interviews • arts • dining • finance • leisure • property • history • business • health
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ibraltar magazine the
How British is Gibraltar? Playing with Dynamite
HNWIs are they good for us?
Eric’s Perspective Priest on the Front Line
The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Red & White
October 2009
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You don’t have to live just around the corner …
… to get personal and individual investment advice We offer individual investment advice. So do a lot of other banks. But we insist on making a difference. We do not just say that we prioritise close and personal relationships – we actually meet our many international clients all over the world. We strive to give you excellent personal service. We do not beat about the bush – and we meet you face to face. We offer you advice on the most profitable investment strategy that matches your personal profile and wishes.
Above all, we provide the best conditions for expanding your assets – wherever you live. Find out the advantages we offer in the way of personal investment advice. Contact me today: Tessie Bishop Tel. +350 200 59222 tessie@jyskebank.gi
JYSKE BANK (GIBRALTAR) LTD. • Private Banking • 76, Main Street • P.O. Box 143 • Gibraltar Tel. +350 200 72782 • Fax +350 200 76782 • info@jyskebank.gi • www.jyskebank.gi
Jyske Bank (Gibraltar) Ltd. is licensed by the Financial Services Commission, Licence No. FSC 001 00B. Services and products are not available to everybody, for instance not to residents of the US. 0909_A4_The Gibraltar Magazine_Fly_Tessie.indd 1
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interviews • arts • dining • finance • leisure • property • history • business • health
gibraltar the
October 2009
Vol.14 No. 12 FREE
magazine
How British is Gibraltar? Playing with Dynamite
HNWIs are they good for us?
Eric’s Perspective Priest on the Front Line
The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Red & White
features 24 How British is Gibraltar? 26 Eric’s Perspective 30 Keeping in Touch 32 Gibraltar’s Bats: Stars
34 56
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Volume 14 No. 12 • OCTOBER 2009
The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Limited, PO Box 561, PMB 6377 113 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel or fax (+350) 200 77748 E-mail: gibmag@gibraltar.gi www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Managing Editor: Andrea Morton Design Studio: Jonathan Bull Copyright © 2009 by Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine. Subscriptions £35.00 per year.
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leisure & activities 44 Gibraltar’s Kings of Swing 55 What’s Happening October 59 Shopping & Beauty 68 From Jazz to Hip-Hop € 72 Playing with Dynamite 76 Leisure & Tuition 77 The Singer not the Song 79 Going Wild at the Gardens 94 Clubs & Activities Guide health & medical 60 Breast Practice € 62 The Fat Facts 64 Health & Medical Directory food & drink 80 China on the Water’s Edge 82 Heavenly Baked € 86 Wine Column 87-91 Restaurant & Bar Guide 91 Cocktail Time at 55
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36 How’s Business in the Real World? 38 Bringing the Outdoors in € 40 Spruce Up for Profit 96-97 Property Directory business & finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 HNWIs: Are they good for us? 12 Gibraltar: An Economic Force
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
by Ian Le Breton
High Net Worth residents in Gibraltar: how do you become one and are they good for us? Last month I looked at some of the reasons why property prices in offshore jurisdictions such as Gibraltar are holding steady, while those across the border in Spain are heading south. As I pointed out, one of the principal drivers of this phenomenon has been the increased demand from people who are currently resident in the UK but are considering becoming “ex-pat” in the next couple of years.
For many, this is to escape the inevitable hikes in personal income tax that will be necessary as the UK climbs its way out of recession and begins to tackle the mind boggling deficit (or national overdraft as I like to think of it) it has accrued in the process. Already, the UK government has announced an increase in the top rate of tax to 50% for high earners — defined by the government as being those earning more than £150,000pa. Add to that national insurance and other indirect taxes such as VAT and one begins to understand why many UK residents are actively considering their options. As we know any British citizen can consider a move to Gibraltar — there is no requirement for a work permit and, as I have pointed out in this column several times, there are good reasons to contemplate working here. As elsewhere in the world, the global recession is having an impact but so far we have been cushioned from some of its worst effects. Finding a job to suit your
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
particular skill set may not necessarily be easy in a place the size of Gibraltar. But once you have cleared that (albeit major) hurdle, the rest of it — getting accommodation, opening a bank account, dealing with the utility companies — is likely to be very familiar. But how does Gibraltar seek to attract the multi-millionaire? After all at this level, as I established last month when looking at comparative property prices, the competition is stiff. The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Switzerland and
one way to attract high earning, high spending new residents is to offer them an attractive tax package
Monaco are just a few of the options in Europe, so how does Gibraltar compete with these? I can never resist telling people “it’s the sun that does it”. This was, after all, one of the main reasons I relocated to Gibraltar — the long damp winters in London were not for me. But sunshine alone is by no means enough to satisfy sophisticated multi-millionaires. As far back as 1992, the government realised one way to attract high earning, high spending new residents was to offer them an attractive tax package. With this objective in mind, the Qualifying (High Net Worth) Individual Rules 1992 came into being. Updated and amended several times since — most recently in the July 2009 Budget — the rules are easy to understand and highly beneficial. Why would someone want to become a “Category 2 resident”? Saving tax is the simple answer but, in my view, the benefits to an individual go further than that. A Category 2
business & finance resident is subject to a maximum income tax bill of £25,880, regardless of their total worldwide income. So for someone earning, say £250,000 p.a., the advantages when compared to the UK alternative — especially at the forthcoming 50% rate — are obvious. And because the maximum is capped, the attraction becomes even more obvious as income levels rise. Moreover, the Gibraltar government does not insist on a Category 2 resident spending a minimum amount of time in Gibraltar. So provided that the individual does not unwittingly become resident somewhere else — for instance by spending more than 183 days per year in Spain — it can be very attractive to people who choose to divide their time between several different locations, or perhaps afloat on their yacht. How does someone go about applying for Category 2 status? The government guards the scheme carefully and has to be strict when it comes to ensuring that the rules are correctly observed. Sovereign specialises in this sort of work so give me a call for more detailed information or to discuss a specific case, but I can summarise how the scheme works in general — read on. The rules are perhaps not difficult to understand but may not be so easy to attain. There is a simple application form (and a fee of course!) and the following criteria must be met. Firstly, the applicant must not have been a resident of Gibraltar during the previous five years, nor been engaged in paid employment here. Secondly, he or she must demonstrate a net worth of at least £2 million; the value of the principal residence is generally not included in this
calculation, although there can be exceptions. Applicants must also demonstrate that they will be able to continue to meet the criteria in future years. Lastly — and this is very important — approved residential accommodation must be available to the applicant and must remain available for the duration of his or her residency certificate. Whilst the rules allow for property to be either purchased or rented, it must be available for the exclusive use of the applicant — no sub-letting is permitted. The government allows a reasonable period — usually three months — from the issue date of a Category 2 certificate so an applicant has time to find a suitable property to purchase or rent, safe in the knowledge that Gibraltar residency has been approved. What does “approved” mean and how does this property rule work in practice? Certain residential developments in Gibraltar are designated by the Gibraltar government as being
the applicant must not have been a resident of Gibraltar during the previous five years, nor been engaged in paid employment here
suitable for Category 2 status. Essentially this is determined by the sale value and associated cost of monthly rental — and this designation can change. Some years ago, for example, the complex I live in was considered “eligible” but with new, more expensive developments coming on stream, my particular block no longer retains this status. Should this upset me? Well, no. I cannot deny it would be nice if it still met the necessary value criterion, but that’s life. It also helps to answer the question I posed at the beginning — are High Net Worth residents good for us? Of course, a large influx of Category 2 residents may inflate property prices at the top end of the market but, because the designation is fluid, this does not mean they will be pricing others out of the market. And if you assume that new High Net Worth residents will spend money in our economy, be it on goods and services or simply eating at our restaurants, then the answer is unequivocally yes! They are good for us. We should continue to welcome them — and their wealth — for the benefit of Gibraltar as a whole. n
Providing excellence in Recruitment in Gibraltar for 10 years
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Tel: +350 200 52474 Suite 34 Victoria House, 26 Main Street, Gibraltar info@gibresources.com • www.gibresources.com
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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www.gibraltarlawyers.com
Ready for take off ? Photo: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Is your business ready to make the most of the economic turnaround? For ideas and advice on how best to prepare for the next period of growth, please contact Selwyn Figueras at selwyn.figueras@isolas.gi Portland House Glacis Road PO Box 204 Gibraltar Tel +350 200 78363 www.gibraltarlawyers.com
economy
“
Gibraltar has had and continues to have a significant and positive economic impact on the Campo de Gibraltar
Professor John Fletcher of Bournemouth University
Gibraltar, an economic force in the Campo
”
this creates.” In an executive summary of the report which appears on page 6 of the document, 13 key points on Gibraltar’s economic influence on the Campo de Gibraltar (defined by the board as “the Spanish hinterland”) are highlighted. The Board of the Chamber of Commerce comments “What is clear is that Gibraltar has had and continues to have a significant and positive economic impact on the Campo de Gibraltar in direct and indirect terms. But the study is noteworthy for the significant role played by the Campo region in Gibraltar’s economic development as well.” It further states that “Both economies and societies would be the poorer without the other but together the strengths of both economies have ensured that the entire Campo region has developed to a greater extent than would otherwise have been possible.” The full report is available in English or Spanish and is free to members of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce, or at £95.00 to nonmembers. Multiple copies can be purchased at a reduced rate by arrangement. Available from the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce offices in Watergate House, 2/6 Casemates Square. Tel: 200 78376 Email: info@gibraltarchamberofcommerce.com or visit www. gibraltarchamberofcommerce.com. n
In mid-September the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce announced the findings of an independent economic study which it commissioned on the impact of Gibraltar’s economy on the adjacent ‘Campo de Gibraltar’. The results of the study, conducted by Bournemouth University and led by Professor John Fletcher, who has undertaken many similar studies of other regions for international organisations and governments over the last 30 years, were presented at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. The findings, amongst others, show that Gibraltar accounts for one in every six jobs across the whole of the Campo area, with the amount of goods and services imported by Gibraltar businesses from Spain valued at more than £147 million a year. Gibraltar’s economy accounts for around 12% of the Campo’s economy as a whole and the effect of Gibraltar’s economy increases the size of the Campo’s economy by an extra £420 mil-
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lion per annum. Chamber president, Nicholas Russo commented on the study saying, “We are very pleased that the findings show unequivocally the importance of Gibraltar as a key economic engine in the region. The study confirms what many in the local business community have probably felt but could not prove until now. The results confirm the real and positive impact that Gibraltar has on the Campo.” In the introduction to the report the Board of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce states “It is the Board’s wish that this report will be read widely in Spain, the UK as well as in Gibraltar. We believe that it serves to illustrate the interdependence of the two economies and the many resulting business opportunities that
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
update recommended reading:
New Book on Human Evolution released A book, written by local author Professor Clive Finlayson and published by Oxford University Press, was launched in mid-September on the first day of Gibraltar’s Calpe 2009 conference on Human Evolution. Just 28,000 years ago the last of Neanderthals died out in their last outpost — in caves in Gibraltar. Thanks to cartoons and folk accounts we have a distorted view of these other humans — we think of them as crude and clumsy and not very bright, easily driven to extinction by the lithe, smart modern humans that came out of Africa some 100,000 years ago. But was it really as simple as that? Clive Finlayson reminds us that the Neanderthals were another kind of human, and their culture was not so very different from that of our own ancestors. In this book he presents a wider view of the events that led to the migration of the moderns into Europe, what might have happened during the contact of the two populations and what finally drove the Neanderthals to extinction. The book The Humans who went extinct: Why Neanderthals died out and we survived is a popular science perspective on human evolution. It is aimed at a wide readership and is available on sale at the Gibraltar Museum and the John Mackintosh Hall. n
RecruitGibraltar’s online face-lift Recruitment agency RecruitGibraltar has recently launched its new fresh and clean looking website. The website has retained many of the previous site’s features which candidates have grown used to, such as new jobs located on the home page and new job email alerts, but the look of the site has completed changed. Director of the company Ian Hancock remarked “We have had the same branding for many years and thought it was time for something new that gave the website a brighter and
more visually stimulating look. We were keen to change the logo to something that was also brighter and more eye-catching and we are very pleased with the results.” RecruitGibraltar have a constant stream of vacancies published via the website so is an invaluable source of information if you are looking for a new job or the next stage in your career. Visit www.RecruitGibraltar.com. n
AI International Couriers Ltd 11 Engineers Lane PO Box 532 Gibraltar Tel: (+350) 200 73775 Airport office: (+350) 200 41076 Fax: (+350) 200 74389 email: gibsn@dhl.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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events
SG Hambros Champagne Reception A champagne reception launched the refurbished offices of SG Hambros Bank (Gibraltar) Limited in mid-September, where guests enjoyed an evening of mixing, mingling and flute music.
P w
Following the acquisition of ABN Amro’s Private Banking activities in Gibraltar, in July 2008, an intensive refurbishment project began to renovate Hambro House, 32 Line Wall Road, to accommodate the 68 strong staff of the newly combined business. Building works started in April 2009 and have transformed the offices into state of the art and technically advanced facilities. The new amenities include 76 desks, break out area and conservatory as well as new secure cash facilities. Hambro House is located on Gibraltar’s South Bastion (Bastion Señora de Rosario in Spanish times) originally constructed in the 1540s. The newly refurbished facilities were launched with a well-attended Champagne Reception. n
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update Brian Stevendale, Sales & Marketing Director for Ocean Village, comments, “The half million pound berth expansion programme is just one part of ongoing land reclamation and development which has already seen Leisure Island emerge from the sea... Taking everything into consideration from cut-price fuel and Cat 1 Red Ensign Group status to a strategic Europemeets-Africa location and fashionable nightspots, Ocean Village is now poised to compete with the Mediterranean’s finest.” The additional 98 berths, 20 of which are over 20 metres (66 ft) in length, are tagged ‘premium’ due to the wealth of services on offer from 24hour patrols and gated coded entry to satellite TV access, a golf buggy hire service, bathroom facilities with multi-jet showers and hair dryers, and full concierge. Examples of rates for Ocean Village’s new berths start from £15.50 for a 15 metre berth and £450 per day for vessels above 75 metres (low season). n
Premium Berths at Ocean Village set for Winter Opening Work is now well underway at Ocean Village extending the berth offering from 225 to 323. Scheduled to complete for winter 2009/10, the expansion will include premium berths of up to 90 metres (295ft) to cater for the ever-expanding megayacht market.
Pensions we keep it simple Finding the right pension fund is a daunting task. There are so many products to choose from, it’s sometimes hard to see the wood through the trees. And if, like most people, you are tired of seeing the stock market fluctuating, taking your pension funds on this roller coaster of a ride, then it’s time for you to consider an Ethical Forestry investment. Ethical Forestry specialise in growing trees for profit. On our plantations, we plant, nurture and harvest trees which are then sold to the global timber trade. The global demand for timber remains constantly high whereas supply is dwindling, it’s basic economics and it works. But don’t take just take our word for it, Bloomberg stated , “As an asset class, timber - a renewable resource with constant product demand - stands out as a remarkably stable investment” To learn more about this remarkable ethical investment opportunity, please contact us.
Call +350 200 50859 Suite 7, Leon House, 1 Secretaries Lane, Gibraltar www.ethicalforestry.com
SIPP’s
Transferring some or all of your pension is a simple process
A typical investment projection:
£12,000 invested is projected to yield £84,948 over 12 years.
Tom Day of Quad Consultancy Ltd
Just the Job with Quad “As recruitment and HR professionals, we know the right questions to ask,” said Tom Day of Quad Consultancy Ltd. “Between us we have extensive recruitment and HR experience — the team just keeps growing, with two more professional recruitment consultants joining us over the next couple of months,” Tom added, saying that because they are kept so busy meeting their clients’ requirements they have no need to spend time on pushy sales techniques. “We prefer to build a solid relationship over a long period”. Originally from Birmingham, Tom himself
CHARLES GOMEZ& COMPANY
has worldwide experience of the recruitment and finance industries, having spent ten years travelling and working through America, Channel Islands, Cyprus and New Zealand with his wife, who is a Chartered Secretary and now works for Line Management / Hassans. After those ten years, they decided they would like to return to the Mediterranean area, and, given their backgrounds, Gibraltar seemed the obvious choice. After working in
the local gaming industry and a recruitment agency, Tom set up Quad Consultancy Limited with his partner Ray Jardine two and a half years ago, quickly developing it to the point where they needed to take on additional qualified assistance in the shape of Alex Hutchings, Sarah Espigares and Jo Putley. As well as that, the company is now in talks with associates in Malta and India; whilst an office in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, is now being set up and is due to open this month,
Barristers & Acting Solicitors C o m m i ss i o n e r s f o r o a t h s c o n ta c t u s : P o b o x 6 5 9 , 5 S e c r e t a r y ’s L a n e , G i b r a l t a r Te l : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 4 9 9 8 F a x : + 3 5 0 2 0 0 7 3 0 7 4 email: charles@gomezco.gi w e b s i t e : w w w. g o m e z c o . g i
C l e a r S imple Legal Advice 16
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
employment
by Brian McCann
October. Jobseekers come to Quad from just about every country on the planet, many of them having registered their details online – there are now about 15,000 on Quad’s database. “But we couldn’t give a quality service if we tried to deal with them all for every job, so we are usually in active discussions with around three hundred candidates. At any time, we normally have around a hundred jobs available with twenty employers over four countries,” Tom told me. The potential employers, I learned, are not only in Gibraltar — they are also based in Britain, Ireland, Malta, India and the Isle of Man, and range from small start-ups to FTSE 100 companies. Since starting, Quad’s average rate of placements has been in the order of ten to fifteen a month, ranging from customer service agents to finance directors and key business stakeholders. “With so many companies providing online services, we find that the most soughtafter employees are those with IT or finance skills,” Tom said. He told me that some candidates are able to start work the next day, whilst the more senior positions can take up to six months from initial interview to final acceptance. There is no charge to prospective employees, and Quad has a flexible approach in its fee structure for employers, depending on several factors which will vary from company to company. “We always aim to be attractively priced,” Tom emphasised. Motor •
Some companies will now only use Quad for their recruitment, and they even work inhouse for two clients who are growing quickly and need on-site RPO — recruitment process outsourcing. So, what is the process in finding a suitable employee? “Generally, we shortlist candidates who have registered with us and interview them,” Tom replied. “We then draw up a detailed analysis of their skill sets and personalities which we then pass to our client who can choose who he or she would like to interview. Some check references themselves; others ask us to do that for them.” He said that at Quad they tend to think of
Potential employers are not only in Gibraltar — they are also based in Britain, Ireland, Malta, India and the Isle of Man, and range from small start-ups to FTSE 100 companies Home • Travel • Pet • Marine •
themselves as an extension of their clients’ HR functions, and learn more about the companies’ working methods as time goes by. Quad also provide a range of training courses for managers, executives and CEOs, whilst an innovation has been the establishing of the just-launched Academy for Chief Executives in Gibraltar, to provide support and training for chief executives, managing directors and entrepreneurs. “CEOs don’t have peers within their business, Tom explained, so the academy will also be a place where they can meet with others who are in similar positions and discuss matters of mutual interest — the board you could never afford. We will be providing specialised courses, with speakers on a variety of subjects, mainly from the UK.” You can find out more about this step-forward on the academy’s dedicated website www.chiefexecutive.com, whilst for recruitment you can get full details on www.quadconsultancy.com. Quad’s official office hours are 9 to 5.30, straight through; but there is often someone there later than that. n For any queries, or to register as an employer or a jobseeker, you can telephone 200 44987, or email direct to tom@quadconsultancy.com. The smart modern office is on the ground floor of an historic renovated building, now called Milton House, which is at 15 Town Range, an extension of Engineer Lane, just along the road from the Eliott Hotel. Medical
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business
Human Resources for the 21st Century MFC HR is a human resources consultancy firm based in Gibraltar encompassing all that is professional within 21st Century HR, offering a variety of services for every size and type of business. Knowledgeable, experienced and qualified, we interviewed MFC’s Michael Ford who has recently launched his company, to find out why he feels it is the best on offer to the local business community. Michael began by telling us a little about his background and how he got started in HR. “I spent the majority of my 20s in the nightclubs of the north west of England as a DJ,” he explains. “These were great times but as my 30s approached it became clear I had to take my career more seriously. So in 1997 I began an Honours Degree in Organisation and Management Studies at the University of Lancaster, not really sure of which direction it would take me. By the end of year one it was clear HR was the discipline that interested me most and best complimented my personal style.” On completing his degree Michael began work at the Tote in Wigan, followed by a couple of years at Ladbrokes on Merseyside as an HR Officer. He went on to achieve post-graduate qualifications and became a Chartered Member of the CIPD. “My first big break came in the form of Stan James in Oxfordshire, where I spent close to three years as their Head of HR,” Michael (who also offers courses in gaming, especially sports and fixed odds to Gibraltar companies) says. “From here I relocated to Gibraltar, becoming the Head of HR, Training and Development at 888.com. Five years and a lot of great experience later, the time came to branch out on my own and launch MFC.”
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MFC now offers off the shelf and bespoke training programmes on everything from Effective Absence Management to the Basics of Gibraltar Employment Law, and Michael believes they differ from other courses available locally. “Firstly, I believe strongly in ‘Workshop Engagement’, setting challenges to all delegates from the start of the day. Secondly, my courses are fun, not stuffy and boring,” he says with his characteristic smile. “Contemporary examples are used throughout, as are visual aids such as today’s news items, film and TV clips — we fully embrace 21st Century technology and make the learning interesting and stimulating.” Another key element Michael highlights is the end of day test and report created for the client, highlighting areas of strength for each delegate, as well as suggested areas of improvement that are still required to bring the individual up to speed with current best practice. Employers in Gibraltar face special challenges, and the past five years have been a huge learning curve for Michael. “I have found my time working in Gibraltar fascinating; there are many similarities with the way in which a UK-based HR professional would approach an issue. However, there were equally as many times where I was swimming in completely
new waters — this sort of experience cannot be bought,” he emphasises. With regard to Gibraltar’s legislation and employment law he adds “Employers need to ensure their policies and procedures fully embrace each relevant piece of legislation. I would add, however, that in my experience the differences in statute to that of the UK are very relevant, and serve the needs of such a unique and diverse working environment as Gibraltar very well indeed.” Michael works with various other professionals associated with the company, and he was keen to explain his committment philosophy: “I am not a person who deals in empty promises: the ‘yes, I can do that, regardless’ attitude does not exist at MFC. If a matter requires a different skill base I will let the client know immediately. Through my years at 888 I have formed very strong bonds with a variety of Gibraltar professionals, and am more than happy to refer a client to one of these trusted people when the need arises: in essence, a ‘one-stop HR shop.” He uses several examples such as Gillian Guzman of Hassans law firm, a well-respected expert on Gibraltar Law, as well as being a qualified mediator should this service be required, and Joanne Shelly of the College Clinic, should Occupational Health matters need addressing.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
business “In addition,” he adds, “I can also call on the skills of respected Counsellor Kevin Lawlor and Dr Bauer, Orthopaedic Surgeon should a client need such specialist skills to meet their needs.” MFC certainly seems to have the majority of HR bases covered. Placing himself at the sharp end of HR, becoming involved with the potential minefield of employee relations, including disciplinary matters, redundancy and discrimination, Michael explained his role in such sensitive issues: “This is without doubt the area that has given me the most satisfaction over the years, finding solutions and common ground is what I do best,” he says, again bursting with enthusiasm for his profession. “I believe that on many occasions it takes a third party to come in, assess the situation objectively and get people talking. This usually does the trick, as people need to see both sides of the coin. It is rare that a solution cannot be found before expensive and negative legal wrangling begins.” Michael believes pro-activity is always a better option and MFC offers courses for first-time and middle managers in a range of Employment Law matters to give people the knowledge and confidence needed to address issues before they become a problem. After all, a confident, fair manager will command respect and deliver results a lot easier and quicker than their unskilled and unapproachable counterpart. MFC acts on behalf of a few local companies as an HR consultant, but has a strict policy on the type of company it represents. “MFC has a desire to work with companies who openly embrace issues such as diversity and opportunity,” Michael explains. “We like Clients who
actually ‘buy-into’ the concept that continuous improvement for their employees equals real ‘bottom-line’ success: this will greatly assist us in creating quality Gib managers of the future,” he concludes. In addition, he believes one of Gibraltar’s greatest strengths is the ability of anyone, regardless of race, sex, disability, ethnic or social background to make a real difference. “We want to work with clients who agree with this viewpoint.” MFC offers a ‘New Manager ’ mentoring scheme, designed to ensure companies get the very best out of their most trusted people. “We call this course the ‘Rounded Manager’,” he says. “It consists of six three-hour weekly workshops, and covers many areas a leader of people will come across while managing his/her people.” Examples of subjects covered include creative problem-solving, quick and effective decision-making, turning mistakes into longterm improvements and ‘worst case’ scenario planning. “It is a course that is relevant to any organisa-
“
I believe that on many occasions it takes a third party to come in, assess the situation objectively and get people talking
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
”
tion’s business, regardless of its size or complexity,” he states with confidence. At the end of the course all weekly test results and observations are analyzed and compiled into an individual report for each client, showing strengths, weaknesses and future development needs for its delegates. “It is a great aid in annually appraising your people’s progress.” And what of the future for Gibraltar’s employers? What changes does Michael envisage are likely to be made in the near future to the way we work? “The recent Dispute Resolution changes in the UK make solutions such as mediation all the more important, with employers (and employees) becoming more active in resolving disputes before costly legal battles and animosity come into play. I think this a very positive move, and look forward to it being built into Gibraltar Employment Law. Speaking from experience there are many times when what starts off as a genuine breakdown in communication on either (or both) sides can escalate into something much worse; dispute resolution can really help to avoid this getting out of hand, allowing businesses to do what they do best — working together in order to make progress.” He goes on to explain that “although Gibraltar has fared a lot better than most nations during the economic crisis, it is still fair to say things have slowed considerably. Now, as the economic trends appear to be improving, so will the need for businesses to ‘re-engage and re-develop’ a lot of its people in a very short space of time: I fully expect MFC to play a part in Gibraltar’s economic resurgence,” he states confidently. Visit www.mfc-hr.com for further information.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
19
business update
Managing Director Angelique Pearson and Senior Consultant Thomas Pearson
New Recruitment Company Launches in Gibraltar Select Recruitment Gibraltar (SRG for short) is Gibraltar’s newest recruitment agency, promising to offer a high quality service to companies and job seekers in the sectors of Accounting and Financial Services, IT and Gaming.
Select Recruitment Gibraltar launched at the Boatyard restaurant, Queensway Quay Marina, in mid-September with a champagne reception where Managing Director Angelique Pearson and Senior Consultant Thomas Pearson (no relation) introduced themselves to clients and guests. Select Recruitment Gibraltar is looking for job seekers to fill a number of Customer Service positions to include native speakers
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of Czech, Greek, Italian, French, German, Chinese, Hebrew and English. The company is also looking for Accounting staff, Trust Administrators, Financial Services and Personal Insurance staff and candidates with experience in the online gaming industry to fill positions. n For more information about Select Recruitment Gibraltar visit www. srgibraltar.com
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
business update
Planning a perfect corporate event and selecting the best location is critical to the success of any type of function, but this type of planning can be very time consuming. Even with all the information to hand, you would still need to contact possible venues to arrange viewings, prices and bookings. Then there is the co-ordination of caterers, entertainment, invitations and transport. All this can be a strain on internal resources and take valuable time away from employees responsible for more pressing matters within the organisation.
will be able to negotiate special discounts with vendors who are known to them. In terms of payment, different event planners have different methods of charging. Some will charge a flat fee, others may charge an hourly fee and some may charge a percentage fee. But however you pay it will be worth the time and money saved by not planning the event alone.” Simon’s company, Del Sol Packaged, specialises in providing relocation solutions for individuals and families plus companies bringing employees and their families to Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol, they also offer event packages for businesses (new to Gibraltar or well-established), organising every type corporate event from major conferences to team building activities. “Gibraltar and its environs is a beautiful and well resourced area in which to organise a multitude of corporate events,” Simon enthuses, “and Del Sol Packaged promises to liaise with all parties and work closely with the client to organise a cost-effective, well planned and memorable event.” The event packages on offer are impressive and include Conference Package, Board Meeting Package, Team Building Package and Corporate Golf Day Package. In addition, if you’re relocating your business or employees to Gibraltar and you need support the company also offers a complete portfolio of relocation solutions to support international assignee transfers as well as hand-holding new recruits with levels of support to suit corporate job-grade allowance policy, whatever the scale of the staff relocation. The basic services included in the relocation package can include everything from a pre-arrival briefing, ensuring the client is prepared in advance and informed as to the many options for residence and schools, an introduction to Spanish culture and language (if they intend to live across the border), orientation tours of the local area, assistance with transporting goods and furniture, sourcing business premises and accommodation for employees, handling all legalities and administrative issues with local authorities, or banks and financial arrangements and introductions to international business networks.
