. This month, Antonia will hold her third coffee break meeting to talk about freewill versus faith. She will ask you whether you’re using your spiritual beliefs as a safety net while you wait around for life to just happen to you, and as something to blame for your shortcomings and failures. She will ask you if that kind of faith is really working for you, and she will suggest that miracles do exist, but one must take action and meet them halfway. And if things heat up, she will play the cool and collected moderator — a skill she masters well! I attended her pilot seminar in late February, Are we giving up too much for love? It was an informative and thought-provoking session that compared romantic bonds to any other business partnership in which both parties give and take, in good balance, towards common and personal advantage. Not your cup of tea if you are convinced that the very definition of love implies unconditional self sacrifice for the
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
coaching
life
other, whether a partner or children? Perhaps so, but undoubtedly women do give up much more than men when engaging in serious relationships — and that can build resentment and anger. Antonia is also very interested in spirituality and mindfulness — making unconscious thoughts surface cognitively and channeling them into pro-activity, rather than reactivity to habitat stimuli. Bordering on mysticism, she was a contributor to several psychology magazines before moving to Andalusia from Kent to ‘chase the sun’. Nowadays she continues to write positive psychology features for UK magazine Natural Health. Antonia describes her work as “empowering you to create a way of living and being that honours your personal truth, highest potential and core values, through a balance of spiritual lessons and self-development tools”, and she claims this will ultimately create an underlying sense of peace, freedom and happiness. However, she is more than an empathetic ear-for-hire tailored to desperate housewives in a glided cage, as she doesn’t just listen, but educates towards betterment. She explains how she never underestimates the role of close friends or relatives in searching for oneself, but our fast-paced society often alienates people from their social environment, and broken families sadly mean broken trust, so that one prefers confiding in a confidentiality-bound professional. The benefits of redesigning one’s self-esteem and self-image can radically change one’s life, adding extra motivation, sense of purpose, confidence, strength of mind and altruism derived from self acceptance, so eliminating pointless anxieties, stress and insecurities. Antonia is very popular with teenagers, for who she provides a safe place to express themselves towards pinpointing their goals, while teaching them to manage their strengths and weaknesses and find their path. She coaches them to cope with exam stress, bullying, life direction, communication and presentation skills, and fashioning a winning mind frame — guidance that not all parents are able, or have time, to provide at home. n Visit www.antoniabehan.com for times and venues and more information on her private consultations, motivational speaking, and low-density entrepreneurial development courses for young adults. Life Coach Antonia Behan
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRiL 2013
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J4 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
SMITH’S
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McTimoney chiropractor.............L4 John Miles - Chiropodist..............K7 Sport-On - Sports Therapy...........K3 Steiner Chiropractor.....................K7 Pet Services / Supplies Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic..........H4 Property Sales / Estate Agents Chesterton....................................D5 Richardsons.................................. P5 Savills............................................J5 Solomon Levy . ...........................U3 General Services Balloqui . ..................................... P4 LP Borge......................................X3 Denville Designs.........................M3 Fashion House Interiors............... P2
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APriL 2013
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Reg’s
pages from history
The last public military execution in Gibraltar held at Grand Casemates Square in 1864, with the garrison drawn up to witness the hanging
Gibraltar Man Hanged for a Murder he didn’t Commit words | Reg Reynolds
When Henry David Inglis arrived on holiday in Gibraltar he could hardly have expected to be a central figure in a mystery murder and hanging. Inglis had yet to gain prominence as a travel writer when he disembarked at the mole on 15th of June, 1821 but he was the son of a barrister and he carried with him letters of introduction to the then Governor Sir George Don. There was to be a ball the following evening at the Convent and the Governor invited the 26-year-old Scotsman to attend. At the ball Inglis was introduced to a Colonel Waring who turned out to be a distant relative. Of the meeting Inglis wrote: “Colonel Waring, as fine an old man as ever served the king, shaking me heartily by the hand, and discovering a family likeness, told me I had arrived at a most fortunate time, for that week his daughter Emily would be united to Captain Lindsay of the Royal Navy.”
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The Colonel assured Inglis that the Captain was a “noble fellow, else he would not have my girl”. He invited Inglis to dinner the next evening to meet the Captain and Emily but warned him “not to fall in love”. For his part Inglis noted that the warning was appropriate as “Emily Waring was the only truly, lovely girl I have ever beheld”. He found her “captivating” with an almost “indescribable” beauty and a figure of “gracious contours that belong to maturer years.” As Inglis watched the happy couple dancing he became unsettled by the behaviour of a man who was watching the couple with inordinate intensity. He asked an-
other guest who the man was and learned that he was named Donovan and was Captain Lindsay’s best friend, but who was also in love with Emily. The next day Inglis made further enquiries about Donovan and found out that he had previously been suspected of murdering his wife by poison. He had been acquitted at trial but was still held in disfavour in the community and had only been invited to the ball because he held a high position in government. Despite Donovan’s obvious infatuation, Captain Lindsay kept him as a friend because three years previously he had saved his life in what was described as an “act of
Justice was swift in those days, very swift. The trial was held the day after the arrest
extreme daring”. Unfortunately in his writing, Inglis gives no specifics about the event. The ball had been held on a Thursday and Emily and the Captain were due to be wed on the following Monday. Inglis dined with the Warings and the Captain on Friday and Saturday but the Captain told them he would be unavailable on the Sunday as he would be having dinner with Donovan. The Colonel, noting Emily’s distress, tried to persuade the Captain not to meet up with the unstable Donovan but the Captain replied that Donovan was “misunderstood” and that he was indebted to him for life. “I can never forget,” explained the Captain, and turning to Emily said, “that but for Donovan this could never have been mine; I could not refuse him”. As the wedding guests gathered on the Monday morning Inglis noted that “Emily looked as a lovely bride ought to look, modest and enchanting.” But the groom did not appear at the appointed time and as the minutes and then the hours passed impatience turned to anxiety. Knowing that Captain Lindsay had spent the night before with the jealous Donovan, the Colonel and Emily feared for his life. Inglis went to the Captain’s hotel only to be told that he hadn’t been seen since 5 o’clock the previous evening. Donovan was questioned and explained that after dinner they had gone for a walk but after passing the last of the sentries on the eastern side they had taken different roads and he hadn’t seen the Captain again. Governor Don ordered a thorough search of the Rock and when there was no sign of Captain Lindsay or his body he explained the situation to the Colonel and Emily. “I have used every means to penetrate the mystery, but without success. The sentinels on the eastern piquet saw him pass up in the company with Mr. Donovan; and under all the circumstances, I have thought it my duty to order Mr. Donovan’s arrest.” Justice was swift in those days, very swift. The trial was held the day after the arrest. Of the trial Inglis wrote: “There was no direct evidence but there were strong presumptions against him. His hatred of Captain Lindsay was proved by many witnesses; the cause of it, the preference for Miss Waring, was proved by her father. It was proved, moreover, that when Mr.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Donovan left his house, in company with Captain Lindsay, he carried a concealed stiletto; and it was proved they were last seen together, walking towards the eastern extremity of the Rock.” Donovan was found guilty on a Friday and sentenced to hang on the Monday. On the morning of the execution the condemned man, resigned to his fate, confessed — to the murder of his wife! He admitted that he had planned to kill the Captain during their walk but that after they had gone separate ways he had not seen him again. Despite this claim the hanging took place as scheduled. Inglis was stunned by the turn of events. He believed Donovan was telling the truth and this led to the possibility that Captain Lindsay was alive somewhere on the Rock. That night Inglis had a dream in which Donovan appeared by his bed and whispered, “I suffered justly: but I did not murder him, he yet lives”. Awaking early the next morning Inglis was now convinced that the Captain was alive and he was determined to find him. He walked through the Alameda Gardens and followed the road to Europa Point. It was 5 o’clock in the morning and there was no one about so he ‘borrowed’ a small boat and rowed around the eastern extremity. “I soon doubled the south-eastern point and found myself in front of the great precipice.” As Inglis scoured the “fissures and projections” he saw what appeared to be a human figure in the distance. Closer inspection proved him right but because of pounding surf he was unable to perform a rescue. He rowed with all speed back to Europa Point and raised the alarm. Captain Lindsay was duly rescued and after being allowed a few days to recover he told his story. “I left Griffith’s hotel about 5
o’clock, to dine with poor Donovan, as promised; he received me as usual with apparent kindness; but during dinner he was often abstracted — there was evident agitation in his tone and manner — and for the first time in my life I felt uncomfortable in his company. After dinner he proposed a walk; I left the house first and chancing to glance in at the window as I passed round the angle, I saw him place a short dagger in his bosom.” Now Captain Lindsay was wary of a confrontation and managed to convince Donovan that they should take separate paths and meet up later. This happened ap-
could save me, and that no human eye could see me, and the roaring of the waves drowned out all cries for succour.” If not for Donovan appearing in Inglis’ dream, Captain Lindsay may well have perished in that cold and lonely spot. There was a happy ending for all but poor Donovan, a killer deserving punishment but hanged for a murder that never happened. The Captain and Emily were married on the Monday following his rescue. In 1830, Inglis returned to Gibraltar and found that Colonel Waring had died in the interim but that Emily was a lovely as
The Captain spotted a patch of white narcissus on a ledge. He thought it would be nice to pick them for Emily but as he bent down the ledge gave way and he tumbled into the sea proximately half a mile after they had passed the highest piquet point and where the eastern road split into two. “I proposed that we should go different ways,” explained the Captain. “Donovan took the zigzag path; I followed the narrow steep path, intending to shun another meeting, and to scramble down the southern side.” While walking along the lower reaches the Captain spotted a patch of white narcissus on a ledge. He thought it would be nice to pick them for Emily but as he bent down the ledge gave way and he tumbled into the sea. He managed to get back to the Rock and gain a small foothold but he was now trapped. The rock face was so smooth there was no chance of climbing it. “I saw that no effort of mine
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
ever, still happily married to the Captain and raising a family. Inglis, born at Edinburgh in 1795, was a successful writer of popular travel books in his day. His best known works include Spain in 1830, Solitary Walks through many Lands and Ireland in 1834. He was preparing Travels in the footsteps of Don Quixote for publication when he died on 20th March 1835. His story about murder and marriage in Gibraltar appeared in the 1831 publication of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruction. n
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puzzle page
by Alan Gravett
SUDOKU
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Just for fun!
