The Gibraltar Magazine - April 2014

19 # 06 April 2014

dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • history • property • community

the gibraltar magazine

gibraltar the

April 2014 Vol. 19 # 06 FREE

Beware the Trojan Horse eGaming Summit 2014

Our Wonderful Wildlife

Are We Measuring Up?

Kids in Crisis Painted Alive

Talking Your Language

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the

April 2014 Vol. 19 # 06 FREE

Beware the Trojan Horse eGaming Summit 2014

Our Wonderful Wildlife

Are We Measuring Up?

Kids in Crisis Painted Alive

Talking Your Language

contents Business & Finance 8 Business & Finance Guide 9 Are We Measuring Up? 14 A Warm Welcome for

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19 # 06 APRIL 2014

Cover: A wild Bee Orchid growing in Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Guide Line Promotions Ltd PO Box 1124, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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Publisher/Editor: Andrea Morton Forde Copyright © 2014 Guide Line Promotions Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine.

www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Magazine & website archived by the British Library

20 26 32

Samantha Barrass Beware the Trojan Horse Ibex Protects Gibraltar Business KPMG & the Community Working with Stress 4th eGaming Summit

Arts & Leisure 46 The Virgin & The Ripper 50 Lilly, High in the Sky 62 Ballroom Venue for Leading

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Pianist Gib Love Festival

Interview 28 Damon Bossino: A Fresh

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Perspective?

Maricela Jean Hook: Talking Your Language Charlie Galliano

Health & Well-being 52 Body & Mind in Harmony with

Hypnobirthing

@gibmag

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19 # 06 Kids in Crisis: Childline to the Rescue Health Directory Here’s Health: Currying Favour Surviving Exams

Past Revisited 48 Drink Foils Regicide

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in Gibraltar Creating an Oasis

Appetite 86 Food File: History 88 Food & Drink Directory 92 Wine Column: Speling

Cheques

Regulars 76 Puzzle Page 77 What’s On March 82 Question of the Month: Don’t

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Features 42 60 64 79

Photo: Finlayson Nature Photography

19 # 06 April 2014

dining guide • business & finance • sport & leisure • history • property • community

the gibraltar magazine

g

ibraltar

Our Wonderful Wildlife Shorji’s Fashion Journey Twitter Leads to Rock Wedding Painted Alive

Property 34 36 38 39

Government to the Rescue Home Help Property Directory Ask The Agent

Be Foolish Around Town

Information 68 City Centre Map 88 Clubs & Activities 98 Gibraltar Information

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finance

business

Are We Measuring Up? words | Ian Le Breton

It is gratifying when people say that they read my articles and last month’s piece about the “offshore” industry appears to have generated some interest. Particularly my conclusion that Gibraltar was well placed to take advantage of the “brave new world” emerging in the world of offshore finance.

More than one person, however, asked me whether this positive view could really be justified. One was even quite vociferous, telling me there was no way that Gibraltar could really compete with “the bigger offshore centres”. Well I’m not one to duck an argument so read on.

So how do you begin comparing jurisdictions? This is the crux of the matter and it’s only fair to warn you, dear reader, that I will conclude that not only does Gibraltar compare favourably, on a number of counts it scores more highly than most. So where do we start and where are these other jurisdictions that we should be considering?

It was fashionable some years ago to term them as “tax havens” and then, when that came to be regarded pejorative, the phrase “offshore finance centre” was coined. It is a sign of the times that many now prefer to be known simply as “international finance centres”. Whatever the label, broadly they were small territories that were able to leverage their fiscal autonomy, legislative flexibility and regulatory minimalism to attract funds or business that shunned high rates of tax or too much scrutiny elsewhere. Some jurisdictions became offshore centres almost by historical accident, others by design.

When thinking of those jurisdictions against

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which Gibraltar might be compared it is, I think, more useful to consider the type of jurisdiction rather than focus on individual countries. What follows then is my personal — but I hope also realistic — attempt to set out some of the key differences so that clients, and those who advise them, might make an informed choice.

Firstly let’s put the jurisdictions into some order. I have concentrated on international centres that continue to provide “offshore” business. Although it is said that much of such work actually takes place in “onshore” cities such as London, New York and Tokyo, for the purposes of this piece I will ignore these global

Broadly they were small territories that were able to leverage their fiscal autonomy, legislative flexibility and regulatory minimalism to attract funds or business that shunned high rates of tax or too much scrutiny elsewhere

financial centres. I prefer to compare apples with apples after all.

So let’s consider Gibraltar’s competitors.

When doing so, generally I start in Europe with the other British jurisdictions closest to home.

These are the two Channel Islands bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, together with the Isle of Man. In the Mediterranean, two EU members stand out — Malta and Cyprus. “Onshore Europe” includes the big boys of Switzerland and Luxembourg and a host of smaller states such as Monaco, Liechtenstein and Andorra.

Moving further afield one might consider the powerhouses that have developed in recent years in the Middle East – of which Dubai is the most striking example – and in the Far East, Hong Kong and Singapore (although it’s fair to say that these have also been major trading entrepôts for centuries).

There are further a host of island territories spread out around the Caribbean and, although fewer in number, dotted around the Pacific and Indian Oceans. And I shouldn’t neglect the country whose government has done more than any other to change the way we are all now doing business, the United States. It is sobering to reflect that in some states — Delaware being the prime example — more offshore business is done than in several of the countries in my list combined. Indeed

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business

finance

20% of its state revenue is said to derive from taxes on companies I work for an international group that has more than 25 offices worldwide, including many of the places listed above. As I tried to set out last time, there is still a place for these jurisdictions but careful choices have to be made based on professional advice.

Given Gibraltar’s tiny size geographically, is it fair to compare the jurisdiction with such places as Switzerland and Luxembourg and the rest? “Ridiculous”, some might say. But as always, the answer depends on your point of view. We may not have the same resources or infrastructure as some of these competing jurisdictions but I think we compete on all other levels.

Last month I wrote about regulation; that its implementation and effectiveness matters more than merely what appears on the statute book. I went on to say that we should be proud of our local regulation. Although at times it can seem to be a burden, in today’s world it is also now the principal measure of a jurisdiction’s international merit. It is far better to be ahead of the curve than behind it.

There are several other aspects to consider when thinking how we measure up against the rest. Gibraltar is a member of the European Union with all the potential that can imply for passporting services to its 27 member states, but crucially this does not extend to the Customs Union and hence Gibraltar remains outside the VAT regime. This absence of VAT can lead to some useful corporate planning opportunities.

I have also written in previous articles about Gibraltar’s corporate tax rate. At 10% we compare very favourably with many of our peer group — including Cyprus at 12.5% and the rest. Many jurisdictions maintain a zero per cent regime but these are increasingly scrutinised or worse, “black listed”. It should also be remembered that Gibraltar’s 10% rate applies only to income accrued in Gibraltar or

derived from local activities.

Let us then consider the costs of doing business. Here again Gibraltar scores well against most of its competitors. Whilst our population of just 30,000 is one-third the size of Jersey – as just one example — we can count on the daily influx of qualified staff that live across the border in Spain. Not so easy to do when you live on an island.

For me, one of the most attractive aspects to working in the professional sector in Gibraltar is the ease which with different types of services can be provided either by the same group, as in Sovereign’s case, or by using the various informal networks that to be found in a closely-knit business community. Apart from traditional corporate and trust services, one is able to access specialists in finance, law, accountancy, gaming, insurance, collective investment and other areas such as marine and aviation — all in our modestly sized but very well developed centre. Put another way, there is not much that we cannot do here.

In recent years pensions work has grown into a substantial source of business; for example Gibraltar has become a market leader in QROPS provision. Recently it was announced that QNUPS will also be made available here.

This will be a real boost to those local firms involved in the business and help to demon-

In recent years pensions work has grown into a substantial source of business; for example Gibraltar has become a market leader in QROPS provision. Recently it was announced that QNUPS will also be made available here

strate our ability to compete realistically with places such as Guernsey and Malta in this area.

Of course there are bound to be some negatives. Gibraltar is seriously “under banked” and this means that local options are becoming harder to find. Bank downsizing is happening across the world as the sector contracts following the 2008 global crisis but nevertheless this is not positive news for Gibraltar.

I am also often reminded that Gibraltar has not developed a double tax treaty network.

This would certainly be useful. We have an impressive range of TIEAs or Tax Information Exchange Agreements in place but they are not the same thing. Tax treaties help to eliminate the potential of having to pay tax in two places on the same income but they also often include highly advantageous rates of tax for their mutual benefit of the treaty partners.

Note to government: it would be good to see this resolved.

So can we, in fact, compete effectively?

Granted, as the scribe of this august publication’s financial column I am expected to be bullish. This is even more important in my day job where I am asked to compare Gibraltar to all the rest on a daily basis. Having done this for almost ten years, I do genuinely think we are getting there. There are challenges but we can meet them head on as we have a great story to tell. So let’s all get out there and tell it! n

Ian Le Breton

Marathon Man Does it Again On 13th April Brendan Roche will join the Royal Irish Regiment and the Lord’s Taverners’ 80 strong team in London to run the 26 mile marathon to help raise funds for special mini buses.

This will be Brendan’s fifth marathon for the Lord’s Taverners. The Lord’s Taverners is a unique charity raising money to “give young people a sporting chance”.

The organisation encourages children, especially those with disabilities to enjoy outdoor activities and participate in sport. Their activities began on the Rock in 1992, with the aid of Lt. Col. Leo Callow MBE BEM of the Royal Irish Regiment , when they succeeded in raising enough funds for a minibus for St Bernadette’s and the Special Olympics. “Having gained sponsorship in four previous marathons, I was successful in obtaining a new replacement minibus in 2006,” says Brendan. “At a cost of £48,000 I promised to continue raising money for the Charity for a number of years to offset this cost.”

Last year the charity raised an estimated £100,00 through sponsorship from the London Marathon alone, and was able to put an addition 50 minibuses on the road. n You can sponsor Brendan for this very worthy cause at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BrendanRoche1

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2013

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charity

Pedal Power Funds St John Ambulance, Gibraltar At NatWest, community banking sits at the heart of how business is conducted. Aside from financial services, the NatWest team believes it should go further and give something back to society. The bank’s approach is to build long-term, sustainable partnerships, by connecting employees with local issues and supporting the communities in which they work.

A number of local bank employees were able to make such a contribution in April last year when they joined a 16 strong team of cyclists in a 1000 mile relay from John O’Groats to Land’s End, known as the ‘End to End Challenge’, to raise money for local charities.

Brothers Lino and Carlos Bry-

dges joined colleagues from the banking group in Jersey and Guernsey in the fundraising effort, with the support of another two Gibraltarian employees, Kevin Gonzalez and Kathy Ballantine.

In the 18 months prior to the Challenge, all the employees taking part participated in a range

gibraltar the

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The quality of a magazine reflects on the businesses that advertise within it. The Gibraltar Magazine is Gibraltar’s quality magazine — packed with great, readable content.

We don’t have pushy sales people, so get in touch if you have a business or strategy to promote in Gibraltar. We will explain your options within your budget and help you with artwork if you need us to. We are passionate about what we do and about our home, Gibraltar.

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If you are an artist with an exhibition, or a club or charity with an event coming up, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a community magazine and there is no VIP area.

Everyone is welcome to contribute so drop a line, send an email or phone us.

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We’d love to hear from you. Sometimes we get a bit lonely in our office, and we like to get letters, phone calls and emails with your feedback and photos. We might even publish the best so keep them coming. This is your magazine so get involved.

Email: info@thegibraltarmagazine.com Tel: 200 77748

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charity of different fundraising activities which eventually led to a total of over £83,000 being collected. Of this £16,000 of the money raised was donated to St John Ambulance in Gibraltar. The rest of the money has been donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Lino, who handed over a cheque to St John Ambulance at a presentation in February this year, thanked the Gibraltar public and NatWest staff who had supported the Challenge. “Without their help and support we would not have been so successful and as always they dug deep in their own pockets,” he said.

As the UK’s leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance provide and teach first aid so that others have the ability to save a life should they find themselves in that position. They believe no one should suffer for a lack of trained first aiders. The money donated in this instance will help to train new members in Gibraltar, as well as contribute to paying for new training equipment.

Road Challenge The ‘End to End Challenge’ was different from other Land’s End

to John O’Groats charity events in that it was completed as part of a non-stop relay. The riders were split into three teams of six, cycling for four hour stints and then resting for eight hours. This rotation continued throughout the night until the final destination

was reached and the Challenge was completed. Although this method reduced the total distance cycled by any one member of the team, it brought its own complexities by riding through the night in variable conditions and after only a few hours rest.

The Challenge was completed in just three days and the cyclists covered the length of the UK in approximately 60 hours, maintaining an average speed of 15/16 mph over the distance in order to complete the Challenge within the target time. n

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finance

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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business events

A Warm Welcome for GFSC CEO Samantha Barrass The Minister for Financial Services and Gaming, the Hon Albert Isola, hosted a reception for financial services professionals on Thursday 6th March at the Grand Battery House, Casemates.

Minister Isola also took the opportunity to give a short presentation and overview of the Finance Centre Department’s marketing, profile and new business development strategy. n

The reception was held to welcome the new Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Commission, Samantha Barrass, who stepped into the role, taking over from Marcus Killick OBE, in February.

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workplace

Beware the Trojan Horse

Fraudsters Hiding in Plain Sight Micky Swindale, Managing Director at KPMG Gibraltar, talks about the company’s latest international report on the profile of a fraudster.

In these turbulent economic times, businesses and investors alike should be aware that fraudsters can come in all shapes and sizes. But, who commits fraud and what characteristics should a company look for?

Most commonly, a fraudster is employed by the victim organisation (61%), posing as something of a Trojan Horse. In 70% of fraud cases, the perpetrator found it tough to go solo and colluded with others. Of these, 42% took their time before committing a fraudulent

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Companies can’t stand still and allow yesterday’s controls to address today’s or tomorrow’s fraudster

act, having been employed for more than six years by the victim organisation. All of this is according to the latest study by KPMG, entitled Profiles of a Fraudster — so what does it tell us? Well, for a start, that the typical fraudster sounds disconcertingly like me!

Characteristics of the typical swindler • 36 to 45 years of age (with 70% of fraudsters between the ages of 36 and 55).

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finance • Employed in an executive, finance, opera- fraud cases were facilitated by weak internal controls. This suggests that if many organisations, or sales/marketing function. tions tightened controls and the supervision of • Holds a managerial or executive position employees, the opportunity for fraud would be severely curtailed. Too often, organisations do (25% and 29% respectively). not focus on fraud prevention by setting up the • Employed in the organisation in excess of right controls, and learn their lesson too late.

But strong internal controls will not prevent six years. all fraud. For 20% of the fraudsters, the fraud • An opportunistic fraudster — first-time was committed recklessly, regardless of the offender, trusted employee, in a position of controls. And for 11%, fraudsters colluded to responsibility, perpetrator’s alleged behav- circumvent the controls. In these cases, the ior comes as a surprise to others. Predators; fraudster may be somebody who understands someone who seeks out an organisation to the controls and knows how to manipulate start a scheme almost immediately upon them, or who finds a flaw in the controls by being hired and deliberately defrauds the accident and exploits them. organisation with little remorse, are less Other key survey findings common.

• It’s all about the money for most: The overwhelming reason for committing Response of the fraudster to the fraud is financial. Out of a total of 1,082 rapid flux of the business world motivations listed, 614 were motives of Profiles of a Fraudster also reveals that the greed, financial gain and financial diffithree drivers of fraud — motivation, opportuculty, and a further 114 were related to nity and rationale — continue to be timeless business targets. The only non-financial themes. Capability; however, continually motive that comes close is sheer eagerness changes, causing the profile of the fraudster (or “because I can”) with 106. to alter too. Organisations need to understand

the ever-changing behavior of the fraudster if they are to mitigate the risk of fraud and then • No need to play by the rules: A third of the fraudsters (36%) exhibited a sense of respond quickly to such crimes if they occur. superiority as rationale for their fraud.

One major change is the growing use of This may be linked to the fact that 29% of technology by fraudsters, and not just in the the frauds were committed by executive technologically advanced countries such as directors, the largest single job title. the US. A concern for all business is that we are about to see a new generation of people, able to use more technology and with access to much more information than past generations.

All of which points to a new era for fraud and illegal activities.

Companies can’t stand still and allow yesterday’s controls to address today’s or tomorrow’s fraudster — technology not only enables the fraudster, but also enables the organisation to defend itself. Newer approaches like data analytics and data mining give the company a much better chance of catching the fraudster.

The opportunistic fraudster The study found that over half (54%) of

Predators; someone who seeks out an organisation to start a scheme upon being hired and deliberately defrauds the organisation with little remorse, are less common

• Common crimes: The most prevalent fraud is misappropriation of assets (56%), of which embezzlement comprises 40% and procurement fraud makes up 27%.

The second most prevalent form of fraud is revenue of assets gained by fraudulent or illegal acts (24%).

• Not a solo act: When acting in collaboration, 74% of frauds were perpetrated over one to five years. With regard to value, 18% of frauds had a total value of $50,000 – 200,000. In 43% of the cases, the financial impact of victims exceeded $500,000, exceeding $5,000,000 in 16% of these cases, more than fraudsters acting solo.

Fraud specialists have long debated whether it is possible to develop a profile of a fraudster that is accurate enough to enable organisations to catch people in the act of fraud or even beforehand. The prediction of a crime before it occurs is, at least for now, the subject of science fiction. But an analysis of the constantly changing nature of fraud and the fraudster can help organisations stiffen their defenses against these criminal activities. Forewarned is forearmed. n For the full report, visit kpmg.com and search for ‘Profiles of a Fraudster’. Micky Swindale is Managing Director of KPMG Gibraltar. Email: mswindale@kpmg.gi Tel: 200 48600

About the survey Data was gathered from fraud investigations conducted by KPMG member firms’ forensic specialists in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMA), the Americas, and Asia-Pacific between August 2011 and February 2013. KPMG analyzed a total of 596 fraudsters who were involved in acts committed in 78 countries. The survey examined “white collar” crime investigations conducted across the regions where the perpetrator was known and detailed contextual information on the crime available. It incorporates the observations and views of KPMG Investigations leaders in 42 countries across the world. The report builds on the similar studies from 2011 and 2007.

The staff of PwC took part in Childline’s Blue Day and raised over £250 for this local charity (see page 54) GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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Ibex Protects Gibraltar Business Ibex’s Paula Coulthard is passionate about commercial insurance, and says finding out what keeps Gibraltar’s business owners awake at night and creating solutions for them is a challenge she loves.

“

“I joined Ibex in November 2013 because profession. “I love the flexibility of working it was the right time for me to make the for Ibex and the challenge of developing change,” says 32 year old Paula. “It is also products is very appealing. Being a qualified an exciting time for Ibex with its association with Kiln, a part of Tokio Marine, and I am pleased I made the move. I was previously Managing Director of a smaller company, but now I am Underwriting Director of Ibex, which may seem like a step down but Ibex is a much larger company with a higher I very much enjoy meeting volume of clients so the opportunities are greater.”

Paula, who is married with two young local businesses to find out children (4 and 2.5 years), was also attractwhat keeps them awake ed by Ibex’s flexible working environment, at night and if it is an which perhaps accounts for the company’s large percentage of women employees in insurable risk what is traditionally a male dominated

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underwriter working with commercial insurance, along with Professional Indemnity and Directors & Officers Liability, I wanted to concentrate within my specialised area and my new role provides that specialisation.”

Ibex’s new commercial insurance product — a direct result of Paula joining the company and underwritten at Lloyd’s of London, — was launched at the end of February at a presentation given to a packed audience of invited business owners at Gibraltar’s Eliott Hotel, attended by company Chairman John Harrison.

“Ibex had been offering commercial insurance for a few years, but when I joined I looked at the policy and found it was not particularly geared for the Gibraltar mar-

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insurance ket. I was able to take the existing product, broadly aimed at the UK market, and groom it to tailor it to Gibraltar’s business community’s specific needs.”

The product’s presentation was opened by Ibex Managing Director, Richard Hill who was able to give an insight into the company’s growth by explaining that in 2013 the company, which has served the Gibraltar community since 2005 when it opened its doors as Trafalgar Insurance Brokers, sold over 60 different types of policies on behalf of nearly 30 different insurance companies.

With 15 retail offices and 78 staff, Ibex is now one of the largest insurance providers for expatriates in Spain and Portugal. The new product tailored to Gibraltar’s business needs is another string to their already impressive bow.

The new product itself is also impressive in its flexibility.

“You can pick and choose the cover you want, nothing is compulsory,” Paula explains. “The levels of coverage are chosen by the client. A standard policy names the perils covered, with this product we just state ‘all risks’ and list exclusions. All key risks can be covered from property damage, stock deterioration, business interruption, machinery breakdown, goods in transit, loss of keys and public and employer’s liability.”

“I love working in commercial insurance,” adds Paula, who showed her dedication to

Car

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Home

her profession from 2005-2006 by dividing her week working in Gibraltar for a local insurance company part-time while studying to qualify for her ACII in the UK part-time.

In fact, apart from a two year stint travelling the skies as cabin crew, Paula has worked in the insurance industry since joining Norwich Union at the tender age of 18.

What appeals to Paula about the insurance industry and in particular commercial insurance? “I very much enjoy meeting local businesses to find out what keeps them

“

All key risks can be covered from property damage, stock deterioration, business interruption, machinery breakdown, goods in transit, loss of keys and public and employer’s liability

Holiday Apartment

Commercial

awake at night and if it is an insurable risk.

It is about trying to find a solution,” she explains of her work and the background behind the new Ibex product. “I went into companies and said ‘Let’s listen to you’ and was able to tailor a package to suit them. I can also perform risk management solutions and risk assessments. The solution is not always an insurance policy. I find the work very challenging, to calculate what the maximum exposure is and work with the client to reduce that risk.”

So what does keep Gibraltar’s business owners awake at night? “In Gibraltar the main peril is escape of water,” Paula states.

“A standard policy covers damage caused by the leak, with our policy we cover the tracing and locating of the leak too. This also ties in with the link to local security company OSG. OSG doesn’t just sell alarm systems for fire and theft, they also include a leak detector. We offer a discount on the policy if a client mitigates their risk with an OSG system, and in turn OSG offers a discount to clients covered by Ibex. It is a symbiotic relationship which works well for the client,” Paula concludes. n Ibex Insurance is located at 68 Irish Town. Further information on tailor made commercial insurance cover is available from Ibex on 200 44628 or by email: gibraltar@ibexinsure.com website: www. ibexinsure.com

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68 Irish Town, Gibraltar • T: 200 44628 • gibraltar@ibexinsure.com • www.ibexinsure.com Ibex Insurance Services Ltd 2014. Ibex Insurance Services Ltd, 68 Irish Town, Gibraltar. Registered no. 77247. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission FSC 006 43B

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Gibraltar and act as one of the audit directors with signing responsibilities within the firm.

What was your very first job?

While I was studying in Liverpool, I worked for about a year in my Dad’s paper business to earn a bit of extra money. I always knew this wasn’t for me. I get on really well with my Dad but wanted to do my own thing and not feel like I had a job because of my family.

If you hadn’t chosen your current career, is there another career path you would have liked to pursue?

That is a difficult question. After realising at an early age that I would never become a professional footballer or golfer, the first job I wanted to do was to become a forensic pathologist/investigator. With hindsight I’m not sure why; I don’t think I’d do too well around blood or hospitals!

I have always liked business and finance, so would have probably ended up as a tax advisor or a lawyer.

What is the best thing about your job?

I have a lot of variety in my job –— audit work, advisory projects, business development, meeting new people, recruitment, etc. I like variety, and hence think that is why I stayed in practice for so long rather than move to another area. I really do enjoy meeting different people to learn how they have built their business and the challenges that they have had. It is especially rewarding when you can provide a good service to a client that is appreciative and when you are able to assist them with their accounting issues or problems.

Mike Harvey tells his views on Gibraltar and KPMG’s role in the wider business community

How do you link in with the local community and what role do you play in it?

Commitment to our local communities is at the heart of KPMG’s values. We work in partnership with non-profit organisations to create shared value and to help communities grow and prosper. Being a successful business in Gibraltar, we feel that it is only right that we give something back to the local community.

Hello and welcome to April’s edition. Paul Wharton is taking a well-earned We are delighted to be the sponsor of the Gibreak in warmer climes and has handed the reins for this month’s column braltar Minis rugby and to see how the number to me! My name is Steve Ball and as a member of Paul’s team at Barclays of participants has grown over the past three Wealth & Investment Management, I focus on supporting clients within the years is a great credit to the Gibraltar Rugby e-Gaming, Insurance and large corporate sectors. Much of my time is spent Association and the time put into this by the dedicated Minis coaches. Our staff vote on an meeting clients to understand their business and then supporting them annual charity and have done things such as a parachute jump to raise funds for the nomiclosely with appropriate banking solutions. nated charity at that time.

Finally, KPMG globally operates something Writing the column this month is a timely highlights and success stories. called MADD — Make A Difference Day. This is opportunity and I am delighted to take the ‘hot seat’ for this edition. April sees the return of the Mike, thank you for taking the time to talk to where our staff get involved with a local project for the day. We have not yet chosen what we annual Gibraltar e-Gaming Summit (see page us. What is your business background?

32) hosted by KPMG, this year held on board I qualified as an accountant in the mid-nine- will do this year, so would be happy to hear Ocean Village’s latest addition, the Sunborn ties in Liverpool and at that time was doing a from any charities as to a project myself and Gibraltar floating hotel. Now in its 4th year, the lot of audit work for companies all over the my team could do for them. conference has become widely recognised as north west of England, and some further afield. a leading event within the e-gaming industry In 2001, having become a bit fed up with the What is the single most important reason for and year in year out attracts strong attendance British weather and the travelling, I felt that the your success? with delegates from as far afield as the US, time was right for me to make a move and a big On a personal level, I think hard work. I Germany and Italy. change in my life. It was at this point that I first would say I am not afraid of hard work or of So, what better time to sit down with Mike came to Gibraltar. During this time, I have done getting my hands dirty, and I’m quite happy to Harvey, director in audit, tax & advisory from a lot of audit and advisory work for financial get stuck in to help the team out to meet a client KPMG to hear his views on Gibraltar and on services entities and gaming companies. For deadline. I am quite single minded – when I KPMG’s role within the wider business com- the last six years, I have been involved with make up my mind that I want to do something, munity, along with some of his personal career the re-establishment of the KPMG brand in I will give it my all.