Organising a corporate event in Gibraltar is time-consuming enough but what if you need to organise an event in a foreign country such as Spain? “Many companies avoid using an event planning service as they feel it will be very
For more information on DSP’s services visit: www.delsolpackaged.com. Alternatively arrange a free consultation and find out how Del Sol Packaged can help you with corporate relocation or event management. Telephone Gibraltar Mobile: 54020299 or email: info@delsolpackaged.com
the perfect plan
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
expensive and take them over their budget,” explains Simon Robertson of Del Sol Packaged, a relocation and event management company operating in Gibraltar. “However, on the contrary, an event planning service may well save you money and keep you within budget as they
21
The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Red & White by Angela Smart
10th September saw the wonderful National Day celebrations held in Gibraltar. The streets were a sea of red and white and the celebrations carried on throughout the day ending with a spectacular firework display. This is one day of the year when Gibraltarians young and old celebrate being Gibraltarian. As a non-Gibraltarian lucky enough to reside in this beautiful country it is clearly apparent why this annual show of patriotism is warranted. Gibraltar has excelled in many areas where the rest of the world has failed, including my home country, Scotland. From an outsider’s point of view I have listed, in no particular order some of the areas where Gibraltar excels in comparison to the rest of the world
police force in Gibraltar is always visible, walking the beat, ensuring our childrens’ safety by patrolling crossings at school times and dealing with the endless border queue problems. The visibility, friendliness and approachability of Gibraltar’s police force have earned them the respect of the vast majority of people living in Gibraltar. If a crime has been committed the Gibraltar police force are very quick to act and deal with the problem efficiently and thoroughly.
The Education System Gibraltar’s education system is second to none. The subjects taught follow the UK National Curriculum, in addition children are taught about the arts and classics from a very young age. The discipline in the schools is of a very high standard and good behaviour is rewarded well. The teachers are caring, compassionate and have a genuine interest in the childrens’ well-being. Gibraltar rewards children who excel in their A’ levels with cash rewards presented by the Education Minister. Gibraltar ensures all children have the chance of further or higher education by providing funding to pay tuition fees and grants. In addition to the above, Gibraltar has a Summer School Programme for sports and recreation during the summer holidays free of charge. I personally cannot think of any other country, which provides such opportunities to its children.
Family Life and Values One of the main issues which distinguishes Gibraltar from the rest of the world is its high family values and way of life. There is nothing that comes above the family and Gibraltarians do not only say it, they live by it. A day at the beach emphasises this; families go to the beach together, grannies, granddads, mums, dads, aunties, uncles, sons, daughters and cousins, it is a spectacular sight to see whole families enjoying time together. This has
Crime Gibraltar has to be one of the safest places in the world to live and bring up children. The
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Gibraltar ensures all children have the chance of further or higher education by providing funding to pay tuition fees and grants
been lost in many parts of the world for a variety of reasons. I have spoken to many young Gibraltarians who speak about looking after their grandparents or visiting their grandparents on a regular basis. This is not a chore for them but a pleasure. They speak about their pride in their brother’s or cousin’s achievement. They speak with great respect of their parents and enjoy their whole family’s company. If a relative is ill the whole family rallies round to help; those who study abroad come back during most holidays to spend time with their families; parents, brothers, sisters etc regularly visit whilst they are away. There is a comradeship that ensures when studying in the UK the students travel in to different parts of the UK to visit their friends from Gibraltar who are also studying in the UK. The closeness of family and friends in Gibraltarians is very apparent and is mainly because Gibraltarians are genuinely warm, kind and
Benefits of Relocating to Gibraltar Attractive Tax Regime 10% Corporation Tax from 2010 Low Employers’ Social Insurance No Inheritance Tax No Capital Gains Tax No VAT Part of the EU Parent/Subsidiary directive applies Special tax regime for High Net Worth Individuals 2 hours 20 minutes flights to UK Well regulated Great lifestyle and wonderful weather
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
tax advantage friendly people. Independence Gibraltar was financially reliant for many years on the UK and especially the MOD. This changed about two decades ago when the MOD operations started to dwindle and Gibraltar had to look at various ways of establishing a strong economic environment. Tourism has always been a large part of Gibraltar’s economy and has been strengthened greatly over the years through the emphasis put on beautifying Gibraltar. However it was clear that tourism would not be enough to sustain the economy on its own. The Finance Centre was in its infancy at that time but by careful governmental handling and enthusiastic work from the local highly qualified professionals the Gibraltar Finance Centre has grown immensely in terms of size and respect. Legislation and regulatory bodies have been created to ensure Gibraltar is seen as a legitimate and compliant worldwide Finance Centre. The regulatory requirements in Gibraltar for many of the industries such as, insurance, banking, online gaming and funds are of world-class standard. The result is that Gibraltar has attracted many large companies, banks and financial institutions. Through good, strong regulation Gibraltar has done everything required of it to shake off the negative aspects of the image of a tax haven and become a fully compliant offshore finance centre. The tax information exchange agreements
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
which have been recently signed enhance Gibraltar as a fully compliant offshore tax centre and due to its being a member of the EU makes it one of the most competitive finance centres in the world. The agreements are a way of saying to the world that Gibraltar is more than happy for any other jurisdiction to come and look at us, as we have nothing to hide. By signing the agreements, Gibraltar is saying we do not approve of tax evasion and we will not tolerate it; we are saying we are a first class finance centre which can attract and has already attracted major clientele. The abolition of exempt companies and the signing of these agreements is the beginning of a whole new era for Gibraltar which will result in many companies coming and relocating to Gibraltar. The new low tax rate for companies makes Gibraltar highly competitive; through Gibraltar’s education system we are given a further competitive edge as this ensures Gibraltar will have the young professionals capable
The regulatory requirements in Gibraltar for many of the industries such as, insurance, banking, online gaming and funds are of worldclass standard
of managing and taking part in the activities of these companies. Unlike Scotland and Wales, Gibraltar has truly gained its independence from the UK by creating and governing its own economy successfully. Every Gibraltarian has every reason to be proud; Gibraltar has created one of the best, well-regulated finance centres in the world; it has created a generation of young well-educated professionals, whilst maintaining its high family values and a quality of life which is second to none. The future is bright. The future is red and white! n
If you require further technical information on Tax Information Exchange Agreements, please contact Angela Smart, Smart Tax Consultancy 58008575
23
opinion
How British is Gibraltar? by Paul de Beresford
Gibraltar is one of the original destinations for economic migration, little different from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (as was). Whilst it was seized by an Anglo-Dutch fleet during the Spanish War of Succession during which England (as it was) and The Netherlands supported the claim of the Austrian Archduke to the Spanish throne, the English never vacated at the moment the French-backed contender won the War. In the subsequent 1713 treaty twist Spain and Great Britain (as it had become), Gibraltar was ceded as a military and naval base to GB. But, immediately, some of the Jewish ĂŠmigrĂŠs from the Spanish inquisition and the previous Portuguese expulsion who had settled in Morocco, took up residence (that became permanent) in Gibraltar to provide stores supplies to the British forces. Later, Italians re-located to Gibraltar in search of income as merchants too. Even later, Maltese (already British subjects) joined the population, together with some Portuguese, Spanish and British (including Irish then) as well as, more recently, Indians. Lastly, some of the Moroccan family members of those that worked here after the border had been closed by Spain in 1969, have become resident or citizens. So as a British Overseas Territory (colony), albeit self-governing, it really is far less British than the original 13 American colonies, Australia and New Zealand were initially and, certainly, upon their independence, in every single case. But, as it is located closer to the United Kingdom (as Great Britain had become) and in Europe, and now the Euro-
24
pean Union, although the ethnic make-up its development, although many will see the and the language are both different, Gibraltar natural tendency to also be similar to Spain in has had more reason to follow British ways in many other ways. Certainly, Gibraltar bears little resemblance to most of the other remaining British Overseas Territories that are mostly too small and/or poor, to administer themselves without strong governorship by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. It is arguable that Gibraltar is more like the Dominions upon their independence (as they too did not enjoy independent foreign policies until 1930), than a colony. Or, it is, in reality, a separate (devolved) actual part of the United Kingdom (especially as defined legally as part of the UK as a Member State of the EU). In fact, Gibraltar resembles Southern Rhodesia as almost self-governing (only not so by veto by the
Gibraltar bears little resemblance to most of the remaining BOTs that are mostly too small and/or poor, to administer themselves without strong governorship by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
opinion UK), such that our Chief Minister is actually a Prime Minister and should, similarly, attend the Commonwealth Conference as a full member and the Cenotaph ceremony (instead of Gibraltar being represented by the FCO). That would elevate the Gibraltar Government’s representative in London to a more formal Agent-General or Commissioner. Of course, much of the second-class treatment of Gibraltar is down to the FCO mandarins who have nothing socially in common with even the elite of Gibraltar and appease the macho tendencies of Spain, whereby Britain agrees with Spain that the Gibraltar Government is little more than a municipal authority that happens to legislate on matters of no interest to the UK. Every time Spain attacks, disrupts, interferes with or litigates against Gibraltar, Britain only half-heartedly and belatedly, supports Gibraltar’s stance. This was the same strategy of British governments in the 1970s to alienate the Unionist population of Northern Ireland and drive them into the arms and animosity of the Republic of Ireland, in preference to the neglect by Great Britain. It is as if a women would prefer a violent husband to one that ignores her. Ironically, Great Britain’s neglect of Northern Ireland under the arch spendthrift Margaret Thatcher, led to an unnoticed (unmonitored) period of colossal subsidy by Great Britain (far greater than anything ever achieved by Scotland). But then Scotland does provide England free-of-charge with many of its rulers and leading professionals! Gibraltar is no financial burden to the British taxpayer but
cannot, apparently, legitimately, ever break the link with GB (and would not want to) in order to have a status more befitting both the reality of its near independence, and its maturity as a people. As GB claims the land as its (Crown of Great Britain’s), it should either declare Gibraltar to be a part of the UK in line with that ownership, or declare Gibraltar a Dominion and transfer the land to the Crown of Gibraltar and pay rent to use MoD facilities here. The first is preferable as it protects the citizenship rights of Gibraltarians and its existing format of EU membership. The argument for continued supervision by the FCO-appointed Governor is because Gibraltar is just another BOT. And, also, dialogue with Spain is necessary and thought best conducted by the FCO. Of course, a Dominion would still communicate with the UK via the FCO, but the Governor-General would be appointed by the Gibraltar Government.
...our Chief Minister is actually a Prime Minister and should, similarly, attend the Commonwealth Conference as a full member and the Cenotaph ceremony
However, Northern Ireland’s Governor in the old Stormont days, was a Home Office appointment (as were the Lieutenant-Governors of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). He was replaced by a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who does dialogue directly with Dublin without the FCO. That Home Office function is now with the Ministry of Justice. Perhaps to emphasise Gibraltar ’s selfgovernment, it should emulate Scotland and re-name its Ministers as Secretaries, and the former Stormont, by re-naming the CM as Prime Minister. n
PAUL de BERESFORD is a UK-qualified consultant tax practitioner who specializes in re-location of residence & domicile and businesses and can be contacted at his Main St office (by appointment), or by email to flagship@gibtelecom.net, or by telephone to either (+350) 54004414 or 200 400 93, or (+44) (0) 20 8144 1249, or (+34) 637 19 85 18.
OCTOBER 2009
DOA Thu 01 Fri 02 Sun 04 Mon 05 Tue 06 Wed 07 Thu 08 Sun 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Sun 18 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri 23 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Fri 30 Sat 31
Vessel Arcadia Artemis Zenith Costa Magica Thomson Spirit Ventura MSC Orchestra Bleu de France Zenith Pacific Dream Coral Braemar Costa Magica MSC Orchestra Zenith Arcadia Hanseatic Ventura Noordam Saga Ruby Bleu de France SeaDream I Costa Magica MSC Orchestra Zenith Saga Rose Oceana Coral Island Escape Boudicca MSC Orchestra
ETA 0800 0800 0800 1300 0800 0900 1500 0800 0800 1300 0730 0700 1300 1500 0800 0800 0700 0800 0900 0800 0800 0800 1300 1500 0800 0800 0830 1700 0800 1330 1500
ETD 1330 1330 1500 1900 1800 1400 2000 1300 1500 1900 1130 1300 1900 2000 1500 1330 2300 1330 2000 1800 1300 1300 1900 2000 1500 1300 1400 2030 1800 2000 2000
Pass British British Spanish Italian British British Italian French Spanish Spanish International British Italian Italian Spanish British German British American British French American Italian Italian Spanish British British International British British Italian
Capacity From To 1968 Alicante S’thampton 1200 Palma S’thampton 1375 Malaga Lisbon 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 1214 Portimão Almeria 3600 Cannes S’thampton 2550 Lisbon Alicante 600 Malaga Ajaccio 1375 Malaga Lisbon 1350 Lisbon Casablanca 756 Alicante Tangier 977 Mahon Lisbon 2720 Lisbon Alicante 2550 Lisbon Alicante 1375 Malaga Lisbon 1968 Giardini-Naxos S’thampton 184 Malaga Cadiz 3100 Cartagena S’thampton 1848 Cartagena Cadiz 665 La Corunna Mahon 600 Malaga Ajaccio 110 Malaga Tangier 2720 Lisbon Alicante 2550 Lisbon Alicante 1375 Malaga Lisbon 618 Palma Lisbon 1950 Alicante S’thampton 756 Alicante Tangier 1512 Malaga Casablanca 798 Lisbon Barcelona 2550 Lisbon Alicante
Total Number of Vessels calling this month = 33 Approximate Number of Passengers calling in this month = 54,084
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
25
photography
Eric Rowbottom (twice!) self-portrait(s)
eric rowbottom
a different
perspective Well known as a friendly face at the Gibtelecom Customer Services Centre and an enthusiastic guitar player with Adrian Pizarello and the EC Band, only those who know Eric well, have stumbled over him on Flikr or have seen him spinning round Gibraltar with his camera will be aware he’s absolutely head-over-heels in love with photography.
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Eric Rowbottom has always enjoyed taking shots, but it’s only in the last few years he’s found it’s his perfect remedy for daily stress and a way to switch off. “I even plan my holidays around where I might get a good shot these days!” he told us. And that’s because Eric’s photography is not just a hobby, it has just about taken over his life. “Since I’ve really started to look for subject matter for my work I can suddenly see things which I didn’t know were there before,” Eric explained. “You see the whole world in a new light and from a different perspective, and there’s so much to discover. “A few people have commented that my photos have a different perspective to other people’s anyway because I see everything from lower down from my wheelchair.” Seeing things differently is an advantage to anyone who’s looking to frame the perfect shot, and although Eric does have a slight disadvantage height-wise, he doesn’t see it as a major issue. “I find my way to take the shots I’m looking for. I might have to improvise a little, but it’s not a problem at all. When I put my mind to something I achieve it and at the moment I’m learning as fast as I can to improve my photography.” Eric is adamant that post production is just as important as the photograph itself. “Very often you take a shot knowing exactly what you want, but maybe the day is a little dull or the lighting isn’t quite right, being able to adjust and compensate digitally afterwards is a perfect solution,” he said. “The other feature I’ve been working with is HDR photography which is where you take
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
photography
an image at different exposures and computer software can merge them together to bring out detail in the shadows whilst retaining detail in the lighter areas too. It’s a very powerful tool. “I’ve also just been reading up on multiple exposure for my Nikon D80, which gives a similar effect to not winding on the film between shots in the pre-digital age.” Eric has found Flikr to be an amazing source of ideas and techniques as well as a place on-line to show Gibraltar to the outside world from his own perspective, and he’s extremely enthusiastic about the site. “You’ll see on my home page that my first
gallery is ‘Gibraltar’ followed by ‘my family’ and then ‘other pictures’. I like the idea of not just putting up my photos, but having a reason to have them there, and to be able to share Gibraltar with others in this way is great. “Flikr is also as massive source of images and ideas. You can look at shots other people have taken and check out the details to see what settings they’ve used to get the shot. One of my recent discoveries was that one of my contacts was shooting at a very slow speed in daylight which would normally burn out the image. When I asked how he’d managed it he was using a grey filter to reduce the light entering
the camera to compensate — it’s an excellent technique if you’re after a shot of a building without the people walking in front. On a long enough exposure they just aren’t registered in the image.” Eric’s enthusiasm for the subject is endless and although he still classes himself as a learning amateur, the quality of his shots have moved forward in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. We haven’t seen him in any competitions yet but we don’t think it will be long before he takes the dip. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing more of Eric’s perspective in the future. n
Since I’ve really started to look for subject matter for my work I can suddenly see things which I didn’t know were there before. You see the whole world in a new light and from a different perspective GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
27
sport
General Patton & the Gibraltar Bum-boats George Smith Patton nicknamed ‘Old Blood and Guts’ by the media, was a captain when he made his first appearance in Gibraltar and gave the bumboat men the fright of their lives. Patton and the US Army tank company he commanded were returning to America after fighting in France in World War I.
You didn’t mess with ‘Old Blood and Guts’ as the bum-boats of Gibraltar found out in dramatic fashion.
The troopship Patria carrying the soldiers and tanks arrived at Gibraltar to take on coal on 4th March, 1919. Initially Patton was in a generous mood and allowed many of the veteran fighting men to go ashore. He expected those that remained on board would remain sober but he hadn’t reckoned on the entrepreneurial skills of the bum-boat men who sold the soldiers bottles of brandy hidden in baskets of oranges. Patton’s entry in his diary for that day reads: “Reached Gibraltar at 8:30. Let most of officers and 150 men go on shore. Lot of bum boats came and sold brandy. Men got drunk and we had pretty bad time. Found over 40 quarts on board. Some officers arranged to go to Tangier on mail boat.” Eight of the soldiers were found to be seriously drunk. Patton decided desperate action should be taken and he gave orders that when the bumboats returned they should be kept away with gun fire. The next day Patton went ashore and was given a tour of Gibraltar. He noted in his diary
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
history
by Reg Reynolds that the Rock could be taken by firing “Synide” (he meant cyanide) shells on to “face of cliff” in order to poison the water supply. His diary entry for that day includes: “Nothing in town to see or buy. Maj. Benson shot at bum boats to keep them off. I will throw coal at them in the morning.” Later when Patton was questioned about this drastic action he explained that his men had only fired at the water and he wasn’t concerned about legal repercussions because the bumboats weren’t licensed to sell fruit never mind brandy. On 6th March, with the bum-boat situation sorted out, Patton allowed more men to go ashore. “Let 172 men go on shore and got very nervous for fear that they would not come back. All returned. Three men got mumps. We left Gibraltar at 7pm. I hope nothing stops until we get in. Hardly any young officers can be trusted to obey orders.” The Patria reached New York on 17th March and Patton and his tank crews created a minor sensation. Tanks were a recent invention but Patton was already recognised as a master practitioner of this new type of weapon. He had led his light tank brigade in victorious battles at St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne and was an observer at Cambrai which was the most successful tank (British and Canadian) action of the war. After the war Patton continued to expand his knowledge and became a strong advocate of armoured warfare. A top athlete and horseman (he competed in the 1912 Olympics) he learned to fly and to sail. He also developed his reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense but charismatic leader and drew more media attention by adopting the practice of wearing ivory-handled Colt 45 revolvers. When America entered World War II Patton was promoted to Major General and given command of the I Armored Corps for Operation Torch, the Invasion of North Africa. This brought him back to Gibraltar for a second visit. There were no bum-boats to shoot at this time but he did take some verbal potshots at his commanding officer General Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Governor of Gibraltar Noel Mason-Macfarlane. The invasion had begun on 8th November with Eisenhower orchestrating events from his headquarters in the Gibraltar tunnels. Patton commanded the Western Task Forces landing at Casablanca where the French defenders surrendered after just three days of fighting. Patton was still keeping his diary and his entry
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
George Smith Patton — photo taken in France just before his arrival on the Rock
for 17th November, 1942 reads: “Flew to Gib in one hour 15 minutes 2 seconds — very low, about 150 feet over water. We had four P-40s for escort... Ike lives in a cave in the middle of the Rock... “His chiefs of staff are British, and so are many of his words. I was disappointed in him. He talked trivial things. We wasted a lot of time at lunch with the governor of the Rock, an old fart in shorts with skinny red legs.” In a letter to his wife Patton expanded on Ike’s ‘British’ affectations. “Ike was fine,” he wrote to Beatrice, “except that he spoke of lunch as ‘tiffin’, of gasoline as ‘petrol’ and antiaircraft as ‘flack’. I truly fear that London has conquered Abilene.” [Author’s note:
“
His chiefs of staff are British, and so are many of his words. I was disappointed in him. He talked trivial things
”
Eisenhower was born in Texas] Patton also noted in his diary that on his flight back to Casablanca, “The Spanish at Tangier shot at my left escort plane and possibly at me, but their aim was bad.” After Africa Patton commanded the American troops in the invasion of Sicily capturing Palermo and Messina with a speed that surprised the Germans and upset his British rival General Bernard Montgomery. But when the media got hold of a story that Patton had slapped a hospitalised soldier he accused of being a malingerer Eisenhower relieved him of his command. This effectively ruled out the possibility of Patton commanding the First Army for the up-coming D-Day invasion. Eisenhower couldn’t afford to sideline such an experienced commander completely, however, and he placed Patton in command of the Third Army to lead the Normandy breakout. Patton, the only Allied commander to adopt, the German ‘Blitzkreig’ type of warfare, didn’t disappoint and he charged across France and Germany to meet up with the Russians invading from the east. With Germany defeated Patton continued to rile Eisenhower and the politicians with his outspoken criticism of the Soviets and he was again demoted. On 9th December, 1945 General (4 stars) George Smith Patton was killed in a car accident near Mannheim, Germany. He was 60 years old. n
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by Paul de Beresford
A major concern and expense is how to stay in touch when a son or daughter goes off to university in the UK, or a person moves to, from or back to Gibraltar leaving friends, work colleagues or family behind. Paul de Beresford explores the cheapest ways to stay in touch. By Telephone Traditionally, telephone calls have been pricey between the UK and Gibraltar and no better the other way round. Many will remember the outfit that took money up-front for a box to plug into their Gibraltar landline and a deposit for future calls, only to find they were still charged by the forerunner of Gibtelecom for the time spent on the line locally, as well as a deduction from their deposit for the international leg. They went bust leaving most with lost deposits and a useless box. Gibtelecom’s 884 service has progressively been extended to an all-day, all-week facility, competing well with their competitors Easycall (889) and CTS (881). These are fine for limited use and short calls to UK landlines begining 01, 02 and 03, but the costs mount up for frequent lengthy calls and those to non-geographic numbers (0500, 0645, 0800,
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0808, 0845, 0844, 0870 and 0871). Via these services, even so-called “freecalls” cost more than calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers. This is because the higher revenue from call charges is shared with the owner of the non-geographic number (not always the actual recipient of the call). Even the UK Government’s numbers are usually 0845 numbers so government earns profit from the call made to them! The other way round, until the implentation of the Cordoba Agreement, it was often possible to connect to a Gibraltar landline by replacing +350 with +34 956 7 and relaying the call via the Spanish network at the cheaper rates for
calls to Spain. Another important factor is the more likely use by students of mobile phones, rather than landlines. There is no way of making cheap calls to the UK from a Gibraltar mobile, nor from any UK phone to a Gibraltar mobile. But there are two ways of doing it cheaply from a UK mobile — one at a cost to the caller and one at a cost to the recipient (see below). So the trick is to find out the best, easiest and cheapest ways of being able to ring each other and forget the cost and time spent gossiping about life in both places. The very cheapest is for both to have broadband with speakers and
the trick is to find out the best, easiest and cheapest ways of being able to ring each other and forget the cost and time spent gossiping
microphones (or a phone plugged into the computer), so that Skype can be downloaded free and calls both ways will ring like a phone and all calls are free. Broadband can be incredibly cheap in the UK and even combined with line rental and unlimited geographic calls for little more than £20 a month. In Gibraltar, the broadband service without line rental and other call charges is now down to £24 a month with unlimited online use from Gibtelecom (no longer with the old £75 set-up cost), and CTS has a new service not using a landline and costing under £15 a month. Of course, broadband also allows emails to be received instantly so that written material can be transmitted that requires retention the other end, to be studied or needing a written response. If the person in Gibraltar has Skype, but the recipient does not, the one in Gibraltar can also ring
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
staying in touch UK 01, 02 and 03 numbers for less than 2p a minute and, usefully, 0500, 0800 and 0808 numbers free. Alternatively, the Gibraltar Skype user can subscribe (pay) for their own UK non-geographic 01 or 02 number so that UK callers can dial the cheapest type of domestic number (even free with BT off-peak) and it will be received on the Gibraltar computer without any additional cost to the receiver. Even ringing from a mobile phone in the UK can be cheap if using the inclusive minutes within the monthly rental. Avoid all those offers of 0845 and 0870/0871 numbers as they are not “free” as the caller pays a premium to ring them. Dealing with those nasty 0645, 0845, 0844, 0870 and 0871 numbers, these are always linked to a real geographic number. To discover it so 01, 02 or 03 can be dialled, look on the back of the credit card or statement, for example, and search for the number for overseas users. Or look on the webpage: www. saynoto0870.com to discover the number behind an 0845/0870 number. Failing that, ring them and demand the 01/02/03 number or that they call you. Failing all the above, and where no computers are involved (perhaps student in the UK with mobile, to Gibraltar grandparent with landline or a business in Gibraltar like the student’s bank), First Number has an 0844 number (0844 906 9700) that connects for as little as 4p a minute to a Gibraltar landline without any account set-up as the charge is collected via the mobile phone account (but NOT from a Virgin Mobile or 3 mobile!). By Visiting To see each other in the flesh, travel is the next choice if not worried about carbon footprints. Student travel is funded by the Government of Gibraltar but for extra visits and those for others, either way round, fares can be a lot cheaper than years ago. With three airlines operating between here and London-Monarch (ex-Luton), Easyjet (ex-GB Airways operating as British Airways) (ex-Gatwick) and the real BA itself (now from Heathrow) with a maximum five flights a day. Using the internet (even if it means going to an internet cafe, the new leisure centre internet room or the Library), enables you to check various alternative routes and
fares carefully, even if you prefer to actually buy the ticket from an agent (not Easyjet, though). Never “tick” the box saying your dates are fixed as this tells the airline you are determined to fly for a fixed event. And do not assume return tickets are always cheaper as, sometimes, the outward fares from one starting point are less, so it works better to book the journeys as separate bookings and/or on different airlines. Do not assume booking well in advance is the best bargain. Again, the airline knows you have an important reason for booking so far in advance and charges appropriately. If sales are flagging nearer to the date, more cheap or cheap seats for longer, become available later. The afternoon flights on Easyjet (both ways) and on BA (from Heathrow), are often more expensive. Saturdays are often cheap. Fridays, Sundays and, often Mondays, are the most costly. When comparing prices, remember Monarch and Easyjet charge for luggage checked-in and all drinks and food. Monarch charge for better seats or reserving one in advance. Easyjet do not permit reserved seats at all. BA remains the more civilized way of travelling and not always more expensively, with free refresments (including a G & T) and reserved seats and the ability to reserve that seat and check-in online before setting out to the airport - so that without baggage to check-in, you can go straight to through to the departure lounge and arrive 30 minutes before departure. Even with baggage at Gatwick, there is no need to join the crocodile queue for check-in but the fast bag-drop can be used. On Monarch and Easyjet, “untick” the boxes that assume you want to pay for extras like reserving your seat (Monarch) or get priorty boarding (Easyjet) or insuring yourself — otherwise you will be automatically charged. And pay using a debit card, not a credit card. As for the journey into London, if using Luton, book a seat on the Greenline coach, but via the Easybus website, and get it for as little as £2 instead of the minimum £12 cash price on the day. From Gatwick, use Capital Connect’s Thameslink or the Southern trains instead of Gatwick Express. n The above has been written to assist Gibraltar residents and is believed correct at the time of writing to the best of the writer’s understanding.
For the journey into London, if using Luton, book a seat on the Greenline coach, but via the Easybus website, and get it for as little as £2 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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Gibraltar’s Bats
Stars of the Night
You don’t have to wait until 31st October (Halloween) to see bats on the Rock. At twilight on any night of the year you may well catch a glimpse of these enchanting acrobats flitting overhead. Bats are amazing animals, who maintain our natural world by hunting insects, pollinating plants and scattering seeds. All our bats are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically. Gibraltar is a very small territory, with a varied but limited number of habitats. We are fortunate to have some suitable bat roosts, such as caves, crevices and some old buildings. The commonest bats in Gibraltar are the tiny pipistrelles. These are well adapted to living in or near urban areas and can roost in attics, other apertures in buildings (such as old shutters) as well as old walls, trees and bat-boxes. Pipistrelles are the smallest European bats. We have the Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, so named because of its higher frequency (around 55 kHz) than the Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, which echolocates at around 45 kHz. Pipistrelles emerge at twilight, or sometimes even in late afternoon, among trees or buildings and are occasionally seen before the last swifts ‘retire’
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for the night — together swifts and bats provide a 24-7 insect reduction force. The largest colony (sadly in the singular) of bats is comprised of Common Bentwing Bat or Schreiber’s Long-Fingered Bat Miniopterus schreibersii. This species formerly occupied caves, such as Martin’s Cave off the Mediterranean Steps on the eastern part of the Upper Rock. The one remaining colony occupies a roost “somewhere on the Upper Rock” and
We are fortunate to have some suitable bat roosts, such as caves, crevices and some old buildings
even though its location is not publicised it has been subject to disturbance. Counts in 2008-2009 revealed there are sometimes as many as 300 individuals. Schreiber’s bats echolocate at a peak frequency of around 53 kHz and so overlap with Soprano pipistrelles. However their calls have a different pattern (their echolocating is inaudible to humans, but can be picked up by a bat detector) and are reasonably easy to tell apart. Their flight is faster and more powerful than pipistrelles and they are somewhat larger. The European Free-tailed Bat Tadarida teniotis gets its name from the long, mouse-like tail that extends below the wing membrane. This bat roosts in crevices in cliff faces and in buildings, It flies rapidly (over 50 km/h) and is not very manoeuvrable. Leaving its roost about an hour after sunset, it forages high above the canopy. This species emits long signals of limited bandwidth audible to unaided ears, with frequencies between 18-10 kHz. • information supplied by Albert Yome, GONHS
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Left: Tadarida teniotis (European free-tailed bat) roosting
Photo: Rollin Verlinde, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org
This page: Miniopterus schreibersi (Schreiber’s bent-winged bat)
Photo: Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org
Give Bats a Break: 10 Facts About Bats 10 8 1 Providing bat boxes can help build the populations of many valuable bat species as there is a dwindling number of natural sites available to them in Gibraltar.
