The Gibraltar Magazine December 2003/January 2004

inside this issue:

scoundrel governors

the girl who won the Eurovote

Peter Cook — happy days

-if special

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by Peter Schirmer

Gibraltar In London

Attended by some of the leading players from the Rock's business afid financial services sectors, a mix of politics and economics has become part and parcel of the government's annual October jamboree centred on the City of London.

This year's "Gibraltar Day" the fourth such event, and gener ally regarded as the most success ful so far — was marked by a pullno-punches address by Chief Min ister Peter Caruana to a 450-strong motley audience in the Guild Hall Art Gallery... an appropriate set ting, for the main hall of the gallery was designed as a "showcase" for the massive oil "The Siege of Gi braltar" painted by John Copely.

As well as the Rock's two most recent former Governors — the popular Sir Richard Luce (now Lord Chamberlain Lord Luce)and the lonelier figure of Sir David Durie — a gaggle of British MPs,

way of keeping Gibraltar's friends focused should wc need to call on them again in the future-and if we do, I have no doubt they will re spond just like they did last year."

Earlier in the day, at a lunch at the Royal Automobile Club for the finance sector hosted by DTI Min ister Keith Azopardi, Caruana made what was probably the most important contribution of this year's "Gibraltar Day" when he gave an assurance that whatever the outcome of the European Com mission's eventual ruling on Gi braltar's proposed now corporate tax regime, the Government was determined to maintain a zero tax

trade union leaders,representatives of the armed forces, and Gibraltarians living in Britain heard Caruana admit that uncertainty still surrounded the vexed issue of Spanish claims to sovereignty of the Rock.

"There is great anticipation for the(tercentennial)celebration next year and that is why we are organ izing events in London as well," Caruana told the throng of cham pagne-sipping guests. "We don't know on this joint sovereignty is sue whether we have won the war or a battle, so it is very important to keep Gibraltar's lobby simmer ing on the boil and events like these and those for the centenary are a

rate for "customers" of the Rock's financial services industry.

In the current limbo of uncer tainty generated by Brussels' delay in ruling on the alleged State Aid implications of the measures, this undertaking will bo welcomed by local service providers,by their ex isting overseas clients and by po tential investors — some of whom attended the lunch.

"The government is absolutely committed to the concept of zero taxation for customers of the fi nance centre," Caruana told me in an interview before the London visit. This did not mean a commit ment to zero taxation for financial service providers in respect of their

"The government is absolutely committed to the concept of zero taxation for customers of the finance centre"

fees and profits — though here tax would be kept as low as was rea sonably possible — but it would apply to their international clien tele.

"And if we can't do it — though I am confident that we can do it by this scheme(the proposed new tax measures) we will do it by some other scheme. But the continuity of zero taxation is assured," he added. "No international customer of the finance centre is exposed to the possibility of suddenly finding themselves having to pay taxes on their Gibraltar business."

In what, as it turned out, was to be his last major address to a finan cial gathering as Minister for Trade and industry, Azopardi (who did not stand for re-election in Novem ber)stressed that fiscal sovereignty — as opposed to regulatory issues — remained a key to securing the sustainability of Gibraltar's economy.

agreed a savings directive — which, of course,is less of a directive about savings and more about exchang ing information."

However both measures were undermined by the signals trans mitted by the big players that to secure a compromise which would deliver as much of the political agenda as possible they were will ing to acquiesce to or condone an un-level playing field that would damage the economies of many fi nance centre jurisdictions, he warned.

Clearly there are some choppy waters and chill winds ahead for Gibraltar and other offshore cen tres, but these were far from the thoughts of the guests at the Guild hall that evening. Optimism was the order of the day, and even former Governor Sir David Durie — whose tenure on the Rock was neither the most successful nor the happiest for an incumbent of The

Business Advantage

With 30 years retail banking experience behind him,there's very little about procedures that Louis Baldachino doesn't have at his fingertips, and as an enthusiastic "organiser" who enjoys "setting up procedures and making them work" one can see why he has been pivotal to the success of Barclays Bank's new Business Advantage Service. every department and gaining in valuable experience as he rose up the promotional ladder.

"In my final year at school peo ple from the Youth Centre ar ranged for talks by various em ployers about potential job oppor tunities. 1 liked what they said about banking... and applied to Barclays. That was it... and I've never regretted it", he says. "If it hadn't been the bank, it would have been some other office work — something I've always liked,., setting up procedures and organ izing staff and teams.

"Our involvement in interna tional issues should not be mis taken for any concession or erosion of our fiscal sovereignty... Inter national initiatives should not im pinge on this point and our in volvementin these has always been on the basis that tax competition is a positive economic force," he said, in a clear reference to the recent pressures on offshore finance cen tres by the OECD and other inter national bodies in their attempts to tighten controls on what they re gard as low tax havens.

"Since last year— following the commitments that more than 30 countries gave to the OECD,there has been some progress in the at tempt to standardise the account ing requirements aimed at securing transparency and access to infor mation," Azopardi said."Simulta neously the EU has finally, after much political horse-trading.

Convent — predicted: "Next year will be a good year for Gibraltar" when I spoke to him briefly.

In fact the cold, mist-laden wind blowing off the Thames did noth ing to dampen any of our spirits as we trooped out of the Guildhall Gallery to watch a performance and march past by the band of the Army Air Corps, augmented for the oc casion by five members of the Gi braltar Regiment.

"It's a great do. Brilliantly organ ised," commented Joe Gaggero, president of GB Airways and chair man of the Bland Group. "One hopes they can keep it up for many years to come."

Credit for the day's success goes to Albert Poggio, head of the Gi braltar Government Office in Lon don, who promises:"If you thought this year's 'day' was great. wait till next year, that's going to be a real humdinger." a,

As BankingServices Maivager in charge of the Bank's operations at its Main Street branch it fell to Louis to control the change-over of the procedures which saw a shift of pressures from the cash iers at the tellers tills to the "back room" operations. And, as a per son who takes genuine pleasure in dealing with people whether staff or the bank's customers—his colleagues agree that if was Louis'skills which made the transition and adaptation of the new systems — as smooth as they were.

"To handle the shift of the volume of business from the counters to the back office meant considerable restructure," he says. "But it's the sort of thing I really enjoy doing and, in a sense, the reatively smooth introduction of 'Business Advantage' has been one of the highlights of my career so far. We had a clear objectiveand a deadline — which were suc cessfully met... something of which I'm quietly proud." He's also pleased that as a msult of the new arrangements Business Ad vantage customers will be able to make nigh-safe deposits during the Christmas period... even when the bank is closed.

Louis joined the bank in 1973, straight from the Rock's grammar school and — with the exception of two years when he was sec onded to the Barclays branch at Heathrow Airport"about 20 years ago" — has been involved in its Main Street operations working in

"As far as I can recall I started off in the Foreign Exchange sec tion..."

In the early 1970s,although the bank ran some in-house training, there were few of the opportuni ties for extra studies in banking which staff enjoy todav — "and are actively encouraged by the bank to take up" — he explains. "By the time these extra mural courses became widely available I had already learnt most of what they had to teach during my work in the bank. I also learnt a lot — and widened my un derstanding of banking practice — working on the company management side with Barclays Trust as part of my progress in the branch.

"Isuppose I got caught up in the system—but you really can't beat hands-on experience.It's a bit like driving a car. No matter how well you may do in the test for your driving licence, it's what happens on the road afterwards that counts."

In his current role as well as be ing in charge of the branch's per sonnel,Louis keeps a watchful eye over all the other aspects of its work — clearing, data capture, counter and back-room services and,of course,customer relation ships.

"Like the rest of the staff, I con sider this a very important as pect," he adds.

Married and with two sons one 11, the other eight — Louis' wife is expecting their third child in March next year.

"If you thought this year's 'day' was great... wait till next year. That's going to be a real humdinger."

liked what they said about banking"

THREADS OF INDIVIDUALITY

'We've lots of Santas and Snowmen all ready for embroidering/ said Sandra as she set her machine running for another order.

'And people are already asking me to put their children's names on Christmasstockings/ she added as she found a moment to talk, leav ing her 12-needle single-head com pact machine to lake its instructions from the computer disk.

Sandra Buxton is well used to being busy embroidering, having previously worked for the nowdeparted Personal Touch and Stitches, and her machine has hardly stopped its multi-coloured whirring since she set up on her own about a year ago. Since then news of the quality of her work and prices has spread to the extent that she now embroiders for the Air Training Corps back in the UK, sending off regular parcels in quick response to their requirements.

That began when they started asking me to embroider their badges onto their clothing when they were here for their summer camps.' she explained, although most of her work is fairly local: all the school uniform badges, as well as embroidering logos onto sweatshirts, knitwear, polo shirts, t-shirts, jackets, fleeces, trousers and caps for a range of customers that just about represents a full cross-section of local life. This in cludes most clubs and associations, (both civilian and joint services), companies, the Gibraltar Tourist Board,and a lot of private individu als.

Sandra, who originates from York but who has been fully settled in Gibraltar for fourteen years, ex plained that a regular part of her busy business comes from people just wanting a one-off piece of em broidery, sometimes bringing the

item in themselves.'A lot of people bring towels in to have their name put on them;' she said as one ex ample, but there are also custom-

is made of this quality personalisa tion service is the embroidering of names or initials onto serviettes. This latter appeals to restaurateurs

the twelve-needle machine means that up to a dozen colours can be incorporated into to the embroidery, whether the design is simple or complicated

ers who want a baby's name em broidered on the little one's clothes or perhaps their blankets or pil lows. This can be the parents or it might be someone making a sim ple baby gift into something special and memorable. Another use that

and hoteliers as well as style-con scious hosts.

Sandra is emphatic about qual ity.'You just can't embroider onto low quality material;' she said. However, in order to give her cus tomers the maximum freedom of

choice, Sandra offers, where possi ble, a range between high quality and superb.

Sandra pointed out that whilst a job simply involving lettering,such as a name or a slogan, can be car ried out almost at once after choos ing the typeface, anything more elaborate that involves graphic de sign needs to be brought to her ei ther on disk or sent by email.

Normally,small jobs can be com pleted in a day, but even the larger and more complex pieces of em broidery or those requiring cloth ing to be specially ordered are usu ally completed within a week.And the twelve-needle machine means that up to a dozen colours can be incorporated into to the embroi dery, whether the design is simple or complicated.

Stitch Design is situated in one of the units in the patio near the top of City Mill Lane, number 56 to be precise, and its sign is clearly dis played both outside and in.

Open straight through from 10.30 to 6, Monday to Friday, the tel ephone and fax number is 45966, mobile 56590000. Orders and en quiries can be sent by email, al though care needs to be taken with the address: sandra4stichdcsign@ yahoo.com. The tricky part is that in order to register the address the second't' had to be omitted from the'stitch' part,thus it is'stich'. Not a serious problem, however, given that the business has blossomed from the very first time those twelve bobbins started spinning and in the time that I was there it had become clear to me that the se cret of Sandra's success lay in her dedicated attention to detail.

Sandra Buxton ofStitch Design

Last month the Gibraltar Tourist Board launched its new image at a reception at the Mount. The new GTB corpo rate image uses a silhouette of the Rock, which is a powerful symbol and universally known; the sun suggests Mediterra nean warmth, and the colour blue reflects the colour of the sea and sky. The concept and colour scheme are also the ba sis for a new range of tourist lit erature including a brochure, dav-trip leaflet and mini-guide.

A calmer count down to

Christmas — courtesy NatWest NatWest is entering into the Christmas spirit early and helping people with their finan cial needs over the festive season by opening for business on Sat urday mornings.

Recognising that the count down to Christmas can be a stressful time, NatWest is the first bank in Gibraltar to respond to customers' needs by opening at the weekend. Between Novem ber 22and December 20, NatWest will be open on Saturdays be tween 9.15 am and 1 pm.

Kerry Blight, Regional Man ager of NatWestsaid:"Christmas is fun. But the last few weeks be fore December 25 can be quite stressful, as we rush to finish off our shopping and tidy up our fi nances before the start of a New Year. We believe opening on a Saturday is a 'first' in Gibraltar. But that's not unusual for us. At NatWest we are always looking for innovative ways to make our customers' lives easier. By open ing on Saturdays we can take some of the hassle out of the tra ditional Christmas panic. Per sonal customers will be able to call into the bank at a time that

suits them and relax,secure in the knowledge that we are there to help."

As well as everyday banking transactions, customer services staff will be available to assist with general enquiries and open new personal accounts.And as Christ mascan be an expensive time,staff will be on hand to discuss over drafts and personal loans. Cus tomer advisers will also be avail able to talk about mortgages and provide free full financial reviews to see if they can save customers money.

Kerry Blight continued: "This new move once again shows our commitment to the local Gibraltar retail market and contrasts strongly with other banks who have either left local retail bank ing or heavily increased charges. It's certainly good news for our customers. With Christmas fast approaching,its important that we do all we can to help our custom ers plan ahead.Saturday opening makes sense. And starting off in November means we'll be doing our bit to help our customers in the busy build up to the festive season."

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RENT NOW! 8 gibraltar /ine December 2003 / January 2004

Quality, in terms of service as well as product, has been the keynote of the Beacon Press success story,from its small beginnings — when, in 1986, Gigi Sene s^iotted a niche in the local market and opened a small shop on Cloister Ramp — to become Gibraltar's major supplier of commercial stationery, with a substantial warehouse in the Europa Business Centre and a retail outlet that last month doubled the size of its original premises.

Apart tmm computers, which the Senes argue arc already well served by other outlets on the Rock, The Beacon Press reckons to be able to provide "everything one needs to fit out an office" — from paper clips to office furniture.

With a staff ofseven,Gigi and her brother Alf(who joined her at Bea con three year's ago after deciding to "down-size" from an increas ingly stress-filled job in Bristol)set themselves the target of "being known as the company that's help ful" — a goal that they've clearly achieved, attracting custom not only from the Rock's business and financial community but from firms and individuals along the Costas.

"I'm strong on customer care,so when selecting staff we take on peo ple we can mould and motivate," explains Alf, whose 32 years spent running community enterprises in cluding advice and cultural centres has honed his people-management skills and who now manages the staff and financial side of Beacon's business.

"Gigi has a comprehensive, al most encyclopaedic knowledge of sourcing products and understands the local market's needs inti mately," he adds."Between us we make a 'fit' and produce a sort of chemistry that has helped the com pany grow dramatically over the past two to three years."

Gigi, who wanted a business of her own, set up in Gibraltar as a printer's agent in the mid 19803 af ter a chance meeting with the owner of a British printing works.

"As I established contacts and took orders for work to be done in the UK, several of my clients also asked me to arrange to supply their stationery," she tells me. "There were only a couple of stationery outlets on the Rock at the time and there was a niche crying out to be filled. Fortunately, the UK printer had a partner who was in that line of business and he gave me contacts among the suppliers as well as a lot of advice."

So she took over the small shop on Cloister Ramp. and hasn't looked back since The Beacon Press came into being.

"In a sense it was lucky that I had opened the shop, for the printer went bankrupt when his wife'took

Paula and Catrina — friend!}/ staffat Beacon Press him to the cleaners' after discover ing that he was having an affair with an 18-ycar old employee," Gigi says.

A few months ago when the paint shop adjacent to Beacon be-

such as ink cartridges, DVDs...and even security cameras.

"It has taken three months of hard work to get the display area right.. to be able to display the range of products that an\' office

warehouse we can source it for them — quickly — from our net work ofsuppliers. For offices order ing bv phone we guarantee deliverv on the following day.. some thing our big customers — banks, legal firms and accountants — ap preciate."

The brother and sister team stress the importance to the firm's success of an awareness of the local marketensuring that people buy locally and keeping the pound in Girbaltar thev are alert to competi tion from Spanish wholesalers and retailers. But they have a major ad vantage — which attracts consid erable custom from expatriates and English-speaking firms along the coast — the instructions accompa nying the products which they sell are in English!

And anyone who, like myself, has struggled to comprehend in structions on theSpanish version of an ink cartridge or other computer stationery that's an unbeatable plus.

came vacant the Senes acquired the premises and with considerable structural work extended the retail outlet to provide greater walk-in retail facilities allowing the display of new lines and a greater range of products including computer sta tionery and computer consumables

needs to function and to transfer the company's ethos of service and quality into a friendly, helpful am bience that the walk-in customer can feel," Alf says.

"And if a customer comes in and asks for something which we don't have in stock either in the shop or

IMAGE GRAPHICS INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS

At a recent event held in the Eliott Hotel, Image Graphics,local agents for Xerox,introduced some excellent new colour copiers, print ers and all in one office machines designed to do away with the need for multiple machines in a busy office which can be a drain on con sumable resources. For more infor mation on new Xerox products contact Image Graphics on 79693 or Fax: 71892.

"Gigi has a comprehensive,almost encyclopae dic knowledge of sourcing products and under stands the local market's needs intimately"

SCOUNDREL GOVERNORS!

Gibraltar's second and third British Governors were unmitigated'scoundrels who should probably have been prosecuted as common thieves but were not, while the first — chosen by Prince George soon after Admiral Sir George Rooke's forces captured the Rock — was killed by a stray cannon ball within a month of taking office. The second Governor, Brigadier General John Shrimpton,"took" ten brass cannon from the garrison and sold them to Portugal, while the third "perfected a profitable sideline in extortion whereby virtually all the house rents, port duties fines and fees went into his own pocket."

Shrimpton, involved in a costly lawsuit relating to his wife's dubi ous acquisition of two large coun try estates, "took" the cannon to solve what has been de scribed as his "financial in convenience". His Governor ship did not last long; but when he left the Rock it was not because of his "blatant and un punished act of theft, but to pur sue a more excit ing army career and the promise of promotion."

On the other hand, Elliott — of whom it was said that "he would sell his grandmother for ready money" — was ordered home to Brit ain when the extent of his avarice came to the notice of the new Tory Ministers in 1710. In his pursuit of cash Elliott had pulled rank and bullied staff, and — while the au thorities in London may not have been concerned about the fate of his grandmother — they "feared he might be tempted to sell the for tress."

These little-known historical vi gnettes have been unearthed by Peter Bond, whose new coffee-ta ble book "300 Years of British Gi braltar - 1704-2004" is published this month (December) as part of the Government's celebration of next year's tercentenary. Between them,the Government,the Tourist Board and the Gibraltar Office in London have ordered almost 3,000 copies of the book —"the only way to make this sort of publication fi nancially viable," Bond explains.

The publication of "300 Years of British Gibraltar" has been cleverly

timed to catch the Christmas gift market and contains a pleasing bal ance of old prints and photographs with present day images taken by former model-turned camerawoman Gry Iverslein who is a regu lar visitor to the Rock.

Between them Bond and (verslein have done a splendid job of gathering the illustrative mate rial which forms the bulk of the book.But it is Bonds exploration of the more arcane byways of the Rock's chequered history that will grip the reader — particularly the sections dealing with early British occupation and the events of World War 11.

And,given Spain's current claim to sovereignty of the Rock

though political events and Gibral tar's dogged resistance have pushed these onto the back burner... at least for the time being — it is fascinating to reflect on the irony(as Bond does in his opening chapter)that Rooke's capture of the rocky outcrop and fortress was ac tually meant to spearhead an Anglo-Dutch invasion of the Ibe rian peninsula on behalf of King Charles 111 of Spain!

By the beginning of the 18th cen tury "the wars of religion had given way to the wars of dynasties in which men now fought to prevent any single family dominating Eu rope," Bond writes.And by willing his throne to his great nephew (PhilipV of Spain, who was a

grandson of the French "Sun King" Louis XIV,Charles 11 had "upsetthe apple-cart."

A Franco-Spanish alliance threatened Anglo-Dutch security and trading prospects making the War of Spanish Succession in evitable. "When (in 1702) the French troops had the impertinence to march into the Spanish Netherlands, threatening Holland's independence, (Britain's) Queen Anne de clared war on France'to pre serve libert}' and balance in Europe.' But she was really thinking of her bankroll," Bond points out.

Until the capture of Gibral tar — which was pretty much an afterthought! — the AngloDutch expedition to the Iberian Peninsula was not a military success. Plans to take Cadiz and use it as a foothold to advance inland and establish Charles as Spanish king failed because the port was too well fortified, and an attack on Barcelona the following year suffered a similar fate.

"Here was this tloating expedi tion of over 2000 troops and sailors and their leaders at an embarrass ing loss as to how to put them to good use," Bond writes."Naturally they were reluctant to return home with such a poor war record, so they decided in some desperation to have a shot at capturing Gibral tar... Ahead of the invasion Rooke had delivered to the Spanish Gov ernor of Gibraltar the official proc lamation stating he was not invad ing Spain on behalf ofQueen Anne but merely seeking to deliver them from the French to their rightful King Charles HI.

But the Spanish Governor de clined to surrender and "after a naval bombardment had reduced the town to rubble, the marines landed almost unopposed."

The rest, as they say, is history... and what a fascinating history Bond has made it.

'MifU )>tMk>ipah Sot «c(t snm

" Pagesfrom Gibraltar's history

"They were reluctant to return home with such a poor war record, so they decided... to have a shot at capturing Gibraltar"

The Gibraltar Financial Services Handbook 2004

This year's edition of the Gi

braltar Financial Serz'ices Handbook, coinciding as it does with the tercentenary of the Rock's association with Great Brit ain,appears in a new format. While the layout and content remains the same, the new slimline binding brings the Handbook into the mainstream of book publication.

The foreword by the Gibraltar Finan cial Services Com missioner sets outthe Rock's position amongst other finan cial centres and the regard for its high standing held by the international regula tory bodies. More and more the direc tives of the European Union seeking harmonisation of taxation and anticriminal practices are impinging on all financial activities and are cre ating an imperative for local insti tutions to keep not only in step,but in the forward ranks of monetary regulation,particularly as Gibraltar is within the European Union and subject constantly to competition

from other international centres outside it.

Whatever the circumstances, in dividuals, commercial entities and their professional advisers have to plan for the future and the correct disposition and management of their assets is a necessary factor in ensuring their future stability and profit ability. The Hand book spells out in ar ticles and up to date legal appendices the advantages of using Gibraltar in order to maximise the chances of success.

Whether it be in banking, insurance, company and prop erty management or legal matters,there is information in the 240 odd pages to compliment the knowledge of the discerning investor, businessman and professional advisor at £15 or €25 a copy from local book stores or £25 €40 by airmail order it is a good read. Sterling cheques or cash with your order to GFSH,PO Box 555, Gibraltar. E-mail: drsloma@gibnet,giTel/Fax: 79385.

