The Gibraltar Magazine August 2007

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Volume 12, Number 09 August 2007

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Reality & Relativity

Is anything sacred any more? I had just got over the fact that in November last year5/t/e Pefer faked the results of a competition, but now I find Channel 4 have admitted a scene in Gordon Ram say's TV series The F Word was faked to make it look as if the chef had caught several fish at sea. Apparently he was filmed return ing to the shore with a number of sea bass. It then emerged that a spearfishing expert had set sail beforehand to guarantee Ramsay had the Captain Birdseye look to the viewing audience.

As for Richard and Judy's phone in competi tion, it appears that some contestants would have had better luck responding to an internet email lottery win!

According to the premium rate services regulator ICSTIS there has been a "worrying upsurge" in complaints about TV premium rate services. A quick search of their website(www. icstis.org.uk)gives you an idea of how prevalent such abuse is. From reverse charge SMS texts to preselected winners of competitions. Some are innocent mistakes, other not.

Some who use the fact the money is for char ity claim this as mitigation. 1 am not convinced of this. I have yet to see a charity flag seller mugging someone and then claiming "but the money I took is all going to charity" ploy in court. If they did 1 am not sure leniency would be forthcoming. Charitable giving is supposed to be voluntary after all.

This sort of activity still goes unreported by the vast majority of victims. This is due partially to the amountsbeing comparatively small(often under £5)and therefore is either not noticed or is put down to experience. Others may choose not to report out ofembarrassment,for example subscribers to "adult entertainment" premium lines may be more reticent about complaining than viewers to Richard and Judy(maybe not, I guess it depends on what you find embarassing)

although one such adult line was recently fined for failing to advise callers that calls would be recorded.

The problem with these public failings is the resultant lack of trust, if people feel the game is rigged, they will not play. If they feel ripped off they will not return. It is not the odds that stop them participating but the lack of fairness of opportunity.

This is as true of internet gaming and finan cial services as it is of TV competitions. Just as each UK National Lottery draw is preceded by the ceremony of choosing the set of balls and machine,so active investment only comes from a combination of both the reality and perception of fairness.

This is one of the key reasons why regulators have placed so much emphasis on the fairness

of the financial markets and in fighting market manipulation on stock exchanges.Such manipu lation can take several forms. The most isible of these is the misuse of non public information (such as an imminent takeover) to buy or sell shares. This is more com monly referred to as insider trading.

Insider trading has been called a victimless crime as the "insider" is buying from, or selling to, someone who is happy to deal at that price. However it is not. That person is selling or buying on the basis that both parties have, or at least have access to, the same information. If one party is privy to facts the other carmot find out about then the market is no longer fair or transparent.

In the UK insider trading first became illegal in 1980. In Gibraltar the offence became illegal in 1998. This and other market manipulation is now covered by the EU Market Abuse Directive, which was transposed into Gibraltar law by the Market Abuse Act 2005. Indeed the FSC is currently consulting its stakeholders on a code detailing acceptable market practices.

Yet insider trading remains a global market issue. In the UK,the Financial Services Author ity (PSA) recently told City firms to tighten up their controls to stop the leak of inside informa tion before takeovers. The FSA considers that nearly a quarter of stock market takeovers in 2005 were preceded by suspicious share price movements.

The act can be highly sophisticated, or re markable simply. In a recent case in the USA, investment analysts were accused or bribing a print worker to get advanced copies of"Business Week" so getting information about its recom mendations before the general public.

Nor are those whose role it is to stop this abuse immune.In the UK in 2005,a compliance officer, who was supposed to block information leaks at the bank where he worked,instead used his knowledge and old school friends to place bets of up to £600,000 often minutes before major financial announcements.

Another abuse, known as share ramping or "punting and dumping",has benefited from the growth of the internet, with fictitious informa tion being placed on bulletin boards ofexpected good news, so pushing up the share price. The ramper then sells out before the true facts are discovered and the price falls to its previous or, indeed lower, price. Indeed this practice dates back as early as the stock markets themselves.

Ultimately, if investors feel the stock market is unclean either due to insider trading or share ramping then they will vote with their feet. This in turn damages liquidity and undermines the effectiveness of the market.

The vast majority of financial institutions want the industry to be rid of the few whose activities destroy the trust upon which their industry depends — regulators such as the FSC seek to play their part in helping this to remain a reality. It is nice to know that ICSTIS is doing likewise for phone in competitions.

But what about Gordon Ramsay's fish? How can we ever trust TV cookery programmes again? Thank goodness we can still rely upon thejournalistic integrity' of programmes such as Jerry Springer to keep the profession's integrity alive.

if Investors feel the stocK market is unclean either due te Insider trading or share ramping then they will vote with their feet

Taking the bully

by the borns

They say it's always dark before DAWN. If you feel caught in a black tunnel of bullying in your workplace,there is light at the end with Dignity At Work Now(DAWN for short), the charity launched two years ago by former victim Francis Buttigieg. DAWN can help you understand whether and why you're bullied, learn how to rightfully counter this negative behaviour and deal with the issue before it destroys your career and personal life.

Although bullying is popularly identified with more or less seri ous playground incidents, it is pretty much carried forward into adulthood, but can be disguised under the many faces of autocratic management, hierarchies, seniori ties or education disparities and is therefore harder to recognise by the bullied or any bystander in the position to report misconduct to competent authorities without fears of losing their job.

Because they am concerned about reprisal or dismissal, most people who feel ill-treated or "picked on" in the workplace for no ap parent professional reason, have trouble confronting the alleged bully to clarify the origins of the unpleasantness — from a simple misunderstanding to premeditated twisted behaviour.

Calculating that the potential victim won't have much more choice than putting on a brave face,the bully capitalises on weak nesses (pecuniary constraint, age, skills, low grade) that hamper and prevent someone from refusing or reporting any exploitation, to regularly assign to them humiliat ing tasks which aren't part of their job description — like ordering lunch, making coffee, filing and photocopying — or to belittle them in front of peers and even to turn them into scapegoats for any minor setback.

The bully also knows well that most colleagues, relieved they are not targeted, will be in denial or quick to look the other way in stead of intervening in favour of

civil, respectful relationships, thus becoming accomplices in vicious codes of silence.

Some people who DAWN de fines with the technical term of 'sociopaths',incapable ofempathy, compassion, care, remorse, might act abusively just for the fun of it or to enforce their supremacy. Perhaps they live with the preju dice that bosses must behave like dictators, instead of enthusing leaders; perhaps they were victims themselves or are trying to com pensate for their own professional inadequacy, and shortcomings in their personal life.

Co-workers exercise bullying if they marginalise someone, take credit for their work,tattle on them, consistently and hurtfully embar rass or make them uncomfortable with unsavoury jokes or pranks.

When one feels the entire office is conspiring to single out one particular individual and make him or her their 'punch bag', the phenomenon is referred to as'mob bing', a collective form of bullying that can be easily smashed once the ringleader is isolated and as sertively demanded to stop.

While sexual harassment and racial discrimination are legally recognised as offences and im peached, bullying lies in a greyer area. Often it is too subtle for even the victim to spot it, because it features a series of apparently in significant episodes that feel, yes humiliating, yet sporadic, subjec tive and trivial.

That's why DAWN suggests anyone who is suspicious they are

Calculating thatthe potential victim won't have much more choice than putting on a hravo face,the hully capitalises on weaknesses

being somehow bullied to keep a diary, jotting down dates and times, who said or did what, who was present,and most importantly their emotional reaction rather than the doer's intention.

If and when patterns begin to emerge, it will be possible to di agnose a bullying case before it escalates further — and it should never be taken lightly, since direct or ind i rect consequences are dread ful indeed: an estimated 15% of suicides in Sweden and Spain for example are bully-related.

Bullying isn't cost-effective: abused employees may become ill with psycho-somatic symptoms like headaches, fatigue, insom nia, palpitations, viral infections, muscular pains, eczema, poor concentration or memory lapses, irritability, constipation, forgetfulness. Productivity therefore dimin ishes and absenteeism increases, damaging the company's image and finances.

DAWN warmly advises large and small enterprises alike, wheth er private or public, to implement the'standards of behaviour at work policy', which will enhance their prestige, favour recruiting highstandard professionals allured to join friendly teams and serene work environments where motivation is the fuel. Of course, the policy's main aim is aid in the resolution of any possible conflict that may arise from time to time,offering employ ees and managers another tool for a successful way forward.

Francis Buttigieg can count on committee members Aylen Vielma and Ren^ Beguelin, the first a Clinical Psychologist and the sec ond a Doctor, to safely escort out of troubled waters whomever seeks their help. Although DAWN doesn't offer counselling as such, they help the victim towards the right step to take and, with his or her permission, try to reason with the bully or involve the line-man

ager in charge.

DAWN also aims to raise aware ness by circulating literature whichFrancis collected in his library during his own ordeal, and are currently undertaking a study to establish Gibraltar's statistics.

This plague can be indeed aggra vated by a secluded community's

limited span, where people are templed, accustomed or falsely empowered to manipulate and ac commodate others on the basis of common acquaintances.

Here,rumours maliciously start ed can irreparably .soil someone's reputation in a tight job market that affords little room for moving

on and rebuilding one's clean slate in another career.

According to the European Union's guideline definition, if you perceive yourself to be on the receiving end of negative ac•tions from one or several persons, sustained over time, in situations where you see yourself 'cornered' and unable to defend yourself, don't suffer in silence but contact mobile number 57799000(Mondays to Thursdays, between 5pm and 8pm), write to P.O. Box 1470 or email dignityatwork^i^gibtelecom. net for advice and support.

Beating the Bullies

Feedback from around the world to UK website bullyonline. org indicates that workplace bul lying is a global phenomenon. bullyonline reports the follow ing UK National Workplace Bul lying Advice Line statistics: ♦ Approx 90% of cases involve a manager bullying a subordi nate; 8% are peer-to-peer bul lying, and 2% subordinatefs) bullying their manager.

Approx 75% of callers are female, probably because females are a) more willing to admit they are being bullied,and b)more likely to be motivated to do something about it.

Over 50% of reported bullies are female.

Over 90% of enquiries involve a serial bully.

Approx 10% of cases involve contemplated suicide.

Bullying behaviour can range from very obvious verbal or physical assault to very subtle psychological abuse.This behav iour may include:

• physical or verbal abuse;

• yelling,screaming or offensive language;

• excluding or isolating employ ees;

• psychological harassment;

• intimidation;

• assigning meaningless tasks uruelated to the job

• giving employees impossible jobs;

• deliberately changed work rosters to inconvenience par ticular employees;

• undermining work perfor mance by deliberately with holding information vital for effective work performance;

Employers, human resources and personnel officers should visit www.banbullyingatwork. com for information and guid ance in developing a policy to deal with bullying at work. It is in everyone's interest to ensure that workplaces are free from damaging and costly be haviour such as bullying.

The bully also knows well that most colleagues, relieved they are not targeted,will be in denial or Quick to look the other way instead of interveoiog

Staying sliant about workplaca bullying ha*gont on long anough

Haveni we metP

For those of us with bad eyesight and worse memories Main Street brings a unique set of challenges. I am not referring to the traditional summer display of tank tops and tattoos but rather the ritual greetings from friends and colleagues as you walk along. Any wander, however brief, results In several such encounters. Indeed it is one of the features of Gibraltar that make it such a warm,friendly place.

However, for those lacking the eyesight of a golden eagle there is a catch. The blurred figure in the distance waving, is it at me? Are they shaped like someone I know? Should I wave back? Should I walk briskly up to greet them only to find they are a complete stranger wav ing at their friend behind me? If so, should 1 quickly change direction and pass them by with outstretched hand ready to greet an imaginary person just out of their sightline, or continue on,embrace them warmly and pass the embarrassment to them as they desperately try and work out how 1 know them?

For someone like me who only remembers his parents' names because he has them written down, even correct identification brings new potential horrors. Sure 1 can remember where I last met them, where they last went on holiday even the type of pets they own, but their name, no chance. To ask someone you know quite well their name is a potential terminal blow to friendship. Even to ask those you have only met a couple of times can cause offence.There then begins the game of chatting without mention ing their name.

This can go on for some time and can be successful, unfortunately not always. Indeed a friend of mine insisted that 1 say her name before she would talk to me (actually this worked and it is now engraved on my memory).

Words like "mate" can fill some otherwise obvious gaps in the con versation, although too frequent use can lead to people suspecting you are slightly more Australian than you have previously revealed. Similarly "bud" can lead to ques tions on what part of the States are you from.Yet they can avert embar rassment. However there is one particular horror that such strate gies are destined to fail over. This is the meeting whilst you are with someone else and being expected to make an introduction.

There are some saints who will relieve you of this horror by intro ducing themselves but most wait in polite anticipation for you to undertake the necessary formali-

You just never know who you wtll me on Main Street — is that 22631see?

ties. I have found no route around this apart from the blinding dumb

"I'm sorry I thought you two knew each other" when the friend just ar rived from Korea finally introduces themselves to the other person. Face it; there are days when,if you find yourself in a hole, you should just throw the spade away.

To try and prevent these mor tifying experiences I once bought "How to remember everyone's name in twenty minutes",the only self-help book 1 have ever read. Apparently you are supposed to pick something about the person as a memory jogger. For example, a person with a big nose called Neville, think nasal... Neville.

Alternatively link the characteristic "tall Frank", "beautiful Valerie" etc. Fantastic until you get mixed up. Forgetting someone's name is one thing, actually insulting them is another, "Fat Fred" is still not talking to me since I forget just to say "Hello Fred".

Nicknames are so much easier, and,if they are known and accept able to the persons concerned make introductions a walk in the park. One leading law firm seems to specialise in this. Whilst occasion ally feeling I am in a Marx brothers film, I can greet them by nickname (albeit mispronounced),every time. Wonderful, no embarrassment. However greeting someone by a

nickname they dislike, or worse do not know they have,is a differ ent story A cheery greeting "Good morning ratface" is likely to turn an acquaintance into a mortal enemy in three short words.

If I was of Celtic extraction it would also have helped. An Irish friend with a bar In Portgual always has tourists who remember him, but he doesn't remember, coming up to him and greeting him by name. His response is, in an ex cited tone, "Ahhh so it's yourself is it!!".

I have therefore decided to give everyone a number, which only I know."Hi 2015" is personal,unique and unembarrassing. 1 will pick the numbers at random so no one can accuse me offavouritism.They wiU be recorded, in encrypted fashion, in a book 1 will memorise and which only I will know the where abouts of. No need for nicknames orselfhelpbooks. And,best of all, who will ever spot if afterwards 1 realised they were really 2019.

Forgetting SDmeone's name is one thing, actuaiiy insuiting them is another, "Fat Fred"is stiii net taiking to me since i forgetjust to say"Heiie Fred"

Life Insurance Health Mortgages nvestments Pensions

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That if they decided to, or were forced to, implement a pension scheme for their workforce, they would not know how to go about doing it. In particular, given a choice of types of scheme which would they choose and how in practical terms would they set it up?

Most employers take a genu inely paternalistic view of their workforce and would like to as sist them in having a comfortable retirement, although some are less benevolent.

It should be said that some com panies in the Gibraltar private sec tor already have pension schemes in place. We advise the majority of these. Many, if not most however, do not have schemes in place.

As I mentioned in my introduc tion, I was struck by the genuinely paternal attitude expressed by the employers 1 spoke to. For the most part, there seemed to be a genuine interest in the financial well-being of employees in their retirement years. It is for this reason, and this reason alone, that some of our clients with existing pension schemes implemented them in the first place.

will Company Pension Schemes become Obligatory In GIbraltarP

I recently had the pleasure of passing some time widi a number of people who own companies in Gibraltar. As they are familiar with EFPG and the services we provide, the subject of conversation kept turning to the topical and,to some employers, thorny issue of pen sions. From these discussions, 1 drew the following conclusions:

It is anticipated, rightly or wrongly, by some employers that at some point a Gibraltar Gov

ernment may seek to impose an obligation on Gibraltar employers to implement pension schemes for their employees.

Employers perceive the cost of funding a pension scheme will be

the

high and will have a significant effect on their profitability. Some employers suggested that they simply could not afford to comply if pension scheme provision was imposed upon them.

I understand, however, that for many companies operating in a competitive marketplace, control ling costs is essential for business success and for some, key to the survival of their business. So there have to be other sound business reasons to take on the cost of put ting a pension scheme in place.

From time to time,I am sure that employers find it difficult to recruit the best employees — those who are sufficiently skilled and trained to take on the role for which they are required withoutthe investmentof large amounts of management time. This problem is increased when you faced with a small pool from which to draw these employees, such as Gibraltar. Once you have recruited the right individual, vou then have the problem of retaining them.The provision of pension benefits could

long-term nature el pension prevision evidences a long-term commitment to an employee

be the difference between some body joining one company or their competitor. Likewise, the longterm nature of pension provision evidences a long-term commitment to an employee, which, you never know, may be reciprocated.

The potential for obligation

With increased longevity, as a result of improvements in medical science, better eating and gener ally healthier lifestyles, provision of retirement benefits via the state system funded by tax revenues, by which I mean the State Pension is likely to become increasingly difficult. Ultimately and if trends continue we could get to the point where we have one worker for each pensioner(as is predicted to be the case in the UK by 2050).

Some countries see a partial solution with immigration, i.e encouraging those from overseas to work and pay tax in the country in the expectation that they will not remain in the country long enough to be eligible for a state pension. We can see evidence of this in Gibraltar.

According to the Chief Minister's Budget Speech last month, 63% of the Gibraltarian population are 'economically active' being an in crease of 2% on the previous year. I would assume that the remaining 37% are predominantly made up of non-working spouses, retired or studying as thankfully the num ber of unemployed is very low. Increasing economic activity, again much in evidence in Gibraltar, is another partial solution to pension funding.

Increasing the state retirement age would help. This is declared policy in the UK but not, as yet, in Gibraltar. In any event, any in crease in retirement age is likely to be resisted in Gibraltar particularly for so long as a high proportion of Gibraltarians are able to retire at 55 on full pension as they are em ployed within the Civil Service.

It is understandable that many will see this as a problem for Government and not, on its own a reason to spend their company's hard earned money on funding a company pension scheme. It may, however, be a reason put forward by a Government for wishing to share the financial burden offund ing the retired with the private sec tor — possibly by making company pension schemes obligatory!

To which my final point... Is a Government likely to make it obligatory for an employer in Gi braltar to provide a Pension Scheme for their employees?

The honest answer is that nobody knows for sure. To get an idea, we have to look for clues both here at home and abroad.

In the UK around the year 2000, the Government launched the 'Stakeholder Pension'. Employers were required to offer the facility to their employees but not required to fund it. Employees were not required to join it and generally.In surance Companies who provided the schemes had their charges nailed down so tight that they were only viable if taken up in large numbers. It was not. It was taken up in very small numbers.

The UK Government has now 'tightened the screw' somewhat. With cross-party support, a 'lowcost' National Savings Scheme is being established. This takes a softcompulsion approach,in that:

•All employees will automatically be enrolled in the scheme

•Employees required to contribute 4% of salary

• Employers required to contribute 3% of salary

•Government will contribute 1% of salary

•Employees may'opt out'although feeling is that most employees will not be bothered to take the proac tive step to opt out

• Employers obligated unless the employee chooses to opt out or Company already provides equiva lent or better.

Will a similar system be intro duced in Gibraltar?

Clues:

The Provident 3 Fund - a 'low cost' National Savings Scheme. Available in Gibraltar since Au tumn 2005.

The ability to take a pension fund as tax-free cash, making saving via pension plans and pensions schemes more attractive than pre viously. The position in Gibraltar since July 2006.

Forgive me for drawing analo gies with the UK. Gibraltar is, of course, different in many ways. At the moment there is enough money available, due to unprecedented economic prosperity, to fund a sig nificant increase in State Pensions. We will, however,have to see what the future brings.

any increase in retirement age is likely to lie resisted particularly as a high proportion of Glhraltarlans are ahle to retire at55

The Value ef Preperty

It still really is hard to believe that even though there are bricks and mortar... and even more bricks and mortar... filling every square inch of available land space on the Rock, apparently Gibraltar boasts no less than 45 estate agents!

Just browse through the ads in the local press and you'll come across a variety of them — estate agents offering flats of all shapes and sizes, and none of the proper ties cheap.

Properties galore are going up all over the place and prices are coming along for the ride in that upward direction. Someone told me those high asking prices were about to stabilise. I don't really follow the trend so I asked Estate Agent extroadinaire of 47 years experience Momy Levy who filled me in.

"I think they are beginning to stay put...Remember there are a lot of flats coming on stream now for locals, for both buying and renting. The high networth individuals are a different case. We'll have to wait and see."

One of Gibraltar's most colourful characters Momy Levy, was Gibral tar's first qualified estate agent and the longest running.Solomon Levy Estate Agentsset up shop way back in April 1960 when Momy returned from the UK newly qualified. The 'business' of dealing with rents and properties was started before World War 2 by his father Isaac who found accommodation for his clients through word of mouth, right there on the streets.There was no office to work from so setting up Gibraltar's first agency, on the ground floor of Carmel House in King's Yard Lane, was innovative and exciting.

"I used to get all worked up when I heard footsteps in the hall way thinking they were potential flat hunters, momentarily forget ting there were fifteen other flats in the building that these people were, more often than not, going to."

There were three other 'agents' doing business at the time but none of them were qualified. They were Hassans, Mattana and Isola.

"Most of the business involved rented accommodation in old properties, owned by Gibraltarian families, that were built decades ago. We would find accommoda tion for some Service families as well as locals."

In the '60s most newly married couples, for instance, lived with their parents or in-laws where numbers swelled on arrival of much desired offspring!In the'50s

and '60s there was Humphries, Calpe,newly built Laguna and one or two other government blocks built during those years and the 'old housing stock' to five in, so estate agents had a hard time trying to make ends meet. The frontier closed in 1969 so that added to the fun.

"I remember that eventually some private blocks of flats were built — like Marina Court in Gla cis Road — most of which 1 was responsible for selling (90% in

fact). Later Sunnyside and Rosbay Court were built," Momy goes on. "Just think of this contrast. At Marina Court, a two bedroom sold for £6,700, a three for £7,700 and a penthouse for £9,500. Today, right next door in Ocean Village, you'll need to find well over a million pounds to buy a penthouse!"