KPMG & the Community

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interview I think that the success of KPMG has been very much down to the hard work that our staff have put in and the variety of service lines and expertise that we can offer - for example, the eGaming Summit that we are running this month — we have a significant amount of experience and are able to bring this to bear with real benefits for our clients.

Tell me how you first got involved with Gibraltar?

of places that I have not yet been to that I would love to visit with my wife — transit down the Panama Canal, climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge, see the Northern Lights, etc. Also to get my golf handicap down to single figures.

On a professional level, KPMG is still growing but I think there are tremendous opportunities for continued expansion within Gibraltar, and as a result of attracting new businesses into Gibraltar. The sky is the limit.

I like a bit of peace and tranquillity and a bit of sun, but I am quite an active person and would get bored after a while. My ideal holiday would be a cruise where you can combine visiting different cities and sights with a bit of rest.

Best advice anyone has given to you — who were they and how did you then use it?

My mum has always been a big inspiration to me. Having brought me and my three sisters up she certainly put in a lot of hard work for Describe a time when you made the wrong us. I think this is where I get my dedication decision. and hard working attitude from. I am a great The role that I have requires a lot of decisions believer that with hard work you can achieve on a daily basis that involve either the opera- a lot — which is what she used to say to us tions of the firm, staff matters, client issues, etc. growing up.

I’m not sure that I would say there is a wrong decision that I regret. What’s important is what What was the first record you ever brought? you learn from the decisions that you make and Eddie Grant – I don’t want to Dance. Don’t to ensure that if these decisions were perhaps ask me why! misguided, you don’t make them again. The key is to learn from your mistakes.

What movie (no matter how many times

I had always fancied working abroad and especially in a warmer climate. Whilst I was looking for a new career path back in 2001, a role within Gibraltar was advertised. I had never been to Gibraltar (or mainland Spain come to think of it) at that time, but did my research and accepted the job offer. The role was a two year contract and, like a lot of other people who move here, I ended up staying for a lot longer. I think Gibraltar has a unique proposition that does make it a very attractive place to relocate to – a stable economy, strong you’ve watched it) do you have to watch, finance centre, English speaking, pound ster- Mountain hideaway or beach house? when it comes on? ling and, of course, the weather (and the golf In truth, I think I would struggle to do either.

Movies are one of my passions. I enjoy courses close by). nothing more than watching a film or TV series in my downtime. I do enjoy a good thriller or What do you consider to be your greatest action movie. However, I grew up with the achievement? original Star Wars Trilogy so this has always A big part of the reason I moved to KPMG had a special spot for me. My favourite TV was the challenge of growing a practice from series is 24 so I’m really pleased that there next to nothing and to see how successful it is a new series out this year — albeit only 12 could become. When I set my mind to someepisodes as opposed to 24! thing, I want to do the best I can. I am very proud of what I have achieved as well as the We’ll see you next month when Paul returns success of KPMG to date, and I would say with the next interview in our series. n that the knowledge that I have been a key part of this success is my great professional Stephen Ball is writing in his own achievement.

Any ambitions not yet fulfilled?

Yes — lots. On a personal level there are lots

Round Table Gibraltar have Special Audience with Royalty Members of Gibraltar’s Round Table were granted a special audience with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in March following a ‘Cornerstone of the Community’

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“

I really do enjoy meeting different people to learn how they have built their business and the challenges that they have had

Award presented to Round Table Gibraltar by the Newcastle Building Society.

RT Gibraltar twinned with RT Airdrie 10 years ago and the two Tables visit each other every year. This time, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the twinning, the two Tables agreed to meet in London.

In commemoration of Commonwealth Day, the Patron of the National Association of Round Tables in the UK, His

capacity and none of the above is intended to express the views or opinions of Barclays Bank PLC.

Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, welcomed the 25 Tablers to Buckingham Palace, and spoke to most members of the group.

Paul Collado, President of RT Gibraltar, said: “We are extremely grateful to our Airdrie colleagues for arranging such a special event and I am personally honoured to have been given the opportunity to introduce my fellow Gibraltarian Tablers to His Royal Highness.” n

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shorts

Gibtelecom Apprenticeship Success Last month Gibtelecom celebrated the successful completion of the second intake of its four year communications apprenticeship scheme, launched in 2008, with a graduation reception at the Rock Hotel.

ogy Education Council) Diploma in Professional Competence for IT & Telecoms Professionals, with a further three apprentices being presented with their Level 2 intermediate BTEC certificates.

The Hon Dr John Cortes MP, Minister for Health and Environment and Acting Chief Minister on the day, presented the five Five apprentices graduated with graduating apprentices with their the BTEC (Business and Technol- certificates, as well as their BTEC

awards. Commenting on the success of the programme he said “this Gibtelecom initiative is an example of how local companies using local expertise can create opportunities for young people, especially in such a critical area for Gibraltar like the communications sector.”

Tim Bristow, Gibtelecom’s CEO, also expressed words of encouragement to the apprentices at the

awards ceremony saying “The four year programme which some started in 2008, others in 2009 and the remainder in 2010, was designed to give young people valuable telephony, IT and related experience throughout the various stages of the programme”. He congratulated the five apprentices who had graduated last year and added that “their skills will go a long way to serve not only Gibtelecom’s requirements but those of the wider community.” He also thanked GibDock for their part in the initial induction programme, and the Gibraltar College for their general guidance and training of Gibtelecom’s BTEC assessors, previously NVQ (National Vocational Qualification).

The apprentices at the outset completed a three month NVQ Level 1 in basic hand skills at GibDock, followed by “on the job” structured training with Gibtelecom over four years, which included a short street works and health and safety course with British Telecom in the UK. All the graduating apprentices — John Barabich, Jared Lavagna, Ryan Dignam, Sean Recagno and Evan Payas — have taken up jobs with Gibtelecom.

The third intake — Craig Lima, Kairon Morillo and Michael Benitez — taken on in 2010 all passed and received Level 2 BTEC Intermediate Certificate as Communication Technology Practitioners. n

Closer Links with Guernsey Guernsey’s Culture & Leisure Minister, Deputy Mike O’Hara travelled to Gibraltar as the Regional Representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s British Islands and Mediterranean region in mid-March.

Deputy O’Hara visited the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, and Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Joseph Garcia, and said afterwards: “The meeting with the Chief Minister was an opportunity to combine the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association with the building of links between Guernsey and Gibraltar.

“I was also able to hand the Chief Minister a letter from our

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Simon Ross Guernsey’s Greffier (Her Majesty’s Greffier is the Clerk to the Island’s government), Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardio, Guernsey’s Culture & Leisure Minister, Deputy Mike O’Hara and Gibraltar’s Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia

new Chief Minister and to discuss where, in the future, there might be opportunities for stronger dialogue between our jurisdictions.”

Mr Picardo added: “I was ex-

tremely pleased to welcome Deputy O’Hara to Gibraltar and to thank him for his work as the Regional Representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary

Association. Guernsey and Gibraltar have a great deal in common so today’s meeting was an ideal opportunity to discuss several matters of mutual interest.” n

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On Thursday 6th March the Gibraltar Business Network celebrated International Women’s Day (Saturday 8th March) with a dinner at the Rock Hotel

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finance

Minister for Financial Services, Albert Isola

Gibraltar Finance steps up presence in London In line with its 2014 Business Plan released at the beginning of March, Gibraltar Finance representatives will be attending, exhibiting and speaking at the Family Wealth Management and Structuring Conference (FWM), organised by Campden Wealth Ltd in April. Local industry representatives will be attending and supporting this event.

Paul Astengo, Senior Executive with Gibraltar Finance will lead the team at the event hosted at the Liberal Club in London on 8th and 9th April 2014.

This is the first occasion that Gibraltar Finance will be present at FWM. We have identified it as a key event given the content and the quality of speakers, both of which are very relevant to our proposition.

The two-day event, first held in 2002, focuses on how professional intermediaries can best serve the private client and it attracts in excess of 100 delegates. The structure of the event includes keynote presentations, panel discussions and case studies. Paul Astengo will be representing Gibraltar at

a panel discussion titled Location, Location, Location and will present Gibraltar as the onshore European finance centre of choice for the private client.

Minister for Financial Services, Albert Isola commented, “The challenge facing the Gibraltar Finance team is to take our jurisdiction to wherever there is a clearly identified market for Gibraltar.

This event clearly fits the bill. This Government’s commitment to make Gibraltar the finance centre of choice remains absolute and our support for this event bears testament to this. 2014 promises to be an incredibly busy year and I am confident of the success that our efforts will bring across this sector.” n

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The challenge facing the Gibraltar Finance team is to take our jurisdiction to wherever there is a clearly identified market for Gibraltar GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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human resources

Working With Stress

words | Sylvia Kenna, The HR Dept.

Q:

Two of my employees have recently said they are feeling stressed at work and now one of them has been signed off sick with stress. What steps can I take to prevent my employees feeling stressed at work?

A:

Stress seems to be the new ‘buzzword’ this year and research by the charity Mind in the UK gives some interesting figures on how people are feeling about stress.

Research has found that work is the most stressful factor in people’s lives with one in three people (34%) saying their work life was either very or quite stressful, more so than debt or financial problems (30%) or health (17%).

The survey of over 2,000 people found the top cause for workplace stress was frustration with poor management, with one in three (32%) saying this was either very stressful or quite stressful. Excessive workload was the second most stressful factor for one in four (26%) of those surveyed, followed by not enough support from managers (25%) and unrealistic targets (25%).

A culture of ignoring mental health issues or making mental health a taboo subject can be costly to employers, with other key findings revealing: ● One in five people (19%) take a day off sick because of stress but 90% of those cited a different reason for their absence ● Almost one in 10 (9%) have resigned from a job due to stress and one in four (25%) have considered resigning due to work pressure ● One in five (19%) felt they couldn’t tell their boss if they were overly stressed ● Of the 22% of those surveyed who have a diagnosed mental health problem, less than half (10%) had actually told their boss about their diagnosis

The way people are managed plays a key role in how employees cope under pressure at work. The survey reveals that more than half of managers (56%) said they needed more training and/or guidance and only one in five employees said they felt their manager took steps to help staff manage stress (22%).

Mind have put together a guide for small businesses that includes common sense actions to benefit your employees and your business.

Supporting staff members doesn’t need to be bureaucratic or require lots of paperwork, and in many cases it is simply about being aware.

Tackle the causes Make sure work environments are suitable for the task. Noise, temperature and light levels can all have an impact on wellbeing. Where possible consider space dividers and quiet spaces to help improve the work environment.

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For staff working in isolation, ensure there are clear and regular lines of communication.

This can simply be a regular phone catch-up.

Consider introducing an informal buddy scheme to help new staff members understand your business faster and to support them in their role.

The job ● Set reasonable and agreed deadlines for work completion. ● Define the work role and responsibilities as much as is possible. ● Involve the employee in the planning of their workload where possible. ● Create clear supervisory and appraisal structures involving the employee. ● Take into account the views of employees with respect to job satisfaction and career development.

The business Encourage and promote an open environment at work. Employees need to feel confident and supported if they choose to talk about issues. And remember, sensitive personal information should remain confidential.

Keep records of sickness absence and use them to analyse the causes of absence.

time off as sick leave due to mental ill health.

If this becomes the case remember to: ● Keep in contact ● Explore adjustments to working conditions or to the working environment to aid their return such as flexible hours or changes to their responsibilities ● Develop a recovery action plan with them to identify the signs of mental distress and what support would help

It is good to be aware of relevant personal issues affecting staff such as illness, bereavement and other stress related factors that may contribute to an employee struggling to cope in the workplace. This can be done very informally such as a catch-up over a coffee. n The charity Mind www.mind.org.uk has created free webinars and resources for managers to take part in which will focus on creating mentally healthy workplaces in tough economic times and supporting staff who are stressed or have mental health problems.

The HR Dept. provides reliable and pragmatic support to businesses to help them manage their people better. www. thehrdept.gi

Supporting staff If you become aware of a staff member experiencing distress the first step is to establish honest, open communication with them.

Focus on the person not the problem. Talk to the employee and ask if they need any shortterm adjustments to their working environment. They are the expert on their feelings, so they are best placed to know what they need.

Sometimes staff may need to take some

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finance

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What you might not know is that we can also take care of all your importing requirements.

For further information please contact: DHL Gibraltar Unit 36 Harbours Deck, New Harbours, Gibraltar GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014 Tel: 200 72210 Email: GIBSN@dhl.com

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�amon Bossino

A Fresh Perspective 28

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interview Barrister Damon Bossino was appointed Deputy Leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats on 17th March 2014, just over a year after putting his name forward as a candiate for leadership following the resignation of Sir Peter Caruana. We decided to find out more about Damon and his view of his role in Gibraltar’s political arena.

You have been involved in politics since the 1996 general elections when you were just 24 years of age as a Liberal candidate, despite only recently qualifying as a barrister. Could you tell us what made you become actively involved?

Yes that now seems like a long time ago! I have had an interest in politics from a very young age. There is no obvious reason why, given that there has never been anybody in my family or close to me who has been involved in public life in this way. It is one of those things which you have a passion for and don’t understand why many other people don’t.

I recall participating in debates in school and on TV with the now Chief Minister who was in my school year, I suppose we were the few in the class who had an interest in politics.

The 1988 election was the first one I followed which is when the GSLP first came to power promising ‘time for change’. It is one of those coincidences in life that I should have been elected for the first time in the election which saw the GSLP again win under the same banner, 23 years later.

I came back to front line politics, principally because I wanted to see a GSD government returned to office. I felt strongly that we needed the experienced and proven leadership which had been provided for 16 years by Sir Peter Caruana for another four years, especially after the success of the PP in the Spanish elections shortly before ours here.

Alas it was not to be but I am nevertheless very satisfied to now be participating in the renewal and development of the GSD for the future.

You stepped out of politics following the Liberal/GSLP alliance in 2000 until elected as GSD shadow minister for Transport and Tourism in 2011, again to oppose the GSLP, a decision you say was made to make a positive contribution to the Gibraltar success story. What do you see as the key to Gibraltar’s continued success as a jurisdiction?

As I said in the context of the answer to the previous question, in my mind Gibraltar had transformed itself, on any objective analysis, into a success story when the GSD left office in 2011. That success story was built after many years of work in improving Gibraltar’s reputation as a stable, safe, properly regulated jurisdiction. In very general terms, in my view, those are the crucial ingredients which have to be present in order to ensure the success of our economy and therefore stability as a distinct people.

Part of the process also entails trying your very best, as a government, to conduct our international relations in such

a way that is not unnecessarily antagonistic whilst at the same time protecting your ‘red line’ issues which impact on, for example, our sovereignty. Policies and an approach like this is what improves the lives of our citizens.

How would you distill your key political objectives in a few lines, and how do you think they will move Gibraltar forward?

It would have to be the prudent and mature management of our international and internal affairs. Gibraltar is a very small place and we live well here, both Gibraltarians and non-Gibraltarians who have made this place their home. Getting this right is what will help us succeed. That’s my answer in a few lines, not easy for a politician and a lawyer.

Which political figure (historical or living) do you most admire and aspire to emulate?

I have read very many political biographies and there are aspects of each of those individuals that you learn from. I am not sure I would aspire to emulate any of them as such. The qualities you do find in most of these individuals are courage, hard work, clear ideas and determination in carrying them through. One very important quality is of course to have the ability to lead.

You put your name forward in January 2013 as a candidate for the GSD party leadership, and just over a year later have been elected as Deputy Leader. Is leadership still an aspiration?

Yes that’s right, I stood for the leadership last year. It was a very interesting experience in many respects. You have to remember that I stood only slightly more than a year after I was first elected as an MP. I felt that it was important to put my own ideas forward as to how the party should be led over the following three years in the lead up to the 2015 general election. Mr Feetham is the leader of the party now and I am here, as deputy leader, to provide advice and support to him and the wider party.

As for aspirations, let’s just say I still harbour the hope of putting my ideas into practice in the future!

“

As a member of the Select Committee for Parliamentary Reform, what do you feel about Party Politics as they exist in Gibraltar today and how could they be improved?

Party politics has been the subject of unfair

criticism for as long as I can remember. People say that we should have the best brains in government and some of a certain generation, hanker for a return to the City Council days of the ’50s. Of course times have changed since then. Gibraltar has evolved to become, for all intents and purposes, a city state where we manage pretty much all our affairs.

I suspect that people’s views are a reaction to the exasperation they feel as a result of what some describe as the ‘Punch and Judy’ nature of our politics. This is a complex area where various factors come into play but I think that the party system has served us well. It provides discipline, with parties having their own structures, organisations and memberships and importantly policies and healthy competition.

I am not sure that without a party system we would have had the sophisticated level of political activity, which you would struggle to find in an equivalent jurisdiction of this size.

The negative aspects of the overly combative nature of our politics is something which can be addressed without a wholesale removal of the party system.

You describe yourself on your website as ‘A Fresh Face’ what do you mean by this in the current context?

Well I’m older now and been in the political sphere for longer so I suppose my face is less fresh! You have obviously had access to the website I set up as part of the leadership campaign which I will have to revamp and adapt.

Seriously, I think that I, as well as my other colleagues in the party, are keen to work on a programme for government which will provide a fresh approach to how we do things.

We know you are a family man — married to Rosa and with three children — but could you tell us a bit about Damon away from the politics — something we don’t already know. What do you enjoy doing? How do you relax?

With a family and two jobs (my day job being a lawyer and partner in a local law firm) there is very little time to relax. I try and ensure that my weekends are spent with the family and I make time to have fun and play with the kids when they are off the iPads! My wife (without whose support nothing that I do would be possible) and kids are my rock and what keeps me sane, I think.

I also try and get some exercise in, with jogging being my favourite, probably because I can be on my own. You find that as things currently stand there is very little ‘alone time’. All my sisters are dancers and I came after them in

I recall participating in debates in school and on TV with the now Chief Minister who was in my school year, I suppose we were the few in the class who had an interest in politics

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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”

the pecking order so you could say that I enjoy the odd ‘boogie’ once in a while! I am reputed to have rhythm. n

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23/03/2014 16:39

career file

�aricela Jean Hook:

Talking Your Language

words | Richard Cartwright

Even in a small town like Gibraltar there are those who go about important business who you may not know about; ordinary citizens who you might have known ‘forever’ but didn’t know what they do for a living! Linguist Maricela Jaen Hook is one such person for me, and I was fascinated to hear her story.

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“I remember learning French with an Irish accent,” she chuckles, “because, as a girl, we were taught by Irish nuns in the ‘Green Convent,’ Gibraltar’s Grammar school for girls situated where No 6 is now. ‘Languages’ was always my favourite subject in school and to this day my interest in the subject remains to the point that now, in my 60s, I’m thinking about taking on Chinese..!”

So if I now reveal that Maricela became a judicial interpreter and translator, it should not come as a great revelation. This lady is fluent in English and Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and German and, she tells me, can follow some Arabic too...

“My mother spent eight years during the Evacuation in Madeira and became fluent in Portuguese. She sang the traditional Portu-

guese songs, or ‘fados’, and even prayed in Portuguese so it’s no surprise I learnt that language. I later did a correspondence course in German with the Berlitz School of Languages and learnt Italian through the old Linguaphone cassette system and really got into it and that’s how it all started.”

Polyglot Maricela put her knowledge to good use ending up as an interpreter/clerk in the Gibraltar Courts where she worked for many years until medically boarded in the late ’80s, but before that she entered the job market via the private sector.

“Well I always wanted contact with people in whatever job came my way. I’ve always considered myself a people’s person and thought I would be best suited to work in the tourist trade or even as a taxi driver, so when I left

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 16:21

school my dad found me a job with Blands as a tourist courier travelling to Malaga airport and other places transporting German, French and other tourists in and out of Gib,” Maricela recalls. “We’d also go by tender aboard the big Italian Trans Atlantic liners like the Rafaello and Michel Angelo which couldn’t come alongside in those days so I was constantly using all of those languages. It was in the mid ’70s I became an interpreter/clerk at the courts in Main Street and spent many years there.”

Being used to speaking in public she also spent some time as a Continuity Presenter on GBC television during those years, when GBC lived in Wellington Front. Following her departure from the courts, for the next five years or so, Maricela took on freelance work as translator in private banking, travelling to Portugal, Paris, London and Stuttgart. She opened an office locally working in Spanish, French and some Italian but stopped working in 2000 due to personal circumstances.

She became founder member of, and got seriously involved in, the Gibraltar Alzheimer and Dementia Support Group which took up much of her time but, her love for languages came-a-calling and she began court work once again in the early 2000s.

“I also worked as interpreter for driving licence tests and for asylum seekers from Somalia, Mali and other African countries. These were individuals with very interesting stories

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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to tell and some of the sessions became quite intense. It’s incredible how much you learn working on some of these tasks. I did some translations for a Norwegian company which had an interest in acquiring orange and olive groves in Spain and I found that to be quite fascinating learning about the different types of groves and orchards.”

There are many anecdotes Maricela could tell us, especially with regards to court work. One involved a German individual, “That’s right.

I was busy translating away quite confidently when at the end, the judge sentenced him to six months in prison and I turned to him and said six months in hospital! Hospital and prison

“

These were individuals with very interesting stories to tell and some of the sessions became quite intense. It’s incredible how much you learn working on some of these tasks

”

are similar words, so he looked at me and said hospital? I apologised and gave him the right word for prison. There have been other awkward moments when defendants or witnesses have not understood the correct term for sexual acts and I’ve had to use the common vernacular version of the term which can sometimes be a little embarrassing to say the least. I used to have a very good relationship with Judge Alcantara and he sometimes used to pull my leg about these things!”

These days Maricela Jaen Hook is also a Commissioner for Oaths and is still kept pretty busy in our local courts at the rate of about 10 or 12 cases a month.

“Since I left my courier job all those years ago I’ve lost a bit of my German but I can still get by, of course most of the work I do in court is with Spanish nationals but the other languages come in handy at times.”

In recent times, she’s become quite friendly with a Chinese citizen who resides on the Rock and although she says, “I‘m getting on a bit,” I’m sure with plenty of encouragement and help from her Chinese friend and with her past experience she’ll be more than able to tackle that language and put it to good use. China is flexing its muscles as a top player in world trade so there may be a need for a Chinese interpreter soon for a business interest locally, who knows! In the meantime she can keep up to speed over a coffee with her Far Eastern pal. n

31

23/03/2014 16:21

4th eGaming Summit An impressive international speaker line-up has been announced for the fourth annual KPMG eGaming Summit, one of the major highlights of the local eGaming industry’s calendar.

This year’s event will be held at the newly opened Sunborn Gibraltar on Thursday 3rd April and will see 140 delegates from Gibraltar and wider afield come together to discuss the state of the industry. Attendees and speakers are drawn from diverse backgrounds including licensed eGaming operators, key service providers to the industry and representatives of Government and international regulatory and oversight bodies.

The summit will be opened by the Minister for Financial Services and Gaming, Albert Isola, and the morning session will focus on the local gaming sector, with updates from Gibraltar’s regulator, Phill Brear, on regulatory issues, Gibtelecom on the work they are doing to position the jurisdiction as a global communications hub, and Continent 8 Technologies on how Gibraltar’s offering stacks up against competing jurisdictions. The first panel session of

the day will then expand the focus of the Summit to consider the evolution of remote gambling regulation across Europe.

This panel, run by international law firm DLA Piper, will feature experts from Madrid, Milan, Munich and the Netherlands.

In the afternoon, a variety of presentations and panel sessions will provide a perspective on different topical matters and current events. The post-lunch panel session will consider the future of conventional and alternative payment methods, including the potential of Bitcoin, followed by a presentation in a similar vein by Standard Bank on how developments in digital banking in the African market might provide opportunities for operators. Then the respective CEOs of the GBGA (Peter Howitt) and the Association of British Bookmakers (Dirk Vennix) will debate the different challenges they face in each sector (albeit the outside world often does not

differentiate between online and landbased), and where they find common ground when engaging with external stakeholders.

The final speaker of the day will focus on the latest developments surrounding the controversial point of consumption tax, before an all-star panel of operators, in the capable hands of Peter Montegriffo of Hassans as moderator, wrap up the day by debating the outlook for eGaming.

Break-out sessions will also be running throughout the event, offering more interactive ‘workshop’ style presentations on a number of speciality subjects as an alternative to the main-room seminars.

In the evening, delegates will be treated to drinks and canapés in the Sunborn Gibraltar’s beautiful Sapphire Bar, courtesy of Gibtelecom. n More information can be found at www. kpmg.gi/egamingsummit.

A variety of presentations and panel sessions will provide a perspective on different topical matters and current events

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Clive Hawkswood, Chief Executive, Remote Gambling Association

Vote On Anti-Money Laundering Directive In mid-March the European Parliament adopted amendments to the European Commission’s proposal for a new Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD).

Following this vote, the European Parliament’s position would require online gambling operators to conduct due diligence as of the establishment of the business relationship with their customers — a requirement that conflicts with the spirit of the Commission’s proposal and the previous Directives. In practice it could well mean that the online gambling industry will be compelled to conduct due diligence on every one of its customers.

The vote, however, is unlikely to be the final chapter in proceedings because the EU Council may well reject the positions of the European Parliament on a number of critical issues, including some of the gambling provisions. Therefore, a second reading and further negotiations are expected to take place after the European elections.

Clive Hawkswood, the Remote Gambling Association’s Chief Executive, said “It is very difficult to see how an objective review of the facts, including the success of the Third AMLD in combatting money laundering, could have led Parliament to this conclusion. The licensed online gambling sector has highly developed tools for identifying possible threats and has an excellent record in preventing money laundering. As an industry we are never complacent, but quite simply there is no justification for singling out our sector for this kind of treatment.