A single small bat can eat over 1000 mosquitoes, or similar insects, an hour, and will live for almost 40 years (that’s a lot less mosquitoes buzzing around!).
2 3 4 5 6 7
There are around 1000 known species of bats, about a quarter of all mammal species. Most bats give birth to just one pup (yes, they’re called pups) each year, making them very vulnerable to extinction.
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Moths are known to take evasive action when they hear the echolocation calls of bats, sometimes plummeting to the ground in an attempt to escape.
In some Pacific Island legends, and in parts of China, bats are omens of good luck and happiness.
From our tiny Pipistrelles to the fast flying Free-tails our bats really are fascinating parts of GIbraltar’s natural ecosystem, and we should strive to ensure they thrive here for centuries to come.
The world’s smallest mammal is the bumblebee bat which weighs about as much as a 1p. Bats are very clean animals, and groom themselves almost constantly (when not eating or sleeping) to keep their fur clean. Contrary to popular misconception, most bats have very good eyesight, plus excellent echolocation — they don’t become entangled in human hair. Vampire bats adopt orphans, and are one of the few mammals known to risk their own lives to share food with less fortunate roost-mates.
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Pipistrelle bat
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by Elena Scialtiel
ties rtuni may o p p o ies acilit ed for f d n a strict by be re air users lch l whee hitectura arc ers barri
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n w d o n d u t o i r S ook a l “I’m not bad: I’m just drawn that way,” Jessica Rabbit’s most famous line can be rewritten for wheelchair-bound people: “I’m not disabled: the urban landscaping makes me that way. I am not the most vulnerable member of society: society labels me that way.” 34
Has it ever crossed your mind to borrow a wheelchair to roll down town and test firsthand how difficult it is negotiating narrow passages, hills, steps, pelican crossings, toilets, escalators, without the help of someone literally pushing you around? What can a person with reduced mobility access independently? What is altogether off-limits, for gangways are too constricted, ramp gradients too steep, steps too high for someone on crutches or with a walking stick? The list is endless. I sought advice from mobility, accessibility and disability expert Gordon Nelson, who can the most thorough virtual tour of wheelchair friendly (or unfriendly) Gibraltar. Founder member of the Gibraltar Disability Movement, the soft-spoken yet go-getter Gordon who was left disabled by a diving accident, admits he had never noticed how many barriers the average town presents to wheelchairs until he was sentenced to one — despite having a disabled brother. “You spot the lack of facilities only when you need those facilities yourself!” So he became the frontman of a pressure group aiming to eliminate discrimination towards any “diversely able person” — an umbrella term which includes sensorial disabilities like blindness or deafness, although he tends to readdress specific queries to specific associations, whenever available. Gordon feels as if he is some kind of ‘Disabled Tourist Office’, for his website gets hits from potential tourists who, before booking their trip, enquire about what conveniences to expect to make their stay in Gibraltar comfortable and enjoyable. Day in day out, he’s asked whether public transport is equipped for wheelchairs, which monuments and amenities feature ramps or lifts, whether hotels have en-suite bathrooms with all the paraphernalia for a comfy shower, and so on. Although many public places can be wheelchair-friendly, i.e. accessible for a short visit, they don’t offer an ‘access all areas’ service, with limited access to aisles or spiral staircases the disabled person feels restricted. Improving the architectural accessories of places of public interest like bars, restaurants, landmarks, museums, auditoriums and government offices, to create a reputation for Gibraltar as being a thoroughly accessible tourist destination, and have the spin-off of drastically improving the quality of life for local users as well. Obviously the main reason for slow progress on cityscape restructuring to accommodate the needs of a relatively small minority is its cost-effectiveness: any businessman or restaurateur will rather lose a handful of customers than splash out handsome cash and waste premium-rent shop or office areas for purposebuilt toilets. Unfortunately, profit-based decisions often bar the way not only to customers, but also to disabled job-seekers who will give up even applying for vacancies advertised in hurdled workplaces. The Movement calls for clearly marked parking spaces outside government buildings, for visible signs pointing to accessible paths and for instructions on alternative ways to get to one’s destination. One example speaks volumes — Gordon finds it impossible to get to the ID and passport counters on his own. Perhaps a
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2008
button to press for outside assistance would help a great deal... many European countries feature this last-resort ‘cry for help’ on historical edifices that couldn’t be otherwise made wheelchair friendly. A pivotal issue the Movement fighting for is the allocation of the disability allowance. They feel it should be granted proportionally to income, cost of living and degree of disability, not only to cover survival costs, but also to purchase the kind of utilities that upgrade one’s quality of life. According to the GLDM, local legislation is also miles behind Europe for temporary or permanent disabilities which surge later in life. What happens to victims of work accidents, car crashes or terminal illnesses? One’s claim is allocated on a discretionary basis and no foolproof protocols are outlined to prevent injustices or abuses. How can you provide 24-7 care for a family member with special needs, while you go to work to support the rest of your family? How is the siblings’ lifestyle affected if parents are extra busy in caring for a severely disabled child? How expensive is it to train and employ specialised carers? This raises the issue of certified respite care, which the GLDM is fighting tooth and nail for. Gordon advocates a change of attitude in how society perceives the disabled: “We must look upon disability in a new light. We must begin to look upon it as an undiscovered ability, not simply as an inability. Or else, we may condemn many disabled to unnecessary dependence
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upon governmental aid and assistance.” Disabled are not to patronise or pity, but must be considered as citizens with different needs. We are all unique individuals with unique requirements, whether nutritionally, medically, professionally, personally, leisurely. So much so nobody can meet the theoretical standards of ‘normality’ and ‘average’, and nobody is totally disabled, or totally able-bodied, but everyone’s self-consciousness is conditioned to a greater or lesser degree by the environment in which they move. n
Day in day out, he’s asked whether public transport is equipped for wheelchairs, which monuments and amenities feature ramps or lifts, whether hotels have en-suite bathrooms with all the paraphernalia for a comfy shower, and so on
Gordon Nelson, founder member of the Gibraltar Disability Movement
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How’s business in the real world
Some of us (including me) still struggle to believe Gibraltar is in such surprisingly good shape, considering the recent worldwide economic blow. Having looked back at some of the points I have highlighted in my articles in our in-house magazine, it seems I was not too far off the mark and this small, yet strong and stable market of ours continues to build on its success, albeit sensibly and without placing too much pressure on itself. I recall it was only 11 months ago I wrote about the very dismal Red October which knocked us all for six. I vividly remember wanting to erase all news network channels from the screen at home and resorted to watching a programmes about the intricacies of basket weaving in the Middle Ages. The doom and gloom affected us locally (as I suspected it would), but of course it was shaken confidence that became our problem, coupled with the sheer volume of property (off-plan particularly) which was also raising eyebrows. Interestingly, although we had reason to be concerned, the focus of attention of all our minds was directed to the Bigger Picture and the looming Great Depression we were being told was imminent. I recall hearing talk of a 2-4 year recession, and up to 5 years predicted for many of the G8 economies... Remember, this was just 11 months ago! Now, I am no genius, nor am I an economist (although to be perfectly honest neither of the two seem to have nailed this fiasco), but how can we now be seeing the ‘green shoots of recovery’? It’s almost as if the world has gone bipolar on us. Those billions injected by central banks around the world are once again giving us the high previously enjoyed for so long — and so much sooner than anyone expected. Now, I’m not one to use George W. quotes for serious issues, but on this occasion
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What is far more interesting though, is the volume of new business, both in the commercial and private client sectors
it fits: “Wall Street got drunk and now it’s got a hangover”. One might also say that financial injection could very well be the hair of the dog and it just made it all better again — but for how long? I hate to be one to spoil the party, but doesn’t anyone else think it’s all too soon? Please don’t get me wrong, I never thought we were going into a Great Depression and I do think that regardless of their greed and stupidity, the banks did need to be saved; nevertheless it all seems a little too rosy, just 11 months after what was called the Biggest Recession since the 1930s. Now you’re thinking, what on earth does all this have to do with Gibraltar and the property market? Well, not much to be honest, because the fact remains that all these external variables have not really affected our position locally and our general state is confident, but cautious. Certainly not insecure. To the real world now, the one in which I live. How is business? Are we making sales? Are there new clients arriving on the Rock? In short the answers are GOOD, YES and YES and here’s where the difference can be seen — the market remains fluid, with continued applicants wanting to climb on the ladder and others wanting to move up the ladder. Yes, there has been a softening of prices in certain developments, but this relates to over-pitch-
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rty e p proerview ov
by Louis C. Montegriffo, Director, BMI Group
The Anchorage — one of the new developments to be released
ing in pricing and a little over-pitching on the which is encouraging to say the least. marketing too. What is far more interesting One more thing — and this serves as a though, is the volume of new business, both great indicator — to date, since Red October, in the commercial and private client sectors, there have been NO bank repossessions on
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the Rock from either of the two main lenders we use. n BMI Group, Unit 7, Portland House, Glacis Road Tel: 200 51010 www.bmigroup.gi
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bringing the outdoors in Summer is officially over, and with the well-known windy westerly or the salty damp of the Levante, it’s time to pack up the balcony and roof terrace furniture and put it into storage — or maybe not. For most homes in Gibraltar storage is often an issue and many of our interiors articles revolve around how to make the best use of space. This issue we look at a few ideas to adapt outdoor furniture to inside life. If your furniture is wicker or wood, make the most of it by creating a simple, colour coordinated corner in your lounge or as a work space in a bedroom. Replace sun-bleached cushions with ones more befitting the style of your indoors, and don’t feel you have to use all the furniture in the same place or room — there’s plenty of room for creativity. Plastic furniture doesn’t need to look ugly inside your home either: with simple cushions underneath a material cover, which can be as sophisticated or as simple as you like, chairs can easily be transformed to reflect any style to fit your home and can provide extra seating for guests as Christmas draws near too. For those moving into new homes, this is a good point to take into consideration when you’re deciding on how to furnish your property. Take into account any outdoor furnishings you’ll require and working out how these pieces will fit within your interior design too will help you when making the choice of furniture to buy. As an added bonus it will give you the opportunity to design two looks for your house in one enabling you to have a light and spacious feel in the hot summer months which will adapt easily to a cosy and warm ambience in the winter. So don’t just pack up your outdoor furniture, or cover it with an ugly tarpauling on your terrace to weather out the winter — with minimum creative flair you can make the most of your summer furiture throughout the year. When shopping for outdoor furniture, you may want to look at spending a little extra for good quality products which will last year round wear-and-tear without worrying about whether the wood will rot or wrought iron will go rusty. Making just a little space in your budget and floorplan can go a long way to helping you get the most from your furniture. n
photos: Denville Designs
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at home IN GIBRALTAR watercolour before. Over the past year, the students have taken between 20 and 30 classes and Deborah says, “I really believe they have developed and achieved a good standard. “It’s a beautiful medium,” she continued. “With unique qualities of translucency and fluidity. It requires discipline to practise and perfect techniques in order to achieve clarity and luminosity: if colours are allowed to mingle too much painting becomes ‘muddy’. “I see the exhibition as an opDeborah Lawson with Edwin Reyes, Minister of Culture at the opening of the exhibition
Creating Your Own Works of Art
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portunity to celebrate the achievements of my students,” Deborah explained, “and to encourage others who may have wished to paint, but felt daunted.” If you feel inspired by the outstanding success of Deborah’s sudents, why not get involved in one of the classes available at the Arts and Craft Centre. For details of forthcoming courses contact the Gibraltar Arts & Craft Association, Unit 15B, 1 Casemates Square. Tel: 200 73865. Who knows, maybe you are the undiscovered talent Gibraltar has been waiting for! n
Students and visitors enjoying the opening of the exhibition
wall spac e
Fancy creating your own works of art? Adult students who took the plunge and joined Deborah Lawson’s watercolour classes held an exhibition of their works in September. The exhibition featured work from 14 students who have been learning watercolour technique under the watchful eye of Debo-
rah. The majority of student’s had not dabbled in art since they were at school and most had never used
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turn to pages 96-97 for property directory
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spruce up for
profit Gone are the days when you could throw money at a property with the security that you’d get a good return on the investment, so if you’re thinking of making modifications to your home with a view to selling, think carefully about where to spend your money. Obviously the biggest change — and earner— is to look at redistributing the rooms to make the best possible use of space and maybe even add an extra bedroom, but this is not an invest-
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ment to contemplate if it means spending £20,000 on a £100,000 flat when prices in your block or area are stuck at £110,000. Buyers love original features, if you own one of the older proper-
ties in Gibraltar it’s well worth investigating the period and putting back any features which may have been removed. Make sure you do your homework though to find the most apt pieces to enhance the
look and feel to your home. First impressions count too. A clean and well-kept house is the cheapest option to help your property on the road to a good sale. Wires hanging out of walls,
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Restoring the original features of your property are a very worthwhile investment
chipped paint and dog-eared wallpaper are signs of neglect which will immediately put off prospective purchasers, so make sure you keep on top of minor repairs to show the house has been well looked after. Buyers like to be able to imagine their own look and feel in a property, so when you’re ready to show the property, keep the decor and ornaments as simple as possible. A neutral kitchen can be a real asset, if it does need sprucing up spend your money on the visible aspects. If your kitchen has been fitted professionally, the shell will be sturdy, so just a quick change of doors or curtains and a new, good quality work top is a good idea. Don’t make pointless adaptations to your property. For example, renovate wooden window frames and shutters, which again
will keep with the period of the property rather than changing them for modern PVC. Think carefully about any ideas you may have and weigh up the pros and cons. If you really want to do something because you like it, that’s fine, but don’t always expect it to reflect in the resale value. It’s nice to be on top of technology too, but top rate plasma TVs, sound systems throughout the house and any other high-tech gadgetry which you might find exciting and enhancing to your property is all very well, but again it’s unlikely you’ll get a return on the investment when you sell. The buyers may well be a family with very different tastes and priorities to your own. If you do want a techno-town house, don’t expect it to make you any more money when you sell. n
If you own one of the older properties in Gibraltar it’s well worth investigating the period and putting back any features which may have been removed
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turn to pages 96-97 for property directory
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history
A statue in Baghdad of General Frederick Stanley Maude who was born in Gibraltar. This statue was torn down in 1958 following the removal of the Iraqi monarchy.
Sir Frederick Maude:
from Gibraltar to Baghdad
Duke Ellington didn’t write his famous tune, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me until 1940, and Bob Russell didn’t add the words until later, but they neatly encapsulate the orders given to Sir Frederick Maude when he took command of the Tigris Corps in Mesopotamia in 1916. Stay where you are, encourage the men to play cards, write home, knit, crochet, learn to dance a passable tango, but on no account rattle your sabre in the face of the enemy. Maude, in words inappropriate for the pages of a family publication, rejected the notion as wholly unsuitable as a basis for a game of soldiers, and thus ensured that a century or so later desperate hacks in darkened rooms lit only by the ghostly light of their computer screens would at least have something halfway decent to write about. 42
by Dave Wood ‘A game of soldiers’ was surely his preordained destiny as he lay dreaming in the womb in the early summer of 1864. His father was General Sir Frederick Maude, VC, who like many men could not sleep easily in his bed until he had ensured the survival of his name beyond his own demise. A man who has earned the right to add the letters ‘VC’ to his calling card and does so (it is not compulsory and many do not), is issuing, whether he knows it or not, a challenge to his offspring. “Your father is a hero,” he is saying. “You bear his name. He is looking to you not to let the side down. Go forth and do your duty.” Many sons burdened with that knowledge throw in the towel before the start of round one. Inferiority — the simple, not the complex kind — settles on them like a fine, invisible dust, and they live their lives in the perpetual twilight of genteel obscurity, lit softly here and there by the flattering half-light of reflected glory. Some react with righteous anger and rebel. They may become pacifists, take to the bottle, or renounce the trappings of respectable society. A few rise to the challenge, determined to emulate and if possible outshine the parent who has so publicly thrown down the gauntlet. Frederick Stanley Maude was clearly such a man. He was born in Gibraltar on 24th June 1864. The subservient status of Victorian women, whose only valid purpose in life was to marry, stay at home, and produce children, is clear from the fact that the name of his mother is generally considered by his biographers to be unworthy of note. She had done her duty by her husband, and that, surely, was reward enough. Frederick, who emphasized his second name, Stanley, to avoid confusion with his distinguished father, was determined not to be cowed by the magnitude of the example he had been set. After completing his studies at Eton, he joined the Coldstream Guards in 1884, and within a year found himself in Suakin, in the Kassala Province of northeastern Sudan. There he played his part in the proposed building of a railway, which was enough to earn him a couple of minor medals, but which was never going to win him the VC. It is hard to know when he met Cecil, or whether he laughed loudly like a shameless bounder when she told him her name. Engagements tended to be long in Victorian times. We do know, however, that she was the daughter of The Rt Hon. Colonel T. E. Taylor and his nameless housebound baby-producer, and that they married in 1893. Service in the South African war won him the DSO. The plain fact is that given the fin de siècle turmoil in which the world was churning as the 19th century gratefully passed the poisoned chalice to the 20th, Frederick Maude’s military exploits were disappointingly mundane, and destined to become more so. In 1901 he left South Africa, where there was at least a little fighting to be done, and proceeded to Canada, where he became military secretary to the Governor General. Four years later he was back in England as a lieutenant-colonel, doing something terribly boring in the training line. The great thriller writer, Raymond Chandler, said that whenever the plots of his novels began to sag, he would have a door kicked open and a man burst in waving a gun. He, of course, had the advantage of writing fiction. A biographer does not have that luxury. He may long to have
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
history a door kicked open by a man waving a gun, but he must wait patiently for it to happen. If it doesn’t, he’s pretty much done for. By the summer of 1914, Maude must have begun to think life was rapidly passing him by. He was 50 years old — a far more venerable age then than it is now — and he was stuck at home doing little more than shuffling papers and saluting at shadows. Suddenly, the door burst open and a man rushed in waving a gun. His name was Gavrilo Princip, and he used the gun to assassinate Emperor Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie during a visit to Sarajevo. The date was 28th June 1914, four days after Maude’s 50th birthday, and that relatively small tragedy in an obscure Hungarian town began a chain reaction that would soon engulf the world in the mindless horror of the First World War. The British Army was mobilised in August 1914, and a generation of young men marched off smiling, to the cheers of their womenfolk and the patriotic waving of flags, convinced they would give the Hun a damned good thrashing and be home in time for Christmas. Frederick Maude was no longer a young man, but he was sent to France as part of the 3rd Army Corps and was doing well enough by October to be appointed commander of the 14th Brigade, with the rank of Brigadier-General. It could easily have ended in tears in April of the following year when he was seriously wounded and shipped home to England to recuperate, but he pulled through, and within a month he was back with his men, albeit not at the front. He was promoted to Major-General, and given charge of the 33rd Division, who were training in England in preparation for a posting to France. Maude was not destined to go with them. Instead, in August, he was summoned to HQ and assigned a new command, that of the 13th Division, and given orders to proceed immediately to Suvla. Whereas you or I might have uttered an involuntary ‘Where?’ at this point, and demanded access to an atlas, Maude, as a professional soldier, merely saluted smartly and said, “Yes sir! I shall pack my bags at once!” Suvla, for the benefit of those who are neither geographers nor professional soldiers, was a godforsaken spot on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Dardanelles where British troops had dug themselves into a bit of a hole. Maude’s orders
were to get them out of it, and of a similarly disastrous debacle at Cape Helles, as quickly and painlessly as he could. No soldier enjoys overseeing a retreat, but the evacuation of the troops went smoothly enough for Frederick and his division to be chosen in 1916 to head to Mesopotamia and assist in the relief of Kut-alAmara, where the British, having failed miserably to seize the town of Ctesiphon (perhaps because no-one felt confident enough in his pronunciation to ask the locals how to get there), had retreated in disarray, only to find themselves besieged by 15,000 gloating Turks determined to watch them starve. It was here that Maude’s superiors preempted Messrs Ellington and Russell by telling him to effectively stay where he was and twiddle his thumbs in an aggressive manner until they
The 1st Division of the 4th Hampshire Regiment parading through Baghdad past a crowd of local onlookers on 12th March 1917
to everyone’s surprise, not least his own, every battle resulted in a victory. The spectacular culmination came on 11th March 1917, when they captured Baghdad
could think of something for him to do. Maude had by this time painstakingly built himself a reputation as a respectful, reliable robot. Behind his back he was known as “Systematic Joe” — a man who did his duty by the book, seldom turning a page too quickly or too soon. But by 1916 he was getting on — he was 52 years old for goodness’ sake — and his chances to emulate, let alone surpass the exploits of his father were daily becoming fewer and slimmer. For once he decided to chance his arm. Carelessly tossing his orders aside, he moved his forces up river, taking on anybody who looked like a Turk, and to everyone’s surprise, not least his own, every battle resulted in a victory. The spectacular culmination came on 11th March 1917, when they captured Baghdad. Back in London, the pen-pushers and armchair generals had no option but to pretend that was the plan all along. The enemy now considered Frederick Maude a great and formidable leader, no longer Systematic Joe, but Frederick Pasha, and who were they to say otherwise? They gave their new superstar carte blanche to flail his arms at the Turks wherever they might be. In April he took Samarrah. Further successes followed at Ramadi and Tikrit where, 20 years later, a certain Saddam Hussein would be born. It all seemed too good to be true, and anything that seems too good to be true generally is. If the pen is mightier than the sword, the microbe is infinitely mightier than both. In November 1917, Maude, after a year in which he appeared invulnerable, drank a glass of milk. Some say it was poisoned. It was; but not by a Turkish spy. The milk was contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Frederick Stanley Maude, feared nemesis of the Turks, unstoppable imperial juggernaut, contracted cholera, and died in Baghdad on 18th November. In military terms, Frederick Maude was something of a late developer. Until 1914, when he was 50, he had been a dependable but relatively undistinguished soldier — a man you’d be glad to have in your corner in a crisis, but not one you’d pay good money to see in action in the ring. In Mesopotamia (now Iraq), he found, late in life, a theatre where he could finally display his undoubted soldierly talents. He never won the VC, but at least he died knowing that his dad would have been proud of him. n
Dancing for Charity
The Gibraltar Salsa Club presented their chosen charity, Help Us To Help Them, with a cheque for £245 — the proceeds raised from lessons throughout the year. The Salsa Club committee with Minister, Edwin Reyes present the cheque to Help Us To Help Them representative Julio Pons
As well as the pre-arranged donation, students were pleasantly surprised to be presented awards by the Minister of Culture, Edwin Reyes, as they moved from beginners to intermediate level of dancing — and all this on the day the club had their biggest turn-out of new-comers, 14 new members.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Over the past two months, the Salsa Club has grown from meeting for an hour-and-a-half to two sessions over a three hour period on Tuesdays at the Laguna Social Club. For details of lessons at the Gibraltar Salsa Club, Laguna Social Club contact Mike 54472000. n
43
music scene
by Elena Scialtiel
Gibraltar’s Kings of Swing Fancy some Las Vegas’ golden-age glamour, with gentlemen in trilbys swinging the night away? Following their debut last spring and romancing the ‘lllladies’ at the Gibraltar Fair Family Pavilion, John Cruz, Freddie Field and John Charles Guy, a.k.a. the Swing Kings are ready to export their nostalgic tribute to the charismatic ’50s and ’60s Hollywood legends, Frank Sinatra & Co. They are off to nearby Castellàr this month, and to some Costa del Sol big gigs later, recreating an age and fad which raises tribute groups to status of fully-fledged artists. A joint Stage Musicals Productions and Musicali venture, the idea for the group came to John Charles a few years ago when he felt the urge to revive the guys and dolls’ lifestyle that made his parents’ generation fall in love, and to give a welcome break to his children’s generation from hip-hop, pop and rap, which he deems too ‘violent and xenophobic’, with its rough-around-the-edge heroes. He rang up his old stage buddies — the late Sean McCarthy (who tragically passed away last December) who had co-starred with him in the original Gibraltar musical Arrow; Freddie Field, recently in the spotlight as gentle crayon painter, but blessed with a vocal range
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that allows him to surf confidently through the repertoire of many modern and contemporary melodic artists; and John Cruz, eager to shed the image of schizophrenic villain after his success as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the musical staged at the Ince’s Hall, and as the Phantom of the Opera in a medley with Jamie Barry held at the Caleta Hotel. John Charles’s wife, Rosanna, is the producer who keeps them in check, with her iron fist in a velvet glove — patient and efficient in helping them staging a show of such magnitude, while
youngsters curious enough to look beyond a trite trip down memory lane with Granny will be rewarded with a slick show of musical glamour
busy with the children’s choir for even grander musical productions, like the enjoyable Oliver! last spring. The Swing Kings don’t just ape the outfits, mannerism, smooth moves and cool voices of the Rat Pack scatting on the notes of cults like Nice and Easy, Volare, Everybody Loves Somebody, That’s Amore, Come Fly with Me, Mack the Knife and Fly me to the Moon — they are re-interpreting, modernising, ‘jazzing up’ trademark songs with their own 21st Century personalities and expertise, to appeal to old and young generation alike. Oldies will be reminded of the way they used to be, and youngsters curious enough to look beyond a trite trip down memory lane with Granny (relating for the umpteenth time how she and Grandpa met) will be rewarded with a slick show of musical glamour. Although not classically operatic, the Swing Kings have stentorian ranges and great fluidity, adding colour to the music, each filling the shoes of one or two of the original performers. John Cruz for example ‘specialises’ in Sammy Davis Jnr and Nat King Cole, while Freddie thinks big and audacious by impersonating
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
music scene
Freddie Field
Dean Martin and John C. Guy does Frank Sinatra to a T. And if you’re put off by the prejudice that it’s all about ways of wooing sweethearts with sugary pledges of moon trips well before the Apollo 11 stunt, think again — they have some humorous songs up their sleeve too, like the irreverent Clementine telling the grotesque tale of a woman so fat she cracks a bridge, dives into a river, prompting a red alert to sailors so they
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
John C. Guy
the Swing Kings add colour to the music, each filling the shoes of one or two of the original performers
John Cruz
don’t mistake her for a whale! In your face, hip-hop culture’s Yo Mama… A lot of work, commitment and patience were put into this project which hopes to make Gibraltar vibrate to a sound that keeps taking the world by storm, 50 years on. n The Swing Kings are available locally for private parties (call Freddie on 54681000). Their CDs and DVDs can be purchased through John Cruz Tel: 54011705.
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celebrity
by Reg Reynolds
The Rock: A Blessed Relief Few non-Gibraltarians can have been happier to see the Rock of Gibraltar than little Annie Ellerman. Annie was the only daughter of shipping magnate John Reeves Ellerman when she arrived at Gibraltar early in 1906 having spent the winter in Spain. In her autobiography The Heart of Artemis she wrote: “I know that it will horrify lovers of the Mediterranean but I could have knelt in Gibraltar and kissed the clean streets.” Although she was only 12-years-old Annie was an experienced traveller having spent the previous four winters living in Italy and touring the eastern Mediterranean and she did not enjoy her time in Spain. She assured her readers her joy at leaving Spain and reaching Gibraltar was not due to a lack of worldliness or a distaste of other cultures. “It was not insularity, I had felt perfectly at home in Italy, France and Egypt. No, it was some underlying cruelty of which I was conscious in Spain and that was all the more sinister because I could not explain it, even to myself. I only knew that I was unhappy there and that it was, in all the meanings of the word, an alien place.” An intelligent girl Annie had prepared for her trip to Spain by reading extensively — Prescott’s History of Ferdinand and Isabella and Washington Irving’s Alhambra are two examples she cites. But she hadn’t been prepared for the poverty she witnessed or for the bitterness displayed towards English-speaking foreigners since the ending of the Spanish-American War of 1898. Through the Treaty of Paris, Spain was forced to cede control of Cuba, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. “We had looked forward to the journey but we were unhappy in Spain. It was partly the poverty, people shivered in grimy clothes and were too numb and unhappy even to beg. Yet there was something more; we felt a hostility that was hard to define and for the first time I was miserable and bored.” Annie was also ‘miserably cold’ in Madrid where she caught flu and was ‘terrified’ by the Escorial (the historical residence of the King). But her worst experience occurred in Seville. “The Spanish-American War had not been over long, the English usually left their daughters in the nursery so that I was taken for an American child and people leaned over balconies and spat at me. After I had received a full blow in the face, twice in one afternoon, I howled.” One can see how crossing the border into Gibraltar would have been such a welcoming experience. “I was so glad that I was English because of the warm and reassuring kindness of the faces about me and I was in my element when we drove out to the watch the apes.”