The Smallest Bank in the World

owned financial institution which was established in Gibraltar in 1855 and held its own for 132 years against the odds.

Written by Paco Galliano OBE

— who joined the family Bank in 1944 when he was just 17 years old, then a year later had to take over the running of it when his father died — the book is a verv personal history of five genera tions ofone family which incor porates much of the history of Gibraltar from 1855 to 1987.

Walk into our Gibraltar branch and you will find we are on first name terms with many of our customers. Not only do we have excellent local knowledge, we can provide a wide range of services.

So. if you are looking for a mutually beneficial relationship, with a personal touch, we can help.

A new book crammed with al most 150 years of Gibraltar's so cial and commercial history in pic tures and words is now available at local book sellers and is worth putting on anyone's Christmas list.

The book follows the fortunes of 'The Smallest Bank in the World' — Galliano's, the family

The book contains some fas cinating archive photographs and memorabilia including photographs of curfew per mits and posters that will bring back memories for older Gibraltarians and intrigue the young.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the social and commercial history of Gibraltar. An invaluable resource and a good read.

A limited edition of just 800 books is available at £15.95 from local book shops.

IE GIBRALTAR INANCIAL SERVICES ANDBOOK

At Norwich and Peterborough, we are committed to providing a very personal service... . .. it's in our mutual Interest.

Gibraltarians will no longer be disenfranchised in the next European Elections due to the efforts and amazing success of a small group of determined people who were not satisfied with the negative answers they had been given at that time.

It has taken six years to obtain a favourable judgement and 'Denise Matthews versus the UK Govern ment' goes down in European Community history as a 'judge ment for the plaintiff.

"We are amazed at how sud denly it has been decided in our favour," says the ever- bubbly,posi tive Denise;"but it took a long time. In the beginning we didn't believe that we could have been so success ful."

"My father Dennis, then Chair man of the 'Self Determination Group for Gibraltar'in discussions with Euro-lawyer Michael Llamas decided that Gibraltar might be able to take a legal ca.se to the Eu ropean parliament that a person was being denied their Eurovote. There were several persons consid ered but 1 was chosen because 1 was coming up to 18 years and could not have voted previously. It was put to me that it could be a long case with court appearances; 1 was more than happy to do it-'No problem'. We went to court and didn't know if it was a reality.

"It has taken 6/7 years and we are delighted. I was being stopped in Main Street and being told 'you've won!' 1 didn't at first un derstand.

"The People of Gibraltar have won and have a greater confidence. This is just one of the things which

we can do'legally'.(Inlv vesterdav

1 u as stopped by friends of m\'fam ily and embraced as 'the girl who won the Eurovote for us'."

A triumph for Gibraltar, a tri umph for the SDGG, which had come into being in the early '90s. MrDennis Matthews,Denise'sdad, was instrumental in 'giving birth' to the movement as he explains:

"1 had been very active in local politics, as President of the Gibral tar Teachers' Association, Chair man of the Staff Association Co-

tjome/, who was good at 'stirring things up'and he said "let's do it!"; so we called a meeting at the Caleta Hotel. About thirty turned up, in cluding the lavvver James Levy, nephew of Sir Joshua Hassan.

"We talked to Cecilia Baldachino of the local branch of the European Movement and she agreed with our plans, showing us her enormous file of petitions and lOOs of letters; which we of the SDGG fell were getting Gibraltar nowhere. We were being hammered everywhere by

eign & Commonwealth Office and got a 'stupid' replv.

"Gibraltarians could not be en franchised because: 'You are not members of the Customs Union,or the Common Agricultural Policy, and the UK drew up their bounda ries onlv to include the UK.

"I wrote back to ask — How stu pid of you;'Why were we left out? Why can't we come in?' I'm still waiting for a reply.

"Michael Llamas suggested we go down the legal route of petition ing the European Court of Human Rights — that it was the UK which was denying us our rights.

ordinating Committee of the Civil Ser\'ice — a Union job, and Presi dent of the Gibraltar Trades Coun cil. I had fought on the 'parity' is sue, alongside joe Bossano, which was regarded as 'the most impor tant success' by the House of As sembly.

"I had a 'bee in my bonnet' that no-one was doing anything about the status of Gibraltarians — we had lost the 'Gibraltar lobby' at Westminster and the United Na tions had declared the 90s as the fi nal decade of 'Colonialism'. I felt Gib. needed a 'wake-up' call.

"1 consulted my friend John

Spain — at the UN — and we'd been excluded from 'air liberalisa tion' by the EC and the 'external frontiers convention'. Our rights were being eroded.

"Michael Llamas, a Gibraltarian lawyer practising in Paris, came to give a talk about structums of the EC and we met to discuss mv ideas.

"We could: Hold a mock Euro pean Election and present our nominated candidate in Brussels, or:Take the'legal' route of attempt ing to get Gibraltarians enfran chised for the 'Euro-vote'. We de cided the latter.

"1 wrote a letter to the UK's For

'Either find a UK ex-pat who is being deprived of right to his vote, or a Gibraltarian who has never had the opportunity to exercise their vote. 1 suggested Denise, 17 at the time. She was a bit scared — will 1 have to go into court? It didn't come to that. Is it important?'Extremely', I said.'I'll do it', she replied.

"It wasn't made easy. First we had to get our submission accepted — hundreds aren't. Once that was achieved it has been seven years long wait, before we received the news of our success for Denise,for the SDGG and for Gibraltarians.Of course, I'm delighted. It has been one of the major battles Gibraltar has won in recent times. Bt»th the GSLP and the GSD governments have always been most supportive.

"I had a 'bee in my bonnet' that no-one was doing anything about the status of Gibraltarians"

Detns

"I feel lhat we shall have our vote in the next elections. If not now, eventually.The MEPcandidates for the South West who are visiting us certainly think so.

"!don't think that Spain can stop us any more. Ideally, we'd like to have an MEP for Gibraltar — but we're too small under the present rules for a constituencv of our own.

"Perhaps a Cibraltarian could come forward for one of the seven South West seats. At present,as far as 1 know, we don't have a 'Eurovote' campaign going; but we will have... but it won't be me. On re-

great people, several from Gibral tar.Since it's part-time, I am able to pursue a very busy life. I've man aged to do some marketing and advertising with TV. I have always loved to perform and am part of song and dance group MMI who do gigs around the Costa — a couple of us are song-writing at present.

"Young people have a greater sense of freedom awav from the Rock;there are not so many people watching your every move. 1 have many international friends and there are frequent visits from Gibraltarian friends. If I get lonely.

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tirement I was succeeded as SDGG Chairman by my good friend Willie Serfaty, we still get together some times."

I caught up with Denise as she was returning to San Pedro after a weekend on the Rock with her friends and family. For several years she had been actively in volved with her own Marketing company and a regular hi- profile person on the business scene.

"I'm now working at a Health Centre in Marbella with Dr Triay and Dr. Peralta, in Administration, which I had experience at on the Rock. It's a wonderful place with

the Rock is only an hour away.

"I owe my strong, independent nature to my father and mother. When I was growing up, six of us in a small flat at Varyl Bogg, both my parents were alwavs working to improve our lifestyle. My father, a history/ English teacher wasalways active in Teachers' Union affairs and politics, founding member and President of the SDGG, before go ing into business. He always taught me to stand up for my beliefs.

"I'm a proud Gibraltarian and will be there to exercise my Eurovote as will everyone else we'll see what happens."

"I'm a proud Gibraltarian and will be there to exercise my Eurovote as will everyone else"

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Tel: 40550 Fax: 75529

email: gibmag@taywood.gi

Taylor Woodrow

RENTAL INCENTIVES

Plans to sell off almost 100 Government-owned properties in the Old Town last month (November) — as part of a drive to ease pressures on the Rock's property market — were put on hold by Chief Minister Peter Caruana ahead of the election; but other moves which form part of the initiative to make available more reasonably-priced homes are to forge ahead. "disturbing" and added that "it should not be allowed to continue indefinitely.'

Significantly, these include radi cal changes to Gibraltar's anti quated Rent Act and the similarly arcane Landlord and Tenant Ordi nance which between them have forced many landlords to leave older properties empty — some have become almost derelict — be cause repairs and maintenance are not economically viable.

The "45 year rule", which each year brings more and more prop erties into the rent control net, is also to be dropped and provisions which allow relatives and descend ants of tenants to "inherit" lowrental accommodation could also be scrapped.

There have been no statutory in creases in rents since 1983 and, as things stand, rentals on privately owned accommodation in build ings which have stood for 45 years or longer are pegged at levels onetenth of their real market value. Crippled by laws and regulations first drafted more than 50 years ago — when Gibraltar's economic and social climate was very differentlandlords have found the cost of repairs and maintenance so uneco nomic that many of the Rock's older buildings have sunk into a morass of neglect.

The plight of the old buildings many of them historic and architec tural gems — and the problems which landlords face were high-

lighted more than two years ago in a Supreme Court case heard by Chief Justice Derek Schofield and again by the Court of Appeal. And though the latter allowed a Rent Tribunal appeal against Schofield's ruling, it described the situation as

Since then the Government has been in consultation with Gibral tar's Association of Landlords(es tablished in 2001 at the suggestion of the Court of Appeal)and Action for Housing the body which repre sents tenants' interests. This had been complicated, Caruana admit ted when I interviewed him re cently.

While both Action for Housing and the Property Owners'Associa tion agreed that the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance should be changed there was no concurrence as to how this should be. The Gov ernment had to listen to both argu ments and then "form a view,"he said.

"The Rent Act amendment is also important because when it is changed it will provide a further source of additional housing," he said. "What is happening is that landlords prefer to have their prop erties lying empty than to rent them out in terms of the existing Land lord and Tenant Ordinance. And there are hundreds of flats lying empty in Gibraltar for that reason. When we amend the Ordinance this will encourage and facilitate landlords renting out their proper ties."

It was "not just a case of doing

there are hundreds of flats lying empty in Gibraltar for that reason

the right thing by landlords so that they get a decent return on their property there is also important social benefits," Caruana added. For as well as aesthetic improve ments — landlords would be able to maintain and improve their properties "so adding to the over all effect and image of Gibraltar" it was important "not to diminish from the security of existing ten ants,.. that we don't expose exist ing tenancies to the vagaries of nor mal market price parameters.

"Why? Because Gibraltar is not a normal place. It is a small place with limited supply of property

who live in private accommodation would find themselves squeezed out. So it has got be done in a way that is fair to the landlord, which is fair to the tenant and which protects the existing tenants from rent abuses while providing a reason able return for the landlord."

At the same time it was essential to provide a "safety net" for tenants who would not be able to afford a significant increase in rent. The Government had even considered extending the rent relief applicable to its own housing stock to the pri vate sector. But this, Caruana ad mitted was "a bit expensive."

landlords would be able to maintain and Improve their properties so adding to the overall effect and image of Gibraltar

and we are economically success ful to the point where we attract lots of expatriates to our industry with a disproportionate demand for property for rent.

"In that scenario if you were to expose local tenants to market prices, the banks,the gaming com panies and the contractors would push the market price up and the old folks — and not so old folks

"There is some investment to be done there because the rent relief system in the public sector in the Government housing is that you are forgiven some of the rent... but the Government doesn't actually shell out any cash. But the rent re lief system in the private sector for people in genuine need would in volve the Government paying part of their rent.

"So the focus of the new proposals which are currently being consulted on, is a dif ferent regime for ex isting properties cur rently occupied by tenants and a much more liberal regime for properties which are now lying empty."

Caruana was speaking before the election and, at the time, hoped that the proposed changes would be in place within six months. Whether that time-ta ble will be main tained in the welter of post-election busi ness remains to be "seen.

yTheconveyancing department ofCharles A.

Gomez&Co prides itself on a reputation for turning transactions around in a diligent yet quick manner.

"We always put our clients' interests first." says Lillian Kenny the executive in charge of property matters with the firm. "At the end of last year we accommodated a number of house buyers who ur gently needed to complete before Christmas so whilstothers were already celebrating, we were sign ing deeds; but that is the way we operate."

The firm has over 20 years experience and has reprc.scnied literally 1000s of homeowners. "We work closely with surveyors and estate agents to ensure that buying a home is a pleasant event and that there are no "surprises'later." says Lillian Kenny. "Gomez & Co are also on the panels of solicitors of many banks and building societies and we have an excel lent relationship with all to ensure the smooth run ning of transactions."

Appointments can be arranged on 24 hours notice, sometimes less. The firm is at 5 Secretary's Lane, phone 74998. Consultations are between 9am and 7pm.

PO Box 659,5. Secretary's Lane. Gibraltar

Tel:(+350)74998/73316

Fax:(+350)73074

E-mail: carlaw@gibnet.gi

www.gomezco.gi

a Place to View

Probably one of the most strikingly original residences to be developed so far in Gibraltar, Flat 2 Orchid House has been opened as a show apartment at the Cliftons, the name of the luxury private development at the now unused part of the Royal Naval Hospital.

Launched at a party hosted by the developer Taylor Woodrow,the variety of distinctive features pro vided a basis for considerable fa vourable comment amongst the guests, largely made up of profes sionals associated with the redevel opment and sale of the apartments — estate agents,lawyers, bankers, building society managers and con struction professionals.

The whole development has at tracted a level of international in terest that is well above average,al though around a third ofsales have been to local people.

Particularly eye-catching were the extra-high ceilings, which, at four metres, are about twice as el evated as those to be found in most modem apartments. This existing height was cleverly taken advan tage of by the architects, who con structed a mezzanine floor in part of one of the rooms in order to pro vide an additional open-plan bed room.

The original antique narrow red floorboards didn't escape anyone's attention either: they are believed to be sequoia,or Califomian Giant Redwood, a type of timber that would never be found in purely modern buildings. The tall slender sash windows were also a talking point as a reminder of more grace ful days: although the originals were mainly unsound, Taylor Woodrow,committed as always to preserving heritage, went to con

siderable additional expense to have the rotten timbers,sash cords and weights replaced in exactly the same style as the originals. They look brand new - but brand new as they looked in 1910, or perhaps a few years earlier

Similarly with the long wide col onnaded terrace. During its hospi tal days the outside edge of the ter race had been filled in with brick work, which Taylor Woodrow thoughtshould be opened up again

to enhance the property.Their tech nicians calculated where they thought the original columns should be,but on breaking away in those places they had an unhappy surprise: the columns were exactly where they were expected to be,but they were made of ugly and dilapi dated concrete. However, disap pointment turned to delight when further cutting revealed an architec tural treasure: the brutal concreting was hiding the original stanchions

made of decoratively shaped cast iron, which were soon cleaned up to restore them to their former glory.

Described in architectural terms as Edwardian Castellated,the RNH was built between 1901 and 1910, and quickly became dubbed locally as The Wedgwood Castle,due to its unusual pastel blue painted walls. Originally built as an army hospi tal, it was only taken over by the Royal Navy in 1962. The navy still uses two of the three wings as a hos pital, but the third wing, now un der development and re-named Orchid House, discharged its last patient around twenty years ago.

The new name Orchid House is itself a reminder of the developer's concern for the environment; the company's Queensway Quay ma rina was highly praised for its ap proach to protecting the underwa ter plant and animal life, and as soon as it became known that they were to begin work on refurbish ing part of the RNH they were alerted by GONHS to the fact that two rare Bee Orchids were known to be rooted somewhere amongst the weeds.

'We readily agreed to delay the start of the work until the plants had a chance to give away their hid ing place when they flowered,'said Kim, who is both Project Manager and a Director of TW in Gibraltar.

'As soon as they were spotted continued overleaf

The tall slender sash windows were also a talking point as a reminder of more graceful days

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hfpos o/ Kepairs Done

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continuedfrom pnge 16

GONHS moved them to a safe bed away from the site.'

In all there are three phases at The Cliftons; Orchid House,Clifton Mews, and, across the road, Edward House and Edward Mews, both parts of this phase being named after Edward Vll, the reign ing monarch at the time ofconstruc tion.

Clifton Mews consists of three townhouses and a detached villa perched on a cliff with breathtak ing bay views, whilst Edward Mews, the former senior ratings building, will be converted into three apartments and another six towrthouses.

The name Clifton was a deliber

Arcade

ate attempt to adopt a broader out look than purely Gibraltar-based names.Clifton was selected for be ing a derivation of Cliff Town and for being synonymous with pres tigious areas such as Clifton, near Bristol, and even Cape Town.

The new development has been designed so that no two apartments are alike. In all, the refurbishment project consists of ten apartments of one, two or three bedrooms, three penthouses,nine townhouses and a detached villa, all with an exceptionally high standard of fix tures and fittings.

Sales are being coordinated at the Queensway Quay Sales Office, Tel: Gibraltar 40550, fax 75529, E-mail matthew@gi.taylorwoodrow.com

4/2 Crutchetts Ramp Tel: 50478

Sarah's Unisex Hair and Beauty Salon is noiv open at 14 Engineer Lane and the team (pictured: Eva, Toni and Deborah)say "our reivard is your satisfaction". Thesalon, becoming knoumjbr its zoann.friendly atmospltere, is centrally situatedfor a treat or a complete top-to-toe makeoz'er. They use quality products including Joico hair products and Alissi Bronte beauty products, and pride themsehes on professional sen>ice and competitive prices. Special pensioner rates are aimilable all day on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tel: 76969 for an appointment or information.

The Flower Shop on the Move

Tanya ofthe Flower Shop points out some ofthe fabulous nezo ideas at her nozo extended premises. The Floioer Shop noic stocks a ivide range ofdried flowers, rustic style pots and country-style decoration using natural products such as seeds, zvood and corn,in addition tofresh flozoers. There is also a fabulous range of country kitchen clocks and perfumed candles. The Flozoer Shop is at 11 City Mill Ijzne Tel: 40488.

A WALK FOR LIFE

A Walk For Life took place last month and managed to raise the impressive total ofover £5,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Official starter zvas Mrs Alcantara and, although the zvalk is non-competitive, Sharon Soussifinishedfirst(for the third year in a row). Congratulations to all those who took part and helped make the ei>ent a success and a big thank youfrom the organisers to everyone who contributed in any way.

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Goings On

Gibraltar's often bloody early history appears to have ensured thatthe Rock's ether is populated by a remarkable array of ghosts — from the betrayed serving wench whose sepulchre figure is seen intermittently in various rooms and corridors of the Convent to that of the early 17th century guardsman who died on the flogging rack and returns to haunt the Landport tunnel on the anniversary of his lethal punishment.

And, though no-one has alleg edly seen it for more than a century, according to an Andalusian legend — fostered by the descendants of the 4,000 Spaniards who quit the Rock for San Roque soon after the British occupation three centuries ago — the headless spectre of the Duke of Medina haunts the comer of Casemates. There his severed head was hung in a basket by his Moorish executioners following his capture during a failed Spanish at tempt to invade the Rock... hence Casemates' original name La barcina (the basket).

Appropriately,the headless duke is said to haunt the square on Walpurgis Eve (30th April) — the night when all serious ghosts are said to be at their most active — but on the two occasions 1 have lurked in the square's night time shadows since first hearing the ghostly yam from an elderly San Roquan neither Medina's head nor torso has meta morphosed...

But modem Gibraltar also has its share of ghosts. Lorna Swift, the ever-helpful custodian of the Gar rison Library tells me that soon af ter her appointment she was warned that Sikorski's ghost had been known to prowl among the li brary's bookshelves.Butthe downto-earth Loma has never seen the spectre... and doesn't believe in ghosts.

"Though he visited the Rock, he didn't die in Gibraltar... and ghosts are supposed to haunt the places where they died,"she dismisses the tale firmly. "If anyone claims to have seen a ghost wandering around late at night it wasprobably me,"she adds with a characteristic laugh. "Though there is a greyhaired old gentleman who'haunts' the steps to the library late in the evenings — usually swigging from a bottle. But he is very real... just a lonely old chap with nowhere wel coming to go..."

Nevertheless,tales ofspectral ap paritions in the vicinity of the li brary gardens and in homes on the nearby Library Ramp remain and Joyce Medlin^on a partner in the silk-screen printers with premises in Garrison House — only a few steps away from Lorna Swift's bookshelves! — has vivid recoUec-

The headless duke is said to haunt the square on Walpurgis Eve — the night when all seri ous ghosts are said to be at their most active

tions of her encounter with one of them. If fact the ghost's warmth and friendliness partly persuaded Ms Medlington to quit her home in the UK to settle permanently in Gi braltar earlier this year.

"I was in Gibraltar on holiday earlier in the year and was sitting on a bench in the gardens feeling very low and depressed because I didn't want to go back to the UK," she says."I was sitting on a bench facing Library Ramp when it started to rain... which made me feel worse.

"Then a voice asked 'Why are you so down?' I heard it quite clearly and it went on'Can 1 help?' 'Yes, you can help me carry my shopping up the ramp,'I answered making a joke of it. Then 1 looked up and sitting there was an elderly man—everso friendly with lovely sparkling eyes — who was wear ing ajacket and trousers that didn't match. But, though by then it was raining quite heavily, he was bone

dry."

Ms Medlington, who has had a string ofsupernatural encountersin various parts of the world,"began to shake when I realised that this was a being from beyond the grave."

"He told me.'Don't worry eve

rything will be all right' and then just vanished.One moment he was sitting there and the next he was gone."

When she mentioned the weird encounter to friends with whom she was staying,they told her they had also met the friendly ghost. It would have been a "Mr Carter" who once lived in a flat on Library Ramp they told her... though noone seems to know who Mr Carter is or was! And she links her en counter with the rainproof spectral figure to a string of supernatural events which followed her return to Britain.

"Night after night ghostly figures travelling very quickly and some times accompanied by amorphous glowing orbs would rush by me. And then,on June 1 — after we had decided to settle in Gibraltar — an orange orb swept past but it was travelling more slowly," she says.

A medium whom she consulted aboutthe orbs and apparitions told Ms Medlington that she was on "some sort of supernatural mis sion" and that this would unfold after she settled in Gibraltar. Though she still doesn't know what the mission is and has had no more supernatural visitations since arriv ing on the Rock Joyce is"convinced that it will come about..."

The spirits mighteven expect her to reunite the head and torso of the hapless Duke of Medina... Who knows? Stranger things have hap pened in the world of ghosts and poltergeists...

Or so they say.

MAGAZINE EXPLORES MARITIME HERITAGE Thefourth issue of Gibraltar Her

itage is now available. Published by the Government of Gibraltar's Her itage and Planning Division,the maga zine aims to heighten awareness of Gi braltar's Heritage and heritage issues.