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Jotting Pad Send completed crossword to: The Clipper, Irish Town, Gibraltar.
FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper
One entry per person. Closing date: 18th April 2013 Last month’s winner: Ian Petfield 2 Iberis House, Westview Park LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Behave, Craft, German, Adhere, Dior, Zanzibar, Humperdinck, Underarm, Cast, Inroad, Dreary, Story, Floral Down: Blemish, Humdrum, Venezuela, Cadiz, Acerbic, Theory, Quoits, Undergo, Ready, Nudemodel, Nuclear, Kestrel
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Across 1. Woody plant also known as lilac (7) 8. Eastern European country which will join EU in July 2013 (7) 9. Erect; part of football goal (7) 10. Ancient part of Balkans; fictional setting for Twelfth Night (7) 11. Splendour; distinction (5) 13. US writer of novels such as Grapes of Wrath (9) 15. Paper money (9) 18. A long lock of hair (5) 21. Wrong guess; poor effort at, say, tennis (3,4) 22. Song from West Side Story; latter part of today (7) 23. Country entirely surrounded by South Africa (7) 24. Film genre for which John Wayne and Clint Eastwood are famous (7) Down 1. Cheek; dressing in which food is served or cooked (5) 2. Relating to the countryside (5) 3. & 20. Early Moody Blues hit (6,2,5,5) 4. Not dormant (6) 5. Sixties musical group who still perform (7,6) 6. Fail to eat (6) 7. Material with woven pattern which takes its name from Syria’s capital (6) 12. Largest Caribbean island (4) 14. Swear (4) 15. Globule of liquid filled with gas (6) 16. One who prefers to wear nothing (6) 17. Rare and old spelling of word meaning a design on skin (6) 19. Bird of prey (5)
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
update snippets
CSgt Llanelo with Commanding Officer Lt Col Colin Risso
A Time to Retire... Two Territorial Army members retired last month. Cpl Chipolina, who at 65 is the oldest member to have served in the RG, and CSgt Llanelo who has 39 years of service. Cpl Chipolina joined the TA as a percussionist and vocalist in the RG Band in 1992. Since then he has served in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Morocco, Ascension Island and the UK and has performed solos at many high profile engagements. Musician Chipolina now devotes much of his time performing for charity, in particular Mount Alvernia home for the elderly. Best of luck to them both in their retirement. n
Commander British Forces Commodore John Clink with Cpl Francis Chipolina
Festival of Young Musicians Youngsters will be polishing their instruments this month for the 8th Gibraltar Festival for Young Musicians, presented by Allegro Music Productions in association with The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance & Speech, and the Ministry of Culture. A packed programme will see a total of 54 classes being held, between Friday 12th and Wednesday 17th, at various locations such as the Ince’s Hall Theatre and the Convent Ballroom. From percussion to strings, and piano to brass, these talented young musicians will no doubt delight adjudicator Richard Deering, FTCL, GTCL, LRAM, ARCM, PGCA. There will also be the School Festival Day, where various school choirs and ensembles will present their work. The Festival culminates in the Gala Concert on Wednesday 17th at the Ince’s Hall Theatre. Tickets for the spectacular Gala Concert are priced at £10, and can be purchased from Ince’s Hall Box Office on Tuesday 16th
April 4-6pm and on the night of the concert at the door. The music adjudicator will award trophies, medals or certificates in all classes, including the Albert Hammond Shields and Allegro Trophies, at the School Festival Day. He will also select children to perform in the Gala Concert to provide a varied and balanced programme to wow the audience. Trophies and bursaries from various sponsors will be awarded at the Gala Concert, such as the Hassans Shield and £600 bursary for the most promising overall musician under 18, the Tere Facio Memorial Trophy for the most promising vocalist and the Khubchands £100 bursary for the most vibrant vocalist, to mention a few. n
Med Steps Madness! British Forces Gibraltar wives Lisa Blofield, Sue Drayton and Clare Fawcett have organised a mass charity Mediterranean Steps Walk in aid of SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar and Childline Gibraltar. The walk is open to everyone and will take place on Saturday 13th April. Registration con the day and further details can be found on Facebook under ‘Med Steps Madness’ where you can invite your friends and add your interest. The cost is £10 for adults and under 16s go free. There will be a raffle and refreshments. Volunteers are needed to help on the day — if you can help or would like to donate a raffle prize call Lisa on 5403 6512.
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Talent is like a fine wine...
words | Elena Scialtiel
A late bloomer who started treading the boards at the age of 44, with his versatility in rocking comic and tragic roles, Charlie Bishop has surely proven that talent can be like fine wine. His most recent appearance was in Christian Santos’s entry in the Drama Festival The C Word, which touched sensitive topics and struck a chord with the audience. However, children may fondly remember him for his cameo role as westernising Chief Talking Bull in the Trafalgar Theatre Group’s pantomime Calamity Jane last January. “I was asked last minute to stand in for the actor originally cast for that part. I enjoyed the experience as I had the chance to work with great artists, for instance Nicky Vatvani who, at just 16, showed exceptional talent and potential,” Charlie says. “So far this has been a busy year for me in terms of acting with Calamity Jane and The C Word. Hopefully I will be performing in two more shows before the end of the year and I’m really looking forward to working with the talented actors, directors and playwrights that Gibraltar has to offer.” If this was his one-off foray into the iconic
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British genre, Charlie is always at home with farce when it is tinted with homely fun-poking at local idiosyncrasies. He’s a regular in Christian Santos and Richard Mor’s Yanito National Day productions, where he played the Arch-Villain in Los Super, the King in El Cuento, el Bassooka de la Laguna in Gibovision, and Sonny in Greasy. “I love working with Christian,” Charlie
“
Settling into a new school against the backdrop of industrial strikes, football hooliganism, race riots and punk rock was quite an experience
”
says, “he is a gifted playwright, whether for comedy or drama. I admire the way he blends together a cast of adults and teenagers, who learn to build mature relationships outside school and family.” If Charlie is one of Mor & Santos’s staples, he wasn’t discovered by them: “My debut on stage was in a dance show, when Academy of Dance director Paulette Finlayson offered me the part that originally was Richard Gere’s in the musical Chicago for her production The Dazzling Twenties. There I danced and lipsynched, but Christine Thomson, who played an ageing Russian actress there, scouted me for her next production, and I was cast as the butler in that year’s Trafalgar Theatre Group’s entry to the Royal Navy Drama Festival, The Importance of Being Earnest.” So a star was born — and went on bringing many characters to life under the guide of many directors, including international playwright Julian Felice in his witty Agatha
Gibraltar MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
us to the UK to give us a better chance in life. However, life in the UK in the mid-’70s wasn’t easy either. Settling into a new school against the backdrop of industrial strikes, football hooliganism, race riots and punk rock was quite an experience. You wouldn’t want to stick out in those days, and foreign accents weren’t regarded favourably. I soon learnt that in my new school. “I worked in sales there for What Car? magazine and later, for one of the biggest fruit and vegetables importers and distributors in the UK, importing from all over the world. Under a changed political climate I settled back in Gibraltar with my wife Tessie when Montagu Gardens was built. Here I worked at Interbuild as a sales manager and then as the hostel supervisor when it was still in Casemates. At that point I felt I wasn’t getting anywhere so I decided to pursue a degree and picked Sociology because it featured a healthy mix of politics, economics, media and other subjects I had hands-on experience with.” Asked how he sees Gibraltar in a decade’s time, he shrugs: “Society is too fast changing to make an accurate prediction based on the past. For sure, our youngsters’ expectations have changed dramatically, particularly for
“
Social attitudes have changed and young people are able to make informed choices, without necessarily having to follow the path their parents took
”
girls. Social attitudes have changed and young people are able to make informed choices, without necessarily having to follow the path their parents took. Furthermore, my sociology students learn to evaluate and question society using sociological perspectives such as feminism, Marxism, postmodernism etc.” He feels the local economy is thriving and diversified, but there is still a need Gibraltarians for the skills needed locally so we don’t have to imp ort labour. If Gibraltar’s society is still ‘conservative’, it has secularised and come leaps and bounds in the past decade, especially in improving elderly citizens’ lifestyle and removing the stigma from untraditional family situations, like divorces, single parenting and eventually civil partnership. n
photo: Figgy Photography