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gender. Herself a lesbian, Annie was intrigued by this possibility. She married twice but both were marriages of convenience. She met her first husband on a trip to America in 1920. He was a writer named Robert McAlmon who wanted to travel to Europe. She offered to take him if he married her in order to make her more socially acceptable and to ‘protect’ her parents. Her true love was the poet Hilda Doolittle who was separated from her husband but had a male lover, a Scottish film-maker named Kenneth Macpherson. To give some legitimacy to their three-way relationship Annie divorced McAlmon in 1927 and married Macpherson the same year. Annie returned to Spain years later but was no happier there than she had been the first time. “I had just the same sensations when circumstances compelled me to cross Spain in middle age. It was as if I had to suppress all emotion on both occasions until I had left the country.” Annie divorced Macpherson in 1947. She and Poet Hilda Doolittle with Annie Ellerman Doolittle no longer lived together after 1946, but continued their relationship until Doolittle’s Annie was accompanied on the trip by her death in 1961. Annie ‘Bryher’ Ellerman died in parents unaware that they weren’t married. 1983 aged 88. n Hannah Glover was Annie’s mother and Ellerman didn’t marry her until 1908. In 1909 Hannah gave birth to a son, John II, and it was he and not his older sister who inherited the bulk of the estate and took over the running of the Ellerman Line when John Sr. died in 1933. This upset Annie, a head-strong feminist Imagine you are a tough old salt, someone asks from an early age, who had hoped to one day you the name of your ship and you have to manage the business. On the plus side Ellerman reply the Lesbian. That was the case for several Sr. was the richest man in England and he left generations of merchant seamen who worked for his daughter an inheritance that enabled her to the Ellerman Line. travel the world and indulge her interests in Shipping magnate John Reeves Ellerman, who writing and the arts. at his peak of power owned 1.5 million tons of She wrote novels, poetry, travel books and shipping, named three of his merchant-‘men’ film criticism under the unusual pen-name Lesbian starting with the first in 1874.The three Bryher (after her favourite Scilly Isle) and also ships were officially named after the island of helped finance the careers of many other artists Lesbos but there is the possibility that Ellerman, and writers. Along the way she became friends who lived in ‘sin’ with Hannah Glover before of the likes of James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, marrying her, was doing it tongue in cheek. Sigmund Freud and Havelock Ellis. Ellis was a writer with a deep interest in sexu- The first Lesbian was scrapped in 1903 while the ality and he proposed the existence of a third second, launched in 1915, was torpedoed and
Lesbian Scuttled by the French
sunk by U-35 off Malta in 1917.
“I was so glad that I was English because of the warm and reassuring kindness of the faces about me and I was in my element when we drove out to the watch the apes”
The third Lesbian was launched in 1923 and worked the Mediterranean for the next 17 years. During World War II she sailed with convoys between Gibraltar and Liverpool. In 1940 she was unlucky enough to be arrested at Frenchcontrolled Beirut, Lebanon when the Vichy French allied with Germany. In 1941 Beirut was bombed and in revenge Lesbian was taken a short distance offshore and scuttled. She is now a popular wreck site for divers. With incredible irony Ellerman’s only daughter Annie, born in 1884, was a lesbian. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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29 Oct - 1 Nov 2009
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE
VOLUME 2 Autumn 2009
What’s on in York York Ghost Festival: ’Orribly Original: 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2009 Including the opportunity to take part in a real paranormal overnight investigation. Email: ghostfinder.general@gmail. com or visit www.yorkghostfestival. co.uk St Nicholas Fayre Christmas Market: 26 - 29 Nov 2009 The run-up to Christmas finds York in truly festive spirit with the St Nicholas Fayre. This is when the city becomes a sparkling, enticing concoction of decorations, lights, Christmas trees and street stalls, all helping to create the kind of cheerful, authentic Christmas atmosphere you thought had gone for ever. Tel: + 44 1904 554430. York Early Music Christmas Festival: 2 - 8 Dec 2009 Taking place in a wide variety of uniquely attractive venues including the Chapter House of York Minster, the stunningly simple beauty of St Mary’s Church, Bishophill and the National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate. Box Office + 44 1904 658338. Festival of Angels: Dec 2009 (dates to be confirmed) This two day festival includes a stunning display of ice sculptures exhibited in the streets, plus a parade of angels of all ages and sizes, for more information, tel + 44 1904 610676 or visit www. festivalofangels.co.uk
York
Heritage & History in the heart of the dales
Monarch’s flights to Manchester have opened up the north of England to Gibraltar’s weekend traveller. Less than two hours by train from Manchester airport is the walled city of York one of England’s finest and most beautiful historic cities. York’s history characterises the city — York Minster Gothic cathedral and medieval architecture, its Georgian town houses, and its wonderful Victorian railway station.
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oday York successfully combines its heritage and superb historic architecture with sophisticated designer shops, smart restaurants, bars and cafes. Visitors soon discover that every aspect of York’s modern life is inextricably linked with its past. Even their evening entertainment includes ghost walks through the city’s shadowy alleys and ginnels to find haunted pubs — of which York boasts a great many. Within its ancient, encircling walls York’s medieval streets and buildings are beautifully preserved and the historic heart of the city is largely traffic-free, making it quiet, clean and very pleasant to stroll around, day and night. Stonegate and Petergate, York’s two most stylish shopping streets, still run along the same routes as they did 2,000 years ago. The city is recognised the world over as an archaeological treasure trove. Jorvik, now a state-of-theart visitor attraction, is one of the best-known sites in the city, and since its excavation in 1976 it has captured and sustained the public imagination. The most spectacular find was an exquisitely-preserved Anglo Saxon helmet, now on view in the Castle Museum. There is nothing more evoca-
SHORT BREAKS SUPPLEMENT · AUTUMN 2009
tive of York’s medieval era than the narrow streets, winding haphazardly through the city centre and these days home to fashionable boutiques and cafes, with unforgettable names such as Coffee Yard, Swinegate, Grape Lane (formerly Grope Lane), Mad Alice Lane and the Shambles. The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, the Guildhall and the Minster itself are all enduring examples of extraordinary medieval endeavour, and a relatively recent discovery was Barley Hall - a timber-framed hall house dating from the Wars of the Roses, tucked away in the alleys off Stonegate. York’s first railway station was built in 1839, and the present magnificent edifice dates from 1877 - when opened it was the largest in Europe. The city is therefore a natural setting for the National Railway Museum. For shopaholics, the York De-
signer Outlet on the outskirts of the city will provide an ideal opportunity to bag some bargain designer clothes. In the city centre itself you will find shops with character, with everything from high street stores to unusual boutiques, cafes and restaurants and a plethora of antiques shops to browse at leisure. n
How to get there: Flights: Monarch flights to Manchester leave Friday midday and will bring you back Sunday evening - full Schedule on P7. Train: trains run regularly from Manchester airport — details and bookings at www.nationalrail.co.uk Car Hire: You can get to York quickly from the UK motorway network. Travelling north on the M1 or A1 you’ll come to the A64 intersection. The city is 15 minutes away via dual carriageway.
WEEKENDER ·
Photos this page and Weekender cover courtesy York tourist board
One of the great things about living in Gibraltar is its fantastic location, not just for the Mediterranean weather, but for its ideal position as a springboard to visit many diverse locations for weekends away. Fly, drive or get a train or ferry and your weekend can be haggling in the souks of Tangiers, windsurfing off the beaches in Portugal, exploring Spanish cities or soaking up historic sites in the UK and you’ll still be back in work for Monday morning. We have featured a few great places in this, our Autumn edition of Weekender, which are within easy reach of Gibraltar or its air destinations.
WEEKENDER
El Molino Del Carmen
self catering with a touch of class
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nce an Olive Oil mill, the business closed down in 1967 after over 100 years and originally employed mules to provide power. It wasn’t until after the civil war in 1939 that electricity was installed and the mules retired. The huge grinding stones, water pump and other original items now make up part of the interesting mix of modern and traditional deco which lend an original touch to the building. The Molino has been in use as a hotel since the early ’80s and has been well known for providing accommodation to visitors to the village. Today, the Molino is a haven of calm for traveller to and through the peaceful slopes which wind up towards Ronda. The apartments have been fashioned and named around the story of Carmen by Prospero Merimee with names such as Dancaire’s Den, with Arabic arched entrance mixed with Andalucian style and modern furnishings whilst Don Jose’s Chambers offers a patio overlooking the heated pool with a traditional rustic feel. The Lillias Pastia Apartment
· WEEKENDER
Overlooking Gaucin from the Barrio Alto with incredible views right down to the coast and Gibraltar, The Molino del Carmen has been recently refurbished into five self-catering apartments by a British couple, Pip and Clinton who have owned the property for a couple of years now. Castillo del Aguila, Gaucin
with pure white, peach and red decor again has an Arabesque feel complete with mosquito net crowning the queen-sized bed with Moorish flair. The largest apartment, Escamillo’s Villa, accommodates up to four with plenty of space for a family or two couples to share. Beamed ceilings and airy, openplan living and dining area offer modern comfort with time-hon-
oured elegance. With a private terrace overlooking the ancient Roman road, the apartment offers the most spectacular views of any room at the Molino. Smuggler’s Suite is an excellent option for a family or group too, with separate bedrooms on the floor above, each with ensuite bathrooms, the lounge is on the main terrace just below with panoramic sliding doors which
make the most of the views past the church and to the Rock in the hazy distance. Scented with Jasmine, roses and bougainvillea you’ll find the Molino perfectly situated for exploring the white streets of Gaucin which spreads out below. The apartments share a pool which is heated in the cooler months and well protected from the elements. Alongside the pool, you’ll find the library with a wide range of books and DVDs to borrow to while away the cold evenings hugging up to a log fire. Linen is provided in the form of luxury Egyptian cotton sheets and thick and thirsty towels and the kitchens are fitted out with everything you will need to make your stay and your cooking a success. As self catering, the apartments are usually booked out on a weekly basis, but if you’re interested in just a weekend give Pip a call as you never know what the availability will be — she might just squeeze you in. Their telephone is 0034 952 151 277 or drop them an email to info@molinodelcarmen. com n
AUTUMN 2009 · SHORT BREAKS SUPPLEMENT
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE
Gaucin & El Colmenar
From Mountian Views to River Valleys Many of us have passed Gaucin on the old road up to Ronda, and possibly stopped for quick refreshments and a leg-stretch before carrying on our journey. But Gaucin is worth much more than just a quick stop — a weekend in the hills and valleys in the Sierra is a sure way to wind down.
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ommanding spectacular views down to the coast Gaucin is a perfect retreat for anyone looking for a little weekend peace and quiet. Thin streets bordered by ageing white houses make this a picturesque village with plenty of charm. We found the neighbourhood not only friendly, but locals will go out of their way to point you in the right direction and to give you some history on their heritage. The centre-piece being the Castillo de Aguila where ancient Iberian ceramics have been found. Originally built by the Romans, the remains seen today are of Arabic origin. The church of San Sebastian, built in 1487 on the site of the old mosque after the re-conquest has an interesting interior with Mudejar influence. During your stay you’ll find typical tapas bars and restaurants for every taste, including international cuisine at La Fuente, located just above the old baroque stone fountain. Located above the restaurant is a one bedroom self catering flat with beautiful south facing views. Normally only available for weekly holiday rentals it is available on a nightly basis to clients dining at La Fuente should they wish to stay the night. Colmenar is just a 20 minute drive from Gaucin and is well sheltered through the autumn and winter from its valley location. Better known as the Gaucin Station on the Algeciras to Ronda rail route, you may want to think about making arrangements without your car. A day trip will see you arrive on the train from Algeciras around
about 1pm, with ample time to enjoy the diverse culinary experiences available and to take a stroll along the river or up to the Valle de Buitres (Valley of Vultures) before catching the last train back at around 8pm. If you want to take more time to explore the area, Casa Rural Ahora offers an interesting and alternative option to relax and take in the nature close to hand. With rustic style rooms and one small TV for those who really need their injection of the outside world, Miguel offers an excellent service with meals made from natural foods in a natural environment with massages and baths on hand to help you totally de-stress. Looking for something a little less Bohemian? We were recommended to try the tapas at el Rincon de Cani for a budget bite — seven tapas and three drinks for €8 is hard to beat anywhere. Again we were surprised that, in such a small village, there is yet another type of dining. For those who want something special, you’ll find the Caserio Ananda if you turn right just after the level crossing and follow the track back up past the station. Right in front is what used to be an old store house which dates back to when the British Engineers built the tracks. Pedro and Angeles have converted the building into a restaurant with a wine list and guest book to be proud of. During September and October, rutting stags in the hills around can be heard clashing their horns late at night — if you’re staying overnight it’s well worth a trip into the hills for the experience. n
Relax by the river in El Colmenar
SHORT BREAKS SUPPLEMENT · AUTUMN 2009
WEEKENDER ·
WEEKENDER
Cuenca
A Tale of Two Cities For short break destinations there’s a lot to be gained from taking advantage of Gibraltar’s flights to Madrid as a springboard to discover other cities in central Spain. The Spanish capital has excellent connections both by train and bus and cities such as Segovia, Toledo, Guadalajara and Cuenca are suddenly accessible and only a few hours away from the Rock.
C
uenca, situated to the south east of Madrid, is a World Heritage Site with spectacular landscapes and monuments which inspired Cervantes to write the famed Don Quixote. In reality, Cuenca is actually two cities in one — Monumental Cuenca sits on a high cliff between two rivers with medieval defenses and winding streets which adapt to the terrain which was captured by Alfonso VIII in 1177, whilst the lower, modern Cuenca has gradually sprawled out below during the last two centuries. Access to the old town is via the San Pablo bridge where you’ll see the impressive Hanging Houses to your left jutting out over the gorge, and the most emblematic building in Cuenca. Its precise origin is unknown, but it is believed to have Moslem roots although there are those who believe it may be a medieval manor house. Restored in the 20th century, the building now comprises the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art and a traditional restaurant. From an architectural point of view both the Palacio Episcopal
and the Town Hall are features of the town. The Palacio’s meandering design has constantly been built on in different styles since the 13th century with the last modifications made in the 18th century. The San Pablo Monastery was built in 1523 as a Dominican enclave. The building has now been converted into the Parador Nacional de Turismo which houses the artwork of Gustavo Torner. The bells from the Tower of Mangana have rung out over the city since the 16th century and everywhere you look you’ll find the town telling a story of history and heritage — even from the city streets such as Calle San Pedro where the blue-blooded nobles once lived, you’ll see their coats of arms and liveries above the doorways, or Calle Alfonso VIII with the interlocking architecture of more humble dwellings. Walks down from the old town towards the river mean city and countryside are minutes apart and a wide choice of lodgings and hotels priced to suite all comers from back-packers through to luxury, Cuenca is a great place to visit. n
How to get there:
Flights: Andalus flights leave Gibraltar for Madrid early mornings on Fridays with a late evening flight landing you back in Gibraltar on Sunday evening (see the schedule on P7 opposite). Bus: From Madrid there are excellent connections with four or five journeys each way per day from as little as 9 euros each direction. Find out more from www.avanzabus.es including online bookings. Train: Spain’s RENFE service is well known for excellent service at great prices. Cuenca is a regular stop on the Atocha to Valencia Route and takes just a couple of hours. www.renfe.es for itineraries and online booking. Car Hire: Arrange at Madrid Barajas on arrival, but to avoid problems you’d be well advised to book online beforehand. This is a great option if you want a little more time exploring the countryside without being tied down to timetables.
· WEEKENDER
AUTUMN 2009 · SHORT BREAKS SUPPLEMENT
S
SUPPLEMENT TO THE GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE
TRIED & TESTED...
10BEST OF THE
YORK Hotel du Vin
89 The Mount, York YO24 1AX T: +44 1904 557350 F: +44 1904 557354
Luxury boutique hotel in the heart of York and set in a Grade II listed building.
Lady Anne Middleton’s Hotel
Skeldergate, York, YO1 6DS T: +44 1904 611570 F: +44 1904 613043 E: bookings@ladyannes.co.uk
Country-style hotel in the centre of York, great for sight-seeing and reasonably priced.
Portugal Algarve Vila Vita Parc Hotel
Alporchinos, P-8400-450 T: +351 282 310 100 E: reservas@vilavitaparc.com www.vilavitaparc.com
Five star luxury — golf, gourmet food at 8 seasonal restaurants.
Vila Joya
Praia Da Gale, 8201-902 Albufeira T: +351 289 591 795 E: info@vilajoya.com www.vilajoya.com
Award winning boutique hotel with 21 individually designed rooms.
Morocco Tangiers El Minzah Hotel
85 Rue De La Liberte T: +212 (39) 333 444 E: reservation@elminzah.com www.elminzah.com
Great place for short break in Tangier. Within walking distance of ferry.
Spain
Cuenca
Posada de San Jose
c/Julian Romero 4, 16001 Cuenca T: +34 969 21 13 00 F: +34 969 23 03 65 E: info@posadasanjose.com www.posadasanjose.com
Panoramic views of the Gorge and the old quarter of Cuenca from this 18th century building. Home cooked meals at a family run hotel.
Andalucia
San Roque Suites
San Roque Golf Resort, KM 127, A-7 San Roque T: +34 956 584 901 E: rentals@sanroquesuites.com www.sanroquegolfrentals.com
Quick get-away minutes from Gibraltar — perfect for a weekend of golf.
Finca Cortesin
Crta de Casares, 29690 Casares, Malaga T. +34 952 937 800 www.fincacortesin.com
Complete luxury hotel with golf and spa. For a very special occasion.
Molino del Carmen
Bario Alto, Gaucin T: +34 952 151 277 E: info@molinodelcarmen.com www.molinodelcarmen.com
Classically styled self catering apartments. Great views and good base from which to explore the area.
Casa Rural Ahora
Colmenar, Estacion de Gaucin T. +34 687 320 910 / +34 952 153 046 www.ahoraya.es
Rustic finca by the river with individual rooms, ecological food, massage & spa. A great place to de-stress
Day Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
gibraltar airport flight schedule
United Kingdom
If you like the idea of any of the destinations mentioned, take a look at our tried and tested recommendations for board and lodgings.
Flight No. ZB574 EZY8901 ZB068 EA2104 BA2494 EZY8905 EA2106 EZY8901 BA2494 EZY8905 EA2206 ZB574 EZY8901 EA2302 EA2304 BA2494 EZY8905 ZB062 EA2306 EZY8901 BA2494 EZY8905 ZB062 EA2406 ZB068 ZB574 EZY8901 EA2504 BA2494 EZY8905 EA2506 EZY8901 ZB068 BA2494 EA2704 BA2494 ZB062 EZY8905 EA2706
Airline ● Andalus ● Monarch ● easyJet ● Monarch ● Monarch ● Andalus ● British Air. ● easyJet ● Andalus ● Andalus ● easyJet ● British Air. ● easyJet ● Andalus ● Andalus ● Monarch ● easyJet ● Andalus ● Andalus ● British Air. ● Andalus ● easyJet ● Monarch ● Andalus ● Andalus ● easyJet ● British Air. ● easyJet ● Monarch ● Andalus ● Andalus ● Monarch ● Monarch ● easyJet ● Andalus ● British Air. ● easyJet ● Andalus ● easyJet ● Monarch ● British Air. ● Andalus ● British Air. ● Andalus ● Monarch ● easyJet ● Andalus
Arr. 10.55 11.00 11.55 14.20 17.25 18.10 21.50 11.00 17.25 18.10 21.50 10.55 11.00 12.00 14.20 17.25 18.10 18.55 21.50 11.00 17.25 18.10 18.55 21.50 10.40 10.45 11.00 14.20 17.25 18.10 21.50 11.00 11.35 17.25 14.20 17.25 18.10 18.15 21.50
From 08.25 Manchester Gatwick Luton Barcelona Gatwick Gatwick Madrid Gatwick Gatwick Gatwick Madrid Manchester Gatwick Madrid Barcelona Gatwick Gatwick Luton Madrid Gatwick Gatwick Gatwick Luton Madrid Luton Manchester Gatwick Barcelona Gatwick Gatwick Madrid Gatwick Luton Gatwick Barcelona Gatwick Luton Gatwick Madrid
Dep. EA2101 11.40 11.40
Flight No. To Madrid ZB575 Manchester EZY8902 Gatwick
12.40 15.00 18.10 18.50
ZB069 EA2103 BA2495 EZY8906
Luton Barcelona Gatwick Gatwick
08.25 11.40 18.10 18.50
EA2201 EZY8902 BA2495 EZY8906
Madrid Gatwick Gatwick Gatwick
08.25 11.40 11.40
EA2301 ZB575 EZY8902
Madrid Manchester Gatwick
15.00 18.10 18.20 18.50 19.40
EA2403 BA2495 EA2305 EZY8906 ZB063
Barcelona Gatwick Madrid Gatwick Luton
08.25 11.40 18.10 18.50 19.40
EA2401 EZY8902 BA2495 EZY8906 ZB063
Madrid Gatwick Gatwick Gatwick Luton
08.25 11.30 11.40 11.40 15.00 18.10 18.50
EA2501 ZB069 ZB575 EZY8902 EA2503 BA2495 EZY8906
Madrid Luton Manchester Gatwick Barcelona Gatwick Gatwick
11.35 12.35 18.10 15.00 18.10 18.20 18.55 18.55
EZY8902 ZB069 BA2495 EA2703 BA2495 EA2705 ZB063 EZY8906
Gatwick Luton Gatwick Barcelona Gatwick Madrid Luton Gatwick
Brian T Richards, Air Travel Consultant info@briantrichards.com www.briantrichards.com SCHEDULE CORRECT TO 24th OCTOBER 2009
SHORT BREAKS SUPPLEMENT · AUTUMN 2009
WEEKENDER ·
gibraltar
to manchester to luton 3 flights a week
daily flights
fly from
ÂŁ32 one way including taxes
food & drink
extra legroom
pre-bookable seats
flights
conditions apply.