“We have consistently supported a risk-based approach, which we consider to be the most suitable manner to tackle any problems and, of course, individual Member States can introduce additional measures if there are specific issues within their jurisdictions.

“We hope now that the EU Council will reject the Parliament’s position on this issue and that the European Commission will defend its original stance.” n GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 15:51

brief

Freddie becomes new Regimental Secretary Frederick “Freddie” Pitto has been named as the Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s new Regimental Secretary.

The honorary two year position is ideally suited to Freddie who served in the Regiment as a Reservist Officer for 18 years.

He joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment in1980 and was commissioned in 1981. When he first joined the reserves he was working as a Professional Technical Officer for Royal Navy Supplies and in 1989 he took a job at Gibunco, where he is now a Group Manager.

Freddie balanced a busy business career with his military life whilst bringing up a young family, his son John followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Royal Gibraltar Regiment as a regular officer. Captain John Pitto is currently the Aide De Camp (ADC) to the Governor: “The Regiment is basically a family unit, so many other officers and soldiers have family links; I feel very proud of my son who has taken the position of ADC to the Governor and look forward to working with the Regiment and supporting them on various issues. I have already been getting involved in raising funds for the

Benevolent Fund and am helping to organise events to celebrate the Regiments 75th Anniversary this year.” He said.

Freddie is looking forward to the challenge ahead and said: “I feel very honoured to be given this appointment, I have been away for so long, but now I am travelling less it is a very good time for me.”

Commanding Officer Ivor Lopez said: “I am delighted that Freddie has accepted the position of Regimental Secretary, he has a wealth of military knowledge and has travelled extensively within his civilian career, and I am sure this vast experience will be a great asset to the Regiment.” n

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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Freddie balanced a busy business career with his military life whilst bringing up a young family

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33

23/03/2014 15:51

Government to the rescue Part 1: Mortgages

we have dealt with our significant backlogs and then fully assess the impact of the announcements on our business and our own capacity to accept additional new business,” A Chesterton client tried this week to apply for a mortgage at one of the two remaining building Barclays finally societies. He was given a meeting announced last time of two month’s hence, no available slots before.

September that it Those who meet the requirewas to end its 125 ments of the local private banks that are active in the local mortyear association with gage market: SG Hambros, Jyske Gibraltar and close its Bank, and Credit Suisse, can still obtain debt finance for a local local branch. Barring property purchase. However, the some business for minimum requirements for openthe very largest of ing an account at these banks are too high for many. customers, Barclays It was in December 2013 when has essentially ceased the Gibraltar Government anproviding mortgages into nounced that it had approved the establishment of a new credit the local market. institution to be known as the Gibraltar International Bank (“GIB”).

Norwich & Peterborough Build- GIB intends to offer a full range ing Society announced in February of banking services including the 2014 that it is to close its operations opening of current and deposit acat the end of this year. No more counts, mortgages and overdrafts, mortgages. together with the issue of debit and NatWest Gibraltar has stated prepaid cards. It is anticipated that that it intends to “pause from tak- GIB will open in the final quarter ing new business bookings until of 2014.

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The lack of mortgage availability we currently face in Gibraltar is not a new phenomenon. The 2008 credit crunch reduced mortgage availability considerably by forcing up the amount of the deposit required by buyers. This was the key driver behind the shift of would-be purchasers into the rental sector.

Figures from the official English Housing Survey published in February 2014 showed that the number of households living in the UK private rented sector in 2012/13 overtook those in social housing for the first time since records began in 1980. Furthermore, the proportion of homes lived in by owner-occupiers has dropped to 65% in 2013, down from 71% in 2003 and its lowest level since 1987. These falling ownership levels in the UK have been driven down by rising prices and tougher mortgage criteria.

Could that be the same structural shift as we are witnessing in Gibraltar albeit for slightly different reasons?

However, the UK Housing Survey was undertaken before the impact of the UK Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme had a chance to have any impact. Under Help to Buy, the Government lends a prospective home buyer up to 20% of the cost of their new-build home so a buyer needs only a 5% cash deposit and a 75% mortgage to make up the rest.

Originally due to end in 2016, the Help to Buy scheme was extended in March 2014 until 2020 with an extra £6bn being allocated by the UK Government. This extension is aiming to contribute an extra 120,000 homes to the housing stock in Britain.

It is most welcome that the Gibraltar Government has come to the rescue to assist in the provision of mortgages in the local market.

Perhaps not a Help to Buy scheme, but another option for purchasers and as important, a welcome competition for the existing mortgage providers, none of whom want to have market share much above 25%. n

The lack of mortgage availability we currently face in Gibraltar is not a new phenomenon GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 15:52

property

Part 2: Boosting housing supply Property prices at the cheaper end of the Gibraltar property market have probably increased by at least 7% in the last year. The recent launch of the Government’s Mons Calpe Mews and Beach View Terraces schemes should help dampen this price growth in due course.

Just under 900 flats will become available, and priority will be given to those on the Housing List, with the choice of full or co-ownership left up to the purchaser.

However, we need the private sector to play its part in the residential property sector on a wider scale. The taxpayer cannot be expected to be the sole funder of lower cost housing.

Being part of an international estate agency network, we follow the UK housing market quite closely.

Chesterton, like other property specialists, published their budget wish list to the UK Government ahead of the UK Budget on 19 March 2014.

Here are some of the recommen-

Priority will be given to those on the Housing List

dations made by Chesterton in the • UK on how to ensure a significant and rapid boost to the UK housing supply. I quote verbatim: • Make land available to develop at below market rates in return for taking a share of any future profit made by the developer / investor • The planning process needs further refining: the time and cost of getting a large scheme through planning needs to be reduced

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Developers should be penalCould these UK recommendaised for sitting on land banks tions be something which might unless they can demonstrate a also benefit the property market valid reason for doing so here in Gibraltar? n

Mike Nicholls is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Society of Accountants, a member of the Gibraltar Funds and Investment Association and a board member of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce. Mike operates the Chesterton estate agency in Gibraltar and runs a real estate investment solutions consultancy.

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23/03/2014 15:52

Home Help

Is you home in decorating crisis?

Do you need help to tame the interior chaos? Meme of Denville Designs is here to tackle all you decorating and style problems... one room at a time.

Q

because I have seen them in lots of home magazines and I really like the look of them? Can you give me some advice?

My terrace

cushions from

last year have lost all their colour. They weren’t cheap but the fabric has rotted in the sun. Any advice on what to use? I still want to have colorful cushions not just cream ones.

Lydia, WaterGardens

Yes it is true silk will rot in the sun, but if you line your curtains (sew a plain lining fabric onto the back of your curtains)it will protect them from the sun and prolong the silk’s life. It is best if you can back them with sunblock lining.

I can also recommend some silk look-alike fabrics which will not rot and look 99% like silk especially when made with a filling called Interling which makes them full and luxurious.

So, I wouldn’t worry too much and have the curtain style you want if that’s the look you have set your heart on .

Michelle, King’s Wharf

I would use a fabric manufactured especially for outdoors, but like you mentioned these are not cheap. Alternatively you could invest in a cover for your terrace furniture for when you are not using it.

We have a large range of outdoor fabrics that take longer than one summer to fade, but unfortunately the sun is so strong here we have to expect that eventually all fabrics will lose their colour.

Q

Q

I want to have some

silk curtains made

for my new apartment in Watergardens but lots of my friends and family say they will rot with the sun. Is this true

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Can I use wallpaper in a bathroom? I‘m worried if it gets wet I will ruin it.

Jason, Montagu Gardens

Yes you can use wallpapers in bathrooms and now we are lucky enough to have waterproof (splash proof ) papers in a large selection of designs. Just check it has the specifications on the roll and you will be okay.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 15:53

Q

I want to redecorate my

home and I have seen so

many designers using all white and beige tones. My husband and I stayed in a hotel in Greece and the rooms where all white and I loved it! I am a little worried I will get bored of it, though, and then I am stuck with white curtains and beige sofas.

Could you advise how I can keep my room from looking too boring or clinical?

Marie, Ocean Village

Using all natural colours is a favorite style of mine. What you must do is introduce texture, using throws made from wool or faux fur, cushions with shells or trimming etc. Andrew Martin, for example, has some fabulous natural fabric collections to help you with this look.

Window dressings in white look best in a linen or silk, and unusual tie backs add interest.

This palette can work equally well with modern white gloss furniture and rustic white washed furniture, as long as the room has enough different materials used it will look great.

Email your questions to meme@denville designs.com or write to Meme Fairbank, 62 Engineer’s Lane

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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23/03/2014 15:53

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

24/03/2014 13:19

property

Ask the Agent

Ask Maggie email your property purchase questions to info@bfagib.com

Your property purchase questions answered by Maggie Mifsud of BFA Estate Agents www.bfafib.com

Looking to purchase a home or office? Need advice? Want to know what you can and can’t do? BFA’s Maggie Mifsud is here to answer your property purchase questions.

Q

I have a rented

property (one year

contract with 10

months remaining) and I would like to sell it to raise capital. What do I have tell the renter? Do they have to allow viewings and would the buyer be obliged to let them stay?

If that is your requirement, you can have a rental agreement for 12 months with a proviso that the tenant has to allow viewings and to include two months notice period in the event that you sell the property during the rental term.

It is very important to have this clause in your agreement otherwise your tenant can refuse you or your agents entry to the apartment and can stay for the full term. You may find that a small reduction in the rent will need to be considered for a flexible rental agreement as the above.

Otherwise you could also consider selling as an investment whereby a potential buyer could be interested with a good tenancy.

Q

Budget aside, what advice would you give to someone looking for a buy-to-rent option?

The fundamental issue when buying-to-let has to be determined by the budget. Though the high end of the market will of course demand higher rents,

the middle market has a higher demand. The type of property most sought after would be the one and two bedroom apartments

Q

With the banking

changes afoot in

Gibraltar, how

are people finding getting mortgages at present and is this affecting the market?

We are what seems to be in a paradox. Though at present obtaining a mortgage is a little harder than previously, the market is presently very strong and availability is now becoming rather scares. The average percentage being granted on mortgages ranges between 60% to 85%.

The rental market will always be determined by the usual factors, being demand and supply. Currently there are no new developments which will shortly become available, therefore whatever stock there is, will demand a higher rent.

When completion of a new open

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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market development becomes available, you will of course have a percentage of properties which are bought for investment purposes and become new potential rentals, therefore creating new availability and competition. This will continue for a short time until all empty apartments are occupied, the market then stabilises, and the cycle begins again.

Q

What are the first steps one should consider when a buyer talks to their agent?

It is imperative that your first visit should be with your lending institution to determine your purchasing budget. You will need a certain percentage of personal funds for the reservation deposit and Exchange of Contract, which will be 10% of the purchase price together with the balance you will require from your granted mortgage value. (i.e. If your mortgage has been granted at 80% you will

need 20% of your personal funds together with stamp duty if applicable.)

You must remember that in Gibraltar a duel market exists, one being the restricted and the other being the open market. So when thinking of buying, your next question should be to decide which market you are considering.

Q

I have been asked by

an agent to sign an

exclusive agreement —

what does this mean and why is it advantageous to me?

This means you only appoint one agent to handle the marketing of your property.

The main advantage here is that you pay a reduced commission.

Normally 1.5% instead of 2%. Also for the continuity of information the agent has all the relevant details and will accompany any viewings that may be requested by other non appointed agents.

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24/03/2014 12:42

sailing

Get Set for the

Gibraltar-Morocco Yacht Rally, 2014

words | Stephanie Ball

With thoughts quickly turning to summer sailing amongst Gibraltar’s yachting fraternity, this year’s organisers have been hard at work during the last few months in preparation for the annual Gibraltar-Morocco (Port Smir) Yacht Rally; and with main sponsors Ocean Village and Boatshed Gibraltar on board, it promises to be another successful event for 2014.

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The Gibraltar-Morocco Yacht Rally, dubbed the world’s ‘most sociable’ yacht rally, is a light-hearted competitive racing event now into its 14th year. In the past it has been known to attract a combination of yachts and powerboats ranging in size from 22 to 65-foot and of course with skippers and crew ranging from the young to old.

The event this year is to be held on the last weekend of June with all yachts charged an entry fee (amount at the time of writing not confirmed — but keep an eye on the website).

The first stage of the rally gets underway on Thursday 26th June as skippers and crew come together for a briefing which is to be held at Ocean Village’s Dusk Champagne Bar. At the brief, participants will be given detailed notes about the rally proceedings over a few drinks and nibbles, as well as a bag of promotional goodies and the now coveted Gibraltar-Morocco Yacht Rally T-shirts with bespoke Polo Shirts for skippers. Thanks also

to the generosity of Gregory Butcher of Ocean Village, competitors travelling from further afield for the event will again be offered free berthing in Ocean Village Marina for the Thursday night.

Those maybe left a little lightheaded from Thursday’s briefing will be comforted to know the race is to start at a very respectable 1pm on Friday 27th June.

Organisers hope to attract up to 50 vessels to make an interesting line up as the boats jostle for position on the starting grid for what promises to be a great weekend of sailing and camaraderie

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

24/03/2014 18:11

travel Organisers this year hope to attract up to 50 vessels which could make for an interesting line up as the boats jostle for position on the starting grid (between the RAF runway centreline buoy and a Gibraltar Squadron patrol boat) for what promises to be a great weekend of sailing and camaraderie.

In past years the event has seen some challenging weather en route with June one of those months which can see either the first signs of summer warmth generating strong southerly sea breezes or boats instead left becalmed at Ocean Village by light easterlies — giving those with alternative power a leading advantage!

Whatever the weather, the extensive array of yachts is likely to set a stunning scene for any spectator as it leaves Ocean Village on its 25 NM (46km) journey to Port Smir in Morocco.

Many of the yachts are expected to arrive at Morocco by early Friday evening, and then the weekend’s festivities get underway with a customary wine and cheese evening — no doubt with much discussion of the day’s sailing.

On Saturday the prize giving takes place with additional fun and games and with some rather late but often colourful guest appearances made at the Rally — under the guise of the fancy dress competition! As per previous years, some of the many trophy prizes awarded will include those for the fastest/ slowest boat, fittest or most sociable crew and best fancy dress.

And of course for those on their first trip to Port Smir there is sufficient time to venture off alone and enjoy all that Smir has to offer.

Most of the competitors will begin to drift off during Sunday or Monday — some on the return leg to Gibraltar while others will have a longer journey home — marking the end of the Rally, at least until the next year!

Organisers John and Lynda Alcantara of Boatshed Gibraltar, Stephanie and Stephen Ball, and Mark Reed of Hire-U Shop, have been overwhelmed by the generosity of this year’s sponsors and thanked everyone for their support (especially Gregory Butcher, and Karl Bisset of the Pier Office) and for the many additional donations made towards merchandise, trophy prizes and the weekend’s enjoyment ranging from the Gibraltar Tourist Board to all sections of the business community (far too many to name here!). n For further details on the event and entry forms and conditions, please visit www.facebook.com/Boatshedgib/ events or email boats@boatshedgibraltar.com.

Gibraltar: Access All Areas...

Birmingham-based tour operator Enable Holidays, which specialises in organising tailor-made holidays to meet the specific travel and accommodation requirements of people with disabilities, has included Gibraltar in its latest online business brochure.

The catalogue features a large number of destinations in Spain, Portugal and other locations in Europe, Africa and Asia, all of which have undergone a stringent 150 point auditing process, covering a full range of accessibility criteria, wheelchair manoeuvrability and grade accommodation.

Enable experts carried out detailed assessments of adapted hotel rooms in Gibraltar, looking at features such as door width, bed height, ramp gradients, floor surfaces, wheel-in showers, pool hoists and other facilities suitable for travellers with mobility impairments, both in the

accommodation and around the resort.

Blands Travel made contact with Enable Holidays during the GTB Birmingham roadshow last April and worked closely with them during the assessment process which found local hotels up to standard in terms of meeting the required accessibility criteria for inclusion.

“We invited Lusia Depa, the company’s product manager to come to Gibraltar afterwards, to view and approve local facilities, including transport, accommodation and sites,” said a Blands spokesman.

Enable also take care of airports, flights and adapted transfers to and from the destination.

Minister for Tourism Commercial Affairs, Public Transport and the Port Neil Costa MP said he was delighted at Gibraltar’s addition as a holiday resort for people with disabilities and noted progress made in assisting those with hearing aids and impaired vision. n

Savills (Gibraltar) Ltd, Suite 1B Icom House, 1/5 Irish Town, Gibraltar

Tel: 20066633 email: sales@savills.gi www.savills.gi

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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24/03/2014 18:11

Conservation of nature in Gibraltar is the key to a sustainable future for its very diverse and rich wildlife. The Gibraltar Magazine spoke to Stewart Finlayson, Deputy Director and World Heritage Project Co-ordinator at the Gibraltar Museum, to discover more about his involvment with the rich and fascinating wildlife of Iberia and especially birds in our proximity.

ourWonderful wildlife

Photos: Finlayson Nature Photography

Iberian Wolf - Spain

Griffon Vulture in Gibraltar

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a little boy who wrote the book My Life Among the Wild Birds of Spain and who was a military man based in Gibraltar, ornithologist and pioneer in his time), and Howard Irby who wrote the Ornithology of the Strait of Gibraltar. These books which have captured our imaginations (since my grandfather hand copied the book for my father back in 1966) were what prompted us to want

Gibraltar is still arguably the key place in Europe to observe the passage of birds to and from Africa to write a modern day version, if you like, following the story of these explorations so many years ago, and showing what the places they visited are like now.”

It took the trio quite some time to gather the photos for the book, around three to four years, but they enjoyed every minute of it.

They followed the footsteps of some of their ‘idols’ and saw how much has changed, and also, how much is pretty much exactly as it was over 100 years ago!

Stewart Finlayson

“The photography had to be planned carefully since for some of the species we could only take the photos in certain times of the year — many in some very obscure and remote areas of the Iberian Peninsula requiring us to sit for hours upon hours in hides at temperatures down to -11ºC.” Hugely enjoyable for these three, but certainly not for the faint hearted!

“One thing the book portrays is that a lot has changed in Gibraltar over the past 100 or so years when it comes to birds and wildlife,”

Stewart laments. “Sadly, many species which were making use of the Rock then, such as the Osprey, have now disappeared completely but it’s important to note that many species are still using Gibraltar in exactly the same way!”

Gibraltar is still arguably the key place in Europe to observe the passage of birds to and from Africa, he explains. “One example I particularly like is that Verner spoke in his books about the Blue Rock Thrush — ­ a bird still found in Gibraltar — and explained how there was a pair of them that

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Gannet in Gibraltar

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Photo: Finlayson Nature Photography

Stewart Finlayson’s love of wildlife has always been with him. “I think it was inevitable to fall in love with nature and wildlife considering since I was a baby I have been taken to the field by my parents [Museum Director Prof. Clive and Dr. Geraldine Finlayson] and from a very young age was involved in helping them collect data for their projects and studies,” he smiles. “I was practically raised in places like the Doñana National Park, the old Laguna de La Janda and looking at migrating birds here in Gibraltar.”

Stewart has also been priviledged to always been surrounded by so many helpful and encouraging professionals in the field, and says with the support of his wife Jade, it really has been a natural progression.

In fact, Stewart has recently co-authored a book A Guide to Wild Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar with his parents, inspired by books which influenced his childhood.

“We had always hugely admired the work done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries carried out by the explorers Abel Chapman and Walter Buck who wrote Wild Spain and who were based in Jerez de la Frontera,” he says. “We were also inspired

by Wiloughby Verner (one of my personal inspirations since I was

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Photos: Finlayson Nature Photography

Short-toed Eagle migrating across the Strait of Gibraltar

bred in Parsons Lodge Battery and he even showed sketches of the bird. We were not only able to confirm that a pair still makes use of Parsons Lodge to breed, but we were able to take photos of them breeding in pretty much the same place!”

Stewart is pleased to note that people in Gibraltar seem to be aware of the wildlife surrounding us — ­ “During migration times it’s amazing how many people stop us in the street to ask us ‘what birds are those passing over us’ and so on” and he puts this down

Iberian Wolf - Spain Iberian Wolf - Spain

When Stewart is not out observing birds or working he is reading for a PhD in Life Sciences to the brilliant work the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) do here in Gibraltar to raise awareness.

When Stewart is not out observing birds or working he is reading for a PhD in Life Sciences, looking at birds as climate change indicators.

“I’m looking at what species we find along our coasts in the present day and comparing it to

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Photos: Finlayson Nature Photography

Spanish Imperial Eagle attacking a fox - Spain

the remains found in excavations at Gibraltar’s Gorham’s and Vanguard Caves. Some species, such as the Snowy Owl, are in our fossil record, for example but are no longer found around Gibraltar,” he elaborates “I’m trying to see what conditions all these species live in now and thus make a clearer picture of what temperatures and also habitats were like around Gibraltar 40,000 years ago!”

Clive wouldn’t go into too

When pushed he says it would probably have to be the Swift. “A tiny migrant which spends its life flying around, only landing when it reaches its nesting place once a year to lay its eggs and bring up its young. All so common to see in spring and summer in Gibraltar going into our attics and rooftops.”

Stewart believes the key to Gibraltar wildlife’s future is education. “We need to educate our children to love and respect the animals around us and raise awareness of these species to help them along.

“Education is, and always will be, the key, alongside good legislation to protect our assets. I’m happy to say that this is happening in Gibraltar thanks to key groups like the GONHS and the Department of the Environment, much detail yet, but he could say as well as the Gibraltar Museum.

“We need to encourage our that so far some really interesting results have come up. On the youth to respect our wildlife, enback of this he is also keen to un- vironment and protected sites, derstand how the Neanderthals may it be in the nature reserve, in our caves, the invertebrates in exploited birds.

When asked for his favourite our gardens or the birds around species he shakes his head. “It’s us and bats living in our attics,” hard for me to choose one species he emphasises. With passionate in particular! As a lover of wild- people like Stewart promoting life, you end up just appreciating our natural history, Gibraltar’s every little thing in its own way.” wildlife has some strong allies. n

A Robin - Gibraltar

Stewart believes the key to Gibraltar wildlife’s future is education

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The Virgin & the Ripper

words | Elena Scialtiel

Life in Victorian times was dire for the destitute, just imagine what is was like for an orphaned girl whose search for decent lodging went horribly wrong.

Local writer Carla Acheson is indeed imagining it, in her second historical novel set in Victorian London. After the success of The Last Gift, Carla is back on the streets of the capital of the Empire with The Whitechapel Virgin, a harrowing story of a girl who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And what can be worse than the notorious brothel district during the summer of 1888, when a serial killer is on the rampage?

It all starts with naive 15-year old Catherine Bell seeking accommodation for a couple of nights at ‘savvy yet heartless’ Madame Davenport’s brothel lodging-house, where she is initially spared from the ‘lifestyle’ and employed as a serving girl.

One day well-spoken and arrogant Edward Cross, a shady lothario, walks in. He is a middle-class adventurer trying to make a profitable return by listing the services of all town ‘whores’ in an out-of-print publication, after trying and testing them for himself of course.

This detail is historically based on the Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies, a best-selling publication circulating in gentlemen’s circles in the second half of 18th Century.

Carla describes it as the ‘Yellow Pages’ of local prostitutes, because it listed names, addresses and services provided. So she imagines Cross

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as the self-appointed compiler of the updated version.

When he notices Catherine, so fresh and young compared to the withering prostitutes the house can offer, he tries to seduce her, because ‘reviewing’ a virgin will rocket his credibility sky-high.

Here Carla proves that the axiom ‘sex sells’ is true indeed in more than one way, introducing some flourished yet graphic descriptions not fit for the prude perhaps, but well in-keeping with the morality of the times, and with the stark sense of realism that the novel portrays, a true account of life on the streets in the late 19th Century, not at all sugar-coated by romanticism or bourgeois values.

As if being demoted to sex toy wasn’t enough for the young heroine, she has to endure the

animosity and jealousy of her colleagues and Cross’s increasingly brutal manners. The situation spirals when the prostitutes begin to disappear one by one and a series of gruesome murders terrorises the district where virtually every man becomes a suspect.

The story unravels around it, with a bit of murder and mystery thrown in for good measure, but mostly exploring the fears and insecurities of these women, trodden at the bottom rung of society, often sleeping rough when they don’t make enough money to pay lodging for the night, in constant fear of being the next on Jack the Ripper’s list.

Enthralled by last century’s fascination with the mystery shrouding the Ripper’s identity, Carla travelled to Whitechapel to trace his footsteps. She viewed the plaques commemorating some of the victims, as well as their chalk outline on the ground. She heard the tour guide telling their story in a thick Cockney accent and got so in tune with them that she even solved the investigation and went on to identifying the

Mostly it explores the fears and insecurities of these women, trodden at the bottom rung of society, often sleeping rough when they don’t make enough money to pay lodging for the night

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books perp within her cast of characters, as a natural conclusion of her plot.

Carla defends her bold literary choice: “It’s all part of the fiction, and I am not claiming I solved the unsolved crime spree. I am sure that many novels have been written about the subject, all with their own more or less dramatised speculation about whom the Ripper was. The Ripperologists, experts in this type of research, argue that Jack the Ripper had knowledge of anatomy, since he knew where to slash in order to disembowel his victims, to scoop out their ovaries for example, which leads to the belief he was a doctor perhaps, or a butcher. At the end of my book, I apologise to the Ripperologists for going above them and drawing my own conclusions, but it is fiction after all, and in my plot there are plenty of clues that lead to identify one of the fictional characters as the Ripper.”

She keeps her historical facts right, although she takes some poetic licence in describing the course of events and how fear spread amongst the women. How self-preservation was caught in a vicious circle when they had to weigh going out to work, risking their doom in the hands

of any of their clients, with staying indoors safe and sound until they ran out of money and were kicked out in the street anyway.

And in all this desperation there is a ray of hope, as innocent Catherine, tainted by force majeure at first, succeeds in escaping and upgrading herself to a more honest livelihood. But if you are looking for a fairytale ending, Carla hasn’t gone for it, because it would have been inconsistent with the realism that characterises her work.