The magazine's contents are themed to one particular subject and in thisedi tion,Gibraltar Heritage takes a closelook at Gibraltar's Maritime history and heritage.

Gibraltar Heritage is a free magazine and is available from the Gibraltar Mu seum, the John Mackintosh Hall and points throughout Gibraltar.

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Peter Cook: HAPPY DAYS ON THE ROCK

Many consider him the funniest man of the 20th Century. The 1960 revue Beyond The Fringe, which he largely wrote and in which he starred with Jonathan Miller, Alan Bennett and his future partner Dudley Moore revolutionised British theatre comedy overnight. And nine years after his alcohol-accelerated death in January 1995, he has a flourishing fan club and a following far too large to be dismissed as a cult.

Yetlike many great humorists Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Benny Hill — Peter Cook was es sentially a shy, depressive man, aware of his ability to make others laugh,but forever unsure of him self. Humour was a shield that pro tected him from the pressures of the world,and according to his bi ographer, Harry Thompson, his only truly happy days were spent in Gibraltar.

He was bom into the kind of family that traditionally provided the British Empire with solid,reli able servants, and it was always thought that he would follow his father into the Foreign Office. But Peter's depressive character may well have been inherited. His grandfather,Edward Cook,a traf fic manager for the Malayan state railway,conunitted suicide in 1914 — something his widow kept a closely guarded secret and which Peter only learned in later life while researching his family his tory.

Peter's father. Alec Cook, was eight in 1914, but the man who shot himself in a garden in Kuala Lumpur was a shadowy figure he hardly knew.Such exotic outposts of Empire were not considered fit places to raise English children, and they were generally shipped off to boarding ^oolsin England where they absorbed that peculiar institution's eccentric view of life far away from the strangers who were their parents. When hisfather killed himself,the young Alec was thousands of miles and,culturally, thousands of years away from Ma laya atthe ImperialService College in Windsor.

The experience did not deter him from inflicting an identical fate on his own son. By the time he married Margaret Mayoin June 1936,Alec Cook was firmly estab lished as an Assistant District Of ficer in the Calabar Province of Nigeria.Margaret dutifully moved to Nigeria with her husband, but when she became pregnant a few months later she returned imme diately to England so that her child

could be bom in the old country. Peter Edward Cook arrived, safe and sound, on 17th November 1937.

He saw little ofhis parentsin his formative years, growing up in a world dominated by nannies and school matrons in which his par ents were mere visitors who ap peared occasionally out of no where, stayed a while, and van ished again. In spite of this, Peter grew to have genuine, if inevita bly distant affection for his father. In particular,he shared his quirky, surreal sense of humour,though it would be many years before he would admit,or even realise what a profound effect it had been on the development of his own character.

'[

thought he was the best of us, and the only one who came near being a genius.'

peter COOK

Alec Cook left Nigeria at the end of World War II, but any thoughts of settling down to a normal fam ily life in England were soon dis pelled when he was unexpect edly sent to Gibraltar to be come the Colony's Financial Secretary. By this time Peter had a baby sister,Sarah,who accom panied her parents to the Rock. Peter, however, was again left behind. He became a pupil at St Bede's boarding school in East bourne,and it wasonly during the school holidays that he was able to join his parents and sister in their Mediterranean idyll. He had developed a curious obsession with insects and all kinds of creepy-crawlies,and with Sarah at his side he spent hours turning over stones and investigating every crevice of the family's gar den and beyond. One of their fa vourite places was Rosia Bay, where they caught fish with home made rods and unceremoniously fed them to the cat. Their adven tures extended into Spain, where they rescued terrapins from a parched river bed and installed them in a specially dug pond in the garden. In May 1947, the preco cious young matutero was caught trying to smuggle a tortoise across the border inside a teapot.

The highpoint of his time in Gi braltar came when the legendary

Peter Cook and sister Sarah happy

days

in Gibraltar

always

John Cleese

'The funniest man ever to live and breathe.'

Stephen Fry

One of their favourite places was Rosia Bay, where they caught fish with home-made rods and unceremoniously fed them to the cat

film star Errol Flynn briefly berthed his yacht in the bay.Peter clenched his autograph book firmly between his teeth and swam out. Flynn was below decks, and stayed there, but his wife took the book to him. Inside, Flynn scrawled,"Hiya Pete",and signed his name.

It was a moment the young Pe ter would never forget.

As Financial Secretary,his father was an important man in Gibral tar. It was his signature which ap-

would make him famous.

It all ended abruptly in January 1953, when his father was posted back to Nigeria,to become Perma nent Secretary of the Eastern Re gion.

Peter was fifteen, and although his remarkable comic talent was already legendary among his schoolmates,his eyes were still set firmly on the Foreign Office. Cam bridge University, Beyond The Fringe,the Establishment Club, and an indelible place in British

As Financial Secretary, his father was an important man in Gibraltar. It was his signature which appeared on Gibraltar's bank notes

peared on Gibraltar's bank notes, and he was responsible for the Gi braltar Lottery. It is said that he strictly forbade his wife to buy a ticket,not because he disapproved ofgambling,but because he would have been mortified if she had won.He was a man of unimpeach able integrity,and any whiffofsus picion that might have greeted such success in a lottery which he had inaugurated was something he could not bear.

While her husband buckled down to his solemn duties, Margaret, a talented musician, played violin in the Gibraltar Sym phony Orchestra.

There is no doubt that Peter's happiest times were his holidays in Gibraltar. He loved the Colony, and it was only the anticipation of heading for the Rock at the end of term that made his school life bear able, even though he was already showing signs of the spontaneous wit and genius for mimicry which

comedy history still lay several years away. His final years were tragic.

Many believe his talents were squandered in an alcoholic fog. How often, we wonder, did he spend a solitary night with a drink in one hand and, in his imagina tion at least, a home-made fishing rod in the other as his thoughts wandered back to the Gibraltar sunshine and the innocent joys of

"There's terrific merit in having no sense of hu mour, no sense of irony, practically no sense of anything at all. If you're born with these so-called defects you have a very good chance of getting to the top."

Peter Cook

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore

ROCK MUSIC SCENE

The music scene in Gibraltar never ceases to amaze me. With a population of just under 30,000 people it over achieves time and again with the volumev diversity and quality of the music produced upon these three square miles of rock.

This past year has been another winner for music, with some great gigs taking place all over the Rock. The number of venues is also on the increase. The Lord Nelson is un doubtedly the main place for gigs with at least three nights a week devoted to sounds. Next up is Corks which continues to put on bands. With the Little Rock Cafe, All's Well and a few other places, including the Three Owls also look ing to develop live music the future looks rosy.

However, there is an aspect which needs to be improved. We get, in the main, great cover ver sions of songs from entertainers in pubs, with the occasional original song thrown in. In spite of the fact that local musicians and 1 am think ing of people of the calibre of Jamie Chiappe, Adrian Pissarello, and Chaiigo Mutney to name but three, produce great original songs very few people get to hear them. Punt ers, it seems,like what they are fa miliar with, and are reluctant to broaden their horizons. Sometimes it is because they genuinely do not know what is on offer from the lo cal scene. This year I intend giving some guidance as to what local music can be purchased and from where.It is not a comprehensive list by any means, and I will almost certainly miss out some people in the process. My apologies to them in advance, emissions are over sights and do not reflect anything other than this!

1 first did this exercise three years ago. I am delighted to say that many of the excellent local CDs available then are still around to day. I am even happier to say that quite a few more local gems have

been produced since then, in both pop and rock areas of music. You don't have to look far, in fact it may well be that some great music may literally be on your doorstep.

In advising you of what's avail-

wasting his talents singing cover versions when he has a catalogue of original songs many an estab lished star would dearly love to have composed? 1 am talking about Jamie Chiappe.

from Chatigo Mutney, and the un compromising hard rock version by Steel Water of Outlaw Blues.

If that doesn't tempt you then how about a little classical music?

Recorded at the Bapi Studio right here in Gibraltar,.and featuring the clarinet and cello, come the duo known as Serendipity. They proved to be one of the great successes of the Rock Solid concert held on Na tional Day at Governor's Parade. Featuring selections from popular classical composers thisCD will de light many in search ofsome sooth ing relaxation.

Want to buy a CD and help a charitable cause at the same time? Then take a close look at Luna de Verano by Bathsheeba Peralta. This features music by Denis Valerga and vocals by Melissa Mclntosh. Proceeds go to the Gibraltar Asso ciation for Children in Care. With Denis Valerga involved you know the music will be of extremely high quality, as will the recording and production.

able I am going to avoid being too judgemental but I will not hesitate to recommend personal favourites. On that count I will begin by ask ing this one question.

Why is an excellent songwriter

Currently available on the Rock Solid album are some of the best songs he has written over the past few years.

In addition you geta great rocker from Dirty Work, another beauty

One of the hottest albums to hit the local scene in a while is the new album by the band formerly known as G/oh' and now known as Milbajac. The tragic death of Michael Danino roblred the band of their talisman, but the boys have shown great determination in achieving so much. Given the po sition the band are now in via their contacts in the States this has to be the album of the year. Make no mis take Milbajac are the band to watch in 2004. I am looking forward to their concert in the New Year to launch the album live. It promises to be the first big gig of 2004.To re ally appreciate their new music get hold of the new album without de-

With Denis Valerga involved you know the music will be of extremely high quality

lay and that will enhance your en joyment of their New Year's concert as well.

If you want to hedge your bets and get an overview of the local scene why not invest in a copy of Gib Connection?just look at the art ists appearing on it and if that doesn't tempt you to part with some of your hanl earned cash then nothing will. Lovingly put together by the mad drummer, Louis, and Peter Martinez, it is an excellent introduction to the world of local music. On the subject of Peter Martinez, one of my favourite re leases is still his excellent solo al bum entitled Lei'anter Breeze.

On a more general front we have

right at the back of the store for lo cal releases.Pay them all a visitand you will find the staff very helpful in indicating local music.

Many of you will have enjoyed the great concert by Elie Massias and his Brookli/n Project Band and will be eagerly awaiting the John Macintosh Hall Live limited edition CD coming from it. If you haven't already done so check out his World in Fiction album and find out for yourselves whatthe New York jazz scene has been admiring for years! The title track is an absolutely gor geous acoustic song laced with ref erences to his beloved Gibraltar.

Other by Richard Yeats, the Valerga Brothers, Chris Francis,

200S at t/e <S//ott ^otel

Yie invite you to join usfor a traditionalfestive holiday, where the emphasis is on quality combined with a relaxed andfriendly atmosphere.

had a few musical visitors to the Rock this year and 1 am delighted to point out that Steve Balsamo,re turning to the Rock soon,has left a few signed copies of his All I Am CD in Music Corner and the Lord Nelson. Additionally, Gary Pickford-Hopkins' superb album GPH, part recorded in Gibraltar's Bam Studios with the cover photo taken by yours truly outside the Eliott Hotel,is available in those es tablishments and at Vijay. Indeed the best display for local CDs can be found in Vijay's as the proprie tors have created a whole section

Melon Diesel, Vibrations,Arrival,the Calpe Singers,and Glen Diani's One Minute Silence, are just a few of the other releases available. On a tight budget? Then why not download £(asj/-K's free music on their website!

Having compiled this list even I am amazed at just what a diverse selection of music is available from Gibraltar artists. So why not be a little different this year and do yourself and the local music scene a favour by treating yourselves to some music with a Gibraltar con nection!

Tercentenary Events January'04

Wednesday 7th — Presentation and exhibition of Schools' Tercen tenary Posters. Series of posters covering major events of the last 300 years commissioned for use in schools. At John Mackintosh Hall

Thursday 15th — Heritage Talk 1 (Inaugural lecture): "Identity".

Speaker: Professor Clive Finlayson. This is the first in a se ries of 17 talks organised by the

Gibraltar Museum which will be held over the year and which will cover different aspects of Gibral tar's history, heritage,culture,so cial and politicial development during the last 300 years. At John Mackintosh Hall (8.30pm).

Thursday 29th — Heritage Talk 2: "Women of Gibraltar".Speaker:n)r Sam Benady at John Mackintosh HaU (8.30pm).

~ Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24th December)

7.30pm

Champagne reception in our Terrace Bar Christmas Carols

8.30pm

Christmas Eve Gala Dinner

~ Christmas Day(Thursday 25th December)

Breakfast at leisure 12.00pm

Pre-Iunch drinks, highlighted by a visit from Father Christmas Christmas Lunch

~ Boxing Day ~ (Friday 26th December)

Breakfast at leisure

11.00 am

Polar Bear Swim at Catalan Bay, with mince pies and brandy to follow 1.15pm

Buffet lunch

S.OOpm

Boxing Day dinner with live Jazz Band

- New Year's Eve (Wednesday 31st December) S.OOpm

Pool Bar 8th floor , Welcome cocktail, p dinner dance with live band, and wonderful novelties

Champagne at midnight

Governor's Parade,Gibraltar Ta:(350)70500 Fax:(350)70243

E-mail: aioTT@oiBNET.Gi

the HOTEL

If you want to hedge your bets and get! pn overview of the local scene why nol I invest in a copy of Gib Connection?

ent Band Plays Awa

It's not everyday that a taxi driver, nurse, deputy-head teacher, and traffic warden from Gibraltar get together in a small-town school in the Republik Srpska, Bosnia/Hercegovina and entertain the children with music; but in the Autumn they did, along with 31 other part-time musicians.

This was all part ot the Royal Gibraltar Regiment's Band and Corps of Drums tour to the Balkans. As a Territorial Army(TA)Band of the British Army, and therefore part-time, musicians are required to undertake an annual camp to fulfil their commitment and this year they decided to go to Bosnia/ Hercegovina. It was an historical moment as it was not only the first time that a British TA Band has gone to an 'Operational Theatre,' but also the first time that a formed unit of the Royal Gibraltar Regi ment has performed such a duty since World War II.

The Band and Corps of Drums delighted audiences in many towns over the week that they were there, including Banja Luka, Gradiska, and Sarajevo. Perhaps though the

most import visit was to Mostar. Here the town had been ripped apart several times by different fighting factions in the last decade. Even now hospitals and schools are still segregated.There is one glim mer of hope though in the

form of the Pavarotti Music Centre. This was set up by the War Child charity to bring music lessons,con certs, and general music for the blighted population of Mostar. In June of this year the Band and Corps of Drums had given a

The Band's next performances are as follows:

Monday 1st December 2003

Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. Appearing at the Bruce's Farm Charity Concert.

Sunday 14th December 2003

St Andrew's Church. Christmas Carol Service.

Wednesday 17th December 2003

Holy Trinity Church. Save the Children Christmas Charity Concert.

Monday 5th January 2004 Main Street. Three Kings' Cavalcade. See local press for timings and other details.

concert in St Michael's Cave in Gi braltar and had raised €1000 for the Pavarotti Centre. It was greatly appreciated when the cheque was presented personally after a short concert.

The Bandmaster, David Hammond,said:"It is so important for Gibraltar that we have sup ported the ongoing peace process in the Balkans in this way. Music, the arts, and entertainment are an essential part of society;always the fi rst to disappear in the time of conflict and the last to be re-estab lished. Gibraltar is a small place with a population of 30,000. How many small towns in the UK can provide such

NEW HONORARY COLONEL

FOR ROYAL GIB REGIMENT

Colonel John Porral retired as Honorary Colonel to the Regiment after five years in the post last month.Colonel Porral, who wasin strumental in achieving the Royal prefix for the Regiment and in or ganising the Queen's guard at Buckingham Palace, will be suc ceeded by Colonel Eddie Guerrero who takes over this prestigious post for the next five years.

Lieutenant Colonel Guerrero was conscripted into the Royal Gibral tar Regiment in 1962. In 1965 he was granted a Territorial Army commission and served with B company.In 1972 he was granted a regular commission and was the first officer of the Regiment to at tend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After several appoint ments and tours including UK, Canada and Belize, he was ap pointed Second in Command of the Regiment in 1983. In 1985 he was appointed Commanding Officer and saw the Regiment through the transition phase of becoming the regular Battalion on the Rock. In 1991 Colonel Guerrero retired from the Regiment and took up the post of protocol officer at Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar. Colonel

Ph.>t>Y,Miiii I'N eorpoi.il M.I11 I ■J'l \l Colonel Eddie Guerrero, the new Honorari/ Colonel of the Ro\/al Gibraltar Regiment

Guerrero retired completely this year.

In 1989 Colonel Guerrero was awarded an QBE and in 1997 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He is also chairman of the Luce Foundation and a trustee of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. He has so far enjoyed a very active life and dedicates his spare time to his grandchildren and golf.

An oasis... ...in afestivcr world!

Burn's Night Saturday 24 January 2004

Book early to avoid disappointment.

The finest Bum's Night SiiR>er Gibraltar has ever seen! A fully traditional 4 course affair witli a number ofvisiting guests taking us through a full programme intertwined with a glorious fourcourse dinner.

The programme and menu tell the story

Introduction ofguests by your M.C. Mr Eric Young from Ayrshire.

'Selkirk Grace' - Mr James Small from Edinburgh

Scotch Broth

The Royal Toast Mr Eric Young

'There was a man " A tribute to Robert Bums sung by Mr Colin Smith.

Piping in the Haggis Piper. Gordon Simmons

'Toe the Haggis' Mr Joe Dunn from Glasgow

■ .Haggis wi' bashit neeps an' champit tatties

.4 Toa.sf Toe the lM.ssies' Mr Alan Little from Edinburgh

'Holy H'illie'.s Prayer Mr Joe Dunn 'Myl.^ve is Like a Red. RedRose " sung by Mr Colin Smith

E Tj^Piping in andcarving ofthejieef

'Reply Tae the Laddies' Mary Dunn from G lasgow

A selection ofBagpipe Music Mr Gordon Simmons

Tipsy Laird Trifle

Immortal Memory and Toast

GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL - ROYAL GIBRALTAR REGIMENT

Five members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment were awarded with the General Service Medal (Northern Ireland) recently. Cpl Valverde and Privates Gilasbey, Llufrio, Costa and Caballero went on an operational tour ofNorthern Ireland during the months ofMay through to July. They were attached to D Company 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment ofFusiliers and based at Girdxvood Barracks. Belfast.

Photoj;r.ijih hy Corpurjl M.irtin Sjcilcr

IKAf')

GIBRALTAR DEFENCE FORCE

To mark the 60th anniz'ersary of the disembodiment of the Gibraltar Defence Force (GDF) volunteers, His Worship theMayor the Hon. Judge J E Alcantara CBE, will be hosting a reception on 3rd December 2003 at the City Hall. Invitations to those concerned have been sent out. Ifyou belong to this group of volunteers and have not yet received your invitation, please contact the PA to His Worship on 52052 or Fa.x: 71406.

'The Ghost o'Rahbie Bums' Mr Joe Dunn

'The Star o'Rabbie Burns' An Ayrshire song sung by Mr Colin Smith

ScottishCountry ITancing 'AuldiMngSyne' ataround2am Maybe!!!

For booking and further information call Toby Tobelem or Janet Waterfield on 73000 or fax them on 73513

ore-mail to TobyT/ rockhotel .gi or jajietSrockhotcLgi

Ask for special accommodation rates and take the elevator home!

Kuropu Kuad, (dlnillur Tel: (-^350) 73000 Tax: 73513 K-mall: rocldiolcLd'gfbi^'nex.Ki Web site: wwH.rockholclglhriilIiir.com

Award for Underwater Archaeology

Divers from the Gibraltar Museum's Underwater Research Unit(URU) and the Joint Services Dive Club have collected an award from the United Kingdoms Nautical Archaeology Society(NAS)at the society's annual conference held at the University of Portsmouth in November.

to award the first prize to the Gi braltar Museum/Joint Services Dive Club team for their research into the wreck of an armed trawler that was sabotaged during World War (I whilst berthed on the De tached Mole.

Things I Found on the Way to Looking Up Something Else....

• compiled by Reg Reynolds

AN AMAZING ESCAPE FROM CERTAIN DEATH

"While based at Gibraltar I was on High-Speed Rescue Launch 2583 when we were called out to a position midway between Gi braltar and the North African Coast.

The NAS launched the Adopt a Wreck Scheme with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2001, with the intention of helping divers develop a sense of purpose in the survey and preservation of wrecks. This scheme has been supported by the Gibraltar Museum,and Gibral tar had the first overseas Adopted site registered later that same year. The introduction of an annual

award was developed this year to further encourage and reward those groups of divers who are par ticipating in the Adopted Wreck scheme.

A panel composed of the Mari time and Coastguard Agency, the British Sub-Aqua Club(BS-AC),the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and the SubAqua Association (SAA), decided

Members of the Gibraltar Mu seum URU, Mrs Geraldine Finlavson and Dr Darren Fa and Mr Phil Smith (also members of the Joint Services Dive Club), flew to Portsmouth to receive the award, which was presented by celebrity Time Team archaeologist Phil Harding. The team was congratu lated by the panel for their project, which had achieved an extremely high standard. They were pre sented with the trophv that will re main in NAS headquarters and a ships decanter that will shortly be on display at the Gibraltar Mu seum.

The work by the Gibraltar Mu seum Underwater Research Unit continues not only with research but also with training for local divers, and the team, all of whom are also NAS tutors, organise NAS training courses and other activities such assurveys in Gibraltar several times a year.

All ships in the area had been alerted, a Lancaser had taken off from Gibraltar on her way to England and the controls had gone so that she could not at tempt to land and the crew had to bale out. The aircraft was fly ing in a wide circle over the Strait of Gibraltar and slowly losing height. Wc saw a number of parachutes drop on land near Algeciras but there was still one more man to bale out.

"When the aircraft was down to less than 1,000 feet it passed close to us and we could see a man sitting in the aft hatch wav ing. The next time the aircraft approached us it was obvious that it was at the point of ditch ing. At that moment the air crew man doubled up into a ball and rolled out of the aircraft."

— Seamiui Ted Shute

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE SUED

In a litigious world, where hardly anyone takes responsibil ity for their actions, I suppose nothing should surprise me. But how about this?

A 21 months old baby is burnt, having been left alone in a car in which the mother had just nearly but not quite extinguished a ciga rette before entering a shop.

Whose fault?

This incident occurred in Texas where it is a felon to leave a young child unattended. It is also, I would suggest,pretty careless not to make sure your cigarette is out whether a young child is involved or not. However, the smoking public does need education. Something like 50% of fires in the UK are caused by cigarettes. So whose fault?

Well, the cigarette manufac turer has agreed to fork out $2 million! I have nothing to say in favour of cigarette companies but

come on!

You might as well sue the car manufacturer for not providing ashtrays full of water.