holidays
hotels
online check-in
more
what’s happening on the Rock during October
Saturday 3rd October
bral-Flora, O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel and Rocagraphics. Proceeds for Research Into Childhood Cancer & Breast Cancer Support Group. For further information contact Gibral-Flora. Tel: 200 42655 or email: gibralflora@gibral-flora.gi Friday 9th October Mediterranean Dance Group presents: “Dance Show” at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 7.30pm. Tickets: £8 available from the John Mackintosh Hall ticket office from Monday 5th October. For further information Tel: 54013520 Email nichol@gibtelecom.net
Think Pink Day Short-toed Eagle Bird Life Eurobirdwatch. This will include bird walks, a bird of prey display, bird ringing and static display at Alameda Gardens Cottage and Europa Point Marine Observatory 8am to 1pm. For further information contact Albert Yome Tel 200 78333 Email: bats@ gonhs.org Thursday 8th October
The Gibraltar branch of Cancer Research UK is once again organising the annual “Think Pink” day on Friday 9th October 2009, to start off the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They would like as many people as possible to wear an item of pink clothing on Friday 9th October in order to raise breast cancer awareness, and therefore increase early detection and cure of the disease. The Branch would like employers to support the day by allowing and actually encouraging employees to wear pink on that day. Email: cancerresearchgib@gibtelecom.net Website: www.cancerresearchgib.com
Sunday 18th October Battle of Trafalgar Remembrance Service at Trafalgar Cemetery 12.00 noon. For further information Tel: 20055083 Monday 19th to Friday 30th October Oil Painting Exhibition by Derek Dellipiani at John Mackintosh Hall Gallery 10am – 6pm. Entrance free. For further information Tel: 54005419 Monday 26th to 29th October Gibraltar Academy of Dance presents: “Masterpiece” at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 8.30pm. Tickets: £10 available from Monday 12th October between 5pm & 8pm from the John Mackintosh Hall ticket office. For further information Tel: 200 79788 Wednesday 28th October One 2 One are hosting a Quiz & Date singles night. Tickets are now on sale. Please contact Carla on 54021154 / carla@one2one.gi; or Theresa on 54009822 / theresa@one2one.gi or checkout the website www.one2one.gi for more information. Saturday 31st October Laguna Social Club & Salsa Gibraltar Group Halloween Night. Entertainment is night of salsa and shows at Laguna Social Club – Laguna Estate. Entrance: Children £3 (includes hotdogs, chips and drink), adults - free (as long they wear a costume). For further information Tel: 54472000
Saturday 17th October Cancer Support Group Walk for Life at Casemates Square. Registration fee £5 from 9am, starts 11am. For further information Tel: 200 79408 Salsa Gibraltar Group 6-Hour Salsa Dance Marathon at Laguna Social Club – Laguna Estate 12 noon to 6pm. Proceeds to charity “Help Us To Help Them” . For further information Tel: 54472000
Gibral-Flora - Bridal Extravaganza, O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel 7.30pm. Tickets £7 available from Gi-
Gibraltar Botanic Garden Tour meets George Don Gates (at the south end of Grand Parade) 10.30am. There is no fee but donations are welcome. For further information contact Tel: 20072639 Email: alameda@wildlife.gib.gi
October at St John’s 1st & 2nd October First Aid at Work Requalification 12th October First Aid for those working in Confined Spaces 13-15th October First Aid at Work 16th, 22nd and 23rd October First Aid at Work (split over 2 weeks for companies who have difficulty releasing staff for 4 days in succession) 21st October Emergency First Aid Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 1pm Tel/Fax: 200 74982 Email: tourism@gibraltar.gi Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Also coming very soon, Emergency First Aid for Toddlers and Children. Suitable for parents/grandparents and all childcarers. Email: training@stjohn.gi Tel: 20077390 All training held at St John Ambulance, Coaling Island
55
history
by Reg Reynolds
Father Danny Hernandez:
Priest on the Front Line
Father Danny Hernandez, a priest of the Gibraltar diocese, was seconded to serve as a Catholic military chaplain and, during his nearly 10 years of service, was posted on tours to Northern Ireland and Kosovo and twice to Iraq. During his service the Unified (Protestant) and Roman Catholic branches of the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department were brought together into one department. Danny was born in 1962 and so has scant memories of life on the Rock before the border closure in 1969. He was educated at the Governor’s Meadow School, the Christian Brothers’ School, Line Wall and the Boys’ Comprehensive at Bayside which had just started. Brother Foley was headmaster and Brother Brown and Brother Blake were his early mentors. To him and his contemporaries the closed frontier made little difference as during the week school and homework did not allow time to socialise and during the weekends the family in winter drove up the Rock and in summer to the beach. Now he has enjoyed the freedom of the open frontier he appreciates the claustrophobic effect the closed frontier must have had on the earlier generations. Those around him recognised a vocation long before he felt the stirrings of one. As a young boy who lived first in Humphreys and then Schomberg he would be called upon by his peers to officiate at the burial of loved pets. However at around 15 he felt a definite call to the priesthood and so after his O levels after the
56
Christmas Day Mass he asked Bishop Rapallo for his guidance and the Bishop promised his total support. Upon returning home he told his parents of his decision and they were not too pleasedas they considered he was yet too young.A subsequent meeting with the Bishop brought them totally on side. Danny never took his A levels as he entered the seminary at The Royal English College at Valladolid that September. He was one of the youngest seminarians of recent times and one of
As a young boy who lived first in Humphreys and then Schomberg he would be called upon by his peers to officiate at the burial of loved pets
the professors thought that a mistake had been made in allowing him to start on his vocation so early. His studies began in 1979 and he joined Paul Bear who had started a year earlier. The first year was an in house introduction to philosophy and theology and to teach the majority of seminarians, who came from England and Wales, sufficient Spanish so when during the next five years they attended studies in philosophy and theology at the University they could understand the lecturers. There were only four teaching members of staff dealing with some 35 seminarians. The Royal and Pontifical College of St Alban was founded in 1589 by the Jesuit Father Robert Persons for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh missions. The establishment has always been fully supported by the King of Spain and to this day the Rector is a royal appointment and a member of the royal household. Today Father John Pardo is the deputy rector. The college is no longer a seminary but a propadeutic centre which provides prayerful reflection to those contemplating priesthood
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
profile
by Mike Brufal
and enables them to grow in language. For example the Cotheir faith and to develop their lour Sergeant is known as Corelationship with God through lour and on one occasion there the Church tradition. Those was a black Colour Sergeant. who pass the many tests are He just could not understand then sent to a seminary. how the Army could be so racist and politically incorrect to Danny’s young age meant call this fine soldier ‘Colour’. throughout his priestly studies When it was explained he he was under the Canonical went and told the Colour of age to be admitted to certain his misgivings and they had a ministries. When he finished good laugh about it! his studies he was two years away from the minimum age During this tour he went to be ordained priest. The over to Northern Ireland for a Rector, Mgr Ron Hishon, a supply posting of six weeks. priest from the Portsmouth Then followed an operational tour in Kosovo with the 7th Diocese, found him a position as a Deacon at the church of the and 20th Armoured Brigades. English Martyrs, a large parish It was part of the NATO force in Reading. and he found it an exhilarating experience as the conflict was At first he felt annoyed benearly over. During the eleccause all his contemporaries tions it became more dangerwere returning to their dioceses ous but he drove about freely to be ordained and he had to and never felt threatened. spend another year away from Gibraltar. In retrospect this was In 2002 he was appointed a bonus as it gave him valuable Roman Catholic Chaplain experience in parish work and to 3 Brigade at Portadown Father Danny was presented with the QCVS (Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service) in Northern Ireland and, tobroadened his outlook on life and the Ministry before being ordained. The Charles Caruana gave his permission. Father gether with his Anglican counterpart, was its parish priest was Father Terence Healey who Danny regards this an example of living the last chaplain before its disbandment. He spent was succeeded by Father Tom Taffe. Father gospel when it says ‘If you let go, you will find two years in Northern Ireland and he got on well Tom was a man who inspired Father Danny to more’. He says “What you have to learn in life with Protestants and Catholics. His main base become the man he is today. The two greatest is to let go and see where the Lord will take was residential but he would fly to the ‘front priestly influences in his life were Father Tom you. My outlook on life and to the Ministry line’ by helicopter. When his parents, who had and, in later years, Dom Francis Little. would have been very different had I not gone been evacuated to Northern Ireland during the He first met the Benedictine monk shortly af- away from Gibraltar. In a small community Second World War, came over to see him he ter his ordination and despite the monk’s jocular like Gibraltar it is necessary to go away for a took them to see the camps in Ballymena where appearance and his non stop cracking of jokes period of time which enriches the person who they found a Gibraltarian living in Broughshane Dom Francis was a man of God and of deep has gone away. From outside it is possible to who had stayed behind after the war and acted faith. He had the ability to make faith exciting see the wonderful life that exists on the Rock as a guide. and was able to throw light on the gospels and and which the Gibraltarians take for granted. His next appointment was to 4th Regiment, make them come alive. Since I have been away I can recognise what we Royal Artillery in Osnabruck, Germany, as part After ordination in the Cathedral of St Mary have, the potential that exists and what might of the 4th Armoured Brigade where he was the chaplain under the new convergence scheme. the Crowned in 1986 Father Danny spent a few be done in the future”. years in the cathedral as an assistant priest. Bishop Frank Walmsley arranged for Father He also had Roman Catholic responsibilities His duties were expanded to be chaplain to St Danny to be interviewed by Monsignor Kevin which covered both Osnabruck and Munster Bernard’s hospital and then chaplain to some Vasey, the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain Garrisons. A chaplain is appointed to a unit schools. During these years he gained valuable (Army) who offered him a position as a military and goes wherever the unit is sent. experience. Father Danny was then moved to St chaplain. The rationale behind the scheme is that the Bernard’s Church at Europa where he stayed for This was followed by an introductory course Royal Army Chaplains’ Department will be five years and was instrumental in organising at the Chaplaincy Centre and subsequently four able to make better use of its personnel whilst the building of a new church. weeks at the Royal Military Course, Sandhurst, delivering a more efficient and effective chapIn the mid-1980s the Gibraltar garrison en- to learn the basics of drill and to understand laincy service to the Army. Since May 2004 joyed the services of a Royal Naval Chaplain. military life. Chaplains are commissioned of- there is one head of service who is the Chaplain General; this is a military appointment in Then the implementation of a defence review ficers but do not use their rank or bear arms. meant the reduction of service chaplains. Bishop Father Danny’s first posting was to North which denomination plays no part. The Army Frank Walmsley, the Bishop of the Forces, asked Germany where he spent two years. It was in Chaplaincy provides a dedicated chaplain for Bishop Devlin if the Gibraltar diocese could sup- the pre-convergence era and so he looked after every unit of approximately 700 soldiers and ply a priest to look after the spiritual needs of the Catholics in the various units such as the 300 families. Chaplains, irrespective of their service personnel. This was agreed and Father REME, the Tank regiment, the Black Watch and denomination but working within their respecFrancis Little took over as officiating chaplain. the Scots Dragoon Guards. It took him a long tive ecclesiastical parameters, provide spiritual, In 1995 Dom Francis made one of his many time to get used to the acronyms and military moral and pastoral care to soldiers and families, no matter what the religion or belief of those departures from the Rock and Father Danny individuals. was asked to take over as officiating chaplain. Father Danny went with the 4th Regiment, He accepted with alacrity as he had always had Royal Artillery to Iraq on a tour lasting from an affinity with the sea and had he not had a October to May 2005. He found he was the only vocation he would have been minded to join Roman Catholic chaplain out of 14 chaplains the Royal Navy. One day Colonel John Sankey responsible for the spiritual welfare of some asked him why he never wore uniform and was 8,000 servicemen there. He was stationed in told that was because he was not a military chapthe Shabah Logistics base near Basra and was lain. The upshot was that he was appointed the responsible for the souls of all Christians in the first Gibraltarian Territorial Army chaplain. unit. As the only Roman Catholic chaplain in In 2000 he decided his immediate future Iraq he did his best to visit all areas so the Cathowas to become a military chaplain and Bishop
Chaplains are commissioned officers but do not use their rank or bear arms
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
57
Fether Danny Hernandez with his congregation
lic servicemen could attend Mass and have available the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation. He was responsible also for those in hospitals or field hospitals. He said: “I used to go out on patrol and the soldiers used to welcome me as they regarded the presence of the padre as a sign of good luck. On patrol the chaplain shares in the work of the troops, their anxieties and their fears. It enables the chaplain to become part of the team and offer moral support”. The next year he was posted to serve with the 2 Bn The Green Jackets which then became the 4 Bn The Rifles. The battalion went to Canada for six weeks battle training and then in May 2007 flew out to Iraq. This was Father Danny’s second tour and he found it far tougher. Although he went out from time to time on patrols, most of the time he was in the Basra Palace compound with the Rifle Battle group. Fatal casualties were suffered with many more severely wounded. It brought home the importance of the chaplaincy. Father Danny reflects: “Soldiers going out on a mission do become aware of religion. I took out with me a quantity of rosaries made out of parachute cord and Riflemen would queue up to be given a rosary. It is important for the chaplain not to to be seen as a type of mascot or guru. A few would ask questions about faith and life and what is the point of this or that. A number would come to Sunday Mass and some would ask to be received into the Church. This number included a Company Sergeant Major. “I found that some of the soldiers, having seen the chaplain share their experiences, would come and ask what is it that you have as you seem to have meaning and purpose in your
58
life. Many look for specific religious experiences but I suggest we can find meaning and religiosity in our own ordinary experiences. You are humbled when you see young soldiers willing to take risks in particular when so many are killed trying to save their injured friends. Is that not the Gospel — to lay down your life for your friend? “In combat the soldiers are living the Gospel as above all else they look after each other to the point of laying their life down for their comrade. If that is not being religious then tell me what religion is all about. The courage shown by these young soldiers is enormous. There is a difference between bravery and courage. Bravery is something that is usually done without thinking about the consequences, whilst courage is knowing the consequences but still going ahead. It takes courage to go out on patrol knowing you will be shot at and maybe wounded or killed. “Soldiers today are volunteers and know what they have joined up to do. There is excitement and a purpose in life in the Services. When
“
In combat the soldiers are living the Gospel as above all else they look after each other to the point of laying their life down for their comrade
”
a soldier is killed there is huge grief for the parents but they know that their son was killed doing something he wanted to do.” Upon his return to the UK Father Danny was presented with the QCVS (Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service) for his work during his tour in Iraq on ‘Op Telic 10’. The General commanding 4th Division presented the award to him at the church in Bulford in the presence of Colonel Patrick Sanders DSO, at the time the Commanding Officer of 4th Bn The Rifles, senior officers, the Regimental Sergeant Major, his parents and sister and many other friends military and civilian. The adjutant during the tour was Captain James Fulton son of the Governor and Lady Fulton. Father Danny’s current posting is the Chaplain to 10 Training Battalion in Borden, Hants. This includes the School of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers which specialises in the second phase of training for the new recruits. The first phase trains the recruits to become soldiers whilst the second turns them into skilled tradesmen. Father Danny, despite experiencing the horrors of war, remains a happy, fulfilled and contented man. He attributes this to being part of the Gibraltarian family. He concluded this interview by saying: “Wherever I go in the world Gibraltar is always in the forefront of my mind. My three pillars are faith, family and friends. The close community on the Rock provides a sense of love and friendship that gives every Gibraltarian a wonderful foundation for life either on or outside the Rock. As soon as a tour is finished then I cannot wait to get back to Gibraltar to be reunited with my family and my friends.” n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
hair & beauty
leisurewear
Tel: 200 73786
54 City Mill Lane Tel/Fax: 200 45966 Email: sandra4stichdesign@yahoo.com
Shopping &Beauty
We do Silk Screen Printing, Embroidery, Transfers on:
Polo-Shirts, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, School Logo, Baseball Caps, Work Wear, Foot Wear, Sweets, Stickers, Chefs, Waiters + Domestic Uniforms, Umbrellas, Pens, Lighters, Key-rings, Stickers, Protective clothing, Uniforms and loads more promotional items too many to mention.
shopping & gifts
Enjoy the experience of having your hair styled in a relaxed and friendly environment, with massaging backwash chair and a welcoming team of top stylists
LONDON HAIR DESIGNS
Tel: 200 79997 Mobile: 54022083
4 Horse Barrack Lane Tel: 200 70706 open 5 days 10am-5pm - late night Thurs & Fri
email: stitchandprint@gibtelecom.net
Renaissance
shopping & gifts
Health & Beauty Salon
Don House Arcade Tel: 20077311
Matthew’s Jewellery Repairs For all your Jewellery requirements at guaranteed low prices
Gift Vouchers Available
Also Jewellery repairs, engraving, diamond setting, Jewellery appraisals
4/4 Crutchetts Ramp Tel/Fax: 200 50478 Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
solid, silver dolphin charm £14
the silver shop casemates arcade, gibraltar
Archive editions of The Gibraltar Magazine now available online at www.thegibraltarmagazine.com visit us online
• Aromatherapy • Sugar Waxing • Manicures • Pedicures • Facials • Eyelash/Eyebrow Tinting • Bodywraps for instant inch loss • Reflexology • Luxury Organic 2 hour face and body treatment Open: Monday - Friday 9.30am - 9pm
The Flowers of Gibraltar by Leslie Linares, Arthur Harper and John Cortes
Book on sale at Gibraltar Book Shops
84 Irish Town Tel: 200 71238
La alhambrA MINI MARKET
Wines · Spirits · Tobacconist Groceries · Indian Spices OPEN 7 DAYS · LATE HOURS 10 Bell Lane · Tel: 200 77337 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAziNE • OCTOBER 2009 2009
59 59
profile
by Elena Scialtiel
Her quest became to transform breast cancer care and prevention from a thorny ordeal to a guideline-promoted service
Maria Bernathova:
Breast Practice
It may sound straight out of some romance novel you read last summer under the beach umbrella, but the feel-good tale of the young and pretty Slovakian radiologist who crosses seas and mountains to be with her beau is far from being fiction. The plot is simple: she gives up a brilliant career in Mitteleuropa and puts on hold her dream of becoming a professor for family’s sake, because as a woman she knows where her priorities stand. In the end, she causes a medical revolution in the hospital of the tiny
60
country where they work together happily ever after. Sounds too much ‘Enchanted’ meets ‘ER’ to be actually true? Of course it is true! It’s the heart-warming story of Dr Maria Bernathova, who joined St.
Bernard’s Hospital Radiology Department in 2007, where her partner Prof. Gerd Bodner has been working since 2005. Her quest became to transform breast cancer care and prevention from a thorny ordeal to a guideline-promoted service, after Mr Deardon and Prof. Bodner had introduced the one-stop peace-of-mind clinic. Like the heroine of The Sound Of Music, Maria comes to us from Austria, and she brings to Gibraltar the know-how of her 12 years radiology experience (ten years in breast imaging), and her research into digital mammography and MRI at Innsbruck University Hospital, where she was a consultant in a team which worked like clockwork with perfect equipment, carte blanche for infrastructure updates, committed junior doctors and mammographers galore. With the aim of eradicating breast cancer from the Rock, or at least detecting it as early as possible, she instantly pinpointed improvements required for the local mammography service and suggested them to both management and charity associations ready to act on her recommendations, without disheartening at the petty hurdles she confesses having encountered. Every woman who had lump scares before and after 2007 can testify to how diagnostics have gone from ‘naught’ to ‘nicely thought’ under Maria’s aegis, pruning the ramifications of lengthy international referrals. A further rung was added to the ladder in late August 2009, with the installation of the new state-of-the-art machine, thanks to the Bonita Trust’s generous sponsoring, after Maria and the president of Gibraltar’s Breast Cancer Support Group, former cancer patient Isobel Hammond-Ellul, persuasively lobbied committee members Naomi Hassan and Moe Cohen. To those wondering whether it was really necessary to ‘fritter away’ funds on a machine — capable of producing on-screen digitalised images virtually cell by cell, bombarding the patient with significantly less radiation — instead of upgrading the existing contraption for a fraction of the cost, Maria replies that if you want sterling service, you must be prepared to invest some extra... pound sterling! One more step is needed to get to the very top of diagnosis and prognosis — the department is still awaiting the proper information system, backbone of breast cancer screening, which will allow storage, sharing and management of data efficiently and permanently, as well as extrapolating statistics in real time, to follow each patient’s progress (or regress) throughout
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
profile
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the years, monitor local trends and patterns that may differ from European or UK standards and study their causes. Liasing with other departments to have the patient’s entire medical history accessible in one file is the condition sine qua non for the forthcoming screening service to be effective. Gibraltar has been an excellent case study for Maria. Unfortunately the first thing she noticed is the higher incidence of breast cancer, which prompted questions, partly answered by the population’s close-knit net of relations. Digging deeper, Maria realised many cases where connected through a common ancestress, which also explains our widespread anxiety and much trumpeted awareness. Anyone worried by their family history can start asking their GP for appointments. The thorough screening of the over-40 female population is expected to start in the next couple of months, a time span which countries much larger and with human and technological resources much more specialised than Gibraltar are wrestling to adhere to. Furthermore, the virtually zero distance Gibraltarian women have to travel to get their screening at the nearest hospital means nobody will shun away on inconvenience grounds, and Maria’s successor will be able to photograph a comprehensive picture of size and shape of lumps before they get harder, and hence impossible to vanquish without aggressive treatment. Happy ending of the novel, or happy beginning for the sequel, Maria’s true ‘boob revolu-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
tion’ — perhaps in different wording — will be her strongest suit in her résumé to show off the kind of cloth her scrubs are cut from, when, like the heroine of Chocolat, she’s eventually ready to move on to another hospital and start working her magic all over. But she will always be remembered in Gibraltar as the brave swashbuckler who paved the way in the jungle of pixels to make sure that no killer beast is skulking in the shadows. n
The screening of the over-40 female population is expected to start in the next couple of months, a time span which countries larger and with resources much more specialised than Gibraltar are wrestling to adhere to
9th October is Think Pink Day - wear something pink wherever you are
61
book releases
and on UK timated d e s ba is es n res it e betwee y u g fi b ll US d a l c cou lini there nd 8,000 c braltar a Gi 6,000 people in could h e obes >30), whic illion I 2 1- m (BM to a £ e bill e t a equ althcar he ear per y
the fat facts The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.
Worldwide more than 1 billion adults are currently overweight with approximately 1/3 of these being clinically obese (BMI >30). This obesity epidemic is now a major contributor to the global healthcare burden. In individual countries obesity rates vary from 5% (China and Japan) to 66% in the US and 75% in urban Samoa. More worrying is the 22 million children under five currently estimated to be overweight worldwide. According to the US Surgeon General, in the USA the number of overweight children has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has trebled since 1980. In 2004 the American Medical Association placed obesity as the second highest cause of death in the USA (after smoking). Obesity accounts for as much as 7% of total health care costs in several developed countries and in the USA and the UK the cost is even higher. In 1995 the US treasury estimated that $99 million was spent on treating obesity and its associated complications. Today the cost is more than double this. Based on UK and US figures it is es-
62
timated there could be between 6,000 and 8,000 clinically obese people in Gibraltar (BMI >30), which could equate to a £1-2 million healthcare bill per year. In reality however the true costs are much greater as not all obesity-related conditions are included in the calculations. No matter how alarming the health economic data is, it is extremely important to not forget the significant cost of obesity to the individual. These include: • Lost output due to reduced ability to work or cessation of productivity • Reduced quality of life • Increased morbidity (cardiac disease, diabetes and arthritis) • Premature mortality (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease) • Stigmatization within society • Decreased opportunity in education, housing and employment How do we define obesity and overweight? Obesity is assessed using body mass index
(BMI) which is defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2). Whilst BMI provides a benchmark for comparative assessment, risks of disease in all populations increase progressively from lower BMI levels. In Africa and Asia, adult mean BMI levels are 22-23 kg/m2 whilst levels of 25-27 kg/m2 are prevalent across North America, Europe, and in some Latin American, North African and Pacific Island countries. BMI also increases in middleaged and elderly people, who are at the greatest risk of health complications. The distribution of BMI is shifting upwards in many populations. Why is this happening? The rising epidemic reflects changes in society and its behavioural patterns over recent decades. Undoubtedly, genetic inheritance is important in determining a person’s susceptibility to weight gain however energy balance is determined by calorie intake and physical activity. Thus as incomes rise and populations become more urban, diets high in complex carbohydrates give way to more varied diets with a higher proportion of fats, saturated fats and sugars. At the same time, shifts towards less physically demanding work, and less physical activity through the increasing use of automated transport, technology in the home, and more passive leisure pursuits have been seen worldwide. Put simply, “Energy balance is determined by calorie intake and physical activity”. Ironically, contrary to common belief, the obesity epidemic is not just restricted to industrialized societies and is seen to be growing faster in some developing countries which are currently experiencing the rapid introduction of modern energy saving technology and western high calorie foodstuffs. How does excess body fat impact health? The health consequences of obesity range from increased risk of premature death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Obesity is a major risk for life threatening chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, certain forms of cancer (breast, colon, prostate, uterus, kidney and gallbladder) and gallbladder disease. Being overweight can lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Other non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with obesity include respiratory problems (sleep apnoea), chronic musculoskeletal problems (including osteoarthritis — a major cause of disability), skin problems, infections and infertility. Obesity should probably be considered a disease in its own right as together with smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol it is a recognised key risk factor for many other chronic diseases. In the analyses carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and WHO Body Mass Index (BMI) Classification Less than 18.5 Underweight 18.5 to 24.9 Normal or Healthy Range 25.0 to 29.9 Overweight 30.0 to 34.9 Obese 35.0 to 39.9 Severely Obese 40.0 to 49.9 Morbid Obese >50 Super Obese GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
by Mr David Deardon MD, FRCS, Consultant General Surgeon, Specialist Medical Clinic 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21 kg/m2. Economists with RTI International, a non-profit research organisation in North Carolina, analysed national data on 366,000 people. Among the findings published online in the journal Obesity, they found that: • Overall, excess weight was responsible for the loss of roughly 95 million years of life in the USA in 2008. • Non-smokers who are obese (about 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight) have a shorter life span by a year or less. • Smoking takes a toll, too, and very heavy smokers are affected most. An 18-year-old white male who is normal weight and does not smoke can expect to live to age 81. If he’s extremely obese and a smoker, his life expectancy is 60, a difference of 21 years. What can society do about it? “Inside every obese person there is a small person trying to get out.” Effective weight management for individuals and groups at risk of developing obesity involves a range of longterm strategies. These include prevention, weight maintenance, management of co-morbidities and weight loss. Key elements include: • Creating supportive environments through public policies that promote low-fat, highfibre foods, and that provide opportunities for physical activity. • Promoting healthy behaviour to motivate and enable individuals to lose weight by Geating more fruit and vegetables, nuts and whole grains; Gengaging in daily moderate physical activity
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
for at least 30 minutes; Gcutting the amount of fatty, sugary foods in the diet; Gmoving from saturated animal-based fats to unsaturated vegetable-oil based fats. • Promoting medical treatments for the existing burden of obesity and associated conditions with effective support for those affected to lose weight or avoid further weight gain. Medical and Surgical Options Whilst lifestyle changes, low calorie diets, increased exercise and some medical treatments remain the ideal way to loose weight, some patients are unable to achieve the weight loss necessary to return to a health BMI. Many surgical techniques have been developed and today interest in obesity (Bariatric) surgery is a growing faster than ever before. Broadly speaking three surgical options exist. The water filled Intragastric (BIB®) Balloon is placed in the stomach using an endoscope passed through the mouth under sedation. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and does not require surgery. It is effective in patients who are overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9). It is sometimes used in special circumstances for patients with very high BMIs to rapidly reduce the liver fat content prior to surgery. The balloon is removed once the target weight is reached.
“
Obesity is not just a weight problem, it is a treatable health crisis
”
health For patients with BMIs greater than 30, the balloon is not so effective and two surgical treatments are available. Gastric by-pass surgery including the gastric by-pass and duodenal switch are major irreversible operations which reduces the size of the stomach and short circuit the small intestine to create a permanent state of malabsorption. The operation is very effective but involves cutting and joining the intestine in a number of places. It is associated with a significant surgical complication rate and post operative biochemical problem including vitamin, iron and calcium malabsorption which can occur in up to 30% of patients. This requires lifelong supplements to be taken. The adjustable laparoscopic gastric band (Lap Band®), is a device which is placed around the neck of the stomach using keyhole surgery and which can be intermittently adjusted to restrict the amount of food that can be eaten. The Lap Band is as effective as the gastric by-pass techniques at helping a patient loose weight, however the technique has the distinct advantage of not altering the intestinal tract and not dividing the bowel. The surgical complications are much lower with this procedure and there are no associated vitamin, iron or calcium nutritional problems. The device can be removed once the patient reaches their target weight. When considering the best way to lose weight, the preferred option is to reverse the ‘energy in/ energy out’ imbalance by diet and exercise. If you opt for one of the surgical options, to ensure the best long term results, your team should be able to offer you dietetic, surgical, endocrine medical and fitness training support and be committed to working with you towards your goal. n
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health & medical directory
health& fitness Bell Pharmacy
CHEMISTS Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989 Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
McTimoney Chiropractor
Your Family Chemists
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
Chiropodists
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
Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions
John W Miles BSc (Podiatry), MChS College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777
ChiropraCtors
PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD British Registered Optometrists
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
The Health Store
5 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 20073765 Suppliers of Glucosamine, Ginkgo Biloba and all vitamins. Body Building Products (Creatine etc) Open: 9am - 1pm & 3pm - 6pm
For all your Pharmaceutical needs
Louis’ Pharmacy Open: 9 - 7 Monday - Friday, Saturday 10 -1.30pm, Closed Sundays Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 44797
38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi
completefitness
Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Gibraltar Tel: 200 51113
Keith J Vinnicombe BDS (Wales) LDS RCS (Eng) MFGDP (UK)
Unit F5B ICC, 2a Main Street Tel/Fax: 200 40747 Emergency: 200 78756
GUARANTEED
You pre-pay at today’s prices, we provide your chosen service whenever it is eventually required and whatever it eventually costs Brochures on Pre-Paid Funeral Planning Available from:
11 Convent Place Tel: 200 75747
Codali Funeral Services
Tel: 200 77777
College Clinic, Regal House, Queensway TEL: 54029587 FOR HOME VISITS
Need somebody to talk to?
7 days a week 6-10pm
Dr Hasse Lundgaard DDS Borge Dental & Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790
Physicians Dr Norbert V Borge FRCP (London) 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel/Fax: 200 75790
The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 200 73765
Opticians / Optometrists
Treatment of all Foot Problems
• Diabetics
ORTHODONTISTS
Health Stores
STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST
• Wart (Verruca) Clinic
Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal Hse Tel: 200 77777
Daniel N. Borge BDS MSc MFDS RCS(Eng) Borge Dental/Medical Centre 7-9 Cornwall’s Lane Tel: 200 75790
Sports Massage Therapy & Personal Training
BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S
• Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotics including Children
Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Flr, 58 Main St Tel: 200 41733 After hours: 200 40026
DentAL SURGEONS
JOHN W. MILES
• Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Removal
Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC ICC F5C 1st Flr, Casemates. Tel: 200 44226
Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757
Primary Care Centre 2nd Flr International Commercial Centre
Weekend and Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance)
Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays : 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm GP Clinics: 8am - 5.20pm
64 whataapage pageturner! turner!www.thegibraltarmagazine.com www.thegibraltarmagazine.com 64 what
L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544
PERSONAL TRAINERS Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113 Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) 3/8 Turnbull’s Lane Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com
SPECIALISTS Specialist Medical Centre Unit F7 ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 49999 Fax: 200 49999 Email: info@smg.gi www.smg.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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courses
Counselling Skills & Theory Courses Martin Owen, Principal Tutor for Counselling & Training Services Western Europe was recently in Gibraltar to oversee the running of courses locally and to present certificates of achievement to 13 students who recently completed the Level 2 course in Counselling Skills and are currently enrolled on the Level 3 Certificate Course in Counselling Skills and Theory. The organisation has been active in Gibraltar since 1995 and offers a wide range of courses locally to many professionals in the caring fields and also to those wishing to train as professional counsellors. An organisation, based in the
United Kingdom it has facilitated specialist training to include bringing over professionals working in the fields of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Sexual Abuse, Relationships and Bereavement. CTSWE is now offering courses due to start in October in counselling skills and counselling theory.
Both courses which are validated in UK by the NCFE will be held over a series of Saturdays, probably one session per month. The level three Certificate in Counselling Theory course focuses on the application of counselling skills backed up by theoretical concepts and this is the direct precursor to the full
CTSWE is now offering courses due to start in October in counselling skills and counselling theory
diploma course which leads on to the professionally recognised qualification of counsellor. A Diploma in Counselling is currently in the planning stages and will be offered sometime in 2010 to students having completed the Level 3 course or an equivalent acceptable to the awarding body. n A full prospectus detailing the range of training courses available for the year 2009/10 can be obtained from Mark Montovio, who is the Senior Tutor for Gibraltar and Spain. Contact by telephone on 20040338 or email mount@gibraltar.gi
58 Main Street, 1st Floor. Tel: 200 74040 Regular Clinics Claudia Schiel Health/Beauty Therapist Auriculo Medicine for Stop Smoking Dermatological Peels Non Surgical Lifting Specialising in all kinds of skin problems Holistic Therapies for various conditions - Reflexology - Medicinal Pedicures - Hair Extensions
Lymphatic Drainage Sports Injuries - Cervical Problems Collagen Implants Botox Injections - Sclerotherapy (Thread Vein Treatment) New Clinics FAKE BAKE NEW in Gibraltar - revolutionary fake tanning system Exclusive Agents
Gillian Schirmer MA DC UK McTimoney Chiropractor
Laser Clinic Permanent Hair Removal, Pigmentation and anti-aging
Gentle and Effective Chiropractic Treatment for all Muscular and Joint Pains, especially Sports Injuries, Pregnancy. Headaches, and Migraines. Suitable for all ages. Alison Prior Health/Beauty Therapist
Health / Weight Loss Unique personalised nutrition programme Ultra Sound NEW fat removing technique
- Facials - Waxing - Massages - Slimming Treatments NEW! Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal Hollywood & Brazilian Waxing
BOOK NOW FOR: Various evening courses in Beauty Therapy
Registered & Licensed by Health & Environmental Department
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
what a page turner! www.thegibraltarmagazine.com 65
That Nail Place L4
Nail Extensions DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA DIGITAL CAMERA - MOBILE PHONES - GPS - PDA ACCESSORIES
No. 4 Watergardens - Block 1, PO Box 882 Tel/Fax: +350 200 78600
E6
Gel - Acrylic - Fibreglass
I4
Airbrushing Nail Art Body Jewellery
Unit F22A 1st Floor, ICC. Tel: 200 73211
H4
now also in Casemates
S4
R4
R4
X6
N4
Gibraltar Taxi Association
D8
GUIDED ROCK TOURS 19 Waterport Wharf Main Office Tel: 20070052 Fax: 20076986 Radio service: 20070027
K4
open12 noon till late Unit 2 B The Tower Marina BayTel: 46668
A3
Sacha’s
DUTY FREE WINES, SPIRITS & TOBACCO open 7 days 79 Main Street
E7 C6
Artists’ Corner
Oil & Watercolours, hand-painted silks, decoupage, jewellery, prints & framing
Kiosk No. 2 5 Waterport Wharf Tel: 200 47587www.gibraltararts.com
THE TASTY BITE 59A Irish Town Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321
Quality Kitchen Ware Gibraltar’s Best Stocked Cook Shop K5
The Takeway with a difference. Homecooking . our speciality . Open Monday
M5 to Saturday
46 Irish Town Tel: 200 75188 Fax: 200 72653
the silver shop
for beautiful silver jewellery & gifts 3 locations in gibraltar casemates arcade • 275 main st horse barrack lane
G3
N3
R5
M4
P2
Q5 V4
184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun) Accountants Durante Carboni Jardim..............X3 ESV Hassan & Co........................ I4 Business/Financial Services AI Couriers (DHL)......................K3 Almanac......................................O2 Barclays...................................... M4 GibraltarAssetManagement....... M5 Hassans............................................ Jyske Bank.................................. L4 Masbro Insurance........................N4 Norwich & Peterborough............Q5 Phoenix Solutions........................ J4 Sovereign Trust...........................N4 STM Fidecs.................................H7 Business Services Call Centre..................................V4 Global Business Centre................S3 Waste Management......................a6 Business Supplies Beacon Press...............................N6 Glasshouse..................................N5 Image Graphics...........................N3 Stitch Design................................P3
Motoring & Car Sales A. M. Capurro & Sons Ltd ........ N6 Computers & Cableing Image Graphics........................... N3 Newton Systems.........................M5 PC Clinic..................................... U3 Food & Drink 14 on the Quay.............................Z6 Al Baraka.................................... X7 Amin’s The Office....................... K5 All Sports Bar ............................ N3 Birdie Cafe Restaurant................ D7 The Boatyard................................Z6 Buddies Pasta Casa..................... Q4 Cafe Rojo.................................... K5 Café Solo..................................... G3 Casa Pepe.....................................Z6 El Patio........................................ H2 Final Whistle............................... N3 Fresh .......................................... G4 Garcia’s Take-Away.................... C1 Get Joost...............................H4, S4 Get Stuffed.................................. A3 House of Sacarello.......................L5 Just-a-Nibble.................................I4
J4• Sandwiches • Soups • Baguettes/ Ciabatta • Desserts/ • Take-away • Deliveries Homemade Italian Ice-cream • Eat in (outside!) • Business Lunches Mon - Fri 10-6, Sat 10 - 4, Closed Sundays • Parties/ 24 Main St Tel: 20043840 Fax: 42390 Kids Parties
Irish Town Antiques
Just Desserts...................................I4 Khans............................................C8 London Bar...................................R2 Lord Nelson................................. H2 Marrakesh Restaurant...................R3 Mumtaz........................................ N2 El Patio......................................... H2 Picadilly Gardens.......................... b4 Pickwicks Bar...............................R3 Pig and Whistle Bar..................... D7 Pusser’s Landing . ........................C5 Roy’s Cod Plaice.......................... H4 Royal Calpe.................................. Q5 Saccone & Speed...........................J4 Smiths Fish and Chips................. V4 Solo Express................................ H4 Star Bar........................................ K5 The Three Roses.......................... Q2 Thyme Cafe.................................. N3 Trafalgar Sports Bar.......................a3 Waterfront.................................... Y7
Extend-it Plus............................... N2 Joya’s Gents Hairdressers............ N2 Renaissance Beauty.......................J4 Roots.............................................T4 Short Cut........................................I6
Funeral Services Codali Funeral Services............... U3
Medical / Health Bell Pharmacy.............................. N3 Claudia’s Clinic............................ K4 Dr. Crump, Steven, Chiropractor I4 Health Food Store........................ O4
Hair & Beauty Salons Classic Cuts..................................M3
Q5
Jewellery Sales/Repair Antonio Jewellers...........................J4 Beau Jangels.................................M4 Jewellery Repairs..........................L4 Matthew’s Jewellery......................I3 Leisure Complete Fitness.......................... R3 Dolphin Safari.............................. A3 Legal Services Budhrani Lawyers........................ K4 Charles Gomez............................. U4 Isolas.............................................E4 Triay & Triay............................... K5
Z6
Louis Pharmacy...........................H4 McTimoney chiropractor.............L4 John Miles - Chiropodist..............K7 Specialist Medical Clinic.............. I4 Sport-On - Sports Therapy...........K3 Steiner Chiropractor.....................K7 Pet Services / Supplies Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic..........H4 Property Sales / Estate Agents Bray Property...............................B3 Property World.............................. I4 Solomon Levy . ...........................U3 General Services Anything Goes............................. P2 Art Gallery...................................R4 Balban (electrician)......................H2 Balloqui . ..................................... P4 LP Borge......................................X3 Denville Designs.........................M3 Fashion House Interiors............... P2 Greenarc.......................................X5 Larbi upholstery...........................R3 Queensway Quay Laundrette.......X7 Seekers.........................................L3
Space Interiors.............................I3 Shopping — General Arcade Keys.................................J5 Carol’s Books...............................I4 Don House Arcade.......................J5 Flair............................................ N4 Gallery Mosaic...........................M5 Home Centre................................J4 Pure Lighting...............................I6 Terry’s........................................M5 Shopping — Fashion/Clothing Esprit.......................................... D4 Aftershock.................................. D4 Recruitment Corporate Resources....................J4 Just Recruitment..........................L4 RecruitGibraltar......................... O6 Quad Consultancy...................... U3 Transport / Marine Services Autoelectrical............................. C7 Gib Cargo................................... B8 Shell Bunkering......................... H6 Tarik Oil..................................... C8
SMITH’S
U4 FISH & CHIPS HADDOCK W4 PLAICE • COD FRESH FRIED IN CRISPY BATTER
178 Main Street · Gibraltar · Telephone 200 48480
P3
295 MAIN ST Tel: 200 74254
Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar
L5
Irish Town Tel: 200 70411
b2
• Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant
Tel: (+350) 20074000 Fax: 20040030
performing arts
jazz from
to
hip-hop classes for kids
If you’re looking for an alternative afterschool activity for your kids, The Show Dance Company opened their doors last month offering dance classes with a fun feel for youngsters who want to try something a little different. We talked to the three teachers to find out exactly what’s on offer.