My oh my, things certainly have changed. With more Estate agents jumping on the bandwagon when the frontier re-opened, Momy de cided to join forces with another

well known character on the Rock, Manolo Veneroni, who was also busy renting accommodation and managing the collection of rents for his clients. He joined Momy in Carmel House in the late 80s for a couple of years or so and then they went their separate ways. Momy has pretty much been a 'one man band' most of the time.

Momy moved to Convent Place in 1991 but has been assisted on the front line by Lorraine for 26 years. Emma has been his secretary for 16 and Willie has for many years has had what you may think is the hard task of collecting rents.

"You may be surprised to hear that we have very little trouble with rent collection. We have an honest and reliable community in that regard," Momy informs me. "And you know what? Although I am the managing director,I'm also the messenger. That's how 1 meet people and they, in turn, can relay messages to me face to face. You'll always find me on the street every day, at some time or other. There's nothing better than the 'personal touch'."

When in the office, Momy sees to his incoming mail and is rarely off the phone speaking to either, his plumber,carpenter, plasterer or electrician about works that need to be done in any ofthe properties that he manages.

"More often than not it's just to give the go ahead to some small job that needs to be seen to in one of the properties. If it's something more substantial, then we need an estimate and I have to contact the landlord to obtain the green light or otherwise."

Solomon Levy Estate Agents takes a percentage of incoming rents and looks after the properties for its clients.

Momy says that despite new legislation coming in to increase pre-war housing rents, in order to pay for the upkeep of his clients' properties, repairs to broken pipes and faults in the electricity supply, for instance, have always had to be seen to even though the landlord would be out of pocket, so a little more income to redress the balance is welcome.

Part of Momy'sbusiness involves his other qualification as a valuer. He has to go round and talk to

Momy Levy as a young man

"At Marina Court,a two bedroom sold for £6,700, a three for £7,700 and a penthouse for £9,500. Today,righf next door in Ocean Village,yeu'ii need to find well over a miiiien pounds to buy a penthouse!"

people about square footages and things of that sort.

"My mind takes me back to Dev il's Tower Road years ago, when 1 had to go along with Mario Byrne, who worked for the government,to establish ground rents for develop ment for most of the area, which was pretty barren at the time." Nowadays that involves seeing a property and agreeing a reasonable ground rent. Sometimes through an arbitrator if necessary, and not having to go to court.

Auctioning is another task this agency will get involved in. On occasions a property has to be sold through an auction — "the building that presently houses The Tie Rack in Main Street is a case in point, but most of the jobs I'm asked to do involve MOD vehicles or lost and confiscated property held by the police."

So I wondered how things were going now, after nearly half a cen tury in the business?

"Well managing of properties is still the mainstay of the business but newcomer Ruth, my daughter, qualified in estate management, has come on board to take over the selling of properties of which there is an abundance. 1 think banks are being extremely generous these days and with interest rates on the increase I hope everything goes well for all concerned. I'm sure we'll manage."

Momy is a veteran and will continue down the road of success. Mind you, with all his other com mitments — Chairman of this and President of that and Fellow and Member of the other — I sometimes wonder how he copes,but I'm sure he'll continue to sail through and do Justice to the Peace too!

New Appointmentfor Hassans

tling in Gibraltar.

He has recently been involved in the setting up of a joint venture office in Luxembourg where the firm has established a company management operation in con junction with a Channel Island Law Firm, Asset Managers and Tax Consultants.

Hassans International Law Firm last month announced the appointment of Javier Chincotta as Managing Partner.

Javier joined the firm as an Associate in September 1991 and has always worked closely with the firm's Senior Partner, James Levy QC.

He became a partner of the firm on the 1st July 1997 and went on to become Head of the firm's Commercial Department in 2004.

Javier has a diverse, mainly international, corporate and private client base and advises on all aspects of their business and personal affairs, including their corporate structures and tax planning. He has regularly advised large multinationals on M & A and multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions. A sig nificant part of his private client practice is devoted to advising High Net Worth Individuals set

Javier will devote most of his time to the management of the firm and to the expansion of its international activities. His ap pointment is for an initial period of two years and follows on from the substantial expansion of the firm in the last three years.

It is expected that the firm will be recruiting 12 new lawyers on 1st September 2007increasing the number of Lawyers,Qualified Ac countants and trust Practitioners to over 80.

Commenting on the appoint ment,James Levy QC,the Senior Partner,said "Javier has been with the firm for many years and is an extremely capable individual.

He has an incisive insight in to the workings of the firm and has knowledge of the management of a legal practice, having attended training courses internationally. I am delighted at his appointment and is sure that he will be hugely successful."

Javier'sappointment was made after a unanimous decision by the Partners.

"You may be surprised to hear that we have very linie trouble with rent collection. We have an honest and reliable community In that regard"

logged mountain of sand-blasting grit from Cammell Laird as well as contaminated excavated soil from a new development.

At the other end of the scale, EWMS is building the new cre matorium and non-recyclable waste materials incinerator near Governor's Cottage. Even this is bound by regulations because, believe it or not, human bodies are classed as hazardous due to the presence of such things as mercury amalgam tooth fillings and various other toxic materials which could be present in the manufacture of the coffins should the wrong type be inadvertently used.

"Crematoria have to have spe cial filters fitted to remove such contaminants from the smoke," said Alexander. He told me that EWMS is financing the construc tion of the new crematorium and will be allowed to run it for 20 years before handing it over to the government. "We're not expect ing that initially the Crematorium will be a profitable venture," he said. "We estimate that there will be about one cremation a week at the most, assuming a reasonable number of people opt for it — al though it might take some time for it to become acceptable in a largely Roman Catholic community." The new crematorium is due to open next March and will have a multidenominational assembly hall for services.

The company is also building a special unit for disposing of clinical waste in the same area - although they stressed that there would be absolutely no physical connection between the two facilities.

EWMS has been running since 1994, and the two directors have an abundance of qualifications and relevant experience. Alexis Almeda, an MBE and member of the main environmental health institutes, was head of the Gibraltar Environmental Health Department before its privatisation. He retired after what would normally be considered a lifetime's work - and then thought it would be a pity to waste so much experience, so he joined up with Alex Trinidad to form EWMS.

EWMS:At Your Disposal

From removing oil-soaked soil to running the new crematorium, EWMS deals with every type of waste disposal.

Disposing of contaminated waste is a highly skilled operation these days, mainly due to the vast amountof EU regulations that have to be complied with as well as the

actual execution of the work.

"Hazardous waste includes such things as oil, petrol, diesel, asbestos and clinical waste," said Alexis Almeda of Environmental

& Waste Management Services Ltd (EWMS). He told me that the company, jointly owned with fel low director Alexander Trinidad, has recently removed the back-

Alex Trinidad was Operations Manager for Shell in Gibraltar,and was well acquainted with the diffi culties caused by fuel spillages and waste. "But Shell was always well ahead of EU regulations in its own in-house standards and we always insisted on certificates to prove our waste had been properly disposed of," he told me.

Both Alex and Alexis knew each other from serving on the Gibraltar Marine Oil Pollution Committee,so they naturally came together and

pooled their knowledge in the field of hazardous waste disposal. Alex too is a member of two relevant professional institutes.

It was not easy to interview Alex and Alexis — but only because their professionalism is so much in demand that the phone hardly stopped ringing — and when you call EWMS it's usually a director who answers so you get straight through to the man who knows.

Also part of the business is Alex's son Alex (they standardise on names for simplicity) who is a qualified Health and Safety consultant, a part of the business that is also expanding — in both directions. "We are getting a good response from environmentally conscious companies asking for that sort of service," said director Alexis."And we practice what we preach,so everything we do is 1 OO'-tin tune with health and safety regu lations and best practice." Michael, Alex Senior's other son, takes care of the operational and hands-on aspects of the business.

EU regulations stipulate that hazardous waste (which seems to cover just about everything) has to be taken to the nearest European Union authorised waste disposal plant, which in this case is in southem Spain. But you can't just load up

your waste onto a lorry and head off to the nearest tip:

"Ever)'thing has to have a permit, and there is a separate code and separate permit for every type of waste imaginable. When dealing with European Union legislation,it normally takes a few months to get a single permit, although they are valid for a year or for the amount authorised — whichever comes first," said Alex Trinidad.

On top of that there are certifi cates to be issued at every stage of the waste's journey,to ensure it has been properly disposed of rather than just ditched conveniently en route.These then have to be sent to the EU,whose staff compare figures on all European waste disposal and make sure that what left at one end arrives and is properly disposed of at the other.

"There is a lot of red tape," said Alexis Almeda, "but all in all we welcome it. Hazardous waste disposal is something that has to be taken seriously, so we will ingly comply with all the require ments."

Whatever your waste disposal prob lems — a large local car company uses them to take away old oil filters, for example — you can contact EWMS at their Queensway Quay office on 44220 or e!vmsgib(<Pgihtelccom.nct.

Investors in People Gibraltar

Three Gibraltarian organisa tions have been awarded "Inves tors in People" after an interna tional assessment; the Financial Services Commission,Bassadone Automotive Group and Redwood International Ltd.

Investors in People standards are very high and for these three organisations to gain accreditation at the first attempt is an enormous achievement and something to be very proud of — for the compa nies and for Gibraltar.

IIP is a quality standard for improving an organisation's per formance through its people and is an internationally recognised award developed in the UK dur ing the 1990s. More than 65,000 organisations are working with the Standard.

In 2005 the Government of Gibraltar commissioned Durham Business School (of Durham University) to manage a pilot project to accredit Gibraltar as an IIP awarding country, and so

allow Gibraltarian organisations — private and public sector — to gain this international recognition. Previously only organisations' with a UK parent could attain IIP recognition in Gibraltar.

Durham Business School de signed a supported programme of workshops involving all the com panies, with individual consul tancy to aid the implementation in the workplace. The GoG has supported and partially funded this pilot programme involving eight companies from the private sector and three public sector organisations.

The GoG now hold the IIP licence to allow companies to ap ply for IIP with local support and recognised international assess ment. Any companies wishing to apply for IIP must approach Durham Business School if they wish to pursue this accreditation.

Durham Business School: Dr Bill Snaith william.snaith@durham. ac.uk.

"Everything has to have a permit,and there is a separate code and separate permitfor every type of waste imaginable."

Henry Sacramento:

An enicer& A Gentleman

Fresh from his Queen's Birthday Gibraltar Award for his services to the Royal Gibraltar Police and the local community,PC Henry Sacramento tells Elena Scialtiel how humbling and honouring it felt to be awarded the Governor's certificate and badge of honour, in his thirtieth year in the Force.

"My life philosophy is to give unconditionally, and never ex pect anything in return" Henry explains "But when my work is recognised, it feels excellent, it's like a bonus!"

The Award came as a surprise and the Saturday morning his photo made front-page headlines the phone at the Sacramento's residence rang off the hook for congratulations.

When Henry's mum first broke the news to him, the real reason behind the Governor's decision to summon him a few days before fell into place: it wasn't exotic tajines recipes or some belly-dance moves Sir Robert Fulton wished to consult Henry for, but to assess whether it was high time Gibraltar thanked him for an intense life dedicated to his fellow citizens!

Henry is often in the public eye for his constant artistic and chari table work - more the first than the latter as he shuns exposure around his fundraising initiatives,a private matter of goodwill fuelled by gen erosity and not publicity.

Yet,some of his greatest achieve ments to aid the needy were 'leaked', for one the Snoezelen Room at Mount Alvernia, where fibre-optic technology creates a relaxing environment with tactile, visual, musical and odorous stimuli that in most cases make sleeping pills redundant for the elderly.

Henry is famous for his virtual omnipresence on stage or back stage, often teamed up with his wife Priscilla, retired St. Martin's School headmistress. Their most recent appearance as presenters was at the Supernanny gala eve ning,created by Sonia Golt to elect Gibraltar's best grandma,all based on the solid experience of ump teen beauty pageants produced, organised and presented, often for worthy causes.

Henry also donned the dam asked attires of the Sultan and the Dancing Master in the Academy of Dance's productions of Shehernzniie and Cimierclla, divertissements on his youthful passion for ballet, en couraged by his "excellent drama and dance teachers" Mario Arroyo and Lionel Perez.

His lord-of-the-dance reputa tion dates way back to his teenage years, when "male dancers were frowned upon" and Henry had to fight his battle for the right to pursue the hobby he loved, without minding rumours and criticism.

with the honesty, integrity and dedication that also characterised his professional achievements and life attitude.

He didn't pursue a theatrical career abroad because they are ".short-lived",but he indeed taught

belly dancing as a hobby for sev eral years, and his students meet regularly at his home for "Belly Bashes".

The greatest satisfaction came in 2001, when he guest-starred in the Vienna belly-dance festival: besides the frisson of performing on such prestigious stage,he was welcomed as a celebrity with bouquets and VIP treatment all the way!

In his constable hat, Henry worked closely with children, stopping traffic four times a day at Winston Churchill Avenue (the bridge didn't exist then) to cross pupils from Glacis Estate to Notre Dame School, in the sunshine and in the pouring rain, day in day out, braving the storm and carry ing across kids one by one,so that they would not drench their feet in puddles and streams, and even posing as the Toothfairy's assistant when someone asked him to pull a baby tooth off.

Assigned a flat in Police Barracks, Henry's removal from the Laguna area stirred uproar from parents who had learnt to rely on his safe school-run supervision and seen their children befriend the young genial cop. They presented the commissioner with petitions in an era when citizens used to complain rather than praise the RGP,and so much awe in the public opinion this affair created that Henry was back 'on the beat' in the Upper Town for the following fifteen years, at school crossings, and teaching Sat urday morning cycling proficiency courses.

If he will always be in the hearts of the younger generation as Henry the Community Constable, for others he is the man in a kaftan working his magic with saffron and couscous in Flaivurs ofihe One Thousand and One Nights,a TV show he and Priscilla conducted in their own flat, itself decorated like the Sultan's palace in the purest Moroc can st}'le, with mashiebeeyah fur niture, horseshoe arched windows and stuccoes galore.

Five years ago, they dedicated thirteen episodes to introducing Gibraltar to Moroccan culture through cuisine, which sparked positive reaction within the local

PC Macnmento

His lord-of-the-dance reputation datos way back to his teenage years,when"maie dancers were frewned upon"and Henry had to fight his hattie for the right te pursue the hobby he ioved

Moroccan community,pleased they were helping knock down barriers and promote positive and diversi fied images of their vast country, that spans well beyond Tangiers and Tetuan,as many stereotypically believed before Henry and Priscilla opened their eyes titillating their taste buds!

Their love for the Arabic civilisa tion concretises in frequent trips across the Strait and the Med, especially to Morocco, which not only they know like the palm of their hands from Tangiers to the Sahara, but where they have also established solid friendships and regularly get invited to weddings, like family.

Sometimes it even leads Henry off the popular tourist routes, towards extreme trekking experi ences, like climbing Atlas's highest peak Mount Toubkal to the 4165metre summit in the freezing cold of November's first snowstorms.

PC Sacramento was recently appointed Welfare Liaison Officer to look after the constabularv's

health and happiness. "Never a dull moment and no two days are the same," he confesses: visiting and sending flowers to hospitalised officers, advising them on medical care options and simply listening to issues that can be easily solved with a chat,or need furthering with counsellor's referrals.

That's why his office doesn't look anything like those cluttered desks next to temporary custody cells made popular in films, but harbours an aromatic sanctuary of peace and quiet from the ur ban buzz with its lavender walls, silken armchairs, plants, flowers and burning candles, in a suffused luminosity filtering through im maculate curtains from the colonial courtyard of New Mole House's Police Headquarters.

It mirrors Henry's cordial,st)'lish and affable personality that has made him an icon of yesteryears gentlemanly policing in Gibraltar, accomplice the Victorian uniform he classily sports at open days and ceremonies.

office doesn'!look anything like those ciuttered desks next to temporary custody ceils made popular in films,but harbours an aromatic sanctuary of poace and quiet

Spanish inheritance Law and inheritance Tax

In this month's aiticle I will look at the Spanish legal and tax issues raised on the death of a loved one who held Spanish situs assets or was resident in Spain.

Spain's legal system has what is known as forced heirship rules. This means that the state dictates how a deceased person's estate is di vided. For example,a deceased individual with a surviving spouse and children would have his estate divided as follows:

One third - Distributed in equal shares to the children.

One third - Distributed to the surviving spouse as a life interest (usufruct). When the spouse passes away this share goes to the children. Hence, the children cannot freely dispose of the asset until the surviving spouse passes away.

One third - The final third can be distributed freely by the deceased individual.

In practice, if the deceased person is not a Spanish national, then Spain does not apply its forced heirship rules but allows the estate to be divided as per the rules of the deceased nationality.

Therefore, if the deceased person had British nationality then the estate can be freely divided

as per his/her wishes. Although this is what happens in practice, it is worth mentioning that there exists a conflict of law with regards to succession.

English law (as well as a number of other countries)state that the right to inherit is based on the where the property is situated, which differs from Spain as Spanish law bases the right to inherit on the nationality of the deceased. Although there exists a conflict, in practice Spain allows the right to inherit based on the nationality of the deceased to take precedence. But there always exists the danger that any ex cluded "compulsory heirs" such as children of the deceased can contest the Will in a Spanish court and enforce the Spanish forced heirship

rules.

With regards to taxation, the heir(person re ceiving the assets) is the Tax payer. This differs from other countries such as the U.K. Therefore the residency of the heir(the taxpayer)and / or the location of the assets of the deceased dictate their liability to taxation. Note that unlike forced heirship tHe nationalitv of the taxpaver does not affect the tax liability.

Another important point is that transfers between spouses are not exempt (unlike the UK).

The liability to Spanish Inheritance Tax or Gifts Tax can be summarised as follows:

• Spanish tax residents are liable to Inheri tance Tax or Gifts Tax on Worldwide assets.

• Spanish non-residents are only liable to Inheritance Tax or Gifts Tax on Spanish situs assets.

Therefore, irrespective of residence the mere ownership of Spanish real estate can attract an Inheritance tax charge. Once the inheritance amount is known the next stage involves cal culating the tax. This involves the following three stages:

First you will need to ascertain which "kin ship" group you fall into.This dictates the allow ances available to vou.There are four groups in total. For an asset passed from husband to wife on death there is an allowance €15,956.87. Al lowances are not available for lifetime gifts.

Once you have ascertained the taxable amountthe second stage is to apply the relevant tax rate. The tax rates start from 7.65% and go up to 34.00% depending on the total taxable inheritance or gift.

The final stage is to apply a coefficient per centage of between 1% and 2.4% which is based on the pre-existing wealth and kinship.

There are methods of mitigating your liability to Inheritance Tax,for Spanish residents(subject to certain conditions)there exists an exemption on the transfer of you main residence in Spain to your family. Assuming you qualify for this exemption then up to 95% of the value of the property can be exempted (up to a maximum of €120',000).

A mortgage correctly charged against the property could also reduce the "real" value the property on your death, but as the heir is the taxpayer then this mortgage would also need to be transferred into his or her name.

The autonomous communities also have jurisdiction to amend the Inheritance Tax laws so you would need to find out whether your region has any special concessions.In Andalusia the habitual residence relief can be increased to 99.9% if the property is also the habitual residence of heir. In addition,Andalusia allows an exemption to Inheritance Tax for estates of under €500,000. There are strict conditions in place whereby if not met then the exemption is lost. These conditions are:

• That the heirs are from either Group 1 or 11 in the Inheritance Tax tables. In other words that they are close relatives of the deceased such as children and spouse.

• That the taxable base for each heir (their in heritance for tax purposes) does not exceed €125,000.

• That the pre-existing wealth ofeach heir does not exceed €402,678.11.

Therefore in summary, it is advisable to get expert, professional advice as the legal and tax implications can be quite severe.

There are methods of mitigating yourliahility to inheritance Tax

Vrooming Away Together

Acting with caution because of the fierce reputation of the Harley-Davidson biking legend, Jon Lewes finds out if the freedom of the road and riding lifestyle still exists as portrayed in Brando's Wild One and in the "road" movie Easy Rider

"You can spot them as they have Gibraltar Chapter on their backs!"

Finding a handful of bikers among many thousand dressed in the same outfits but with different Chapter names, was not so easy, colourful and individual-looking though the individual riders might be..

Riders from the Harley Davidson Owners Group,an organisation affectionatelv,and com mercially, called HOG, were gathered from all over Europe, and some from further away, for their annual gathering some 25,000 of them, by some estimates, and all in one place at one time, at the venue chosen for this year's event, the fairground open space in Fuengirola, along the Coast from Malaga.

David Parody, organiser of the Gibraltar Chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners' Group, was confidant that he and his fellow ridersjoining the gathering of the Group would be easy to find and meet with because of the Chapter name on the back of their bike leathers —but bike leather jackets with cutaway sleeves, coloured,spotted bandanas,beards,pony-tails, many of them greying in colour,and many stj-les of tattoo was also the uniform for many of the other thousands of Harley Davidson riders.

Notto worry though,because just weekslater, the Gibraltar riders are gathered at an event in Gibraltar itself when,on Saturday at midday,4th August, they host an event for fellow-riders.

The 50 or so Harley Davidson owners in Gi braltar will be joined by an expected 250 riders from Portugal, France, Spain and elsewhere, meeting at the Border in a concentracion before coming in to Gibraltar to take part in the 2nd

International Harley and Custom Bike Rally. Support for the "legend on wheels" by local official and institutional organisations, such as the Gibraltar Tourist Board, is possible because the riders which may in the far past have formed a pack of "wild riders" now travel sedately on the highway in pairs not in packs. The riders are now hardly even "semi-wild",indeed are seen to be a generally well-behaved and courteous group. It seems a long crv from the public's image of the t^'pical black-leathered rider on a big, chromed, bike....Live to Ride meant that a freewheeling spirit should live as did Marlon Brando in the i950's outlaw biker movie The Wild One.That spirit still comes across but does the freedom of the road still exist as portrayed in Brando's riding lifestyle and in the "road" movie Easy Rider ?

Six hundred thousand members of six hundred HOG chapters at Harley dealerships around the world think that spirit still exists and continue to live to ride, even if only at weekends.

Even though Brando rode a Triumph in the movie a Harley Davidson has been the mo torcycle of choice for riders in real motorcycle gangs like the Hell's Angels and for years Harley did pretty well from being linked in popular imagination to Brando, the Hell's Angels, and outlaws in general.