This is significant at this time of year where many transactions in volve several parties. If, for in stance, a friend buys you that one extra drink that assists in the con stabulary removing your driving licence do you sue a)the barperson who served you;or b)your friend; or c) the drinks manufacturer or even d)your Dad who took you for your first Christmas drink all those years ago.

If your Christmas is wrecked be cause extensive repairs are required to the chimney stack after Santa gets stuck who do you claim from?

The next door neighbour for forc ing that extra mince pie down him?

The mince pie manufacturer maybe? Or even Mrs. Claus who has spent several lifetimes overfeeding him?

And Santa himself. We all know he had to recruit Rudolf at the last minute who,luckily, was available. But what happened to the original reindeer? Wereexemplary damages claimed by Santa from the AK-47 wielding Lapp who shot him? Or was Alexander Kalashnikov the tar

• by Alan Gravett

get of Santa's displeasure. Per haps, all the little Kalashnikovs didn't receive a visit that year.

But don't think this is a licence to make money.If any kids catch Mummy kissing Santa Claus and think you have found Eldorado, think again. What are you going to do?

BlackmailSanta? This guy only works once a year so what is he worth?

The winner will be Santa him self. If some woman wants to sit around the kitchen in the hope that a rotund rubicund gentle man should descend the chimney that is her concern. But Santa should sue the father who allows this kid to roam the house at mid night, unattended, and trans gresses Santa's right to privacy!

And season's greetings to you all and your lawyer friends who, I trust, you will keep gainfully employed in the coming year.

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Four large bedrooms, set within a generous three floor living area with double garages - surrounded by space, nature and leisure - a just reward for those who appreciate the extras in life.

m Taylor Woodrow

Bray Propei

Arts b Crafts

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

Tues, 5-7pm Thurs), adults iMon - Tues

6 30pm-8pm, Wed 6 30pm-8.30pm, life

painting Wed 7pm-9pm). Tel: 79738.

The Fine Arts Association Gallery 1 st Floor above Gibraltar Crystal, Casemates. Open 11am-2pm, 4.6pm Men - Fri, Sat 11am

2pm Arts Er 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

Church Services

Bahia Tel: 43637 for meetings

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. Gover

nor's Pde. Tel: 77040. Worship & Sunday

School 10.30am, Bible Study Tues 7.30pm.

Evangelical Bretheren Assembly.

Queensway Quay. Sun Ham. Tues Bible

Study 6pm, Thurs Fyayer Meeting 6pm.

Hindu Engineer's Lane Tel: 42515.

Jehovah's Witness Line Wall RdTel: 50186, Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 72606.

Methodist 297 Main St Tel: 77491. Sunday services 11 am 87pm,Midweek Fellowships.

Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. 2'5 Main St Tel: 76688.

Board Games

Chess Club meets in Studio 1, John Mack intosh Hall 8-10.30pm Tues.

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet John Mackintosh Hall Mondays Bank holidays changed to Thursday same week. 7pm11pm All welcome. Tel. 71967/54000835

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

(Dance

Modern £t Latin American Sequence Danc> ing Mondays Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm(beginners 7.30). Over 15s welcome. www.glbnvnex.gi/insT/cccseqdance/

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

The DBA Old b Modern Sequence Danc ing sessions at Central Hall Fridays 8pm, be ginners 7.30pm. Tel 78282 or e-mail manvioti/igibnei gi Everybody welcome.

Senior Citizens Teatime Dances at The Youth Centre, Line Wall Rd on Mondays 25.30pm. All senior citizens welcome for cof fee, tea and biscuits. Entrance free.

Classical Ballet dassesfor children 4-1-, Spanish dance and hip-hop at Liza School of Dance, 3rd floor, Methoijist Church, 297/ 299 Main St. Classes Weds 8 Fri from 6pm at Chiltern Court(4Cs). Tel: 58111000.

Line Dancing Queensway Club, Central Hall Weds8-9pm beginners;^lOpm advanced. All welcome, including visitors to the Rock. Tel: Helen 50381 or 540137760.

History b Heritage

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

The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association

Dedicated to presen/ailon of Rock's transportymolonng heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles.

Members/vehicles meet first Sunday of month,Safeway's car park from 10am. hJew members welcome. Tel; 72481 Fax: 72033.

Outdoor Activities

Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural His-

clubs/^ activities

tory Society rambles are walked on the last Sunday of month(meet Spanish side of fron tier, to right of the Aduana vehicle exit 8aml, Tel: 74645/71956. All welcome. GONHS birdwaiching every Saturday when a mem ber is available on site at Europa Point Ob servatory(right of the lighthouse)from 2pm. GONHS Birdwatching and Naturalist walk up Mediterranean Steps takes place Sundays 9-nam. Tel: 72639/76818.

Performing Arts

Rock Dramatics drama group for children aged 4 -17 Rehearsals every Saturday morning at St Andrew's Hall — all children welcome. Tel: 47555 for information.

Stage Musical Group meet Wed and Thurs at rehearsal room, British Lines Rd (next to Frontier loopi at 8pm Tel: Iris 73098. Trafalgar Theatre Group meet 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. Ail welcome.

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 en trance but a donation to charity is requested. Tapas served after the quiz.

The Edinburgh Arms, Naval Hospital Road, has a quiz night from 8-30pm every Monday with prizes and free tapas.

The Tunnel m 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 Order of Buffaloes(Gi braltar Province) meets at RAOB Club, Vault

1 Jumpers Bastion on these days: Provin cial Grand Lodge. 1st Monday of month, 8pm.Executive Meeting,last Mon of month 7pm. Knights Chapter. 2nd Mon of month 7.30pm. Examining Council. 3rd Mon of month 7pm,William Tilley 2371,Thurs 8pm. Buena Vista 9975, Weds (fortnightly) 7pm. Por Favor 9444,Weds(fortnightly)7pm.^rewell 10001. Tues 8 30pm. Goidacre 10475 (social)last Fn of month 8pm.

The Tuesday Ladles' Club meets 8pm, Queensway Club on first Tuesday each month. Open to all women in Gibraltar who enjoy making new friends. Non-profit mak ing, proceeds donated to chanty Tel Anne 43869. or Margaret 70816.

Special interest Clubs b Societies

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

Gibraltar Internet Club mor^thly meetings held on Mondays at the College of Further Education 7-9pm. All welcome,experienced surfers or beginners. A number of comput ers are connected to the internet, others have programs for creating of web pages. A colour scanner is also available.

The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mon at around Spm, Wellington Front. Basic courses, competitions etc UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599. 22a Main Street Tel 52108.

Sports Supporters Clubs

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Club. Comorant Wharf Boat Owners' Club. For details./fixtures Tel. Mario 40240, Michael 55185, John 43166, Tito 70410, Dick 79000, John 59804 or Raju 76176.

Sports b Fitness

Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gym nastics Association club for beginners,jun iors and squad at Bayside School in eve nings, Tel. Angela 70611 or Sally 74661.

Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athlelics Asso ciation holds competitions throughout year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main

clubs (Lalpeans 71807, Lourdians 751801 hold (ruining sessions at Victoria Stadium.

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

Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ train ing for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels Tel: John 77253, Randy 40727 or Kirsty (minis)49441.

Billiards 6 Snooker: Gibraltar Billiards and Snooker Association (member IBSA) rund leagues and competitions at various venues. New members welcome. Tel: Eddie 72142 or Peter 77307.

Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Associa tion(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 PointWictoria Stadium.Junior/senior training, Tel: Tom 79461 or Adrian 44281.

Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association vari ous 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 ail ages OctoberMay FutssI in summer months, Victoria Sta dium. Tel: 42941 www.gfa.gi. Senior Tel: Albert 41515.Junior Tel: Richard 58654000.

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. Gi braltar Golf Union has competitions through year, EGU handicaps. Tel: Bernie 78844.

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

Judo: Gibraltar Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and lev els at Budokai Martial Arts Centre. Welling ton Front. Tel: Charlie 73116 or Peter 73225.

Ju'jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion (Rosia Rdl Tei: Tony 79855 or dub 47259.

Karate-do Shotokal: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association sessionsfor junior/sen iors, gradings and demos at Karate Club house,41H Town Range Tel: Andrew 48908.

Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 75211.

Natball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affili ated FENA 8 IFNA) competitions through year, senior/junior leagues.Tel; Moira41795 or Suzette 41874.

Patanqua: 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: Linda 74753.

Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association run training ses sions for girls 5-18 years weekday evenings during school holidays. Tel Richard 70320.

Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby Football Union train ing sessions for Colts (14-h), seniors and veterans. Play in Andalusia 2ncl Division Gel -April. Tel: Dennis 74600 or Michael 72982.

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 CIPS) Superb calendar of events with four clubs partici pating Tel: Mario 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, facilities near Royal Naval Hospital (Tel: Fidel 71990).

Skating:Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association opens its Skate Park. Coaling Is

land, Queensway, Tues-Sat, 5 - 9pm, State of art ramps for Xtreme/aggressive roller blading /skate boarding. Leisure skating fa cilities provided within excellent skating rink (when not used for roller hockey training).

Tel: Eric 70710(after 5pm)or just turn up.

Snorkelling6Spear Fishing; Over 14s wel come for snorkelling, over 16s for spear fish ing. Tel: Joseph 75020.

Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, The Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road(mem bers WSF8 ESF). Adult/junior tournaments/ coaching. Tel: Ronnie 44922 or Barry 73260.

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

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association(member FINA& LEN)opens its pool for leisure swimming Mon - Fri 78.45am. 12-4pm, 8-9pm. Also junior les sons (Tel. Rebecca 71342), squad tor com mitted swimmers, junior and senior 'A'ater polo (Tel: Chris 72869).

Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Asso ciation(members ITTA)training / playing ses sions, Bishop Fitzgerald School, Weds 610pm.Thurs 8-10pm. Tel: Lisanne 45071 or Eugene 58014000.

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

Tennis: Gibraltar Tennis Association. Sand pits Tennis Club, excellent junior develop ment programme. Courses for adults, leagues / competitions. Tel: Frank 77035. Ten-Pin Bowling: Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling Association(members FIQ8WTBA)leagues at Ultra Bowl, training for juniors and squad. Tel: Gary 42447 or Charlie 71125, Triathlon: Gibraltar Triathlon Union (mem bers ITU)Tei Chris 75857 or Harvey 55847.

Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association (members W 6 EVF) training, leagues, competitiions for juniors/seniors. Tel: Tony 40478 or Elizabeth 58306000.

Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full pro gram of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel 41389. All welcome.

Support Groups/Associations

Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues and Thurs, 1 lain Sat dl Nazareth HseTei: 73774, Citizens' Advice Bureau Late opening hours Wednesday 5 30 - 7.3Dpm Open two Satur day mornings each month.Tel: 40006 Email: infofacab gi or visit 1D Governor's Lane. No appointment necessary, no charge.

Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Sup port Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.30pm at the John Mac tHall. except for July and August.

Gibraltar Marriage Care. Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage educa tion (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 71717.

Hope. Support after miscarriage Tel: 41817, Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 70720

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

Psychological Support Group, Nazareth House. Group therapy Tuesdays 7-9pm (so cial. crafts, games, music etc.). Workshop Thursdays 2pm-4pm. Tel 51623.

With Dignity Gibraltar friendly support group for separated, divorced, widowed or unattached people. Regular meetings Weds 9pm at Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings and activities. Tel: Pill 71824 or Gladys on 71465,

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

Women's Aid. Aims to protect women ar^d children from violence. Tel: 41999.

Clubs and Support Groups should submit details to The Gibraltar Magazine.PO Box 561, PMB 6377, Suite S3D International Commercial Centre, Main Street, Gibral tar Fax: 77748 for inclusion in this guide.

the PLAYWRITE in the GARDENS

When the Welsh playwright Emiyn Williams visited Gibraltar in 1931 he was only 26 but was already the darling of London's West End. His plays The Corn is Green and A Murder Has Been Arranged were current major hits. Meanwhile The Late Christopher Bean was doing well and Spring 1600 had opened to rave reviews.

Emlyn was in demand every where, the pressure was proving too much, the English January weather was as bad as ever and so he decided to get away.

Without telling any of his friends or business associates Emlyn gath ered up his luggage and a compan ion named Fess and boarded a P&O liner bound for Australia via the Mediterranean. After a rough cross ing of the Bay of Biscay, which Williams described as "Two days and nights that were fiendish.Sev eral times I fell into a permanent faint", the ship passed bv Gibraltar and into the calmer waters of the Med and a more relaxed Williams wrote:"...the galleys,the mermaids; thatevening from the moonlit deck 1 heard music and low voices, this was more like it."

Williams and Fess disembarked at Naples and spent some time re laxing days under the Italian sun before purchasing a car and tour ing through France and into Spain. "As the straight roads became Spanish ones my mind tired of its vacancy," wrote Williams and so the pair headed for Gibraltar.

Fess had been to Gibraltar before and as they approached the Rock he turned to Williams and with a sly grin said,"1 was in the Navy for five minutes, ever heard o' the Alameda Gardens?" Williams had. He described the Alameda Gardens as "...expanses of flower beds and avenues under shady trees, the godsend of British nannies and strolling officials and wives."

But those were the gardens in the day-time. In the evening Williams and Fess left the Rock Hotel and headed downtown.

"In the jostling main street we entered a caf^ which could have been in Portsmouth on a rowdy Sat urday. Teams of homesick sailors were getting drunk.Fess wandered away alone."

At about 11 that night Williams headed for the Alameda (in those days the gardens were not locked at dusk). As he wandered along Williams felt both nervous and ex hilarated. Within the trees he saw gliding movements. On a bench, a solitary sailor.

"Evenin' sonor, buenas noches, got a light for a cigarette?'

"Sorry, 1 don't smoke," Williams replied as he sat down beside the sailor.

"Never mind, 1 got a match. 1 was just doin' me stoof."

Noting the ac cent Williams in quired, "Liver pool."

" N ew Brighton."

mention the sailor again. Ho docs discuss the eventful trip back to the hotel.

ing nightcaps in the lounge 1 felt unique in my fashion.

"To be hounded out of the town gardens by every male prostitute known to the town's police is one way to highlight a holiday in a great outpost of the Empire."

The next day Williams read in the Telegraph that the Late Christopher Beati was still going strong after 350 performances,but that Spring 1600 was about to close.

It transpired that Williams and the sailor had a mutual acquaintance in New Brighton, a policeman named Joe Hesketh. He was a friend of Williams' aunt and he had ar rested and then released the sailor after catching him stealing apples from a barrow.

Williams had put the hissing out of his mind when suddenly from the sinister darkness of the huge trees flanking him Williams could hear the "...chat tering of twenty castrated Rock monkeys,shrill ing gibberings of rage."

Suddenly stones came hurtling in from all directions.

He had been gone two weeks and decided it was time to get back to London.The car was sent home by ship and Williams and Fess hopped on a train "...and stayed on a train for two days. Never was a train journey so tedious. I was glad for Fess's imperturbable silences. The wittiest talk would have been un bearable."

Tibet- f

— Emlyn Williams on the 1963 romance of Richard Burton 6 Elizabeth Taylor while filming Cleopatra in Egypt

Williams found the coincidence amusing."In the middle of Gibral tar it was funny."

He didn't find it funny,however, when the bushes rustled behind

Ti'ianu-

"In the moonlight 1 was a target. They were not big, and all the more lethal for it; sharp as Toledo steel. The first landed a yard behind me,sparking smartly off the gravel. Then 1 hoard a shrill giggle as another whistled past my ear.

"1 thought, if I am to die sud denly this is not the way to do it. St. Stephen may have been canon ised for having been stoned to

As he wandered along Williams felt both nervous and exhilarated. Within the trees he saw gliding movements.

him and he heard a long hiss and then tittering.

"Don't mind them," said the sailor. "They're the local Spanish queens an'they'card you talk Eng lish, they reckon the Gardens is their beat you see."

Williams didn't argue when the sailor suggested "a turn around the deck an' they'll calm down."

In his first autobiography, which relates the early years of his life and career,Williams makes no mention of what transpired on the 'turn around the deck'and in fact doesn't

death but his conscience was cleaner than mine."

Williams was determined not to lose face, however, and rather than run he walked at a measured pace. "1 knew that each burst of falsetto invective would be followed by a missile which might find its mark. The last hundred yards, along a path leading to a great gate and the maps of the main road were very long ones."

"Entering the Rock Hotel, 1 de cided not to tell Fess or anybody. Passing the British citizens drink

Williams went on to achieve even greater fame as a playwright and actor and died on L5th September, 1987 just two months and a day short of his 82nd birthday. He wrote more than two dozen plays, several novels, two autobiogra phies and appeared in more than 100 films and plays.

Etnli/n Williams was famous for u<orkssuchas 'Night Must Fall'and 'The Corn Is Green', which was twice made into a Hollyioood film

The Royal Caipe

The

Handmade

The word CaMmates, meaning a bomb proof compartment, usually of masonry, to house a magazine or troop quarters, comes from the Italian 'Casamatta' from the Latin 'Casa'(house)and 'Matto'(mad) originating from the Latin "Maltus"(drunlc)I

l/7d Casemates Tel/Fax: 48857

E-mail: kimbel@gibnet.gi

Email: tourism@gibraftar.gi Website: wvvw.gibraltar.gov.uk

What's Happening — Festive Season

Monday 1st December Brucc's Farm Charity Concert at Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. Appearance by Gibraltar Regiment Band.

Itiesday 2nd & 3rd December Trafalgar Theatre Group "Spirit of Christmas"

SSAFA Charity Christmas Concert at the Garrison Library 8pm Ticket at £6 (in cluding Mulled Wine & Mince Pies). For information Tel: ]MDU 55224/GaiTison Uirary 77418.

Wednesday 3rd-10th December Presentation of Heritage Trust 2004 Tercentenary Calendar with featured illustrations dating back to Gibraltar in 1704,and exhibition of material used for the calendar. John Mackintosh Hall.

Thursday 4th December Launch of Tercentenary Book "300 Years of British Gibraltar".Commemorative coffee table book commissioned from Peter Bond & Gry Iverslien who produced 'Impressions of Gibraltar". Takes place at the Mount.

Thursday 4th December Gibraltar Horticultural Society Christmas Decorations Exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall 10am to 8pm. For information Tel; Mrs. Gache 956 785071.

Saturday 6th December Sweet & Soul

Gospel at the John Mackintosh Halt 9pm.For information Tel: Mr. Artesani 79013.

Sunday 7th December GONHSNature Rambles - Sierra de las Nieves. Meet on the Spanish side of the frontier atSam.For information Tel:John Cortes 72639/76818.

Monday 8th-12th December Cross Stitch Exhibition at the John Mackintosh Hall 10am - 8pm. For information Tel: Christine Piris 46705.

Wednesday 10th December Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Christmas Concert with Nathan Payas and the European Sinfonietta at the Sacred Heart Church. For information Tel: Angelo Sanguinetti 78267 Ext. 234.

Thursday llth-12th December Tiny Tots Nursery Show at the John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 6.15pm. For information Tel: Jasmin 45895.

Saturday 13th December Gibraltar

Botanic Gardens Tour. Meet at The Nature Shop,Alameda Cottage near the entrance at Red Sands Road.There is no fee but donations are welcome.

Sunday 14lh December St Andrew's Church. Christmas Carol Service with

Gibraltar Regiment Band.

Wednesday 17th December GBCOpen Day in aid oflocal charity 9.30am -6pm Followed by TV at 9pm.

Wednesday 17th December Save the Children Christmas Charity Concert at Holy Trinity Church with Gibraltar Regi ment Band.

Saturday 20th December The Sequence

Dance Club Christmas Dinner Dance at the Catholic Community Centre 8.30pm. Price: members £20.00 Non members £ 22.00.

Thursday 25th December Gala Diimer & Dance at the International Casino. Special Menu - Plus continuous Live & Disco Music for Dancing. Price £50.00 (includes entrance to the gaming floor) 8.30pm. Tickets from the Casino Reception Desk.

Friday 26th December Polar Bear Swim. Head for Catalan Bay for traditional Box Day Swim. Mince Pies & Hot Punch supplied. 11.30 am.

Sunday 28th December Gibraltar Ramble. Meet Spanish Side of the Frontier just to the right of the Aduana Vehicle Exit atSam. For information Tel: Mr. Ray Murphy 71956.

Wednesday 31st December New Year's Eve. The official launching of the 2004 celebrations with musical entertainment, midnight countdown, fireworks etc at Casemates Square.

Wednesday 31st December Grand Gala Dinner & Dance at the International Casino. Special Menu & Full English Breakfast plus continuous Live & Disco Music for Dancing 8.30pm Price £65.00 per person (includes entrance to the gaming floor).

Men 5th January Three Kings'Cavalcade on Main Street. See local press for tim ings and other details.

JVB; See page 52 for regular weekly events and club activites

8 Casemates Square Tel: 74946 Tel/Fax: 44878

(Available 9am•7pm)

From Cheese or Roast Turkey to Tandoori Chicken or Hot Chicken fr Bacon

Regular Live Music Big Screen TVs

Open 7 days 9am •late

From Soup of the Day to Omelettes with Fries. Baguettes freshly baked from Juicy Sizzling Sirloin Steak tor Honey Roast Ham)

(From Chicken Breast in Creamy Pepper fr Brandy Sauce to Succulent Chicken Curry)

(From Sausage, Mash fr Onion in Rich Gravy to Lasagne with Beef, Tomato and Cheese)

2/3 Casemates Square Tel: 74195

Hie iMSpirAtidMAl Centre Yom'11 0e FA»clHAteb At Fot^nes llimsiinl Ci/tsfor £vm/oiic Oil f/ic Cnseiimtes Bn/coin/ Tel/Fax:51058

DINNER MENU

(available 7pm •late)

Arxlr-Q < tvnof Sizzling In Gibraitori

Fish

Bhona Prawns/ Dover Sole /Swordfish /Salmon / Madetran Fish Er Prawn Kebab / Madeiran King Prawn Kebab 'Vesuvius'

Grand Casemates Fillet Steak / Sirloin Steak/Pork Fillet Steak (Steaks served with sauce of your choice)

Chicken Stroganoff/ Chicken Portu guese/ Chicken in Black Pepper b Brandy Sauce / Jamaican Pepper Pot/ Beef in Red Wine Er Mushroom / Garlic Chicken / Tandoori Chicken / Special mixed Grill (for 2 onlytandoori Ir garlic chicken,fillet pieces, prawns,swordfish, sausages, bacon, tomatoes fr peppers)

The photographs pictured are winning images from the Gibraltar Photographic Society's Colour Prints Open Competition, held last month. The winners were,from above clockwise.Bill Watson 1st, Bill Watson 2nd,Peggy Redfeam 3rd,and Marie Risso commended.