Stylistically, the dialogue reproduces the slang the characters might have spoken, cleansed from excess typecasting and swearing, to make it accessible to a wider readership.

Enthralled by last century’s fascination with the mystery shrouding the Ripper’s identity, Carla travelled to Whitechapel to trace his footsteps

Gibraltar-born Carla grew up in South-East London, and being a bit of a Cockney girl herself, she is familiar with the lingo, but she didn’t want to overshadow the plot with a vernacular that might sound farcical to the untrained ear.

The Whitechapel Virgin was a labour of love which took months of research, hundreds of notes, mapping out dates and places. Carla likes to start with a clear design in her mind, setting beginning, middle, and ending, rather than unravelling the tapestry as she goes along, because ideas, no matter how good, can run out of steam if the distance between A and B is not clearly set in advance. She favours meticulous pre-written schemes, such as the chapters’ layout with a brief synopsis of what is expected to happen in each.

Professionally edited and distributed to an overseas audience, the book includes additional Reading Group material. It was launched last month at a Victorian-themed champagne party coinciding with International Women’s Day, and is available at local bookstores and online for Kindle and Nook Reader. n For more information, visit www.carla-acheson.com or like the book’s Facebook page.

World Book Day Some of our local authors celebrated World Book Day at the John Mackintosh Library in March, with the staff (right) dressed as characters from books.

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music scene

King Edward VII’s Coronation portrait by Luke Fildes (1843–1927)

Too Much Drink Foiled Gibraltar Regicide

words | Reg Reynolds

A new book reveals that the Irish Republican Army failed in an attempt to assassinate Prince Phillip during a Royal visit to Australia in March 1973, which happens to be 70 years after a failed attempt to kill King Edward VII at Gibraltar.

The Queen’s principal duty on the 1973 tour was to open the Sydney Opera House, an event witnessed worldwide. Phillip was on hand to attend an international conference on conservation and for the official opening ceremony of a Royal Australian Air Force war memorial in the capital city Canberra.

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In his book Shadow of the Spy, Warner Russell, a veteran Australian reporter and retired military intelligence officer, alleges that the IRA planted four bombs along the route of the Royal motorcade at Sydney on 15th March, (coincidentally the Ides of March). But thankfully Russell had advance warning. He writes

that he had received a phone call in which a man with a “guttural” voice growled “We’re going to kill the Greek bastard”. A frantic search by Special Branch intelligence agents and the military found two bombs along the route and two more at places to be visited by the Royal entourage.

Two of the devices turned out to be decoys but the others contained explosive material and were defused by an Australian Army bomb disposal team before being secretly taken to a forensic laboratory for examination. Russell claims that the bombs were defused just minutes before Prince Philip’s group arrived at the two Sydney locations.

When Russell later informed the Royal couple of events the Queen thanked him and Prince Phillip gave him a “knowing smile”.

The IRA attempt on the life of King Edward at Gibraltar was a serious one but the man chosen to carry out the assassination, John MacBride, was a hard drinker who proved capable of killing too many drinks but not a king.

The eldest son of Queen Victoria, Edward ascended to the throne on her death in January, 1901. In February 1903 he opened parliament and then embarked on a goodwill tour of southern Europe. After visiting the King of Portugal at Lisbon he sailed for Gibraltar arriving on April 9th unaware that there was an IRA plot to kill him on the Rock.

It seems incredible that the IRA would choose such a heavily fortified and armed jurisdiction as Gibraltar to attempt an assassination.

Even today it would be almost impossible to escape undetected, one can only imagine how difficult it would have been to pull of an assassination, and then get away, one hundred years ago.

Maybe escape wasn’t an option. Maybe MacBride was supposed to kill and be killed for the cause. MacBride had recently married the beautiful Maud Gonne who was wholly committed to the Irish cause. Maybe he was trying to impress her.

Gonne, with her young daughter from a previous relationship in tow, had travelled with her husband to Spain and waited anxiously nearby while he took a hotel room at Algeciras and prepared for his mission. Meanwhile, blissfully unaware that his life was in danger, the convivial and jovial King Edward enjoyed a few days of generous Gibraltar hospitality.

The donkey that carried the corpulent 61-yearold on a Rock tour may not have enjoyed the experience quite so much. On April 11th, the King reviewed the garrison troops and the next day sailed for Malta.* (See note).

What happened to MacBride? The man was a committed Republican and he was no coward, having fought with the Irish Brigade against the British in the Second Boer War. The story goes that while gathering courage for the big moment he got so drunk that he missed out on what was to have been a critical opportunity.

MacBride himself made light of things, “We were at Algeciras the day the King arrived and as he forgot to send me an invitation, I did not go. Needless to say I did not set foot in Gibraltar...”

But a compatriot, also in Algeciras at the time, reported that “MacBride went to meet friends to carry out the mission but that night

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MacBride was executed by a British firing squad for his part in the Easter Uprising. He refused to be blindfolded, saying, “I have looked down the muzzles of too many guns in the South African war to fear death” came back to the hotel drunk, and would not say what happened.”

A disappointed and angry Maud Gonne fled with her daughter to Paris.

Rest assured Maud Gonne would have been more than satisfied for King Edward VII to be killed by the IRA. She was born at Surrey to a colonel in the British Army but when she was 16 her father was transferred to Dublin where she developed a feminist agenda and joined the fight for Irish independence. She was later educated in Paris and after her father’s death in 1866 enjoyed financial independence.

In Paris Maud Gonne had a son and daughter (the son died in infancy) with radical politician Lucien Millevoye. Returning to Ireland she became the lover of the poet WB Yeats who was besotted with her. Yeats proposed at least four times but she rejected him each time.

When Yeats told her he was not happy without her she replied, “Oh yes, you are, because you make beautiful poetry out of what you call your unhappiness and are happy in that.

Marriage would be such a dull affair. Poets should never marry. The world should thank me for not marrying you.”

Instead Maud Gonne began an affair with MacBride who was a Major in the Irish Republican Army. She married him in Paris and a short time later they set off for Spain.

Although she was furious with MacBride after the failed assassination attempt the couple reconciled in Paris and in 1904 she gave birth to son Sean. The troubled marriage did not last much longer, however, and the couple fought a legal battle, in which Maud Gonne accused MacBride of molesting her 11-year-old daughter Iseult. The French court substantiated only one charge — that he had been drunk on one occasion in their marriage — and MacBride was granted visiting rights. He exercised the rights briefly but then returned to Ireland and never saw his son again.

Fearing a return to Ireland while MacBride was still alive Maud Gonne remained in Paris until after his death on 5th May, 1916, two days before his 48th birthday. MacBride was executed by a British firing squad for his part in the Easter Uprising. He refused to be blindfolded, saying, “I have looked down the muzzles of too many guns in the South African war to fear death and now please carry out your sentence.”

The still jealous WB Yeats gave the wouldbe assassin an ambivalent eulogy in his poem, Easter, 1916.

“This other man I had dreamed A drunken, vain-glorious lout.

He had done most bitter wrong To some who are near my heart, Yet I number him in the song; He, too, has resigned his part In the casual comedy; He, too, has been changed in his turn, GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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Some of the Colours hanging in King’s Chapel

Cremation for Grenadier Guards Colours The Regimental Colours of the Grenadier Guards ( the 1st Regiment of Foot ) no longer hang proudly in the King’s Chapel.

These Colours bore the Regiment’s first three battle honours — Tangier 1680, Namur 1685 and Gibraltar 1704-05 and were presented to the Grenadiers by Queen Victoria in 1890. The Colours were laid up in the Chapel in 1948.

The reason for their removal is wear and tear caused by old age.

Regimental Colours are consecrated before they are handed over to the safekeeping of the Regiment and must always be treated with the greatest respect and accorded the highest honour. For the record such Colours

Transformed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.”

Maud Gonne was not impressed: “No I don’t like your poem, it isn’t worthy of you and above all it isn’t worthy of its subject... As for my husband he has entered eternity by the great door of sacrifice...so that praying for him I can also ask for his prayers”. She continued to be an activist for Irish causes until her death aged 86 at Clonskeagh, Ireland on 27th April, 1953. William Butler Yeats had died aged 73, on 28th January 1939, in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin,

are normally replaced every 20 years and are then placed in a military Chapel. When such Colours are deemed to be disintegrating a decision is taken by the Regimental Association to take them down to be burnt and the ashes are buried in consecrated ground. This is so the Colours will return to dust and be buried as are the bodies of fallen soldiers.

The Regimental Association decided that nothing more could be done to preserve the Grenadier Guards’ Colours after inspection by experts in London. The remains will be burnt and the ashes returned to Gibraltar where they will be buried in the King’s Chapel with a commemorative plaque marking the location. The ashes will be accompanied by a party consisting of serving guardsmen and Association members.

At present 11 Regimental Colours hang in the King’s Chapel in varying degrees of decay. Colours are supposed to be netted after some five years and this prolongs life extensively. Inexplicably none have been netted. An initiative led by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and supported financially by the Friends of Gibraltar Heritage Trust hopes to be able to net these 11 Colours at a cost of around £700 each. n

France. He was buried there, but as per his wishes his remains were re-interred in 1948 to Drumcliff churchyard, County Sligo.

Edward VII had died on 6th May 1910 aged 68 unaware that the IRA had planned to cut short his life seven years earlier. n *Note: In May 1903 Gibraltar issued a stamp to commemorate the King’s visit. These stamps are sought after by philatelists today. Only one printing was made on Single Crown C.A. paper and so they are quite rare.

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Lilly, high in the sky

words | Elena Scialtiel

Contrary to stereotype, most beauty queens — even blonde ones — are not airheads. But ‘Face of Gibraltar’ princess Lilly Gomez surely is!

Yes: this 18-year old blonde receptionist at a local lawyer practice, about to pursue a journalistic career, can proudly hold her head high not only because she is an Air Cadet instructor, but mostly because she managed to raised a whopping £3,600 for Headway Trust, an international charity that helps people deal with the aftermath of traumatic skull injuries, and £1,800 for Breast Cancer Support Group.

Lilly’s eyes spark when she talks about her four years with the Air Cadets — and yes, she manages to look pretty even in tight hair bun and fatigues at Air Cadets meetings — because she is eagerly looking forward to flying a plane one day. Okay, perhaps not actually flying

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portantly fundraise for the needy, applying the principle of ‘beauty with a purpose’ that well matches her no-nonsense attitude towards life.

She was selected as a local model for Runway when supermodel Caprice was in Gibraltar, so Lilly had a chance of meeting her — and of course being very impressed by her.

Her head firmly on her shoulders, Lilly claims she doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as just another pretty face, because she is pretty unique, thanks to her varied interests and keen determination to achieve her goals.

She hasn’t always been ‘girlie’ though. In fact, she jumped on the pageantry wagon to boost her confidence in the first place, as she was quite shy and retiring in her early teenage years. She entered Miss Glamour twice as a sort of therapy to tackle her insecurities.

Frocks, shellac, eyelash curlers, rollers and lip gloss soon transformed her into a collected young woman who knows how to behave effortlessly ladylike any time, without edging into stiffly Victorian. She was elected Miss Smile, and went on to scoop second princess at Miss Winter 2011.

Of course Lilly would love to enter Miss Gibraltar one day, but she’d rather wait for when she is on the older side of eligibility age, because she believes that three or four years make all the difference in a young woman’s early 20s, and her maturity and confidence will be at their best when she hits her quarter century, to further benefit the causes she will support.

Pageants soon became nothing short of a healthy addiction for Lilly, and ‘national’ was no longer enough for her: she browsed the internet and discovered Faces of Europe, a pageant annually held at Eurodisney. As she had always wanted to visit the resort, she decided to give it a go.

“I couldn’t imagine being chosen to represent my country in such a wonderful beauty pageant,” she says. And yet, her candidature as the Face of Gibraltar was accepted. And went on all the way to (almost) the top!

Her fundraising efforts started with her assigned charity Headway, while she picked Breast Cancer. The classy lady she is, she singlehandedly organised (with a little help from her parents, of course!) a pink evening at Waterfront with the Lola Boys, and a posh do at the Convent, with distinguished guests in black tie and ball gowns. She put her Air Cadets friends to work as waiters serving champagne and canapés and hosted the event like a true fairytale princess.

It all paid off as she was voted Miss Charity Face of World & the International Grand Supreme, and Sixth Princess, at Faces of the World last autumn, wearing a red-and-pink frilly ball gown fit indeed for a Disney princess.

She is doing it all over again this year. And she is in it to win it this time, so watch out for glam shindigs with a big heart this summer. n

it herself, but she will be sitting in the front hatch while the pilot pilots it from the rear one, and the excitement of shooting across the sky unsupervised will be just as high...

Her other down-to-earth passions are pageantry and modelling, the first one in particular, because it allows her to travel and most im- Visit www.faceofeurope.co.uk for info on how to donate.

Her head firmly on her shoulders, Lilly claims she doesn’t want to be pigeonholed as just another pretty face, because she is pretty unique, thanks to her varied interests and keen determination to achieve her goals

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Miss Gibraltar contestants support No Make Up Selfie fund raising Miss Gibraltar contestants ditched their make-up to join the fight against cancer.

In a ‘No Make Up Selfie’ they joined thousands helping raise millions for cancer research. Miss Gibraltar producer James Neish said he was “extremely proud” of the contestants for supporting the “impromptu fundraising campaign” which has bombarded social media. Miss Gibraltar 2014 takes place on 7th June at the Queen’s Cinema.

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Body & Mind in Harmony with

HypnoBirthing Women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth can vary a great deal — some find it emotional and difficult, others remain calm and relaxed. Alternative practises like HypnoBirthing — now available in Gibraltar through Hypnotherapist Rose Favell at Central Clinic — focus on our positive energy. HypnoBirthing is an established method to allow your mind to work in harmony with your body during childbirth. The Gibraltar Magazine spoke to Rose to learn more about this method.

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What is hypnosis and what is HypnoBirthing?

Hypnosis is simply a state of deep relaxation where the mind becomes very responsive to positive suggestions and change. It allows us to get rid of old unwanted habits and replace them with positive alternatives. It is a pleasant and enjoyable experience a bit like just before you drift off to sleep.

HypnoBirthing is a childbirth education programme which reminds mothers of the simplicity of birth itself. It is based on the belief that all women are perfectly designed to give birth and if they are prepared physically, mentally and emotionally they can do so in a comfortable and often pain-free manner. It is fear that spoils so many women’s birthing experiences. When you are scared the birthing muscles are tense and can’t work as they should. This leads to painful and drawn out labours.

So where does the fear of childbirth actually come from?

At the end of the second century AD there arose a widespread wave of contempt against women. Law demanded that they be segregated during pregnancy and must be left to give birth alone. Of course many women died. So, birth, previously welcomed as a celebration of life, eroded into a painful, lonely and much-to-be-feared ordeal. These fears and misconceptions have stayed with us in the west but in many other countries women are not scared of childbirth. It’s just regarded as a natural process that they just get on with.

Can you tell us more about the Mongan Method you are following?

Marie Mongan designed it in 1989 in the States. It is so loved in the UK that even Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, used HypnoBirthing for the birth of her son!

The programme consists of five classes which are usually spread over five or six weeks and are attended by mums and their birthing partners.

We teach several techniques including relaxation, self hypnosis, visualisation and breathing.

Mums often begin the course full of fears and doubts about birth.

However, by the time they finish all fears have been released and they feel fully prepared, confident and excited about the birth of their baby!

How do you prepare your mums for childbirth and what tools do you teach them?

We divide it in five classes and they are usually spread over five or six weeks. It is a long process of learning all techniques, tuning your mind and preparing yourself for childbirth. We use several main techniques, relaxation, self hypnosis, visualisation and breathing techniques. There are three different breathing techniques in hypnobirthing and they all help your body in different ways.

Hypnotherapist Rose Favell www.hypnotherapygibraltar.com

during the childbirth. Couples enjoy a nice bonding process as we go through the programme, and when they are actually in the hospital on the big day the partner supports mum physically and emotionally.

They communicate with the care providers so that mums have no distractions and are able to concentrate fully on their relaxation and remain deeply in hypnosis. If a deep enough state is maintained then mums should enjoy a painfree birth.

“

Hypnosis is very adaptable and can help with anything in which the mind has an influence Are partners involved with HypnoBirthing and what is their role?

”

Do mums often opt for a natural childbirth when using the HypnoBirthing method?

The Mongan method is the This is one of the wonderful In most cases the relaxation original method which has been characteristics of HypnoBirthing. techniques allow mums to enjoy sweeping across the globe since Partners play an integral role a drug free birth, thus allowing them to welcome and bond with their baby feeling alert and happy.

Most do not ask for pain relief simply because they don’t need it.

Statistics from the Hypnobirthing Institute show much lower rates of caesareans, epidurals, episiotomies and assisted births compared with non HypnoBirths.

Photo: Anna Mielcarek

Are there any other advantages of HypnoBirthing?

“We have no doubt that HypnoBirthing not only gave me a very fast, great childbirth but somehow had an impact on our son’s relaxed, happy character” ~ Irene and Alexi with their son Marko

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Yes! Most mums experience shorter labours and many describe childbirth as “exhilarating” and “empowering”. It really can be a wonderful experience! Statistics show that HypnoBirthing affects our babies too; they are great eaters, great sleepers and they reach developmental milestones faster.

What response do your clients have from the medical staff in the hospital?

All my clients have had a great response from the staff at St Bernard’s regarding their HypnoBirths and they are delighted with the care they received. The midwives are very familiar with the techniques now.

You also say you are helping women to become pregnant.

Can you tell us more about that?

For a number of years I have used reflexology to help women conceive. It is wonderful at balancing and detoxifying the body.

Like in the major conception clinics in the UK I often combine this with hypnosis. The power of the mind is incredible and it is essential that clients are relaxed and positive about conceiving.

Can you use hypnosis for any emotional issue?

Hypnosis is very adaptable and can help with anything in which the mind has an influence. It is a very fast and effective therapy if the client is open to change.

It is often used for addictions, like smoking, which I resolve in just one session. That’s how powerful it can be! It is excellent for stress, reprogramming the mind to think more positively, increasing confidence, sports performance, many many things.

I work a lot with weight loss now, which I am really enjoying and having excellent results.

We release any emotional issues which may be causing a client’s unhealthy relationship with food, discuss a healthy eating plan and we can even fit a virtual gastric band if the client needs to lose a lot of weight.

The hypnosis tunes the mind so that you just don’t feel like eating unhealthy foods or overeating.

Dieting made easy! n

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Please tell us your reasons for becoming involved in Childline and why you believe its work is so important?

Before moving to Gibraltar, I was involved in the UK charity sector and was employed as Director of a National Voluntary Youth Organisation. I am a qualified youth worker and have been passionate about protecting children’s rights for many years. I started off with Childline as one of the Helpline volunteers in the very early days of the charity and became a Trustee a couple of years ago.

I believe Childline Gibraltar fulfills a vital role in the community in trying to end child cruelty. It provides an opportunity for both adults and children to discuss their problems or report their concerns confidentially and anonymously with an impartial, trained volunteer.

As a charity, it doesn’t have the stigma that some of the agencies might be perceived to have so people generally feel more comfortable to make that first approach.

You have launched a new online service — what is the thinking behind this and how has it been received so far?

This is a very exciting time for our charity.

For the first time in our history, we can now be contacted 24/7 by those wishing to share their concerns, via our website www.childline. gi. We have only ever been available for four hours a day up until now, and those hours were not ideal for children to call us (as parents were more likely to be home). Our problem was always finding volunteers to extend the helpline hours, as most of our voluntary team have full-time jobs.

We wanted to move with the times, to acknowledge the fact that children today spend a great deal of time online and for many of them it is their preferred way of communication.

We also wanted to respond to the demand for increased service hours.

Kids in Crisis Childline to the Rescue Childline Trustee, Jo Abergel, took time out to tell us about the children’s charity’s exciting new developments for 2014, as fundraising continues this month with a flag day on 4th April.

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What other developments can you tell us about for the future?

Our Education Project has grown considerably over the last couple of years and is developing in direct response to the calls we receive on our Helpline. It forms part of our early intervention strategy — we want to avoid problems in later life by promoting better communication, sharing problems with people you can trust, encouraging better behaviour (through our Positive Parenting courses) and educating children, and the wider community, about issues affecting young people. Our major issues at the moment are Online Safety, Bullying (Cyberbullying) and, of course, the various types of child abuse. These are the areas our Education Team will be focusing on.

We also want to develop our existing working relationships with relevant Government Departments and other voluntary organisations working with children. We want to raise awareness about safeguarding policies and the importance of safe recruitment of staff who will have access to children.

How can people become involved with Childline and what opportunities are there for training?

We are always looking for Helpline Volunteers and Appropriate Adult Volunteers and

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well-being we run our in-house training courses twice a year.

People can also volunteer to help our Fundraising Team and help us plan and run our awareness events throughout the year.

Companies can support us in various ways.

You could choose us as your Charity of the Year, set up a Payroll Giving Scheme or set up a volunteering project where your staff give us their time and expertise on a pro bono basis for a few hours each month. We have people who specifically deal with the corporate side so please get in touch!

“

You have a flag day in April, why should people donate to this of all charities?

Yes! Our Flag Day is on 4th April and we really need everyone’s support! We are totally dependent on private donations to fund our

Childline Trustee Jo Abergel is passionate about protecting children’s rights and says some of the stories they hear from their callers are devastating

Many people believe Gibraltar is immune to many of the issues we hear about on an almost daily basis. Last year we received 781 calls, about half of which related to abuse or bullying

”

services and the running of our premises. We need to raise at least £60,000 every year just to keep going.

All charities are worthwhile, but I would ask people to support us because of the important role we fulfill and services we provide to the community, because of the large impact we have and because we all have a duty to protect our children, the most vulnerable people in our society.

Some of the stories we hear from our callers are devastating. Many people believe Gibraltar is immune to many of the issues we hear about on an almost daily basis. Last year we received 781 calls, about half of which related to abuse or bullying. These are significant and worrying figures and every month we have cases that we have to refer on to the Care Agency or the RGP. We need to keep going until there is no longer a need for us — that is our dream so please help us achieve it.

Any final comments, Jo? I just wanted to finish off by reminding everyone to please report any concerns they have about a child, even if they’re not certain and worried they may be mistaken. Our Helpline is open 365 days a year, from 5pm to 9pm, freephone 8008 and our new online service is now active via our website.

Child abuse can have terrible long term effects on a person, and the longer the abuse continues the harder it becomes to deal with.

Most children being abused will be too young to understand what is happening to them ­— it is our moral duty to give them a voice. n

Do You Want Literary Fame?

Local authors Mary Chiappe and Sam Benady are raffling a place in their seventh Bresciano mystery, which is due to be published in 2015, to help raise funds for Cancer Relief Gibraltar.

This is your chance for literary fame!

The winner of this raffle (or one of their ancestors, if they choose) will become a character in this murder mystery (set in 1817). Sam and Mary guarantee that you will not be the victim (or the murderer!), but you will play a definite part

Local author Mary Chiappe (above) and co-author Sam Benady will consign the winner of their Cancer Relief Gibrlatar raffle to literary history by including them in their next Bresciano murder mystery book

in the plot.

Tickets cost just £1.00 and the draw will be held in the Cancer Relief Centre (the old BFBS building), 5 South Barrack Road on 30th April at 11.30am.

Tickets are available from the Gibraltar Bookshop, Mid Town Books, WH Smith, the Airport Bookshop, Terry’s Bookshop, House of Sacarello and the Cancer Health Centre, or direct from assorted volunteers. n

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REAL-LIFE STORY

Breast Augmentation: January 2014 Grace* recently had a cosmetic procedure with Aria Medical Group. She had a breast augmentation.

Just three weeks after the surgery, Grace is so happy with the results and the swift recovery that she is sharing her experience for the benefit of other people who are considering a breast augmentation.

Why did you choose cosmetic surgery?

‘I’m 40 years old and I like to think that ‘’Life begins at 40!’’ The truth is that now my children are growing up and I knew I wasn’t going to have any more, I wanted to have a breast augmentation. I have been thinking about it for over 5 years.’

Where you concerned about surgery?

‘Yes, I have to admit to being a bit scared. Now, having had the procedure, I just can’t think why. But before I was a little nervous at the thought of having surgery. Now I just couldn’t be happier! I just wish I had done it before! I am so happy, it was a really wonderful experience.’

Tell us about the consultation and procedure ‘I can’t recommend Dr. Marco Vricella enough. A few years ago I had a consultation with a Spanish surgeon, but the experience was not good. By contrast Dr. Vricella really put me at ease. He took time to explain all aspects of the procedure, the implants available and the issues I had to consider. He was very professional.

I was so at ease that I later booked my procedure.

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On the day of surgery I arrived at the HC Hospital at 11.30 am. I was so nervous, but as soon as I was met by the friendly nursing team I was made to feel more relaxed.

Louise Truelove my Patient Care Coordinator who had been with me throughout the whole process, also met me. Then Aria’s Specialist Nurse, Damien Moore met me. I then got ready and was taken to see Dr. Vricella in theatre. I just didn’t have time to feel nervous anymore.

Afterwards I was taken back to my private room where I slept, and then later I was given a meal; the nurses and the team are so helpful and friendly. The next day Dr. Vricella removed my bandages and inspected the augmentation. I was so happy with the results!’

Recovery & Results Now, three weeks on, and I am so excited. It’s funny to say, but it really has changed my life. I have kept in overall shape all my life, but I always had this small bust and now Dr. Marco Vricella has given me beautiful breasts. My confidence is transformed.

I just can’t wait for summer!’ *For privacy, we change clients’ names, but all testimonials are genuine.

More information: To watch an informative video, read client testimonials and to see before and after photos, visit the Aria Medical Group website at:

www.ariamedicalgroup.com GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 14:58

+ Breast Augmentation

+ Liposuction

+ Breast Uplift

+ Face Lifts

+ Breast Reduction

+ Rhinoplasty

+ Tummy Tuck

+ Cosmetic Dentistry

Book your FREE consultation

(+34) 951 276 748 in English (+34) 671 639 353 in English (+34) 662 936 058 en Español e: info@ariamedicalgroup.com

FREE Aftercare

When choosing your surgeon check their credentials.