Christie and Neil Simon tribute Teaching can be murder, where Charlie was in his own shoes playing the devious headmaster. His talent was soon recognised, first with a Royal Navy Drama Festival nomination for Murder in Play, for his interpretation of the Russian director staging a play within a play, and last year with the Diamond Jubilee Drama Festival best actor award for his abusive husband role in Strong. “It was a series of monologues in which I played a sinister character with a cockney accent, and part of the audience didn’t even recognise me. I could hear women in the auditorium hurling insults at my character when he claimed to have the right to beat his wife. Later, they congratulated me for my performance, but admitted my character was too repugnant to applaud it.” This was indeed taken as a compliment by the Charlie Bishop sociologist, society observer and accent imitator. His ‘day job’ is in fact being Head of Sociology at Bayside School, and he is happy to watch many local students pursue this ‘highly academic subject’ that can lead to law, journalism and social services related professions. Charlie’s interest for the scientific study of society struck him over 10 years ago, when he decided to pursue a degree after a lengthy experience in politics, a sales career and as Moroccan Workers Hostel supervisor. As a sociologist, Charlie has witnessed major changes in Gibraltar’s society: “We live in the real world now, while as a teenager I had the impression we were wrapped in cotton wool. Nowadays I am proud to show off Gibraltar as a stylish tourist destination, but in my early teens our streets were the drunken sailors’ playground and you didn’t see as many young people about enjoying themselves as you do today. I wouldn’t live anywhere else now. Yet, in those times my father, who was a top civil servant, moved
on stage
photo: GibraltarFocus.com
creatives
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charity
fund-raising
Barclays Wobbles Fundraiser More than £1,300 was raised by Barclays employees when they took part in various love-themed activities for Wobbles. The fundraising initiative kicked off on Valentine’s Day when employees paid a £1 donation to dress down in red. Other activities included games, quizzes and an in-house lunch at the Main Street and Regal House branches. Employees also donated £2 to take part in a ‘Search for Cupid’ treasure hunt around Gibraltar, which ended with a paella dinner served at the Calpe Rowing Club. The aim of the event was to increase client focus within the
At the Wobbles Fundraiser: Mildred Santos, Lucy Taylor, Debbie Garcia, Tracy Wahnon, Marta Hertmanowska
bank, in keeping with the new core values — Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship — at Barclays. The message for best practise customer service was shared within the bank. The amount raised from the activities was £685.64, which was matched by Barclays’ own £4£ scheme, bringing the total up to £1371.28. The money raised will go towards helping children in Gibraltar with illnesses or disabilities, by granting them a wish or providing them with a special
gift that will give them a reason charity,” says Debbie Garcia, to smile. Chair and Founding Trustee of “Since its inception Wobbles Wobbles. n has had a connection with Barclays. The bank has not only provided us with excellent customer service and financial advice but moreover it has involved its staff to aid our fundraising. Wobbles is grateful for this fantastic level of support from everyone at Barclays and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all employees very much for the commitment and dedication that has been shown to our worthwhile Pink Ladies team: Jennie Martinez, Charmaine Ellul, Jackie Murien
Natural Learning Centre As part of an ongoing project to provide exciting new education opportunities within Gibraltar’s Botanic Gardens, a new Natural Learning Centre has been developed.
Adopt Don’t Buy The GSPCA has many lovely dogs looking for homes. Before you buy a dog please visit us and give a dog a home.
Give a Dog a Home If you are interested in adopting call the GSPCA on 540 19968 or 540 29927 Note: dogs that have been kennelled for a while may need patience with house training when first in their new home (as do puppies from pet shops!)
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Many children living in Gibraltar grow up with no garden of their own and little opportunity to dig in the mud, and learn the joys of growing something from seed. The Natural Learning Centre provides a safe place for children to learn the joys of caring for plants while acquiring skills and developing an appreciation of the importance of looking after our environment. The centre has been developed using money donated by Etruvian and the William Hill Foundation. The Natural Learning Centre is already being used by a weekly
children’s gardening club and the children are growing edible plants. The public are encouraged to visit the gardens to witness the project taking shape. The staff at the Alameda would love to see the Natural Learning Centre used by as many groups as possible, but for this to happen a team of volunteers is needed to help run sessions. If you have an interest in gardening, can spare a couple of hours per week and would like to share your love for nature and gardening with the next generation, please contact the Botanic Gardens’ office on tel: 20041235. n
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creatives
Operation Tracer DVD
Easter Bunnies! Gibraltar charity AKIN (Association for Kids in Need) is raising funds for various projects in Sierra Leone. AKIN will be providing new schools, water wells, power generators, books and, in summary, a better future for many poor children and communities with the support of the local community.
Gold Productions Studios has completed the much-awaited sequel to its internationally acclaimed Second World War documentary Operation Felix. The Minister for Culture will officially launch the documentary, called Operation Tracer on 13th May at the John Mackintosh Hall at 6.30pm. Operation Tracer tells the once top-secret story of the infamous Stay Behind Cave where a team of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel were to be walled up inside the Rock of Gibraltar should the Germans invade and capture Gibraltar. Their potentially suicide mission would have been to spy on the Germans and radio London every night with their findings. The documentary was possible thanks to the testimony of the last remaining survivor of the operation, Dr. Bruce Cooper, who told his story exclusively to Gold Productions Studios before passing away in 2010. Producer and Director of the Operation Tracer documentary, Martin Nuza, was also privileged to have been invited by James Neish to the rehearsals of their Stay Behind Cave stage play which was entered in last month’s Gibraltar Drama Festival. The play is presented by Stage One Productions and directed by Jackie Vella. Martin commented, “The play projects the story very well, capturing the emotion and horror of the war
This year AKIN is selling chocolates for Easter in aid of our school projects. Each bunny is made of 200 grams of quality milk chocolate, and sells at just £2. If you would like to help, please phone Jimmy Bruzon on Tel: 57631000. n
The new DVD is a must have for any lover of Gibraltar or wartime history
time mission.” For further information on the Operation Tracer documentary visit Gold Productions Studios official webpage www.goldps.com. The trailer of the documentary can be watched on You Tube under “Op-
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update
eration Tracer trailer”. n Orders for the DVD are being taken and they include the 60 minute documentary plus special features. You can contact Mr. Nuza via email martin@goldps.com to pre-book your DVD and own a piece of Gibraltar history.
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photo finish
What’s On April 2013
Casemates). For info contact Tel: 58009031 Email: mopro@gibtelecom.net Saturday 6th April Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society monthly outing – Flowers of the Southern Rock spring flowers, including Gibraltar endemics. Meeting place: Jew’s Gate, Upper Rock. Contact Leslie Linares Tel: 57363000 Email: plants@gonhs.org. Gibraltar International Song Festival at Tercentenary Sport Hall 9pm. Tickets: £10 available at the Gibraltar Tourist Board Information Office – Casemates Square from 10am to 4pm. Saturday 6th April Ceremonial Guard Mounting at the Convent 12 noon. For info Tel: 200 55083 Sunday 7th April Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association display of classic vehicles at Ocean Village 10am-2pm. Tel: 200 74657 Email: howard@gibraltar.gi www.Gibraltarclassiccar.com
Wednesday 3rd to 5th April MO Productions 11th Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre. Tickets: £7.00 available from On-Pointe,
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Monday 8th to 12th April Painting Exhibition by Isabel Fisher at John Mackintosh Hall – Lower Exhibition Room 9.30am to 9.30pm. For information Tel:
20075669. Entrance free. Tuesday 9th April to 10th May Art Exhibition by Gino Sanquinetti at Fine Arts Gallery, Units13B & 14B, Casemates Barracks. Monday to Friday 10am-2pm & 3pm-6pm. For info Tel: 52126. Entrance free. Friday 12th to 15th April Gibraltar 1st Annual Face & Body Painting Festival, competition/workshops/trade stands/ face exam/nail art, at John Mackintosh Hall. Workshops by Liliana Sepulveda Hopman, Pashur and Jay Bautista. For further information contact Hamish Dalmedo Email: DA00980@ hotmail.com Friday 12th April Glamour Creations “Dream Girl” at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 8.30pm. Tickets £15 available from Chique Boutique, 6 Ocean Village Promenade. For info Tel: 54000377 Saturday 13th April Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Tour meets George Don Gates (south end of Grand Parade) 10.30am. No fee but donations welcome. For info Tel: 20072639 Email: plants@gonhs.org Monday 22nd April Gun Salute HM The Queen’s Birthday at Grand
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
image of the month Thanks to Joe Friedman, a visitor from London, for this great shot entitled “We’ll Be Back” — we loved the sentiment, and the view from the plane.