For enquiries about the Gibraltar Photographic Society, or details of the next Open Competition, contact Bill Watson on telephone 41618. The Society welcomes neiu members and holds regular beginners coursesfor those interested in taking up the hobby.

Winning images

Colour Prints Open — Bill Watson — commended

Monochrome Competition

The Gibraltar Photographic Society's Monochrome Open Competition, also held last month, was won by Hector Linares with the photograph below.Hector also won 2nd prize (bottom) and the shots of Gibraltarfrom the Spanish coast (far left, bottom) by Bill Watson won 3rd prize and commended respectively. The other tioo photographs pictured here(centre bottom)were also commended by the judges.

Evidence of occupation In

the time of Tarik Found

The landing of Tarik-ibn-Ziyad in Gibraltar in AD 711 has been regarded as a landmark in the history of Europe,having established the conquest of al-Andalus by Arabs and Berbers.

shrine, may weU now throw new light on this question.

Not all historical authorities have agreed with the date of the precise landing in Gibraltar, with claims from other parts of the coast of southern Iberia having been made at different times. Until now all available evidence has been from original texts, usually Arab ac counts, written centuries later.

The archaeological evidence from Gibraltar,based on systematic excavations since 1996, has sup ported the historical accounts of an early city in the 11th century and subsequent expansion in the 14th century but there has been no evi dence ofan earlier occupation.This has not been regarded as surpris ing as an early occupation force seems to have rapidly moved north to conquer territory and probably did not spend any time or effort in construction.

Gorham's Cave on the eastern coast of Gibraltar, so well known for its prehistory and Phoenician

As part ofa compre hensive dating pro gramme funded by the Government of Gi braltar and the Euro pean Community un der the PalaeoMed Project of the Interreg IIIB Medocc Pro gramme new dates are being obtained from all levels in the sequence at Gorham's Cave.

A recent sample of charcoal sent for AMS radiocarbon dating from the upper levels at Gorham's and analysed by Beta Analytic Radiocar bon Dating Laboratory in Florida, USA, has produced a date in the narrow range of AD 650-AD 780. The median date falls at AD 715, remarkably close to AD 711!

The date demonstrates, for the first time, that there was a human presence on the Rock close to the time of the initial Arab-Berber con quest. It is likely that the date cor responds to a fire lit within the cave at the time,or close to,the conquest although a late Visigothic presence, equally interesting and previously undocumented, cannot be dis carded.

Once again, the unique value of Gorham's Cave in the history of Gibraltar and, more widely of the world, has been demonstrated.

Buffs Cheque Presentation

www.Basiprii|.gi

10pm and live etertainment on Satur day nights from 10pm un til late (watch this space for de tails of theirThursday night live entertainmentl).

Af an event held in the Eliott Hotel last month the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes presented two chequesfor £300 each to Mrs Kusso of the Gibraltar Societyfor the Prevention of Blindness. One cheque was a donationfrom the Nomads Lodgeand onefrom the Provincial Grand Lodge Appeal 2000/2002. Afurther cheque of£2000 was given to the Children's Ward ofSt Bernard's Hospital.

live Music Venues

The Lord Nelson in Casemates has live music on Friday and Saturdayeve nings. Jam session on Sunday eve nings - ail musicians welcome. Hie Tunnel, also in Casemates, has live music every Friday night from

There is live music at Corkt on Irish Town every Friday from 9pm to late. The Three Owls on Irish Town has a jam session, hosted by Richard Cortes and STD, on Wednesday nights from 8-30pm

The Rock Hotel, Europa Road, has regular entertainment from 4-6pm with guitarist "Hto Valerga. and on Sat urday evenings with Masquerade. Thursday night is Jazz night at the Eliott Hotel from 9pm.

Bell Pharmacy

Your Family Chemists

Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions

Consult us ut 27 Bell Lane

Tel: 77209 Fax: 42989

* -■ Dr Rene A Beguelin MB B5

General Practitioner

Sally Corea

BSc (Hons) Osc. Med. DO ND

Osteopath & Naturopath

Central Clinic, 1 A Centre Plaza, Horse Barrack Lane. Tel: 59955

Fax; 49495 E-mail: beguelin@gibnynex,gi

LARRY WILDING

BSC (Hons) MChS SRCh ABAHChP

BRITISH STATE REGISTERED CHIROPODIST/ PODIATRIST

180Main Street SafewayPharmacy

Tel: 51482 Tel: 75765

Freee-mail advicelinecontactlarry@>gibnynex,gl

T City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 73765

Suppliers of Glucosamine, Ginkgo Biloba and ail vitamins. New large range of American products now in stock.

Body Building Products ICreatine etc)

Open; 9am - Ipm it 3pm - 6.30pm

HEARING AID

— centreagents FOR PHILIPS HEARING AIDS

Open Mon.-Fri. lOam-lpm / 4pm-6pm

2 Horse Barrack Court, Gibraltar Teh 73341

ptomeIrM

Chiropractic Health Clinic

\ '1 DrStevenJ. CrumpB.Sc,IK',MCC

I 1. Open; Mon - Fri 9..^0ani - 6..Wpm

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

Tel: 44226 ICC Suite F.SC IM Floor. Casemates, Gibraltar

Member ofl)riii.\h Chimpraclif Assix iolKm

HERBALIFE IIVDEPEKDENT DISTRIBUTOR

(hnp://www.hert>alife.com) 22 years SAcountnes

Nutrition for weight control and personal care products call me for product or business opportunity

J.Mottershead

Tel/Fax: (l}0 3S0) 72011 Mobile: Gibraltar 58889000 24 College Lane, Gibraltar

EYE STUDIO OPTICIANS

Unit 208 Grand Casemates Tel: 47800 Fax: 47801

FOR A PROFESSIONAL OPTICAL SERVICE

„SEETHE DIFFERENCE

HSA Registered

McTimoney Chiropractor

Gende holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems ami sports injuries

Gillian Schirmer MA, DC, MMCA Clinic (Claudia sl, 1si Moor. 58 Main Street Tel 74040 or after hours 40026

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC Member of the British Chiropractic Association

Back to bener health with Chiropractic for headaches, dizziness, neck and lower back pain, sciatica, osteoathritis and sports injuries. College Clinic, Regal House. Tel: 75769

L. M. PASSANO

British Registered Eye Examination

Contact Lenses

38 Main Street Tel: 76544

Dr Keith J Vinnicombe

HDS (Wk/nj U)S WS (f.nf) MFCOP (UKl

Dental Surgeon

Unit FSB ICC 2a Main Street Tel/Fax: 40747

Emergency After Hours: 78756

Seasonal Health &Safety

It will soon be Christmas and that brings with it more worries for Health and Safety advisors. "Oh no" I hear you say, "Do those Health and Safety people want to abolish Christmas?" "Is Health and Safety going to stop us giving presents and having parties?"

Definitely NOT! The more presents the better as far as I am concerned and that goes for parties as well BUT did you know?

• Between 1996 and 200131 peo ple in the UK died because they watered their Christmas tree while the tree lights were switched on.

• In 2000 18 people received se rious burns while trying on their new Christmas jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth.

• In 3 years 19 people died when they ate the Christmas tree decorations thinking they were chocolate.

And in 2001 four people broke an arm pulling Christmas crackers, at least that was what they told the hospital.

Although all these statistics come from the UK I'm sure doctors in Gibraltar could come up with a few similar stories.

So what are the Health and Safety issues with Christmas, apart from paying for it that is?

Real Christmas trees can have lots of resin in them and that can make them very flamma ble. So watch out for lit candles or matches catching the branches.

19 people died when they ate tree decorations thinking they were chocolate

Samuel tbgui BDS DENTALSURGEON

Bruce Hogg BDSiHunsi DENTAL SURGEON

Visiling Orthodontist & Oral Surgeon 62 Main Street, Suite 6, PO Box 909, Gibraltar Tel: 76817

Now available, health products to sleep on at nighl and lo wear by day, from a long established japanese company ofxrating in over 20 countries. These products are totally natural, and both provide more effective sleep and increase energy by day. Thoy also ease disi:omfi)rt in the joints and back.

For more details contact: Xillion, 24 College Lane, Gibraltar. Tel; 72011

Christmas lights. Have they been rolled up and stuffed into the back ofa cupboard? Well how about get ting them checked to make sure they are OK. At least have a look at them and check the cable is be ing properly gripped in the plug and there are no cracks in the insu lation, or even signs of burning. Please do thisbefore you plug them in to check the lights are still work ing.

Decorations. Where are you go ing to put these? Is there a suitable stepladder to put them up or will someone climb up on a desk or

chair. Or will someone drill a hole in the top of their hard hat to have their own personal mini tree. This did happen in one workplace and not only did he have a mini Christ mas tree he had flashing lights as well run from a battery inside his hat. Please don't try this one your self. Not only is it very dangerous to interfere with the integrity of protective equipment but it could also be classed as a breach of health and safety legislation, resulting in a fine. As it was Christmas the man ager involved is sued a new hard hat, but he did re mind ail the staff that his Christmas spirit would not be so generous if it happened again.

Some of these comments apply equally well at home as at work. At work there is a requirement forem ployers to make sure that electrical items are tested and safe for use but what happens at home?

'Take safety home' and check the electrical plugs and cables around the house are in good condition. Use a stepladder or step stool to put up the decorations. Make sure the children know which decorations are the chocolate ones and have a safe and happy Christmas.

College Clinic Moves

medical directory

BIORESONANCE

PRACTITIONER

Giseia Keuper-vonKader BRTRCREFITO

Healthier Life Clinic

252/2-n Main St

Tel: 70421

Website: www.healthierlife.gi

CHEMISTS

Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane

Tel: 77289 Fax: 42989

Vie College Clinic has now moved lo swish neto premises on the Ground Floor, Regal House where both the College Lane and Marina Bay Clinics have been combined. The neiv central location is close to the city centre ivith ample parking adjacent. The College Clinic — nou> on Ground Floor, Regal House, Queensway Tel: 71711 Fax: 12191 E-mail: info@collegeclinic.gi Website: www.collegeclinic.gi. Open: 8am-8pm Monday - Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday.

Sarah Joins Central Clinic

Osteopath and Naturopath, Sarah Correa,joined the clinic ofDr Benguelin in September to offer a new range ofservices at the Centre Plaza based surgery. Sarah studiedforfour years in London before returning to Gibraltar to offer her services as an osteopath (treating back, neck, knees, ankles, shoulders and sports injuries) and a naturopath (using natural medicines, and vitamins to enhance lifestyle). Sarah can be contacted the the clinic on 59955 or Fax: 49495 or Mobile: 51158000.

JOHN W. MILES

BSC(Podiatrv), M.Ch.S

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

Tel: 44797

CHIROPODISTS

John W Miles BSc(Podiatry). MChS College Clinic, Regal House

Tel: 75769

L Wilding BSc (Hons), MChS, SRCh.

ABAHChP

180 Main Street

Tel: 51482

Safeway Pharmacy

Tel: 75765.

Free advice line: larry(S)gibnynex,gi

CHIROPRATORS

Dr Steven J. Crump BSc, DC, MCC

ICC Suite F5C 1st Floor. Casemates.

Tel: 44226

Dr Michael Pirn DC. D'Ac

Df Leyla Pirn BA. DC

1 St Chiropractic Centre

306 Main Street.

Tel: 44844

E-mail; enquiries@1stchiro,com

Website: www.lstchiro.com

Gillian Schirmer MA, DC. MMCA

McTimoney Chiropractor, Clinic (Claudia's). 1st Floor. 58 Main Street

Tel: 74040 or after hours: 40026

Dr Carsien Rudolf Steiner BSc. DC Steiner Chiropratic Clinics. College Clinic, Regal House.

Tel: 75769

DENTAL SURGEONS

Samuel Ibgui BDS

Bruce Hogg BDS

62 Main Street, Suite 6, PO Box 909

Tel: 76817

Dr Keith J Vinnicombe BDS(Wales) LDS RCS(Eng)MFGDP(UK)

Unit FSB, International Commercial Centre, 2a Main Street

Tel/Fax: 40747

Emergency After Hours: 78756

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Dr Rend A Beguelin MB.6S

Central Clinic. 1 A Centre Plaza, Horse Barrack Lane

Tel: 59955 Fax: 49495

E-mail: beguelin(g>gibnynex.gl

Dr J, Shelley Dr M,Salem College Clinic, Regal House, Oueensway.

Tel: 77777 Fax: 72791

E-mail: info@co(legeclinic.gi

Website: www.collegeclinic.gi

HEALTH STORES

The Health Store 5 City Mill Lane. Tel: 73765

NATUROPATHS

Sally Correa BSc(Hons)Ost. Med. DO NO Central Clinic, 1A Centre Plaza, Horse Barrack Lane, Tel:59955 Fax:49495 Mobile: 571580(X) E-mail: sarahacorrea@hotmail.com

OPTtCIANS / OPTOMETRISTS

Eye Studio Opticians

Unit 208 Grand Casemates Tel: 47800 Fax: 47801

Gache8 Co Limited 266 Main Street.

Tel: 75757

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

OSTEOPATHS

Sally Correa BSc(Hons)Ost. Med. DO ND Central Clinic, 1A Centre Plaza, Horse Barrack Lane.

Tel: 59955 Fax:49495 Mobile: 57158000

E-mail: sarahacorrea@hotmail.com

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

G. Keuper-vonKader BRTRCRERTQ Healthier Life Clinic, 252/2-11 Main St

Tel: 70421

Website: www.healthierlife.gi

cnniiD" prize puzzle

Across

by Alan Gravett

5. You could steal a kiss under it!(9)

8. Emile ™> French author (4)

9.& 19. He looked out,in a Carol(4,4,9)

10. Car part — where the Brobdingnagians opened their eggs(3,3)

11. This bird doesn't celebrate Christinas!(6)

13. List of things to be done at a meeting 96)

15. Where 9&19 looked out(6)

16. Entrance to a farm building (4,4)

18. Edward Lear's Pobble had none!(4)

(Decorative Crajti

•

Winner

Crossword

Down

1. (South American)pulse(4,4)

2. Put on a play (6)

3. Respond - it is used in a chemist's lab.(6)

4. Pig's meat(4)

6. When 9&19 looked out(6,3)

7. Not employed enough (9)

12. Meat dish often cooked for Christmas(53)

14. Immediately (2,4)

15. Rural community(6)

17. Christmas - boy's name

by Eddie Eliott

Adrian Pozo, founding drummer of Gibraltar's most successful hit record group,is back on the Rock follow ing the break-up ofMelon Dieseland making plans for the next move in his musical career, with his lifelong colleague Guy Palmer and the simi larly gifted Stephen Maclaren.

"When 1 was last in Madrid, I was surprised at how many doors were open to me.I'm sure we could do something good again. We are rehearsing together and it sounds good."

Q/remember you as a football mad youngster,when did itstart for you?

"I had seven years when I first played for Lincoln with my mates. I rememlier we grew up together under the'Gaffer',the late Malcolm Brennan, who took us all to Jersey for a tournament. Over the years I still play with the same mates. Wan derers now in Division Three and five-a-side."

QHow did you gel into musk, and drumming?

"1 was always keen on drum ming — on the table,sneaking into rehearsal rooms, silling at the drums behind Guy Palmer and Daniel Fa. I couldn't afford a real set of drums until I was about twenty;they cost me £230.1 learned by watching others — Peter Chichon (now Breed 77), Laurie Acris and others — watching their style. But you can't copy anyone, you just steal bits and pieces. We drummers talk the same secret lan guage to each other, same prob lems,cotton reels keeping the cym bals level — a drummers union.

"1 was always available to play. Phil Valverde used to call me for gigs, dances, pop,pasadobles. Na tional Days — I loved it all. The groups I played with did covers Kiss, Beatles and that stuff.

"Then about eight years ago we formed Melon Diesel, decided to be more professional, and went to try our luck in Madrid in'97. We had a

Drummer, Footballer (^Chef

lot of doors slammed in our faces, it is the hardest of businesses, re ally bitchy. But we believed in what we were doing and eventually some producers liked our demos and we were signed up with Sony

vourites. The biggest thrill (tears in eyes)was when we went to concerts and the crowd sang OUR music, not someone elses. Most 1 concerts in Spain are free, 1

you feel better. Up on the stage,the group can enjoy their own private world —'look at those guys','that girl'.

"Weearned a lot of money—and paid a lot of bills — 20% to man agement.There were many mouths to feed and nothing was for free.

"We rode the wave in a tough world."

"We went a long way with Melon Diesel,conquering the Spanish mar ket, topping the hit parade — and making some real money,but it all came to an end over 'musical dif ferences'. We started out as five good friends, united in our effort and committed to the group; but everyone is an individual and disa greed over expanding into a larger international market,after the Eng lish album.The work was there. We could have taken it much farther, but it's all over now and I'm not go ing to dwell on it. Life goes on!

"1 like to think I'm the same per son that I was. 1 enjoy drmks with my mates at the Stadium,or at the Lincoln Club. 1 have my wife, 'Didi',and my little princesses four year old Amy and little five month old Shannon. Amy has already been on stage,dancing at the Ince's Hall.

"And did I mention I'm a chef?

"I'm never happier than when I'm in the kitchen — 'Didi'loves it. I'm a real Gary Rhodes — all fresh ingredients, proper utensils and new ideas. My lifelong friend'Gaucho'(Christopher Dean) is always around to try out my concoctions.

"But it is music for me,and Guy, it's our life and we still believe! We've turned a page and the music carries on. We're going for it!"

Later a chance meeting with Guy echoed Adrian's sentiments "What else do we do?"

and we became really big in Spain; concerts, theatres, TV and records.

"I think our biggest break was the first album La Cuesta de Mr.Bond and our first big hit single Contracorriente. Of course, the record company had the biggest say;but that became ours as we got more popular. We wrote all our stuff collectively and backed our fa

we played for 40,000at ff]

Seville; but when the bm Stadium is filled with paying customers, bS

posterfrom Melon Diesel'sfirst album — La Cuesta de Mr Bond

course music is my life, but I never forget my love of football. Tve been known to race back during a concert tour in Spain to play a match with my mates on the Rock."

We went a long way... conquering the ^ Spanish market,topping the hit parade and 1 making some real money, but it all came 1 to an end over 'musical differences'|

The

CHRISTMAS in the ALAMEDA

Normally this month over the past few years I have given you some suggestions of what plants to buy for your friends. This time, I thought it would be a good Idea to suggest a healthy option for you and the family after your much too large Christmas lunch — a brisk walk around the gardens!I For those of you who do not visit the gardens as much as you should, in order to keep healthy, you will discover a lot of improvements and additions.

On entering the George Don Gates from Grand Parade, the plantings around that area have matured to an incredible degree in just two years, whereby the beds have filled in very well and the trailing rosemary is touching the ground in many places.In addition to the tiled map to your left, the Moorish Fountain and Visitor Cen tre has stil to be completed,ready for the official opening on Satur day 1st May 2004, along with the Exhibition Rooms, Animal Park etc..

Atthe top ofthe Lord Heathfield Steps to the right this area is being devoted to Cycads,some of which have already been planted. These are rather primitive plants of palm like appearance, which go back to the times of Pterodactyls and Di nosaurs.

Further on,outside the main en trance to the open air theatre, this area is being transformed by

Albert,one of our volunteers, who has worked exceedingly hard on it between his normal duties at the airport. You will now find a wide range of palm trees,plus other ap propriate plants. It has been di vided off, whereby the moisture loving and drier type palms have their own areas.

A great deal of work has been carried out on the 'Animal Park', easily seen by looking through the fencing, plus the construction of a special building for preparation and the hygienic storage of food for the various animals.

Adjacent to the Prince of Wales Summerhouse" another area has been transformed completely, whereby all the larger Aloes and Euphorbias that were given to Gi braltar by the Royal Botanic Gar dens,Kew,have been planted out. So,the temporary shade house for these plants has been dismantled. Some huge rocks have been

A winter scene around the General Eliott monument brought in for the landscaping work along with 40 tons of river sand. The latter was needed in or-

der to improve the drainage con siderably here to cope with these plants which originate from Saudi Arabia and the Yemen, south wards to Namibia and South Af rica.

The Aloe collection now tops the 200 species mark,which means no matter when you visit the gardens, there will be species in flower, be cause of their very varied habitat range. This area is to be known as "The Kew Collection",and wiU be officially opened on Saturday, 1st May 2004 by Phil Griffiths, Con servatories Co-ordinator for the Royal Botanic Gardens,Kew,prior to the start of a five day botanical conference at the Rock Hotel.

On your walk you should have seen many plants in flower includ ing the triphylla type Fuchsias, thanks to Gibraltar's favourable climate. Around the General Eliott monument the red flower spikes of Aloe arborescens should still be giving a good display.

Hopefully you have enjoyed the year's articles on plants,so it only leaves me space to wish all our readers a healthy and prosperous New Year.

'The Kew Collection" ofAloes and Euphorbias during the construction period

pets accessories

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51794

Email: 8horeleave@glbnvnex.gl

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May - 5th May 2004

Conferencefor Amateurs i& Professionals on "The Wonderful Flora ofSouth Africa including the Succulent Plants"

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PHOTOS Te]:S()7IQFax:50710

Commercial Photography Weddings. Communions. Portraits ffne.cr coUeviion ofold photographs on the Rock

newsagents

Sun Oatlii iRail Star !£x(ircss Mirror

Available Daily on tha Rock Evary Morning from L, SACARELLO 9() Main Street Tel: 78723 Fax: 78723 Booksellers. Newsagents &. Stationers

SKY SHOP

For newspapers, mogazines, confectionery 4 more, visit the Sky Shop at Sibraltar Airport. Open:9.3(ljm - 9pm 7 day- a week VsLT Ic?* Stop before the frortier Sibroltar Airport Tel/Fax: 42639

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The Gibraltar School ofBallet Spiriidtsts ill. Classical Ballet liuimiiuilu'iis held under The Royal Academy of Dance Evening Fitness Classes S.3U-9.30 Lnv liiijiiiet Aeivhies • Body Conditioning Unit F19 Europa Business Centre Tel ihome* 51187 (studiol 45145 E-mad. cbossino;d>hotmail.com

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HiTraining Tai lor IM a d e Professional ComputerTraining Microsoft Office Specialist,IC3,Sage, A+ and many moreTel:78714 or Mobile:S4303000 Email:info@tralnlngtm.com

To advertise in The Gibraltar Magazine I Tel/Fax: 77748

There is a distinguished list of speakers including two from famous botanical gardens in S, Africa plus others from the UK,Portugal and Gibraltar.