Now the cult has developed an image of the free-riding biker, but a little more law-abiding in behaviour, with sensible riding at a level of safety and control equal to the many police riders with Harleys — maybe inside each motorcycle cop riding his Harley Davidson on escort-duty for the Pope or other dignitary on an official visit is the heart and soul of an Easy Rider, although not necessarily delinquent.

The first Harley Davidson was inspired, in 1901, by a blueprint drawing of an engine designed to fit into a bicycle, completed by William S. Harley, age 21. By 1903,in a shed at their home in the American state of Milwaukee, Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson had developed a one-cylinder motorcycle, built to be a racer, with a 3-1 /8 inch bore and 3-1/2inch stroke. By 1918 Harley-Davidson was the big gest motorcycle factory in the world with the common crankpin V-twin motorcycle engine powering most of the Harley models from 1909 to the present day.

The Legend

When Hariey-Davidson introduced the classic black motorcycle jacket in 1947 at the start of the Wild One Era, after the movie with Marlon Brando,the association in the public mind,and in fact, was that Harley Davidson big bikes were

600,000 members Of600 HOG chapters at Harley dealerships around the world think that spirit still exists and continne to live to ride,even if only at weekends

the ride ot choice of the soon-to-be infamous Hells Angels. Harley sales grew,linked in popu lar imagination to Brando, the Hell's Angels, and other outlaw bands in general,while at the same time meeting growing demand from the military and from police forces.

Harley Davidson's mindset at that time, the 1950s, was that the company was best placed to decide what its customers wanted so it came as a shock to them when,as the company perceived them, tattooed-hooligans started taking their beloved bikes apart - or chopping them - to meet their own warped 'hog' desires. It was only when bike sales dropped and the company's worth hit rock-bottom that a younger member of the Harley Davidson family took control of the business with a completely different point of view, and sales boomed as customising bikes grew in popularity and choppers grew in fame, even though they were ridden by Hells Angels.

In the following years the Harley Davidson owner might have found himself riding accom panied by, on one side, a customised chopper, the rider a muscular, tattooed wild-looking Hell's Angel bristling with weaponson a voyage of destruction, with the famous "Deathshead" insignia of HAMCon his back, beside the name of his Chapter, while, on the other side rode a State highway policeman,crisp-looking,shades and leather boots shining,on his gleaming-clean, highly polished, all-chrome Superglide.

It is the Harley Davidson association with Hell's Angels, and the spirit of "riding free" that gives the excitement which underpins the image of the Harley Davidson.The owner today is more likely to hold a job as a lawyer than a bandit,but the cry of Hell's Angels everywhere is still "when we do good, no one remembers, when we do bad, no one forgets".

The more wholesome image is emphasised by Chema, looking after public relations at HDC-Hispania — "We are a well-organised group of riders that enjoys travelling to get to know new places, new people and enjoy their hospitality and culture., and their gastonomy. The essential parts of the spirit of our rider's club, HDC-Hispania, is friendship, respect for the traffic laws and the pleasure we get from

riding on two wheels, enjoying together the countryside we pass through ", a view and at titude shared by the Harley Davidson Owners' Club of Gibraltar.

And as one Harley owner put it,"If motor-

cyclists are a unique breed, Harle\-Davidson motora'clists must be considered a cult unto themselves". They have transformed the hobby of motorcycling into a lifestyle, replete with clubs, clothing, and a distinct "biker culture." Even the famous deep-throated rumble rising to a roar which is the sign of a perfectly-tuned Harley-Davidson in action has been submitted for registration and protection as a trademark. By the use over the years of skilful merchandis ing and marketing Harley-Davidson has devel oped ownership of its bUces into cult status, to become,some feel, the "real thing" of the biking world. Put another way, the rate of growth in financial value of the company since it went public in the 1980s has been beaten by only one other company that went public at the same time — Microsoft.

"If motorcyclists are a unique breed.HarieyDavidson motorcyciists must be considered a cuit unto themseives.Tbey bave transformed the bobby of motorcycling into a iifostyio"

JOE CARSENI

Just like yesterday

Winning the Gibraltar Song Festival with the best song ever to be presented at the event — Hoy coma ayer — is something Joe Carseni has never forgotten. Memories of those times have always been on his mind and his many years away from Gibraltar since then has not in any way diminished those wonderful begin nings in the music scene. Joe has now returned to the Rock and 'just like yesterday' is ready to become a winner again by bringing back the Gibraltar Song Festival after 32 years of it being dormant.

This time round he will not be participating as a singer in the event but rather gi vi ng the op portunity to other young and aspiring singers to have the possibility of succeeding in the music world just as he did!

The very first time Joe participated in the Fes tival was when it started in 1966 with a song by Charlie Chester and the following year he per formed a song by Bob Barratt, both composers from the United Kingdom. Joe Carseni walked away triumphantfrom the festival on both these occasions with the songs "Little Mountain"and "Bonjourno"- it was therefore understandable that young Joe came back for more and for the third year running he was a winner, this time with the song composed locally by the late William Gomez and Hector Cortes called Hoy como Aycr.

I remember clearly, I was the presenter of that year's show and I can somehow still feel the emotion and charisma Joe projected onto the beautiful lyrics that captured the hearts of the audience and the interest of the judges.

Joe's potential did not go unnoticed by talent scout Victor Knight, who was none other than the General Secretary ofThe Song Writer's Guild of Great Britain. Victor Knight offered Joe a con tract with Chaper One(subsidiary of DECCA)a company at the time owned by Les Reed,a very well known composer having made his name with popular songs like It's not unusual, Delilah, The last Waltz and Les Bicidet de Belzise — who hasn't heard at least one of these?

Sitting at the Piccadilly Gardens in the shade of a palm tree and sipping a cool tonic water Joe enthusiastically explains that hi.s life took a turn for the better.

"1 began in the real world of show business by doing spots in night clubs and touring many parts of England. I found the experience invaluable during those years and I have some wonderful memories of those days."

After a long spell in New York Joe has now retired and fullfilled his dream of returning to the Rock to revive the Song Festival. On arrival the first questions he posed to those he met was: "What happened to the Gibraltar Song Festival?" "Why did it come to an end?". He still has not found his answers, so if anybody knows he would love to hear about it.

"1 am reviving the whole affair because Gibraltar has many talented musicians and I want to give them the opportunity I had!" he enthuses.

Gibraltar is known for its talent in many spheres and singing and composing is certainly one of them. Gibraltarian Albert Hammond has undoubtedly played a very important role worldwide with his own compositions and songs. He has ensured that Gibraltar was put in the music map — so much so that as soon as Joe started promoting this year's Song Festival the world has responded positively and entries have been arriving none stop from places like Argentina, Venezuela, Spain, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and others. Our very own local composers have put pen to paper to come up with what is hoped will be an all round win ning entry. There are already over 100 entries and an elimination round is due soon when a panel of judges from the world of music will have the difficu 11 task ofselecting the best twelve for the fi nals.

The show will be held at the Tercentenary

SI I V e r shop

Hell! on Saturday 29th September 2007 and tickets will be on sale nearer the date (don't say we have not informed you in time — those tickets will go like hot cakes so got there before you are disap pointed). Joe says it will be a night to remember! He guarantees this because he is working with a very professional team with excellent sound equipment — the same team whcih worked with Elton John, Julio Iglesias and Lionel Ritchie. The event will be produced by the gifted dancer/producer Lillian Montero. As Joe says: "Our aim is to be professional to the max!"

The money raised bv this event will go to local charities. Joe is hap py with the tremendous response he is getting from local businesses to sponsor parts of the show and he is still open to suggested charities.

Joe's goal is to make the show an international success together with The British Academy of Music, Sociedad General de Autores de Espana (SCAE) — The President of 'El Festival de la Cancion de las Islas Canarias' Guillermo Albelo, Franciso Colasanto President of'La Canzoni dal Mondo' in Italy, and the knowledge that the whole event

Going for a song — The Gibraftar Song Festival trophy will go out'Live' on Radio 700 in Bremen with 1.5 million listeners in Germany, Switzerland, Den mark and Holland — a big plus to make his dream come true.

The design for the trophy in cludes the Pillars of Hercules as its main feature,an idea that Joe's wife Pili put to him. The trophy is made out of clear crystal, making it crystal clear that The Gibraltar Song Festival is coming back... with a BANG!

Gibraltar is known for its talent in many spheres and singing and composing is certainly one of them

When you care enough to send the very best. Cards, Wrapping,Gifts & Toys

John Mackintosh Square

Charles DiDciin &

the Siege ef Sadler's Weils

In 1804, patrons of Sadler's Wells in London were treated to a theatrical experience so astounding that, for sheer extravagance and spectacle, it remains unsurpassed two centuries later. The production, which included real ships floating in real water, realistically staged sea battles, and special effects that make today's computer graphics look tame, was called The Siege of Gibraltar. The story of the production has been told in these pages before, and can still be found on the Gibraltar Magazine website. Now, pausing only to tip our diving helmets politely to the drowning sailors flailing and wailing around us in the waves, we shall plunge beneath the surface to take a look at the show's creator.

The first thing to be said is that a law should be passed immediately to bar famous men from naming their sons after themselves. Not only is this a cruel daily reminder to the son that he has an impossibly tough act to follow; it also leads inevitably, should the son have any success himself, to later generations confusing the two.

Charles Dibdin Jr, who brought London The Siege of Gibraltar, was the son of Charles Dibdin Sr,and it cannot be denied that, despite Dibdin Jrs impressive theatrical achievements, Dibdin Sr was by far the more compelling character.So compelling that much of his son's work has,and continues to be, attributed to him.

Dibdin the elder was born in Southampton on 15th March 1745. His father is described in most biographies as "a poor silversmith". Seldom are the words"poor" and "silversmith" tossed lightly together,but when we learn that Charles was his father's eighteenth son,thejuxtaposition begins to make sense. But poverty is relative. The genuinely poor in 18th Century Southamp ton fought a day-to-day battle with hunger and survival, scarcely better off than the rats that competed for their food. Dibdin's family was at least genteel enough to find him a place, when the time came, at Winchester College.

Having shown no great aptitude for business, and no desire to become a soldier, it was felt that Charles would take the third most obvious path and enter the church. So it might have been but for the college organist, Mr Fussell. Either because young Dibdin's musical talent was particularly apparent,or because his talent for everything else was not, Fussell gave him a few perfunctory lessons. It wasthe only formal musical education Dibdin ever received, but it was enough for him to begin appearing as a singer in the college's weekly concerts.

When a vacancy arose for an organist at Waltham in Hampshire, Charles's CV was im mediately in the post.The fact that he didn't get the job suggests that, as an organist, he would have made a great prize-fighter, since the chief requirement for an organist in Waltham at the time was merely,"must have fingers".

He was saved from enforced idleness by Tom, his older brother by 29 years. Tom was a sea faring man,but he returned home long enough to find his useless dollop of a kid brother a job tuning harpsichords in Cheapside. His familial obligations fulfilled, Tom returned to sea and was immediately captured by the French. So much for good deeds being rewarded.

While plonking around on the harpsichords, Charles began to compose a few songs,which he

Sadler's Wells as it is today

thought his employer might care to publish. The boss listened intently and then, with tears in his eyes, told him to get the damned harpsichords tuned or get out.

Undaunted, Charles sought another pub lisher, and found one in St Paul's Churchyard who,perhaps surprised in some compromising activity, quickly handed over three guineas for six ballads.

At around this time the 17-year old harpsi chord tuner cum ballad writer was introduced to the director of Covent Garden, who hired him as a chorus singer. Suddenly, after several unsuccessful attempts to light a fire with a damp match, the fuel had suddenly burst into flame. Dibdin proved popular as a performer, but it was as a writer that he truly shone, and before long he gave up singing all but his own songs to devote himself to full-time composition.

His first full-length show. The Shepherd's Ar tifice(try saying that in the bar after midnight), was a hit in 1762,but a 1767 opera. Love In The City, bombed.Nevertheless,Charles Dibdin was by now a celebrated name in theatrical and oper atic circles, and his work was in great demand. In 1778 he became chief composer for Covent Garden at the princely salary of ten pounds a week. He was on his way to becoming the Andrew Lloyd-Webber of his day, but he blew it. No one alive today knew Charles Dibdin, so it would be impertinent to pronounce upon his character, but many of his contemporaries, particularly his managers and performers, found him quarrelsome and obnoxious. And he didn't help matters by having a scandal ously public liaison with Mrs Davenet,a singer in the chorus.

Before long he was out on his ear, and joined a consortium to build the Circus (later the Sur rey) theatre where he was made manager for life and promised a quarter of the profits. But, characteristically,he fell out with everyone who drew breath in his presence, and exited stage left in 1785, entering what was euphemistically called "a period of financial turbulence", not to mention bad luck. He poured money into the construction of a new theatre, only to see it blown down by a hurricane, and founded a weekly magazine.The Devil, that went instantly to its master's house.

He decided to give up and start again in India. Brother Tom had escaped from the French, but his luck had not changed. He died at sea in the India trade. In his honour, Charles wrote a song, Teffj Bowling, that remains popular to this day. But if he had thoughts of belatedly emulating his brother's sea-faring exploits they were soon dashed.

To raise money for his epic voyage he em barked on a "farewell tour", giving perfor mances all over England. Curiously, it was a flop. People refused to believe that someone so famous would do anything so crass(how times have changed), and would not pay money to see what they assumed was an impostor. At his wit's end, he sold the only thing of value he had — the rights to his music, which went (it is unforgivable but unavoidable to say it) for a song.

Finally, in 1788, he set sail, perhaps shouting from the deck as he departed, "So long, suck ers, now you won't have Dibdin to kick around any more!"

He got as far as Torbay, where the ship ran aground, and never went to sea again. But it

characteristically, he fell out with everyone and exited stage left in 1785, entering what was euphemistically called 'a period offinancial turbulence"

was a turning point. He began writing popular, patriotic songs — many of them with nautical themes — and was soon more successful than ever. Even so, another theatre project,a lecture tour and a couple of books all failed. Despite his growing popularity as a songwriter, he was by all accounts a rotten musician — like Irving Berlin who wrote wonderful songs, but found it impossible to change key while playing the piano.

In 1803 Dibdin was awarded an annual gov ernment pension of £200, and retired to Cranford. Alas, in 1808 it was abruptly withdrawn, forcing him back, less successfully this time, onto the stage. Never a great pianist, perhaps at 63 his voice had now abandoned him. Friends and diehard fans held a charity dinner in his honour, on the proceeds of which he retired again,this time to Camden Town,where he died on 25th July 1814.

Such was the act that Charles Dibdin Jr tottered into the limelight to follow. Never as prolific a stud as his own father, Dibdin Sr nevertheless managed to sire at least two sons: Charles Jr, and Thomas. He further cursed Charles(born 1768)by giving him the full name of Charles Isaac Mungo. He was the resu It ofan illicit affair with an actress,Harriet Pitt, and later took the stage name of Charles Isaac Pitt.

The younger Dibdin was as passionate about the theatre as his father, and in his turn wrote many plays, songs and pantomimes, many of which have survived.

By 1802, perhaps with some influential help from their father, Charles Jr and his brother Tom were in charge ofSadler's Wells opera house. It had been going through hard times, largely due to its reputation as a haunt of the local lowlife, and its founder, the extraordinary Dick Sadler, decided on a complete change ofimage. Install ing an immense water tank beneath the stage,he renamed it the Aquatic Theatre and began pre senting a succession of watery melodramas.

One featured a young woman falling into the water from the rocks and being rescued by her handsome lover. Another, more sinister, saw a baby thrown into the sea by its evil nurse (Boo! Hiss!), who had been bribed to drown it, only for the infant to be saved by a faithful Newfoundland dog.

But the Aquatic Theatre's greatest success by far was the piece with which it opened,the un forgettable Sie^e of Gibraltar, full of explosions, cannonfire,sinMng ships,and drowning sailors. Little wonder that the public swarmed to see it, and the future of Sadler's Wells was assured.

Alas, though the memory of the production lived on, that of its producer, Charles Dibdin Jr, became swamped both by the grandeur of his creation, and the heavy cloak of his father's reputation. The younger Dibdin's name is splattered across the history of 19th Century musical theatre like paint on a Jackson Pollock

canvas, but he was never quite able to escape his father's shadow.

He married a certain Mary Bates by whom, in gallant emulation of his grandfather, he had 11 children. But there is another reason why Dibdin Mark II may be obscure by comparison with the original. The older Dibdin was a no torious rake, as famous for his affairs as for his music. His son was a pillar of church and state, and lived by the strictest moral standards. The public loves a scandal, and finds piety dull. 'Twas ever thus.

When Dibdin Jr died in 1833, it created little stir beyond his family. But can we doubt that his ghost,accompanied by the sound of cannoniire and the cries of floundering sailors, still haunts the nridnight corners of Sadler's Wells?

Charies Dibdia Sr

the Aquatic Theatre's greatest success wasthe

uuforgenable Siege of Gihraltar,full of explosions, cauuoutire,sinking ships, and drowning sailors

Charlie's Collectables, Horse Barrack Lane Tel: 70411

Peter Andlaw: The

Sporting Restaurateur

Even at Ladycross Preparatory School, Peter Andlaw displayed the talent that developed into him becoming an outstanding sportsman. This became apparent when at Downside School in the UK, at the age of 14, he won the Four Schools Open Boxing Championship — a competition held every year between Down side, Clifton, Malvern and Cheltenham. He was the youngest boy ever to win such a title and the procedure at Downside was for a winner to be made a Lower Sixth Former which allowed the wearing of a white handkerchief in the breast pocket and to walk with hands in trouser pockets. He fought in these championships for four years and was only beaten once: a championship record that still stands.

Peter also spent three years in the rugby 1st XV and in the cricket XI. Needless to say he was a dab hand at tennis but could not play for the school as it clashed with cricket, and he was in the school squash team.

Peter is without doubt the Gibraltarian with the finest sporting record at Downside and has set a standard that will be hard to beat.

Tita Stagnetto, nee Andlaw, was for decades

the Gibraltar women's tennis champion and for years Tita and Peter have joked about who is the better player. Peter is of the opinion that now is the year for this to be decided before old age takes its toll and makes such a game impossible. He has challenged Tita to a game to settle the matter. If she accepts then sponsors will be sought and the resulting money donated to charity.

Upon his return to the Rock from school for his summer holidays he took up sailing at the Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club, acquired a Sharpie Dog Fish, a class that had been created by his great uncle Willie Piccone. (At that time the unbeatable Sharpie sailor was Louis Fava whose daughter went on to marry Peter's son. Incredibly Louis'other daughter married Peter's sister's son.) In that era there were no sailing lessons. But lessons or no lessons he learned by experience and went on to sail for Gibraltar in regattas in Tangier. He also gained experience in Victories when from time to time he crewed for his brother-in-law Charlie Cruz.

When Peter left school he decided on a career in catering and took a three year course in hotel managementand catering at the Haling Catering College. His grand plan was to convert a large property in Tangier, owned by his father, into a hotel. Alas for reasons beyond his control this came to nought. Whilst at the College he played rugby for Greenwich Rugby Football Club. His brother Paul joined him at the College and for a short time they flirted with the idea of taking up boxing when they went to train with the Belsize Amateur Boxing Club at the White City. This only lasted a short while.

The brothers opened their first restaurant in 1969 — Cornerways in Pinner, serving interna tional cuisine with a difference. It was the first restaurant in the UK to serve swordfish.

Charlie Cruz bought the fish in Tangier, wrapped it up as a parcel and sent it to the brothers as a present for collection at Heathrow airport. This no doubt illegal import of swordfish became the unique selling proposition for the restaurant and brought in the customers. From time to time disaster struck when the par cel could not be collected in time and so became rancid and smelly and had to be binned.

In the meantime Peter turned his hand to mo tor racing which became his active sport of the moment. He rapidly progressed from Formula Ford, winning one race and coming in the first three a few times, to Formula Super V. This is the German equivalent of Formula 3and is well sponsored in particular for impecunious drivers. It enabled drivers to race without individual sponsorship as Super V paid prize money for every event including payment for grid posi tion, reimbursed travel expenses including ferries. Providing the driver did not crash it paid enough to enable him to participate at no financial cost to himself. But in reality it still cost money.

Andlaw's greatest success,as a racing driver, was at Zanvorrt in a back up race to the Grand Prix. He received £200 for getting onto the grid and another £800for finishing eighth. This was the one and only time he made money out of racing but he indulged in his passion for some three years, racing in France and Germany. He worked all week in the restaurant and raced at the weekend with Paul running the business then.

All good things come to an end and racing

Peter is without doubtthe Gihraltariau with the finest sporting record at Downside school and has set a standard that will he hard to heat

became history when he got married in 1976 to Anne Waller, the daughter of a local Pinner doctor and brother of Gordon Waller of the pop group, Peter and Gordon. Peter being Peter Asher,brother of Jane,the then girlfriend of Paul McCartney. Anne, walking by the restaurant, saw Andlaw standing at the bar and decided that he was to be her husband. She went in, introduced herself, they fell in love, married and in quick succession produced Oliver and then the twins Juliet and Kim.

Beatle Paul McCartney had written a song for Peter and Gordon, World xvithout Love, which went to Number One on 12th March 1964. After another six hit records they split in 1968 but reunited in 2005 and are touring this year. Maybe they can be persuaded to include Gibraltar on the tour.

Peter and Gordon never played at Cornerways but many celebrities such as Peter Allis and Hattie Jacques were frequent visitors. It was a favourite haunt of Gibraltarians led by Jimmy Imossi, Peter staved at Cornerways for nine years. In the meantime brother Paul married Titi Stagnetto and at the same time the brothers decided to expand by opening a restaurant in Pimlico called Andlaw's Avocado whose menu naturally centred on avocados. Paul was responsible for Pinner, Peter for Pimlico.

Peter decided to diversify into outdoor catering and Comerways was sold with Paul coming to Pimlico to run Andlaw's Avocado.

Peter joined forces with David Coulter and set up 'Coutler Baron' with Coulter looking after the equipment and Andlaw the catering. After

some considerable success the partners de cided in 1985 to part company amicably. Peter bought and set up a fast moving pizza, pasta restaurant in Forest Hill, south west London. This was such a success that he opened another restaurant, Casa Piccone, which soon became the most successful Italian restaurant in SW12. Success continued and another restaurant was bought;this time large enough to seat 150 guests and it had a dance floor. At the same time the smaller Italian restaurant was converted into a tapas bar.