Get involved If you have a fabulous photo
taken in Gibraltar and you’d like to see it in print, send it to The Gibraltar Magazine — email: gibmag@gibraltar.gi. We’ll feature our favourite photo each month and you’ll see your name in lights (well ink anyway!).
Battery 12 noon. For further information Tel: 200 55083 Tuesday 23rd to 25th April Santos Productions - An Audience with “Rock Master” with Friends, a new Llanito stand up comedy by Christian Santos at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre from 8pm. Tickets are £12 from the Nature Shop, Casemates Square, from Tuesday 9th April, 10am to 4pm. Saturday 27th April Corps of Royal Engineers exercise their Freedom of the City. Starts at Casemates Square and goes along Main Street. For further information Tel: 200 55083 Saturday 27th April Craft & Collectors Fair at St Andrew’s Church, Governor’s Parade from 10am to 2pm. Entrance £1. Proceeds to the Church Restoration Fund. For further information or if you would like to book a table (£10 for a table and cloth) Tel: 54023166 Email: viviend13@hotmail.com Sunday 28th April Corps of Royal Engineers Church Service at King’s Chapel. For further information Tel: 200 55083.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Peo p le&Pets Double the trouble with two felines this month, oh and Vin who provides the accommodation!
Vin, Flossy & Freddie Vin: Over the hill. Flossy: Fat, blousy female with pendulous tummy. Freddie: Short-tailed half Siamese, like a feline fox terrier. Age Vin: Oof! Flossy: I might be over 10, but not saying. Freddie: 3 or 4 maybe. Likes Vin: Spring weather, eating out, Gibraltar life. Flossy: Sleeping, watching my dish being filled up. Freddie: I like men, but I’m stuck with Vin, who says she won’t get one just for me. Hates Vin: Cruelty to people or animals. Flossy & Freddie: We hated being abandoned and wanted to be house cats. Sociability Vin: Very sociable. Flossy: I get Vin up at 7.45 every morning. What else do you want? Freddie: I go out exploring and talking to anyone who is friendly, including some dogs Best Trick Vin: I don’t do tricks anymore. Flossy: Making food disappear. Freddie: I meet Vin every night when she comes home. If she comes home from the other direction, I am there too, waiting. I always seem to know where she is.
Favourite Food Vin: Depends on the mood. Flossy: Soft food (none of Vin’s food is good enough for us). Freddie: Biscuits (see above). Interesting Facts Vin: I was brought up by a vet, so always knew/liked animals. Helped Dad operate from an early age. Flossy & Freddie: We were both abandoned before finding Vin and keeping her company. Usefulness Vin: I am good at filling dishes; provide a warm lap to sit on in winter; am a brilliant groomer, door opener, bed straightener and occasionally watch wildlife films which interest cats Flossy: Colourful and decorative. I can’t catch anything, as I can’t get all four paws off the ground at the same time. I used to catch flies when I was younger. Freddie: I catch the odd lizard but Vin takes it off me and lets it go. We used to have mice and rats outside, but no longer, I frightened them all away :) Greatest Achievement Vin: Living such a full and happy life. Flossy: I am good at gardening. Freddie: I am an amazing jumper and leap over the furniture instead of going round it. If you weren’t a dog/human you’d be? Vin, Flossy & Freddie: We can’t answer that, we’re all quite happy the way we are, as long as we are well loved and looked after, and at the moment, we look after each other..
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community
update
Senior Citizens in the Mayor’s Parlour Gibraltar’s Mayor, Tony Lima, recently held a reception for Senior Citizens from the South Barracks and Town Range Senior Citizens Clubs plus other guests at his parlour in City Hall. The Mayor paid tribute to the guests who attended and to our Senior Citizens in general at this, the first of two receptions to be held for the senior members of the community.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
community
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
update
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photos
call
Gibraltar United Thanks to Momy Levy for sending us this great shot of ‘Gibraltar United’. Taken in the Mayor’s Parlour, it shows our Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, with Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Feetham and former Mayor Momy Levy
Top Tips from Marco
Photo Call... This page is for you. Send us your pictures of special occasions in Gibraltar and we will try to include them. You don’t have to be a VIP (everyone is a VIP to us), so snap, snap, snap away and email to gibmag@gibraltar.gi. By the way, we also love to get pictures of people reading the Gibraltar Magazine abroad, it makes us proud to see how far they travel (though a little jealous too!). nolo in Casemates Square has
Pictured above is British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality Marco Pierre White who imparted some culinary expertise to Gibraltar’s own Brenda Brufal at a recent book signing in the UK.
Café Solo Party Café Solo in Casemates Square has been busy with parties just recently. Thanks to Max for snapping this shot, between taking orders, and sending it in to us.
Birthday Bash Pictured below: Stock broker Lindsay Adamson (centre front) celebrated his birthday recently with a few of his friends at Corks on Irish Town
Gibraltar’s International Jazz Festival Gibraltar’s second International Jazz Festival’s new website is now upand-running and includes festival dates (17th – 19th October) and vanues — the Rock Hotel’s Khaima Marquee and the Patio Chico car park —and the line-ups of solo artistes and bands. This lineup will be updated throughout the summer. The website also includes video clips and audio from the 2012 festival. There will be a poster design competition in the run-up to the festival. n The International Jazz Festival website www.gibraltarjazz.gi
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
photo call
Getting together at Cafe Rojo Cheers Annette for this great shot from a special celebration at Cafe Rojo recently. Everyone seems to be enjoying Luis and Norbert’s delicious food. n Follow Cafe Rojo on Twitter @CafeRojo_Gib
Many Happy Returns to Cafe Solo Sue Orfila (above, centre) celebrates her birthday in style with friends at Cafe Solo, Casemates Square.
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Raspberry Fool Serves 4
Silky smooth, rich and sumptuous, who wouldn’t love a fool like this? 1 pint raspberries 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste 1 cup double cream 1 tsp vanilla extract
Wash the raspberries and toss with half the sugar. Wait for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they give up their juices. Place half the raspberries and all the juice in a blender, and purée. Pour purée back into the bowl with the other raspberries. Whip the cream with remaining sugar and vanilla until cream is stiff and holds peaks easily. Fold berries and cream together, and serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to two hours. n
Chicken Liver Pâté Serves 4
Pâté is a great sharing dish, a perfect lunch snack or starter, and is so inexpensive and quick to make it really is a shame not to make extra for sandwiches and suppers. This pâté looks good, tastes delicious and can be made by the most inexperienced cook.
Fools’ Paradise
Sometimes the kitchen can be a really daunting place for the novice cook and recipes seem unreasonably complex, so for April we thought we would offer you some recipes which any culinary fool can make! 78
350g 175g 1 1 tsp 75ml 75ml ½ tsp 1 ¼ tsp
chicken livers, cleaned butter, diced shallot, finely chopped thyme leaves, finely chopped Madeira double cream salt allspice berry, ground ground ginger
Cut the livers into 1.5cm pieces. In a frying pan heat a knob of butter over a medium heat. Add the shallot and thyme and soften, then turn up the heat slightly, add the livers and sauté until browned on the outside but still pink inside. Place in a food processor. Add the Madeira to the frying pan and boilto reduce to a couple of tablespoons. Add to the food processor, with the cream, salt and spices and blend until smooth. Add the butter (saving 75g), and blend again. Adjust seasoning. Push through a sieve with a wooden or plastic spatula and chill (minimum 30 minutes). Melt the remaining butter and pour on
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
food appetite This month we offer delicious fool style recipes which are so simple even an April Fool could make them perfectly top, then refrigerate until the butter sets. Serve with crusty hot toast! n
Smoked Fish Mousse Serves 4
Quick to make and delicious, Smoked Fish Mousse is simple but impressive to serve to guests. 400g 2 tbs 500g 1 tbs 1 tbs
smoked fish (whichever you prefer) thick double cream cream cheese, at room temperature fresh lemon juice fresh or prepared horseradish, grated
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Freshly ground black pepper and flaked salt, to taste
Remove any skin and bones from the fish. Put the flesh into the bowl of a food processor and chop until
very fine. With the food processor still on, add the cream in a steady stream. Add the salt, pepper, lemon juice, horseradish and the cream cheese and blend until well combined
and smooth. If you like a really smooth texture press it through a sieve with a wooden spatula. Refrigerate until ready to use. How easy is that? n
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appetite
e to wher drink eat & the on k Roc
Café Solo Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square. Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana
Cafe Rojo
restaurants
Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Brunch (10am12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts. Lunch 12-3pm, dinner 7-10pm; dishes such as Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pastas or risottos such as Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry, Langoustine, Lime & Coconut; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese; and Creamy Mixed Seafood; and salads such as Warm Goats’ Cheese, Fresh Spinach & Chargrilled Aubergine; and Roast Duck, Chorizo & Pancetta Salad. Open: 10am. Closed Sundays and Saturday lunchtime.