For further information contact Brian M.Lamb(Programme Chairman). Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Red Sands Road,PC Box $43, Gibraltar E-mail: alameda@gibnet.giTel: 9567 72639or41235 Fax: 9567 74022 + your name and address

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starting line-up. 1 am looking for ward to a successful season. Wejust snatched the title late last season."

Glacis Manager Johrmy Moreno, also a prime-mover of the Elite Coaching School, is 'moderately' happy with his team's early season form "but then we do have Kevin de los Santos in goal, and that's worth a couple of goals — trouble is we find it difficult to score at the other end.The biggest problem fac ing local football is lack of training allocations."

lillUlLKJJ

The long hot summer passed as we watched in amazement as the contractors laid the new 'state of the art' artificial, playing surface on the Main pitch at the Victoria Stadium.

Late in September it was deemed fit to play on and for the pastsix weeks it has been in almost continuous daily action — it is guaranteed for five years,but there can't be many pitches which get such usage.

In another town the main grass pitch would be reserved for the 'elite' team but here on the Rock it has to meet the needs of the whole community — from Under 10s to over 40s.TTiat's why grass is not an option. But'our'new synthetic sur face is an adequate substitute and looks and plays like grass and is unlikely to suffer from'bald spots'.

It has brought new elementsinto the game of football, which weren't there before — the ball has little bounce and does stop rolling. Pre viously, a ball which eluded the defender could be forgotten; it would simply roll away out of play. Now the defender had better turn and run to cover an opponent — the ball is going to come to rest. It places a greater emphasis on fitness than existed hitherto and all play ers are suffering from tired legs. At the top of'Rock Soc.' where the'Big Six' compete for honours,all man agers/coaches have had to'up'the training to several sessions a week.

A greater than ever demand is placed on players for fitness and ball control,but we have never suf fered a lack of skilful players at the top levels of senior,and junior,foot ball. Coach Paul Holden, now Di rector of Coaching with Crystal Palace and good friend of Gibral tar's football, having served here towards the end of his 22 year

Army career, has always praised Gibraltar's players for their ability to play 'standing on their feet' as against the english way of going to ground. He is involved in the recently set-up Elite Soccer School, a long overdue small step towards establishing 'football coaching'for youngsters on the Rock.On a recent visit he expressed his intention of forming closer links between 'the Palace' and Gibraltar football to enable a conduit for the most prom ising youngsters to sample a pro fessional opportunity. But, as he says, to get a chance in the english professional game you have to of-

Barcelona Veterans side, featuring 'las viejas glorias', who gave pleas ure to a thousand paying custom ers and a lesson to a team styling itself Gibraltar United Veterans.

The local veterans expressed themselves thrilled to have shared a pitch with some footballing leg ends.

The season so far

The GFA Coca Cola First Division features the Big Six of local soccer; Newcastle Utd, Glacis Utd, St Joseph's, Manchester Utd, Gibral tar Utd, Monteverde and Lions PC

At the top of'Rock Soc.' where the 'Big Six' compete for honours, ail managers/ coaches have had to 'up'the training

fer 'more' than exists already in their Football Academies. He also liked the new pitch and said he would bring professionals to play on it.

It is a sad reflection of modem football locally that few spectators, less than a hundred, regularly at tend the Stadium for big matches

— in the 'Glorious Fifties', when football reigned supreme and had little competition, the Stadium could be filled weekly to witness the struggle between the 'Big, and only. Four' — Astoria, Britannia, Prince of Wales and Gibraltar Utd.

One optimist, who never takes 'no'for an answer,Francis Negron, proved a point when he filled the Stadium for the recent visit of a

— and the First Round of matches have yielded six draws to nine wins, five of these against Lions, struggling pointless at the foot of the table.

It was good time for the Coach/ Managers to reflect on how it has gone so far.

Charles Cumbo's reigning cham pions Newcastle just edged the Celecia Trophy by a single point.

"We lost our opening match and changes have been forced on me through injuries to key players.For tunately, I have a very keen squad of young players- some have made the leap into the'bigtime'.Some of their play has been breathtaking. They are all eager to attend train ing sessions and win a place in the

Brian Asquez has returned to football management with Man chester Utd and had high expecta tions after last season's 'almost championship' losing a crucial match in over-time. They suffer from being too bright, several of their leading stars are away at UK universities. "I am not so happy at present; my players have underperformed, conceding points in three drawsin matches they should have won. If they don't do well to day,there'll be changes."They lost from a winning position.

Kevin Eagles is the'eternal opti mist'. He lives football and is dedi cated to Gibraltar Utd(Monteverde this season), who he manages alongside stalwart coach Anthony Sayers."We have lost vital players for crucial matches, but when we are at full strength we are a test for the best. Fitness on this new pitch is essential and my players are hardworking and dedicated to training, whenever we can get al locations. We could have a good season -it's very tight at the top at present."

No one is more dedicated to fit ness than Jerry Aguilera,a midfield dynamo and fit 'bombero'. He would love to be out on the field at the start of every match, and suf fers on the sidelines. "But 1 must have confidence in my younger players to do the job, that's why they are out on the pitch. We can be a match for anyone, it's early days and no club has got away, yet."

Hardly any ofthe lesser clubs are equipped to'gain'promotion to the top Ctivision. The 2nd Division is principally the domain of reserve sides of the 'Big Six'.

One club which is prepared to challenge the 'big boys' is the Li ons FC — founded in 1966!

So far this season they have been beaten by the other Five,but Coach Alex Grech is full of praise for his hard-working players. "They couldn't try harder, the scores are getting closer — a point would be nice, a win better!"

There's all to play for in this sea son's GFA Coca Cola First Division. Go along and enjoy some extremely good football by some very excit ing players.

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Drink Sherry... ...Live Longer

Sherry is the ideal drinic for a Gibraltarian — it's a wholly Spanish product and yet is a very British tipple.

It's also a product of this region of Iberia being the pride of the city of Jerez de La Fronteira.

But another good reason to con sider taking a drop of Sherry before dinner is that it might help you live longer. Recent studies have shown that drinking wine in moderation protects against heart disease. This is nothing new to Jerezanos,the pro ducers and lovers of Sherry, who have been promoting its medicinal qualities for centuries. In Jerez, the sherry wines havealways been con sidered antidotes,especially against infectious diseases.

The Times of 25lh January,1892re ported that only one doctor, a Dr. Hodges, survived the London plague of 1665. In his memoirs the dcxrtor attributed his survival to the daily consumption of a few glasses of 'sherri's-sack', which provided him not only with protection against the disease but also with the opti mism which he transmitted to his patients.

night after dinner and she lived to be 97.

In his book Sherry — The Noble Wine, expert Manuel Gonzales Gordon(sometimes called the Pope of Sherry but better known to friends as Manolo Gonzalez)of Je rez wrote:

Fantastic Prices from 153,258 Euros / £95,786.

Inhabitants of Jerez are noted for their longevity

Inhabitants of Jerez are noted for their longevity and the people of Andalusia call Sherry 'milk for the old people' or sometimes 'chicken broth'. There is an Andaluslan leg end of an archbishop who drank a half a bottle of Sherry at every meal except on days when he wasn't feel ing well and then he doubled his intake. It is said that he lived to be 125.Presumably the doctors put his death down to excessive drink.

There must be something in it be cause my Yorkshire-born grand mother had a glass of Sherry(along with her favourite chocolate) every

"In spite of the large amount of Sherry that is drunk in Jerez,cirrho sis of the liver is almost unknown in the district. Dr. Lancereaux has said that this illness is caused by overindulgence in alcohol, whilst other authorities attribute it to po tassium sulphate in food and drinks. Here we have further proof that the plastering(gypsum is added to the soil) of Sherry has no ill effects on health. Moreover, Dr. Jose Luis R. Badanelli,in a re port that cirrhosis is almost un known in Jerez, shows that in the majority of cases treated over a large number of years by Jerez doctors the patients were mainly non-wine drinkers, many being women."

Manolo started drinking Sherry as a schoolboy but he got his first taste when he was four months old and credited it with saving his life. He was very ill and specialistscalled from Seville told his parents he had only four days to live. Manolo's fa ther ordered Sherry for the doctor and when the ser\'ant passed with the tray the little boy reached out. Manoio's mother saw this and she gave the baby a spoonful of Sherry.

"This she did, and as I smacked

SG Hambros Bank iVid Trust sponsored the latest Med Golf tournament at Dehesa Monlenmedio. Pictured is Bruce Duckioorth ofSG Hambros presenting the trophy to Manuel Poveda and other winners on the day. The next event is at Alcaidesa on 7th December 2003.

my lips and appeared to relish it she repeated the dose — a 'treatment' she went on giving me for several weeks."

When Manolo moved to London to work as a journalist for the York shire Post he continued to drink his daily quoto of Sherry. His favourite spot was the El Vino wine house on Reet Street.

"It imported Sherry direct and it was served from the cask — in cons i d e r a b 1 e quanitities. I usu^y took the least expensive El Vino medium Sherry: it cost the equivalent of 4p a dockglass(six to the bottle)."

Manuel M.Gonzalez Gordon was bom in Jerez in 1886 and died there in 1980. He worked most of his life in the family company wine dis tributors Gonzales Byass & Co.

Obviously wine distributors have a vested interest in promoting Sherry but an interesting study on the life expectancy of Jerez vintners and cellar-managers done by a George C. Howell found that 10% were moderate drinkers or teetotal while the remaining 90% were estab lished enthusiasts. A study of the

mortality rate showed that only 10% died before the age of 70 while 15% survied to be 90 or more.

We'll leave the last word to Dr. Fermin Aranda of Jerez, a distin guished surgeon and a strong parti san of Sherry quoted in the book:

"Sherry is a powerful tonic be cause it contains alcohol(medically antipyretic),ether (stimulant), iron (fortifying tonic) and nitrogen. These added to the vitamins it contains make Sherry a tonic without rival in the world."

Of course as all doctors will ad vise the key is moderation but then I've always been a big fan of Mark Twain's famous remark — "Every thing in moderation, including moderation."

*Note — The term Sherry is derived from the Roman name of the town, Ceret, on the site of the what is today ferez. This was corrupted to Xerez ^ the Moors. All true Sherries are from Jerez and only winesfrom that district can use the word on labels andfor pro motion, this was upheld by European legislation in 7995.

One doctor, a Dr. Hodges, survived the London plague of 1665

The winning teamfrom Rock Golf's President's Day,sponsored by The Gibraltar Magazine and held at La Canada: Liz Plummet, Russ Crawford, Bruce Grant and Alan Craig(one absentfrom photo) with President GeoffHolt

THE STRINGS' MAN PAYS A VISIT

It has been more than 14 years since I first interviewed Peter Wheatley. They were happy times. It was April 1989 and the Royal Hussar was owner of one of the most successful restaurants on the Rock, was President of the Ladies Auxilliary of the Gibraltar Licensed Victualler's Association and a popular guest and drinking companion.

In November Peter returned to Gibraltar after a three and a half year absence and I met up with him for a drink at the Royal Oak in Irish Town.He was his usual dapper self and looking fitter than when he left for England. He told me he was thoroughly enjoying his return to the Rock and was overwhelmed at being affectionately greeted by so many old friends. But the warm reception also caused him to fall into a bit of melancholy because it reminded him of how much he missed what he considers his'spir itual' home.

"1 would move back if 1 could afford it," lamented Peter. "1 love this place. I spent the best thirty years of my life here. It's coming home."

Peter now lives in a small house in Sevenoaks,Kent and survives off a small pension.A far cry from the high times when he owned the pres tigious and delightful Strings Restaurant {now Simon's) in Cornwall Lane.

Strings(named for the simple decorative ceiling Peter had suggested to the previ ous owner), was one of the most popular restaurants in Gibraltar. It was quite small and therefore inti mate and that combined with the fine food made reservationsa must. Peter's advertising slogan was; "Some things are still difficult to get in Gibraltar — one of them is a ta ble at Strings."

The first time 1 dined at Strings I feasted on crispy duck in morello cherry sauce accompanied by su perb shoestring potatoes.A memo rable meal. Other examples of the fine cuisine on offer were: English game pie, Moroccan'tajines, mus sels baked with garlic and lemon butter, seafood soup (thick and meaty — no fins, heads, bones or eyes) and for dessert Peter's Morrocan assistant Amina con cocted what was described as a 'chocolate and hazelnut' thing.

Peter was a self-taught cook,admitting that he learned "from books".

Initially Amina helped in the

preparation butPeter taught her his recipes and soon found that she was better than he was and from then on she did much of the cook ing while he tended to front of house. He mourns the passing of this 26 years at Strings saying that it wasn't like work at all.

"Every night was like a dinner party with friends," Peter fondly remembers.

The regulars came from all walks of life, Gibraltarians, ex-pats and the military and whichever tourists could manage a reservation.

Unlike most ex-military who end up in Gibraltar Peter had never been here during his military career but he is proud of his army days and Strings was decorated with military memorabilia and regimen tal badges and photos.

Peter was born (near Wimble-

was offered a job in Gibraltar at a place called the Lotus House.Peter was looking for a change and ac cepted, only to find on his arrival, on 1st October, 1969, that rather than work the front of house he was expected to cook;and he had never cooked in his life. That's when he turned to the books and taught himself.

Peter also worked for a time at the Late Diner (long since closed) in the Queen's Hotel, a job he en joyed very much. He stayed at the Queen's on his recent visit and re newed old friendships. He left the Queen's for a job at the Yacht Club but found that to be a big mistake and so in desperation he took a job at a takeaway called The Chicken Inn.

When the owner asked Peter what he should do to make the ceiling look more decorative but without spending any money Peter sug gested he wind string around the ceiling. A short time later Peter bought the takeaway and Strings was bom.

don) and grew up in London. Af ter a public schoolboy education he enlisted with the 13/18th Royal Hussars.In 1992 the 13/18th amal gamated with the 15/19th King's Royal Hussars and are now known as the Light Dragoons.

On leaving the Army Peterjoined Billy Smart's Circus as a general dog's body, selling tickets and pil ing chairs. He worked his way into the promotional side of the busi ness and eventually decided he would like to go it on his own in public relations.

He found a modicum of success promoting such famous venues as The Thatched Barn and working with film starssuch as Anna Neagle and Patrick Cargill. He loved the glamour, the glitz and the parties but eventually came to realise that although he fancied the life style he was not as good assome of the oth ers in the business.

"1 decided 1 wasn't the best," ad mits Peter today.

Through a chance meeting he

It would be nice to bring a happy ending to the story and it may come yet. But late in his time at Strings Peter took on a part ner and signed away his rights. To make matters worse, one night driving back from dinner up the Costa, Peter crashed his Renault 5 after hitting a big pothole near La Linea. He remembers little after that but suffered numerous injuries and for a time was paralysed down his left side. He has nothing but praise for the doctor and physio at Cadiz hospital who he credits with putting him back together again.

"She actually had me doing PT something 1 strictly avoided in the army,"says Peter with a slight grin.

For a time after the accident Pe ter was very frail and walked with difficulty but it was good to see on this most recent visit that he was stronger and looked almost as hale as he did in his prime at Strings.

1 left our interview with the im pression that despite his protesta tions he will be back on the Rock— to stay.

Restaurateur Peter Wheatley

"Every night was like a dinner party with friends;

Peter fondly remembers.

A Taste of Morocco in Governor's Parade

A new Moroccan restaurant, aptly named Marrakech, has opened on Governor's Parade (the cjuiet scjaure next to the Theatre Royal) and offers exciting menu options to tempt even the most jaded pallet. As hosts Ben and Said say Moroccan cuisine is considered to be amongst the top three cuisines ofthe world and it is easy to see why with fabulous combinations such as Marrakech's Bastilla — a mixture of chicken, spiced eggs and roast nuts wrapped in a filo dough, baked and served with powdered sugar and cinnamon — and braised leg oflamb in honey-nutmeg sauce, caramelised apricots, roasted almonds and sesame seeds. There is a wide variety of dishes including vegetarian andfish options, tasty starters and desserts. Well worth a visitfor something a little different to the ordinary. Marrakech is located at 9 Governor's Paradeand reservations can be made on telephone 75196. Openfrom 8.30amfor brealrfasts and lunch to 3.30pm,then 6.30pm to last orders at 11pm for evening meals.

Plain Pork; Barbary (Soge): Caribbean; Pork, ^pple & Stilton; Beef & Suinness:

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Onion... and many morel

Plus - Pies; Sausoge Rolls; Cornish Pasties.

Everything for the perfect summer barbecue

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Tel/Fax: 75633,49 City Mill Lane

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Beers Wines Spirits Traditional Cornish Pasties

gibraltar

Keeping up with the Thymes

BRING ON THE FESTIVE WINES

With Summer seemingly only just out of the way(where does the time go?),the season of goodwill is just around the corner — people everywhere are up to their armpits in pudding mixture and greetings card lists; turkeys'looking extremely anxious and Santa's little marketing-men laughing all the way to the bank!

With a new menu for Autumn, an additional weekly changing lunch board,the Christmas party menu,a new wine list and a char ity dinner for November it is hard to keep up. But the Thyme team prefer it this way, keeping their interest high they take pride in the food that is served.

everyone.

Our main menu will change every three monthsand the black board, aimed at the lunch hour, on a weekly basis. From a roman tic dinner to an important cel ebration, we cater for them all. A family business with a can-do ap proach means we will always try to arrange any special requests.

But good food doesn't have to be about bow hes and silver plat ters. Attentive staff and an infor mal atmosphere compliment the food very well at Thyme.

But it's not ALL bad. After all,it's the one time of the year that we get to indulge in things gastronomic that we only dream about for the other eleven months. It's the per fect excuse to scour the shops for those special treats that wiU make Christmas lunch one to remember. The food element is quite straight forward — we more or less know what we like and traditionally what's to be expected — but when it comes to selecting what to drink with the meal, then it can be a bit of a minefield.

So, naturally this month I'll be recommending some goodies that

grown in Alsace, France where it produces intensely pungent wines, which can be a bit hard work. But here, in Somontano (The Spanish region in the foothills of The Pyr enees)it makes dry,elegant wines, still with spice aromas, but more subtle and with refreshing fruit fla vours. It's a real departure from samey Chardonnay and definitely worth a try.

If you really want to experiment, why not opt for the amazing 35 y.o. Amontillado Principe (C9.35, Sacarellos, as before), by Bodegas Antonio Barbadillo. The colour of old gold with toasted almond

The new menu is as delightful to read as it is on the tasebuds, for example, the Seafood Slammers are a talking point in both presentation and flavour. The Mille-Feuille of Chargrilled Wild Salmon & Mediterranean Vegetables may not be easy to pronounce but the English trans lation does not do the dish justice. Or try the Thai Haddock Fishcake with Jenga Chips and Minted Pea Puree for a variation of a tradi tional favourite. Vegetarians and Vegans may also be surprised at the interesting dishes on offer.

These days food and wine are just as fashionable as clothes and it's important for chefs and res taurateurs to stay ahead of the game. Just as David Beckham wouldn't be seen in the same out fit twice we like to give our cus tomers the chance to try some thing new every time. Whether you just want to enjoy good food with a friend in your lunch hour or have an important client to entertain,we have something for

After renovations including a brand new theatre style kitchen and new dwor and furnishings throughout, the restaurant opened in June of this year and owners Steve and Susie Clayton are very pleased with the inter est shown in the restaurant so far. With a 100% customer satisfac tion record and great comple ments from the customers we be lieve we have a winning formula and Gibraltar will see a lot more from Thyme Restaurant in the years to come.

Try it for yourself. Thyme Res taurant. 5 Cornwall's Lane, Gi braltar Tel: 49199.

will hopefully take some of the guess-work out of planning the fes tive feasting.

Call me old-fashioned,butI usu ally kick proceedings off with a perky glass of Champagne, and because it's Christmas,I always go for quality. Pol Roger Brut NV (£18.95, Lexi'is Stagnetto,41 Main St, Tel: 42550) is certainly a quality drop.Thisfamous house,favoured by Winston Churchill, has just cel ebrated 150 years of production and consistently achieves excellent re sults. This is dry and elegant, but not too light so,although perfectfor an aperitif, it easily stands up to starters like Scottish smoked salmon,or even a light chicken liver parfait.

If you prefer not to have bubbles with your food, but want a white wine tasty enough to stand up to all the Christmas flavours,then try Vinas Del Vero Gewurztraminer (£4.90, Sacarellos, 57 Irish Town, Tel: 70625). The grape variety, Gewurztraminer, is traditionally

aroma,this traditional Amontillado is rich and warming,but essentially dry, just with a nutty-sweet edge. This is excellent with cured cheeses, or if you're planning a game terrine it's perfect.

Now to the main event,and with all the trimmings, stuffing's and sauces, you really can't be picky about food and wine matching,so 1 tend to go for something that will suit most people's taste. Firstly Melior Crianza 2000 (£5.05, Leiois Stagnelto,as before),from the Ribera del Duero region in Northern Spain,this is an easy going red that will not offend anyone! It's very well made and a spicy, blackberry aroma is followed by well-balanced fruit and tannin, and is the ideal 'foil' for all those festive flavours. If you're entertaining a lot of peo ple, it won't break the bank either!

But, if you want a wine that packs more ofa punch,look no fur ther than Enrique Mendoza Penon de Ifach 1998 (£7.44, Wines Direct, Unit 2 Portland House, Tel; 47922).

With all the trimmings, stuffing's and sauces, you really can't be picky about food and wine matching, so I tend to go for something that will suit most people's taste

I'm fast becoming a fan of these lovely winesfrom Alicante,and this one is really special. It's an unusual blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir,and its suc cess here lies in the wine-makers art of blending. All the flavour ele ments are beautifully knitted to gether to give a silky smooth, lus cious, full-bodied experience that never disappoints.

Moving swiftly on to dessert,you could of course stick to the red wine,but to really bring out the fla vours in your figgy pudding how about the luscious Pedro Ximenez Viejo(£6.51, Wines Direct,as before), Made from sun-dried grapes, which concentrates the sweetness, and left to mature for many years, it is dark,rich and opulently sweet

with a dried plum flavour and un mistakable aroma of raisins, a real pudding wine.

Now to a bit of a treasure that is too often overlooked on the wine merchants shelves, Henriques & Henriques 10 y.o Malmsey Ma deira (£17.95, Anglo Hispano, 5-7 Main St, Tel; 77210), Madeira (the drink, not the island) was discov ered by accident (well, 1 suppose the island was as well, in a way!)