Everything was going smoothly until in 1991 when the stock market crashed, interest rates went up to 15/T and people stopped eating out. Peter was forced to sell two of the restaurants but kept the smallest which he changed from a tapas bar back into an Italian restaurant.

Anne,walking

In 2001 he sold up everything and decided that it was time to return to Gibraltar. He was in contact with his nephews,the brothers Cruz, and on receiving a call that a suitable property was available in Main Street, he flew out, liked what he saw and opened Munchies which was the first dedicated sandwich bar on the Rock.

Muhchies has gone from strength to strength despite the subsequent opening of a host of similar establishments. Today he also supplies sandwiches to Morrisons and the Ministry of Defence which means an average sale of 600 sandwiches a dav.

His sport today is confined to golf,tennis and sailing. Shortly his daughter, Kim, will mind the shop while he goes off sailing. He is to join forces with an old school friend, Phil Hill, and they have a three year plan; in the first year they will sail down from Torquay to Gibraltar; vear two, cruise in the Mediterranean for three months and then in the third year sail round the world — Gibraltar to Gibraltar via the Panama and Suez canals.

In the meantime Peter is honing his sailing skills by crewing with his nephew, Nick Cruz, in his Victory 'Fair Dawn'. Peter has come full circle because many decades ago he used to crew for his brother-in-law Charlie Cruz in that very boat. The Victory was bought by the Armstrongs and was then bought back into the family by Nick who has had the sailing boat totally spruced up even replacing the deck.

Peter's life shows how many Gibraltarians who leave the Rock for pastures new usually, after a full life, return to the Rock because it is very hard to find anywhere better to live.

by the restanrant,saw Andlaw standing at the bar and decided that he was to he herhnshand. She went In. Introduced herself,they fell In love,married and Inqnlcksnccesslon produced three children

Glbraliar Governor Remembered in Small Canadian Town

In the picturesque Canadian town of Ladysmith there is a street named White. It isn't named after the colour but for Sir George Stuart White who was Governor of Gibraltar from 1900 to 1904.

Last month I wrote about Cap tain Jack White, Sir George's rebel lious son who turned against his family traditions and was variously an anarchist, a communist and a military leader of the Irish inde pendence movement. In the 1910s Captain Jack and his first wife Mollie embarked on a transient lifestyle and atone point worked their way across Canada. One has to wonder if they made if as far as Ladysmith which is situated on Vancouver Island on Canada's west coast. And if they did make it thatfar was Cap tain jack aware that White Street was named for his father?

Having been born on Vancou ver Island I was well aware that the town of Ladysmith had been named after the famous siege of the South African township of Ladysmith during the Boer War. However, it was only when re searching the story of Captain Jack that I learned that the first streets of the Canadian town were named for generals who fought in that war. When I returned to my home town of Victoria this summer I drove the 60-miles up-Island to Ladysmith and took a picture at the corner where White Street intersects with 1st Avenue.

When Sir George White was Governor of Gibraltar, Jack, who had won a DSO in the Boer War, was still in the family fold and served as his father's aide-de-camp. Sir George died in 1912, aged 77, and fortunately did not live long enough to see his only son rebel against the establishment of the Empire he fought for all of his life.

Sir George was born in County Antrim, Ireland on July 6th, 1835 and wasthe son ofa country gentle man.He was educated at Sandhurst and on graduation in 1853 he joined the army. He served during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and won the Victoria Cross during the Second Afghan War(1878-1880).

Sir George earned his VC for his actions in the battle of Kandahar. In an attack against a vastly superior force on a strongly fortified hill his troops showed signs of fatigue and began to falter. Seizing the moment Sir George,at the lime a major, ran forward alone and managed to shoot and kill the Afghan leader,

causing the enemy to flee.

Sir George continued to rise through the ranks and distin guished himself further in Burma and took part in numerous expedi tions and campaigns throughout the Middle and Far East. When the Boer War began in 1899 Sir George, although now nearly sev enty, was given command of Natal Province. He defeated the Boers at Elandslaagte and Reitfontein. But at this stage of the war the Boers had superior numbers and were able to surround and lay siege to Ladysmith where Sir George had his headquarters.

The siege officially began on 2nd November 1899 when the Boers cut the telephone wires and blew up the railway line. Sir George wouldn't even consider surrender and his determination to hold out and defend the town proved to be the correct one. Fortunately some one had the foresight to stockpile an enormous amount of provisions but even so the 20,000 inhabitants, both military and civilian person nel,suffered the ravages of disease and hunger during the four-month long siege.

Newsof the siege quickly spread around the Empire and the public put pressure on the British Govern ment to organize a rescue operation. The Relief of Ladysmith expedition was led by General Redvers Bullers, who earlier had urged Sir George to surrender. Bullers' force arrived in South Africa in November but didn't go into action until 15th December and was beaten back three times before finally breaking through and lifting the siege on 1 st March 1900. Sir George is reported to have greeted the first relief col umn with the words,"Thank God I kept the flag flying."

The siege had lasted 119 days and thousands had perished, al though official figures were never

released. The news of the relief was celebrated throughout the Empire and particularly by Canadians who had committed 7,000 troops to the war effort. On Vancouver Island the Scottish coal tycoon Robert Dunsmuir decided to com memorate the event by naming his new 'instant' town,Ladysmith.The avenues were to be numbered but the streets were named for the Brit ish generals who had distinguished themselves in the war - Warren, French, Kitchener, Buller, Gatacre, Robert.s, Baden Powell, Methuen and White.

Dunsmuir had Ladysmith buUt because he needed a town to house the workers from his coal shipping docks at nearby Oyster Harbour. Constructiion began just as the Boer War was breaking out and many of the houses were transported down from the coal mining town (also a Dunsmuir project) of Wellington.

Ladysmith was officially incorpo rated a town on 3rd June 1904 and prospered from the coal and copper mining industries until the 1920s. Residents were wondering what to do to revitalize the economy when good fortune blew in - literally. A fierce windstorm in 1933 knocked down so many trees in the region that a logging industry was bom. Logging continued to be the main stay of the town until 1986 when the last company closed its doors.Since then Ladysmith has flourished by promoting its beauty, charm and history to the tourist industry.

When Maggie and I stopped in at the tourist office to ask the delight ful and friendly young lady on duty the way to White Street she kindly gave us directions and explained that the street and many others in Ladysmith were named after gener als from the Boer War. I returned the favour by informing her that Sir George Stuart White for whom the street had been named was once the Governor of Gibraltar.

Ladysmith is a beautiful town (population 6,500) situated on a hillside over looking the ocean and is a comfortable two-hour drive north of the equally beauti ful capital city of Victoria, British Columbia. If any Gibraltar Magazine readers ever happen to be in the area they should pay a visit. Lady-

Sir George is reported to have greeted the first reliel column with the words,"Thank God I kept the flag living."

smith is very dean, very pretty, has lots of quaint cafes and tea shops and traditional old buildings still standing and in good repair. The only downside is that it is very hilly. If you ever get there make

sure to have your picture taken at the corner of White and 1st. You can bet that Sir George would be mighty proud to know that his name lives on in an old outpost of the Empire.

IILady Smith has towns named a: Lady Smith was Spanish

The township of Ladysmith in Natal Province, South Africa was named for Lady Smith, the wife of Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape Colony from 1847 to 1852. But Lady Smith was no English rose, rather she was a dark-haired Span ish beauty by the name of Juana Maria de Los Dolores de Leon.

It was March of 1912, the Penin sula War was raging and Welling ton's army had just captured the fortified Spanish town of Badajos. As was the custom at the time the victorious troops were given free rein to loot and pillage. Fearing for their lives Juana Maria and her sister fled from drunken British troops ransacking their home. With blood dripping from their ears because their gold earrings had been ripped out the girls made it to the outskirts where they pleaded for protection from the British officers, including Captain Harry Smith, who had set up camp there.

For Harry, 24, and Juana Maria, 14, it was love atfirst sight although you have to think in Juana Maria's case thoughts of self-preservation must have played a rote. Within days of their meeting they were married, Writing home to his fam ily Harry waxed adoringly of his new bride:

"A being more transcendingly lovely I had never before seen, one more amiable I have never yet known! 14 summers had not yet

passed over her youthful coun tenance, which was of a delicate freshness more English than Span ish. Her face, though not perhaps rigidly beautiful, was nevertheless so remarkably handsome, and so irresistibly attractive,surmounting a figure cast in nature's fairest mould, that to look at her was to love her; and I did love her."

Juana Maria's family was so up set by the union that they disowned her. But she remained steadfast and loyal to Harry and travelled with him wherever he went throughout the Empire — India, South Africa, America — during his long and distinguished military career.

In 1847 Harry, by now Sir Harry, was sent to South Africa to govern the Cape Colony.In 1849 he traveled to Natal province and reached an agreement with the Boers there that was favourable to Britain. On 20th June 1850 the settlement where Sir Harry carried on negotiations with the Boers was officially proclaimed a township and named Ladysmith in Juana Maria's honour.

Sir Harry was recalled in 1852 and died on 12th October 1860 aged 73. Juana Maria died on 10th October 1872 aged 74. The lifelong soul mates remain united in death in the Harry Smith Chapel, St. Mary's Church, Whittinglsey (Har ry's birthplace), Cambridgeshire. Their romance was the inspiration for the historical novel. The Spanish Bride, (1940), by Georgette Heyer.

Out Of Africa

There will be a Wedding Dress

Competition on Friday 7th September 2007 at Alameda Open Air Theatre. The event is open to all those ladies who would love to wear their wed ding dress again!

Application forms can be collected from Blossoms, 1st Floor, ICC. The closing date is Friday 17th August — only the first 20 full applications will be accepted.

Forfurther information contact Glamour Creations on S4000377 or E-mail: glamourcreations© hotmail.com.

Miss Glamour 2007 Crowned

Friday 13th July was lucky for some — the audience and contes tants at the Miss Glamour 2007 contest who were treated to a spec tacular show featuring entertain ment by Urban Dance and winner of Star Search Jesse Mclaren. In all 14 contestants took part in

the glittering event and the winners on die night were: Miss Glamour 2007, Miss Cover Girl & Miss Cat walk - Leigh Neish; 1st Princess & Miss Friendship - Louise Olivares; 2nd Princess & Miss Personality

- Tiana DaCosta; Miss Best Effort & Miss Vogue - Kristy Torres; Miss

Elegant & Best Hair - Christina Ainsworth;Best Skin-Zyanne Gon zalez; Miss Bikini - Laila Ben Allal; Best Smile - Maroua Kharbouch.

Congratulations to all the girls and to everyone who took part in producing such an entertaining show.

Photographic Competition

We read often that experts, sci entists, government spokesmen and so on are always spouting forth on a variety of subjects. As I was once warned it only takes two to make a plural so when "scientists say that the moon is made of cheese" remember that not many scientists need think this is true.

Experts say that residents of the tropics and sub-tropics should take in plenty of salt as this encourages consumption of liquids and helps avoid dehy dration.

Supermarkets say that salt is being reduced or removed from certain products because scien tists say it is bad for us.

Dentists say we should mini mise sugar consumption.

Sportsmen (or, at least, their coaches)encourage absorption of sugar as this provides energy.

Now,we learn,from paediatri cians or some such, that children shouldn't be allowed out unat-

CONFUSEDP ME TOO!

by Alan Gravett

tended bv an adult until the age of 14.

But experts say that children who are not allowed out alone from the age of 8 onwards tend to lack social skills and assume inferiority. '

Footballers say they will never

leave their first clubs and then say after signing for say, Man chester United,it is the fulfilment of their childhood dream. Per haps,a little less dreaming and a bit more sugar intake might urge us to think that maybe they do earn some of their salaries.

Similarly, we are told that biofuels are the answer to global warming but all the arable land in England will only produce 40% of the UK's car fuel needs. So where does the food come from?

This expertsays(and you don't have to believe me as I am not even a plural of 2!), that I am too baffled to decide on most of this. Common sense(so called because of its rarity) is surely the answer but whence common sense?

Certainly the experts etc. have the common sense to go on pro ducing theories which keep them in salt, sugar etc.!

Confused? I certainly am and that is the only certainty.

The Gibraltar Photographic Society wilt be holding its now traditional photographic competitive exhibition on the theme "Our Gibraltar" during the National Week celebrations. This competition is open to the general public and anyone wishing to take part may collect details of the conditions of entry from the reception at John Mackintosh Hall, shops dealing in photographic equipment, or from any photoprocessing laboratory around town.

Those wishing to take part are reminded that not more than 10 photographs may be entered per competitor, that photographs must not be larger than 30 cm;that all photographs must carry name, address and telephone number on the back;and that the dosing dates are: Friday 17th August at John Mackintosh Hall reception, Monday 20th August at the Photographic Society's premises at Wellington Front, between 7pm and 10pm.

There will be trophies and cash prizes of£300,£200 and £100 for the photographs judged 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.

The photographs will be exhibited at the John Mackintosh Hall from the 3rd September to 14th September.

Making a good impression

Easi-Print's new premises at New Harbours means the future is bright for the company and for its customers.

"We hadn't intended to move from Portland House," said Adrian Lima of Easi-Print. "But with so much development taking place all around us it was like working in a war zone. We made the decision to move to New Harbours — with help from everyone involved and it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

The main elements of this bless ing are space — three times more

than before;and easy access — cus tomers and commercial vehicles can now draw up virtually at the door.

Easi-Print has established itself

as a leading local printer — in fact one of the few that do actually print rather than act as agents for Span ish printers — but it has taken a lot of work and dedication to get it to

by Brian McCann

this stage since Adrian first started printing at the most basic level In 1988, when he was 20.

"I had a tiny letterpress machine which I worked from home," he told me. "This was the simplest press you could get, and every let ter had to be put into position by hand. Then each card or letterhead had to be printed one at a time — you put the paper in,shut the lid, opened the lid, took the printed pa per out and put the next blank sheet in. It took me nine hours to set and print my first business card order, but within a month 1 had it down to eight and a half minutes!"

It might have been labour in tensive, but people liked Adrian's service and started to give him big ger orders, which were too much to do by hand — so he got around this by out-sourcing the orders to Swiftprint in Devil's Tower Road."I became their biggest customer,act ing as agent for many other clients. Then the owner decided to leave Gibraltar, and, to cut a long story short, we boughtit—my own fully set up printing works, complete with qualified staff."

Amazingly, Adrian was still working full-time at Gibraltar Nynex,but his wife Suyenne came back from university in the nick of time and ran the business herself until he was able to join her.

The move to Portland House was the next step,along with improved machinery, and as Gibraltar itself became busier so Easi-Print ex panded, with a growth in staff and equipment to match.The last stage, apart from the move to New Har bours, was to buy Caxxon Printers — the owners wanted to sell it as they had retired. The main benefit to Adrian and Suyenne was that they acquired a lot of good custom ers who all expressed delight at the improved service and quality from Easi-Print.

"Our premises have gone from 70 to 220 square metres, our ex perienced and skilled staff are all with us — they have all been with us for over six years"— and we are getting new clients every week,"said Adrian. He wasn't sure exactly how many customers they have,but a quick count in the filing room suggested that it was now well over 1,000 — a remarkable achievement.

And all of it is pure printing. Adrian emphasised that they don't do t-shirts, stationery or office furniture — just printing on paper, which can, of course, take many forms,such as corporate stationery, full colour brochures,stickers, post ers and computer stationery for instance — they now have nearly

Adrian Uma

The main elements of this blessing are space—three times more than before;and easy access—customers and commercial vehicles can now draw up virtually atthe door

70 customers for computer statio ner}' alone.

I was interested to hear that whilst many printers and printers' agents now take orders locally for printing in Spain, Easi-Print is increasingly finding that Englishspeaking businesses in Spain are now coming into Gibraltar to deal with Adrian and Suvenne's team-

On the Rock,customers are now of many nationalities — Chinese, French, Italian, for instance, and

Easi-Print deals with manv banks, hotels, betting firms, insurance and telecommunications compa-

The(Boatyard

nies, just about every commercial sector.

"We also make sure we give the same attention and service to small private customers," said Adrian.

"Usually it's personalised wedding stationer}', with their own words and pictures(sometimes that might be a photo ofa favourite tattoo)and they are always pleased to find out that their personal printing usually costs less than buying it ready made and standardised."

Election time brings more work, as all parties use Easi-Print; not just for their manifestos but also the instant service they need when they want to rush a flyer onto the streets overnight in response to something that has been said or done.

This sort of speed is not only achieved by good organisation and skill, but also by Easi-Print's policy of always keeping a high level of stocks — something that will be facilitated even further with all the new space at their disposal.

"The final stage of our develop ment is to make sure everybody knows where we are now," said Adrian;so:

Ea:>i-Priiit h now )icxl to Peralta's Supermnrkef at Unit 101 New Har bours. The telephone is still the same, 51717, as is the email: printing© easiprint.gi.

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Wh n riiildren Gri u

"Come on dad, we're going to be late!" shouted Olivia. "Calm down,calm down,we don't have to be there for another hour yet. Finish your breakfast and make sure that everything on your list is in your bag."

It was Olivia's first day at sec ondary school and she was so excited she couldn't remember her own name.

"How do I look?" she asked her dad with wide eyes.

"Like a princess, my little prin cess," he answered with a warm, wide smile. They hugged and Ol ivia whispered "I'm scared."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Fully dressed and ready they looked at each other, took a deep breath and stepped over the thresh old. They could hear the excited shouts and the commotion of lots of children running around, the chatter of the mothers who were all standing near the edge of the school entrance.

Olivia squeezed her father's hand tightly as the bell signalled that it was time to go in. They looked into each other's eyes and each wiped away the other's tears that had formed in the corners.

"Mummy would have been so proud," Olivia's dad said in a broken voice.

"I miss her so much dad," Olivia replied sadly, kissed her father on the cheek and disappeared into school.

Since his wife's death two years before John had had to carry his own grief as well as support Olivia through hers. It had been very dif ficult as Olivia had taken it very badly and her behaviour at the last school meant that John had constant battles with the school as they only wanted to punish her for the behaviour. All this had taken its toll on him both personally and professionally.

At least now was the chance for a new start for both of them.

There are two causes, accord ing to the television stereotype, of emotional and mental problems — sex or childhood. It is true that a lot of emotional problems can develop from issues not adequately dealt with during childhood. The mistake that many people make is assuming that children do not understand what is happening and that they just react to the behaviour of the people close to them. Chil dren actually do understand a lot more than they are often credited with, but their perception of that understanding and their emotional response to it is very different from the adult perception and response. Bereavement is one of these issues

and I would like to briefly look at one or two childhood bereavement issues as their lack of resolution can be a great source of pain for many, in adulthood.

In years gone by, death in child birth and infant mortality were commonplace and surviving chil dren wouId attend as many funerals as weddings and christenings.They were often expected to help with the laying out of family members. The same can still be seen in poor countries and countries blighted by the AIDS virus. The sight of broth ers and sisters huddled together by a small fire, sobbing after the loss of their remaining parent, knowing that the clock is ticking on their own existence,is absolutely heartbreaking.

Quite rightly we seek to protect our children from the traumas of life for as long as possible hut the downside to this is, when tragedy does strike, they have no idea how to act. Sometimes the first introduc tion to death is the loss of a goldfish or small pet. It is not unknown for parents to buy almost identical re placements in an effort to prevent any upset,butis avoiding the truth better than gently introducing them to one of life's realities? Many of us

have conducted a burial at sea in the bathroom or the open air service in the back garden.

Of course young children do not understand terms like 'passed on/passed away' and terms like 'been taken' can create horrific mental images.As with mostissues, euphemisms are useful to comedi ans but unhelpful when applied to achieving understanding.

Bereavement and its effects for children vary with the type of be reavement, whether it's the loss of a parent or both parents, a sibling or a grandparent. Even the absence of a parent after divorce or distant estrangement can produce the effects of bereavement. Children quickly assume responsibility for death as with the case where a child sincerely believed that if they had helped wash the car then daddy would not have had cancer.

It is often said that children are very resilient and quickly bounce back after a tragedy, but although their intensity of grief can be short lived, the actual grieving process can last much longer. Asa bereaved child, everyday experiences can reactivate the feelings of grief — children jumping all over daddy on the beach or in the park whilst

you and mummy sit on your two beach mats or park bench.The first day atschool seeing all the chatter ing, smiling mothers as you hold onto daddy's hand.

On the death of a loved one the family is all important — physical closeness and open expression of sorrow are essential for a child to know how to channel their feelings. Sometimes we are too locked in our own pain to notice children's, but still they go through the denial, they search for their lost loved one, they feel deep despair, anger, anxiety and guilt.

The continued fear of loss or abandonment can affect the forma tion of adult relationships later in life. It must be remembered that grief is never over but we learn how to cope with it and accept that death is part of life. It is very important that children attend the funerals of loved ones to allow them to say their own goodbyes. Some children do not cry, but this does not mean that they are not falling apart inside.

Grief reactions of adolescents can also be very different from those of young children and adults. With the already unpredictable hormone mix the reactions can be disrup tive or even violent, and there are many good teachers that respond to behavioural changes with insight rather than the disciplinary proce dure which can add to the pain and feeling of isolation.

Child psychologists are available and are able to sort out the bad from the sad. A 'problem child' is not always a problem child but rather a child with a problem.

We must not avoid the subject of death or feed the fantasy that the deceased is going to return,and we .should not try to turn children into brave little adults, but help a child through the dark pit of sadness. We must grieve with them, cry with them, hug them regularly and talk to them, thus giving reassurance and allowing them to express their feelings.

As an adult your own grieving process can be helped by this open expression of support. In the deep despairing pain of bereavement and loss it doesn't matter how old you are or whether you are a rela tive but what is important is we are all there as lifelines for each other until the sun shines through the dark clouds again.

A lot Of Bmotlona! prolilenis can develop frooi Issues not adequately dealt with durlug child hood.The mistake is assuming that children do not understand what Is happening

smiles Belter...

Mike Clark is a highly praised dentist, whose increasing fame for specialist cosmetic treatments is also attracting a lot of people to his surgery.

Beauty, or cosmetic, treatments at Mike Clark's practice can be related to teeth or to the face in general.Crooked,broken or heavily discoloured teeth do little for one's appearance, and can often affect people's confidence too.

"We do get older people who come in and want their teeth whit ened to a 'Hollywood look', com plete with the light-catching glint," said Mike, "but unless they are teenagers making a fashion state ment 1 advise them against it. It would just look so unnatural."