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“
It’s not just about moving with the music, dancing is both physical and emotional ... you become more aware of your body and your muscles and how they work and move between one position and another
“
Gerald Rodriguez and Sabrina Durell founded the school as a way to keep their passion for dancing alive. They’ve been dancing together for over ten years and are well known locally and internationally for their success in championships, having won the Gibraltar National Championships and taken third place in the World Jazz Championships held in Canada in 2004. Also under their belt was a coveted position in the finals in the World Showdance Championships in 2006. “It was an incredible experience for us to get that far,” Sabrina told us. “We were up against top class dancers from worldwide through the preliminary rounds, then the quarter finals, semi finals and to be selected to be amongst the top seven was quite overwhelming.” Adrian Lopez is another well known local
Gerald and Sabrina at the World Showdance Championships 2006
dancer who has joined the teaching team and between them they are teaching Jazz, Contemporary and Hip Hop dance to children from seven years upwards. Adrian graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2003 and has trained and performed with the National Youth Dance Company in the UK and is fully qualified to teach both students and teachers too. He’s also very philosophical about dance: “It’s not just about moving with the music, dancing is both physical and emotional. From the physical side, you become more aware of your body and your muscles and how they work and move between one position and another,” he explained. “Understanding how your body moves helps to develop technique.” Gerald and Sabrina have been training dancGIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
performing arts rary and hip-hop work well to let each child find his or her preferred style, and with the flat monthly fee, children can attend any mix of classes or concentrate on a single style, as they prefer. “We’ve set this up because we enjoy dance,” Gerald qualified. “Although where money is involved the venture inevitably takes on a business angle. For now we’re going to take things one step at a time, and although we have great ideas to build on for the future we do need to keep our feet on the ground.” Classes are run over a two hour period, three times a week, and with a monthly fee of just £30 per child it’s definitely an economical way to keep them fit, healthy, occupied and most importantly enjoying themselves in an out-ofschool. n You can contact The Show Dance company by email: grodrigu@sapphirenet.gi for info.
“
Our main aim is for kids to enjoy themselves, but we also want to break down some of the barriers and stereotypes which have been hanging on in the dance world for a long time
“
ers for local and international competitions for the last 8 years, but in this new venture they’re aiming to put a slightly different slant on the way things have been done up to now. “Our main aim is for kids to enjoy themselves, but we also want to break down some of the barriers and stereotypes which have been hanging on in the dance world for a long time,” said Gerald. “When I first started dance classes, my mother didn’t approve so I’d tell her I was at the youth centre and got to the dance classes instead. It is unfortunate that through the years many people have seen dance as a ‘girls’ thing. “One of the advantages I think we have is our school has two male teachers. It does help to give boys confidence.” Adrian continued, “If a man is taught by a woman, it’s quite obvious that some of the feminine moves will rub off on their style. We work to help children to develop their dance style in keeping with their own natural movements. I like to think that we give them lines and circles and the students learn to fill them with movement and emotion.” Gerald is well known as well for his involvement with Stagecoach productions, and as a result just while we were talking he took a call for two more bookings for children wanting to attend. The three teachers had been guesstimating the response they’d have for their initial registration evening held on 3rd September and were erring on conservative figures. They were pleasantly surprised by the initial registration of 40 pupils and they are still receiving enquiries daily. The three types of dance — jazz, contempo-
New Adult Dance Classes Wednesday evenings are Salsa and Latin Dance night at the Youth Disco Room, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7pm until 8.30pm. Learn the dances — Cha-Cha, Salsa, Merengue — with Dilip (a profession dance teacher for 15 years) for just £5.00 per session. Telephone: 200 78714 or email dance@trainingtm.net. (All proceeds donated to GibMissionAfrica Charity.)
Tai Chi Classes Tai Chi Class are available at the Yoga Centre (33 Town Range) and King’s Bastion Leisure Centre (Line Wall Road - Youth Disco / Roof Promenade): Monday 18:30 to 20:00 – Yang Style 108 – Advanced Class by invitation only (King’s Bastion) Tuesday 18:30 to 20:00 – Yang Style 16 – Beginners Class (King’s Bastion) Thursday 18:30 to 20:00 – Yang style 16 - Beginners Class (repeat of Tuesday) (King’s Bastion) Saturday 09:30 to 10:30 – Special children’s class (HDH – ADH) by invitation only (Yoga Centre). 11:00 to 12:00 –Children’s Class Fun Tai Chi (4 to 8 years) – (Yoga Centre). 12:00 to 13:30 – Wu Style 48 –(Yoga Centre) Adults £5.00, children £2.00 per session. Contact Dilip rocktaichi@trainingtm.net Tel: 200 78714 (All proceeds to GibMissionAfrica Charity.)
Trading Places: Silver Shop on Main St Main Street’s Silver Shop has move to a great location just opposite Marks & Spencer and you will find beautiful silver jewellery at this beautiful little shop. Fitted out in sleek contemporary style the Silver Shop is one of two Silver Shops in Gibraltar — the other is located on Horse Barrack Lane — so there is absolutely no excuse for not popping in to get your loved one something sparkly for Christmas or a special occasion. And they don’t just cater for the ladies, there are also cufflinks and keyrings for the gentlemen in your life, all beautifully wrapped and presented. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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puzzle page
by Alan Gravett
SUDOKU No prize for these two — you’ll be doing them for the glory!
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Across 1) Mickey Mouse’s feathered aquatic friend (6,4) 6) Stalk (4) 10) It might be Bactrian or dromedary (5) 11) South African of Dutch descent (9) 12) Take up residence again (8) 13) Tall and thin (5) 15) Foreign and unusual items especially in a collection (7) 17) Baltic country with Tallinn as its capital (7) 19) Way in; opportunity (7) 21) Brief and to the point (7) 22) Produce (e.g. a chick) or formulate (e.g. a plan) (5) 24) Utter; complete (8) 27) Author of The Decameron (9) 28) Colourless gas; seaside air (5) 29) Car (4) 30) Full name of a large keyboard instrument (10)
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Down 1) Level on a ship; set of playing cards (4) 2) Top of the pops (6,3) Send completed crossword to: FIRST PRIZE: 3) Shrub; light purple colour (5) The Clipper, Irish Town, Lunch for 2 at 4) Bram Stoker’s best known novel (7) Gibraltar. 5) Thomas ------, 19th century The Clipper Scottish satirist (7) 7) With a mortise it forms a joint; type One entry per person. of saw (5) Closing date: 16th October 2009 8) Person having a good time (10) 9) Person’s internal frame; outline Winner notified in next issue e.g. of a plan (8) of The Gibraltar Magazine. 14) Fear of foreigners (10) 16) Someone from Dublin, for example (8) Last months winner: 18) Person living next door (9) K. Eggleton, Cannon Lane 20) Italian potato dumplings (7) 21) Reduce; fell (3,4) LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Mickey Mouse, Brat, Contrive, Station, Berry, Boris, 23) Unspoken; implied (5) Teasing, Imperial, Fret, Numismatist. 25) In billiards, shot where a ball is potted Down: Scut, Reactor, Amend, Quarters, Marathon Man, after striking another ball (2-3) Environment, Trilemma, Refloat, First, Fair. 26) Gala or jamboree, usually outdoors (4)
Contact us: ICom House 1/5 Irish Town Gibraltar Tel: 200 73158 or 200 76216 Fax: 200 48697 email: steven@icom.gi stef@icom.gi
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
national day
photo: taken at the London Bar
photo: taken at the Yacht Club
C e le b ra te ! NaOnce again Gibraltar’s d ate ebr cel s wa y tional Da 10th all over the Rock on at a September — and wh The s! wa it s great succes famthe all for fun s wa day of ily with a wide variety otherevents, official and every wise, and just about with d fille ar ralt corner of Gib final red and white until the the in ed lod exp firework white sky and the red and ay for T-shirts were put aw just another year. Here are for a few snaps of the day it! sed mis o wh those few
photo: DM Parody
photo: DM Parody
photo: Clive Yeats
photo: Jane McKinnon-Johnson
Irish Town Antiques Antiques & Collectables Irish Town Gibraltar Tel: 200 70411
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
71
sports
At 25, Dyson Parody is quite probably the best darts player on the Rock — and so he should be. Now a professional player, he remembers his first contact with the sport was from his pram and as a toddler watching his parents play.
playing with
dynamite
72
“At the time I was the National Champion and my dad was the Gibraltar coach. We were a team of four boys and two girls. I achieved two bronze medals, one in the singles and one in the doubles, I was also awarded the best player trophy in Bulgaria by the World Darts
“
It was amazing — playing live on SKY, in front of 10,000 spectators and having qualified from a field of 2,000 players. This has definitely been the best moment in darts for me.
“
It is the permanent presence of darts in Dyson Parody’s life which has led him to choose the sport rather than others which he has enjoyed over the years. He remembers his first darts tournament at the tender age of 12: “On a trip to France with my father I had the opportunity to enter the French Open and threw out the French Cup Men’s Champion in the first round of a singles tournament! This was where I made my first dart friends — Peter Evison, Peter Manley, Dennis Priestly and Chris Mason. In fact, the tournament was won by Manley and both him and Evison took me and my dad to dinner that night.” Also known as Dynamite Dyson, the young darts player quickly became involved in the international circuit and at 13 represented Gibraltar in the first European Cup ever attended by Gibraltar Youth Dart Players.
Federation.” For his age and experience, Dyson’s achievements are more than substantial. “I have competed in the WDF European Cup finishing in the final 16 and in the World Cup I was in the final 32,” he told us. “In the Winnmau World Championships I came final 64. These competitions are tough, the best of the world participate and the pressure to do well is always at the back of your mind. Your goal is to be in that final. The only final I have been in was at the BDO Championships at Torremolinos where I faced another Gibraltarian, Dylan Duo and, unfortunately for me, the final went in Dylan’s favour, although I played well.” Dyson’s best moment in his now professional career happened this year when he qualified for the PDC UK Open in Bolton. “It was amazing — playing live on SKY, in front of 10,000
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
spectators and having qualified from a field of 2,000 players. This has definitely been the best moment in darts for me.” He continued “There is a lot one learns from darts. Your brain is ticking and adding and at the same time subtracting from 501, then you are thinking of your finishes and attempting to do a big finish or at least come to a one or two dart finish from 200. The way you approach the game, your stance, whether you’re pulling your darts, keeping the follow through correct so that you achieve the 180 high score or are on track for a nine-darter and the prize money this has.” Darts is not just about throwing though, there’s a lot of tactics involved in competition, and Dyson explained it is important to weigh up your opponent to see if they play too fast or too slow. It’s a game of nerves and patience when you play against the top seeds and Dyson has confronted nine of the top names in the sport. Although he’s only managed one win against those nine, he’s very positive about the experience. “Some of the games have been very close indeed, but some have been losses of 6-0 and then the one win against Chris Mason. But what I have learned is the way these pros play the game of darts. I learn from their techniques and am still learning.” This year Dyson is sponsored by Victor Chandler, only the second darts professional to be taken on by them. “The sponsorship is a small one and came about once I qualified for the UK Open. Victor Chandler were interested in me and we negotiated winnings and then we negotiated that they would pay my professional fees for next year.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Harry Parody, father and manager, with Dynamite Dyson
They agreed, and it is a pleasure to be wearing their logo,” he said. “I am grateful to them as I do not have any other sponsors and it is important as a professional to be on the look out for more sponsors to help me on my way. “My year in darts costs over £10,000 but it’s the coverage these sponsors get when I am playing abroad that counts.” Dyson’s long-term goal is to be ranked in the top 32, playing televised games on a regular basis. He’s already the first ever Gibraltarian
player to appear on TV (except GBC!). “But my real ambition is to become the World Number One and knock out Phil the Power Taylor,” he said with a smile. But to achieve this, Dyson needs to build up his sponsorship if he’s to be able to continue towards the goal, so if you or your company is interested in becoming involved in this venture, Harry Parody, Dyson’s manager, can be contacted on 54015380 or email harry_rockscorpion@ hotmail.com n
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theatre
by Reg Reynolds
Michael Wilding, Noël Coward and John Gielgud — all have graced the stage at Gibraltar’s Theatre Royal
Wilding at the Royal In the July edition of the Gibraltar Magazine I wrote about John Gielgud’s experiences in Gibraltar during World War II. The actor appeared on stage at the Theatre Royal with Michael Wilding, Edith Evans and Beatrice Lillie. I mentioned in the article that Lillie had little to say about Gibraltar except to mention she fell ill. Fortunately, Wilding makes up for his co-star’s reticence. In the book Apple Sauce by Rebecca Wilcox, Wilding explains how he had only been invited to join the ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) troupe when John Mills dropped out at the last minute. Like Gielgud with whom he shared a dressing room, Wilding seemed to enjoy his Gibraltar experience although things did not get off to an auspicious start. “An RAF bomber flew us to the Rock. On arrival there was a momentary panic when we could not find our costumes and props, which were supposed to have preceded us by sea. But after searching all day, we found them under 900 tons of mixed cargo on a merchant ship. The Rock had an almost peace-like feel about it. For one thing, there was no blackout and we were able to sunbathe in the warm Mediterranean weather. We gave three shows a day, on ships, in hospital wards and in army camps, where we found troops on top of the world as news of Montgomery’s successes in North Africa had just filtered through.” In Apple Sauce Wilding describes how he was “accidentally very funny” while performing and how the great Gielgud came to him for advice.
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“John was playing in a sketch about either Hitler or Mussolini. On the first night, he played it straight, and so great was the applause and laughter that I fancy John, who had never played this type of comedy before, must have got carried away. Anyway, the next night, he not only donned a funny uniform and adopted a funny walk, he was what we call in the profession reaching for laughs — and none came. ‘What am I doing wrong?’ A downcast Gielgud asked. ‘You know about comedy. I don’t’.” Wilding had tremendous respect for his more experienced contemporary and suggested hesitantly that when audiences sense an actor
“While on the Rock I got to know that popular member of our little company Beatrice Lillie. No one would ever have guessed, watching her gagging her way through her act, that her heart was broken”
reaching for laughs “they dry up”. The next night Gielgud played it straight again, the audience laughed in all the right places and he received a standing ovation. When the curtain came down he rushed over, embraced Wilding and cried, “What a clever pusskin you are Mike!” In the biography Wilding says, “While on the Rock I got to know that popular member of our little company Beatrice Lillie. No one would ever have guessed, watching her gagging her way through her act, that her heart was broken. Three months before her only son [Bobbie] had been reported missing after a German torpedo struck his ship in the Atlantic. She confided in me her steadfast belief that her son was safe and that it would be only matter of time before he was traced. “I noticed that after performances for the Navy, when the lads crowded onto the stage to shake hands with the cast, Bea always asked them if they had known her son or had news of him. One night, she found herself shaking hands with a young midshipman who had served on her son’s ship. She broke down in tears. ‘You have survived,’ she cried, ‘surely there is some hope for my son? Tell me exactly what happened’. Embarrassed, the midshipman mumbled ‘It all happened so quickly, Ma’am. He was the last man to leave the ship. He stayed at his post until the rest of us were safe on liferafts. He was a very brave man, Ma’am.’ Bea smiled through her tears ‘Thank you for saying that. Somehow it makes it easier’.’’ In the introduction to Apple Sauce Wilcox wrote, “When we first discussed this book, I told Michael bluntly that he would have to be completely frank about every aspect of his life and career”. Wilding may have been frank but he certainly was way off the mark regarding the loss of Bobbie’s ship HMS Tenedos, getting both the enemy and the ocean wrong. The aging ‘S’ class destroyer wasn’t torpedoed by Germans in the Atlantic but was actually bombed and sunk by the Japanese in the Indian Ocean. Lillie later learned details of her son’s fate. It was 5th April, 1942, Easter Sunday, and the Tenedos was at anchor at Columbo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) when the Japanese planes attacked. At the time Ordinary Seaman Peel [*see end of story] was safely billeted ashore but bravely he raced to dockside and was taken aboard ship. As one of the ‘new men’ he was ordered forward to avoid congestion on the deck areas where most of the guns were concentrated. “Bobbie ignored this order,” wrote Lillie in her autobiography Every Other Inch a Lady. “He went aft to the stern guns and volunteered to carry ammunition to them from below deck. “The Royal Air Force hadn’t the planes capable of dealing with the Japanese Zero fighterbombers, which had little difficulty breaking through the flimsy air defenses and the ship’s gunfire to attack the harbour. The Tenedos took a direct hit aft from a 500-pound bomb. The whole stern was torn off. The frigate went down very quickly. “Those who were amidships and forward, where the ‘new men’ were supposed to be, went unharmed and had no trouble reaching the bomb-torn jetty.” Lillie’s beloved ‘Bobbie’, sixth and last Baronet Peel, a direct descendent of Conservative Prime Minister (1834-35 and 1844-46) Sir Robert Peel, was one of 15 men who died in the explo-
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
theatre
s sion. They were listed as missing until the wreck was raised and the bodies recovered. After the war Lillie travelled to Ceylon to visit Bobbie’s grave in the Kanetta Cemetery. She never recovered from the loss of her son but the show must go on as they say and the actress, singer, comedienne born in Toronto, Canada in 1884 enjoyed a long and brilliant career and lived to the grand age of 104. After Gibraltar, Wilding’s star continued to rise but when he married the much younger Elizabeth Taylor and left the British film and stage for Hollywood his career took a nose dive. The studios stopped calling and Taylor left him (divorced in 1957 after five years of marriage and the birth of two sons) to marry mercurial producer Mike Todd. Wilding returned to England but couldn’t bring himself to face friends or the public. He fell into a deep depression and was at the lowest point of his life when, partly in thanks to a Gibraltar’s Theatre Royal — sadly just the façade now friendship made at Gibraltar, he was able to pull remains himself together and get on with his life. Disturbed by suicidal thoughts he visited a well-known show-business doctor who advised him the best medicine would be to get back to work. The next night Wilding went to a West End opening; he arrived late and made his way to a seat in the dark. When the lights went up at the end of the first act he was startled to find himself sitting next to Dame Edith Evans. “Why,” she exclaimed, “if am not mistaken, you are Michael Wilding?” Wilding told his biographer that he was astonished that, “Dame Edith should remember me from Gibraltar…”
He fell into a deep depression and was at the lowest point of his life when, partly in thanks to a friendship made at Gibraltar, he was able to pull himself together and get on with his life
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Wilding kissed her hand and invited her for a drink. Later, over dinner at the Ivy, Dame Edith restored his confidence and instilled hope for the future. “She told me that my tribulations were far from over. I would have yet another endurance test ahead of me. But finally, if I would only be patient, I would meet a woman who would bring me lasting happiness in marriage, which she felt was my ultimate goal in life and took precedence over my career. I had to agree with her. As for her prophecies, they all came true.” Subsequently Wilding found success as an agent and in 1964 he met and married the beautiful actress Margaret Leighton (his 4th wife). They were happily married until her death in 1976. He made his final film appearance, a non-speaking cameo, in Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) in which he co-starred with the actor he had long ago replaced in the Gibraltar troupe — John Mills. Wilding had suffered from epilepsy since he was 18-years-old. He kept the seizures under control most of his life but they grew more frequent in his declining years and he died on 8th July, 1979 after falling down stairs. The handsome heart-throb who was born at Leighon-Sea and starred in such diverse films as In Which We Serve (1942), Stage Fright (1950) and The World of Suzie Wong (1960), was 15 days short of his 67th birthday. Author’s note: Beatrice Lillie married Sir Robert Peel on 20th January, 1920. They separated in 1927 but never divorced. He died in 1934 and she died in 1989 on the 69th anniversary of their marriage. Bobbie was their only child.
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pets&accessories Protect Your Dog Against Fatal Summer Diseases Heartworm, Leishmaniosis, Tickborne Diseases Phone Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for details 200 77334 Emergency: 8977
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L. SACARELLO 96 Main St Tel: 200 78723 Fax: 200 78723 HORTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Tel: 200 43134 Fax: 200 50648 Convent Gardens, Convent Garden Ramp
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Booksellers, Newsagents & Stationers
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Gibraltar Connections by Reg Reynolds
60 riveting true stories of people and events connected to the world’s most famous Rock.
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The Flowers of Gibraltar by Leslie Linares, Arthur Harper and John Cortes
Book on sale at Gibraltar Book Shops
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2009
by Sonia Golt
the singer
not the song Looking back to the early ’60s I recall a song, The Singer Not The Song which was made into a film in 1961 after being sung by many different groups and singers. The score was exactly the same, it had the very same lyrics, but the each singer interpreted it differently and the one I recall as the best version was the Rolling Stones. I wonder why?
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
could see she had a good ear, a good timbre and good pitch control. When she was about eight she started singing more often but when I tried to convince her to sing with me she was too shy. I remember when my wife, Soraya, convinced her to accompany us to karaoke one evening and when she sung we were so proud of her as everyone stopped talking to listen to her and complimented us on her singing. She has always been shy but last year for the first time she appeared at the Miss Glamour Beauty Pageant when her little sister Tiffany persuaded her to sing a song with her. Little Tiffany, is quite the opposite, she is not shy at all and from the moment she said her first word singing soon followed. My other daughter Jeslyn, who also has a lovely voice, taught Tiffany different techniques to enhance and project her voice. Tiffany decided she would appear alone on stage to sing initially and then her sister would join her, this they did and it was a resounding success.” The stage presence and the flair of both girls were great, but being so young Tiffany became the centre of attention and she even surpassed her parent’s expectations. The audience was thrilled. “She is a star,” says proud daddy forgetting that this interview is supposed to be about him. We asked him about his own aims; “My aim has been, and still is, to do as many shows as possible and be recognised as the ballad singer I am.
“
I still remember that special feeling when I saw all those lovable children and young adults dancing to my songs, the emotion I felt cannot be described
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C
ertain singers attract you with their voices, as if possessing an innate musical instrument that absorbs you. An audience expects a singer to have a stage presence that keeps your eyes glue to their performance. Local singer Andrew Ferrary has this stage presence as do his daughters — it must be in the genes! “I started singing at an early age. By my midteens I was vocalist for a band made up of a group of friends who are excellent musicians, but unfortunately, as is the case for many young aspiring bands locally and elsewhere, some never make it. After a while I went solo and sang several times in the Summer Nights back when it started, and I also sang at the Old Naval ground on National Day,” Andrew explains. “As I love singing I tend to frequent karaoke in Spain and on a few occasions I was spotted by bands and roped in to sing with them in different venues up the Coast. I also took to the stage solo again, in a variety of hotels in Spain where they called on me to sing at special functions, including New Year’s Eve.” Andrew has sung at a variety of shows locally, and he went on to tell us about one special one for him. “I have participated in many local productions but I must mention a particular favourite of mine which was the Special Olympics. I still remember that special feeling when I saw all those lovable children and young adults dancing to my songs, the emotion I felt cannot be described. “I do not dedicate myself solely to singing, much as I would love to, I have a full time job as a fire-fighter for the MOD, but singing is my hobby and, as my passion, is something I really take seriously.” Andrew’s three daughters share his passion for singing; “My daughter Gianna ‘choreographed’ little dances and songs for family parties and I
Andrew Ferrary takes the stage Inset: two of his talented daughters
I would love to perform in Miss Gibraltar and to sing in St Michael’s Cave at a special event, this is my dream for I have never sung in that beautiful setting before. Naturally we all know Gibraltar offers little scope for the talent that exists locally so I think now we should listen to people’s advice and take at least Tiffany [outside Gibraltar], as she is the youngest and could therefore have her voice better trained. But this is easier said than done, as unfortunately it entails a lot of expenses. People have also mentioned taking our girls to the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, which would be a terrific experience for them and I would love to accompany them! Still it’s early days and we shall see what will happen.” There are many singers out there and to be noticed, a singer has to have the right range, pitch, timbre, emotional impact, originality and style as well as being unique. Some of these traits can be learned but others you must be born with and this is why not everybody makes it and becomes famous. Gibraltar is alive with talent — we have great potential in a variety of fields but achieving fame means leaving the comfort of your home town. We know from biographies of Albert Hammond and John Galliano, that this is possible, and there are other names which come to mind, although not as world-renowned — Brian Wade, Melon Diesel, Nathan Payas, Andrea Martin and the late William Gomez… “If you don’t go out there and try how will you ever know if you can succeed.” Andrew is soon to sing in Savannah, Ocean Village, one of the top spots locally for music and good entertainment. Andrew and his daughters will also be taking part in the forthcoming Supernannie Competition to be held on 26th November at the John Mackintosh Hall. Two opportunities to experience the talent of this family so do not miss it! n
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by Sonia Golt
4th October: Grandparents’ Day
A Senior Service Manolo Ruiz’s initiative, almost a decade ago, to start an association for Senior Citizens met with tremendous encouragement from the community and it was recognised that, while Gibraltar already had two Senior Citizens Clubs, there was no organised group ready to take on issues and ensure a better quality of life for the older generation. Manolo came to the rescue. Manolo explained how the idea came about: “When I was President of the Senior Citizens’ Club in Town Range, I realised that while there were two clubs in Gibraltar that cared for some of the social needs of Senior Citizens, there was no organisation which tried to improve and enhance the elderly persons’ quality of life in each and every facet. “I then set about founding the Gibraltar Senior Citizens Association. However, before trying to get a group of interested persons to form a caretaker committee, I met in turn with the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the leader of the PDP, and lastly Mr. Marrache of the AACR, to inform them of my intentions. All were very supportive and encouraged me to continue and that is what I did.” Now the association has a committee of nine — John Murphy (secretary), Daniel Rowbottom (treasurer), Avelino Olivero, John Norton, John Golt, Herbert Vinales, James Aguilera and John
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Gonzalez, with Manolo Ruiz at the helm as the President (it’s just a coincidence that there are no women on the committee at present). They meet first and third Wednesday of every month, at the premises of the Gibraltar Small Business Federation, Irish Town. “Our constitution allows us to coopt and we have availed ourselves of this and co-opted one more member, so there may be as many committee members as possible present any one time. Remember none of us is getting any younger and as we age more health problems arise, so this deprives us of the time we need to devote to the association’s activities. Men and women automatically become members on reaching the age of 60 and there has never been any registration or membership
“
fee to pay. “My colleagues and I like to think of ourselves as a group of friends who are trying to improve the quality of life of seniors like ourselves, and nothing else. We have no political ambition (definitely too old for this) and we never discuss local politics when we meet, not because we have made it a condition, but simply because that is the way it is.” And what does this ‘group of friends’ offer to fellow senior citizens? “The association strives to improve the quality of life of senior citizens generally,” he says adding that senior citizens deserve special consideration and attention in our community. “We have also brought in the Panic Button Programme.