The story goes that wines from the island were taken on board ships and fortified with alcohol to survive conditions at sea, and were baked in the tropical heat of the voyage, developing all sorts of interesting flavours on the way. So here is the result,a rich orange/brown colour, with a raisiny — sweet nose,off set

Call me old-fashioned, but I usually kick proceedings off with a perky glass of Champagne

by appetising acidity. The richly textuj^ palate hasa delicious cara mel flavour, with a bitter twist on the finish that is wonderfully cleansing. Although great with the pud, it works wonderfully with Stilton!

Finally, 1 couldn't talk about drinks for Christmas without rec ommending a port,and if you're a port fan you must try Churchills 1997 Traditional

Late Bottled Vintage (£8.75, Anglo Hispano, as before). LBV means it has been bottled after four, rather than two years in wooden casks,and 'traditional' means that it is bottled without any filtration, so that the wine can continue developing in the bottle. This process gives a wine with depth of flavour and el egance. It is medium-sweet, full-bodied with lots of fruit fla vours. The good thing is it is ready to drir^ now,this year,so go on treat yourself, IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Situated right on the water's edge at Marina Bay '^ioi^cos ofTers you a full a la carte menu and exceptional daily specials

We're open alt day,7 days a week, so come on down and enjoy excellent food and ambience at realistic prices.

Admiral's Walk, Marina Bay Tel: 73379 Fax; 79061

6". Irish Town Tel: 79791

Fax: 72250 Bar Restaurant Top Sporting Events Always

on 5 large overhead TVs Traditional Homemade Pub Food including Fish Si Chips, Steak Si Ale Pie Quiches etc

AIR-CONDITIONED FRIENDLY FAMILY

Food Served from: 9.30am-10pm Mondays to Saturdays, 12am - lOpm Sundays

Sweet Sensations

Which Central and South American vegetable product is the most popular in the world, adored by all ages from toddlers to great grandparents?

Chocolate.Brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus in 1502,the cacao bean was so treasured in its native lands that it was even used as money right up to about a hun dred years ago. But if you want to enjoy the most sophisticated of chocolate delights, there's no need to travel back in time or even to South America,because the cream of the chocolate choice is right here in Gibraltar, in the ICC, at The Chocolate Shop.

Butowner,manager and,(as she said herself), prime consumer at the specialist shop. South African Louisa Duthie has another love as well as chocolate-Gibraltar.T love it here, I really do.' she said with great enthusiasm when I caught her in a rare quiet moment at the shop.'1 love the people, and I re ally appreciate the way they look after each other.' Originally Louisa and her Scottish husband Stewart took over Macap Frames in Town Range, having moved here from PortJicawl in south Wales.So how did the idea to open a chocolate shop come about?

'After three years we were think ing about opening another busi ness,' Louisa explained,'when by chance a gentleman from the UK wandered in. Named Neville Stein, he had come to Gibraltar because he had a chocolate shop in England called Les Chocolats Beiges and wanted to open another one, pos sibly on the Rock. I told him that 1 absolutely adored chocolate, and asked him if he'd mind if 1 pinched his idea. To our surprise he agreed at once, saying that he'd open his second shop in the UK after all. And on top of that he gave us all the help he could, including the names of the leading suppliers of Belgian chocolates, which to me are the world's best.'

There was a lot to sort out,find ing a supplier who would open an account for a small distant shop, but after a lot of dogged determi nation and help from her family here, Louisa came to an arrange ment with the top choc company House of Sarunds to deliver to

Overland Express's depot in Brit ain, where her stock of chocolate is now delivered in a refrigerated truck once a fortnight.

Louisa opened The Chocolate Shop last August, a quiet time of year because chocolate is more suited to the cooler months,espe cially those that contain fresh cream. This gave her a chance to

geteverything sorted,and then the customers started coming in, first a trickle then a steady flow.'We had no idea how it would work out, but nobody else sold a vari ety ofloose chocolates that you can pick and mix,' said Louisa. 'Against that, we don't sell the mass-produced bars and boxes that you can get in many Main

Street shops, so we were offering a new service that didn't take away from existing businesses.'

It is a different service indeed. The choice in the shop is not to be seen elsewhere in this part of Eu rope, and The Chocolate Shop has special services as well:'We deliver made-up boxes for parties and the like;' Louisa continued, 'and we are also doing more and more de liveries to lawyers' offices for cor porate gifts and we now supply some of the top hotels with their chocolates. 1 like doing those spe cial orders, they're like bouquets of chocolates. Usually they are a kilogramme of mixed colours in a gold tray topped off with ribbons and bows and a card.' The shop also makes up boxes for weddings and has even delivered to Spain.

Another aspect of the business that appeals to Louisa is the tre mendous variety of people who come in, people of all types from all over the world — even the crew ofthe recent USsubmarine stocked up with chocolates to take home recently,and she also has a new fan club in the form of a group of local teenage boys who have started coming in with great enthusiasm every day.'And they're not cheap chocolates;' she emphasised,'but the quality is so outstanding that nobody thinks about the cost.' And, quality apart, the quantity can be as small as you like — quite a few people have bought a single special chocolate in a box, as a ro mantic token

The whole selection can only be indicated,but amongstthe display are Dessert Cups(like open flow ers with chocolate petals). Praline Croquant, Baileys Truffle, Butter scotch Wit (with fresh cream), marzipans,sugar mice and choco late mice, fudges, Turkish De light... and a big choice of sugarfree and kosher sweets. All at The Chocolate Shop, Unit Fla, (first floor), ICC.

The shop is open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays and the phone number is 41266.

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37

TJE QUARTERDECK

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restaurants

Biancas Restaurant

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

Popular and pleasant restaurant on the Quayside at Ma rina Bay with large quayside terrace. Try chicken tikka raita, avcKado & smoked salmon or fresh carrot & ginger soup to start,followed by barisecued spare ribs, beef viagra,swordfish steak,Cajun Ceasar salad,kuku nyama pizza,orchicken and smoked salmon tagliatelle to name but a few for the main course. Crepes, pies, ice cream sundaes etc for des sert. Children's menu, vegetarian dishes, daily specials. Great for alt the family.

Open:7 days,9am - late.

Caf« Solo

Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 44449

Modem Italian eatery set in Casemates. Everything from cajun spiced langcustines Caesar salad,or aromatic prawn salad on romaine leaves bound in wild mushroom & sherry mayonnaise, to pastas {eg; smoked haddock risotto with ma.scarponeand basil oil;open ravioli of swiss chard,basil, garlic and potato with parmcsan cream sauce) and pizzas (eg:Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella,ham,chicken, pepperoni and mushroom).

Claus on the Rock

Queensway Quay. Tel/Fax:48686

international menu served on the quayside for lunch,afterntH)n and dinner. Well worth a visit, especially if you ap preciate good wines and cigars.

Open: Lunch & Dinner. Closed Sundays.

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

1M3 Market Une. Tel: 77313 HM

C(H>d no fuss Chinese Restaurant off Main St near Post Of fice serving all the traditional favourites including Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay, Buddha Duck in Black Bean Sauce, Pork Sweetand Sour,King Prawns with Spring Onion Gin ger Sauce, Shredded Crispy Beef, Special Noodles and Chicken in Black Bean Sauce on a Sizzling Plate-

Open:12-3,6.30 - midnight every day.

Marrakech Restaurant

9 Governor's Parade. Tel: 75196

New Moroccan restaurant situated in the quiet square next to the Eliott Hotel. Lots to try including Bastilla(mixture of chicken,spiced eggs and roast nuts wrapped in filo dough, baked and served with powdered sugar and cinnamon), harira (Moroccan lentil and bean soup), various couscus.

Grouper fillet Marrakech (spiced and marinated in shermoula sauce and baked, served with saffron rice and saut^ seasonal vegetables), Lamb and caramelized apri cots(braised leg oflamb inhoney-nuitmeg sauce,caramel ized apricots,roasted almonds and sesame seeds),and Sul tan's Kebab Feast (assortment of chicken, beef and lamb kebabs, specially marinated, skewered andgriled, served with saffron rice and chef's choice vegetables). Open:8.303.30,6.30-llpm last orders.

Palm Court Restaurant

Eliott Hotel, Governor's Parade. Tel: 70500

A splendid choice of international dining lunch and eve nings uniquely blended with a Mediterranean flavour. Fin est regional wines. All highlighted with paintings from lo cal artists and sophisticated atmosphere. A la carte menu

includes starters such as Moroccan spiced prawns,nwsted goats cheese with herb crust, pesto dressing, toasted dabatta,and pan fried scallops with five spices on sauted leeks with lemon and dill butter. Main courses from grilled sea bass with fettuccine and ratatouille sauce,to pan roasted guinea fowl filled with ricotta and thyme on spinach and mushrooms Madeira jus, and griddled pepper fillet steak sliced on balsamic roast red onions and red wine jus. The lunch menu includes baked mussels with garlic, tomatoes and breadcrumbs, chilli oil, and Italian cold meat platter with artichokes,gherkins and capers.Air<onditioned,park ing.

Da Paolo

Marina Bay. Tel: 76799

Da Paolo serves a high standard of attractively presented international cuisine righton the waterfront at Marina Bay. Try baked leek & wild mushroom tartlet or lobster bisque to start, or for main course,crepe of fish & prawns glazed with hollandaise sauce; baked aubergines filled with ratatouille gratinated with mozzarella; or perhaps the loin of pork baked in cider with cirmamon. Continental/Eng lish breakfast,lunch,inc. tight meals & baguettes, and full a la carte dinner served. Quayside terrace.

Open:from 9.30am. Closed on Sundays.

The Rib Room Restaurant, Rock Hotel.

Tel: 73000 www.rockhotelgibraitar.com

|T^

With sturuiing views of the bay,the Rib Room is acclaimed for its high standard of service and cuisine. Ultimate venue for intimate dinners, or larger gatherings, the Rock Hotel rises to the iKcasion with style and sophistication. Glass of fino and appetiser welcome diners. Summer a la carte and daily house menu from £21.95 p/p specially prepared by the Executive Chef with classical cuisine and a modem in terpretation. Comprehensive wine list. Sunday lunch £14.95 for a welcome Manzanitla,4-courses always includes mast sirloin and some of best Yorkshire puds in town. Sunday newspapers. Relax afterwards to the resident pianist/gui tarist. Air-conditioning, parking, kid's menu/high chair. Open:7pm-10pm daily. Credit cards: AE,D,E, M,V

Simon's Restaurant

44 Cornwall's Lane. Tel:47515

Excellent food in a sophisticated, intimate atmosphetv. Hosts Suzanne and Simon ensure everyone receives per sonal attention- Start with Simon's own pate with red on ion jam and hot toast, or king prawns thermidor with tar ragon mustard, white wine and cheese cream sauce or per haps baked New Zealand mussels with garlic butter and melted cafticmbert. Main courses include kebab of swordfish and king prawns with creamy dill sauce, breast of chicken with mushroom, bacon, rosemary stuffing and masala sauce,and roast tenderloin of pork wrapped in ba con 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 mero with avocado and prawns. There is something to delight every palate. Fully air<onditioncd. Open:evenings(bookings recommended)

Thyme Restaurant

5 Cornwall's Lane. Tel: 49199

Modem international restaurant serving dishes with a fu sion of British, Mediterranean and Eastern flavours. Try the Seafood Siammers, orange and Lime Caramelised Chicken or Thai Fishcakes. Main menu changed season ally and specials run daily. Everything made on the premises using only the l>est, fresh ingredients.

Open: Mon - Fri 12..30-3pm, Mon-Sat 7.30pm - 12am.

The Viceroy of India, Horse Barrack Lane.Tel: 70381 mm

Pleasant, quality restaurant for banquets/intimate meals off Main St opposite post office. Weil presented dishes in clude tikkas, samosas, bhona prawns, pakora, tandooris, kofte curry, lamb Jalfrazi, and prawn biryani. Air-condi tioned.

Open:noon- 3pm,7pm - late.

informal .itiivj

AI Andaius Bar Restaurant

3 College Lane. Tel: 49184

Small eatery in the centre of town 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:Span ish omolette,boiled crab legs,garbc chicken,cuttlefish stew).

Open:Sam • late evening. Now ser\'ing breakfast from Sam.

Al Fresco's 2/3 Casemates Square. Tel: 74195

Good variety of food from breakfasts and fbh and chips to toasties,jacket potatoes,entrecote steak and tasty local fare such as calentita, stuffed aubergines,croquettes and spin ach pie. Definately one to try for a taste of Gibraltar!

Open: Monday - ^turday 9am - 7pm

Barbary Ape

Opp. Queen's Hotel. Tel: 44380

Homemade food, breakfast, lunch and dinner, including English breakfast, toasties, club sandwiches,salads, burn ers and fish & chips. Kid's menu. Enclosed terrace, park ing, near cable car.

Open:from lOam Monday - Saturday. Closed Sundays.

The Black Kat Bar - Restaurant

104/106 Irish Town. Tel: 47181 Fax:46645

Fully airconditioned bar -restaurant. All private parties ca tered for including kids' birthday parties.

Buddies PasU Casa

15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 40627

Tasty Italian specials in pleasant ambience. Lai;ge selection of starters from garlic bread to calamari. Main courses in clude fettuccine de formaggio, spaghetti alia carbonara. fusilli al salmone, and entiecote al whisky to name a few. Tasty desserts and variety of wines.

Open: Monday - Wednexiay 10am - 5pm,Thursday, Fri day and Saturday 10am - 4pm and 7pm - midnight.

Chariie's Steak House Grill Marina Bay. Tel/Fax:79993 Um

Geoige and Paula are your hosts at Charlie's whom you will find a wide selection of international food including sizzling steaks,tandooris and seafoixl dishes plusdaily spe cials. Try the special sizzling mixed grill which includes tandoori and garlic chicken ba-asts, slices of prime fillet, king prawns,sausages,bacon,tomato and peppers. Regu lar theme nights. Qiaaysidc terrace.

Open:9am • late every day.

Le Coq D'Or

Unit9-10 Watergardens. Tel: 43601

Eat-in or take-away at this busy eatery for all the favourites such asfish and chips,pic and chips,.sausages,dormer and chicken kebabs, nwst chicken,curries, pinchitos, pakoras, salads and Moroccan cakes.

Open:10am - late 7 days a week.

Just A Nibble 1!^

Isl Flf International Commercial Ctr. Tel:78052

Full blown licensed cafeteria serving English breakfast,vast range of toasties, rolls, and other snacks. Meals include steak and kidney pie,chilli con came,cod and chips,jacket potatoes and burgers/hotdogs. Home cooked daily spe cials. Vegetarian sausages/burgers/English breakfast and lasagne, ideal meeting place.

Open: Monday - Saturday from 9am.

Just Desserts

Isi Floor ICC Tel: 48014

Comfortable bright and airy cafe serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine from bmakfast and lunch to after noon tea. Homemade des.serts a speciality. Eat-in or takea way at sen.sible prices. Outside catering service.

Open:Sam •5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Hie Lunchbox

301 Eurotowers. Tel:49310 with orders

Fresh filled baguettes and Vienrw/wholemeal rolls, paninis

Serranito style (roast pork,green peppers and sauce), brie, ham & tomato or mushroom,or tuna mayo and sweetcom, Calentita, salads, baked potatoes, chilli beef with cheese nachos. Relax with the C/iron/cfr in the coffee and TV lounge. Range of local dishes, homemade cakes and desserts.

Open: Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm.

Munchies Cafe

24 Main Street Tel:43840 Fax: 42390

A great sandwich bar/cafe offering an unusual range of sandwiches on white or granary bread, plus salads, ba guettes,sou ps,desserts,homemade ice<ream and hot/cold drinks. Business lunches, parties and kids parties also ca tered for (for party and office platters phone or fax order by 5.30pm day before - minium orders for delivery £12).

Open: Mon - Fri 8.30-7,Sal 9-4,Closed Sun.

Piccadilly Garden Bar/Restaurant

3 Rosia Road. Tel: 75758

Pleasant bar near cable car/Queen's Hotel with lovely ter race for drinks/meals. Tasty Spanish/English cuisine in cluding fresh seafixid,breakfast, churros and hamburgers. Open:from breakfast to late.

t^arUe^

Steak House

©nn &

Pizza Hut

ICC,Casemates Sq. Tel: 42800 www.pizzahut.gi

All favourite pizzas from classic to Scicilian, Pan and Roll ing. Salad bar, garlic bread and pastas. Buffeteatasmuch as you like(pizza, garlic bread & salad)£4.99 adults,£2.50 kids. Last orders 10.30pm. Eat-in,take-away,freedelivery.

The Rock Cafe

2nd floor ICC(next to Health Centre).Tel: 52990

Eat in (or take-away), while you wait for your number to come up on the Doctor's Digital Appointment Screen on Hie cafe wall. All day breakfast, toasties,sandwiches, ba guettes, jacket potatoes, scampi & chips, cod & chips, calamares, steak & kidney pie, burgers, kiddies menu, homemade apple pie, cakes and pastries — milkshakes, beer, wines,spirits, tea,coffee and soft drinks. Ideal meet ing place, relaxing music.

Open:from Sam,Monday to Friday.

Roy's II Fish and Chips Cafeteria

Opposite the Convent, Main Street. This fish and chip cafeteria and take-away is located di rectly opposite the Governor's residence on Main Street. Traditional fish and chips,burgers,salads and much more.

Open:lllam-lOpm.

Sacarello Coffee Co.

57 Irish Town.Tel: 70625

Converted coffee warehouse, ideal for coffee, homemade cakes with afternoon tea, plus full menu including excel lent salad bar, specials of the day and dishes such as lasa gne,steak and mushroom Guinness pie,hot chicken salad, toasHes,club sandwich and baked potatoes.Art exhibitions.

Open:9am - 7.30pm. Closed Sundays.

Spinnakers

Marina Bay

Special teas, coffees,sandwiches and toasties. Pick & mix baguettes, cream teas, scones, ice<reams and soft drinks. No smoking inside,large terrace outside.

Open:from 8.30am

Bars/ Restaurants marked have their full menus online at www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com

The Tasty Bite

59a Irish Town. Tel: 78220 Fax: 74321

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

Open: Monday - Saturday.

bara&fHib'

All's Well Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 72987

Traditional pub in fashionable Casemates area. Named for the 18lh century practice of locking the Gali-s to the dty at night when the guard announced 'All's Well'before hand ing the keys to the watch. Ail's Well serves Bass beers,wine and spirits plus pub fare. English breakfast served all day, hot mealssuch 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 expect from a British 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)

l.ocated: 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-lale,food 10 -10.

The Cannon Bar 27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 77288

E-mail: janegib@gibnynex.gi

SHU owned by Jane after 16 memorable years! Good food all day. 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 sportingevents co\ ered on overhead TVs. Private functions catei^ for.

Open:9,30am to midnight(Fri and Sat to lam). Food served 9.30am to 10pm).

Corks Wine Bar

Irish Town. Tel: 75566

Under the new management of Neil and Gino,Corks is a popular and pleasant wine bar serving an excellent range of hot and cold dishes at lunchUme (12-3pm) with daily specials. Toast, coffee and scones served 9.30-11.30am, af ternoon toasties. English breakfast. Tuesday evening is Curry Night, Thursday evening is Steak night

Open:9:(X)am - late. Closed Sundays

Duck & Firkin

Building 6, Euioport. Tel: 72745

Live football on a giant TV showing all premier league acHon from Sky Sports plus more. Cjuiz machines,2 poker machines,2 pool tables. Karaoke on2nd Saturday in month. Food served 10am - 3pm Mon-Sat.

Open:from 10am -midnight (Friday-Sat urdayllam-lam)

The Edinburgh Anns

Naval Hospital Road. Tel:78961

When it's hot outside be cool inside! Excellent homemad food from 10am weekdays, midday weekends. Snacks tapas available all day. Take aways available. Sundays n lax with the Sunday papers and special brunch, Sunda roasts from October onwards. Dartboard and children' activities. Monday is prize quiz night.

Open: Mon-Thurs lOam-midnight,Friday &Saturday mic day-1 am,Sunday midday-midnight.

The Horseshoe

193 Main Street. Tel:77444

Right in the centre of town,the Horseshoe is a popular,bus bar. G(.K)d menu from full English breakfast,to burgers an. mixed grills. Curry and chilli specials on Sunday.

Open:9am to late, Sunday 10am • late.

Facilities: Main Street terrace.

The Market Tavern

Waterport/Casemates Gates. Tel: 50800 I

Serving good food from salads, snacks and full Englis breakfast(until 3pm)to burgers, toasties, curries, fish an chips, and pie,chips and gravy. Pool table upstairs. Liv music Friday 9pm -late, Karaol^ Wed and Sat9pm- late.

Open:Bam - late Mon - Sat,Sun lOam-late.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie

10 Casemates Sq. Tel: 50(X)9 www.lordnclson.gi

E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi

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

Menu:try Serrano ham plate with pistachio and roast pep pers, Greek salad -Mediterranean cucumber, tomato & mixed leaves with black olives and feta cheese, or jacket potato with black pudding sliced and pan fried with a fried egg on top. Daily specials and snacks available. Children cat free on Sunday lunch (with their parents!), senior citi zens get tea and coffee at 5l)p before 12 noon. Live enter tainment Friday,Saturday and Sunday nights.

Open:from Bam for breakfast until late.

Pickwicks

Governor's Parade. Tel: 76488

rWlJ

Newly refurbished and run by well-known friendly face, Mandy,this small pub with a large terrace is situated in the new Theatre square away from the traffic and safe for all the family. Sometimes there's live music in the summer months Good food available. Private parlies catered for.

Open;from 9.00am Mon - late Fridays

Location: turn off Main St at Marks & Spencer

The Pig and Whistle

Unit 18, Watergardens. Tel: 76167

The Pig and Whistle is a comfortable pleasant pub with pool table and terrace on the quayside. Big screen TV.

Open: 10-midnight(Fri-Sat 11-lam)

Quarterdeck

Quayside, Block 2 Watergardens. Tel:50360

Freshly cooked filling meals from £2.95 at this friendly Lttlf bar on the quayside at Watergardens. Happy hours5-7 Monday - Thursday and 4-6 on Fridays.

The Royal Calpe

176 Main Street. Tel: 75890

Comfortable tradtional bar close to the Cathedral on Main

Street. Beer garden at the rear. Ser\ mg gintd pub foixl all day including breakfast,omelette.s,salads,jackets, toasties and main coursessuch as curry,chilli,lasagne,scampi,burg ers and fish and chips. Kiddies menu available.