What Mike will do, however, is recommend the lightest shade of whiteness that will have a healthy attractive appeal but will look as if that hascome about perfectly natu rally in accordance with your age.

"More and more people want lighter shades these days — lighter than they did justfive years ago,so it is becoming a fashionable thing to do," he said, adding that he also provides teeth straightening with out the use of a brace, which should be of interest to those who don't like the thought or the discomfort of shiny tramlines running across their front teeth and partly imped ing their speech.

Veneers are also used at Mike Clark's Dental Surgery, whereby a thin veneer of a suitable colour is at tached to the surface of the teeth.

Other professional services at the primarily dental surgery include Botox and dermal fillers, to fill out frowns, wrinkles and crow's feet; and to make lips fuller. This service is appealing to an increas ing number of men nowadays,and many teenage girls are not averse to improving 3reir lips or filling out a sunken area of their face.

There have been some high-profile horror cases of female celebri ties wanting a dermal filler for fuller lips and ending up with their mouths being grossly over-inflated, but Mike knows why this happens: "It's because they desperately want the maximum fullness,and are able to pressurise the doctor into giving them an abnormally high dosage. The result is not a pretty sight."

; There is no way Mike would al: low that."Ihave to be happy as well as the client," he told me,and he has - plenty of contented customers to prove it. The filler used,hyaluronic

acid, is completely non-animal but is so natural that we all have it in our bodies,in the same way that we have various metals and minerals.

On the dental side, Mike,assisted by his wife Natalie (a registered dental nurse) and trainee nurse Jamara along with receptionist Fatima, provides a service that has earned him tremendous respect since he opened the practice in 1995, originally in Main Street.

A Bachelor of Dental Surgery, he is registered with the General

do is pay your £50 a year and that's the only requirement."

Mike wanted to be a dentist from when he was 12 because he thought it was an interesting career. "1 might have become a doctor," he said,"but my older sister wentinto Hiedicine and I didn't want her to think 1 was copying her," he said with a laugh — he is very good humoured,as is Nurse Natalie.

After qualif)'ing at Manchester University he ended up with no less than three dental practices (simultaneously) in the Midlands before moving here.

Fully equipped for virtually any dental procedure — and with as sociated dental technicians Pendent next door — Mike is appalled at the state oflocal children's teeth,which he attributes to the amount of soft drinks that are consumed.

He is noted for patient comfort, and told me that if a patient ar rives without pain he or she will feel none under his care. The only discomfort that might arise is if the patient arrives in pain. "Then it is sometimes difficult to do any thing without their feeling a slight twinge, but it is usually minimal, if there is any discomfort at all," he said.

His equipment is geared up to making the visits happy ones too — such as an air abrasion unit for cutting without a drill — it's air with an abrasive powder, so there is neither heat nor friction. For deli cate root canal work, he now uses a computer to measure the depth that is needed, and the same com puter then guides him through the whole process, ensuring a perfect job every time.

Children who have grown up with a good dentist show no signs of nerves nowadays, but for those adults who have been terrified for life by an earlier bad experience, Mike provides a soothing service which includes intravenous seda tion where appropriate.

Dental Council in the UK. This is not something he is required to do under Gibraltar law,and it imposes all sorts of obligations, but he pre fers it that way in the interests of quality and best practice.

Keeping up with the latest de velopments, for example: "This is a requirement, and it's not enough just to do it, you have to prove you are doing it at an annual audit when you must give evidence of courses you have attended. If you are just Gibraltar-registered all you have to

His skills aren't only appreciated in Gibraltar — he has a significant number of patients who fly out from Britain just so they can be treated by him.

Finally Mike's tips for healthy teeth are: brush twice a day, but with a soft brush and not excessive ly, using a minimum of toothpaste. He says that electric toothbrushes are fine and can help with tooth staining; but minty mouth washes are a complete waste of time-they freshen the breath but do nothing at all to combat plaque.

Mike Clark's Dental Surgery is at 15D1 Baudelaire House in Town Range, close to the rear of No 6 Con vent Place. The telephone/fax number is 52882, and there is a web site at wwzu.mikeclarkdental.com.

His skills aren't only appreciated in Gibraltar —he has a signiiioant number of patients who fly outfrom Britain justso they can he treated

A: This illustrates Pie pre-operative condition of the pa tient - discoloured, slightly crooked teeth, ugly old por celain crowns on upper front teetti.

B; The condition of the patient after preparation has tak en place. There are temporary crowns on three upper front teeth, the other teeth have been minimally prepared for porcelain veneers.

C: Shows the condition of the patient just 1 week after the treatment began.

When Helen Hiett was invited to join a troupe of chorus girls heading for Gibraltar she wasn't thinking 'scoop', she was simply relieved to be getting a break from the tedium of trying to do live radio broadcasts from Franco's Spain.

It was September 1940 and the United States was still neutral so Helen had free access to all the combatant countries. The fair-skinned, red head was only 27 but she had worked in Europe since graduating from university in 1934 and was familiar with the politics and languages of France, Spain and Germany.

When Britain declared war on Germany on 3rd September 1939, Helen was studying for a Ph.D at the London School of Economics on a scholar ship from the Federation of American Women's Club Overseas. Anxious to play a role in the battle against the Nazis she moved to Paris and, along with friends, started a newsletter called Pen's Letter which was designed to galvanise American support for the French.

The newsletter gained a following in America and Helen returned home for a lecture tour. She was a brilliant speaker and her speeches attract ed the attention of the top radio networks. NBC

wanted to send her to Berlin but she complained that she couldn't stand being that close to the Nazis and held out for Paris. NBC had difficulty arranging transport via Portugal and Spain so Helen took matters into her own hands.

She wrangled a visa out of the French Consul, got a ticket on the Pan American Clipper to Lis bon and was in Paris by 21st May, 1940.

The Germans bombed Paris on 3rd June and with the blitzkrieg on its way foreign civilians

by Reg Reynolds

began to flee in droves. Helen, however,stayed on long enough to report the fall of the French government.She then made her way to Bordeaux where she knew there was a functioning trans mitter which would enable her to continue her broadcasts to America. While other reporters were escaping by boat to England Helen was reporting ortthe French surrender and the forma tion of the new Vichy government.

As the Germans closed in Helen accepted it was time to get out of town. The trains had stopped running and the roads were clogged with refugees but wealthier foreigners had abandoned or given away their cars and that presented her with a means of escape. One American woman had been given a brand new Chrysler and Helen and friends convinced her that they should all use it to flee to the south of France.

Driving in and around German military convoys the group managed to make it to Nice and from there Helen flew to Geneva where she was able to make another broadcast to America. While in Switzerland she discussed her next as signment with her bosses and it was agreed that she should go to Madrid.

Spain proved a disappointment. Censorship under the pro-Nazi Franco regime was severe and to make matters worse Helen contracted bronchitis. Fortuitously this is when the chorus girls happened on the scene and invited Helen to accompany them to Gibraltar where they were scheduled to entertain the troops. Since she wasn't getting much reporting done anyway Helen happily agreed to go along. Little did she know she was about to score a scoop that would forge her credentials as a war correspondent.

Helen and the dancers were in Gibraltar on 25th September, 1940, one day after a Royal Navy bombardment of the French Moroccan port of Dakar and on the very day that France retaliated by sending ten squadrons of bombers and fighters to attack Gibraltar.

The bombing began at 1 pm (it was a Tuesday) and lasted for more than four hours. Newspaper reports credited to Associated Press claimed that more than 100 bombs had been dropped and that four people were killed and another twelve were injured.

The AP also wrote that; "Miss Helen Hiett of the National Broadcasting Corporation of the United States reported they (the bombers) appeared to be American made Martin Bomb ers."

Fortunately the death and destruction was exaggerated by the press but still it was a fright ening experience for the chorus girls. For Helen it was an opportunity.

In her book No Matter Where(E.P.Dutton 1944)

Helen wrote:

"1 had been lucky enough to get to spend two weeks on the Rock in September, inspecting its secret tunnels and fortifications. And with even more luck 1 had been the only American cor respondent in Gibraltar at the time of the heavy two-day bombing in reprisal for Dakar."

But Helen had to sit on her story because she couldn't get access to a transmitter in Gibraltar strong enough to reach America. She decided to fly back to Madrid. In No Matter Where she wrote:

"The Malaga plane on which 1 returned didn't reach Madrid until six o'clock at night, barely time to get into town from the airport and hunt up the censor and studio officials for a check on

It was a frightening experience lor the chorns giris. For Heien it was an opportunity

the script and broadcasting arrange ments before they had left their of fices for the day. Miraculously,it all got done, and the censor was even lenient with his blue pencil."

Helen's first two attempts at transmission failed due to electrical or sunspot interference but finally her report got through and received a good deal of newspaper cover age. It also earned her the National Headliners Club Award;she was the first woman to win it, and she was hailed by the press as "The war's outstanding woman reporter."

When the censorship in Spain became too much for her, Helen returned to the US. The day she docked in New York, 31st March, 1941, NBC preempted its regularly scheduled programme for a special broadcast by the "firstAmerican girl radio reporter on the scene when the big German push started against France."

Eighteen months after returning to America Helen left NBC to be come a guest lecturer and to write her book.

She rejoined NBC in 1944 but left again to be a print journalist reporting from Austria, Germany and Italy.

She reached Milan two days ahead of US troops and she cov ered the events in Italy following Mussolini's execution.

After the war Helen became the director of the New York Herald Tri bune forum which brought world leaders together once a year to discuss international problems. In 1948she married publishing execu tive Theodore Waller and they had three children.

Helen, who was born at Chenoa, Illinois in 1913, was only 48 when she died at Chamonix, France in 1961.

In a tragic irony the woman who earned fame by reporting on the bombing of the world's most famous Rock, was mortally wounded when a rock hit her on the head (she died several weeks after suffering the injury) while she and her husband were climbing Mount Perseverance.

The Gibraltar story earned her the National Headllners Club Award;she wasthe first woman to win It.and she was hailed by the press as "The war's outstanding woman reporter."

IZ-'GATE; computers

13B College Lane

Tel:50612

GDSG

GIIUirAI DYSIUIA SUPPOSl GROUP

Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group

P.O.Box 1359 Tei: 78509

Mobile: 54007924

Email: info@gdsg.co.uk

www.gdsg.co.uk

Send completed crossword to: The Cannon Bar. Cannon Lane, Gibraltar. One entry per person.

first PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Cannon Bar

Winner notified in next issue of The Gibraltar Magazine.

Closing date: 24th August 2007

LAST MONTH'S ANSWERS: Across 1. Mechanical, 8. Bowls, 9. Groupie, 10. Torment, 11. Unzip, 12. Euston, 14. Strain, 17. Moose, 19. Overdue, 21, Needful, 22. Sires, 23, Assessment, Down: 2. Edwards, 3. Haste, 4, Negate, 5. Croquet, 6. Lopez, 7, Weaponless,8. Betterment, 13. One offs, 15. Andiron, 16. Boules, 18. Opera, 20. Epsom.

Crossword Winner T^atttlie Bruzon,6 Vancouver Court

IPlaase collect ydOr Veui^from The Gibraltar Maga^e office

Margarita

Across

5) Patron saint of travellers(11)

7) Subject of statue in Piccadilly Circus(4)

8) Check whether a vehicle is worthy to be driven (4,4)

9) When the sea is receding (3,4)

11) Of good principles(5)

13) Beneath (5)

14) Reprimand or reproach (7)

16) Germane(8)

17) Humerus is one(4)

18) Unwilling to believe (11)

Down

1) Malay dagger(4)

2) On a horse,for example(7)

3) Collection of skeletons forming, for example,an island (5)

4) Portable stands for shelves or things whose names have been forgotten (8)

5) Italian gendarmerie(11)

6) Eating places(11)

10) What one sits on if one cannot decide (3,5)

12) Mythical creature half horse half man(7)

15) Australian former tennis champion (5)

17) Item of footwear or the sack!(4)

Yorkshire Treatmentfor Fiat Bastion

Soldiers of 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regi ment spent a day of their exercise time in Gibraltar carrying out repairs and refurbish ment on Flat Bastion Magazine. The magazine which is looked after by local history and geol ogy enthusiast Freddie Gomez, dates back at least to 1873 (this date taken from above one of the doorways) although Freddie believes it to be .some what older than this and was used to store and re-supply the gun batteries with black powder.

The building, which Freddie says is unique, has stood the test of time remarkably well. Vol unteers worked on refurbishing the fire step, from which defenders dominated the upper approaches to the magazine and se\'eral holes

and cracks to the roof, which had the potential to lead to major water damage.At the front,they prepared and painted the railings, pillars and wall as well as replacing the letter box.

The Regiment has now left Gibraltar after two-weeks training in which they enjoyed all the unique features that the Rock has to offer.

The exercise was in some doubt until the last minute as soldiers are recruited from Doncaster and Hull, two areas of Yorkshire very recently affected by flooding. A spokesman for the Regiment praised those who carried on with the exercise in spite of leaving behind an uncertain situation in the UK,as well as the enthusiasm and skill with which they tackled the repairs on the magazine.

Gibtelecom's Summer Students

wwA recent issue of the highly-regarded Boletrn de fa Sociedad Entomofdgica Aragonesa

Included a paper that was co-authored by two GIbraltarlan members of the Gibraltar Ornithllogical and Natural History Society.

The article, by Keith Bensusan,Josep Munoz Batet and Charlie Perez, dealt with the discov ery of a species of ladybird in Gibraltar. The species is Coceine/la afgerica, a North African species that very closely resembles the very common and well-known seven-spot ladybird Coccineffa septempunctata. This is the first time that the species has been recorded from mainland Europe.

The find is significant in that, apart from adding to Europe's known biodiversity, it is also the first time that both C. afgerica and C. septempunctata have been found inhabiting the same geographical area (both species can be found in Gibraltar).

The article includes an identification key to all ofthe Coccinella speciesfound in Iberia, North Africa and the Canaries. A composite of photos of all Coccinella species considered in the paper, taken by the authors,has been used asthefront cover of that issue of the Bofetm SEA.

Gibtelecom is once again supporting the community by providing paid employment for students during the summer period. Since its inception in 1993, a total of 318 students have had the opportunity to gain experience within different areas of the business. This year Gibtelecom has employed 34 students including eight sponsored graduates.

Louis Posso, Wireless Switching Manager, said "Not only does it serve the purpose of gaining real life experience related to the rel'evant degree-subject being undertaken,but it I starts to build an awareness of all other areas

of the business,in terms of how and why deci sions are taken on the basis of resources,health & safely, quality and customer focus."

George Gaskin, IT Manager, added "By working in a demanding environment they learn to think in innovative ways in order to resolve issues that arise daily."

The criteria used for the recruitment of sum mer hires is that students have to be studying abroad and undertaking a telecommunica tions, electronics, engineering, computing or business-related degree and should be return ing to their studies in September.

Meanwhile, the latest issue of the journal of the Sociedad Andafuza de Entomofogia included another paper by Keith Bensusan and Charlie Perez. The paper dealt with two species of leaf beetle which have been recorded from Gibraltar for the first time. In both cases,the records from Gibraltar mark a considerable expansion of their known distribution in Iberia.

One ofthe species,Psyffiodes maroccanus,had only previously been recorded from Matalascahas in Huelva. A photograph of this species, taken by the authors, also made thefront cover of this journal.

These papers reflect the intensity and qual ity of entomological work being carried out by members of the GONHS Biodiversity team as part of the ongoing Gibraltar Biodiversity Project.

Every Tuesday h Thursday

Summer Nights — Casemates Square 8,30pm - 10pm activities and stage entertainment for chil dren. 10pm - 11.30pm musical en tertainment for adults. For further information contact Ministry of Cul ture Tel: 47592 Email: dirculture@ gibtelecom.net

Saturday 4th August

Rooke Volunteer Band Open Air Concert, Casemates Square 11am

Harley Davidson Exhibition. A wide variety of motorcycles will be on display at Casemates Square 11.30 to 3pm. See pages 24-25.

17th • 20th August

Closing dates for the Gibraltar Pho tographic Society's traditional pho tographic competition (theme Our Gibraltar). Open to all. Closing dates: Friday 17th August at John Mackintosh Hall, Monday 20th Au gust at the Society's premises at Wellington Froont(7pm - 10pm).

Saturday 18th to 26th August

Gibraltar Fair Week at Common wealth Parade (USOC) & Romney Hut Car Park. For further informa tion contact The Ministry of Culture

Tel: 41687. Email dircuiture@gibtelecom.net

Saturday 25th August

GONHS - Outing - Bat Night at The Cottage, Alameda Gardens 9pm. For further information con

tact Jean Paul Latin Tel: 58009329 Email: jplatin@gonhs.org

31$t August to 8th September

National Week Celebration. For fur ther information contact Stephen Mascarenas Tel: 54005729

Beer Fest • organised by Lewis Stagnetto Ltd at Romney Hut Car Park (beside USOC)

7th September

Wedding Dress Competitioin at Al ameda Open Air Theatre - closing date for entries is Friday 17th Au gust. Contact Glamour Creations for info on 54000377. email: glamourcreations@hotmail.com.

8th September

Royal Gibraltar Regiment open day at Buffadero Training CentreFun for all the family with bouncy castle, face painting, climbing wall and

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Hndlng the Silver Lining

Four years ago last month and a few days before her 58th birthday, Sonia Golt was diag nosed as having breast cancer... and the doctor's traumatic revelation couldn't have come at a worse time — just three weeks ahead of her son's marriage... a ceremony and celebration which she had flown from her high-profile secretarial job in the Bahamas to attend. It is not the sort of frightening news that anyone would wish to nurse alone, and most would have poured out the accompanying fears — and, possibly, tears — to family and friends.

But Sonia Golt is made of sterner stuff than most and not only kept her disturbing secret from everyone until after the wedding, hut since then has confronted the "Big C" head-on, raising awareness of the disease,setting up the"Bosom Bud dies" support group for fellow suf ferers,and pushing the Government to agree to a programme of breast cancer tests even better than that structured by Britain's NHS. And she also has prompted a massive fund-raising campaign,spear-heading it with sales of her own books of poems as well as a novel scheduled to be published next year.

"I was temporarily in Malaga and my son was getting married in Granada," she says of the dilemma she had to face." I asked the doctor if the operation could be postponed until after the wedding... no, I told him it HAD to be postponed. I was determined that 1 would accom pany my son down the aisle.

"1 was equally determined not to upset my son and his fiancee so could not tell them what the doctors had found. But, at the same time I couldn't tell anyone... not even closest friends in case the word got out — 1 would have got hell from my children for not telling them first...

"Though I was dreadfully sick on the day of the wedding and was afraid I wouldn't make it, I did man age to walk down the aisle with my son," she shakes her head in recol lection and auburn curls tremble above a characteristic smile broad enough to be a grin.

It's the gutsy sort of behaviour that friends have come to expect from Sonia Golt — touched with a sort of gamin-like, almost imp ish quality that rests easily on her persona and which somehow seems appropriate for someone born in Ireland.

"Yes, 1 was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland where my parents had been evacuated from the Rock during the war... Yes, it's OK to mention that,everyone in Gibraltar knows how old I am..." she says, and the infectious chuckle reaches the fine wrinkles, laughter lines at the cornere of hazel eyes.

For though she is quietly thought ful and there's a suggestion of the writer's loneliness in her manner, there is a lot of laughter in her life as well. After all "Every cloud has a silver lining — that's my motto," she tells me.

For her, the silver lining to the cloud of cancer has been the mas sive thrustofenergy and determina tion which she has thrown into the fight since returning to Gibraltar after eight years in the Bahamas,to spend more time with her children and three-year-old granddaughter Stella. And that energy seems boundless — the books of verse,the Bosom Buddies'fashion shows,the immensely successful calendar...

In her latest book of poetry The Colours of the Soul the final lines of the poem Bionic Woman encapsu lates her own buoyant approach:

So maybe the radiation

Is what's given me the zest.

"1 don't actually feel my age and even while I was struggling with cancer, had an enormous energy." Now,apparently free of the disease, she has another year to wait until there will be medical confirmation that she is "cured".

J"For at 60 I'm still doing Same as at 30 before..." that same poem stresses in an earlier stanza. Like the earlier volumes, the sales from this, her third volume of poems — published two years ago — all go towards cancer research. Although her first efforts as a writer were published in the Gi braltar Evening Post when she was a 15-year-old Loreto schoolgirl,and she was later to work extensively in journalism, Sonia's first poems were not written until she was in her 40s.

"My father wrote a lot of beauti ful poetry and 1 suppose I was a bit hesitant about emulating him — though when I wrote my first pieces and showed them to him he encouraged me to carry on." She acknowledges this debt to her father in the introduction to Colours in which she describes him as her "mentor".

On leaving school at 17,Sonia be came a television presenter with the nascent TV arm of GBC, later add ing production to her skills and for four consecutive years was respon sible for producing the annual Miss Gibraltar contest and pageant in

cooperation with the Department of Tourism.This wasexperience which she turned to good use years later, not only when she started her own public relations firm and model agency, but in putting together the popular "Bosom Buddies" fashion shows for Cancer Awareness.

She worked as a presenter and producer for local television for nine years and along with her equally youthful colleague Olga Zammit, built up an enthusiastic "fan" base for her work.

And, with 'Literature' one of her favourite school subjects — and the early contributions to the Evening Post — having whetted her appetite for writing, Sonia spread her jour nalistic wings writing for Panorama and the Gibraltar Chronicle for which she was later to write a weekly page. Returning from a four-year stint in Madrid in 1991 Sonia established her own Weekly Revieic which she edited and published for seven years.

Inevitably, we return to the cause so close to her heart — cancer.

"I try to do something,help orga nise something every year not just to raise funds but to raise awareness — which may be the most impor tant aspect ofour work in the Breast cancer Support Group," the eyes solemn now and face serious. "Its committee comprises five survivors like myself and the relative of two cancer victims and though it has only been up and running for three months it has already extracted a promise from Health Minister Britto that the GHA will employ an extra full-time radiological nurse and better mamogram equipment.

"Even more importantly, he has agreed that Gibraltar will start a breast screening process for all women from 40 years upwards — that's ten years earlier than in the UK and, of course, early detection equals survival"...

It's a slogan repeated on the back cover of her poetry books — and something of which she is living proof.