Men and women automatically become members on reaching the age of 60 and there has never been any registration or membership fee to pay
”
The ladies’ keep fit classes have been such a success that the ladies have now formed themselves into an association. I am delighted to say that with the enthusiastic support of the Sport’s Development Unit, the group now enjoys Tai Chi, yoga, bowls, walks and much more, plus the social spin-off that we consider so important. “There are many more issues in which we have been, or are presently, involved. We are looking forward to establishing Grandparents’ Day which this year falls on 4th October. We strongly believe that Grandparents rightfully deserve special thanks for the care and attention they bestow on their grandchildren.” Manolo explained that on issues of pensions there is another Association availble to pensioners. “The Gibraltar Pensioners’ Association, originally titled the Gibraltar Government Pensioners Association and headed by Joe Canepa, came into being some two or three years after our inception, or perhaps even later. From the offset of the Pensioners’ Association it has dealt exclusively with pension issues, this is their reason for being. Since their inception, we now direct any inquiries made to us on pension issues to them.” Is the GSCA subsidised in any way? “We do not receive any Government subvention, if this is what you refer to, though very soon after the birth of the GSCA, the Government matched a donation of £5,000 made by the Mediterranean Rowing Club which helped the launch of our Panic Button Scheme. We are not a registered charity, but as is well known we are very involved with the Panic Buttons which are totally financed by donations and this money is used exclusively for this purpose. All who are involved in this programme do so voluntarily.” What message would the Gibraltar Senior Citizens’ Association like to give our senior citizens? “Our message to all senior citizens today would be to enjoy life as much as possible, to think positively on all and every issue and, very importantly, to occupy their minds with meaningful activities. We must all keep degeneration of the mind at bay and the best way to do this is to keep the mind busy and active.” Manolo, as the proud Founder of the GSCA, and all at the association are looking forward to celebrating their 10th anniversary in March next year. Keep that mind functioning, keep those legs walking, keep that smile shining. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
events
Getting a Bedfull... November is just around the corner, and the long awaited production from GADA is only a few weeks away. After last year’s very successful thriller, this year the drama association has opted to stage a comedy A Bedfull of Foreigners. Director Howard Danino is taking the helm once more, a guarantee in itself that the audience will be treated to a great evening of entertainment, with further confirmation in the form of this year’s cast which is made up of very familiar faces within Gibraltar’s entertainment world — Trevor Guilliano, Nadine Gonzalez, Andy Coumbe, Mario Prescott, John Cortes and Michelle Francis.
Going Wild in the Gardens A Bedfull of Foreigners is an hilarious comedy by Dave Freeman and is a credit to all the hours Howard spends choosing appropriate plays. There are rampant seductions, confrontations and misunderstandings aplenty to keep the audience’s sides aching. Performances will be over three nights — 3rd, 4th and 5th of November — in the Inces Hall theatre, tickets will go on sale in mid-October from the box office at the Theatre. Make sure you get your tickets early as this play is sure to be a sell out. Remember GADA are always looking for people to be part of their team. Whatever your talent, whether back stage or on it, with or without experience, all are needed. There is a place for everyone, and the challenge is a very fulfilling one. Contact the association on Tel. 200 42237. You may very well enjoy it to the extent that you’ll become one of the mad group that go on and on! n
Savannah Events Friday 2nd October - RNB & Dance Night Saturday 3rd October - Doug Holland, El Res, Savannah Star playing the best in Dance Music
The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park will be holding an Open Fun Day in aid of World Animal Day (WAD) on Sunday 4th October. Nestled in the Botanic Gardens Gibraltar, the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a variety of rescued and endangered exotic animals ranging from Spur-thighed tortoises to Cotton-topped tamarin monkeys. The park was created over ten year ago to house animals confiscated by Gibraltar Customs, notably Asian macaques and African parrots. Since then it has expanded to accommodate over 130 animals. There is now a need for renovation of many of the enclosures. Fundraising events such as this help to raise money for essential
maintenance and new projects. The latest project is an Asian Short-clawed otter exhibit in the Rainforest area of the Park. These endangered otters have been donated by Newquay Zoo in the UK to help raise awareness of worldwide conservation issues. Events on offer at the open day include, bouncy castle, raffles, tours of the park and animal feeding times, refreshments, face painting and other activities for all the family. The will also be a raptor display held by the Raptor Unit in the Alameda Open Air Theatre. Entrance to the park is free for the duration of the event, from 12am until 4pm If you can’t make it along to the open day, the wildlife park is open from 10am until 5pm every day of the week including weekends. The normal entrance fee is £2.00 for adults and £1.50 for children. If you would like more information, contact 54017449 or visit them online at www. alamedawildlifepark.org n
Friday 9th October - RNB & Dance Night Saturday 10th October - Doug Holland, El Res, Savannah Star playing the best in Dance Music Friday 16th October - Ibiza Party Saturday 17th October - Doug Holland, El Res Savannah Star playing the best in Dance Music Friday 23rd October - RNB & Dance Saturday 24th October - Disco Inferno ’70s Night Friday 30th October - Hedkandi - Halloween Party Saturday 31st October - Doug Holland, El Res Savannah Star playing the best in Dance Music
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
79
food & drink
by Brian McCann
Ning Yao, owner of the Water Margin
China on the water’s edge “Most of our customers say that this is the best Chinese they have ever come across,” said Ning, owner of the Water Margin. Ning, as bright and cheerful as the restaurant itself, had been telling me how the majority of his customers are regulars. “This is a sign of our quality and is also very important to our success,” he said. Ning Yao comes from the city of Canton in China but left there when he was a teenager, “so they won’t let me back — I’m too old now,” he said with a laugh. In fact he laughs a lot, but that doesn’t interfere with his dedication to the cuisine and the service — it adds to them. He worked in a lot of Chinese restaurants all over Britain, including London, Birmingham, and Belfast during the time of the troubles there. He had a city centre restaurant in Belfast, and told me, “A friend’s nearby takeaway was bombed to bits with just twenty minutes warning. When we looked out it was a terrible mess — just a
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pile of rubble with broken glass everywhere.” Ning himself never had any trouble there, though, and got on very well with Irish people. “I still do,” he confirmed. He’s been in Gibraltar for about 12 years now, although he originally took a break from cooking to come to the Rock with Ladbrokes, when the local gaming industry was in its infancy, and opened the Water Margin at Ocean Village last year. “I love Cantonese cooking,” he
told me, and emphasised that he never ever uses those two let-downs of many Chinese restaurants: the microwave and monosodium glutamate (msg), that awful salt substitute that is often used heavily in an attempt to add flavour. “You will never see either of them on my premises,” he stressed. One other staple item is not normally to be found either: curry. I expressed surprise, but he said that curry is not Chinese — it is something that was developed in the UK to suit the palates there. He
Not on the menu, but known to the regulars, is the Special Duck, slow cooked with ginger and chilli. It’s best to order that in advance.
will, however, prepare a curry if requested in advance, but otherwise he prefers to maintain the integrity of the Cantonese style. He told me that many of his regulars are families who come early in the evening, which prompted me to ask how the children got on with the food. “They are often the reason the family is here,” said Ning. “Many parents have told me they come to The Water Margin because their children insist on it — they love it.” He was sad to report that his more elderly clients have diminished in numbers because of the recession. “Many just can’t afford to eat out, even though they recognise that my prices are very reasonable,” he said. As a general example, he said two people can have a meal and a drink for less than £20 total: “and many of them do exactly that,” he said with his usual genuine smile.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
food & drink Prices range from £2.30 for vegetable soup, with nothing else on the Mains menu exceeding around £8; nothing, that is, except the speciality — half an aromatic crispy duck, which is very popular and costs £15.99. “It’s probably the best in the area, including Spain;” he said in a factual rather than a boastful way. “None do it better, and some places charge £20 for it.” He told me that his Cantonese roast duck is cheaper than in Spain, at £6.50, and many customers have told him his is far better as well. Not on the menu, but known to the regulars, is the Special Duck, slow cooked with ginger and chilli. Ning just does a few of those a day, so it is best to order it in advance. The quality of the food is assured by the Chinese chefs, all with lengthy experience in Canton. “I advertised locally, of course,” Ning told me. “But, also of course, there was nobody here with the experience or qualifications in this type of food. So I advertised in China and interviewed twelve people before I chose the brilliant two we have now.” The menu is all recognisable to anyone who has eaten Chinese, but it’s best to study its 72 items on line at www.WaterMarginGibraltar. com, if you wish to know more; or better still, find out by visiting the restaurant for a try-out meal — I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. You need to book for the weekends but during the week there are usually some tables free although that, of course, varies from night to night. There is a respectable wine list, covering the most popular from places such as Spain, Australia,
New World and Chile. “Wine has gone up in many restaurants in the last year, but our prices are still the same as when we opened,” said Ning. The 60-seater dining room is simple and elegant, with very comfortable leather seats around well spaced tables; it is light, bright and sea-breezy, built over the water with a full marina view across to Spain through the walls that are made entirely of wooden French windows, which can be opened individually to suit conditions. There is none of those old Chinese restaurant clichés such as moving waterfall pictures on the wall and lanterns shaped like dragons – just comfortable simplicity, with some elegant Chinese prints in one area of the walls. The Water Margin also has an efficient takeaway service, available after 7.30pm; there is a £2 delivery charge wit a minimum order of £15, and Ning is proud of the service, which normally means the food is at your door in half an hour. The Water Margin is at Ocean Village, tight against the WaterGardens quay. If you come in from Waterport Road by the Ford showroom, just keep left, following the WaterGardens buildings, and you will come to it. It’s open every day for lunch from 12.30 until the last customer leaves, and then from 6pm until whenever, as Ning put it, which in practice means around midnight with last orders at 11.15. The telephone number for takeaways and reservations is 20073668, email infor@WaterMarginGibraltar.com (and note it’s ‘infor’, not ‘info’.)
The dining room is simple and elegant, with well spaced tables; it is light, bright and sea-breezy, built over the water with a full marina view
Full HD sports coverage Irish Breakfast from 7am (Sunday 9am) Soups
All soups are served with a
Salads O’Reilly’s Salad ..............................£5.50 Classic Tuna, Prawn or Feta Cheese Salad ..............................................£7.00 Chicken Caesar Salad ..................£7.25 Cajun Chicken................................£7.25
Jackets A freshly baked jacket potato served with a salad garnish. Baked Beans & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50 Chilli Con Carne & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50 Tuna Mayonnaise ..........................£5.50 Prawn Mary Rose ..........................£6.25 Chicken, Bacon Bits & Mayo........£6.25 Bolognaise Sauce & Irish Cheddar Cheese............................................£5.50
Main Meals Beef & Guinness Ale Pie ..............£7.00 Chicken & Potato Pie ....................£6.95 Cottage Pie ....................................£7.50 Fish & Chips ..................................£7.00 Atlantic Salmon..............................£8.75 Molly’s Mussels..............................£7.50 Traditional Irish Breakfast ............£6.50 Kildare Chicken (Chef's Special) ..£8.50 Drunken Swine ..............................£9.00 Gaelic Sirloin 10 oz Steak ..........£12.50 Farmhouse Vegetable Bake..........£6.75 Prime Irish Fillet Steak ................£16.50 Crab Cake Dinner ..........................£8.50 Chilli Con Carne ............................£6.75 Spaghetti Bolognaise ....................£6.75 Bangers and champ ......................£6.75 Rock Burger ..................................£8.50 O’Reilly’s Burger ............................£7.50 Vegetarian Burger..........................£7.50
Boxty Dishes
Award winning breakfasts from 7.30am Great meals & snacks all day Evening Steak House menu Med Golf Clubhouse Tottenham Hotspur HQ
Freshly cut Sandwiches,
crusty roll. Rolls & Tortilla Wraps Leek & Potato Soup ......................£4.50 Pub Club Classic ..........................£4.75 Chef’s Soup of the Day ................£4.50 Irish Fillet Steak Roll ....................£5.50 Fish Chowder (Traditional Irish creamy fish Chicken Caesar Wrap ..................£6.20 soup) ................................................£4.50 Chicken Roll or Sandwich ............£4.75 Appetizers Tuna & Salad Roll or Sandwich (V)..£4.50 Irish Crispy Skins ..........................£4.90 Pizza Extra toppings - 50p Prawns Pil Pil ................................£5.25 Traditional Margherita ..................£7.00 Prawn Cocktail ..............................£5.25 Hawaiian ........................................£7.95 Nelson’s Nachos ............................£5.20 Three Cheese ................................£8.00 Molly’s Mussels..............................£6.20 Deluxe ............................................£8.00 O’Reilly’s Bruschetta ....................£4.25 Vegetarian ......................................£7.50 Spicy Chicken Wings ....................£4.95
A homemade potato pancake cooked on the griddle and wrapped around a variety of delicious fillings. Boxty comes from the Gaelic word “bactasi” which refers to the traditional cooking of potatoes over an open fire, which still takes place in Ireland. Ploughman’s Boxty........................£6.75 Chicken & Coriander Boxty ..........£8.00
Homemade Desserts
Rustic Rhubarb Tart ......................£4.25 Apple Pie ........................................£4.25 Baileys Cheesecake ......................£4.25 Chocolate Brownies ......................£4.25
Ice Cream Sundaes Monkey in the Middle....................£4.75 Knicker Knocker Nelson ..............£4.75 Fudge Factor..................................£4.75 Sugar Daddy ..................................£4.75
Choose a Scoop Choose from coffee, banana, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint-choc-chip or Smartie ice cream. 1 scoop ..........................................£1.00 2 scoops ........................................£1.80 3 scoops ........................................£2.40 Milkshakes ....................................£3.00 (also available to take-away) Just choose your flavour, coffee, banana, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint-chocchip, or Smartie ice cream. Diabetic Ice Cream........................£2.10 Vanilla & Chocolate - 100% sugar free.
, Special Coffee s
Traditional Irish Coffee ................£3.75 Bushmills Coffee............................£3.75 Maria’s Coffee ................................£3.75 Nutty Irish Coffee ..........................£3.75 Keoke Coffee ................................£3.75 Calypso Coffee ..............................£3.75
Side Orders Homemade Chips ..........................£2.00 Homemade Chips with Cheese....£2.25 Garlic Bread ..................................£1.90 Garlic Bread with Cheese ............£2.15 Olives ..............................................£2.00 Champ (homemade mash made with potatoes, spring onion & chives) ......£3.00 Homemade & especially for under 12's
Kids Menu Chilli and Rice ................................£4.00 Fish and Chips ..............................£4.00 Sausage and Chips........................£4.00 Chicken Nuggets and Chips ........£4.00
Find out about all our entertainment, click onto
Parliament Lane Tel: 200 75924 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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heavenly recipes
baked Bread is actually quite simple to make as long as you follow the rules and let it rise properly. Gibraltar’s climate means that rising time is usually much less than in the cooler countries up north, so why not try some of these slightly alternative options which we’re sure you’ll enjoy, or if you want something super simple... make a muffin! Blueberry Muffins Ingredients: 200g Plain Flour 150g Sugar 2 teaspoons Baking pPowder 1/4 teaspoon Salt 225g chopped blueberries (or similar fruit) 150ml Milk 60g Butter or Margarine, melted 1 teaspoon grated Orange Rind 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract 1 large Egg, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 200°C. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Stir in cranberries; make a well in centre of mixture. Combine milk, butter, rind, vanilla, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into 12 lightly greased muffin cups. Bake at 200° for 18 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from cups immediately; place on a wire rack. Makes 12 muffins.
Cinnamon Nut Bread
Cinnamon Nut Bread Ingredients: 1 (550g) Pudding Cake Mix 1 teaspoon Almond Extract 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 120g Granulated Sugar 2 teaspoons Cinnamon 120g chopped Pecans Prepare cake mix according to package directions, but add the almond and vanilla extracts. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Mix together the sugar, cinnamon and nuts. Pour half of cake mix into prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle some of the sugar, cinnamon and nut mixture on top; then pour on the remaining cake mix. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon, sugar and nut mix on top of cake. Swirl through the cake mix with a knife. Bake according to package directions.
Blueberry Muffin
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• october OCTOBER 2009 2009 GIBRALTAR
recipes Focaccia Bread Ingredients: 300ml Water 1 1/2 tsp Salt 1 tsp Granulated Sugar 850g Bread Flour 2 1/4 tsp Yeast Seive the flour and dry ingredients together and add water slowly mixing until ready to knead to bread dough. Move the dough to a lightly floured work-
surface and cover it with a large bowl. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Form each piece into a triangle. Flour your hands and use your finger-tips to dimple the dough. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 30 minutes before redimpling. You can now cover the dough in any desired toppings. Bake the dough on the bottom rack of a pre-heated oven at 180°C. You can use a baking stone or a lightly greased baking sheet.
Courgette Bread Ingredients: 2 Eggs, beaten 300g Sugar 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract 680g grated fresh Courgette 160ml melted unsalted Butter 2 teaspoons Baking Soda pinch of Salt 680g Flour 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg 2 teaspoons Cinnamon 225g chopped Pecans or Walnuts (optional) 225g dried Cranberries or Raisins (optional)
Focaccia Bread
Courgette Bread
Preheat the oven to (175°C). In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the grated courgette and then the melted butter. Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, a third at a time. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and nutmeg and mix. Fold in the nuts and dried cranberries or raisins if using. Divide the batter equally between 2 buttered 5 by 9 inch loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour (check at 50 minutes) until a wooden pick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks to cool thoroughly. Makes 2 loaves. n
Modern
Relaxed
Dining
Open: 10am - late Closed Sundays + Saturday lunch
Christmas menu now available
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Irish Town Tel: 200 51738 to reserve
83
food & drink
14
on the QUAY
Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 43731
Enjoy exemplary food with exceptional value in the relaxed atmosphere of Queensway Quay Marina
lunch afternoon tea dinner cocktails
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Charlotte, Nigel and Kayleigh outside The Final Whislte
a central sports bar with all the whistles and bells The Final Whistle has recently opened just across the road from the Cornwall’s Centre. Nigel and the girls are offering a great venue to catch just about any sport you can think of. The new venture, run by Nigel who is well known for his 13 years of success at the Wembly Bar in the South District, will be offering all live sports, particularly football, rugby and cricket. With six screens, the bar caters for different games on live at the same time giving you the option to pick and choose the best
moments on the fly. Nigel and the girls, Charlotte and Kayleigh, who staff the bar have a few surprises in store too while games are on, so check the board outside to find out what’s happening and when to make sure you don’t miss the crucial match and possibly even a bargain beer or two. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
food & drink
enjoy relax
Contemporary Mediterranean Dining
enjoy relax delicious Grand Casemates Square
FREE WiFi
Tel:
200 44449
Party Time at Cafe Rojo
Thanks to Annette for these great party pics from September. Top is Adrienne and John Paul’s engagement party, then Annabelle’s 50th birthday bash, followed by Liz and Roger’s pre-wedding day celebration — a big congratulations to them all. The picture below is of Ann’s leaving do — she’s off to Bristol to continue her sterling work as a nurse and we wish her all good luck in her new home. n
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
85
wine column
childish thoughts
Un petit d’un petit, S’étonne aux Halles
Un petit d’un petit, Ah! Degrés te fallent
Indolent qui ne sort cesse, Indolent qui ne se mène
Qu’importe un petit d’un petit, Tout Gai de Reguennes This fragment of French poetry appears to tell the story of the inevitable result of a child’s marriage who is lazy and fails to fulfil his promise. However, spoken out loud in the sonorous tones beloved of the Comédie Française, it may have a strange resonance to English ears, especially young ones. Try it, in your best French accent, and see whether it rings any bells. I believe there are some equivalent Spanish manuscripts, but I have yet to see or hear them. But such fragments, in whatever language, are part of our shared history and folk memory and should be treasured. Children learn rhythm and rhyme from them. This has a remarkably civilising influence on the little savages which should be carefully nurtured. The influence can then be extended into enjoying good music, good food and — eventually — good wine. I am not aware of any wars (or even small fights) being started while picnicking at Glyndebourne. However, over-indulgence in spirits and beer at the local pub, accompanied by tuneless bass thumping and a dead cheese sandwich, seems often to result in injuries. Hitler’s first attempt at seizing power started from a beer hall. Enough said. For whatever reason, wine does not provide the same aggressive stimulus as other forms of alcohol — indeed it has a calming effect. When the child is of age it will not — one hopes — start binge drinking just because it can now buy alcohol; it will learn to appreciate the better parts of it. It is, of course, a matter of education. The child is the father of the man, and all that. So, as a parent, it is important to have your own knowledge, so that you can impart it. Make sure that you taste a new wine at least once a week, even if only to reject it for the future. Discover which grape varieties please you the most. Then find which country produces the best wine from those grapes. For example, Australian Chardonnay has gone downhill; New Zealand Chardonnay (especially Hawkes Bay) is the tops. Sip by sip you can pass on your
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knowledge to your child. These moralising thoughts aside, some splendid news: Barbadillo are producing a red. A Tempranillo/Shiraz blend, it comes in at just under £4.00 from Morrison’s. It is also the house wine at the Waterfront Restaurant. It is not Heaven-sent ambrosia but I have carried out a detailed cost/benefit analysis and the graph line is close to that of ‘ordinary claret’ and only just below Beringer (Cabernet - £7.50 from Anglo Hispano). It will bring back memories of summer, as October nights get longer, and at the same time provide the inner warmth required during those same nights. And given that you are learning what to appreciate, while trying not to spend too much money, both red and white Barbadillos fit the bill. The calming effect of these and, indeed, all other wines is amazing. Even just thinking about them I find myself falling into a gentle doze. The improvement of the whole world depends on... I had the answer a moment ago but it has gone. Best to open a bottle, rather than just think about wine, and perhaps the answer will reappear. An Australian Merlot (Rosemount, £5.99 from Morrison’s, on special offer until mid-October) will fill the bill nicely. There will be so much to tell the young adults about...world peace is just around the corner... roc à baille bebait...
Discover which grape varieties please you the most. Then find which country produces the best wine from those grapes GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBeR 2009
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
restaurant bar guide &
• Pizza • Pasta • Salads • Fresh Juices • Cappuccino • Ice Creams
NOW OFFERING DAILY SPECIALS
turn to pages 88-90 for full restaurant and bar listings
Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449
10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009
Tel: 20077446
Traditional English Pub with the best of English beers
Ground Floor Bar open from 10.30 daily Pool Table • TV • Machines First Floor ’Hoots’ open from 1pm 2 Pool Tables • Darts • Machines 2nd Floor ‘The Nest’ open from 5pm American Pool • Card Table
Get Stuffed!
Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006
57 Irish Town, Gibraltar Tel: 200 70652
Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special EveryDay salads, quiches, pastas, pies, muffins, all home made Open 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat
Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711
Wembley Bar 10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 200 78004 • Hot & cold bar snacks • Function room
BUDDIES pasta casa
Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations
Just A Nibble Licensed Cafeteria Let the ‘A’ Team serve you up a snack or a meal. Daily Specials • Varied Menu
now also in Casemates To advertise in The Gibraltar Magazine call
Open from 9am First Floor ICC, Main Street THE PLACE TO MEET
200 77748
Wines, Spirits, Tobacco, Beers & Soft Drinks Distributors Est. 1839
35 Devil’s Tower Road, Gibraltar. Telephone: (350) 200 74600 Telefax: (350) 200 77031 e-mail: mail@sacspeed.gi A Member of The Saccone & Speed (Gibraltar) Group of Companies GIBRALTAR 2009 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• JULY OCTOBER
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restaurants
Open: Sunday-Thurs midday-midnight, Friday and Saturday midday-5am.
l The Boatyard Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 50540 Stylish dining right on the quayside at Queensway Quay. Enjoy a cocktail or a pre-dinner drink in the lounge out onthe quayside. The menu includes dishes such as Cumin Crusted Rack of New Zealand Lamb; Grilled Prime 300g Argentinean Rump Steak; Crispy Skinned Confit French Duck Leg; Fresh Local Seafood Spaghetti; and Wild Mushroom, Gorgonzola & Baby Spinach Risotto. Open: lunch and dinner, closed Sundays. l Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449 Modern Italian eatery set in the 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 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. Good daily specials menu on blackboard. No smoking inside. Free WiFi. l Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738 Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Red comfy arm chairs in separate area for a relaxing drink or coffee. Brunch menu (10am-12pm) includes ciabatta, granary, foccacia sandwiches with fillings such as pear and blue cheese, smoked bacon and brie, cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts (chocolate mousse in a must). Lunch 12 - 3pm and dinner 7-10pm includes Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry; Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pasta dishes such as 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: from 10am. Closed all day Sundays, and Saturday lunch. Casa Pepe 18 Queensway Quay Marina. Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe.gib@gmail.com Situated right on the water front at Queensway Quay, Casa Pepe has a comprehensive a la carte menu which includes dishes such as melon & Serrano ham, stuffed piquillo peppers and filled mushrooms to start, followed by a choice of salads, rice and noodles and fish, poultry and meat dishes which include King Prawns Macarena (cooked with fresh ginger, tomatoes, mangos and bananas served with basmati rice, fried bread and bananas), Medallions of monkfish cooked with white wine and lobster sauce, duck breast Armanac-style (with Cognac, mushrooms and pine nuts), Medallions of pork loin cooked with Serrano ham and dry Jerez sherry, and fillet steak Malagueña cooked in creamy garlic mushrooms and sweet sherry sauce topped with prawns. Wide range of tapas/raciones also available. Open: Monday to Saturday 11am till late.
l 14 on the Quay Unit 14, Queensway Quay Tel: 200 43731 The latest addition to the beautiful Queensway Quay marina, 14 on the Quay is open for lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails and dinner. The fine dining includes lobsters fresh from the tank, and the setting with its spectacular sunsets is perfect. Open: 12.30 - 11pm (last orders 10.45pm) Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay For a reservations Tel: 200 76501 E-mail reservations@caletahotel.gi Nunos Italian restaurant and terrace at the Caleta Hotel, overlooks the Mediterranean and is extremely popular with both hotel guests and the local market. Their new Spanish chef with three star Michellin experience will always be offering something interesting and different on the menu. Recognised for its eclectic interior, atmosphere and cuisine. Bread, pasta and desserts from the a la carte menu are all home-made and contribute to create a genuine and exciting dining experience. The Mexican Grill and Bar Unit 2B The Tower, Marina Bay Tel: 200 46668 The Mexican Grill and Bar serves all the favourite Mexican dishes from Nachos, Quesadillas and Chimichangas (rolled flour tortilla with spicy chicken, chilli beef or vegetables, deep fried, served with Mexican rice and salad and guacamole, salsa or sour cream), to Burritos (like Chimichangas but oven baked), El Gringos Chilli con Carne, or Cheese Holy Mole Enchiladas. Don’t forget Big Eat Homemade Burgers (5 to choose from) and from the grill barbecue combos, steaks and chicken. Salads and sides to order. Decorated is warm Mexican colours with comfortable seating in the no-smoking, air-conditioned interior or outside on the patio, great for a fun night out. Available for private bookings and children’s parties. Open: lunch and dinner 12 noon to late Savannah Lounge 27 Heart Island, Ocean Village Tel: 200 66666 www.savanna.gi Aimed at Gibraltar’s dining and night-life scene, Savannah has been created with fun and style in mind. Offering contemporary European cuisine a wide selection of drinks, cool decor and good music. The venue hosts regular events with invited DJs and shows from abroad.