They should be registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC), the Spanish CGM and also on the UK Specialist Register of Plastic Surgeons (SRPC).

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health& fitness PASSANO OPTICIANS LTD

Louis’ Pharmacy Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates.

Tel: 200 44797

British Registered Optometrists

Your Family Chemists

Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions

38 Main St Tel: 200 76544 Fax: 200 76541 Email: passano@sapphirenet.gi

Consult us at 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989

Chiropractic Health Clinic

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC

ChiropraCtors

Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC ICC F5C 1st Flr, Casemates.

Tel: 200 44226 Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia’s), 1st Flr, 58 Main St Tel: 200 41733 After hours: 200 40026

Dr Steven J. Crump B.Sc, DC, MCC Open: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 6.30pm

Member of the British Chiropractic Association

College Clinic, Regal Hse. Tel: 200 77777

CHEMISTS

Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane Tel: 200 77289 Fax: 200 42989

Bell Pharmacy

Back to better health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries.

health & medical directory

Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches, Limb Pain & Sports Injuries

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc, DC Steiner Chiropractic Clinics, College Clinic, Regal House Tel: 200 77777

Tel: 200 44226

ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor, Casemates, Gibraltar Member of British Chiropractic Association

Hypnotherapy

Rose Favell Central Clinic, Horse Barrack Lane.

Tel: + 34 655 699 841 www.hypnotherapygibraltar.com

Health Clubs Now at Unit F5, 1st Floor, ICC Isabella Jimenez, Sports Therapist (BSc Hons) Tel: 54002226 Email: sportongib@gmail.com

Atlantic Suites Health Club & Spa Tel: 200 48147 Ocean Village Health Club Tel: 200 44242

Health Stores The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 200 73765 Holland & Barrett 160 Main Street

HEARING CENTRE

Oigamas Hearing Centre Unit S3h 2nd Floor, ICC Casemates Square Tel: 200 63644 Email: info@oigamas.com

Need somebody to talk to?

Opticians / Optometrists Gache & Co Limited 266 Main Street. Tel: 200 75757

7 days a week 5pm-9pm

L. M. Passano Optometrist 38 Main Street. Tel: 200 76544

PERSONAL TRAINERS

Primary Care Centre 2nd Floor International Commercial Centre Casemates

Weekend & Public Holiday Opening Hours (use Irish Town entrance) Saturday: 9am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm Sunday & Public Holidays: 10am - 11am, 5pm - 6pm

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Simon Coldwell Complete Fitness Unit G3, Eliott Hotel Tel: 200 51113 Isabella Jimenez BSc (hons) Unit 5, 1st Floor, ICC Tel: 54002226 email: jimenez.isabella@gmail.com

SPECIALISTS

Specialist Medical Clinic 1st Floor International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 200 49999 Dr Vricella, Cosmetic Surgeon College Clinic, Regal House Tel: + 34 951 276 748

GIBRALTAR GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• APRIL APRIL 2014 2014

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well-being

health

Tumeric: Currying Favour Turmeric has a peppery, warm and bitter flavor and a mild fragrance slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger, and while it is best known as one of the ingredients used to make curry, it also gives prepared mustard its bright yellow colour and in cheese and butter.

Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Turmeric has been used for 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions. It has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory, to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds.

The yellow or orange pigment of turmeric, which is called curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. In numerous studies, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects, curcumin produces no toxicity.

Studies show turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems, and it has received a lot of positive press lately.

Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants scavenge molecules in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can fight free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

It also stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

Research suggests that turmeric may be helpful for the following conditions: indigestion or dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers, osteoarthritis, heart disease, cancer, bacterial and viral infections and uveitis.

Growing evidence suggests that turmeric may afford protec-

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tion against neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological studies show that in elderly Indian populations, among whose diet turmeric is a common spice, levels of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s are very low. Concurrently, experimental research conducted recently found that curcumin does appear to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in mice.

In addition turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, and potassium.

You can add tumeric to many foods from egg salads to rice dishes, curries, tuna dishes, chutneys and pickles or take it in supplement form. n

Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal Laser Clinic Permanent Hair removal Pigmentation and anti-aging Visiting Surgeon varicose veins, sebaceous cysts, innovative haemorrhoid surgery Cosmetic Surgeon Breast implants and augmentation, face-lifts, tummy tucks

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Shorji’s Fashion Journey

Shorji - behind the scenes at Fasionclash in Maastricht, Nethederlands

As we approach the 2014 edition of fashion extravaganza Runway Gibraltar on 3rd May, last year’s winner of the show’s New Designer Competition, Christel Mifsud, shared some of her experiences and plans for the future with The Gibraltar Magazine.

designer three or four years ago by tailoring clothing for herself as she struggled to find fashionable clothes to fit her tiny frame on the High Street.

“Being very petite I always had problems buying clothes in Gibraltar and online. So that is how I actually started sewing — nothing fitted properly. I started by doing a little bit here and a little bit there and then I began to like it. I tried to do something on my own and it came out really well. I used to watch videos on YouTube and that was how I learned. Then I took some sewing lessons to improve my knowledge,” she reveals.

“Before it was more like a hobby, but after winning last year’s competition people started asking me to do things for them. Now people know me more, I have expanded locally,” she explains.

Christel, also known as Shorji, is now busy with her own collection and says she has always loved creating and designing in various ways.

“I always knew I didn’t want a normal office job,” she explains. “I have always been very creative and loved doing things with my hands. I have also taken a course in hairdressing. So last year when the competition was announced, I entered and I won!” she smiles.

Christel started her journey as a fashion

Getting inspired Christel claims inspiration is not that difficult to find — you just take it from something you love, and for her that is sport.

“I have always been very sporty,” thew young designer says, adding “I went to gymnastics and I always felt there wasn’t anything to wear that would be comfortable plus fashionable. Plus, everybody used to wear black which was so boring.

“I always find if you feel good, you train better. It is like going out at night, if you don’t feel good you won’t have a good night out. If

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you look good when you train you can let go and focus on training.”

Life Changing Event After winning last year’s New Designer Competition things started happening for Christel. She was invited to Maastricht in Holland to take part in Fashionclash, an international fashion festival which focuses on emerging talents.

“I got to meet a lot of new people, and the organisers were really really nice,” she enthuses. “I stayed there for a whole week and it is

Getting ready for the fashion show in Maastricht, Nethederlands

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a great place. I did my show with some new pieces — it was like a capsule collection.”

As Christel does everything herself — from conceptual drawings to sewing the finished outfit — producing a full collection is a lot of hard work.

“I even have to look for the fabrics which are quite hard to find in Gibraltar, so I have to order them online. It is not as easy as it seems.”

Christel believes Gibraltar is not a good place to start for a new designer, because of the diffuculty obtaining fabrics. “The cost of delivery is more than the fabric itself!” she explains. “Plus there are not many places that teach sewing here,” she laments.

Turning a Hobby into a Career Shorji has just launched a new online store with street and sports fashion. “I am now doing fashion design full-time,” she explains, “and I sell stuff here in Gibraltar and abroad.

“I design casual, Friday night stuff, but I personally prefer the sportswear more than the street wear. It is more like me. I have fun with

“

If you look good when you train you can let go and focus on training

Photo: Jayden Fa

”

it, and include colours and knitting, at the same time I try to make it comfortable and wearable.

I do like creating stuff,” she adds, “and I try to design a little bit of everything.”

Christel says she loves it when people give her feedback, something she gets a lot of with her custom motivational T-shirts. People choose slogans or sayings, then the colour of the T-shirt, and Shorji creates it for them.

At this stage, her collection is designed only for women, but she is hoping to broaden her range, as people are asking for children’s and men’s T-shirts. “I am only one person and right now I don’t want to overwhelm myself too much,” she sensibly says.

The Past Year Winning Runway Gibraltar’s New Designer Competition a year ago was very thrilling, as well as hectic, she says, adding that her recommendation for this year’s winner is to stay calm.

“For this year’s winner I would recommend not to get overwhelmed, don’t stress about it, do what you have to do and enjoy it more than anything!

“For me it was a great experience. I loved it! Especially showing my work and seeing people enjoy it and compliment it.

“People don’t usually see you working to two or three o’clock in the morning, trying to find the proper fabric, but when you show your results in a fashion show it is all worth it. It is stressful but fun! ” When asked to put her experiences on a scale one to five she says emphatically “10!”

“That’s how much I love my job! Especially because I am able to do what I love. It is not a nine to five job,” she acknowledges, “but I think everybody should do what they really like.” n

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photo: Sussie Ahlburg

Ingrid Fliter

Ballroom Venue for Leading Pianist of Our Times The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society, in association with the Bonita Trust, is presenting one of the leading pianists of our times, Ingrid Fliter, for a recital at the Convent Ballroom on 10th April from 8pm.

We are very fortunate to be able to have Ingrid Fliter return to Gibraltar after a fantastic and sold-out concert back in 2009 and 2010. Her temperament and intelligence, combined with her passion and charisma singles Ingrid out of many other fine pianists.

Ingrid Fliter sprang to international attention when she was awarded the 2006 Gilmore Artist Award, one of only a handful of pianists to have received this

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honour. The Gilmore Artist Award is presented to an exceptional pianist who, regardless of age or nationality, possesses profound musicianship and charisma and who sustains a career as a major international concert artist.

Ingrid Fliter has established a reputation as one of the pre-eminent interpreters of Chopin, her two all-Chopin discs on EMI Classics is a testament to this.

Her recording of the complete

Chopin Waltzes received five star reviews and was named the Daily Telegraph’s CD of the Week and was chosen as Editor’s Choice in both Gramophone and Classic FM Magazine and was described in Gramophone by Jeremy Nicholas: “Ingrid Fliter sets a new benchmark for the complete waltzes.

From beginning to end, this is among the finest Chopin recordings of recent years.”

Tickets priced at £20 are avail-

able from Sacarello’s restaurant in Irish Town and The Silver Shop at 222 Main Street or directly from the Society by telephone on 200 72134. A limited number of tickets priced at £10 are available for senior citizens and students via the John Macintosh Hall at 308 Main Street. n Further information is available from by telephoning 200 72134 or visiting the society’s website www.philharmonic.gi.

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fashion

leisure & sport

Retail& Activities

shopping & gifts

hair & beauty

Ali’s Make Up Plan

Make Up Artist Face painting for children’s parties M 5800 9284 E ali@makeupplan.com W makeupplan.com

Sacha’s

lessons & tuition

GACHE & CO LTD EST. 1830

• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers

266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757

travel & hotels

DUTY FREE WINES, SPIRITS & TOBACCO open 7 days 79 Main Street

newsagents/books

HORTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS Tel: 200 43134 Fax: 200 50648 Convent Gardens, Convent Garden Ramp

Health & Beauty Salon

Queen’s Hotel Gibraltar

• Aromatherapy • Sugar Waxing • Facials • Manicures • Pedicures • Reflexology • Luxury Organic 2hr face & body treatment Open: Mon-Fri 9.30-9 Sat 10-3

Excellent Prices • Centrally Located • Easy Access • Parking • Bar • Restaurant

Don House Arcade Tel: 20077311

Tel: (+350) 20074000 Fax: 20040030

FROST LANGUAGE CENTRE (registered in Gibraltar)

Professional Spanish Teacher All levels, singles, groups or Skype

pets & accessories

Tel: 200 73786

Protect Your Dog Against Fatal Summer Diseases Heartworm, Leishmaniosis, Tickborne Diseases Phone Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic for details 200 77334 Emergency: 8977

Call Margaret Tel: 0034956173384 Mobile: 0034609717296 Email: margaretjf13@gmail.com

photography

Archive editions of The Gibraltar Magazine now available online at www.thegibraltarmagazine.com GIBRALTAR MAGAziNE • APRIL 2014 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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love on the Rock

Twitter Leads to Rock Wedding Gibraltar is promoted as a wedding destination, and the fact you do not need to be resident here to marry means we see brides and grooms from many backgrounds and countries taking advantage of a Governor’s special licence to marry in just 24 hours.

Despite seeing many bride’s and grooms celebrating in our cafes and restaurants, and having photographs taken in the Botanic Gardens we seldom hear their stories or find out why they chose Gibraltar.

We caught up with American nurse, Jessica, and a British Civil Servant, Martin, and asked them to tell us their story.

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�

artin and I had what we consider to be the perfect wedding. We had a marvellous time in Gibraltar and have already planned to spend our first anniversary there if we can possibly do so.

Martin is English. He is from Newcastle, and works there as a civil servant for the Department of Work and Pensions.

I’m American. I’m a nurse (RN). I work in an Intensive Care Unit of a Hospital in Northern Virginia, which is near to Washington, DC. Because we met in such an unorthodox manner — on Twitter, actually — we have not had what you might call a traditional courtship. There is the difference in time zones, the difficulty in seeing one another, and the time it takes to actually maintain an intercontinental relationship. There were objections by our family and friends because we hadn’t known each other very long when we decided to marry. However, as adults we

knew that ultimately the decision to marry was ours and we had certain criteria to meet that were important to us both.

To begin, we had limited time that we could each take from work. Because I work in the critical care area of the hospital, our time off is limited and often dictated by the needs of our Unit. Martin’s leave policy is more

“

The words we spoke, the vows we exchanged and in the manner we did so could not have held greater meaning for either of us

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flexible, but at the same time, his leave is not unlimited, so we had that to factor into our decision. Practically, I would have had to be in the UK for 24 straight days, after everything was managed, in order to be eligible to marry Martin. I didn’t have that kind of time off, which precluded a ceremony in the UK. We weren’t at all interested in a large, ornate affair, because that didn’t suit either of us. We also opted to refrain from a wedding in the United States in the interest of fairness to our families: his family would not have been able to travel to the States, nor would mine have been able to travel to the UK. Although we have unromantic, very straight forward careers, both of which carry some stress and are grounded in intense work, we are rather a romantic couple. So, when we began to plan where we would be married, there were certain places that held no appeal for us. We didn’t want a Vegas Wedding with casinos and lights. We didn’t want a destination wedding at a resort that had the feeling of simply running couples through the motions like a large assembly line.

We wanted something smaller, more romantic, and something that would be meaningful for the two of us, since it would be only the two of us there. I was actually the one who began to look into Gibraltar. I mentioned it to Martin, as it seemed to easily fit some of our criteria as to timing and availability in both our schedules. The more we researched, the more we thought it really might be the right choice for us.

Small, intimate, and with a culture steeped in history, we could not have asked for more.

We were intrigued by the idea of being able to be married by special licence. Also, we just wanted to go. We wanted to see it, and to travel together to the places that held such interest for us.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon, checked into The Rock Hotel where, I have to say, everyone was so very kind to us. We explored Main Street, and did some shopping, but we were more intrigued with the streets and walking through neighbourhoods. We visited the Trafalgar Cemetery and even stopped to take pictures of the police station and other buildings. Everyone we met had a smile.

Every shop we entered, or anyone we stopped to ask a question was friendly and helpful.

We were already happy. The weather was lovely, and since it was January, we were very glad to leave the cold of Northern England for a while.

Monday, we went to the Registry Office. We had, months before, prepared the documents that we would need, and when we presented them, the office personnel were lovely, assisting us with every step. My documentation was in order, and our only small moment of fear occurred when Martin presented his short form birth certificate. Usually, the long form is preferred, however, with a little checking on the part of the lovely young woman helping us, the documentation was determined to be okay. We had our application notarised, and they helped us with that step as well. After our paperwork was accepted, we made an appointment for Tuesday morning at 10.30 to be married.

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“

When we stepped out of the building and into the street, we were married. We felt the weight of it. It was 14th January, 2014 and what had begun with rain and clouds broke into a sunny morning The rest of the day was spent enjoying Gibraltar. The Salon next to our hotel was actually in the middle of remodel, but with great kindness, they opened their doors to me so that my nails would be done for my wedding day. The staff at our hotel helped us with delivering gifts to everyone who helped us, also, which was again, very kind.

The morning of our wedding, we got up, prepared and dressed and then actually walked to the registry office. We didn’t bring our own witnesses, but two people from the Citizens Advice Bureau were kind enough to act as our witnesses. Martin and I were grateful, and honestly, there was something very nice about being married with them as witnesses.

Also, there were the vows. The traditional vows in Gibraltar are beautiful. My husband and I are both quite secular. We did not want a religious ceremony, but we did want something that would reflect our commitment to one another and to, as he put it, “bind us together in the same way we had already committed to each other.” The words we spoke, the vows we exchanged and in the manner we did so could not have held greater meaning for either of us. The gentleman who married us,

Mr. Cumming, was lovely, and he gave the distinct impression of being happy to marry us.

He wished us well, and we knew he meant it.

And, when we stepped out of the building and into the street, we were married. We felt the weight of it. It was 14th January, 2014 and what had begun with rain and clouds broke into a sunny morning. We had breakfast a cafe, on Main Street, outside. We spent the rest of the day together, and couldn’t have been happier, truly. We shopped for our families, spent quiet moments just observing, both of us convinced that if there could be one perfect place, one place even that we’d very much like to live, then it would be Gibraltar.

The following morning, Wednesday, as we prepared to leave to return to the UK, we were sorry to go. It had been such a lovely few days, and not only were we married, but in the days since we have both remarked at different times how perfect it was, how suited to our personalities and to what we wanted which was to make this commitment to each other, privately, and in a place that would have meaning to us.

And that is why we came to Gibraltar to marry, and definitely why we will come back.

We loved it. And we miss it, every day. n

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past revisted

Surviving Exams words | Eve Maddock-Jones, A-Level Student at Westside School

As the months of May and June creep closer students are faced with the daunting task of pending exams. This sets off a series off alarm bells throwing them into a pit of worry. Although stress rates are now higher than ever before amongst students, with an increase of 20%, exams are doable it just takes a few deep breaths and some organisation to get through it all.

One way to look at passing an exam is like training for a marathon. You wouldn’t just show up on the day of the race not having trained at all beforehand. In order to do your best you would have trained for weeks, if not months prior to it. This “preparation” is the equivalent to studying.

“The best advice I can give to students,” a Westside educator says, “is to build on studying. Once you’ve got your exam date (which were handed out recently) plan backwards

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from there and start slowly, progressing continuously through the course.”

Don’t lock yourself away in your room with your books for hours and hours. This will just cause you to become sick of the sight of them causing you to hate them resulting in ineffective revision. An hour a day is plenty, but make sure to do it every day. Try to do it as early as possible, this will leave you with the rest of the day to relax.

Don’t leave studying till a week before the

test, it never works despite the stories you hear. “The worst thing a student can do is to cram the night before. It doesn’t work and will make them more stressed out than ever.”

Everybody has a different study method, some people reread books whereas others find writing out notes works best. Stick to your own methods and don’t worry about doing it wrong just because someone else is doing it differently. There’s no wrong way to study except not doing it at all. It’s

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

24/03/2014 18:52

your exam, study your way but make sure you do it.

“When studying take away any distractions,” is more advice that teachers give.

Turn off your devices, music and simply focus on the texts in front of you. If you’re surrounded by other things it’ll cause your mind to wander and distract you from the task at hand.

Some people do claim that they find background music aids their studying. For simple note making perhaps it’s fine but, when it comes to memorising, your mind cannot have other distractions because the information you’re trying to remember simply won’t stay stuck in your head. Studies have shown that it is actually impossible for a person’s mind to multi-task. It only has the capacity to fully focus on one task at a time.

A person can cope with several activities at once it’s true, but this is doable because your brain changes its focus from one thing to another so quickly that we don’t realise it, giving the impression of multi-tasking. To study effectively your brain cannot be flitting from your books. So, for that hour turn off all distractions and close the door. Libraries are an excellent alternative if studying at home proves too difficult.

Eating and drinking the right foods has also been shown to help you pass exams.

Certain foods are proven to aid our concentration: fish, with its Omega 3 fatty acids, fruit and vegetables with their natural vitamins and mineral, and even small amount

Adopt Don’t Buy

of chocolate (preferably dark), which is an excellent source of vitamin E. So when your mum asks why you are snacking on a chocolate bar you have your excuse.

Water is the best drink, and keeping hydrated is crucial to studying. Even in the exam room take a bottle of water in with you, just keep it on the floor next to you to stop the risk of it spilling it over your test paper.

Processed junk foods and alcohol are the things to avoid, although the odd Maccy D’s won’t hurt you.

Give yourself time to relax. This will be the recovery period and prevent yourself burning out, which becomes just as detrimental as not studying. You are studying on top of being in school and keeping up with homework, your mind needs time to relax

too. Studying doesn’t equal no fun, it just means time management.

Surviving exams lies largely in the technique. Few people enjoy studying, but putting in the hours of work will be worth it once you can walk into an exam room knowing you’re ready for that test. It saves you worried nights and feelings of regret afterwards about not having done enough.

If you try your hardest then that’s all that can be asked of you. So arm yourself with pens and Cadburys. It’s time to work. n

To study effectively your brain cannot be flitting from your books. So, for that hour turn off all distractions and close the door. Libraries are an excellent alternative if studying at home proves too difficult

y

ACHT SCENE tar l Gibra SAILORS’ GUIDE • 2014

Seeking Support Stress is natural and helps us cope in difficult situations. In small amounts, it’s good for you because it pushes you to work hard and do your best.

However, if you are feeling overwhelmed with exam stress, it’s important to talk to someone you trust, such as a family member, teacher or a friend. Many people find exams difficult to deal with, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for support.

Yacht Scene 2014

get your copy now

Yacht Scene • • Sailors’ Guide 20 4

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£5.00

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£5 + p&p (£8 total)

Send cheque to PO Box 555 Gibraltar

Give a Dog a Home If you are interested in adopting call the GSPCA on 540 19968 or 540 29927

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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That Nail Place Nail Extensions DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA DIGITAL CAMERA - MOBILE PHONES - GPS - PDA ACCESSORIES

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• Giftware • Jewellery • Sports Trophies • Awards & Engravers

266 Main St, Gibraltar Tel: 200 75757

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Gibraltar Taxi Association

Gibibikes Stations

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GUIDED ROCK TOURS 19 Waterport Wharf Main Office Tel: 20070052 Fax: 20076986 Radio service: 20070027

Sacha’s

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DUTY FREE WINES, SPIRITS & TOBACCO open 7 days 79 Main Street

Quality Kitchen Ware Gibraltar’s Best Stocked Cook Shop K5

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46 Irish Town Tel: 200 75188 Fax: 200 72653

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Q4

Accountants Durante Carboni Jardim..............X3 ESV Hassan & Co........................ I4 Business/Financial Services AI Couriers..................................K3 Barclays...................................... M4 Jyske Bank.................................. L4 Sovereign Trust...........................N4 ITMS............................................ J9 Business Services Waste Management......................a6 Business Supplies Beacon Press...............................N6 Image Graphics...........................N3 Stitch Design................................P3

pasta casa

7 days 11am - 3pm, 6pm - late

Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house

Queensway Quay (next to Waterfront)

15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations

Motoring & Car Sales A. M. Capurro & Sons Ltd ........ N6 Computers & Cableing Image Graphics........................... N3 Newton Systems.........................M5 PC Clinic..................................... U3 Fashion/Clothing Marble Arc....................................J4 Food & Drink Amin’s The Office....................... K5 Bridge Bar .................................. B5 Buddies Pasta Casa..................... Q4 Cafe Rojo.................................... K5 Café Solo..................................... G3 Casa Pepe.....................................Z6

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take-away or reserve a table

Tel: 200 46993

BUDDIES

S3

X7

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Get Stuffed................................... A3 House of Sacarello........................L5 Just Desserts...................................I4 Lord Nelson................................. H2 The Lounge ..................................Z6 O’Reilly’s Irish Pub......................B5 Picadilly Gardens.......................... b4 Pick-a-Bite.....................................J6 Saccone & Speed...........................J4 Solo Express................................ H4 Star Bar........................................ K5 Verdi Verdi................................... H4 Waterfront.................................... Y7

Roots.............................................T4

Hair & Beauty Salons Claudia’s Clinic............................ K4 Joya’s Gents Hairdressers............ N2 Renaissance Beauty.......................J4

Legal Services Hassans........................................ Q6 Isolas.............................................E4

U4

Jewellery Sales/Repair Essardas.........................................L4 Jewellery Repairs..........................L4 Matthew’s Jewellery......................I3 Radhika.........................................L4 Leisure Complete Fitness ������������������������� R3 Dolphin Safari ����������������������������� A3 Ocean Village Gym �������������������� C4 Atlantic Suites Gym & Spa...........J9

Queensway Quay Marina, Tel: 200 61118

Medical / Health Bell Pharmacy..............................N3 Claudia’s Clinic............................K4 Dr. Crump, Steven, Chiropractor I4 Health Food Store........................O4 Louis Pharmacy...........................H4 McTimoney chiropractor.............L4 Sport-On - Sports Therapy...........K3 Steiner Chiropractor.....................K7 Pet Services / Supplies Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic..........H4 Property Sales / Estate Agents BFA..............................................G4 Chesterton....................................D5 Savills............................................J5 Solomon Levy .............................U3

General Services Balloqui ......................................P4 LP Borge.................................... X3 Denville Designs........................M3 Greenarc..................................... X5 Larbi upholstery......................... R3 Shopping — General Image...........................................E6 Originarta ....................................)2 Recruitment RecruitGibraltar ������������������������ O6 SRG Europe.................................I3 Transport / Marine Services Gib Cargo................................... B8 Tarik Oil..................................... C8

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J3

ibraltar the

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the LOVE festival Fill your bank holiday weekend in June with love and music this year! The open air Bayside Sports Complex and adjacent areas will host the first edition of the Gibraltar Love Festival on Sunday 15th June.

The Gibraltar Magazine spoke to organisers Dion Mifsud and Chris Yeats to find out more about the festival, and what we have to look forward to.

Tell us about the concept behind the Love Festival and how the idea began.