"I'vebeen very lucky really," and the smile returns. "Like the rest of the survivors,my'bosom buddies', for we are a happy group."

the silver lining to the cloud of cancer has heen the massive thrust of energy and determination which she has thrown into the fight since returning to Gibraltar

The fact that the Rock is com posed largely of limestone, results in the soil being alkaline. This means that plants that prefer more acid soil are absent from Gibraltar, for example heather. This also includes the rockrose family {Cistaceae). However,there are pockets of acid soil on the Rock, and so it is possible to find certain plants in limited numbers.

The sage-leaved cistus (Cisfus salvifoUus) and the yellow rockrose {Helianthemum ori^^anifolium) are two such species. The first is a small shrub up to 1 m tall, with dark green leaves,and white flow ers 3 to 5 cm across. These have a

yellow centre. They are rare plants, only found on the East Side sand slopes and above Mediterranean Road.The yellow rockrose is a ver}' rare plant. It is only found above Mediterranean Road, and difficult to find,It is a small spreading shrub up to 40 cm across, with small yel low flowers about 1 cm across.

The candle bugloss {Echium boissieri) is only found on the cliffs above Mediterranean Steps, and is very rare. The flowers are flesh co loured,1.5 to 2cm long,arranged in a dense spike.The plants are from 1 to 2.5 metres tall, and the flowering stems arise from a basal rosette of bristly leaves.

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Another very rare cliff-dwelling plant is the cephalaria {Cq^halaria leiicantha). This is only found on the North Face of the Rock. The flowers are from white to pale yellow, 2 to 3 mm across, forming rounded clusters 2 to 3 cm across. The plant forms clumps up to 1 m across, which can be spotted on the cliff face in early summer when the flowers appear.

The wild carnation {Dianthus caryopbi/Uus) used to be a fairly common plant ofthe upper parts of the Rock. Numbers have declined sharply in recent years,so that very few plants can now be found. The reasons for this are unknown, but it could be due to changes in the soil composition due to sea gull droppings. The pink flowers are 2 to 3 cm across and are strongly scented of cloves. They are borne on stems up to 50 cm long. The blue-green leaves are very narrow and pointed.

IPerhaps the smallest thistle on the Rock is the atractylis {Atractylis cancellata). It is a rare plant, only found on the southern slopes of the Rock, from Mediterranean Steps to Windmill Hill Flats. The pink flower heads arc about 1 cm across, and are enclosed by the comb-like

bracts surrounding the head. The plants are 5 to 30 cm tall.

The kidney vetch {Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. imura) is a member of the pea family. The crimson to purple flowers are 1.5 to 2cm long, and arranged in many-flowered clusters. The leaves are divided into separate leaflets and are covered in silky hairs; the end leaflet is larger than the rest. It is a very rare plant, only found on rocky outcrops on the upper parts of the Rock.

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The yellow rockrose is a very rare plant.It is only found above Mediterranean Road

he polled the third highest number of opposition votes. It's a fact of which,for all the genuine modesty of his make up, he is justifiably proud.

However, Bruzon was no new comer to the sometimes tortuous complexities of Gibraltar's broader political activities. Like many of his generation, he is intensely pa triotic, deeply committed not only to Gibraltar but to our links with Britain — where both of his sons were born. And it was a stance proclaimed by his support more than a decade ago for the Voice of Gibraltar group which he joined in 1996 on its dramatic pilgrimage to Strasbourg.

"We were acting in defence of Gibraltar's rights... the need for our identity cards to be recognised by Spain.. our access to Europe. There were about 100 of us from across the political divide who travelled by bus to put our case to the MEPs and persuade them to ask Spain to back off," he recalls.

"As a Christian, I believe in turning the other cheek — but where Spain was concerned we had no cheek left to turn." Again the slightly wistful smile, accompanied by a shrug of the shoulders.

And, in an unconscious gesture, his hands — ever busy as he talks — adjust his tie, with its banded stripes of Union Jacks and the cen tral motif of the Rock's outline.

Charles Bruzon: ffOIII PfiBSt to Politics with Passion

Charles Bruzon was ten or 11 years old when, at Gibraltar's old Rialto Cinema, he saw a black and white film based on the life of St Francis of Assisi. Intensely moved by the experience, he felt a strong sense of vocation that was to lead him towards the priesthood and set him on a path of strong Christian faith which continues — almost 60 years later — to colour his philosophy and political thinking.

"I was touched by St Francis' commitment — though i prob ably did not fully comprehend its depth and meaning at the time." Soft-spoken,he pauses reflectively. And there's a faint smile as he adds: "You know, Christ was the first socialist."

Although his strong social con science is shaped by faith and goes back to his days as a student at the Usher Theological College in Durham, Bruzon's practical com mitment to, and membership of, the opposition Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party is relatively recent. While for some years before enter ing active politics he had admired

and sympathised with GSLP's lead er,Joe Bossano's brand of socialism — as well as his commitment to the cause of the workers — he did not sign up to party membership until late in 2001.

A popular and long-established member of the local communitv,his intellectual and moral assets were recognised bv the GSLP hierarchy

and he was earmarked by Bossano as a potential vote-winning candidate. And though neither he nor party officials allude to it, there were grass-roots rumblings and a few grumblings when — still a rela tive newcomer — he was invited to join the part}''s ticket {along with another 'new boy' Lucio Randall) in the last general election where

"From my involvement in the pressure group, I looked at the broader political spectrum and saw in Joe[Bossano]a consistent social ist acting in defence of the working classes... and 1 suppose this led gradually towards a more active involvement in party politics."

In a sense, Gibraltar politics was not new to Bruzon whose father was a City Councilor and, later stood for the old Legislative As sembly."He was very much a man of the people," his son recalls.

Pushed by his sense of vocation, from grammar school 0-levels and the Sixth Form, Bruzon went on to Durham and the Roman Catholic seminary."In school, in those days there was a greater emphasis on religious education than there is today," he remarks."And that may have helped keep the flame of voca tion alive. But from early on I felt that my vocation was to work with and help people... and at college we were being trained more to be a monk than a secular priest."

Though this "monkishness" neither diminished his sense of vocation nor lessened his intention to become a priest, the six years in the seminary — from which he graduated and was ordained in 1962 — were to shape his

Six years in the seminary—frem which he graiiuated and was ordained in 1962 —were to shape his commitmentto work with and for the peepie

'S^commitment to work with and for the people.

"I was re-reading the Bible just this morning, and there is the quotation in Acts where Jesus says 'it is better to give than to receive' — something that is only men tioned there and doesn't crop up in the gospels at all — which I believe to be really important. You actually feel good if you are generous in your giving... though it must be a sincere act... not just something done to make you feel good."

The occasional, but relatively infrequent, references to the Bible which punctuate Bruzon's conver sation are unselfconscious and far from the "holier than thou" attitude of which the former priest has been accused. Though probably the seed of six years in the seminary and a further seven years back in Gibraltar as a curate, there's an easy familiarity with the Old Testament and gospels that a layman might apply in references to his or her daily newspaper.

For although Bruzon left the priesthood "for personal reasons" nearly four decades ago, the flame of his faith still burns strongly... though he also believes that there are aspects of the Catholic church still to be reviewed in today's light.

Uncertainty about his personal commitment to the priesthood began to surface some four years after his return to Gibraltar where he was appointed as a curate to Bishop Healy.

"Celibacy is one vocation, the priesthood is another," he explains. "And perhaps the Church should give more attention to the deaconate — which should be offered to people who want to follow holy orders, but do not want to commit to celibacy. But for me it wasn't just the question of celibacy — in fact 1 fell in love with my wife more than a year after I had been granted dispensation by Rome to leave the priesthood.

"No, it wasn't just the celibacy. 1 felt that the church needed to be more in touch with the people — it's a direction in which it is moving now."

Both the Bishop and the VicarGeneral were sympathetic to the young curate's dilemma; never theless it took 18 months for the

Vatican to give Bruzon dispensa tion. Leaving the priesthood, he took an administrative job with the Castle Marketing group, and for the next three years worked for Joe Holliday's father, handling bookkeeping and accounts.

"But then, as now, Gibraltar's housing problems were acute and as a married man I did not want to have to live with my parents — as so many other Gibraltarians were forced by circumstance to do — and moved to England where I had been offered a job in Hatton Garden, then the heart of Britain's jewellery trade."

But when "Sunny" Williams the owner of the company was killed in an IRA bombing,and the company was "wound down", Bruzon took a position with South Africa's De ciduous Fruit Board in its offices in the Strand — revelling, he admits with a broad grin, in the regular free baskets of fresh fruit to take home which were one of the perks of his post.

Bruzon and his wife decided to return to the Rock in 1987, while their children were still young enough for switching schools to be "not too traumatic" and he joined a local firm "selling furniture"... where he "learned a great deal about the difficulties that people had about their homes — or lack of them — and other simpler prob lems, like the difficulties in deliver ing some sorts of furniture because ofthe way that entrances and access had been designed."

"People also shared with me their other housing concerns — lack of accommodation which meant doubling up with parents, poor standards of maintenance and so on. Over all 1 developed a far better grasp and understanding of peo ple's housing needs — and many of these have become the bread and butter of my daily work now that I am in Parliament. Writing letters on behalf of people with housing problems, or social problems... for often the two are interrelated... and the hassles involved in the steady increase in the waiting lists for rental housing."

Charles Bruzon is a man who is sincerely trying to help those less fortunate than himself... and who believes in giving, rather than receiving.

CRiaKcas

Although Bruzon left the priesthood'lor persoual reasons"nearly four decades ago, theflame of his faith still burns strongly...

two Commendations,one to Chief Petty Officer John Argent and the other to Ron Nichols the NAAFI manager at Europa. There were two GEMS awards and cheques for £50.00 presented to Karenza Baker and Chief Petty Officer Steve Jones as encouragement awards for innovative work displayed in the implementation of an electronic registry and a new tools system for the Royal Navy surface ships.Com mander British Forces,Commodore Matt Parr RN said "It is a great hon our to present these awards today, these people are an inspiration to us all, helping to make our lives both safer and easier."

Presentations by CBF

There was a presentation at the end of July 2007, to person nel both civilian and military at

the Tower by the Commander of British Forces, Commodore M J Parr RN, for their hard work and continued efforts for both Gibraltar and the Command. There were

Fnn Day For Ail the Family at BTC

On Saturday 8th September the Royal Gibraltar Regiment will open the gates of Buffadero Train ing Centre (BTC) to everyone on the Rock. The day will cater for all the family with activities from a climbing wall,face painting and a bouncy castle for the children to a fully equipped field headquarters set-up as well as live demonstra tions of military skills.

The day will showcase the int^' portant role that the Royal Gibral*tar Regiment plays within the Brl^ ish Army's regular establishmer^ including its exercises in Morocco^ training work in the Gambia and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. But the main emphasis is to offer something for the entire fam ily by making BTC as welcommg and fun as any theme park.

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Breakfasts (Full English to Egg or Beans(rToastI* Breakfast Baguettes (allday)• Baguettes/ Sandwiclies(Egg Mayo to Honey Roasted Ham to Steak fr Onion) • Time Out Open Sandwicfies (Mozzareiia. Basil fr Red Pepper • Cajun Chicken •Honey Roasted Ham (r Cheese • Chargrilled Chicken ir Avocado • Tuna. Prawn,Lemon b Creme Fraiche) ■ Wraps(Chicken Caesar • BIT • Feta, Olive, Mint6 Yoghurt Dressing • Chargrilled Chicken, Red Pepper it Onion)* Panini * Starters 6 side dislies (Onion Rings it Machos to Potato Skins) * Mains (from Chicken Tikka Masala to Fish ir Chips. Bangers it Mash or Quiche or Roast of the Day) * Salads (from Chicken Caesar or Greek to Ploughman's)* Jackets (Chilli ir Cheese to Smoked Salmon) * Desserts * Drinks etc

St^i/

Whili;stifvks last...

A recent report revealed that Brits are buying up French vineyards in unprecedented numbers. As the French see their share of world consumption shrinking so more and more vineyard owners are giving up. There is also overcapacity — worldwide production of wine is likely to exceed demand by 17% in 2010 — and so wine-making is not likely to be as profitable as investing in a private equity fund. However, it is much more fun.

It appears that a large number of the Brits buying the vineyards are ex-financiers of one sort or an other who want a quieter life and they are apparently marketing the wines more successfully than their French predecessors. You can buy a viable domaine for rather less than the price of a luxury two-bedroom flat in Gibraltar. Let me know how you get on.I am sure our local mer chants would be happy to take on some of your production.

But over-production is a prob lem. Most of what is over-produced is undrinkable plonk from produc ers who are (in Europe at least) kept going by subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy.(And before you start fulminating about the ludicrous wastes of the CAP, consider the Scottish crofters whose uneconomic sheep would not survive without the same subsidy, David and Ruth Archer — from Ambridge — whose Herefords have been heavily subsidised, the Prince of Wales who clearly needs the £lm or so he gets, and other such deserving cases in the UK.) And without the subsidy the more expensive wines would be even more expensive.

But there is a light visible: it is proposed that growers be paid for grubbing up their vines — the same sort of principle as'set-aside' of land from which Brian Aldridge, also in Ambridge, benefited. It is to be hoped that only those who produce undrinkable plonk will take the money and run. But it may also provide a useful retire ment present for those who buy a domaine and then find wine-grow ing rather difficult — another good reason to buy.

The fact is that — as 1 find 1 have been saving rather regularly in this column — you get what you pay for. There are of course exceptions. When I get my domaine 1 will be marketing my first fruits at below cost price in order to get my name on your (and Anglo Hispano's) list. So keep an eye out for those, and similar, bargains. However, my price will start going up fairly quickly to reflect the quality of what I am producing — or maybe I will be grubbing up the vines.

Producing decent wine is like producing decent chickens. You can have a large mechanised factory and turn out large amounts of vin egary(in the case of wine)liquid,or fishy (in the case of chicken)solid. Human intervention is minimal: all operations such as feeding and fertilising, picking and plucking, pressing and packing are done au tomatically and using the cheapest possible ingredients, sometimes with a bit of chemical assistance. Or you can have an open, airy field with vines and chickens being

checked daily for ripeness,disease, proper food,and all the matters that do require human intervention.

The latter costs more money because wages — and indeed skill and knowledge — have to be paid for. Which would you prefer to drink and eat? I am not suggesting that you should drink nothing but Chateau Lafite with your poulet de Bresse but a small extra outlay bringsincomparable benefits. And, before you ask, 1 am not going all organic and 'green' — I am as fond of cheap air travel as you are. It is

just that while I still have the use of my taste buds I do not want to abuse them.

Paying £100 or so extra to fly in 'Club Class' is a complete waste of money over two hours; paying £2 or so extra for a slightly better wine or chicken is money well spent over the same period of time.

Over production and thus the threat to producers of decent wine will continue while we continue to buy 'table' wines of doubtful provenance and even more doubt ful taste, even if we disguise the taste by adding lemonade. So what should you look for when trying to stay within a budget?

First, obviously, is the AC,DOC or other certified guarantee of ori gin(and,to some extent, quality)on the label. Morrison's have an own label claret at £4.25 which is excel lent for everyday drinking. Anglo Hispano have a Muscadet sur lie at £4.89 which will go beautifully with the fresh prawns bought in the market.And a chilled Beaujolais (Morrison's, £3.25) will delight a proper corn-fed,free range chicken. These are not the best wines in the world but for the sake of an extra pound they will improve your view of life enormously.

Second is a reliable name,even if it does not have the certification of origin. Back to Vina Sol, any ros^ produced by Torres (the Chilean one from Anglo Hispano is par ticularly good at £6.80)and Jacob's Creek from Australia. Again, not earth-shattering, but always reli able and solid, and worth the extra few pennies.

Then we move up to the greats: second growths are often over looked,as well as the less favoured products of the great names which are often marketed under a differ ent label. Keep an eye out. You can pick up what is virtually the equivalent of a Chateau Batailley for under £10, keep it for 10 years and then savour it.

It is a matter of spending money wisely — and at the same time protecting the livelihoods of those wine makers who deserve to be protected. With luck we might also drive battery chicken farmers out of business.

I am not suggesting that yon shoulil drink nothing hut Chateau Lafite with your uouiet de Bresse hut a smaii extra outlay brings inoomparahie benefits

restaurants

Biancas Restaurant

6/7 Admiral's Walk, Marina Bay. Tel: 73379 Fax: 79061

Popular and pleasant restaurant on the Quayside at Marina Bay with large quayside terrace. Try chicken tikka raita, a\'ocado & smoked salmon or fresh carrot & ginger soup(o start, followed by barbecued spare ribs, beef Viagra,sword fish steak,Cajun Ceasar salad,kuku nyama pizza,or chicken and smoked salmon tagliatelle to name but a few for the main course. Crepes, pies,ice cream sundaes etc for dessert. Children's menu, veg etarian dishes, daily specials. Great for all the family. Open:7 days. 9am - late.

Cafe Solo

Grand Casemates Square. Tel:44449

Modern Italian eatery set in the lively Casemates square. Ever\'thing from chicory and aispy pancetta salad with walnut.s, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn,mozzarella and mango salad to pastasfeg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream)to pizzas(eg: Vesuvio spicy beef,cherry tomatoes,roasted peppers and red onions;and Romana chorizo, black pudding,egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg; Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarclla, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Gcx)d daily specials menu on blackboard.

Cafe Ro)o

54 Irish Town. Tel:51738

Sleek modem comfort in this relaxing little restaurant. Red comfi." arm chairs in separate area for a relaxing drink or coffee. Brunch menu (10am-12pm)includes dabatta,granary,foccada sandwiches with fillingssuch as pear and blue cheese,smoked bacon and brie,cheese and honey roast ham, delicious desserts (chocolate mousse in a must). Lunch 12-3pm and dinner 7-lOpm includes salads(from smoked magret duck breast and papaya to warm goatscheese and fresh spinach), pasta dishes(from saut6ed scallops,spinach and mushrooms, to langostine pil pil) and main dishes ranging from lamb shoulder with rosemary and red wine sauce, to medallions of pork fillet, and poached fresh fillet of salmon. Open: from 10am. Closed all day Sundays, and Saturday lunch.

Casa Pepe

18 Queensway Quay Marina. Tel/Fax: 46967

Situated right on the water front at Queensway Quay, Casa Pepe has a comprehensive a la carte menu which includes dishes such as melon & Serrano ham, stuffed piquillo peppers and filled mushrooms to start, fol lowed by a choice of salads, rice and noodles and fish, poultT)' and meat dishes which include King Prawns Macarena(cooked with fresh ginger,tomatoes, mangos

and bananas served with basmati rice, fried bread and bananas), Medallion.s of monkfish cooked with white wine and lobster sauce, duck breast Armanac-style (with Cognac,mushrooms and pine nuts). Medallions of pork loin cooked with Serrano ham and dry Jerez sherry, and fillet steak Malaguefia cooked in creamy garlic mushrooms and sweetsherry sauce topped with prawns. Wide range of tapas/radones also available. Open: Monday to Saturday 11am till late.

Claus on the Rock Queensway Quay. Tel/Fax:48686

International menu served on the quayside for lunch, afternoon and dinner. Well worth a visit, espedally if you appreciate good wines and cigars. Open:Lunch & Dinner. Closed Sundays.

Gauchos

Waterport Casemates Tel:59700

Nestled just next to Waterport roundabout within the city walls. Recently opened by renowned local restaurateur Andr^ of the Tunnel fame, Gauchos of fers some interesting dishes with a tempting South American Gaucho theme. Try the Chorizo Criotia de Argentina(spicy sausage grilled over coal and wood), or the Mariscos del Rio Plata or Empanada de Queso Azul(blue cheese oven baked in a black pepper pasty) to start, or for main course perhaps the Fillet deSalmon Chimichurri(salmon with grilled banana, mango and avocado sauce), or Crepe Argenteuil (with grilled as paragusand vdld mushrooms),or one of the steaks(lots from Lomo de Alto,Solomillo, and T-bone to Corazon de Cuadril - tender heart ofrump,well matured). There is lots more too — Parrillada de Guacho(for two -steak, sausages, chicken, pork and lamb), salads (try the Remolacha Tostada con Queso de Cabra - tasty goat's cheese salad)— and the desserts are to die for too! They

Award winning breakfastsfrom 7.30am

Great meals & snacks all day

Evening Steak House menu

Med Golf Clubhouse

Leeds United Gibraltar HQ

Parliament Lane Tel: 75924 Salad/Sj

say "this will be a new experience for you to savour".... give it a try! Call 59700 to reserve your table.

The Rib Room Restaurant, Rock Hotel.

Tel:73000 www.rockhotelgibraltar.com

With stunning views of the bay, the Rib Room is ac claimed for its high standard of service and cuisine. Ultimate venue for intimate dinners, or larger gather ings,the Rock Hotel rises to the occasion with style and sophistication. Glass of fino and appetiser welcome diners. Fabulous new A La Carte offers dishes such as creviche of king prawns with lime ginger, bloody mary sorbet;or caramelised sea scallops dusted with orange and grapefruit powder set on cauliflower pur^ with caper velout^ to start; and butter roasted fillet of beef, gorgonzola crust, rioja and walnut jus; or marinated and seared tuna with a saut^ of caramelised radiccio and rocket, warm capsicum vinaigrette; or aubergine and wild setas souffle with rosemar}' scented char grilled vegetables — just a few of the main courses. Finish up with vanilla rice pudding, quince with star anis pur^e, fig and date ice cream or one of the other delicious offerings. Comprehensive wine ILst. Sunday lunch — welcome Manzanilla, 4-courses always in cludes roast sirloin and some of best Yorkshire puds in town.Sunday newspapers. Relax afterwards to the resident pianist/guitarist. Air-conditioning, parking, kid's menu/high chair.

VOpen:7pm-10pm daily. Credit cards: AE, D, E, M,V

Simon's Restaurant

44 Comwall's Lane. Tel: 47515

Excellent food in a sophisticated,intimate atmosphere. Hosts Suzanne and Simon ensure everyone receives personal attention. Start with Simon's own pal^ with red onion jam and hot toast,or king prawns thermidor with tarragon mustard, white wine and cheese cream sauce or perhaps baked New Zealand mussels with garlic butter and melted camembert. Main courses include kebab of swordfish and king prawns with creamy dill sauce, breast of chicken with mushnx>m, bacon, rosemar\' stuffing and masala sauce, and roast tenderloin of pork wrapped in bacon with apple,sage and calvados sauce. Or try the roast rack of lamb with mint,redcurrant and red wine sauce or the grilled fillet of mere with avocado and prawns. There is something to delight every palate. Fully air-conditioned. Open:evenings(bookings recommended).