Nunos Italian
Overlooking the Mediterranean from Catalan Bay, Nunos’ Spanish chef with Three Star Michellin experience offers a variety of Italian cuisine. The restaurant can be found at the reception level of the hotel, where a quick peak at the menu reveals the chef’s celebrated Salmorejo is on the menu, as are his baby squid burgers (Insalata di Calamari). From the main dishes you can choose from a variety of fresh fish and meat dishes. Or you could go for the house speciality of fresh, home-made pasta where you can choose from a wide range of options. Open: Mon-Sat 7.30pm-10.30pm (lunchtimes for group bookings).
Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738
Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay Tel: 200 76501 Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi
Casa Pepe
The Waterfront
A delightful terrace, bar, restaurant on the prestigious Queensway Quay Marina. Wonderful location for business meetings, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions. Specialising in fresh fish caught locally with daily specials including seabass, dorada, sole, and bream, plus a very comprehensive a la carte menu. Also available are tapas and raciones (double size tapas) to share (or not!) prior to a main course. Mixed paellas also available, as well as fish cooked in rock salt, whole suckling pig and baby lamb to order. Open: Tues-Sat lunch & evening, Sunday lunch only, closed Mondays.
Right on the quayside at Queensway Quay Marina, this restaurant offers everything from coffee through to 3-course meals with champagne! A bar snack menu is available all day from 10.15am; the a la carte menu from midday to 10.30pm, featuring daily specials. The barbecue grill from 7pm offers sumptuous steaks aged in-house, and fab fish including dorada and sea bass. A delicious array of desserts/ice creams. Extensive terraces provide ideal location for summer dining and drinks with stunning sunsets. Caters for large parties - weddings, holy communions, birthdays etc. Est. over 16 years. Open: 7 days a week 9am-late
Casa Pepe, 18 Queensway Quay Marina, Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe@gmail.com. Visit: www.gibtour.com/casapepe.
The Waterfront Queensway Quay Marina. Tel: 200 45666 Visit: www.gibwaterfront.com
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chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Daily specials on blackboard. No smoking. Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449
Solo Bar & Grill
Solo Bar and Grill is a stylish and modern eatery — perfect for business functions or lunches — and part of the popular Cafe Solo stable. Serving everything from Goats’ Cheese Salad, Mediterranean Pâté and Cajun Langoustines to Beer Battered John Dory, or Harissa Chicken, and Chargrilled Sirloin Steak. This is a delightful venue in Europort with a cosy mezzanine level and terrace seating. Well worth a visit, or two! Available for private functions and corporate events — call 200 62828 to book your function or event. Open: 12-8pm. Solo Bar & Grill Eurotowers Tel: 200 62828
Get Listed! Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar? Get your business listed here
CALL 200 77748 for details GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Sit down, informal and friendly bar with informal eating. Amin is well known in Gibraltar for his Moroccan, Spanish and international cuisine. Open early for breakfast at 7am right through the day. Try the Moroccan soups, couscous, lamb tagines and kebabs. Terrace, just off Main Street (turn left at Trafalgar Pharmacy coming from Casemates). Open: 7am to midnight.
food & drink
Amin's The Office 30 Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 40932
directory
At Home
Mumbai Curry House
Great Lavazza coffee, sandwiches, English breakfast, traditional breakfast and the ever popular churros, available at this cosy eatery located in the centre of Main Street. Just up from the Piazza, on City Mill Lane, this friendly establishment has pies, salads, homemade daily specials, selection of fish and chips, and a variety of rolls and wraps, such as Africano, Serranito and much more. As well as dining and bar area, and takeaway service, there is a delivery service, available from midday. Open: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. At Home 16 City Mill Lane. Tel: 54012502
Buddies Pasta Casa Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include spinach caneloni, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and peppered steak to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines. Outside seating too. Open: Monday - Thursday 11am - 5pm, Friday 11am-3pm and 7pm-11pm, Sat 11am-4.30pm Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627
Get Stuffed Very popular takeaway, sandwich bar and hot food. Serving all fresh and homemade sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, pies, cup cakes, plus hot/cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties. Open: 8am - 4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat. Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006
Just Desserts
Indian cuisine, eat-in/take-away, from snacks (samosas, bhajias, pakoras) to lamb, chicken and fish dishes such as korma, tikka masala, do piaza. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food. Outside catering for parties/meetings. Sunday Mumbai favourites such as Dosa & Choley Bhature. Open: 7 days a week 11am - 3pm, 6pm -late. Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 200 50022/33
Oasis Eatery
Located in Governor’s Parade, just across from the Elliot Hotel, and offers hot/cold drinks plus a delicious homemade selection of baked items such as cakes and quiches, also sandwiches and wraps, bagels and cupcakes. Vegan/vegetarian items. Oasis is on Facebook and Twitter and you can pre-order online which is handy for a quick lunch. Special orders taken for a range of bakery goods. Fully licensed for beers and wine. Terrace seating. Open: 8am to 3pm
Oasis Eatery Govenor’s Parade Tel: 200 65544 www.oasiseatery.com
Pick a Bite Morning coffee and daily lunch specials, one of largest selections of traditional home made food, to eat in or takeaway. All the old favourites — spinach pie, croquettes, quiche, spanish omelette, shepherd’s pie and more. Delicious sandwiches, baguettes, ciabatta melts and wraps, with a variety of fillings. Salads, snacks and soups. Cakes and muffins for those with a sweet tooth. Friendly, cheerful and very reasonal prices. Terrace seating. Open: Monday to Friday 8am - 3pm. Pick A Bite 10 Chatham Counterguard Tel: 200 64211
Picadilly Gardens
e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc
Sacarello Coffee Co Converted coffee warehouse, great coffee, homemade cakes/ afternoon tea, plus menu and excellent salad bar with quiche selection, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Art exhibitions. Available for parties and functions in the evenings. Open: 9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri. 9am-3pm Sat Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625
Sain’t Café Bar
Bright and attractive café bar serving hot/cold drinks, breakfasts, lunches, homemade desserts and tapas with wine. Well presented food includes tuna ciabatta, steak & onion baguette, club sandwich, smoked salmon bagel and vegetarian choices (served with parsnip crisps). Delicious salads such as Niçoise, Caesar, caprese and couscous. No smoking inside. Patio. Open: Mon-Fri 7.30am-7.30pm. Afternoon tea 4-6, happy hours 4-6. Sain’t Café Bar Grand Ocean Plaza, Ocean Village Tel: 20065758
Smith’s Fish & Chips Traditional well-established British fish and chip shop, located on Main Street opposite the Convent, with tables/seating available or take-away wrapped in newspaper. The menu includes old favourites cod, haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish pasties, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers. Open: 8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Breakfast served from 8am. Smith’s Fish & Chips 295 Main Street. Tel: 200 74254
Solo Express
B r i g h t a n d a i r y, recently redecorated cafe on the first floor of the ICC. All homemade food including daily specials, vegetarian options, desserts and small cakes. Eat in or takeaway. Try their daily roast with everything on, or their all-day breakfast. Pensioner’s lunch - 2 course meal for £5.25. Friendly, cheerful and fully licensed. Open: from 7.30am Monday to Friday
Relaxed bar restaurant located near to the Queen’s Hotel and Cable car, it has a cosy garden terrace, which is great for drinks, tapas and food al fresco. English breakfast, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, paella by pre-order, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or takeaway. Open: 6:30am till late.
Located next to Pizza Hut in Casemates and in Eurotowers, serves a variety of salads/baguettes (white, brown, ciabatta) filled with a deli selection such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or humous, avocado & roast red pepper. Salads fresh and tasty (Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta etc), great value. Jackets, quiches, coffee plus cakes (flapjacks, muffins) available all day. Eat-in area. Soups in winter.
Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014
Piccadilly Gardens Rosia Road, Tel: 20075758
Solo Express Grnd Flr, ICC, Casemates & Eurotowers
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
informal food
Amin’s Office
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food & drink
directory Get Listed! Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar? Get your business listed here
CALL 200 77748 for details The Tasty Bite Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken, kebabs and everything else you can think of! Try the quiches, tortillas and jackets spuds with all kinds of fillings. This little place gets busy with those popping out from the offices for lunch so get there early. Open: Monday - Saturday.
informal food
The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321
Verdi Verdi
Bridge Bar & Grill
Located on the water’s edge, Ocean Village, just across the bridge from O’Reilly’s. This bar & grill is a fusion of an American themed menu with Tarifa chill out style. Open for breakfast from 9am serving healthy options, freshly squeezed orange juice and Italian Lavazza coffee. Try the spicy Caribbean rum ribs, southern fried chicken bucket, the popular Texas burger or a selection of tasty salads and homemade desserts. London Pride, San Miguel & Carling beer on draught, live sports. Bridge Bar & Grill Ocean Village Tel: 200 66446
Cannon Bar
Jane is still there and still packed out with tourists and regulars! Word has it that she nearly managed to escape, but wasn’t allowed to. The famous fish and chips, the odd French speciality, there’s always something happening in the Cannon! Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral just off Main Street. Cannon Bar
Gibraltar Arms
All day coffee plus all homemade and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh baked bread and desserts. A selection of bagels (try the smoked salmon and cream cheese) and baguettes to eat in or take away. Try the light homemade pizzas, or the falafels and humous. Daily special soups are fabulous and filling. Ask for Idan's hot homemade chilli relish — sweet and scrummy. Open: Mon/Thurs: 7.30-6, Fri 7.30-5, Sun 10-3.
On Main Street opposite the cathedral, enjoy a meal, coffee or a cool beer on the terrace and watch the world go by! Bar decorated with rare military plaques from regiments and navy ships visiting Gibraltar. Full breakfast menu served from 7am, draught beers on tap include Old Speckled Hen bitter, Murphys Irish stout, Heineken lager and Strongbow cider.
Verdi Verdi ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 60733
Gibraltar Arms 184 Main Street. Tel: 200 72133
All’s Well
bars & pubs
e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc
Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practise of locking gates to the city at night when the guard called ‘All’s Well’. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod & chips and steak & ale pie plus a range of salads and jacket potatoes. Large terrace. Karaoke Mondays and Wednesdays until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm. All’s Well Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987
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Jury’s Café-Wine Bar
Next to the Law Courts, with a terrace seating area, Jury’s has a selection of Ciabattas, paninis, baguettes and wraps, plus popular sharing dishes, such as Your Honour’s platter. Jacket potatoes, main courses, pasta and some innocent salads too. For those with a sweet tooth, there are tantalising homemade desserts, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as well as Lavazza coffees and frappes. Open: 7am-midnight Mon-Sat, 9am-midnight Sun. Jury’s Café & Wine Bar 275 Main Street. Tel: 200 67898
Lord Nelson
Bar/brasserie in Casemates. Done out like Nelson’s ship. Starters & snacks include fresh mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses from chilli con carne and chicken & mushroom pie, to crispy duck burrito and fish & chips. Jackets, burgers and kid’s menu. Live music on stage nightly. Spacious terrace. Open: 10am till very late.
Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 Visit: www.lordnelson.gi
The Lounge Stylish lounge bar on the quayside at Queensway Quay with very reasonable prices and light bites from 10am until late. Popular quiz on Sundays (from 7.30pm) and a relaxed friendly atmosphere... always plenty of people / yachties to chat to. Events (matches etc) covered on large screen TV. Great place to chill out. Open: 10am Mon - Sat until late and from 12pm on Sun (get there early for a seat for the quiz). The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118
O’Reilly’s Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef & Guinness pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all. O’Reilly’s Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888
Star Bar
Gibraltar’s oldest bar, just off Main St. Small cosy and famous for its full English breakfast from 7am (9am on Sunday). A full menu including fish & chips, until 10pm. The home of Star Coffee, draught beers include Heineken, Old Speckled Hen, Murphys and Strongbow cider. Managed by Hunter Twins from Stafford, England, also home to Med Golf & Tottenham Hotspur supporters club. Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Visit: www.starbargibraltar.com
The Three Owls The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers. Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen TV, pool table, poker machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ bar, two match pool tables, poker machines, dartboard, bar, open from 5pm daily. Second Floor the ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, card table, bar — open from 7pm daily and also at weekends for the Rugby Union matches. If you are looking for a sociable game of pool or darts this is the place to be. The Three Owls Irish Town. Tel: 200 77446 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits
Visit us and step back in history
Casemates Square Tel: 200 72987
Full menu served inside or on our terrace including British Fish & Chips, Jackets, Salads, Burritos, Homemade Pizzas, our special Fresh Local Mussels and much more. Visit us and buy yourself a souvenir, T-shirts, beer glasses, lighters etc Live music every evening, join our Jam Sessions on Wednesday or Sunday. GLMS Music Venue of the Year. Official Home to Gibraltar Rugby Club Free WiFi
10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009
• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams
DAILY SPECIALS Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449
SMITH’S
U4 FISH & CHIPS HADDOCK W4 PLAICE • COD FRESH FRIED IN CRISPY BATTER
184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun)
restaurant bar guide &
295 MAIN ST Tel: 200 74254
Get Stuffed!
Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006 Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special Every Day salads, soups, pastas, pies, cupcakes, all home made Open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat
Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711
Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967
BUDDIES pasta casa
Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations
Award winning breakfasts from 7.30am Great meals & snacks all day Evening Steak House menu Med Golf Clubhouse Tottenham Hotspur HQ Parliament Lane Tel: 200 75924 GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• APRIL APRIL 2013 2013
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�dmission� words | Peter Rodney
An enormous amount of alcohol is apparently disappearing into thin air. This is not the ‘angel’s share’ which is taken by evaporation from the top of a brandy or whisky cask during the ageing process; nor is it the can or two of beer which mysteriously disappears from the fridge when teenagers are visiting. It is the difference between the amount we say we drink and the amount actually sold. In Gibraltar this would not be altogether surprising since the vast majority of spirits, if not wine and beer, sold is presumably exported by day trippers and other tourists. Indeed, if the figures of cigarettes sold in Gibraltar divided by head of population were released, I suspect Gibraltar would consist of nothing but an enormous lung cancer hospital since each of us is notionally smoking something like 200 cigarettes a day. But since the sale of cigarettes in Gibraltar provides the funding for the existing hospital, we should be grateful that the lung cancer is exported along with the cigarettes. The study on the missing alcohol was carried out in the UK — and not by the medical profession. We all admit only half our alcohol consumption to a doctor because we all know that the doctor will double whatever amount we ad-
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mit to. So that cancels itself out. This was a social survey of some sort in which about 1500 ‘representative’ people in a particular town were asked to write down their consumption (with no dire threats of irreparable damage if they revealed the truth) over a month. Quite what the chosen people were representative of is not revealed, but presumably they were neither alcoholics nor teetotallers. The total (rounded up to cover the whole population of the town) was then compared with sales in that town over the same period. Beer, lager
and cider were about equal, some 15% of wine had gone missing and a whopping 50% of spirits was unaccounted for. Was 15% of the wine bought being laid down for the future? Very possibly, but a wine drinker who has the foresight to lay down for the future is also likely to be opening and enjoying now what he laid down in the past. So his actual consumption will not change, merely its quality. Perhaps, a happy thought, it is being laid down for the future enjoyment of children. I will stick to that expla-
It is interesting to note that the more alcohol by volume in the drink, the less is apparently drunk
nation although it may be a little unlikely. Wine drinkers are well known for their altruism and generosity so it is at least plausible. What about the 50% of spirits? Where did that go? Remember, this was not a doctor asking; it was a general, anonymous, public survey. There was no reason to be dishonest in answering — except the personal embarrassment, presumably, of admitting just how much was put away every week or month; and perhaps a refusal to admit it to oneself. It is also interesting to note that the more alcohol by volume in the drink, the less is apparently drunk. Given that a half pint of beer is (in alcohol terms) about the same as one glass of wine or a (small) gin and tonic, the person admitting to drinking 4 or 5 pints on one evening is getting through the best part of two bottles of wine or half
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
wine a bottle of gin. But it is socially unacceptable to admit to the latter — whereas a few pints is perfectly proper behaviour. The lesson appears to be that wine is best for you, even if you don’t admit to your full consumption. It has a more civilised feel to it than enormous quantities of — what is often — dishwater and is rather easier, and less embarrassing, to hold in the hand than a glass with a little umbrella in it. Incidentally, has anyone ever worked out what the purpose of the umbrella in a cocktail is? It can hardly be to keep the rain off.
column
These reflections on the nature of wine leave but little room for any recommendations this month. (Note from ‘er upstairs: So what else is new?) Having seen ‘Wolf Blass’ emblazoned over hoardings at various sports stadiums over the last few years I often wondered what it was — perhaps a new aftershave? A designer trainer? A sports car? It turns out to be an excellent South African winery which is clearly doing for South Africa what Jacob’s Creek has done for Australia: producing honest, decent, reliable wine at a reasonable price — about
You may deny 15% of the amount drunk — although that is a little difficult if there are three empty bottles at the end of a dinner party where there were three full ones at the start Perhaps the sun? If so, it is a singularly inefficient method. I once indulged in a ‘Singapore Sling’ at Raffles Hotel in Singapore itself. That came with an umbrella. The umbrella’s sole achievement was to get in the way of taking a sip out of the glass. When I did finally succeed in getting a mouthful, after removing the umbrella, I hastily returned the umbrella to the glass and the glass to the bar. What a frightful concoction. Be that as it may, a glass of wine works in any company. Further, the amount drunk is easier to measure as strength and quantity are clearly visible. You may deny 15% of the amount drunk — although that is a little difficult if there are three empty bottles at the end of a dinner party where there were three full ones at the start. However, the amount drunk will generally not have unfortunate side effects because it is sipped and savoured slowly, over a whole evening.