Thyme Restaurant 5 Cornwall’s Lane. Tel: 200 49199 Email: thymegib@hotmail.com Long established modern restaurant and wine bar. Serves refreshing cocktails and a wide range of New World and European wines in a cool and lively atmosphere. Now serving informal lunches from a selection of their popular dishes, with choices of light salads, Italian pasta dishes or full three course meals. During the summer months contact Steve to design your own barbecue party menu. Formal dining on the first floor serving bistro cuisine with a menu serving dishes from across the world. Try one of these dishes from the wide selection: starters include Buffalo Mozzarella, Plum Tomato, Grilled Chilli & Landcress Salad, Basil Oil & Balsamic; Crab & Coriander Spring Roll, String Hopper Noodle Salad, Cucumber & Chilli Salsa; Steamed Mussels flavoured with ginger, Lemon Grass, Chilli & Coconut Milk; try main courses such as Grilled Salmon Darne, Crisp Pancetta, Thai Spiced Lentils, Cool Mint Yoghurt Dressing; Confit of Lamb Shoulder Shank, Warm Couscous Salad, Chickpea & Coriander Salsa, Onion & Sultana Chutney; or Open Ravioli of Slow Roast Squash, Basil & Ricotta, Roast Garlic Cream Sauce. Everything made on the premises using only the best, fresh ingredients. Two separate dining rooms - smoking and non smoking. Menu changed seasonally, daily specials. Open 7 days a week. Closed Saturday lunchtimes. The Waterfront Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 45666 The Waterfront is a very popular restaurant located right on the quayside at Queensway Quay Marina. There are different areas for drinks, the main restaurant (with mezanine level seating), a large covered terrace with chandeliers and a quayside open terrace. The food is served in hearty portions and includes starters of grilled goat’s cheese, crab with lemon mayonnaise, moules mariniere, and prawn and lobster salad. There is a barbecue in the summer month and grills which include 8oz fillet steaks, T-Bone, Rib-eye and Sirloin too. Favourites are pan fried chicken with wild mushrooms and Madeira sauce, beef and ale pie with a puff pastry lid, and whole lamb shoulder. Fish dishes from grilled swordfish to salmon and crayfish ravioli, and vegetarian dishes such as mushroom stroganoff, and vegetable wellington sit alongside the menu from the Orient which includes Madras chicken or vegetables, chicken tikka masala, and crispy duck with pancakes and cucumber. Open: 7 days a week from 9am to late. The Water Margin 5 Ocean Village Promenade, Tel: 200 73668 Gibraltar’s premier Chinese restaurant serving freshly cooked traditional Chinese dishes in the beautiful Ocean Village marina. Check out the outstanding aromatic crispy duck, the special duck slow cooked with honey and chilli or the freshly caught seabass delicately steamed with ginger and spring onion, popular with families looking for a relaxing night dining. No microwave oven or flavour enhancer (MSG) used in this establishment. Home delivery service. Open: 7 days a week, evening from 6pm, lunch from 12:30pm
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just across the road from the cable car. English breakfast, churros, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or take away. Menu of the day only £6. Open: early to late.
Amin's The Office 30 Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 40932 Sit down, informal and friendly restaurant. 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. Open: 7.00am to midnight. Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627 Tasty Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include spinnach caneloni, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and peppered steak to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines. Open: Monday - Thursday 11am - 5pm, Friday 11am-3pm and 7pm-11pm, Saturday 11am-4.30pm Garcia’s Take-Away Glacis Estate. Tel: 200 71992 Open 7 days a week this good take-away also does home deliveries of tasty fish and chips, hamburgers, kebabs, donner kebabs and much much more. Make sure you have their number handy for a night in without the hassle of cooking! Get Joost 248 Main Street & Casemates. Tel/Fax: 200 76699 Smoothies are vitamin packed super-food and increasingly popular for the health concious. Get Joost makes delicious fresh fruit juices and smoothies made from natural ingredients which are a meal in a cup. The top five smoothies they sell are wild strawberry; breakie on the run; energy blast; raspberry ice; and tropical surrender. Tel/Fax: 200 76699 for delivery. Open: 8-7 Monday -Friday, 10-7 Saturday, 10-6 Sunday. Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006 Take-away, sandwich bar and hot food. Serving all homemade sandwiches, salads, quiches, pasta, pies, muffins, plus hot and cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties. Open: 8am - 6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat. Just A Nibble 1st Flr International Commercial Ctr. Tel: 200 78052 Full licensed cafe serving English breakfast, vast range of toasties, rolls, and other snacks. Meals include, Bob’s famous chicken curry/chilli con carne, and a great new range of pies (from Bob’s chicken and leek to steak and kidney plus a whole range of tasty alternatives) plus all the old favourites; jacket spuds, burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, and daily specials. Ideal meeting place. Open: Monday - Saturday from 9am. Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014 Bright and airy, recently redecorated cafe on the first
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBeR 2009
l Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625 Converted coffee warehouse, ideal for coffee, homemade cakes/afternoon tea, plus menu including excellent salad bar, 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 Saturdays floor of the ICC. All home-made food including daily specials, vegetarian options and desserts. Eat in or take-away. Try their daily roast with everything on or their all-day breakfast. Non-smoking restaurant with terrace smoking area. Friendly, cheerful and fully licensed with sensible prices. Open: 8am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. London Bar/Bistro 76-78 Governor's Street. Tel: 200 77172 Tucked away on Governor's Street just opposite the Elliot Hotel, and hosted by Pili, this pub serves modern bistro food in a traditional pub environment. Try out some of the favourite dishes such as baby beef Wellington, fillet steak (with mushroom & brandy, port & stilton, or peppered sauces), chicken (Kournik or Nati), traditional fish, chips & mushy peas, and all day breakfasts. Sunday roast lunches and daily specials also available. Open: 9am to midnight every day. Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 50022/33 Good Indian cuisine for eating in or taking away, from snacks such as samosas, bhajias, and pakoras to lamb, chicken and fish dishes with sauces such as korma, tikka masala, bhuna, do piaza... in fact all you would expect from an Indian cuisine take-away. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food is available, as is outside catering for parties and meetings. Sunday specials include all Mumbai favourites such as Dosa and Choley Bhature. Open: 7 days a week 11am to 3pm, 6pm until late. Munchies Cafe 24 Main Street. Tel: 200 43840 Fax: 200 42390 A great sandwich bar/cafe offering an unusual range of sandwiches on white or granary bread, plus salads, baguettes, soups, desserts, homemade ice-cream and hot/cold drinks. Business lunches, parties and kids parties also catered for (for party and office platters phone or fax order by 5.30pm day before - minium orders for delivery £12). Open: Monday - Friday 8.30-7, Sat 9 - 4, Closed Sun. Picadilly Gardens Rosia Road. Tel: 200 75758 Relaxed bar restaurant with cosy garden terrace
Smith’s Fish & Chips 295 Main Street. Tel: 200 74254 Traditional British fish and chip shop with tables/seating available or take-away wrapped in newspaper. Menu: Cod, haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish pasties, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers. Open: 8am-6pm Monday-Friday. Breakfast from 8. Located: Main Street opposite the Convent. Solo Express Ground Floor, International Commercial Centre Solo Express, located right next to Pizza Hut, serves a good variety of salads and baguettes (white, brown & ciabatta) filled with a wide deli selection of things such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or hummous, avocado and roasted red pepper. The salads are fresh and tasty and include Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta, etc and are great value. Jacket potatoes, quiches, tea, coffee etc plus cakes (such as flapjacks and muffins) are also available throughout the day. Eat-in available. Soups in winter months. Free Wifi. The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321 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! Open: Monday - Saturday.
bars&pubs All’s Well Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987 Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practice of locking the Gates to the city at night when the guard announced ‘All’s Well’ before handing the keys to the watch. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast served all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod and chips and steak & ale pie are complemented by a range of salads and filled jacket potatoes. Large terrace. Karaoke every Monday and Wednesday until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm.
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Hotspur FC supporters club. Outside seating. Open: from 7am every day. Located: first right off Main St (walking from N to S).
Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 77288 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. Quiz night on Tuesdays, get there early as it is definitely the place to be on a normally quiet Gibraltar Tuesday. The Final Whistle 4, Cornwall’s Parade Friendly sports bar with six screens. If it’s live, it’s on, and often more than one game on at a time for full sports coverage. Fun atmosphere with special offers during premier matches. All sports fans welcome. Open 10am until late, 7 days a week. The Gibraltar Arms 184 Main St. Tel: 200 72133 www.gibraltararms.gi Good food served all day at this typical pub right on Main Street. Everything from all day breakfast to Irish fillet steak roll, burritos, and the popular fresh local mussels. Draught lager, bitter, cider and Murphys plus free WiFi. Terrace seating right on Main Street to watch the world go by. Open: from 8am (10am Sundays) until late. Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 www.lordnelson.gi E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi Attractive bar/brasserie in historic Casemates building. Done out to represent Nelson’s ship with cloud and sky ceiling crossed with beams and sails. Spacious terrace Starter s& snacks include fresh local mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, Lordy’s potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses cover a range from chilli con carne and chicken and mushroom pie, to crispy aromatic duck burrito and British fish and chips. Try one of the salads or Nelson’s platters. Jacket potatoes, burgers and children’s menu. Credit cards accepted. Live music Venue of the Year, with live music on stage every night. Free Wifi. Open: from 10am till very late. The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118 Stylish bar right on the quayside with very reasonably priced drinks and light bites. Free WiFi, quizzes on Sundays (8pm) and a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Great place to chill out. Open: 7 days a week until late. O’Reilly’s Leisure Island, Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888 Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports cover-
Trafalgar Sports Bar 1A Rosia Road Tel: 200 45370 Situated just past the south end of Main Street through Southport Gates, the Trafalgar Sports Bar offers a traditional British pub environment enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Serving a hot buffet Monday to Saturday and a roast carvery on Sundays they also serve many other dishes such as spare ribs, currys or lasagna. The establishment also has three large 62” screens where they cover all major sporting events. Open: 9am-1am Monday to Saturday, Sunday 9am-midnight age and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef and Guinness ale 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. Pickwicks Governor’s Parade. Tel: 200 76488 Run by well-known friendly face, Mandy, this small pub with a large terrace is situated in Governor’s Parade away from the traffic and safe for all the family. Good food available including the best freshly made sandwiches and jacket potatoes, salads and burgers. Open: Mon - Fri from 9.30am Location: turn off Main St at Marks & Spencer, go up steps to Governor’s Parade (opposite the Elliot Hotel). The Pig and Whistle Unit 18, Watergardens. Tel: 200 76167 A comfortable pleasant little pub with pool table and terrace on the quayside. Big screen television for all sporting events. Open: 10-midnight (Fri-Sat 11-1am) Savannah Lounge 27 Heart Island, Ocean Village Tel: 200 66666 Aimed at Gibraltar’s dining and night-life scene, Savannah has been created with fun and style in mind. Offering contemporary European cuisine a wide selection of drinks, cool decor and good music. The venue hosts regular events with invited DJs and shows from abroad. Open: Sunday-Thurs middaymidnight, Friday and Saturday midday-5am. The Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Reputedly the oldest bar in Gib, this small cosy bar opens early for breakfast (English or toast & cereal). Lunch/evening menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Home of Med Golf and Tottenham
The Three Owls Irish Town 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, games machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ — 2 match pool tables, poker machines, darts board, games machine, bar — open from 1pm daily. Second Floor ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, games machine, card table, bar — open from 5pm daily. The Three Roses Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 51614 Now under the management of Peter and Ian, previously of the Coach & Horses, this bar is fully air-conditioned with 3 plasma TVs and pool table. Happy hours Mon-Fri 5-6pm. Home of the Esteporkers Golf Society. Open: 7 days. Mon-Sat from 11am, Sun from midday. Wembley Bar 10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 200 78004 Popular bar for hot and cold bar snacks, function room, in south district. Fridays 10am for breakfast. Air conditioned. The home of the Real Madrid Supporter’s Club. Open: 11am - midnight Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 1am Friday, 11am - 1am Saturdays.
acrosstheborder The Dog & Duck Next to Plaza de Constitucion, La Linea Tel: 00 34 956173453 Little pub on the square serving British beers at great prices. Pleasant sun terrace and all live sporting events shown. Open: 3pm-late Mon - Fri, 1pm - late Sat & Sun. Located: 400m straight across from frontier (next to Taste Indian Restaurant).
Pickwicks on Governor’s Parade
Tel: 200 76488 (opposite the Eliott Hotel)
The Best Sandwiches made especially for you as well as Jackets•Salads•Burgers and a whole lot more
open Monday to Friday from 9.30am
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venues
cocktail time fifty-five The Gibraltar Magazine was lucky enough to be invited along to preNational Day cocktails and tapas at 55, the private members’ club, on Main Street last month. 55 is a fabulous example of how an old building can be regenerated to create a slick modern environment. With two bars, a contemporay restaurant, and cool Italian glass stairs linking the two floors, this is the perfect place to entertain clients, hold business meetings or simply ‘chill’ in an exclusive atmosphere.
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A ro u n d To w n .. .
a light-he arte d look at Gibralta r soc iety
Brian
Vin
Well autumn seemed to descend on the Rock the minute the last red and white shirts of National Day disappeared. There seemed to be so much happening in September with National Day, the Red Arrows, the Dog Show and a multitude of other things going on (and sometimes at the same time!). October seems a bit quieter but we are sure there will be plenty to keep everyone occupied. As the nights draw in the good news is there are two pub quizzes you can get involved with, the regular one at the Cannon Bar on Cannon Lane and a new one on Sunday evenings at the Lounge, Queensway Quay Marina. Go on... test those brain cells!
Sue and Jim’s anniversary bash
Baby Boom There has been a bit of a baby boom at Buddies Pasta Casa recently (we have no idea what they are putting in the spaghetti, but it must be good stuff!). Two bouncing babies have been born to the girls who work there — firstly Pricilla Martin had a little baby boy to be named Dyron Maldonado, followed by Amy Llamas who also had a boy on 7th September, son to Lawrence, to be named Lewis. Ahhhh! Congratulations all round. Fireman’s Lift Jeanette of Amin’s Office on Parliament Lane had a visitor come to stay recently and no sooner had they reached Watergardens from the airport than disaster struck. They squished themselves and a suitcase into the lift and pressed the button. A brief jolt, then... nothing. Luckily someone outside heard their cries for help and the gallant chaps from the fire brigade were soon on hand to help them crawl to safety. Fortunately the rest of the
Celebrating with Sue and Jim
Congratulations Carmen & Alfred!
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Jim and Sue with daughters Aimee Jay and Vicky
Alan and Pam cut their cake
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2007 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
Rosemary at the dog show
Crowds gather for the Red Arrows
holiday went well and a good time was had by all. Wedding Bells We wish every happiness to Craig Fortunata and his new wife Jena, and to Liz Plummer and hubby Roger, who were married in September, as were Mark and Doreen (Diff Lock). Val and Dave of The Three Owls finally tied the knot last month. The ceremony was held in The Nest (top floor) of the Three Owls and was probably the most fun wedding of the year. And now onto some sparkling Rubies... A great big congratulations goes to Carmen and Alfred who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in September, as did Jim and Sue Wright (Jim called it 40 years of bliss! Ahhhh). Alan and Pam Baker also celebrated their Ruby wedding anniversary last month... September 1969 must have been a jolly good month! Many Happies Happy birthday to Annabelle Baglietto this month. And a special happy birthday for September to Chris Johnson (38), who is well on his way to recovery after a serious scare in hospital last month.
Fashionista!
Just Extreme Those guys at Just Recruitment are into some seriously extreme sports. Chris Bruno was off canyoning and off-roading his 4x4 in September, while Paddy managed to break two ribs pursuing his chosen sport. And what sport is Paddy dicing with death to compete in? Padel tennis! We think maybe he should stick to entering his pooches in dog shows from now on... that’s got to be safer. Well that’s it for this month. Get out your woollies and see you on Main Street.
champagne reception GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • MARCH 2007 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
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clubs&activities 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 6.30pm-8pm, Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm, life painting Wed 7pm9pm). 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. The Poetry Society meets on 20th of each month. Tel: Audrey Batty on 200 44355 . Board Games Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues. The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet John Mackintosh Hall Mondays. Bank holidays changed to Thursday same week. 7pm-11pm All welcome. Tel: 200 73660 or 200 75995. The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 - 11pm. 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 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. Senior Citizens Teatime Dances at The Youth Centre, Line Wall Rd on Mondays 2 - 5.30pm. All senior citizens welcome for coffee, tea and biscuits. Entrance free. Classical Ballet classes for children 4+, Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance, 3rd floor, Methodist Church, 297/299 Main St. Classes Weds & Fri from 6pm at Chiltern Court (4Cs). Tel: 58111000. Hip Hop classes for adults Mondays 6.15pm to 7.15pm, Hip Hop classes for boys and girls Tuesdays 4.15pm to 5.15 - Urban Dance, Jumpers Dance Studio The Gibraltar Pointes Dance School - R.A.D ballet, I.S.T.D modern and tap, jazz and contempory dance. Unit 19F Europa Business Centre. Contact Cheryll or Sabina at Studio: 200 45145, Home: 200 51187/ 200 46400. 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 welcome. Tel: 200 44643. Music The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir rehearse on Monday & Thursday 7.30 - 9pm. New singers of all ages welcome. Tel: Lili 200 40035, 54006727 St Andrew’s Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, musical workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Singing, rhythmic games etc. Tel: 200 42690 email: samagib@ hotmail.com Outdoor Activities The Calpe Ramblers This group walks on last Sunday each month, except July and August. Meeting place is the Spanish side of the frontier 8am just to the right of and opposite the Aduana vehicle exit. For any information contact co-ordinators Ray Murphy 200 71956 or John Murphy 200 74645.
Don’t be bored... do something fun! 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, Gibraltar Tel: 200 59818 Reg. Charity No: 61 Quizzes Cannon Bar quizzes are held on Tuesdays starting with a warm up, then two other quizzes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm, all welcome and prizes are given. Free entrance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapas served after the quiz. The Tunnel in Casemates has a pub quiz and entertainment on Sunday nights. Social Clubs Scots on the Rock: Any Scots visiting the Rock can contact Charles Polson (Tel: 200 78142) for assistance or information. 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. 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. The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at around 8pm, 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. Sports Supporters Clubs The 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 club for beginners, juniors and squad at Bayside School in evenings. 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. Billiards & Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) round
leagues and competitions at various venues. New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 200 72142 or Peter 200 77307. 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). Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Eugene 58014000. Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket Association (member ICC) runs leagues/competitions at Europa Point/ Victoria Stadium. Junior/senior training. Tel: Tom 200 79461 or Adrian 200 44281. 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. 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 and juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or 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: Moira 200 41795 or Suzette 200 41874. Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: 200 70929. 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. Tel: Christine 200 74661 or 54015533. 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: 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). Snorkelling & Spear Fishing: Over 14s for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fishing. Tel: Joseph 200 75020. Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association,
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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: 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 meet 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome. Theatrix: Contact Trevor and Iris on Tel: 54006176 or email theatrixgib@yahoo.co.uk Clubs, Associations, should submit details to The Gibraltar Magazine gibmag@gibraltar.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
support
update
Support Groups/ Associations Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues and Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774. A Step Forward support group for single, separated, divorced or widowed people. Meet 8pm Mondays at St Andrew’s Church. 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-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. Meetings are held alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For more details 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). Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817. Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group of those with compulsive overeating problem. Tel: helpline for details of meetings 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. Weekly Meetings Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623. SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and exService personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481. E-mail olivero@sapphirenet.gi With Dignity Gibraltar support group for separated, divorced, widowed or unattached people. Meetings Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: Flor 54007181 or Marie 200 79957. Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hours).
On-Line Check-in for Monarch Award-winning low fares airline Monarch is expanding its successful online check-in facility, with the service now available to passengers travelling on scheduled flights from Gibraltar airport. Monarch’s scheduled passengers travelling from Gibraltar to London Luton or Manchester can now check in for their flight via the airline’s website www.monarch. co.uk and issue a boarding card from the comfort of their own home. Online check-in is available between seven days and 4.5 hours prior to departure, reducing the required time spent at the airport and ensuring that seating on flights is allocated in advance. Online check-in can be used by all passengers with pre-allocated seats travelling on Monarch’s scheduled flights from Gibraltar. If
Cardboard boat race kids and Miss Gib
Religious Services Baha’i Faith Tel: 200 73287 www.gibtel. com/bahai email:bahai@gibraltar.gi Bethel Christian Fellowship Tel: 200 52002. Queensway. Sunday service 11am. Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Tel: 200 78377. Sung Eucharist, Sunday 10.30am. Sunday School. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Suite 21a Don House, 30-38 Main Street. Tel: 200 50433. Sundays 10am. Church of Scotland St Andrew’s, Governor’s Pde. Tel: 200 77040. Worship
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009
seats have not been pre-allocated at the time of booking, this can be done during the check-in process for the standard pre-book charge of £7.50. Alternatively, extra legroom seats, which offer an extra six inches of space, can be booked for only £17.50 per person per flight. Commenting on the launch of online check-in from Gibraltar, managing director of Monarch’s scheduled service division, Liz Savage, said, “We have seen overwhelming demand for online check-in from our UK bases and Spanish airports, with up to 25% of scheduled passengers taking
advantage of the service, so we are delighted to now offer it from Gibraltar as well. This will speed up the check-in process for a large number of our passengers and reduce the queuing time spent at the airport for their outbound flight and return flights.” Passenger’s taking advantage of online check-in and travelling with hand-baggage only can go directly to the departure gate on arrival at the airport. Passengers travelling with hold baggage should first take their bags to the fast bag drop desk, where they will be tagged as normal and sent down to the aircraft. Monarch operates year round scheduled flights from Gibraltar to London Luton and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £51.50 one way (£92.50 return). In addition to year-round low fares, Monarch also offers a unique range of tasty hot and cold meals onboard with prices from £3.00. To avoid a last minute free-for-all when boarding, seats can be pre-booked at £7.50 per one-way flight, or for only £17.50, extra-legroom seats are available, which offer up to six inches of extra space. In addition to flights, Monarch also now offers a huge range of great value holidays, accommodation options, car hire and travel insurance. For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www. monarch.co.uk.
Cardboard boat race winners - team Hand-built Carpentry
& Sunday School 10.30am. Bible Study Tues 7.30pm. Evangelical Bretheren Assembly, Queensway Quay. Sun 11am, Tues Bible Study 6pm, Thurs Prayer Meeting 6pm. Hindu Engineer’s Lane Tel: 200 42515. Jehovah’s Witness 6 Europort Avenue Tel: 200 50186. Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 200 72606. Methodist 297 Main St Tel/Fax 200 40870 email minister@methodist.org.gi Minister: Revd Fidel Patron. Sunday 11am Morning Worship, 8pm Evening Service. Prayer meetings Monday+ Wednesday to Friday
7pm and Tuesdays 8pm. Communion celebrated on 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings of the month, and other special occasions. Alpha Course: held Thursdays 8pm. House Groups meet for Christian fellowship, prayer and study on a regular basis Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Sunday School meets Sunday mornings alongside morning worship. Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned, 215 Main St Tel: 200 76688. The Cityline Church 13 Castle St Tel: 200 75755 email: citylinegib@yahoo. com. Meet: Tues 8pm, Sundays 11am.
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whatever your style...
property directory
whatever your style...
1 The Boardwalk, Tradewinds Tel: 200 47777
propertysales Estate Agents • Lettings • Property Consultants Valuations • Surveys • Property Management
homeinsurance Eurolinx 21&22 Victoria House, 26 Main St Tel: 200 40240
Abecasis Gonzalez Home & Office Furniture 33 New Harbours Tel: 200 78535 Fax: 200 40484 Email: abegon@gibtelecom.net www.abegon.net
Pure Lighting & Electrical Trafalgar Insurance Estate Agents • Lettings • Property Consultants 1/9 Montagu Place The Tower, Marina Bay Heights• Property Management ValuationsOcean • Surveys Tel: 200 44628
Estate Agents • Lettings • Property Co Valuations • Surveys • Property Mana
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1 The Boardwalk, Tradewinds Tel: 200 47777
propertyrentals
Unit F2A ICC, Gibraltar Tel: 200 49494 email: info@propertyworld.gi
www.propertyworld.gi
Bray Properties 1 The Boardwalk Tradewinds Tel: 200 47777 www.brayproperties.com
propertyservices
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AUCTIONEER, ESTATE AGENT & VALUER
For Property Advice, Contact Us 3 Convent Place Tel: 200 77789 or 200 42818 Fax: 200 42527 Email: slevy@gibraltar.gi
Del Sol Packaged Relocations www.delsolpackaged.com Tel: 54020299
Airconditioning & Ventilation Design, Installation & Maintenance
charteredsurveyors
Tel: 200 79732 Fax: 200 40415 Unit No. 28 The New Harbours
COLD-AIRE ENGINEERING
commercialinteriors Bridge Solutions PO Box 598 Tel: 57185000 Fax: 200 77041
Manufacturers & Suppliers of HIGH PRESSURE HOSES AND ACCESSORIES Visit us at 43 Harbours Deck, New Harbours, Gibraltar Call us on 200 50337 email: shop@jjhire.com or see our website: www.jjhire.com
Space Interiors 6 Ellesmere House 29 City Mill Lane Tel: 200 73992 www.spaceinteriors.gi
What a page turner! www.thegibraltar magazine.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • AUGUST 2009 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOIBER
property directory constructionservices
homes&interiors
Portman Ltd
Anything Goes furniture 1/5 Hospital Steps Tel: 200 45192 Email: info@any-thinggoes.com D&H Ceramics 60 Devil’s Tower Road Tel: 200 70100 Email: jratcliffe@gibtelecom.net
General Suppliers
Hire & Sale of Portable Cabin Units (Office, Toilet Units etc) Unit F17 Europa Business Centre PO Box 476, Gibraltar Tel: 200 73119 Fax: 200 45008 E-mail: portman@gibtelecom.net
Gibraltar Art Gallery 14 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 73898 Email: artgallery@gibtelecom.net Irish Town Antiques Irish Town Tel: 200 70411 Seekers Ltd Property Solutions 10 Engineer Lane Tel: 200 44955 info@seekerspropertysolutions.com www.furnituresolutions.gi
GibCargo Ltd Unit 3 North Mole Industrial Park Tel: 200 70787 Email: tom@gibcargo.com
marineservices
TARIK
Full Bunkering & Yacht Refuelling Service Spain: 15/5a Virgen del Carmen Algeciras (Cadiz), Spain Tel/Fax: 34 56 630418 After Hrs: Gib 200 70982
y
Gibraltar: Tel: (350) 200 72836 Fax: (350) 200 72861 Cables: TARIK GIB TLX: 2343 TRATAR
ACHT SCENE SAILORS’ GUIDE
on sale at £5.00 at chandleries & bookshops
2009 EDITION NOW OUT
39-41 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar Tel: 200 78105 Fax: 200 42510
• General Surfacing • Building • Building Renovations • Demolition • Painting & Decorating • Roadworks • Civil Engineering • Asphalt/Aggregate supplier • Comprehensive Plant Holding For prompt & competitively priced tenders contact AMCO P.O. Box 382 Tel: 200 40840 Fax: 200 40841
Curtain Makers Home Interiors Fabrics Bedding Bring your own fabric or choose from our range The Fashion House Ltd 85 Governor’s Street. Tel: 200 52938 E-mail: thefashionhouse@gibtelecom.net Fax: 200 52988
transportservices STARTER MOTORS & ALTERNATORS
Repairs, Reconditioning, Exchange or Brand New AUTOELECTRICAL SERVICES Unit 25 Rear of Block 5, Watergardens.
wastemanagement Environment and Waste Management Service E.W.M.S. Governor’s Cottage Europa Advance Road Gibraltar Tel: 200 44220 Fax: 200 44221 E-mail: ewmsgib@gibtelecom.net
homes&interiors
19/2 Governor’s Parade, Gibraltar Tel: 200 74018
AUGUST 2009 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCToBER 2009
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information
A
dmission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites within the Park - 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 £7/ Children 5-12 years: £4, Children age 4 and under free, vehicles £1.50. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times and it’s advisable to take a Rock Tour by taxi/mini bus. The Natural History & Heritage Park is also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm).
T
he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered to be of great conservational value. It’s a perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa, but 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 is found 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 any man who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. It was a Sgt. Major Ince who suggested tunnelling and there are now over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside the tunnels.
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-ibn-Zeyad (“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 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 currently 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 of charge with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction). Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. A narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of underground tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Once housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a
unique sandwich of armour plate and teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’. TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. 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 Road, open 9am - 7pm daily (admission free).
Business Information
Gibraltar Financial Services Commission ......Tel: 200 40283/4 website: www.fsc.gi 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
General Information
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. Special exhibitions also held at museum premises in Casemates gallery. Registry Office...................Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours of arrival. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon. Rock Tours by Taxi............Tel: 200 70052 As well as offering normal fares, Gibraltar
Emergency Services Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance.......................Tel: 190 Police...............................Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number...............Tel: 112
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 the civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one
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.
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Gibraltar Bus Company Routes
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. Tourist Board.....................Tel: 200 74950 Gibraltar Tourist Board, Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square, Gibraltar. UK Tel: 0207 836 0777 giblondon@aol.com John Mackintosh Hall.......Tel: 200 75669 Centre of Gib’s cultural life, includes a 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.
Public Holidays 2009
New Year’s Day 1 January Commonwealth Day 9 March Good Friday 10 April Easter Monday 13 April May Day 4 May Spring Bank Holiday 25 May Queen’s Birthday 15 June Late Summer Bank Holiday 31 August Gibraltar National Day 10 September Christmas Day 25 December Boxing Day 26 December Spain Fixed: New Year’s Day 1 January, Epiphany 6 January, St Joseph’s Day 19 March, Labour Day 1 May, St John 24 June, St James 25 July, Assumption Day 15 August, National Day 12 October, All Saints 1 November, Immaculate Conception 8 December, Christmas 25 December Moveable: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Corpus Christi Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station..........Tel: 200 75728 Police...............................Tel: 200 72500 Gibraltar Services Police: Emergency Nos: ....Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598
The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, 1st Floor 113 Main Street, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 77748
Natural History & Heritage Park
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2009 July 2004
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