Thyme Restaurant

5 Cornwall's Lane. Tel:49199

Email: thymegib#hotmaii.com

Modem wine bar ser\'[ng refreshing cocktails and a wide range of New World and European wines in a cool lively atmosphere,and on the 1st floor above is the restaurant serving bistro cuisine with a menu featur ing dishes from all over the world. Try one of these dishes from the wide selection: crispv fried monkfish, rocket salad, chilli jam and creme fraiche; steamed

etvarf/e^

Sleak House

Grill & Taoem

Where people meet to eat a lint- and varied lunch menu and a comprehensive a la cane menu thai complimenis both our kitchen and our cusiomers.Evervthing from toasties to tagliaielle and from full English breakfast to Jamaican Pepper Pot.

Charlies Sizzling Specials with steaks or mixed gril].s.

tt'c also earn'a good selection of wine, spirits and beers.

We're on the harbour wall at the beautiful Marina Bay so book a pleasant table for two or just sit watching the world go by while sipping an ice cold beer.

Reserve on Tel/Fax: •So, 2 Admiral's Walk, Marina Bay, Gibraltar

E-mail: george@gibnei.gi

Wte love to cater for groups and parties so why not spend that nesi special occa.sion at Charlies

79993

mussels flavoured with ginger, lemongrass, chilli & coconut milk; hand rolled ravioli of smoked chicken, aab, basil & marscaponc, parmesan veloute; or mains of millefcuilleof char grilled salmon & Mediterranean vegetables, seared scallops and basil peslo; charred aubergine, tomato, basil & mozzarella parcels, red pepper & olive reduction; or Slow braised Moroccan lamb shank,tabbouleh,spiced onion,almond & sultana diutnev- Main menu changed seasonally and specials run daily. Everything made on the premises using only the best, fa'sh ingredients. Wide range of New World and European wines.

Open:12.3()- 3pm and 7pm till late. Clo.sed Sundays.

informaleating

A1 Andalus Bar Restaurant

3 College Lane. Tel: 49184

Small eatery in the centre of towm serving lots of tasty food from sandwiches and baguettes to barbecues (lamb chops, fillet steak, mixed grill etc) and tajines. Try the cous-cous (beef, veggie, chicken or lamb)or the tapas - £1 (eg; Spanish omelette, boiled crab legs, garlic chicken, cuttlefish stew).

Open:Sam -late evening. Breakfast from Sam.

Buddies Pasta Casa

15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 40627

Tasty Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Large se lection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses include tettuccine de formaggio,spaghetti alia carbonara, fusilli al salmone, and entrecotc a) whisky to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines.

Open: Monday - Wednesday 10am - 5pm,Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm and 7pm-midnight.

Charlie's Steak House Grill

Marina Bay. Tel/Fax: 79993

George and Paula are your hosts at Charlie's where you will find a wide selection of international food including sizzling steaks, tandooris and seafood dishes plus daily specials. Try the special sizzling mixed grill which includes tandoori and garlic chicken breasts, slices of prime fi llet, king prawns, sausages, bacon, tomato and peppers. Regular theme nights. Quayside terrace.

Open:9am • late ever\' day.

The Corner House Restaurant

Continental Hotel

1 Engineer's Lane

Tel: 76900 Fax: 41702 Email: contiho^gibnet.gi

Ideal for a rest after shopping as it is centrally located on Main Street, this cafe serves breakfasts (all day), lunches and afternoon teas. Try the homemade mushroom soup or the roast leg of lamb demi glaze,or perhaps the fish and chips or homemade steak mince burger in pepper sauce. Kiddies menu available.

Open:7am to 7pm (lunches from 12.30)

Get Joost

248 Main Street & Casemates. Tel/Fax: 76699

Smoothies are vitamin packed super-food and inaeasingly popular for the health concious. Get Joost makes delicious fresh fruit juices and smoothies made from naturalingredients which are a meal in a cup. The top five smoothies they set! are wild strawberry; breakie on the run; energy blast; raspberry ice; and tropical surrender. Tel/fax: 76699 for delivery.

Open:8-7 Mon -Friday, 10-7 Saturday, 10-6 Sunday.

Get Stuffed Marina Bay. Tel: 42006

Take-away, sandwich bar and hot food. Serving all homemade sandwiches, salads, quiches, pasta, pies, muffins, plus hot and cold drinks and smoothies and a different special every day. Outside catering for corporate parties.

Open:8am - 6pni Mon-Fri,8am-4pm Sat.

Just A Nibble

1st Fir International Commercial Ctr. Tel: 78052

Full blown licensed cafeteria serving English break fast, vast range of toasties, rolls, and other snacks. Meals include steak and kidney pie, Bob's famous chicken curry/chilli con came,& now Kentucky-style fried chicken, plus all the old favourites-jacket spuds, burgens, hot dogs, fish and chips, and daily specials. Ideal meeting place.

Open: Monday - Saturday from 9am.

Just Desserts

1st Floor ICC Tel: 48014

Comfortable bright, airy cafe serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine from breakfast and lunch to afternoon tea. Homemade desserts a speciality. Eat-in or takeaway at sensible prices. Outside catering.

Open:Sam - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Munchies Cafe 24 Main Street. Tel:43840 Fax: 42390

A great sandwich bar/cafe offering an unusual range ofsandwicheson white or granary bread,plussalads, baguettes, soups, desserts, homemade ice-cream and hot/cold drinl«. Business lunches, parties and kids parties also catered for (for party and office platters phone or fax order by 5.30pm day before - minium orders for delivery £12).

Open: Monday - Friday 8.30-7, Sat9-4,Closed Sun.

Roy's Cod Plaice

Casemates Square

Located below the clock on Casemates Square,Roy's Cod Plaice serves all kinds of traditional chip shop fare, including battered plaice,cod,haddixk and hake with chips, breaded fishcakes, and scampi, jumbo pork sausages, mushy pease etc to eat in or take away. Roy's also offers full meals such as pork chops,grilled mushrooms, tomatoes and mashed potatoes; mixed grill; or meat pie with mash and gravy.

Open:9am-10pm Monday-Saturday. Closed Sun.

Roy's Pub Restaurant

la Convent Place Tel: 75654

Situated right opposite the Governor's residence (the Convent) this eatery serves good food at reasonable prices from jacket potatoes, fish and chips, and quick snacks to chicken cordon bleu, liver and onions,entrecote steak to quiches,salads and sandwiches!

Open: from lOam

Sacarello Coffee Co.

57 Irish Town. Tel: 70625

Converted coffee warehouse, ideal for coffee, home made cakes/afternoon tea, plus menu including excellent salad bar, specials of the day and dishes such as lasagne,steak and mushroom Guinness pie, hot chicken salad, toasties, club sandwich and baked potatoes. Art exhibitions. Available for parties and functions in the evenings.

Open:9am-7.30pm Mon-Fri.9am-3pm Saturdays

Smith's Fish & Chips

295 Main Street. Tel: 74254

Traditional British fish and chip shop with tables/seat ing available or take-away wrapped in newspaper.

Menu:Cod,haddock or plaice in batter, Cornish past ies, mushy peas etc. Also curries, omlettes, burgers.

Open:8am-6pm Mon-Fri. Breakfasts from Sam. Located: Main Street opposite the Convent.

Solly's

Salt Beef Parlour & Delicatessen

8 Canon Lane. Tel: 78511

On Cannon Lane thiscarvery,charcuterieand deli of fers delicious food to take away eat in or for delivery. Try the carverv' (from llam), hot or cold baguettes with fi llings such as curried chicken brea.st, Merguez sausages, schnitzel, pastrami, smoked turkey and pressed beef. Thereare also salads and platters includ ing bangers& mash,lamb chops,beef burgersand hot dogs. (Giatt Kosher)

Open: 12pm-late,Sunday 6pm-late. Closed Sat.

Breakfaslft * Lunch Aflarnoon Tea (£1.99) Vagalarlan £r Non-Vagefarian Menua

Solo Express

t^round Floor,International Commercial Centre

Solo Express,located right next to Pizza Hut, serves a good variety of salads and baguettes(white,brown & ciabatta) filled with a wide deli selection of things such as roast chicken; smoked salmon & mascapone; ham,cheese and coleslaw;or hummous,avocado and roasted red pepper. The salads are fresh and tasty and include Greek, Waldorf,couscous,tuna pasta,etc and are great value. Jacket potatoes, quiches, tea, coffee etc plus cakes(such as flapjacks and muffins)are also available throughout the day. Eat-in available.Soups in winter months.

The Tasty Bite

59a Irish Town. Tel: 78220 Fax: 74321

Tasty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats, filled baguettes, burgers, chicken, kebabs and everything else you can think of!

Open: Monday - Saturday.

Time Out Cafe Bar

106 Eurolowers, Europort Rd Tel: 76044 Fax; 72760

Delicious food from full English breakfast to wraps, jackets,baguettes and sandwiches,plus main courses from fish and chips to banger & mash. Take-away service. Private functions. Full sports coverage on 3 screens.

bars&piibs

All Sports Bar

4 Cornwall's Lane Tel: 59997

This pub is geared up to televised sporting events with free tapas when top sports are on W. It's not just for the football fans either, and there are even Scaletrix Tournaments for those who want to participate. Gaming machines. Terrace seating available.

Open: llam-midnight Sun-Thurs, 11am -lam Fri/Sat.

All's Well

Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 72987

Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18th century practice of locking the Gates to the city at night when the guard announced 'All's Well' before handing the keys to the watch. All's Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast served all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce,sausage & mash,cod and chips and steak & ale pie are complimented by a range of salads and filled jacket potatoes. Large terrace.

The Angry Friar

278 Main Street. Tel:71570

The Angry Friar is everything you'd expectfrom a Brit ish pub, but with a large terrace. Food 9.30 - 4,6 - 9.15 inc. breakfasts. (Sunday roasts 11 - 4,6 - 9.15pm).

Open:9.30am-midnight(Sun. from 11am)

Located: Opposite The Convent.

Aragon Bar

15 Bell Lane. Tel: 78855

A friendly traditional bar serving good homemade food.

Outside tables available.

Open:7 days, 10-late, food 10 -10.

The Cannon Bar

27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 77288

Now run by Amin, the friendly face from the kitchen for over 18 years! Good pub food served all day plus Amin makes cous cous or tajine to order.

Located: off Main St at Marks & Spencer.

The Clipper Irish Town. Tel: 79791

Large popular bar serving good homemade food from breakfast to dinner. Large varied menu. Top sporting events covered on overhead TVs. Private functions.

Open: 9.30am to midnight (Friday and Saturday to lam). Food served 9.30am to 10pm).

The Gibraltar Arms

184 Main Street. Tel: 72133

Good food served all day at this typical pub right on

Main Street. Everything from all day breakfast to Irish fillet steak roll, burritos, and the popular fresh local mussels. Draught lager, bitter, cider and Murphys plus free WiFi. Terrace seating right on Main Street.

Open:from Sam (lOam Sundays)until late.

The Horseshoe

193 Main Street. Tel:77444

Right in the centre of town,the Horseshoe is a popular, busy bar. Good menu from full English breakfast, to burgers and mixed grills. Curry and chilli specials on Sunday.

Open:9am to late, Sunday 10am - late. Facilities; Main Street terrace.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie

10 Casemates Sq. Tel: 50009 www.lordnelson.gi

E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi

Attractive bar/brasserie in historic Casemates building. Done out to respresent Nelson'sship with cloud and sky ceiling crossed with beams and sails. Spacious terrace

Menu:Starter & snacks include fresh local mussels,blue cheese and rocket bruschetta,Lordy's potato skins,spicy chicken wings and calamares. Main courses cover a range from chilli con carne and chicken and mushroom pie,to crispy ammaticduckburritoand British fish and chips. Try one of the salads or Nelson's platters. Jacket potatoes, burgers and children's menu. Credit cards accepted. Live music every weekend.

Open:from lOam till very late.

Pickwicks

Governor's Parade. Tel: 76488

Run by well-known friendly face,Mandy,thissmall pub with a large terrace is situated in Governor's Parade away from the traffic and safe for all the family. Good food available including the best freshly made sand wiches and jacket potatoes, salads and burgers.

Open: Mon - Fri from 9.30am

Location: turn off Main St at Marks & Spencer, Pick wicks is opposite the Elliot Hotel.

The Pig and Whistle

Unit 18, Watergardens. Tel: 76167

A comfortable pleasant pub with pool table and ter race on the quayside. Big screen television for sporting events.

Open: 10-midnight(Fri-Sat Il-lam)

Red Lion Pub Watergardens. Tel:44392

The Red Lion is a cosy pub in Watergardens serving fresh homemade food every day for lunch and "possibly the best breakfast on the Rock". Terrace seating.

Open:Sam - late Mon-Fri, 12 midday to late Saturday.

Royal Oak Bar 59c Irish Town. Tel: 71708

Informal good local pub, popular for its pool table and sports talk. Outdoor seating.

Located: Irish Town, the street which runs parallel to Main St.

The Star Bar Parliament Lane. Tel: 75924

Reputedly the oldest bar in Gib,this bar opens early for breakfast (English or toast & cereal). Lunch/evening menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Kids menu 99p. Home of Med Golf(10% discount on food for Med Members). Home of Leeds United FC supporters dub.

Facilities: Outside seating.

Open:from 7am every day.

Located; first right off Main Street (walking from N to S).

The Three Owls Irish Town

The Three Owls is a traditional bar serving best of English beers. Three separate bars/floors: ground floor — big screen tv, pool table, poker machines, games machines, bar — open from 10.30am daily. First floor 'Hoots' — 2 match pool tables, poker machines, darts board, games machine, bar — open from 1pm daily. Second Floor 'Nest' — American pool table, poker machine, games machine,card table, bar — open from 5pm daily.

The Three Roses

Governor's Street. Tel:51614

Ann from Plymouth and Stuart from Scotland run this bar, known as The Scottish Embassy. Fully airconditioned with 3 plasma TVs and pool table. Happy hours Mon-Fri 5-6pm. Home of the Esteporkers Golf Society.

Open:every day. Mon-Sat from 11am, Sun from mid day.

The Tunnel

8 Casemates Square. Tel: 74946 Tel/Fax:44878

Large bar located in the historic Casemates Square.

Menu: Wide variety of affordable food including siz zling specials from 7pm. Selection of international meals,Indian specialities, vegetarian selections, home made ice-cream. Sunday carvery served lpm-9pm (hot & cold).

Facilities: Large terrace, big screen TVs, and regular live music.

Open:7 days a week 9am - very late.

The Venture Inn

Lynch's Lane. Tel: 75776

A good central meeting place right at the beginning of Main Street, this bar serves home-cooked food all day. Terrace seating on the edge of Main Street — perfect place to watch the world go by.

Open:from 10am

Located: Main St near Casemates Sq, opp. the ICC.

Wembley Bar

10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 78004

Popular bar for hot and cold bar snacks, function room, in south district. Fridays 10am for breakfast. Air conditioned. The home of the Real Madrid Sup porter's Club.

Open:Ham - midnight Sunday - Thursday,10am- lam Friday, 11am - lam Saturdays.

acrosstheborder

The Taste Indian Restaurant

Avda. del Ejercito, esq. Calle Gibraltar,La Llnea

Tel:00 34 856 12 29 18 / 00 34 626 88 40 38

Good Indian restaurant convenient to the frontier. All the favourites from chicken Madras to lamb channa, and king prawn vindaloo. Specialities include Chicken Hkka Krahi (chicken tikka topped with fresh chillies, herbs and spices), Bhindi Ghost(lamb with okra in a spicy sauce),and Special Mixed Balti. Lots of vegetable dishes, bread and rices.

Open:every day 5pm-late, Fri, Sat & Sun Ipm-Iate

Located: On the corner of Plaza de la Constitucion, which is about 400m straight up from the frontier.

Three Reses Refurb

If you haven't ventured far from Main Street in a while except perhaps on the way home then you'd do well to drop by the newly refurbished 3 Roses on Governor's Street. This former'Celtic'only bar has for the past couple of years had anew Landlady and Landlord. Still known as the 'Scottish Embassy'it caters for all types of football fan, north of that border of course.

Ann and Stuart Cannon first came to the 'Rock' back in 1998 when Stu was posted here with the Royal Navy. Ann hails from Plymouth and Stu was born in Borness, West Lothian. Previously Ann ran a pub in Plymouth and bar work being aplenty in Gibraltar she worked both at the 3 Roses and the Coach & Horses during their first visit to Gibraltar.

Eventually and somewhat gladly they were sent back to UK but after awhile Ann decided she wanted to return. This twist was a shock to Stu but he asked for a second tour and they returned here in April 2004. Ann cites the safer environ ment here — in her words an ideal place for their daughter Staccy to grow up — as the reason for her wanting to return. In fact not just return but to stay. Since then Stu has retired from the Navy, and Ann carried on working in vari ous establishments and finally in the summer of 2005 they managed to take over the running of the 3 Roses. It wasn't an ambition in the beginning but as things progressed and they looked to the future it became the right thing to do.

Recently they decided the whole place needed an upgrade and started with new shelving and the bar itself. The decor was changed, the floor was tiled and there are now three televisions in the bar two of which are large plasma screens. Ideal with the'Setanta'channel for all those Scottish matches.

Of course a lot of English people enjoy their football too so they decided to tackle the backroom. Over the last few months they have totally cleared the room,repainted, tiled the floor put in wooden panel ling, shelving and a large plasma

Three Hoses her

television for, you gue.ssed it, Eng lish football matches. There are also two dart boards; one matchboard and one practice board. The league begins soon and match night is Fri days if you're interested. A friend has beautifully decorated one of the board doors with a 3 Roses motif in wood. To complete this total makeover of the back room they have added a full size table football game, you know the type with poles running through it and

there is a juke box too.

One of the more quirky things about 3 Roses regulars is their golf society called the 'Estaporka Golf Society'. It all came about after a game at Estepona when they had a barbecue and one of the last pieces of meat resembled a pig in shape. It became a running joke that then became a trophy which is on dis play in the bar in a wooden trophy case. They play regularly and have regular games for charity like the

recent event for 'Scratchy' who due to ill health is not able to work anymore. Scratchy is a regular character around Gibraltar's bars, so the 3 Roses decided to do some thing for him and they held a char ity golf day last month with all the proceeds going to Scratchy's fund.

Talk to Graham or Stuart at the 3 Roses if you want any information, fancy taking part in the games or wish to join the other 35 members and get some batting practice one weekend.

Pop in and check the place out any day from 11am through until midnight even if you aren't a foot ball fan. The 3 Roses is a cleaner, friendlier place where football fans either side of the border can enjoy the games they want in peace.... Until the next England v Scotland game.

imrftfliinnii (tfthrr

It wasn't an ambition in the beginning but asthings pregressed and they ieeked te the future it became the right thing te de

It's hot, it's sticky and it doesn't seem to matter how hard you tr)', you just can't seem to keep cool, that means only one thing — it's August on the Rock and unless you're one of the lucky ones who work in air-conditioned luxury (and you can easily see who they are because they're still wearing collars, ties and dark suits) you must be suffering in the heat the same as me.Those who can have escaped the heat and are basking in the sun and lounging around beside swimming pools, but for the rest of us it's just a very hard slog. Ail the regular Main Street movers are still moving albeit just a bit slower but you can tell by the look on their faces that they would rather be somewhere else doing something completely different and they have my sympathy — 1 know how they feel. So for one month only there are not going to be any new members for the "Bad Leg Club" because this month will see the launch of a new and very exclusive society just for the Main Street movers and it will be known as the"Summer Sufferers Society" and Lm going to be the very first member. But I shall be keeping my eyes open over the next few weeks looking for other potential new members to join me.

Sunshiney Days

1 knew it wouldn't take very long before the yearly debate for and against summer hours would begin, and 1 was right, the controversial subject comes around every year and as the sun shines and 1 get hotter and hotter for me personally summer hours seem a verv good idea. I just wished I was one of the luckv ones able to enjoy them. But for everyone else who has to work and suffer in the heat at least we all get the weekends to enjoy the beach and sunshine and on 27th August it's a bank holiday and a nice long weekend to enjoy so perhaps we shouldn't moan too much. At least we do get some sunshine and time to enjoy it as well so perhaps it's not such a bad old life here in the Mediterranean sun.

Modem Technology

Harly one morning in late June as I was walking to work f bumped into mv old friend Trevor the window cleaner. There he was working away with a smile on his face and not a care in the world,but no sign of a"shammy leather" in his hand. 1 was somewhat intrigued to see him operating a piece of equipment that looked like it had come straight from the set of Star Wars. He had a great long pole in one hand and was turning dials and what have you with the other, it looked a very complicated sort of turn out to me. My natural curiosity was aroused and so 1 asked young Trevor what it was all about. He went on to try to explain how the piece of machinery worked but 1 have to admit that at that time of the morning although 1 listened intently it all went in one ear and out the other, in fact as I walked awav about the only thing that I'd learned was that even window cleaning has gone into the electronic age and the days of cleaning windows with a bucket full of luke warm water and a shammy leather are well on the decline. Soon the sight of Trevor and his mates cleaning windows by hand will be long gone and nothing more than a memory you can tell your grandchildren about. Shame really because The confes$ions ofa windozo cleaner(a saucy film from the 60s) must have made many a young hot-blooded lad want to take up widow cleaning for a living.

Somone's Got to Do It...

There are those who will do almost anything to enrich the lives of others and the team at Med. Golf and the Lord Nelson are such people. A month or two ago they went to Ireland on a trip to do some"Market Research" that included forcing themselves to drink pints of Guinness and gocxlV r-

team was off again this i L^.;,;np the odd "dram"ortwo wasneces be checked out and 1 future

At Long Last!

Andy,John,Mike and

^^onth I told you all

It just goes to show how [^r.DennisPenalver at aboutthe exotic dancing ^ weddings were generally something a wedding and I wenton to say fiancee Dominique was hetries to avoid. I also said tb^t^^ Well what trying to get him ^nust have enjoyed the experience a difference a month makes. jJines(esoeciallyanytalkofhisown) because he's got over his fear of wedd S ^. P question and putting a ring on th aird has put a smile ^Ly are now officially engaged to be married and third finger of her left hand at 7^'^ by friends and family. Dennis eally the engagement party at the Lord Nelso ^ 1 m told it took rnoyedLself,infactheenjoye^^^^^^^^^^

and ,r.s his aunt Jane,congratulations also to B''"and^ l^iversary. A birthday boy in July was and to Kevin and Monique on ugA to see hint and it was good to see ntfsist^Jullelch on the Koch for a coupie of weeUs.