£6 although Morrison’s have an offer bringing it down to £4.20 or so. The label simply gives the grape varieties. The Cabernet is exactly what you expect it to be (including the blackberries). There is no need whatever to be ashamed of, or not to admit to, having bought it. n
Contemporary Mediterranean Dining
Grand Casemates Square Tel: 200
44449 for reservations
ctor X-Fa wn Sho TV on Live
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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Judging by the packed calendar of events this month, Spring has certainly sprung and everyone is coming out of hibernation to enjoy Gibraltar’s fabulous social scene — we hardly had enough room in this month’s edition to fit all the great goings on. So April is here and we can all start looking forward to those long lazy summer days which now seem so close. There are loads of birthdays this month including Mark Galliano on 3rd April, Conchita Triay on 4th April, Hassans’ Ian Winch on 5th April. Newton Systems’ Zaxkia Buckley and Brian T Richards who provides our air schedule (thanks Brian!) both get a year older on 8th, as does artist extraordinaire Vin Mifsud (see her with her moggie friends in our People & Pets section on page 73 — Jolene Gomez’s hardest photo shoot to date. Talk about herding
Photos: St Patrick’s Night at O’Reilly’s, Leisure Island
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
cats!). Taxi driver Terry Victory will be buying the beers on 9th, Rock Theatre’s Angela Jenkins on the 15th, David Eveson has to wait until 16th for his special day, while Gibraltar Clubhouse’s Emily Olivero will be painting the town on 19th. Edward Macquisten of the Chamber of Commerce gets a year older on 21st, Her Majesty gets a Gun Salute for hers on 22nd, while Capurro’s Stephen Guillem will be opening his presents on 24th, and last but not least Claudia Schiel of Claudia’s Clinic on Main Street will putting on her dancing shoes on 28th April. Many happy returns to them all and to anyone else who is celebrating a special day in April! Congratulations also to Kayleigh on the birth of her daughter Sienna in March. Want a Llanito treat? A stand-up comedy by Santos Productions, will take place from 23rd to 25th April. The makers of Greasey, Gibbovision, Los Super, Miss Llanita, El Cuento and El Susto, now bring An Evening with Rock Masters, an original show written by Christian Santos, featuring new stories and some of our most popular musical numbers. Get to know Rock Masters that little bit better with his rantings and ravings, as well as many characters we already know and love and some new characters who will make you double over with laughter. (See What’s On page 73 for details.) Who doesn’t love cake? The Vine Trust Cake Sale will be on Saturday 27th from 10.30am till 1pm. They will be at the rear entrance of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, selling delicious cakes and other baked goods. Hoping to raise even more funds for the building materials needed for the children’s homes, and other community construction work in Tanzania, pop in, buy some of the sweet stuff and support this great event. Finally, we hope you all have an action packed April, but be very careful indeed on the first day of the month and remember, spaghetti doesn’t grow on trees and there are no flamingoes at Europa Point. You don’t want to be this year’s April Fool do you? See you on Main Street.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
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clubs&activities
Don’t be bored... do something fun!
Arts & Crafts The Arts Centre, Prince Edward’s Rd. Art classes for children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults (Mon - Tues 6.30pm8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm-9pm). Tel: 200 79788. The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11am - 2pm. Arts & Crafts Gallery (next door) opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer) -6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm. Exhibition Vin’s Gallery at the Rock, The Rock Hotel. Original paintings, prints, and souvenirs by Vin Mifsud and her pupils. Monday - Saturday 9.30-11am and 8-10pm. The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society Affiliated to the UK NADFAS organisation meets third Wednesday of the month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK to talk on Art etc. Contact: ChairmanClaus Olesen: 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros. com. Membership Ian leBreton: 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Knit and Natter Group: Tuesdays from 11am3pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balconyFree to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865 for more information.
welcome. Tel: 200 44643.
Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues. The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet at the Rock Hotel on Mondays at 3pm. For further information please ring Vin at 20073660 or Roy at 20075995. All welcome. The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm.
Social Clubs Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm. Examining Council, 3rd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm.
Dance Adult Dance Classes Wednesday evenings at the Youth Disco Room, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Cha-Cha, Salsa and Merengue. Lessons £5 and all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or dance@trainingtm.net Bellydance classes. Beginners level on Tuesday from 7-8pm at Danza Academy or 8-9pm at Ocean Village fitness centre. Tel 54005593. Salsa Gibraltar Salsa classes held Tuesdays at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. Beginners 7-8.30pm, £5 per lesson. Intermediates 8.30-10pm, £6 per lesson (all profits going to the charity Help Us To Help Them). Contact: Mike 54472000 Email: info@salsagibraltar.com website: www.salsagibraltar.com Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm (beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome. Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday. The DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, beginners 7.30pm. Tel: 200 78282 or e-mail manvio@ gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome. Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre classes held weekly at Urban Dance Studio for Performing Arts, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta (54012212) or Jolene (54015125). Ballet, Modern Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary & Hip Hop classes held weekly at Danza Academy, 68/2 Prince Edward’s Road. Training from 2.5 years to Adult Advanced. Royal Academy of Dancing and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing examinations taken. Ample competing opportunities aboard IDF European & World Championships. Contact Anne-Marie 54027111 or Zulieka 54003973. Aerobics, Step, Dancercise & Zumba classes for women of all ages held weekly at Danza Academy, 68/2 Prince Edward]s Road. Contact Anne-Marie 54027111. Zumba Classes at Urban Dance Centre, Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Every Mon and Weds 8-9pm. Contact 20063959 or 54012212. History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844. The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association Dedicated to preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles. Members/vehicles meet 1st Sunday of month, Morrison’s car park from 10am. New members
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Music The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Tuesday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. New singers always welcome. Tel: 54831000. St Andrew’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc. Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting self-development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road. Tel: 200 59818 Quizzes The Lounge friendly quiz on Sundays from 8pm right on the quayside at Queensway Quay.