Open:9pm-12 Mon •Sat,Sun llam-5pm.

Royal Oak Bar

59c Irish Town. Tel: 71708

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

Located: Irish Town,parallel to Main St.

The Star Bar

Parliament Lane. Tel:75924

Reputedly the oldest bar In Gib, the Star Bar opens early for breakfast(English or toast and cereal). Lunch/evening menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Kids menu 99p. Home of Med Golf (lO'l'© discount on food for Mod Members). Home of Leeds United FC supporters club.

Facilities: Outside seating.

Open:from 7am every day.

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

The Theatre inn Governor's Street Tel: 77172

A comfortable bar located close to the Eliott Hotel and serv ing a variety of hot and cold tapas, plus bar snacks from 10am - 5pm.

Facilities: terrace seating.

Open:9.30am - midnight Mon - Sal. Happy hoursl-2,6-7.

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 daJy. First floor'Hoots' — 2 match pool ta bles, poker machines,darts board,games machine, bar

Bars / Restaurants marked have their full menus online at www.TheGibfjliarMagazine.com

inop^from 1pm daily. Second Roor'Nest'—American pool table, poker machine, games machine, card table, bar open from 5pm daily.

The Three Roses Governor's Street. Tel: 51614

Dermot and Val from Scotland run this bar, known as Tlie Scottish ^bassy, serving homemade food (until 6pm). Dartboard and pool table.

Open:all day,every day.

Toon on the Rock

Cornwall's Parade. Tel: 59997

Comfortable bar.and the official home of Newcastle United supporters on the Rock. Three big screen TVs,outside ter race and bar snacks serx'ed all the time. Good bar food such as pies with peas, pasties, toasties and burgers, plus the occasional barbecue on the terrace.

Open:10- late 7days a week.

PThe Tuimel

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

Large bar locat^ in the historic Casemates Square.

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

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

Open:7days a week 9am • very late.

The Venture Inn

Lynch's Lane.Tel: 75776

A good central meeting place,this bar serves home-cooked fo^ all day. Terrace seating off Main Street.

Open:from 10am

Located: Main Street near Casemates,opposite the ICC.

The Verandah Bar,The Eliott Hotel

Governor's Fd. Tel:70500 Fax:70243email:eliott@gibneLgi

A sophisticated place to unwind at any time of the day.

Wembley Bar

10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 78(X)4

Popular bar for hot and cold bar snacks,function room,in south district. Fridays 10am for breakfast. Air conditioned.

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

Ye Olde Rock

John Mackintosh Square. Tel: 71804

Warm friendly pub with lots of military history in the mid dle of town. Homemade food including specials served by hosts Eaion,and Mollie. Air conditioned, terrace.

Open:from 10am 7days a week.

acrosstheftoi fit r

La Verandah Tel:(956)615998

km 135, Playa Guadiaro,Torreguadiaro,Spain.

(Quality international food served in a friendly informal atmosphere. Excellent value. Log fire in winter.

Open: Lunches:Saturday and Sunday only. Dinners: every day except Tuesday. Closed Tuesdays.

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

•Warm friendly bar,lots of military history

• Hosts Eaion, MoIHe & Justine

• Air-conditioned

•Various top beers

Ofde John MackintoshSq Tel;71804

•Outside seating to watch the world go by

•Homemade specials every day

•Open 7days a week

A WEALTH OF WINE WISDOM

A festive bottle of vintage red, opened some 20 years ago in a remote cottage on the Yorkshire moors when she was in her early'teens,sparked an Interest In wine that was to become a passion and eventually a career... and one which brought Gibraltar Magazine wine columnist Jane Edwards to Gibraltar four years ago. Today she Is recognised as one of the Rock's leading wine experts,advising local restaurants on suitable wine lists, Imparting her knowledge of wines to their staff and organising private and corporate tastings.

"1 was 13 or 14 at the time but I can still recall the taste of the wine and flavour of the moment as well as the reverence we all gave to that '47 vintage claret," Jane says. "It was that reverence that I wanted to come to grips with and to under stand. The gathering was a family one in a house that had been lent to my parents by a chef working in London,and the bottle — from his well-stocked cellar — was his Christmas gift to us."

An appreciation of good food and wine runs in her family. Jane's uncle was a well-known cookery writer and her parents and older siblings, while nottheconnoisseurs that she has become, were enthusi asts. "So I was early to learn what was a good wine and what was not."

But she is no wine "snob", and agrees that "it is the enjoyment of what you are drinking that counts —whether it is a moderately priced bottle or a noble vintage wine." And though she admits to a prefer ence for champagne or a good spar kling wine produced by the champenoise method, she has no favourite wine as such.

"It depends on what 1 am doing, how 1 am feeling and what I am eat ing," she says. And in this she sh^s the view ofthe eminent food and wine writer Raymond Postgate who argued that the convention of drinking white wine with fish and red wine with meat should be dis carded in favour of "drink what you enjoy... whatever you're eat ing. Or drink for the sheer joy of diLiking."

Initially wine was"just a hobby".

and from school Jane went on to study dental technology, working in this field for almost a year before her taste buds and expanding knowledge persuaded her to "make wine a career."

She quit her well-paid job as a dental technologist and opted for a "poorer paid,but irrunensely satis fying" post with an old established wine merchant's in the centre of Manchester.

"It was owned by the last inde pendent brew ery in the area and was very ***" traditional," she recalls."The men wore pin striped trousers... that sort of thing." She learnt a "great deal" and worked hard — studying not only wines but grapes

and the various cultivars as well as the range of production techniques used by various wine producers.

But the wine merchant was es sentially male-oriented and Jane realised that if she was to get to the top of her chosen career she would have to move on. She joined the Threshers'chain — one of the big gest retail outlets in the UK — and after further study obtained a higher certificate and diploma in wine. From manageress of a major Threshers' branch in London, she went on to develop training skills and was promoted to teach 'product knowledge" to other managers throughout the company's chain of shops.

Work in retail ing — and later as a taster \ ^

buyer — led to an appreciation of costs as well as the merits of vari ous wines.

Her holidays had been spent touring the major wine producing regions of France — with visits to the Champagne,Bordeaux,and Co gnac areas as well as to the Loire valley and Burgundy — and asshe rose up the promotional ladder came wine-tasting trips to these and other countries... including South Africa.

Four years ago Jane was re cruited by Anglo Hispano to come to Gibraltar where "they wanted someone to launch their new retail outlet at the foot of Main Street and to develop the local marketfor New World wines.

"Though there are some Gibraltarians who are very knowl edgeable about wines — and not just the Spanish products which are so popular here — generally peo ple have a lot to learn." And through Anglo Hispano and its "Wine Club" tastings — and since setting up as an independent wine consultantshe has tried to share her wealth of expertise with as many wine lovers as possible... through advice to restaurateurs, to private individuals whom she has helped choose wines for their own cellars and at talks and tastings which she organizes for corporate clients and bodies such as the local Rotary.

Good wines can also be a valu able form of investment and — cer tainly in recent years — cash spent on wine has shown a better return that the same amount spent on shares would have realized... pro vided one hasn't drunk it!

'it Is the enjoyment of what you are Ifainking that counts — whether It is a moderately priced bottle or a noble vintage wine."

fter a month like October there can be no doubt that siunmer is definitely over. It seemed to have rained almost every day, and it wasn't just the odd shower or two — oh no, it was chucking it down.

Umbrella sellers must have made a fortune. Great weather for ducks,I'm told, but we're a bit short of quackers on Main Street and I'm already fed up with getting soaking wet.

One thing I've noticed during all the pouring rain is a fashion phenomenon that 1 find difficult to understand. It's true that at my stage of life extreme fashions pass me by, but for the life of me I can't make any sense of this par ticular fad — it's all to do with trou sers. The fashion conscious teenagers of today it would appear have to wear their jeans so long that they trail along on the ground. Now if it's dry 1 sup pose you can getaway with it,^eyjust get a bit dusty, but when it's soaldng wet the damp creeps up from the bot tom until even your knees get wet. 1 first spotted this on a young lady I know and asked her how she coped with soaking wet knees? She shivered a bit and admitted that she didn't re ally like getting damp legs but what could she do about it if that's the style of the day. 1 suggested she could tuck her trousers in her socks or buy a pair of wellies. Needless to say my ideas fell on stony ground and the young lady wandered off dragging her wet

trouser bottoms with her. AsI watched her forlorn figure disappear up the road getting wetter and wetter 1 thought to myself that I'm glad that at my time of life 1 don't have to follow a fashion that makes your feet wet and cold.

Parking Plus

In years to come historians will look back over the first week of November in Gibraltar and all they wUl remem ber will be the infamous closure of the border,albeit for less than 24hours. But it's the stories that the people who were caught out because of the closure will tell that will make the best reading .For instance 1 know of one couple (who shall remain nameless) who got stuck on the Spanish side and went for a liq uid lunch that stretched into the night. They enjoyed themselvesso much tilney didn't even realise that the border had re-opened until Wednesday. For most it was an absolute nuisance,but there's always a silver lining and for those of us on the Rock at least for a change it was no problem finding a parking space. In fact you could almost park where ever you wanted.

A Special Award

As the year draws to an end,and as this is the last Gibraltar Magazine of the year, 1 spent a few moments looking through some of this year's old issues and especially at some of the antics

some of Gib's more colourful characters get up to. For instance,in March of this year, young Master Andrew Read stole the headlines when he became a mem ber of the "Bad Leg Club" after ending up on crutches following a night out on the town culminating in a display of ex otic dancing that brought the night to an untimely end. Then in June Mike Clark of the Dental Surgery reached a milestone in life when he hit the big 4-0. I'm told that he still hasn't come to terms with the fact but,as some men do when they reach this age, Mike has begun to indulge himself in some big boys toys. First it was a shiny red Ferrari,but now that's gone and the latest toy is a Lamborghini that keeps him awake half the night worrying about it. So much so that whenever he goes outin it he bribes some kids to keep an eye on it. He took it out for a spin recently parked and bribed some Wds to look out for it, but when he returned they refused to go until they all satin it and had their photo taken posing in it, leaving sticky finger marks all over it.

There's never a dull moment at the Dental Surgery. Dermis is always up to something and Natalie spends her life watching her chickens that never hatch their eggs and searching for runaway rabbits that keep escaping.

But there's one name that seems to have cropped up more than most dur ing the year and that's Alan "Sparky" Sparks. Now Sparky is almost in a class

A light-hearth look at Gibraitarl society with "H'

Pete and Michelle relax in Biancas

Smilesfrom Rebecca

raltar

Dolphin Safari Dave

Happy birthday Faye

Hals offto jusl Desserts

of his own when it comes to lunacy. I mean, who in their right mind would make Sparky the official bus driver on a rugby trip? But that's what happened in July, later in the year Sparky's driv ingcareer came to a temporary halt and and he took to push-biking for a few months. It wasn't very long before he came to grief and ended up gomg over the handlebars during a dispute with a car in La Linea. But now some wretched thiefhas pinched Sparkys bike and he's had to buy a new one. So for services beyond the call of duty and for giving me plenty to write about this year I've decided to award Sparky the "Nutcase of the Year" award for 2003,

Fascinating Fashions

Nicky of Attractions is a lady who likes to keep up with fashion and re cently treated herself to a new pair of trousers with tassels all over them. When 1 saw her swishing along in them 1 remarked how smart they looked. She told me that although she quite liked the lookofthem unfortunately they weren't very practical because everytime she went through a door the tassels got caught in it as it closed behind her. She

did say that she might have to snip them off, but I saw her some time later and the tassels were still there. She's clearly persevering and has mastered the art of going through doors with out getting her tassels caught up.

Peaceful Rock

Manuel of Computer Plus visited London for the first time recently he told me that he quite enjoyed it but everything seemed to be a bit of a rush and was glad to get back to a bit of peace and quiet.

Congratulations!

Birthday boys and girls in Decem ber include Kate, Jane, Debbie, Chris, Ron, Aiistair and Sandra, and then in January it's Moira, Faye (who's 6), Mike Goodson, Kath the jet-setting Great Grand Ma, Pat of the Vet Clinic, who also celebrated the birth of a Grandaughter Emily Megan in Octo ber, and last but not least yours truly who gets a year older in January, who ever would have believed it "Grandad H". Congratulations also to Dermot and Val of the 3 Roses on the birth of their daughter Coleen. Best wishes

Offduty

also to Malcolm Beanland who retires in December after 36 years at what's now known as Gibtelecom.

Cheap Tricks

You can buy ballpoint pens all over Gibraltar for as little as a few pence each, which is just as well because as soon as you put one down anywhere they seem to disappear (I speak from experience). Just recently 1 witnessed a farce at Pickwicks when Mandy lost her pen and accused all and sunclry of pinching it, You would have thought that she had lost the crown jewels the fuss she made, she even made Sandra empty her handbag just to make sure it wasn't there — it wasn't so to teach Mandy a lesson Sandra ran off with her cigarette lighter, and you can get those for 50p. What a carry on.

and a Prosperous New Year

Well Christmas is just around the comer, and the year 2004 promises to be a year of celebration for the tercen tenary. On behalf of all of us at the Gi braltar Magazine I wish you all a merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. See vou on Main Street.

Dchh/s the Menace

Manuel ofComputer Plus

The medical brigade

Fabrics. Wallpapers, Furniture, Wood Floorings. Carpets & Rugs

FINISHINC,TOUCHES

• Hand-made Curatins • Bedding

Cushions• All Soft Furnishings

• Decorative Mirrors

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From a single item to a ii>fto/e room

II Governor's Street Tel/Fax: 45623

marineservices

OCLAN VIKING

Mediterranean & Caribbean Charters

Holiday or Sailing School Tuition also Daily Chaners Tel:51372 Fax:51373 www.slrails-sail.com

Marina Bay Complex

Marina Bay VHP 73 Tel: 74322

Sheppard's Marina

Waterport Tel: 75148 Fax;42535

Queensway Quay Marina

PO Box 19 Tel: 44700 Fax: 44699

TARIK

Full Bunkering & Yacht Refuelling Service

Gibraltar:

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15/5a Virgen del Carmen Algeciros(Cadizi. Spain

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Cables. TARIK GIB

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SALES • PARTS • REPAIRS

Natural History & Heritage Park

Admission to the Natural

History and Heritage Park

is between 9.30am and 7pm by tickets(includes entrance to sites within the Park including St. Michael's Cave. Monkey's Den,Great Siege Tunnels, Military Heritage Centre. 'A City Under Siege' Exhibition and the Moorish Castle).(Facilities closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day) Adults £7,00 / Chil dren age 5-12 years: £4.00, Children age 4 years and under: free. Vehicles: £1.50. Pri vate vehicles may be restricted at certain times and it is advisable to take a Rock Tour by taxi/mini bus. The Natural History6 Her itage Park can also be reached by Cable Car (leaves from Grand Parade 9.30am-6pm Monday to Sunday. Last cable up: 5.15pm, down; 5.45pm).

Theflora and fauna on the

Upper Rock are considered to be of great conservational value, it's a perfect place for birdwatchers,as migratory species use Gi braltar as the shortest crossing between Eu rope and Africa, but botanists will also be interested to see over 600 species of flow ering plants, including some unique to Gi braltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, the non-venemous Horseshoe Whipsnake, but terflies and pipistrelle bats. Info on the Rock's flora and fauna is found at the Gi braltar Ornithological and Natural History Society's Information Centre at Jews Gate.

St. Michael's Cave: The cave consists of an upper hall with five connecting passages and drops of 40-150ft to a smaller hall. A further succession of chambers, some at 250ft below the entrance, is reached through narrow holes. The Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and is used as an audito rium for concerts and theatre, The cave was prepared as a hospital in WWII, but was never used. While blasting an alterna tive entrance a further series of chambers were discovered ending in a mini lake. These are called Lower St. Michael's Cave and can be visited with a qualified guide.

The Monkeys' Den: There are around 160 monkeys living in the Park and around 30 of these can be seen at the Monkey's Den. Often called apes,they are tail-less Barbary Macaques and the only free living monkeys in Europe. Feeding the monkeys is illegal and carries a fine of £500.

The Great Siege Tunnels: Tunnelling in the Rock began during the Great Siege (17791783) when France and Spain made an all out attempt to recapture the Rock while Britain was busy with the American War of Independence. Governor General Elliot of-

History Alive

fered a reward to any man who could tell him how to mount a gun on the north face of the Rock, It was a Sgt. Major Ince who suggested tunnelling and there are now over 30 miles of tunnels inside the Rock. Various exhibitions inside the tunnels bring their history to life.

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 Castle: The Moorish Castle is actually |ust pan of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Penin sula, spearheaded from Gibraltar in 7nAD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad("Gibraltar is a corruption of the Arabic words "Jebel Tarik" - Tarik's mountain). The part we see today, The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu'l Hassan recaptured the Rock from the Spanish. The tower provides an excellent view point as n did for its Moonsfi builders centuries ago.

Natural History 6 Heritage Park Walks: One walk is recommended (St Michael's Cave through to Charles V Wall) but walk ers should be relatively fit. It is also pleas ant walking along the upper rock roads. Fact Files and brochures are available free from all Tourist Board offices.

Botanical Gardens: Opened in 1816, the Alameda Botanical Gardens fell into disre pair but are currently being restored to their former glory. Visitors can en|oy a stroll be neath 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 available.

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 un derground tunnels surmounted by an im pressive battery, which has witnessed the

Emergency Services

Emergency calls only:

Fire/Ambulance Tel: 190

Police Tei: 199/112

Emergency Number Tel: 112

Non-urgent calls:

Ambulance Station Tel; 75728

Police Tel: 72500

Gibraltar Services Police; Emergency N"; ..Tel:(5)5026/(5)3598

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. Adults £1.00 / Children & OAPs 50p.

Rat Bastion Magazine Flat Bastion Roed, Geological Research Station and Lithology of Gibraltar To visit please contact: F. Gomez Tel 44460, P Hodkinson Tel. 43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe(Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, 11 am-7pm Saturday,Sun day and Public Holidays. Closed 1pm-2pm, Admission free.

Trafalgar Cemetery; Trafalgar Road, open 9am - 7pm daily (admission free).

Visitor Information

Gibraltar Museum Tel: 74289

18/20 Bomb House Lane Open 10am • 6pm (Sat- 10am - 2pm| Closed on Sunday. Ad mission: Adults £2.00/Children under 12 years £1 00. Special exhibitions also held at museum premises in Casemates gallery.

Heritage Trust Tel: 42844

Registry Office Tel: 72289

It is possible to get married on the Rock within 48 hours of arrival. A fact taken ad vantage of by stars 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, Europa Point and other sites of interest. It is the best way to see the Rock's major features in a short lime.

Tourist Board Tal: 74950

Gibraltar National Tourist Board. Arundel Court. 179 Strand, London Tel: 0207 836 0777 Fax: 0207 240 6612 E-mail: giblondon@3ol.com

John Mackintosh Hall Tal: 75669

The centre of Gib's cultural life, this centre includes a cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Monday to Friday Closed week ends.

Bus Routes

Route 2: Caleta Hotel -5 mins past the hour. When Sir Herbert Miles Rd is ready, the bus route will start from Both Worlds. Line Wall Rd. Cable Car. Prince Edward's Rd. St. Bernard's Hosp. 25 mins to the hour back to Caleta Hotel • down Prince Edward's Rd, Main St,Cathedral Sq,W.Churchill Ave.Dev il's Tower Rd. Caleta Hotel Monday - Friday OB30- 1700.

Gibraltar's streets are filled with military pageantry every Saturday morning when the Rock's past is brought alive by a troop of soldiers in 18th century period uniform. The soldiers march from Bomb House Lane at 12 noon to Casemates. At Casemates they carry out a "Ceremony of the Keys" routine and then march back up Main Street to the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned.

Telephone Services

Route 3: Runs between Frontier and Light house. Europa Pt. Calling at points inc. W. Churchill Ave, Smith Dorrien Ave, Line Wall Road, passing Museum,Convent,up Europa Rd past Casino, Loreto Convent.Lighthouse, and Caleta Hotel- Mon - Fri 0730 - 1130 (non-stop), 1130 - 1830 [every 15-20 min) 1830-2130(every 1/2 hour)Saturday 08001000 (every hour) 1000 -1800 (every 1/2 hour)1800 - 2130 (every hour)Sunday 1000 - 14()0(every hour) 1400 - 2000 (every 1/2 hour).

Route 4: Catalan Bay. Devil's Tower Rd, W. Churchill Ave. Glacis Rd, Queensway. Europort Ave, Safeway Petrol Station, Gib 5, Watergardens, Casemates, Line Wall Rd,

passing US and British War Memorials, Mu seum,Cathedral Sq, Convent. Cable Car Sta tion, end of Alameda Estate. Rosia Rd. up Eufopa Rd.South Barrack Rd. KGV Hosp.St. Joseph's Sch,down S. Pavilion Rd and stops at Rosia PIz, nr 100 Ton Gun. Returns past Police Hq at New Mole House, Cumberland Rd, Rosia Rd. Boyd St, Main St, Cathedral S. down Casemates. Queensway, up Europort Ave, Safeway Petrol Station, Watergardens. Corral Rd,Devil's Tower Rd and Catalan Bay. Mon - Fri 0730 -2130 (every 15 min. After 1645every 30 mm)Sat 0700-2100 Sun 1000 -2100.

Route 9: Frontier to Market PI and back, stops at W.Churchill Ave and Glacis Rd. Mon - Fri 0830 -2030 (every 15 min) Sat 08301400 (every 15 min) 1400 -1700(every 30 mm)1700 -2000 hours(every hour)Sundays (no service).

Route 10: Runs Frontier, W. Churchill Ave, Glacis Rd, Watergardens. Gib 5, GASA Peol, Safeway, McDonalds, Europort Ave, British War Memorial. Mon - Fri 0830 -2030(every 20 mins)Sat 0830 • 1900 Sun 1000 -1800.

Not everyone giv^

The wow Service celebrates its first birthday with higher bandwidth

Happy 1 Birthday to us!

We're celebrating by givingYOU a present! Gibtelecom'sWOW service was launched on 1^ November 2002, and to mark a successful first year, we're upgrading the bandwidth at no extra cost to you.WOW Standard

will become Standard+, with an upgrade from 256Kbps/128Kbps to 512Kbps/128Kbps andWOW

Enhanced will be upgraded from 512Kbps/128Kbps to 5l2Kbps/2S6Kbps.

SO PARTY ON!

www.gibtele.com