Traffic Alert

^ Bay passed her driving test on a Now for a traffic „und the Rock on a bright new bike.You can motor scooter recently and is now g 3star, miss her she's got a bright pmk crash helmet We nth August to be exact,for It's hard to believe because it s still surnm beautiful game is back, those teams in Division One the soccer- ...iung for the results. Have Once again Til spend every Saturda> aftern recovered from last season s tey won or is it a loss? My fingernails ha e only ..highly mglmam and now it'sallabouUo X's^a n ofsLplessnights? Whoknows. Our oLnt"haveabetteryearorw,U.tbeanoth«s j^^y My mate Pete Yeoman wil first game of the new season is away at Souto promoted leant Bristd be anxiously watching for the , q,^,. ^jid Bristol Rovers meet at B"stol ™ Roverskick off the new (unless we're in the Cup Fmal)on

I'll see you on Main Street.

Ans b

The Arts Centre. Prince Edward's Rd Art classes 'or children (5-6pm Mon, 5-6.30pm

Tues, 5-7pm Thursl. adults (Mon • Tues 6.30pm-8pm,Wed 6.30pm-8.30pm,life palm ing Wed 7pm-9pml. Tel 79788.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm.4-6pm Mon - Fri, Sat 11 am - 2pm.

Arts & Crafts Gallery(next door)opens Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm (summer)-6pm (winter), Sat 9.30am - 3pm.

The Poetry Society meets on 20th of each month. Contact: Audrey Batty on 44355

Board Games

Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Maclcinlosh Hall 8-10 30pm Tues.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet John Mackintosh Hall Mondays. Bank holidays changed to Thursday same week,7pm-11 pm All welcome. Tel 73660 or 75995,

The Subbuteo Club meets Charles Hunt Room. John Mackintosh Hall 7.30 -11pm.

Dance

Modern 6 Latin American Sequence Danc ing Mondays Catholic Community Centre

8 30pm (Oegmners 7.30). Over 15s welcome, vifww gibnynex gl/rsvcccseqdance/

Old & Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7 30pm. Wednesday.

The DSA Old b Modern Sequence Dancing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, begin ners 7.3Cpm. Tel : 78282 or e-mail manviotg" gibnet.gi Everybody welcome.

Senior Citizens Teatime Dances at The Youth Centre, Line Wall Rd on Mondays 2 - 5.30pm. All senior citizens welcome for coffee, tea and biscuits Entrance free.

Classical Ballet classes for children 4-^.

Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance. 3rd floor. Methodist Church. 297/299

Mam St Classes Weds 8 Fn from Spm at Chiltern Court(4Cs).Tel: 58111000.

Latin Caribbean Dance Classes Salsa.

Samba. Merengue. Cha-Cha. Wednesday 9pm-10pm £3. Instructor Pedro Vera. Urban Dance Studio. Jumpers Bastion, Rosia Road. For all levels, adults, singles and couples, no experience necessary, come and have fun. exercise and enjoy the rhythms.

History 6 Heritage

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust The Mam Guard. 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel 42844.

Hie Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association

Dedicated to preservation of Rock's transport/motoring heritage Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles. Members/vehicles meet first Sunday of month, Morrison's car park from 10am. New members welcome. Tel: 44643.

Music

The Gibraltar Music Centre Trust Complete spectrum of instrument learning strings drums etc Theory lessons- Five days a week 4pm-9pm Tel 75558 for details

The Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar

JunlorNatlonal Choir rehearse on Monday8

Thursday 7 30 - 9pm New smgers of all ages welcome Tel Lili 40035. 54006727

St Andrew's Music Academy Musical Monsters Club, musical workshops. Group musical activities for kids 3-7 years. Sing ing, rhythmic games etc, Tel: 42690 email: samagib@hotmail.com

Outdoor Activities

The Calpa Ramblers This group walks on last Sunday each month,except July and August Meeting place is the Spanish side of the frontier 8am just to the right of and opposite the Aduana vehicle exit. For any information contact co-ordinatofs Ray Murphy 71956 or John Murphy 74645.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is an excit ing self-development Programme available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and chal lenging activities. For further details contact The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Montagu Bastion. Line Wall Road. Gibraltar

Tel 59818 Fax: 51971 Reg. Charity No: 61

Quizzes

Cannon Bar quizzes are held on Tuesdays with at least three quizzes per night. Start ing with a warm up, then two other quizzes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm. all welcome and prizes are given. Free entrance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapes served after the quiz.

The Edinburgh Arms, Naval Hospital Road, has a quiz night from 8.30pm every Monday with prizes and free tapes.

The Tunnel in Casemates has a pub quiz and entertainment on Sunday nights.

Social Clubs

Scots on the Rock: Any Scots visiting the Rock can contact Charles Poison (Tel: 78142) for assistance or information

Royal Antediluvian Ordar of Buffaloes (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, Vault

1 Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday/month, 8pm. Executive Meeting, last Mon/month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Mon/month 7.30pm

Examining Council, 3fd Mon/month 7pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8pm Buena Vista 9975,Weds(fortnightly)7pm. FY>r Favor 9444, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm Farewell 10001.

Tues 8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri/month 8pm.

The Tuesday Ladles' Club meets 8pm. Queensway Club on first Tuesday each month. Open to all women in Gibraltar who en|oy making new friends. Non-profit making, proceeds donated to charity. Tel: Anne43869. or Margaret 70816.

Special Interest Clubs A Societies

Gibraltar Horticultural Society meets first Thurs of month 6pm. John Mackintosh Hall. Annual Spring Flower Show. Also sl ide shows, demos on flower arrangements and outings to garden centres plus annual tour of Alameda Gardens. All welcome

The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at around 8pm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc

Harley Davidson Owners' Club www. hdcgib.com

UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599,22a Main Street Tel: 52108.

Sports Siipporleis Clubs

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club meet at the Royal Calpe (Tel 75890) when Spurs games are televised - call the Royal Calpe prior to matches to check if the game is being televised. The pub does great food for a lunch if the KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. For more mfo on membership etc. call Mario on 56280000.

Sports b Fitness

Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gym nastics Association club for beginners, juniors and squad at Bayslde School m evenings. Tel: Angela 70611 or Sally 74861.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics As sociation holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs(Calpeans 71807, Lourdi3ns75180)hold training sessions at Victoria Stadium.

Badminton: Recreational badminton is avail able weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Associa tion (affiliated to IBA 8 EBA) has leagues and training for adults and secondary school. Tel: Ivan 44045 or Linda 74753.

Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball As sociation (affiliated FIBA)leagues/training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 77253, Randy 40727 or Klrsty (minis)49441

Billiards b Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) round leagues and competitions at various venues New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 72142 Of Peter 77307.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member lABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome to join. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory(75513 w, 42788 h).

Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 52917 or Eugene 58014000.

Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket Association(mem ber ICC)runs leagues/competitions at Europa Point/Victoria Stadium.Junior/senior training.

Tel: Tom 79461 or Adrian 44281.

Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Tel. Uriel 79359.

Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (member WDF)adult/junior leagues/competitions. Tel: Tony 70379 or Harry(Junior darts)41798.

Football; Gibraltar Football Association runs leagues/competitions for all ages October - May, Futsal in summer months, Victoria Stadium. Tel 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 41515. Junior Tel: Richard 5865400C, Women's Tel; Brian 52299. Recreational foot ball for over 35s Tel Richard 70320.

Golf: Med Golf tournaments held monthly.

Tel: 79575 for tournament venues/dates.

Gibraltar Golf Union has competitions through year. EGU handicaps Tei: Bernie 78844.

Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association(mem bers FIH 8 EHF)high standard competitions/ training for adults and juniors. Tel: Eric 74156 Of Peter 72730.

Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF rec ognised instructors for ail ages and levels at Budokal Martial Arts Centre. Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 73116 or Peter 73225.

Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-)itsu Academy training and grading for luniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion {Rosia Rd) Tel Tony 79855 or club 47259.

Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessions for junior/seniors, gradingsand demos at Karate Clubhouse.41H Town Range Tel' Andrew48908.

Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Rac ing Association Tel: Wayne 75211. Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (af filiated FENA 8 IFNA) competitions through year, senior/|uniorleagues. Tel: Moira 41795 or Suzette 41874.

Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association plays at Giralda Gardens, Smith Dorrien Ave. New members welcome. Tel: Francis 70929.

Pool: Gibraltar Pool Association (member EUKPF) home and away league played on Thurs through season Tel Lmda 74753.

Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association run training sessions for girls 5-IB years weekday evenings during school hoildays. Tel Richard 70320.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union training sessions for Colts(14-h), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 1st Division Oct -April Tel James72185

Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association jun ior/senior competitive programme through season (April - Oct) Tel: RGYC 48847, Sea Angling: Gibraltar Federation of Sea Anglers (members FIPS-M 6 CIPSI Superb calendar of events with four clubs participat ing Tel Mano 72622 or Charlie 74337.

Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation over 14s only. Rifle. Europa Point range (Tel: Joe 74973); clay pigeon. East Side (Tel; Harry 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Tel; Fidel 71990).

Skating: Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association opens its Skate Park, Coaling Island, Queensway, Monday. Tuesday 8 Wednesday, from 5pm til 8pm Saturday 6 Sun day. from 2pm til 5pm Thursday 8 Friday, closedSat 2-6pm. State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating facilities provided within excellent rink (when not used for roller hockey train ing). Tel. Eric 70710(after 5) or just turn up.

Snorkelling b

Spear

Fishing: Over 14s wel-

c o m e for snorkelling. over 16s for

spear fishing. Tei: Joseph 75020. Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association. The Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF 8 ESP). Adult/junior tourna ments/coaching. Tel; Ronnie 44922 or Barry 73260

Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives (or over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Tel: Phil 44606, Noah's Dive Club Tel: Leslie 79601,888s Dive Club Tel: Martin 70944. Commercial sports diving schools also available.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA 8 LEN)opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fn 7-8.45am. 12-4pm, 8-9pm, Junior lessons (Rebecca 71342). squad for committed swimmers, water polo(Chns 72869).

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis As sociation (members ITTA) training / playing sessions. Victoria Stadium. Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Tel: Uzanne45071/54020477or Eugene 58014000.

Taakwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Associa tion classes/gradings Tel: Mari 44142.

Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association. Sandpits Tennis Club, excellent junior development programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions Tel: Frank 77035

Tan-Pin Bowling; Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling Association(members FiO 6 WTBA)leagues at Ultra Bowl, training for juniors and squad. Tel: Gary 42447 or Charlie 71125.

Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union(members ITU) Tel: Chris 75857 or Harvey 55847. Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W 8 EVF) training, leagues, com petitions for juniors/seniors. Tel: Tony 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000.

Yoga: integral Yoga Centre runs a full pro gramme of classes from Mon-Fn at 33 Town Range. Tel 41389. All welcome.

Theatrical Groups

Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association Ince's Hall Theatre Complex,310 Main Street E-mail gibdrama@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 42237 www geocilies com/gibdrama

Stage Musicals Group Tel : Trevor 73098. Trafalgar Theatre Group meet 2nd Wed of month. Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.

support acilwityfilj

Gfi'ip-i Associiitio-

Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues and Thurs al Nazareth Hse Tel: 73774.

A Step Forward support group for single, separated,divorced or widowed people. Meet 8pm Mondays at St Andrew's Church.

Childline GIbrattar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 7pm • 11pm.

Citizens' Advice Bureau Open Mon - Fri 930-12.30 and 2,304.30. Tel: 40006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit 10 Governor's Lane, No appointment necessary, no charge. Gibraltar DkB outreach clinics at St Bernard's Hospital every Tuesday. Advisors available at 1 st floor reception.Zone 4,9am-3pm. Info and advice is free, confidential and impartial.

COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthri tis. Formed to ease day-to-day challenges of individuals,families and care partner. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book Shop at 7.30pm first Thursday of each month. Contact Sue Reyes Tel: 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 rela tives and friends who are concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meetings are held alternate Thursdays at Sprm at Nazareth House. For more details Tel: 70047 or 73465.

Gibralter Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tuesday of every monthat 8.30pm at the John Mac Hall, except for July and August.

Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 3/8

Serfaty's Passage Tel: 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 loall). Tel: 71717,

GIbraHar Society for the Visually Impaired. Tel 50111 (24hr answering service), Hope. miscarriage support Tel: 41817.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 70720

Overeaters Anonymous support group of those with compulsive overeating problem, Tel helpline for details of meetings 42581.

Parental Support Group,helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and granchildren. Tel Richard 46536, Jason 76618, Dominic 54019602.

Psychological Support Group. PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Weekly Meetings Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: 51623.

SSAFA Forces Help Gibraltar, is a national charity, to assist serving and ex-Service per sonnel and their families, Tel: {5)5481. E-mail olivero@sapphirenet.gi

With Dignity Gibraltar support group for separated, divorced, widowed or unattached people. Meetings Weds 9pm, Catholic Com munity Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Tel: Flor 54007181 or Marie 79957.

Woman in Need.Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel 42581 (24 hours).

I!( h Snrvices

Bahia Tel: 43637 for meetings.

Bethel Christian Fellowship Tel: 52002. 47

Queensway, Sunday service at 11am.

Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Tel: 78377. Sung Eucharist, Sunday 10.30am. Sunday School.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Suite 21a Don House, 30-38 Main Street. Tel: 50433. Sundays 10am.

Church of Scotland St Andrew's, Governor's Pde. Tel' 77040. Worship & Sunday School

10.3Oam. Bible Study Tues 7.30pm.

Evangelical Bretheren Assembly,Queensway

Quay Sun 11 am,Tues Bible Study 6pm,Thurs

Prayer Meeting 6pm.

Hindu Engineer's Lane Tel: 42515.

Jehovah's Witness Line Wall Rd Tel: 50186.

Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 72606.

Methodist 297 Main St Tel: 77491. Sunday

services 11am 6 7pm. Midweek Fellowships.

Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. 215 Main St Tet: 76688.

The Cityline Church 13 Castle Street Tel: 75755

MED GOIF Tournament News

Famous Grouse Trophy

Thursday 14th June saw twentyfour Med Golf members set off for Scotland to enjoy some of the best links courses at the home of golf.

The initial test was at a very wet and windy Gleneagles and here, whilst all around him struggled, Steve Parry took the honours, Saturday saw the big competition day,sponsored by Famous Grouse, at Carnoustie and for everyone's

enjoyment the same championship course was used for this year's British Open. In much better weather and proving he is still as competitive as he was for Spurs in his football days, Vinny Samways took the sponsors prize. The final event was at Scotscraig on the Sun day and in warm, bright sunshine, Soren Valbro Jensen excelled with the sun on his back and won the day here.

On the holiday theme,Med Golf have arranged a few days away over the August Bank holiday weekend,staying at the 4-star Costa Ballena hotel,that also incorporates two rounds of golf, one of which is the competition day at Sherry Golf club. You can ring Johnathan Goodson on (0034)639741886 or email him at HYPERLINK "mailto: jg@medgolf.gi" jg@medgolf.gi for further details

Blue Sky Trophy

Local businessman Louis Calvenle was successful at the latest Med Golf competition on Sunday 1st July at Santana. Louis not only won the Blue Sky trophy but also booked his place for the Med Golf Masters at Valderrama in November. Second place went to Charlie Mangella, with Kevin Castle third.

Full details of the tournament schedule, golfing packages, green fee discounts and membership advantages is on the web site www. teetimespain.com

Summer Sports & Leisure Programme Underway

The Gibraltar Sports and Lei sure Authority's Summer Sports and Leisure Programme, spon sored by NatWest Offshore is now underway.

Information on all activities can be found in the summer sports and leisure booklet, sponsored by NatWest Offshore, which was distributed into all schools shortly before the children broke up for the summer holidays. If you have not been able to get a hold of a copy they are available at the Bayside Sports Centre

Don't worry if you have missed the first weeks, everyone over the age of 7 years is welcome to join in the Summer Sports Train which is held at the Bayside Sports Centre Monday to Friday 10am to 12 noon and Tots comer for 5 & 6 year olds until Friday 31st

August, Just go along, play, enjoy and be active this summer. Telephone 76522or 79625 for further informa

tion. (Children must bring their completed parental consentform on their first visit to the sports train.)

(HI HAYMILLS

Now at 94 Harbours Walk New Harbours Tel:40690 Fax:74797

Emall:tony.harris@haymills.com Website:www.haymllls.com

Natural History £t Heritage Park

Admission9.30amto7pm bytickets

(includes entrance to sites within the Park - St. Michael's Cave, Monkey's Den, Great Siege Tun nels. Military Heritage Centre,'A City Under Siege' Exhibition and Moorish Castle). (Facilities closed Christmas Day and New ■year's Day.) Adults £7/Children 5-12 years: £4, Children age 4 and under free, vehicles £1.50. Private vehicles may be restricted at certain times and it's advisable to take a RockTour by taxi/mini bus. The Natural His tory & Heritage Park is also reached by cable car (leaves Grand Parade 9.30am-5.15pm Mon-Sun. Last cable down: 5.45pm).

ThefloraandfaunaontheUpperRock

are considered to be of great conservational value. It's a perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gibraltar as the shortest crossing be tween Europe and Africa, but botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flowering plants. Including some unique to Gibraltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnakes, butterflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on flora and fauna is found at the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society's information centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael's Cave; The cave comprises an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-15Qft 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 audito rium 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 tall-less Barbary Macaques and Europe's only free living monkeys. £500 fine for feeding the monkeys - don't do iti

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (1779-1783) when France and Spain made an attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence Governor General Elliot offered a reward to any man who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock. It was a Sgt. Major Ince who sug gested tunnelling and there are now over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock with various exhibitions inside the tunnels.

The Military Heritage Centre: Housed in one of the Rock's many historic batteries, the Military Heritage Centre displays infor mation on the development of Gibraltar's military defences through the ages.

A City Under Siege Exhibition: Exhibits depicting the lives of the civilian population during the many sieges, are housed in one of the earliest British building on the Rock. Original graffiti, drawn by duty soldiers to stop themselves falling asleep, is still vis ible, the earliest dating back to 1726.

The Moorish Cestle: actually just part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, spearheaded from Gibral tar in 71 IAD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad ("Gibraltar" is a corruption of the Arabic words "Jebel Tarik" -Tarik's mountain). The part we see today. The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu'i Hassan recaptured the Rock from Spain.

Natural History b Heritage Perk Walks: The recommended walk is St Michael's Cave through to Charles V Wall but walkers should be relatively fit. It is also pleasant walking along the upper rock roads. Fact Files and brochures are available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botenlcei Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into dis repair but are currently being restored to their former glory. Visitors can enjoy a stroll beneath pines, dragon trees and palms, and see many of Gibraltar's native plants as well as exotic species. The shop sells environ mentally friendly gifts, plants and seeds. Tel: 72639/74022. Large car park-

Nelson's Anchorage: Rosia Road 9.30am - 5.15pm Monday to Saturday (last entry at 5pm). Closed on Sunday. Admission; £1.00 (free of charge with Nature Reserve ticket. Tickets for the nature reserve can also be bought at this attraction).

Parson's Lodge: Rosia Road. A narrow limestone outcrop with a labyrinth of underground tunnels surmounted by an impressive battery, which has witnessed

the development of coast artillery over 300 years. Once housed three 18 ton 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders positioned behind a unique sandwich of armour plate and teak, known as 'Gibraltar Shields'. Open 10am to 6pm every day except Mondays. Adults £2/ Children & OAF^ £1. Cafeteria on site.

Flat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Road, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar. To visit contact: F. Gomez Tel, 44460, P Hodkinson Tel. 43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe (Museum within premises) Europe Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11 am-7pm Saturday, Sutv day and Public Holidays. Closed 1 pm - 2pm.

Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Road, open 9am - 7pm daily (admission free).

Business information

Gibraltar Financial Services Commission

Tel: 40283/4 website: viww.fsc.gi

Chamber of Commerce

Tel: 78376

Federation Small Businesses. ...Tel; 47722

Company Registry

Customs

Dept of Trade & Industry

Useful Numbers

Tel: 78193

Tel: 78879

Tel: 52052

Airport (general info.) Tel: 73026

Hospital, St Bernards Tel: 79700

Weather information Tel: 5-3416

Frontier Queue Update Tel: 42777

General Information

Gibraltar Museum Tel: 74289

18/20 Bomb House Lane Open 10am-6pm (Sat. 10am - 2pm), Closed on Sunday. Ad mission: Adults £2/Children under 12 years £1. Special exhibitions also held at museum premises in Casemates gallery.

fnergencycallsonly:

Fire/Ambulance ,Tel: 190

Police Tel: 199/112

ErrtergiBftcy Number .Tel: 112

Registry Office Tel: 72289

It Is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours of arrival. A fact taken advantage of bystars such as Sean Connery and John Lennon.

Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 70052

As well as offering normal fares, Gibraltar taxis provide a complete Rock Tour taking in the Upper Rock, Europe Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock's major features in a short time.

Tourist Board Tel: 749S0 Gibraltar Tourist Board. Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square, Gibraltar. UK Tel: 0207 836 0777 giblondon@aol.com

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 75669 Centre of Gib's cultural life, includes a caf eteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am -11 pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends.

Public Holidays

Gibraltar b UK 2007 New Year's Day 1 January, Commonwealth Day* 12 March, Good Friday 6 April, Easter Monday 9 April, May Day 1 May, Spring Bank Holiday 28 May, Queen's Birthday 18 June, Summer Bank Holiday 27 August, National Day* 10 Sep tember, Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day 26 December - 'Gibraltar Only

Spain Fixed: New Year's Day 1 January. Epiphany 6 January, St Joseph's Day 19 March, Labour Day 1 May, St John 24 June, St James 25 July, Assumption Day 15 August, National Day 12 October, All Saints 1 November, Immaculate Concep tion 8 December, Christmas 25 December

Moveable: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Corpus Christi

Non-urgent

^ soldiers iti iSihcenturyj^bdunilorm, Thesoldief t march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they narry out a "Ceremony of the Keys" and men march back up fylain Street to thi Calhcdr.il ol St Muiy the Crowned

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