Special Interest Clubs & Societies Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, John Mac Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome. Gibraltar Philosophical Society devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Contact 54008426 (after 6pm) or email gibphilosophy@ live.co.uk for further information. Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at 7.30pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc. Harley Davidson Owners’ Club www.hdcgib. com UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108. Creative Writers Group meet every Tuesday at the Eliott Hotel bar at 8pm. The workshop is run by Carla, Tel: 54006696 and is aimed at learning to write fiction and non-fiction, for pleasure or publication. Each session is £5.00. Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check the game is televised. Great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For info call Mario on 56280000. Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club meet on match days at the Casino Calpe (Ground Floor). Gooners of all ages welcome. Tel: Bill 54010681 or Dion 56619000. Website: www.clubwebsite. co.uk/ArsenalGibraltarSC/. Gibraltar Hammers meet on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or e-mail gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: 200 Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661. Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium. Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to IBA & EBA) has leagues and training
for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 200 44045 or Linda 200 74753. Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727 or Kirsty (minis) 200 49441. Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory (200 75513 w, 200 42788 h). Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls/boys of all ages. Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop classes at Victoria Stadium. Recreational and competitive levels. Contact Gina: 58008338. Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000. Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs Men’s, Women’s, Boys & Girls Cricket organising league & cup competitions and in-schools coaching. www.gibraltarcricket. com email: info@gibcricket.com Twitter: @ Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359. Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF) mens/ladies/youth leagues/competitions. Tel: Darren 54027171 “Secretary”, Dyson “Youth Rep” 54024149, Justin “President” 54022622 Email: info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association leagues/competitions for all ages October-May. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 200 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 200 41515, Junior Tel: Richard 58654000, Women’s Tel: Brian 200 52299. Recreational football for over 35s Tel: Richard 200 70320. Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): males of any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitve sport. Training every Wednesday in La Linea 7-a-side pitches at 8.30pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Email team@gibraltargaels.com or visit www.gibraltargaels.com. Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly. Tel: 200 79575 for tournament venues/dates. Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 200 78844. Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/ training for adults/juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 Peter 200 72730. Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 200 73116 or Peter 200 73225. Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rd). Tel: Tony 200 79855 or club 200 47259. Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradings and demos at Karate Clubhouse, 41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 200 48908. Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211. Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior / junior leagues. Tel: 200 41795 or 200 41874. Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: 200 70929. Pilates: Monday & Wednesday 11-12am for beginners, and intermediate classes Monday & Wednesday 9:30-10:45am, at Shotokai Karate Centre. Contact Chantal: 60618882. Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season. Tel: Linda 200 74753. Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards, weekday evenings. For more information contact Sally Tel: 200 74661. Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct - April. Tel: James 200 72185 Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/ senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 200 48847. Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (members FIPS-M & CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs participating. Tel:
what a page turner! www.thegibraltarmagazine.com
Mario 200 72622 or Charlie 200 74337. Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation (over 14s). Rifle, Europa Point range (Joe 200 74973); clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Fidel 200 71990). Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey training). Tel: Eric 200 70710 (after 5). Snooker: Members of European Billiards & Snooker Association. Own Snooker facilities at Jumpers Bastion with three tables. Professional coaching for Juniors/Seniors. Organised leagues/tournaments and participation in accredited International Competitions. Contact Sean Galligan 56262000 or Lee Prickman 54000068, email info@gibraltarsnooker.com Snorkelling & Spear Fishing: Over 14s for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishing. Tel: Joseph 200 75020. Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/coaching. Tel: 200 44922 or 200 73260. Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 200 44606, Noah’s Dive Club Tel: Leslie 200 79601, 888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 200 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available. Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 7-8.45am, 12- 4pm, 8- 9pm. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo (Rebecca 200 72869). Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association (members ITTA) training / playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Lizanne 200 45071/54020477 or Eugene 58014000. Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: 200 Mari 44142. Tai Chi: Children’s fun Tai Chi at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range, Saturdays 11-12am. Beginners Tuesdays & Thursdays at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre. 6.30-8pm. Adults £5, Children £2, all proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity. Contact Dilip on 200 78714 or rocktaichi@traningtm.net Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 200 77035. Ten-Pin Bowling: Ten-Pin Bowling takes place at King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day. To have a go call 200 77338 to reserve your lane. Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Contact Charly on 56014000 or Paul on 54029749. Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (members ITU) Chris 200 75857 or Harvey 200 55847. Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W & EVF) training, leagues, competitions for juniors/seniors. Tony 200 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000. Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome. Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street E-mail:gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 200 42237 www.geocities.com/gibdrama Trafalgar Theatre Group meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome. Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
community update
New Sponsor for St Joseph’s St Joseph’s Under 9s Football
Club have secured a new sponsor and are seen here sporting their new shirts. Chesterton Estate Agents are the proud new sponsors and now the players not only have their parents to support them but the staff of Chesterton as well. Back row (left to right): Tim Benson, Colin Figueras (Asst Manager), Christian Ressa (Manager) Mark Alecio (Coach), Jacky Dyer-Carreras. Middle row: Harry Victor, Alex Ressa, Benjamin Eate, Ben Brown, Omar el Sadin, Juan Miguel Crespo Guerrero, Kayleigh Tellez, Michael Alecio. Front row: Caine Bossano, Sean Bossano, Chisum Sanchez, Jeremy Martinez, Casy Brownbridge, Jesse Figueras.
Pte Downs at his Operational Service Medal Presentation
RG Solder Awarded Mention-in-Despatches
Taekwondo Team in UK The Gibraltar Taekwondo National Team were
recently in Nottingham for their first training session as part of the British Taekwondo National Poomsae Squad. Pictured is the Gibraltar Team, Lorena Garcia, Dana Garcia, Alexandra Lara and Megan Ruiz, with Ali Pourtaheri, current European Champion and previous World Bronze medallist, pictured in the middle.
Support Groups Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774. A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church. Mummy and Me Breastfeeding Support Group for mums who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat and support. Partners and older children welcome. Meets first Wednesday of every month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm. Enquiries and support 54014517. Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 6pm - 10pm. Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge. Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial. COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease day-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Pte Liam Downs from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment has been awarded a ‘Mentioned-inDespatches’ (MID) for his notable acts of courage whilst serving on operational tour in Afghanistan last year. A soldier ‘Mentioned-inDespatches’ is one whose name appears in an official report written
to-day challenges of individuals, families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meet alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For info Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465. Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August. Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8 Serfaty’s Passage Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www. gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717. Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service).
by a senior commander to his superiors detailing the conduct of a military operation and describes a soldier’s gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy. In the British Armed Forces the report is published in the London Gazette. In the nations of the British Commonwealth, soldiers who are ‘Mentioned-inDespatches’ receive a certificate and are entitled to wear a silver oak leaf on the ribbon of their operational service medal. n
Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817. Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group for compulsive overeating problems. Tel: helpline for meetings info 200 42581. Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren. Tel: Richard 200 46536, Jason 200 76618, Dominic 54019602. Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623. SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. Email: Susan GIB-CST-JSWPA@mod.uk With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/ widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: 54007181 or 200 79957. Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hrs).
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information
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he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered of great conservational value. It’s the perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa. Botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants, including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate. St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall. A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used. A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide. The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it! The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to anyone who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. Sgt. Major Ince suggested tunnelling and there are over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside. The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock’s many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays information on the development of Gibraltar’s military defences through the ages. A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one of the earliest British building on the Rock. Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726. The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibnZeyad (“Gibraltar” is a corruption of the Arabic words “Jebel Tarik” - Tarik’s mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu’l Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain. Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain. Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It
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is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices. Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking. Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction). Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. Narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a unique sandwich of armour plate/teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’. Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel. 200 44460, P. Hodkinson Tel. 200 43910. Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Closed 1pm - 2pm. Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Rd, 9am - 7pm daily (free).
Business Information Financial Serv. Commission Tel: 200 40283/4 Chamber of Commerce Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry . . . . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 78193 Useful Numbers Airport (general info.). . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 73026 Hospital, St Bernards. . . . . . . . . Tel: 200 79700 Weather information. . . . . . . . . . . . . Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update Tel: 200 42777 Gibraltar Museum Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane open 10am-6pm (Sat. 10am-2pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Exhibitions also at Casemates gallery. Registry Office Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon. Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as
History Alive Every Saturday morning the
Rock’s past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a “Ceremony of the Keys” and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.
offering normal fares, taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock’s major features in a short time. John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends. Bicycle Racks Bicycle parking is provided at the following locations: Europort Road, Casemates Tunnel, Land Port Ditch, Fish Market Road, Commonwealth Car Park, Reclamation Road (by English Steps) + Line Wall Road. Gibibikes is a scheme for public use of bikes taken from stations around the Rock. Visit www.gibibikes.gi for info. Public Holidays 2013 Gibraltar & United Kingdom New Year’s Day Tuesday 1 January Commonwealth Day Monday 11 March* Good Friday Friday 29 March Easter Monday Monday 1 April Worker’s Memorial Day Friday 26 April* May Day Wednesday 1 May Spring Bank Holiday Monday 27 May Queen’s Birthday Monday 17 June Late Summer Bank Holiday Monday 26 August Gibraltar National Day Tuesday 10 September* Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December Boxing Day Thursday 26 December *Gibraltar only
Emergency Services
Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance................................... Tel: 190 Police............................................ Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number Tel: 112 Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station Tel: 200 75728 Police........................................ Tel: 200 72500 os Emergency N : .............Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598
GibiBikes Locations • Frontier • Victoria Stadium • Waterport Road (Watergardens) • Waterport Road (Waterport Terraces) • Eurotowers • Reclamation Road (Leisure Centre) • Commonwealth Parade Car Park • Rosia Road (Jumpers building) • Rosia Road (Bayview Terraces) • Grand Parade Car Park (Cable Car) • Southport Gates (Ince’s Hall) • Line Wall Road (City Hall) • Line Wall Road (Orange Bastion) • Market Place • Eastern Beach Road (coming soon) • Catalan Bay (viewing platform) • St Joseph’s School • Europa Point • Rosia Parade Visit www.gibibikes.gi to find out more about how you can benefit from GibiBikes
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748
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atural History & Heritage Park admission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites - St. Michael’s Cave, Monkey’s Den, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre, ‘A City Under Siege’ Exhibition and Moorish Castle). Facilities closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adults £10, children 5-12 years: £5, children age under 4 free, vehicles £2. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times, tours available by taxi/mini bus. Also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm). 50p per person to walk with no entrance tickets.
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