The Love Festival came about as both of us are keen music enthusiasts and regular music festival fans. We thought of doing an event of this nature as, in the past, events like this have been very limited considering the large musical culture we have here in Gibraltar.

The main reason behind calling it the Love Festival was that the word ‘love’ gives the event a feel good factor and is a word most people can relate to, and a feeling most people experience.

Could you give us a little bit of info about yourselves and how you became involved?

Chris, a local business man in the hospitality trade, has had previous experience organising club and outdoor events through his days running Savannah. He has made various contacts in the music industry over the years and has always been actively involved in the entertainment scene.

Dion has been in business from a young age running major logistical projects within various local businesses and sectors.

We are now in partnership at the Ivy Sports Bar and are looking to expand into promotion and organising music events such as The Love Festival.

What acts will we see on stage this year and how are they selected?

The selection process was quite challenging when it came down to choosing the acts, as the main idea of the Love Festival was to choose artists of different genres that would suit all tastes and ages. Also budget constraints and artist availability is always a major issue as big acts are usually booked up 6-8 months in advance, so this process has to be done at the early stages.

The acts confirmed at the moment are local

R.I.O. lead singer Tony T

Guy Valarino

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The selection process was quite challenging when it came down to choosing the acts, as the main idea of the Love Festival was to choose artists of different genres that would suit all tastes and ages GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

25/03/2014 18:05

The Acts So Far...

ASWAD: No newcomers to the Rock Aswad is one of Britain’s best and loved Reggae bands over the last two decades.

Rebecca Ferguson

From day one the response has been very positive on both the concept and acts as they have been announced. Particularly with the varied styles of musical acts

the concept and the acts announced?

From day one the response has been very positive on both the concept and acts as they have been announced. Particularly with the varied styles of musical acts that will be performing, as these will cater for all music tastes.

What are your hopes for the future of the Love Festival?

Hopefully this festival will develop into an established yearly event that will be known to all local music enthusiasts and attract more and more interest from abroad.

musician Guy Valarino, resident singer at Privilege Ibiza — Nalaya Brown, R.I.O, legendary band Aswad and international chart topping Rebecca Ferguson. We still have more acts to follow including our own band the Luvtones but you will have to wait for more info on these.

We feel very passionate about including local artists to share the big stage with international acts and we are committed to do so.

The winner of a local bands’ competition will open the Festival.

The Nitty Gritty Doors open at 3.30pm and the organiser’s aim is to create an event for all ages to enjoy, taking us right through to midnight!

Tickets are now on sale priced at £45 general entry and £150 VIP (keep an eye out for a limited number of meet and greet tickets) from Music Corner, the Ivy at Ocean Village, Mad Hatters in Casemates Arcade, and online at eventbrite.com. Information on children’s tickets (under 12) and Super VIP / Corporate Boxes will be out soon! n

What has the response been so far to

For more info email giblovefestival@gmail.com

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Rebecca Ferguson: British SingerSongwriter Rebecca was X-Factor runner up in 2010. Her debut album Heaven went platinum, in the UK and in Ireland. She was nominated in 2012 for the MTV Europe Music Award.

R.I.O: (lead singer Tony T) comes all the way from Germany and is a top German dance band with hit singles such as Shine On, After the Love and Like I Love You. Nalaya Brown: Considered one of the top Spanish voices on the European dance circuit Nalaya forms part of one of the most important Ibiza parties Supermartxe and is currently resident singer of Privilege Ibiza.

She performed in 2011 Rock In Rio sharing the stage with big names such as Lady Gaga, Rita Ora and top DJs. Guy Valarino: Gibraltar born Guy entertains with acoustic, pop/rock with soulful melodies that speak of life, sand and sea.

He was a top 20 contender at MTV’s brand new Unsigned for 2013. Guy’s Couch Surf tour saw him play for fans in their living rooms around the UK, Europe and a couple of dates in the US. As we went to press there was still one more international big act to be announced — watch this space!

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Charlie Galliano

Of Measles, The Beatles & Royalty This month Charlie Galliano tells his story to Mike Brufal, from the bullring to the Beatles, and hockey sticks to royalty...

Charlie Galliano, 75, was born at 38 Prince Edward’s Road on the eve of the Second World War. He is married to Paula and they have four children Simon, Katherine, David, and Polly.

As a two year old Chalie has no memories

of the start of the evacuation but went the classic route to Casablanca, back to Gibraltar and then six months in London. Soon after the family settled down to life in the capital Charlie contracted measles and spent two weeks in an

isolation ward to prevent the disease spreading amongst the evacuated children. He has a vivid memory of experiencing his first bombing when a bomb fell near the hospital, much to the horror of his mother who rushed to his bedside.

This experience caused the family to opt out of the evacuation scheme and make their own arrangements. They moved to a small cottage in Yeovil, Somerset where they stayed for two years. He remembers watching the constant stream of German bombers passing overhead en route to bomb London. There were batteries of anti aircraft guns stationed just outside Yeovil and he was fascinated by the number of aircraft shot down.

His third birthday was in Yeovil and his present was a scooter which soon assumed additional importance as it was used to carry large used radio batteries to be exchanged for new ones. This was vitally important as his mother had the radio on permanently as the British Broadcasting Corporation cut transmission half an hour before an air raid, giving additional time to make for the safety of the shelter.

News came that the evacuees were about to be sent back to Gibraltar and all those who had opted out should return to London, which they did. However it was two years before the family received their embarkation orders. To make matters worse the return to the capital coincided with the Germans’ non stop attacks with incendiary bombs and V2s (also known as flying bombs).

Charlie remembers as if it happened yesterday, he and his mother were going to the underground shelter when they saw a V2 overhead. A nearby American serviceman told his mother to rush to the underground because the engine had cut out and it was about to come down. When they reached the underground platform the explosion was heard and the bomb exploded just outside the station’s entrance. The American was nearby on the platform and gave him a packet of chewing gum, a luxury in wartime London.

The family eventually boarded a ship which was diverted to Scotland where there was a 14 day delay due to propeller problems. The Gibraltarians were not allowed to leave the ship before she sailed for Gibraltar.

Back on the Rock Charlie’s primary education was at the Flat Bastion Road school followed by the Castle Road school and finally Sacred Heart which became the Grammar

On the squash team — Charlie is a founder member of the Squash Club

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

25/03/2014 19:02

school under the Irish Christian Brothers.

Six months National Service in the Gibraltar Defence Force was completed in March 1957.

Before being demobbed he was a founder member of the Rock Gunners Hockey Club — still a strong force in local hockey. Tournaments were played in Madrid, Lisbon and the Folkestone Festival. He competed in the hockey tournament and was invited to be a guest player for the Royal Artillery team but refused because of his pending wedding.

Charlie is a versatile sportsman representing Gibraltar at hockey, cricket, tennis, and squash.

Together with Keith Hoare, Gerald Restano, Louis Montegriffo and Hubert Corby he is a founder member of the Gibraltar Squash Club.

His most memorable sporting cutting was a photograph in Slim Simpson’s column in the Gibraltar Chronicle of him in the Gallardo’s bullring in Los Barrios testing a young bull under the caption ‘Our photograph shows Charlie Galliano trying his hand in the bullring’.

In 1959 he joined the Civil Service (Education Department) where Henry Belshaw was Director.

Charlie was introduced to Paula, his future wife, on the first night of the 1964 La Linea fair.

It was almost romance at first sight and after a

“

We agreed a date and I was sworn to total secrecy as the couple wanted to avoid press coverage with hordes of journalists and photographers. brief courtship he proposed to her at a Naval Officers’ Pavilion disco. They were officially engaged the following year after he had asked her father for her hand in marriage at his house in Woking. They were married in 1965 at St. Dunstan’s Church in Woking.

Charlie moved to the Central Registry and later to the Magistrates Court where he was clerk in charge of Births, Deaths and Marriages and also the Court Spanish English interpreter.

Then came the most exciting moment in his career.

Charlie takes up the story: “Around March 1969 I was telephoned by Peter Brown who was managing the Beatles following the suicide of Brian Epstein. He declared that a Beatle wanted to marry in Gibraltar as under the Governor’s Special Licence there was no requirement to stay on the Rock for a period of time. I asked him to send the paperwork for me to review as John had been married before. This was done and then a date had to be arranged. We agreed a date and I was sworn to total secrecy as the couple wanted to avoid press coverage with hordes of journalists and photographers.

“We arranged for John and Yoko to charter a private plane from British Airways and fly to Paris. Peter Brown told me that John Lennon would telephone me during the morning before they left Paris.

“The next morning at 8am John Lennon called me and told me the approximate time he

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This photo and above: Charlie Galliano with the happy couple — John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Rock Gunners Hockey Club

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Charlie with his children when they were young

would arrive in Gibraltar and asked me to pick him up in my car. At the time by coincidence I drove a Volkswagen Beetle G21501 which meant a Beetle car would drive a Beatle to and from his wedding.

“Paula heard the telephone ringing and asked who was ringing so early in the morning.

I replied that it was a very hush hush matter and I was sworn to secrecy. Paula with her feminine instinct replied ‘It must be one of those Beatles’. I must admit to breaking my oath of secrecy and told her.

“I drove to the airport and watched the private plane land and park in front of the terminal at around 11am. I greeted the couple and took them to my car which was parked outside the terminal. Yoko and John sat on the back seat with their personal photographer sitting next to me. He was all action taking some 200 frames between the airport and the Marriage Registry which was in the Magistrates Court, Irish Town. Although the doors of the marriage registry were open no one attended, not even a single member of the media such was the effect of the total news blackout. The witnesses were the photographer and Peter Brown.

“I took my camera with me but unfortunately the film slipped and no photograph survived. This might have been my pension as so few pictures were taken. After the couple had been pronounced husband and wife I asked Yoko for what would be her first marriage signature apart from the ones on the registrar and documents. She responded by jumping up and down saying ‘ I am Mrs Lennon’. She then signed my book as Mrs Lennon. I gave this to my wife who years later gave it to a nurse in the hospital.

“The Lennons returned to my car, having

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acquired a number of marriage certificates, and I drove them back to the airport with their photographer taking another large batch of photographs. By this time news had circulated throughout the Rock and Slim Simpson was waiting at the airport to take photographs.

Slim’s finest shot was of the happy couple holding their marriage certificate with the North face of the Rock in the background.”

Charlie also recalls an issue with the marriage of Jaime de Mora y Aragon. He was responsible for preparing the paperwork which was complicated by the fact Jaime was divorced and one document appeared not to be in order. Charlie said; “Senor Mora it seems to me there is a flaw in one of the documents”.

The reply was an arrogant “Do you know who I am?”. Charlie responded “I think you are the brother of the Queen of Belgium but that does not make the documentation correct”. Jaime accepted the comment, corrected the document and returned to the Rock to get married a few months later.

In 1969 Turquand Youngs and Co offered

“

Do you know who I am?” — Charlie responded “I think you are the brother of the Queen of Belgium but that does not make the documentation correct”

him a position administering the companies department. Arthur Gilbert Clinton, one of the most senior Chartered Accountants on the Rock, was in charge of the office. He lived in Spain and towards the end of the year the border was closed which made it difficult for him to get to the office. This meant Charlie was never fully briefed during his early months with the practice.

The Gibraltar Building Society was one of his first clients. The reason for this innovation in Gibraltar was that the Conservative MP Sir Cyril Black decided the time had arrived for a building society and as this was agreed by Chief Minister Sir Joshua Hassan it became a reality. The Gibraltar Building Society came into being in March 1969 with Charlie managing the mortgage and investment department.

At that time Gibraltarian property buyers were not accustomed to taking out a mortgage so there were few takers but slowly it began to gain clients. (Sir Cyril died in 1991 and his trustees sold his shares to the NatWest Bank.)

In 1998 he was appointed President of the Gibraltar Rotary Club and his charity for his year in office was to raise funds for the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. This was the same year that Ince’s Farm became the centre to help addicts rid themselves of this habit. By coincidence the man in charge of the project was Hubert Corby his old tennis partner.

Charlie was headhunted by Spicer and Pegler which in turn became Spicer and Oppenheim International and then PricewaterhouseCoopers. After the final merger he was appointed manager of the company administration department a position he held until his retirement in 2002.

In 1986, as an insurance policy in the event of being made redundant, he established Gibraltar Company Management Limited which remained dormant until his retirement. Then within a few years some 90 mainly property holding companies were incorporated. This company was sold in 2009. and is still in existence.

Charlie has kept busy since his official retirement and was a Director of Church Lane Trustees which is a company dealing in the administrations of trusts and Companies.

Charlie has watched the Gibraltar problem for decades and can see no immediate solution as the United Kingdom and Spanish Governments have become more entrenched in their respective positions in respect of the frontier queues and the territorial waters. He cannot see any progress being made until there is a change of Government in Spain. He hopes that a PSOE Government will take a more realistic view which will allow the adhoc talks to take place. Charlie said, “This is the only way forward as it would allow for the normalization of relations which would benefit citizens on both sides of the frontier.

“I do not agree with some of the developments which have been built especially the Sunborn liner luxury hotel which is now berthed at the Ocean marina. I am also opposed to the Gibraltar Football Association’s plans for the football stadium. This is in the wrong location as children will be stopped from using the best playground on the Rock and the stadium also deprives tourists of magnificent views of the Strait and North Africa.” n

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25/03/2014 19:02

arts file Gibraltar Decorative & Fine Arts Society

Lady Dutton Becomes New Patron for GibDFAS

The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society held a meeting on 19th March at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel when a lecture on Beauty & the Bizarre: the art of Hellenistic Greece was given by classics tutor Dr Stephen Kershaw.

At the meeting Lady Dutton (pictured above with Solomon Seruya) agreed to be the Society’s Patron.

For details of the Society’s April lecture see page 81.

The Festival for Young Musicians The 9th Gibraltar Festival for Young Musicians, presented by Allegro Music Productions in association with the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance & Speech and the Gibraltar Ministry of Culture, will take place from 4th-9th April 2014.

The music adjudicator, Bryan Husband, GRSM, AWCMD, will be awarding many trophies, medals or certificates in all classes over the festival weekend as well as The Albert Hammond Shields and the Allegro Trophies at the School Festival Day. Bryan trained at the Royal College of Music and at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and is a multi-talented singer, coach and accompanist. He teaches at Trinity College of Music, London, runs a private practice, gives

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workshops, performs and adjudicates festivals around the world. His performances include television and radio broadcasts, opera roles, oratorio and recital.

A full programme of events (there is a total of 50 classes) will take place at the Convent Ballroom on Friday and Saturday 4th-5th April.

Tickets, £3 for adults and £2 for children under 12, can be bought at the door for all classes.

The School Festival Day takes place at the Ince’s Hall Theatre, 310 Main Street, on Monday 7th April.

The festival rounds up with a spectacular Gala Concert on Wednesday 9th April at the Convent Ballroom. Adjudicator, Bryan Husband, will select children to perform in the Gala Concert to provide a varied and balanced programme. Tickets, £10, can be bought at the venue from 6-7.30pm on Tuesday 8th and on the night of the Gala itself. n More info from the website www.gibfym.com and on Facebook.

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puzzle page

SUDOKU Just for fun!

by Alan Gravett 2

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Jotting Pad Send completed crossword to: The Clipper, Irish Town, Gibraltar.

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FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Clipper

One entry per person.

Closing date: 16th April 2014 Last month’s winner: Kyle Sivirs Hamilton Court LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS: Across: Crusty, Hearts, Reserve, Henna, Outre, Resolve, Restriction, Stadium, Clubs, Oriel, Noticed, Twenty, Assess.

Down: Carrot, Upset, Torment, Ethos, Ronaldo, Spades, Recruitment, Examine, Tacitus, Escort, Asides, Islet, Uncle.

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Across 1 Conforming with others (2,4); part of

the foot (6) 4 (Of a liquid) to accumulate on the

surface a film of the liquid it is in

contact with (6) 9 What is inside; happy (7) 10 South African region (5) 11 Feline sound (5) 12 Famous New York hotel Waldorf -----;

old name for several cinemas and

theatres (7) 13 Extreme loathing (11) 18 Capital of Uganda (7) 20 Capital of Bangladesh (5 22 Old hat; out of time (5) 23 Favourite remedy (7) 24 US slang for nerds (6) 25 Cloth made from Angora goat (6) Down 1 Earnings (6) 2 Plant or a laxative derived from

its pods (5) 3 Behead; carry out (7) 5 Ringed cake – US spelling (5) 6 Canadian province (7) 7 From the part of Eastern Europe

comprising Yugoslavia, Serbia etc. (6) 8 Transport invented by George

Stephenson (5,6) 14 All together; in one body (French) (2,5) 15 Italian for German (7) 16 Telephoned via an internet

programme (6) 17 Tool of a blacksmith for example (6) 19 Bitter and sour (5) 21 Main vessel of the heart (5)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 17:21

�itham’s �emetery

words | Mike Brufal

Creating an Oasis

Witham’s Cemetery is feeling the love again after decades of neglect thanks to a project initiated by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

In the mid-1960s the Witham’s Cemetery was handed over by the Ministry of Defence to the civilian authorities. Since then it remained neglected and became overgrown with weeds, vegetation and rubbish which attracted rodents. From time to time volunteer groups such as the Royal Engineers Marble Tor, Scouts and Clean Up the World were allowed in to carry out a limited clear up.

The cemetery began use in the 19th century with the bodies interred being officer class civilians such as Charles Buisson, first editor

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of The Gibraltar Chronicle and Sir James Cochrane, Attorney General 1830 to 1841 and then Chief Justice 1841- 1877. It is believed that many of those buried died from yellow fever.

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust has taken the lead in the restoration of this heritage site and will be assisted by Community Projects (a government body), Electricon, developers of the adjacent Plata Villa site, the Friends of Gibraltar Heritage Society, and the Superintendent of the North Front cemetery who is drawing up a list of those buried in Witham’s Cemetery.

The project will cost many thousands of pounds and when completed will provide an oasis of beauty and calm for the many residents who live nearby. n

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Model: Miss Gibraltar 2012 Jessica Baldachino Photo by Bertrand Orsal Body Painting: Pashur

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GIBRALTARMAGAZINE MAGAZINE••APRIL APRIL2014 2014 GIBRALTAR

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�ainted �live

festival

Gibraltar’s 2nd Annual International Face and Body Painting Festival takes place this month from 11th - 14th April at the Victoria Sports Hall. This vibrant event is the brainchild of organiser Hamish Dalmedo who spoke to us during the countdown to the event.

Last year was the first time an event of this type was held in Gibraltar but, Hamish explains, the idea didn’t begin as a Festival but simply as a ‘day jam’ for artists in the area to meet up and have some fun.

“There are very few to no events like this in Gibraltar or in the the area, the closest being London. Interest kept growing with responses and applications from not only Spain but from UK, France, Holland and even America, which is why we ended up presenting a full four day festival rather than the single day jam,” says Hamish. “We also had the editors of Illusion magazine, the world’s largest face and body paint magazine, come over a few days to see our progress and they were very impressed at all we had in offer considering we had such a short time to put everything together.”

This year there has been a full year to organise the festival and the array of events which will fill the four days include demos by visiting artists, three themed workshops (Lingerie, Sugar Skulls and UV Painting), a full day body painting competition, an expo day where peo-

we wondered if Hamish had started thinking about the 2015 event?

“Very much so!” he replied. “We already have an idea for both the dates and the overall theme, and a few artists already want to present their workshops for us. We have been in contact with the World Body Painting Association, and they have seen there is a growing interest for future festivals in Gibraltar, so much so that they are promoting ours through their website and internal promotional material.” n

and what they hope to offer at the workshop.

How did you become involved in the 2013 Festival?

Romy Last year we found out about the fes-

tival online and quickly got in touch and asked if we could be part of it and participate in the various competitions. We were lucky enough to take home two of the six trophies available.

Last year, my first trip to Gibraltar, I came without Andy but luckily our friend Martha was able to step in to represent him and still participate as Team Skin painter.

Full Body Painting Workshop Andreas Mann-Langen and Romy Mann will be presenting a Full Body Paint workshop at What made you decide to return for this this year’s festival. We spoke to them to find year’s Festival?

Andy Having missed out on last year’s fesout more about their love of body painting

“

With everyone’s input and advice we have been able to go further, offer so many new events to make the festival grow, and hopefully attract more artists... from around the world to come to Gibraltar”

ple can show their unique skills and techniques to those coming to the festival, plus a trip to Morocco to find future inspiration.

“The festival has developed with the great and much appreciated help by those who came last year and a few of those coming this year for the first time, not only to the festival but to Gibraltar itself,” Hamish adds. “With everyone’s input and advice we have been able to go further, offer so many new events to make the festival grow, and hopefully attract more artists and those associated with face and body painting from around the world to come to Gibraltar.”

With the schedule for this year in the bag, RomAndy GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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possible painting to the theme without choosing the easiest way.

How did you begin body painting?

Andy I started painting, as most children, using canvas. I have lived near the the city of Cologne since 2009, where I slowly gathered a small following and appreciation for my works.

During a gathering of artists I met Romy and we fell in love. I haven’t looked back since, so much so that I moved away from my childhood home and moved to where Romy lives near Kaiserslautern in southwest Germany.

She was the one who taught me how to paint on ‘living canvas’ which in the beginning I hated as unlike normal canvas, I would have to stand for hours until the project was finished and couldn’t just return to it at a later date or tell the model to come back a while later. With time and Romy’s help I became used to it and now can’t do enough.

Romy During my training as a make-up artist in 2004, I had a teacher from a theatre company who recognised my skill for alternative methods and results and taught me my first steps in Face Painting and my love for this type of art was born.

I now enjoy taking people and transform them, using anything from normal make-up to cover just the face, or the whole body to tell a story.

RomAndy

tival, I couldn’t wait to be able to finally make it to the Rock and see what I missed out on.

Gibraltar sounds mysterious — reminiscent of old sailors and a huge naval past — I am looking forward to visiting!

Romy Andy was extremely disappointed when he had to pull out last year because he was looking forward to the special landscape, the Rock and the monkeys! This year we travel together and I am extremely happy about it and able to show him this wonderful place and its people. We are very delighted to teach our art in a unique and different type of workshop in such a lovely place.

Your specialty is full body painting — tell us about this.

Andy & Romy Our speciality is full body painting within the “brush and sponge” category. We love to tell stories with these paintings and we often paint pictures on the body. Rarely do we paint just clothes on the models. Most of the time we begin a design by having a theme; do our research and discover the history behind

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it all. After this we develop the design on the skin as each person is different, which can alter the final look of any design.

You are teaching a full body paint workshop, what is special about this skill?

Andy & Romy Well, that’s the supreme discipline at the world championships. We would like to teach the participants and models how they can be a part of this. How they can put their fantasy on a living body, like a little story.

The best paintings encourage the viewer to think. We would like to show how to do this by using a step-by-step method where the workshop participants see how to get the best

“

Tell us about your participation in the World Body Painting Festival (WBF)?

Andy Well, the WBF is a very special event.

It is a meeting of all the best painters from all over the world and it is a great feeling to be a part of it. It has an average attendance of up to 30,000 people, including artists, models, musicians, and general visitors who attend to see what it’s all about.

We participated in the 2012 and 2013 festivals. In 2012 we specialised in the “Brush and Sponge” category with the theme Inner Fears along with over 80 other artists in just that category. We later made it to the finals of the category and were very proud to be awarded 34th overall best painters in the world rankings.

Romy It is a very special place with an abundance of colour, music, smell of art supplies and a lot of difficult, crazy people — but I wouldn’t change a thing. It is one of the few places I have been where I have had a total feeling of freedom and creativity and have been able to express my deepest thoughts and imagination without limits.

Though this year we will have to give it a miss as they have changed the rules and only single artists are allowed one entry each rather than pairs of artists, which would mean competing against each other. We always enter any festival or competition together that is why all of our works are signed “RomAndy”. n

We love to tell stories with these paintings and we often paint pictures on the body. Rarely do we paint just clothes on the models”

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Gibraltar Decorative & Fine Arts Society Lecture: 9th April 2014, Eliott Hotel

Raphael: Genius of the Renaissance in Rome Jo Walton will be lecturing on one of the most famous artists in history Raphael: Genius of the Renaissance in Rome at the Eliott Hotel in April.

Jo set up and ran the Atrium Bookshop in Cork Street, London, as well as having a career in teaching and lecturing. She also worked with Christie’s, the fine art auctioneers.

Jo now combines freelance lecturing with work in publishing and is a guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

Don’t Look At Me - Shane Dalmedo

Local Artists Qualify in Pre-Selection For Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Following meetings with the Royal Academy of Art, the Ministry of Culture is developing various projects to extend strategic support for the Fine Arts in Gibraltar. The aims of this collaboration are to widen the scope for artistic and cultural activities and to export Gibraltar’s culture to other countries.

The subject of this month’s lecture, Raphael, died in Rome on Good Friday, 1520, aged just 37. The Pope, his most prestigious patron, was devastated and earth tremors were felt around the city. Raphael was buried in the Pantheon, a fitting tribute to an artist who rivalled the greatness of the Ancients.

submitted digital photographs of their work online. The judges shortlist up to 4,000 works, from around 12,000 entries, to be sent to the Academy for a second round. (Help with the cost of transporting the artworks to UK is available to Gibraltar’s artists).

Artworks submitted by local artists Shane Dalmedo and Alan Perez qualified in this pre-selection process and will now be sent to the Royal Academy. The photographs show the artworks in question. Shane’s piece was exhibited locally at her recent solo exhibition As a result, the Ministry issued an invita- which took place at the Fine Arts Gallery. n tion to all Gibraltarian artists who wished to take part in the selection process for the For more information on the Royal Academy Summer prestigious Royal Academy Summer Exhi- Exhibition visit www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/15 bition (9th June-17th August 2014). For the first round of the selection process, artists Gibraltar View - Alan Perez

Jo will look at his short, but astonishing career as painter, architect, administrator and superb draughtsman, and considers his lasting influence on subsequent artists.

This is Gibraltar DFAS’s penultimate lecture for this season, so is one not to be missed.

Guests are welcome — £10.00 on the door including refreshments — but for £15.00 you could become a late member for the last two lectures, saving yourself £5.00 and getting a membership card which will entitle you to a discount for next season’s membership.

The lecture takes place on 9th April 2014, at the Eliott Hotel ­— meet at 6.30pm for 7.30pm start. n

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t Ali Usai Make-up Artist & Face-painter When I was a student we had a terrible Latin teacher. Once on April Fool’s Day we ordered 15 pizzas and got them delivered to her house to her great surprise!

(Take-aways - beware large orders!)

Don’t Be Foolish! compiled by Pennie Gwilt

Everyone has been caught out by an April Fool’s prank at some time in their life. On no other day of the year are you allowed to trick your friends, family and co-workers and get away with it quite so easily. We asked around town to see who had played a great prank, and who had been caught out... this is what you said.

p Gary Coan & Gilbert Gonzalez Telecom Engineer (formerly RAF) & Gala Bingo Conversions Exec (formerly Gib Reg) Gilbert and I were always playing lighthearted jokes on each other, but I was completely caught out by one of Gilbert’s April Fool’s Pranks. I was getting ready to go onto a formal parade and I was feeling hot, so I turned on my ceiling fan to cool the room. Little did I know that earlier in the day Gilbert had snuck into my room and managed to climb up and sprinkle talcum power over the top of the fan, making sure he left no mess before he left. As soon as the fan started to spin the room and me were covered in fine white dust. Luckily I hadn’t yet changed into my formal uniform, which was still hanging on the cupboard door.

It was really funny because as I moved from where I was stand-

t Gerald Kroeger IT Technician, Newton Systems

A colleague who loved the show All You Need Is Love broke up with his girlfriend and was very upset. I bought a copy of the All You Need Is Love magazine, cut out the logo and made an invitation for the show for him which he believed was real. Later he went to the leisure centre to meet friends. I had faxed the invitation and phoned the leisure centre to ask them to print it and his photo and stick it all over the place. They were very cooperative and when my colleague arrived there his friends, and everybody else, were pointing at him, saying that’s the guy who is going to the All You Need Is Love show. It was hilarious!

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p Les Ward Pier Master I told my wife that I had won 100,000 in the lottery. I only kept the joke going for a short while; just long enough for her to plan how to spend it. If we had won, I had quiet a long shopping list myself!

p Gillian Navarro-Gatt Bureau Staff, Image Graphics I remember 1st April 1996 — I was at work, when I had a phone call from a friend, who I share a lottery ticket with. She sounded very excited and asked if I was sitting down, because she was calling to say that we had won the first prize. As it was April Fool’s Day I just thought she was playing a joke on me. It was quiet some time before she was able to convince me that we had indeed actually won!

q Jane Howard Proprietor, Cannon Bar About 10 years ago I really fell for a April Fool’s Joke.

The Chronicle had published an article explaining that the government had give permission for a small section of the top of the Rock to be cut off, to stop the Levante cloud developing over the town. I thought this was a fantastic idea and excitedly told everyone how great it was going to be and what a difference it would make not having the Levante cloud. Eventually I realised it had been published on April 1st and was a clever trick. I still think it’s a great idea though!

p Roy Sawyer Retired Operations Manager The staff at work were part of a National Lottery syndicate and I was the person responsible for purchasing the tickets. I also used to buy tickets for my own personal numbers at the same time. The secretary would always check all of the syndicate and my personal tickets on a Monday following the Saturday night draw. On one occasion when buying the tickets I realised that the following Monday would happen to fall on 1st April, so I purchased all of the regular tickets, and then waited for the Saturday draws to take place. After the draw I bought one extra ticket for myself, using the correct winning numbers from that week’s draw. I slipped the new ticket in with my personal tickets and handed both sets to the secretary as usual to check.

While she was checking the syndicate tickets, I made sure there were a few staff members around and told them what was about to happen. As she started to check my personal tickets, she started to really concentrate on one ticket in particular; we could see her checking the numbers, and then checking again, and again, until with absolute astonishment she looked up to announce that I had won the major prize by matching all of the numbers for the 12 million pound draw. As soon as she saw me, I had to shout “April Fool!”, as I just couldn’t keep a straight face.

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The Hon. Dr. John Cortes MBE u Minister for Health & the Environment The best April Fool Joke I have played was in conjunction with GBC. Ornithology is my area of expertise — I’ve been a birder all my life — so I was easily able to give an interview about Flamingos arriving in Gibraltar.

I told of how the unusually wet winter and spring had made the ground become muddy so Flamingos, who usually nest in southern Iberia, had been flying over Europa Point and mistaken the sports ground for a muddy field, so had landed and started to build their nests in the mud.

I asked the public to take extra care when driving in that area because the flamingos were sitting on their nests, which are made in the form of mounds of mud.

Of course people started to drive out to Europa Point to see this extraordinary breeding colony of flamingos.

For some time afterwards I was stopped on the street and telephoned about these flamingos, I was even approached to give information on the best place from which to view them.

It was great fun being in-

volved in this because it was feasible that flamingos could have been in our area as they are found close by in Spain and do fly long distances, usually at night, to feed and then return to their nests. I was able to speak confidently and passionately on the subject even knowing I was talking rubbish, but it was harmless fun! I was chuffed to have pulled that one off, it still makes me smile when I’m reminded of it.

Although I do a very serious job people don’t realise that I am really a fun person. The flamingos April Fool joke was by far the most famous, but there have been others.

I was the Director of the Botanic Gardens for 20 years and whilst there I planned and successfully carried out another April Fool’s prank. I told people that we had recently planted new tropical plants but some of the seeds from these plants had escaped. The seeds would grow into carnivorous plants and in other parts of the world there had been reports that these should take care, especially near ask if it was safe for the children plants would easily trap and the play area. Needless to say I to go to the park, in case they eat rats. I warned that parents had worried parents phoning to were taken by the plants.

t Pepe Clinton Barge Skipper, Nature Group A few years ago I placed an advert in the April 1st edition of the Gibraltar Chronicle advertising my friend’s car for sale.

I included the correct description of the car, his first name and his telephone number, but I offered it a bargain price.

He had no idea why he was getting lots of calls about his car being for sale, and had to go out and buy the paper to see the advert to believe it.

Because the car seemed such a good deal he was bombarded with phone calls. That evening I admitted it had been me. He was crazy with me for a while because even switching off his phone didn’t work; as soon as he switched the phone back on he was given all of the missed calls information.

The phone calls did not stop at the end of April Fool’s Day, they carried on for about a week, which I had not considered.

After the week and me buying him quite a lot of beer he saw the funny side of the prank.

I love playing practical jokes but now only play simple ones that last for just one day!

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calendar

Gibraltar International Song Festival takes place at Tercentenary Hall, on 26th April

What’s On - April ’14 Thursday 10th April The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society piano recital featuring Ingrid Fliter at the Convent Ballroom 8pm (see page 62).

Saturday 19th April Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Tours — A Feast of Spring Flowers led

by Andrew Abrines at 10.30am.

Price £5 for adults, children free of charge. For further info Tel: 20041235 Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society monthly outing – Mediterranean Steps, Spring Flowers. Meeting place Jew’s Gate 9.30am. For info contact Keith Bensusan, Charles Perez or Leslie Linares. Tel: 57363000 Email: plants@gonhs.org Monday 21st April Gun Salute for HM The Queen’s Birthday at Grand Battery. For further information Tel: 2005501 Email: david.seed851@mod.uk Saturday 26th April Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Tours - Wild Plants & Conservation led

by Keith Bensusan 10.30am.

Price £5 for adults, children free of charge. For further information Tel: 20041235 Craft & Collectors Fair at St Andrew’s Church, Governor’s Parade 10am to 2pm. Entrance Fee £1.00. For further information Tel: 54023166 Email: viviend13@ hotmail.com Gibraltar International Song Festival at Tercentenary Hall, Victoria Stadium 9pm.

The Gibraltar International Song Festival 2014, is well on course to build on the success of its predecessors, with 14 songs to feature in this year’s Finals Gala, along with Kid Creole & the Coconuts! This year, songs have been received from: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Finland, Germany, Kenya, Vietnam and, of course, Gibraltar. www. gibraltarsongfestival.com for more information. Tickets: £10 available from Gibraltar Tourist Board Information Office from Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. For further info Tel: 20045000.

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words | Reg Reynolds

A Candy Called Gibralters...

This April readers might like to try a different treat to celebrate Easter with an American-made candy called Gibraltar Rock.

Gibraltar Rock, originally named Salem Gibralters, is said to be the first candy produced and sold commercially in the United States. It was cooked up by an English woman named Mrs. Mary Spencer who had survived a shipwreck and was in dire circumstances when she arrived in Salem with her only son. The reason why she named her candy after Gibraltar has been lost in the annals of time but as you can see she did manage to get the spelling wrong. There is speculation Mrs. Spencer had been thrilled by the spectacle of the Rock near the beginning of her ill-fated voyage. Another story proposes she obtained the recipe for the candy from a Gibraltar sailor.

There is no record of where exactly she was shipwrecked but it is a fact that the widowed mother was near destitute when she moved into a house on Buffum Street in Salem. Noticing her plight and learning that she could make candy the neighbours got together and purchased for her a barrel of sugar, and Salem Gibralters were born.

Initially Mrs. Spencer sold her candies from wood firkins on the steps of a church, however, the candies became so popular that she purchased a horse and wagon to peddle her confections to a growing clientele. Dressed

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in the long attire of the day with sunbonnet to shield her eyes, she sat proud and straight in the open wagon guiding the horse to wholesalers in neighbouring towns.

Salem Gibralters turned out to be one of the city’s most beloved exports and thanks to Salem’s wide-ranging shipping industry became known in far corners of the world. Mrs. Spencer’s Gibralters were wrapped in soft white paper and came in two flavours, lemon and peppermint. The candy is described in the 1886 book Old Salem: “A white and delicate candy, flavoured with lemon or peppermint, soft as ice cream at one stage of its existence, but capable of hardening into a consistency so stony and so unutterably flinty-hearted that it is almost a libel on the rock whose name it bears. The Gibralter is the aristocrat of Salem confectionary.”

Another lover of Gibralters waxed ecstatic: “The Gibralter is the daintier sweetmeat. One may

eat a dozen — could be one so ill-bred — without soiling ones fingertips. The Gibralter, although well-loved in childhood, grows with our growth, ever increasing in value through the years, to become in time a cherished companion of our age. “ Apparently the young preferred the lemon flavour while the elderly tended to opt for the peppermint. There is an old saying in Salem that goes, “I know I must be growing old, because a peppermint Gibralter is so comforting to me.”

When Mrs. Spencer died in 1822 her son carried on the business until about 1830, when he decided to return to England. The business was sold to a John William Pepper, under whose leadership the company prospered for many years.

During the late 1800’s the first member of the Burkinshaw family (current owners) went to work for the Pepper Company as a candy maker and eventually met his future wife there. Sometime

Salem Gibralters turned out to be one of the city’s most beloved exports and thanks to Salem’s wide-ranging shipping industry became known in far corners of the world

around the turn of the century the Burkinshaws purchased the Pepper Company and all of the original recipes including the ones originated by Mrs. Spencer herself.

Today through Ye Olde Pepper Companie a fourth generation of the Burkinshaw family is keeping up the tradition and the fine art of candy making, including the legendary Gibralters.

Ye Olde Pepper Companie operates out of a quaint, historic building in Salem and has Mrs. Spencer ’s horse and wagon as the company logo. On its website Olde Pepper offers a gift pack of Gibralters for $14.95 US. The site states: “A Gift Box of Gibralters contains six lemon and six peppermint. Candies are all made by hand just the way they were back in the 1800s, using the original recipe. The first commercially made candies in America still satisfy your sweet tooth today. The Gibralters have a smooth melt-inyour-mouth texture similar to an after dinner mint.”

The company manufactures a wide-range of other sweets and chocolates including best selling truffles, buttercrunch and turtles and apparently they make a special Easter edition of Gibralters. n You can find the website at www.peppercandy.net.

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words | Reg Reynolds

Warm Weather Gibraltar Cooler Spring is here and as the temperatures rise most of us will be looking forward to enjoying a cool, refreshing drink, maybe even a Gibraltar Punch.

I discovered the recipe for Gibraltar Punch in an old collection of in-house magazines for the American pharmaceutical industry. I don’t know if anyone in Gibraltar has, or knows, about the recipe but I searched the internet and there are no references in modern websites or books about punches or cocktails named Gibraltar Punch.

The magazine referencing Gibraltar Punch was called The Spatula: An Illustrated Magazine for Pharmacists and the author/ editor was Irving P. Fox of Boston. The Spatula was published between 1894 and 1925, a time when pharmacists were busy concocting potions (often snake oils) to attempt to cure all sorts of ailments. But they also dabbled in creating ‘health’ drinks — both Coca Cola (1886) and Pepsi Cola (1893) were invented by pharmacists.

I was unable to find out how Fox came up with the Gibraltar

Punch recipe or why it was so-named but it is notable that one of the major advertisers in his magazine headlined that its particular remedy was ‘Safe as Gibraltar’.

The Gibraltar Punch recipe certainly reads as if it would be a tasty refresher on a hot day. It is ‘sangria-like’ and although it is described as a punch the recipe recommends that it be mixed in a 12-ounce glass and so is more like a cocktail.

Gibraltar Punch Into a 12-ounce glass add: ½ ounce of raspberry syrup, 1 ounce of lemon syrup, 1 ounce of claret wine Squeeze juice of ½ a lemon Fill glass with crushed ice.

Any red wine, like a good Rioja, is good and if you want the drink to be non-alcoholic just replace the wine with grape juice.

Enjoy! n

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appetite

e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc

Café Solo

Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square. Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas(eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana

Cafe Rojo Sleek modern comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Brunch (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. Lunch 12-3pm, dinner 7-10pm; dishes such as Marinated Tuna Steak & Sesame Crust; Roasted Lamb Shoulder; pastas or risottos such as Roast Pumpkin, Mushroom, & Spinach Curry, Langoustine, Lime & Coconut; Pear, Walnut & Blue Cheese; and Creamy Mixed Seafood; and salads such as Warm Goats’ Cheese, Fresh Spinach & Chargrilled Aubergine; and Roast Duck, Chorizo & Pancetta Salad.

Open: Tues - Fri 10am- late, Saturday lunch 12-3pm, afternoon drinks & desserts, dinner 7-10pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays.

Cafe Rojo 54 Irish Town. Tel: 200 51738

restaurants

Casa Pepe

A delightful terrace, bar, restaurant on the prestigious Queensway Quay Marina. Wonderful location for business meetings, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions. Specialising in fresh fish caught locally with daily specials including seabass, dorada, sole, and bream, plus a very comprehensive a la carte menu. Also available are tapas and raciones (double size tapas) to share (or not!) prior to a main course. Mixed paellas also available, as well as fish cooked in rock salt, whole suckling pig and baby lamb to order.

Open: Tues-Sat lunch & evening, Sunday lunch only, closed Mondays.

Casa Pepe, 18 Queensway Quay Marina, Tel/Fax: 200 46967 Email: casa.pepe@gmail.com.

Visit: www.gibtour.com/casapepe.

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Nunos Italian

Nunos Italian Restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean, is popular with hotel guests, tourists and local residents. This 2 rosette rated, AA restaurant is renowned for its eclectic interior, intimate atmosphere and fine cuisine. Savour a wide selection of freshly prepared Italian delicacies, including bread, pasta, meat and fish, followed by delicious desserts. In the summer months, the hotel offers alfresco dining for private parties in the Garden Grill. Sitting nestled in the colonial garden you can enjoy a mouth-watering menu of charcoal-grilled meats and freshly prepared salads in candlelit surroundings.

Open: Mon-Sun 1-3pm lunch, 7–11pm dinner Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay Tel: 200 76501 Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi

chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Daily specials on blackboard. No smoking.

Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449

Solo Bar & Grill

Solo Bar and Grill is a stylish and modern eatery — perfect for business functions or lunches — and part of the popular Cafe Solo stable. Serving everything from Goats’ Cheese Salad, Mediterranean Pâté and Cajun Langoustines to Beer Battered John Dory, or Harissa Chicken, and Chargrilled Sirloin Steak. This is a delightful venue in Europort with a cosy mezzanine level and terrace seating. Well worth a visit, or two! Available for private functions and corporate events — call 200 62828 to book your function or event.

Open: 12-8pm.

Solo Bar & Grill Eurotowers Tel: 200 62828

Sacarello Coffee Co

Located in a converted coffee warehouse, and famous for its great fresh ground coffee, homemade cakes/afternoon tea, plus full menu and excellent salad bar with quiche selection, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne, steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Holds popular art exhibitions with the Sacarello collection and guest artists. Very busy at office lunchtimes (1-2pm).

Sacarello's is available for parties and functions in the evenings.

Open: 9am-7.30pm Mondays - Fridays. 9am-3pm Saturdays Sacarello Coffee Co. 57 Irish Town. Tel: 200 70625

Get Listed!

Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar?

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

23/03/2014 17:19

directory Get Listed!

Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar?

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details Buddies Pasta Casa Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include spinach caneloni, spaghetti alla carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and peppered steak to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines.

Outside seating too.

Open: Monday - Thursday 11am - 5pm, Friday 11am-3pm and 7pm-11pm, Sat 11am-4.30pm Buddies Pasta Casa 15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 200 40627

Get Stuffed Very popular takeaway, sandwich bar and hot food.

Serving all fresh and homemade sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, pies, cup cakes, plus hot/cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties.

Open: 8am - 4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat. Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 200 42006

Just Desserts B r i g h t a n d a i r y, recently redecorated cafe on the first floor of the ICC. All homemade food including daily specials, vegetarian options, desserts and small cakes. Eat in or takeaway. Try their daily roast with everything on, or their all-day breakfast. Pensioner’s lunch - 2 course meal for £5.25. Friendly, cheerful and fully licensed.

Open: from 7.30am Monday to Friday Just Desserts 1st Floor ICC. Tel: 200 48014 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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Amin’s Office

Sit down, informal and friendly bar with informal eating. Amin is well known in Gibraltar for his Moroccan, Spanish and international cuisine. Open early for breakfast at 7am right through the day. Try the Moroccan soups, couscous, lamb tagines and kebabs. Terrace, just off Main Street (turn left at Trafalgar Pharmacy coming from Casemates).

Open: 7am to midnight.

Amin's The Office 30 Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 40932

Oasis Eatery

Located in Governor’s Parade, just across from the Elliot Hotel, and offers hot/cold drinks plus a delicious homemade selection of baked items such as cakes and quiches, also sandwiches and wraps, bagels and cupcakes. Vegan/vegetarian items. Oasis is on Facebook and Twitter and you can pre-order online which is handy for a quick lunch.

Special orders taken for a range of bakery goods.

Fully licensed for beers and wine. Terrace seating.

Open: 8am to 3pm Oasis Eatery Govenor’s Parade Tel: 200 65544 www.oasiseatery.com

Pick a Bite

Morning coffee and daily lunch specials, one of largest selections of traditional home made food, to eat in or takeaway. All the old favourites — spinach pie, croquettes, quiche, spanish omelette, shepherd’s pie and more. Delicious sandwiches, baguettes, ciabatta melts and wraps, with a variety of fillings. Salads, snacks and soups. Cakes and muffins for those with a sweet tooth. Friendly, cheerful and very reasonal prices. Terrace seating.

Open: Monday to Friday 8am - 3pm.

Pick A Bite 10 Chatham Counterguard Tel: 200 64211

Picadilly Gardens Relaxed bar restaurant located near to the Queen’s Hotel and Cable car, it has a cosy garden terrace, which is great for drinks, tapas and food al fresco.

English breakfast, tapas, hamburgers, fresh fish, paella by pre-order, prawns, squid, clams and a variety of meat dishes. Eat in or takeaway. Open: 6:30am till late.

Piccadilly Gardens Rosia Road, Tel: 20075758

e to wher drink eat & the on k Roc

Mumbai Curry House Indian cuisine, eat-in/take-away, from snacks (samosas, bhajias, pakoras) to lamb, chicken and fish dishes such as korma, tikka masala, do piaza. Large vegetarian selection. Halal food. Outside catering for parties/meetings. Sunday Mumbai favourites such as Dosa & Choley Bhature.

Open: 7 days a week 11am - 3pm, 6pm -late.

Mumbai Curry House Unit 1.0.02 Ground Floor, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711 Home delivery: 200 50022/33

Raj’s Curry House Raj’s tasty Indian cuisine is now available to eat in or take away, from his new fully refurbished premises in Queensway Quay next to the Waterfront. Serving authentic dishes such as Creamy Butter Chicken, Bhuna King Prawn or Chana Masala, and so much more. There is something available to suit all tastes. Pop in or telephone for food orders or table reservations.

Open: food served 7 days 11am- 3pm, 6pm-late Raj’s Curry House Queensway Quay. Tel: 200 46993

Solo Express

Located next to Pizza Hut in Casemates and in Eurotowers, serves a variety of salads/baguettes (white, brown, ciabatta) filled with a deli selection such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham, cheese and coleslaw; or humous, avocado & roast red pepper. Salads fresh and tasty (Greek, Waldorf, cous cous, tuna pasta etc), great value. Jackets, quiches, coffee plus cakes (flapjacks, muffins) available all day. Eat-in area. Soups in winter.

Solo Express Grnd Flr, ICC, Casemates & Eurotowers

The Tasty Bite

informal food

food & drink

Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken and everything else you can think of! Try the quiches, tortillas and jackets spuds with all kinds of fillings.

This little place gets busy with those popping out from the offices for lunch so get there early.

Open: Monday - Saturday.

The Tasty Bite 59a Irish Town. Tel: 200 78220 Fax: 200 74321

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food & drink informal food

directory Verdi Verdi All day coffee plus all homemade and delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh baked bread and desserts.

A selection of bagels (try the smoked salmon and cream cheese) and baguettes to eat in or take away. Try the light homemade pizzas, or the falafels and humous. Daily special soups are fabulous and filling. Ask for Idan's hot homemade chilli relish — sweet and scrummy.

Open: Mon/Thurs: 7.30-6, Fri 7.30-5, Sun 10-3.

Verdi Verdi ICC, Casemates Tel: 200 60733

Get Listed!

Do you own a restaurant, café, or bar in Gibraltar?

Get your business listed here

CALL 200 77748 for details All’s Well

Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practise of locking gates to the city at night when the guard called ‘All’s Well’. All’s Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod & chips and steak & ale pie plus a range of salads and jacket potatoes. Large terrace.

Karaoke Mondays and Wednesdays until late. Free tapas on a Friday 7pm.

All’s Well Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987

bars & pubs

Bridge Bar & Grill

Located on the water’s edge, Ocean Village, just across the bridge from O’Reilly’s.

This bar & grill is a fusion of an American themed menu with Tarifa chill out style. Open for breakfast from 9am serving healthy options, freshly squeezed orange juice and Italian Lavazza coffee. Try the spicy Caribbean rum ribs, southern fried chicken bucket, the popular Texas burger or a selection of tasty salads and homemade desserts. London Pride, San Miguel & Carling beer on draught, live sports.

Bridge Bar & Grill Ocean Village Tel: 200 66446

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Cannon Bar

Jane is still there and still packed out with tourists and regulars!

Word has it that she nearly managed to escape, but wasn’t allowed to. The famous fish and chips, the odd French speciality, there’s always something happening in the Cannon! Located between Marks & Spencer and the Cathedral just off Main Street.

Cannon Bar

Gibraltar Arms On Main Street opposite the cathedral, enjoy a meal, coffee or a cool beer on the terrace and watch the world go by!

Bar decorated with rare military plaques from regiments and navy ships visiting Gibraltar. Full breakfast menu served from 7am, draught beers on tap include Old Speckled Hen bitter, Murphys Irish stout, Heineken lager and Strongbow cider.

Gibraltar Arms 184 Main Street. Tel: 200 72133

e to wher drink & eat the on k Roc

The Lounge Stylish lounge and gastro bar on the quayside at Queensway Quay with very reasonable prices and food from 10am until late. Popular quiz on Sundays (from 7.30pm) and a relaxed friendly atmosphere... always plenty of people / yachties to chat to. Events (matches etc) covered on large TV. Great place to chill out. Pool table.

Open: 10am Mon - Sat until late and from 12pm on Sun (get there early for a seat for the quiz).

The Lounge Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118

O’Reilly’s

Traditional Irish bar with full HD sports coverage and Irish breakfast from 7am (Sunday from 9am). Guinness on draught. Food includes salads, jackets, beef & Guinness pie, Molly’s mussels, drunken swine, Boxty dishes (potato pancake wrapped around delicioius fillings), sandwiches, rolls, Kildare chicken and much much more. And just like in Ireland there’s no smoking inside, so a great atmosphere for all.

O’Reilly’s Ocean Village. Tel: 200 67888

Jury’s Café-Wine Bar

Star Bar

Jury’s Café & Wine Bar 275 Main Street. Tel: 200 67898

Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 200 75924 Visit: www.starbargibraltar.com

Next to the Law Courts, with a terrace seating area, Jury’s has a selection of Ciabattas, paninis, baguettes and wraps, plus popular sharing dishes, such as Your Honour’s platter. Jacket potatoes, main courses, pasta and some innocent salads too.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are tantalising homemade desserts, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as well as Lavazza coffees and frappes.

Open: 7am-midnight Mon-Sat, 9am-midnight Sun.

Lord Nelson

Bar/brasserie in Casemates.

Done out like Nelson’s ship.

Starters & snacks include fresh mussels, blue cheese and rocket bruschetta, potato skins, spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses from chilli con carne and chicken & mushroom pie, to crispy duck burrito and fish & chips.

Jackets, burgers and kid’s menu. Live music on stage nightly. Spacious terrace.

Open: 10am till very late.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie 10 Casemates Tel: 200 50009 Visit: www.lordnelson.gi

Gibraltar’s oldest bar, just off Main St. Small cosy and famous for its full English breakfast from 7am (9am on Sunday). A full menu including fish & chips, until 10pm. The home of Star Coffee, draught beers include Heineken, Old Speckled Hen, Murphys and Strongbow cider. Managed by Hunter Twins from Stafford, England, also home to Med Golf & Tottenham Hotspur supporters club.

The Three Owls

The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers.

Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen TV, pool table, poker machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor ‘Hoots’ bar, two match pool tables, poker machines, dartboard, bar, open from 5pm daily. Second Floor the ‘Nest’ — American pool table, poker machine, card table, bar — open from 7pm daily and also at weekends for the Rugby Union matches. If you are looking for a sociable game of pool or darts this is the place to be.

The Three Owls Irish Town. Tel: 200 77446

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Traditional Pub Serving Traditional Pub Fare, Bass Beers, Wines & Spirits

Visit us and step back in history

Casemates Square Tel: 200 72987

Full menu served inside or on our terrace including British Fish & Chips, Jackets, Salads, Burritos, Homemade Pizzas, our special Fresh Local Mussels and much more.

Visit us and buy yourself a souvenir, T-shirts, beer glasses, lighters etc Live music every evening, join our Jam Sessions on Wednesday or Sunday.

GLMS Music Venue of the Year.

Official Home to Gibraltar Rugby Club Free WiFi

10 Casemates www.lordnelson.gi Tel: 200 50009

Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 20044449 take-away or reserve a table

Tel: 200 46993 7 days 11am - 3pm, 6pm - late

Queensway Quay (next to Waterfront) Queensway Quay Marina, Tel: 200 61118

184 Main Street Tel: 200 72133 open: from 8am (10am on Sun)

restaurant bar guide &

TASTY INDIAN CUISINE

Get Stuffed!

Marina Bay Tel: 200 42006 Take-Away, Sandwiches & Hot Food Different Special Every Day salads, soups, pastas, pies, cupcakes, all home made Open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat

Indian Cuisine to Eat In or Take Away

Unit 1.0.02 Grnd Flr, Block 1 Eurotowers Tel: 200 73711

Casa Pepe Open: Mon-Sat 11am-late 18 Queensway Quay Marina Tel/Fax: 200 46967

BUDDIES pasta casa

Come and enjoy real Italian meals in Gibraltar’s leading pasta house 15 Cannon Lane Tel: 200 40627 for reservations

Award winning breakfasts from 7.30am Great meals & snacks all day Evening Steak House menu Med Golf Clubhouse Tottenham Hotspur HQ Parliament Lane Tel: 200 75924

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MAGAZINE •• APRIL APRIL 2014 2014 GIBRALTAR

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Speling cheques

words | Peter Rodney

The English language has notoriously difficult orthography. It is possible to spell ‘fish’ as ‘ghoti’ — the f as in the gh of ‘cough’, the i as in the o of ‘women’ and the sh as in the ti of ‘station’. The curiosities of English spelling are not part of a great conspiracy against foreigners by perfidious Albion (after all, the grammar is dead easy compared with most other languages) but arise through a chapter of accidents, mainly involving self-imposed conventions by early printers.

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Foreigners have their own way of getting revenge. Mumbai, Chennai, Beijing, Kampuchea and other such places have appeared out of nowhere and we are obliged to use the new form — but we have never insisted that London should be so written, and not as Londra or Londres.

At school, I learned all about the charge of the Light Brigade at Sebastopol. The city is now back in the news as Sevastopol. What is now known as Serbia was called Servia before the First World War. One is aware that the Spanish have trouble distinguishing, in

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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wine speech, between a ‘b’ and a ‘v’, vut they don’t actually change the written version on what appears to be a caprice.

The curse of the spell checker (and adjusting it to English English rather than American English or any of the other sort of Englishes) adds to the confusion. I once received a letter from solicitors practising in the north east of England who proudly announced themselves as a ‘leading provisional firm’. Happily, they were not based in the Province of Northern Ireland where the mistake might have had unfortunate consequences. The fire instructions at a hotel provide that: ‘On hearing the alarm, guests must immediately evaluate the hotel’.

TripAdvisor would be inundated with reviews. My own name comes out as ‘Rodent’ if I press the wrong button; is there a case for defamation?

The auto correct system on text messages also leads to interesting blunders. At his office farewell party a friend received a text from a colleague who could not be present: ‘Sorry you are living’.

After a business lunch, another friend received the text: ‘It was good to meet you toady, thanks for the hostility’.

Which leads us, by a circuitous route, to wines. Claret, Burgundy, sherry, port, brandy and other appellations are all corruptions of foreign words or place names — and often mean very little to the places where the wines originally came from.

‘Plonk’, for a poor table wine, derives from a mispronunciation of ‘blanc’. ‘Hock’ for a wine from the Moselle is just a shortening of Hockenheim — presumably the only place in the area of which the English had heard. And yet these English names have stuck, worldwide. This is partly by virtue of the spread of English as a global language but also because it was largely English merchants (with the occasional Scot) who developed and traded in the wines from the various areas in the first place.

In his splendid book entitled One Thousand Years of Annoying the French, Stephen Clarke dispels numerous myths that the French

have built up for themselves.

For instance, it was the French who burnt Joan of Arc. It was a different faction of the French from the ones the English were fighting at the time, but French nonetheless. Most interestingly, Dom Perignon, usually credited as the inventor of champagne, spent most of his life trying to take the bubbles out of the wines he had produced. He died having failed to do so. It took an Englishman to point out that leaving the bubbles in was actually an improvement. And the UK remains (just) the largest export market for champagne.

Given this expertise in the world of wine, why aren’t the English (and the occasional Scot) better at it now? Why do we still accept appalling plonk in restaurants and overpriced and overlabelled pretentiousness from shops? The answer has to be to do with the price. The days when my ancestor could order, from his merchant in London, ‘six dozen of your best claret so that I may show these people in d…’d Tunbridge Wells what proper wine is’ are gone. Well, the days still exist for Russian oligarchs and Chinese investors, but not for the rest of us. We are stuck with what is put in front of us on the wine list or on the shelves.

It is possible to find decent wine at a decent price. It just takes effort and a careful nose. Just as the spell checker or the autocorrect on texts needs to be looked at with care, rather than accepted without question, so the wine you propose to buy does not depend on price alone. Is it the grape you like?

Does it come from an area you trust? Is the shop or restaurant generally reliable; does the selection give the impression that the owner has actually thought about the wines on offer? Regrettably, this is not always the case. The only recourse left is not to buy or to complain. One is always unwilling to make a fuss. But most establishments will take a genuine complaint seriously. Their service, if they are themselves genuine, will improve as a result.

Good duck. Happy sinking. And try not to make a fool of yourself in April. n

column

Tues-Fri 10am - late Sat lunch 12pm-3pm Afternoon drinks & desserts Dinner 7pm-10pm Closed Sun & Mon

Interestingly, Dom Perignon, usually credited as the inventor of champagne, spent most of his life trying to take the bubbles out of the wines he had produced

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d n u o r � ow� � April is upon us and once we make it past the fun and frollicks of the first of the month it is time to start enjoying Spring. What a lot of festivals we have to look forward to in Gibraltar now! There is the Music Festival, the Fringe Festival, the Love Festival, the Literary Festival and this month the Festival of Young Musicians, the Song Festival and the Face and Body Painting Festival. If there isn’t something in that lot to tickle your fancy then you would possibly have a hard time being entertained anywhere!

If thinking about all those festivals makes you feel just a wee bit exhausted you may enjoy the tranquility of hearing one of the most talented pianists of our times right here in Gibraltar in the Convent Ballroom on 10th April. Ingrid Fliter will be more than tickling the ivories from 8pm. Not the be missed for any music lovers.

If you feel more like stretching your legs you can join the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society for an outing to Mediterranean Steps to see our fabulous Spring flowers (just look at our cover this month) on Saturday 19th April 9.30am (Tel: 57363000 for info). If you have never walked Med Steps, you are in for a real treat, and if you haven’t done it for a while — get those muscles working again!

STM Group is hosting two fun runs in aid of the Guardian Angel Foundation on 6th April. Both beginning at 10am (with assembly from

Photos this page: A reception at the Mayor’s Parlour for the Gibraltar Football Photos this page: a selection Association. This was His Worship the Mayor, Anthony Lima MBE’s final reception from the Three Kings Cavalcade as Mayor of Gibraltar before handing his chain to new Mayor, Adolfo Canepa

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9.30), a 10k route will see competitors run around the Rock, and a shorter 5k circuit will take other participants on a run through the town. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest finishers in both races, fastest team and best fancy dress. For entry forms or more information, contact funrun@stmgroupplc.com. See you on the start line!

For the browsers and bargain hunters among you, take a trip to the St Andrew’s Church Craft and Collector’s Fair on Saturday 26th April 10am - 2pm — it is full of curios and curiosity and they will even serve you a good cup of tea!

Want to learn how to paint? Then go along to the Watercolour Workshops on 4th-6th April or 12th - 14th April. Back by popular demand, this year James Foot has two weekend painting classes. These are for people of all abilities; beginners most welcome. You will be provided with brushes, paints, paper and a palette and by the end of the class will have your very own painting to take home, frame and show off to your friends! The workshop runs for 3 days. 9.30 - 2.30pm £50 per day including breakfast. Tel: 54007869 for info.

Well that’s it for this month, and what a busy month it is! See you on Main Street...

Local cricketer Adam Orfila with England star Darren Gough in Ocean Village GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014

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Photos this page: St Patrick’s Day celebrations on the Rock

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Clubs & Activities Arts & Crafts Cross Stitch Club: John Mackintosh Hall, 1st Floor, Mon 6-8pm, fee £1.

Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Association: Offers a variety of classes & workshops for children and adults Mon - Fri 3.30-7pm, Sat 2-3pm. For more info call Tel: 20073865.

Knit and Natter Group: Tues from 3.30-5pm & 5-6pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balcony. Free to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865.

The Arts Centre: Prince Edward’s Road, Art classes for children and adults. For more info call Tel: 200 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery: At Casemates. Open 10am-2pm, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, Sat 11am-1pm.

The Gibraltar Decorative and Fine Arts Society: Affiliated to UK NADFAS meets third Wed of month at 6.30pm at Eliott Hotel - lecturers & experts from the UK talk on Art etc. Contact: Chairman Claus Olesen 200 02024 claus.olesen@sghambros.com.

Membership Ian Le Breton 200 76173 ilebreton@SovereignGroup.com Board Games Calpe Chess Club & Junior Club: meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall 5-7pm (junior chess) 8-11pm (Calpe Chess) on Tues. Entrance Free.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club: Meets at the Rock Hotel on Mon at 3pm. Tel: Vin 20073660 or Roy 20075995. All welcome.

The Subbuteo Club: Meets in Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall.

Dance Adult Dance Classes: Wed evenings at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Contact Dilip on 200 78714.

Art in Movement: Classes for children Street Dance, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Pilates, Capoeira, Judo & Ju-jitsu. At Wellington Front from 4pm onwards. Tel: 54005785 or 54000027 or visit www. artinmovement.net Ballet, Modern Theatre, Contemporary & Hip Hop: Classes held weekly at Danza Academy. Training from 3 years to Adult Advanced. 68/2 Prince Edward’s Rd Tel: 54027111.

DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing: Sessions at Central Hall Fri 8.30pm, beginners 8pm. Tel: 200 78901 or tony@gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome.

Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing: Mon at Catholic Community Centre 8pm. Tel. Andrew 200 78901.

Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre: Classes weekly at Urban Dance Studio, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta 54012212 or Jolene 54015125.

Rockkickers Linedance Club: Governor’s Meadow 1st School. www.rockkickers.com Salsa Gibraltar Salsa: Classes on Tues at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate.

Beginners 7-8.30pm. Intermediates 8.30-10pm. Tel: Mike 54472000 or info@ salsagibraltar.com Zumba Classes at Urban Dance: Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Tel: 20063959 or 54012212 or Twitter: @UrbanDanceGib 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. New members welcome.

Tel: 200 44643.

Garrison Library Tours: at 11am on Fri, duration 1h 50mins. Tel: 20077418.

History Alive: Historical re-enactment parade. Main Street up to Casemates Square every Sat at 12 noon.

Music Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir: Rehearses at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Tel: 54831000.

The Calpe Band: Mon & Wed. For musicians of brass/woodwind instruments of all standards/ages/abilities 7-9pm. Tel: 54017070 or thecalpebnd@gmail.com Jazz Nights: Thurs at 8pm at O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Tel: 200 70500.

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Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: Exciting self-development programme for young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. Contact Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road. Tel: 200 59818.

Quizzes The Lounge: Friendly quiz on Sun from 8pm on quayside at Queensway Quay.

The Clipper: Quiz nights on Tues at 8pm.

Social Clubs Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes: (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Mon/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, Wed (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444, Wed (fortnightly) 7pm.

Farewell 10001, Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm. www. raob.org Special Interest Clubs & Societies Creative Writers Group: Meets Tues at Eliott Hotel bar at 8pm, aimed at learning to write fiction/non-fiction, for pleasure or publication. Tel: Carla 54006696.

Gibraltar Book Club: For info Tel: Parissa 54022808.

Gibraltar Horticultural Society: meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, J.M. 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. Tel: 54008426 or gibphilosophy@ live.co.uk Gibraltar Photographic Society: Meets on Mon at 7.30pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc.

Harley Davidson Owners’ Club: www.hdcgib.com Lions Club of Gibraltar: Meets 2nd and 4th Wed of the month at 50 Line Wall Road. www.lionsclubofgibraltar.com St John’s Ambulance: Adult Volunteers Training Sessions from 8-10pm on Tues.

Tel: 200 77390 or training@stjohn.gi The Royal British Legion: For info or membership contact the Branch Secretary 20074604 or write to PO Box 332, Gibraltar.

UN Association of Gibraltar: PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108.

Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club: Meets at Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check game is televised. Great food for a lunch if KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. Tel: 56280000.

Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club: Meets match days upstairs at Time Out Café, Eurotowers. Gooners of all ages welcome. For info/news visit www.

GibGooners.com Tel: 54010681 (Bill) or 54164000 (John).

Gibraltar Hammers: Meets 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 gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions through 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 BWF& BE) junior club/tournaments, senior leagues/ recreational. Visit www.badmintongibraltar. com for info.

Ballet Barre Fitness: Adults on Wed 10am & Fri 6pm at The Arts Centre. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com 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.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory. Tel: 56382000 or 20042788.

Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls and boys of all ages.

Chearleading and street cheer/hip hop at Victoria Stadium. Recreational / competitive levels. Tel: 58008338.

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association.

Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Arturo 54025033.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs International & Domestic Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ & Girls’ cricketleague & cup competitions and in-school coaching. www.gibraltarcricket.com, info@ gibcricket.com, Twitter: @Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel: Uriel 200 79359.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (full member of WDF & affiliate of BDO) We cater for men, ladies & youth who take part in leagues, competitions and a youth academy for development of the sport.

Tel: 54027171, 54014547, 54021672, and 54022622 or info@gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association - leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium.

Tel: 20042941 www.gibraltarfa.com Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): Males any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitive sport.

Training every Wed on the MOD pitch on Devil’s Tower Road at 7pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Visit www.gibraltargaels.com or secretary. gibraltar.europe@gaa.ie Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/training for adults/juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730 for info.

Iaido: teaches the Japanese sword (Katana), classes every week. www. iaidogibraltar.com Iwa Dojo, Kendo & Jujitsu: Classes every week, for kids/adults. Tel: 54529000 www. iwadojo.com or dbocarisa@iwadojo.com Judo and Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Budokai Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 20043319.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion. Tel: 54011007.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association - Karate training for junior & seniors at Clubhouse, 41H Town Range. Tel: 57479000.

Karate: Shotokan karate midday Mon beginners, other students 8.30pm. Thurs 8.30pm. In town at temporary dojo or privately by arrangement. Contact Frankie 54038127 or info@fhmedia.co.uk.

Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211.

Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior/junior leagues. Tel: 20041874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association.

New members welcome. Tel: 54002652.

Pilates: Intermediate Pilates: Tues & Fri 9.30am, beginners Pilates: Fri 10.50am at the Shotokai Centre, 41H Town Range. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Gibraltar Pool Association: (Member of the EBA) home and away league played on Thurs through out the season, various tournaments played on a yearly basis both nationally and internationally, Tel: 56925000 gibpool@gibtelecom.net, www.gib8ball.com Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions for 4 years of age and upwards, weekday evenings. Tel: 56000772 or Sally 200 74661.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union

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training for Colts (14+), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division.

Tel: 200 72185.

Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club at 200 78897.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation.

Rifle, Europa Point Range (Stephanie 54020760); Clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Louis 54095000).

Snooker: Members of European Billiards & Snooker Association - facilities at Jumpers Bastion with 3 tables. Professional coaching for juniors/seniors. Organised leagues/tournaments and participation in international competitions. Tel: 56262000 / 54000068, or info@gibraltarsnooker.com Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult and junior tournaments and coaching. Tel: 200 44922.

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Noah’s Dive Club and 888s Dive Club. Tel: 54991000.

Commercial sports diving schools available.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo. Pool open Mon&Thurs: 7–10am, 12.30–4pm. Tue, Wed, Fri: 7–10am, 12:30–5pm. Sat: 3–5pm. Sun: closed. Mon to Fri from 5-6pm groups training. 6-7.30 squad training. Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30-8.30 swimming joggers, Tues & Thurs 7:30-8:30 junior Water polo. Mon, Tues & Thurs 8:30-10pm Adult water polo.

Tel: 200 72869.

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association training and playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Tel: 56070000 or 20060720.

Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: Mari 20044142 or www.gibraltartaekwondo.org Tai Chi: Tai Chi for children and adults.

Mon-Thur 6.30-8pm at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre and Sat 9am-1pm at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range. Tel: Dilip 200 78714.

Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association, Sandpits Tennis Club. Junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues and competitions. Tel: Louis 200 77035.

Ten-Pin Bowling: At King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day.

Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Tel: 200 52442.

Triathlon: Hercules Triathlon Club organises swimming, running and cycling training sessions and competes regularly in Andalucia and Internationally. Contact chris.walker@york.gi or Facebook “Hercules Triathlon Club” Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association training, indoor leagues, beach volleyball competition, 3 v 3 competition, juniors and seniors. Tel: 54001973 or 54885000.

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: Meet at Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street. Tel: 20042237.

Trafalgar Theatre Group: Meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.

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Support Groups ADHD & Learning Difficulties (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Meetings at Fellowship Bookshop Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Road. Coffee, chat, books and resources on display.

Tel: 54027551 or 54014476.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth Hse Tel: 200 73774.

A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church.

Mummy & Me Breastfeeding Support Group those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee, chat / support. Partners and older children welcome. Meets 1st Wed / month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm. Enquiries and support 54014517.

Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 6pm - 10pm.

Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@ cab.gi or visit 10 Governor’s Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge.

Gibraltar CAB outreach clinics at St Bernard’s Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1st floor reception, Zone 4, 9am-3pm. Free, confidential, impartial.

COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Formed to ease challenges of individuals, families and care partner.

Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now. Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000 Mon - Thur 8pm-9pm Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meet alternate Thursdays at 9pm at Nazareth House. For info Tel: 200 70047 or 200 73465.

Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August.

Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8 Serfaty’s Passage Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: www.gdsg.co.uk Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717.

Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service).

Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Overeaters Anonymous support group for compulsive overeating problems. Tel: helpline for meetings info 200 42581.

Parental Support Group, helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and grandchildren. Tel: 200 46536, 200 76618, or 54019602.

Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 200 51623.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, a UK charity, to assist serving and ex-Service personnel and their families. Tel: (5)5481.

Email: Susan GIB-CST-JSWPA@mod.uk With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/ activities. Tel: 54007181 or 200 79957.

Women in Need. Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence.

Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hrs).

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The Rock Ice Skating Academy There will be an annual competition for exhibition skating for the Rock Ice Skating Academy’s young skaters in April.

The competition will cover personality and presentation as well as skating skills, with the first section to be held at the Kings Bastion ice rink on Wednesday 16th April.

The Bobby Thompson Cup has been donated to the Skating Academy by Bobby Thompson, the British coach and choreographer who was instrumental in the success

of the Olympic winning Bolero routine by Torvill and Dean. Bobby, along with four times World Dance Champion Courtney Jones, will be judges at the competition. Joining them on the judging panel will be

Simon and Debi Briggs British/ Olympic Coach recently returned from Sochi. Simon will also be running a one day skating workshop 9.15am-12pm and 2-4pm on Thursday 17th April.

Lloyds Bank Sponsors Irish Football Team The Gibraltar Gaels have announced their new sponsor for the 2013-14 season as Lloyds Bank Gibraltar.

Lloyds have shown their support for Gibraltar’s only Gaelic football team, and with their kind donation have helped the team secure their training ground, as well as new kit and training gear.

The Gibraltar Gaels were last year’s Andalucía champions and have been established in Gibraltar for two years.

Both Lloyds and the Gaels hope this is the start of a long lasting relationship.

If you are interested in trying out or playing Gaelic football please get in touch by emailing secretary.gibraltar. europe@gaa.ie. n

Hassans trio take on Gibraltar half-marathon A team of three, two solicitors and a barrister at Hassans, joined 46 other runners in Gibraltar ’s half marathon on Sunday. The trio raised over £2,250 pounds with Hassans donating a large percentage to help them reach, and surpass, their fundraising target.

The money raised will be donated to two causes: firstly, to help provide equipment, including creating a sensory room, for a local severely autistic boy and secondly, Macmillan Cancer Support. n

Piers Barber, Grahame Jackson and Ollie Smith

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he flora and fauna on the Upper Rock are considered of great conservational value. It’s the perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa. Botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants, including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society’s information centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael’s Cave: The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall. A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an auditorium for concerts and theatre. The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but never used.

A further series of chambers ending in a mini lake is called Lower St. Michael’s Cave and can be visited with a guide.

The Monkeys’ Den: There are around 160 monkeys in the Park and around 30 can be seen at the Monkey’s Den. Often called apes, they are tail-less Barbary macaques and Europe’s only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don’t do it!

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot offered a reward to anyone who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. Sgt. Major Ince suggested tunnelling and there are over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside.

The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock’s many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays information on the development of Gibraltar’s military defences through the ages.

A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one of the earliest British building on the Rock. Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still visible, the earliest dating back to 1726.

The Moorish Castle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 711AD by Tarik-ibnZeyad (“Gibraltar” is a corruption of the Arabic words “Jebel Tarik” - Tarik’s mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu’l Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain.

Natural History & Heritage Park Walks: Med Steps is a stunning walk with the steep climb at the end rewarded with spectacular views of the Rock and Spain. Another recommended walk is St Michael’s Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit for both. It

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is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Brochures available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disrepair but are being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar’s native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environmentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 200 72639/200 74022. Parking.

Nelson’s Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission: £1.00 (free with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction).

Parson’s Lodge: Rosia Road. Narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed the development of coast artillery over 300 years.

Housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a unique sandwich of armour plate/teak, known as ‘Gibraltar Shields’.

Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel. 200 44460, P. Hodkinson Tel. 200 43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11am-7pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Closed 1pm - 2pm.

Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Rd, 9am - 7pm daily (free).

Business Information Financial Serv. Commission Tel: 200 40283/4 Chamber of Commerce Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry �������������������� Tel: 200 78193 Useful Numbers Airport (general info.) ���������������� Tel: 200 73026 Hospital, St Bernards ���������������� Tel: 200 79700 Weather information ������������������������ Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update Tel: 200 42777 Gibraltar Museum Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane open 10am-6pm (Sat. 10am-2pm).

Closed on Sunday. Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Exhibitions also at Casemates gallery.

Registry Office Tel: 200 72289 It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon.

Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as

History Alive Every Saturday morning the Rock’s past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a “Ceremony of the Keys” and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.

offering normal fares, taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock’s major features in a short time.

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library.

308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends.

Bicycle Racks Bicycle parking is provided at the following locations: Europort Road, Casemates Tunnel, Land Port Ditch, Fish Market Road, Commonwealth Car Park, Reclamation Road (by English Steps) + Line Wall Road.

Gibibikes is a scheme for public use of bikes taken from stations around the Rock. Visit www.gibibikes.gi for info.

Public Holidays 2014 Gibraltar & United Kingdom New Year’s Day Wed 1 January Commonwealth Day* Mon 10 March Good Friday Fri 18 April Easter Monday Mon 21 April Worker’s Memorial Day Mon 28 April May Day Thurs 1 May Spring Bank Holiday Mon 26 May Queen’s Birthday Mon 16 June Late Summer Bank Holiday Mon 25 August Gibraltar National Day* Wed 10 September Christmas Day Thurs 25 December Boxing Day Fri 26 December *Gibraltar only

Gibraltar Postcode - GX11 1AA

Emergency Services

Emergency calls only: Fire/Ambulance ���������������������������������� Tel: 190 Police ������������������������������������������� Tel: 199/112 Emergency Number Tel: 112 Non-urgent calls: Ambulance Station Tel: 200 75728 Police........................................ Tel: 200 72500 os Emergency N : .............Tel: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598

GibiBikes Locations • Frontier • Victoria Stadium • Waterport Road (Watergardens) • Waterport Road (Waterport Terraces) • Eurotowers • Reclamation Road (Leisure Centre) • Commonwealth Parade Car Park • Rosia Road (Jumpers building) • Rosia Road (Bayview Terraces) • Grand Parade Car Park (Cable Car) • Southport Gates (Ince’s Hall) • Line Wall Road (City Hall) • Line Wall Road (Orange Bastion) • Market Place • Eastern Beach Road (coming soon) • Catalan Bay (viewing platform) • St Joseph’s School • Europa Point • Rosia Parade Visit www.gibibikes.gi to find out more about how you can benefit from GibiBikes

The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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atural History & Heritage Park admission 9.30am to 7pm by tickets (includes entrance to sites - St. Michael’s Cave, Monkey’s Den, Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre, ‘A City Under Siege’ Exhibition and Moorish Castle). Facilities closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adults £10, children 5-12 years: £5, children age under 4 free, vehicles £2.

Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times, tours available by taxi/mini bus. Also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm). 50p per person to walk with no entrance tickets.

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The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Guide Line Promotions Ltd, La Bayuca, 21 Turnbull’s Lane, Gibraltar. Tel/Fax: (+350) 200 77748

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