The Gibraltar Magazine November 2003

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SECURITY EXPRESS GIBRALTAR

Services we provide include:

a. Wage Packaging

b. Payment of Wages/Salaries

c. Collection Agents

d. Delivery of Wages/Salaries to on site Employees

We already provide these services to:

a, Gibraltar Government

b. Elderly Care Agency

c. Savignon Financial Services (Clerical Medical Insurance/Norwich Union Insurance)

d. ABN Amro Bank

Head Office: Eaton Park, 1 Devil's Tower Road, Gibraltar Tel: 44999 Fax: 44888 E-mail: securex@gibnet.gi

Wage Packaging

a. Collection of an amount of money from your Bank or Offices and transfer it in our GIT Armoured Vehicles to Security Express Central Offices

b. Count amount of money

c. Packaging of individual wages in accordance with your instructions

d. Overnight Vaulting of money if required

Payment of Salaries

a. Payment of Wages/Salaries at Security Express Offices or

b. Delivery and distribution of Wages/Salaries on site

c. Wages/Salaries to be signed by employee on receipt

d. Arrangements for future payment to employees not meeting pay time slot

Collection Agents

At Security Express central Offices we have ample computer data base, regularly serviced and maintained by MCS,for cash,cheque and direct debit payments paid by the client. Our offices are sited out of town area but easily accessible to pedestrians and vehicles alike and open to the public between 0930hrs and 1600hrs daily Monday to Fri day.

Collection Procedures

a. Database set up and installed at Security Express Central Offices

b. Additions, deletions or alterations may be made as required

c. Client pays instalment and given receipt

d. All daily transactions by money, cheque and direct debit recorded and submitted to Bank Account or other Service

Insurance Insurance cover for monies carried or handled may be through your own Insurance Company or through Security Express.

Lies, Damned Lies £t Statistics...

It there were any nee'd to confirm Mark Twain's wellworn comment that "there are lies, damned lies... and statistics" the recent kerfuffle surrounding a series of blunders at Britain's National Office of Statistics (NOS)does so. It appears that on several fronts the number-crunchers at the Treasury got their sums seriously wrong and,as a result, the strength of the UK's economic recovery was badly underestimated.

Second-quarter growth of GDP

(Gross Domestic Product) which is seen as a basic gauge of a nation's economic health was double the NOS's originally announced figure. And, as the GDP is a major factor in the Bank of England's decisions on setting interest rates,the miscal culation led to the July cut in the costs of borrowing — a cut from which Gibraltar borrowers along with their British counterparts have benefited, but which was actually unnecessary.

On top of this,initial monthly cal culations of manufacturing output — another pointer to a country's economic well-being — have had to be revised 11 times in the past 12 months. Somewhat belatedly, Brit ain's financial watchdog the Finan-

the pound, the US dollar and the euro have swung erratically their movements often defying tra ditional economic rules of thumb.

Accurate statistics — and the forecast ing which they support — are not only vital to central banks and economists

cinl Services Authority is to inves tigate how the NOS can have got it wrong so many times.

Accurate statistics — and the forecasting which they support arc not onlv vital to central banks and economists.

Other financial institutions rely on them for forward planning,and in Gibraltar several of our commer cial concerns — including import ers and traders — use sophisticated systems to predict future costs of imported goods and so on.

These take into account such fac tors as the probable movement of interest rates and fluctuations in the currency market.

And if the original data on which they base their predictions is wrong miscalculations are inevitable and can bo costly.

Although for the past two years interest rates in Britain, the United States and Euroland have remain relatively steady and at historically low levels,exchange rates between

Forecasting currency move ments has never been easy, yet for Gibraltar's commercial community — who often source their supplies from half a dozen different coun tries and frequently place orders months in advance — future ex change rates can be significant fac tors in their planning. And,as Neil Tipton, senior offshore treasury manager for Barclays Bank, pointed out during a recent visit to the Rock,financial service provid ers face similar problems.

At a series of seminars — inhouse and for the bank's business clients - Tipton provided an over view of the movements of interest rales and foreign exchange rales... and offered some possible plan ning solutions for bigger local play ers. And he also admitted, that in predicting Forex movements even the experts can get it wrong.

A recent Reuterssurvey to which 51 pundits contributed one-month forecasts was consistently — and

considerably — wrong on all ma jor exchange rates involving the dollar, the pound,the euro and the Japanese yen.And if they can be far off the mark,what hope for the Gi braltar trader planning his currency needs several months in advance?

Looking at the prospects for in terest rate changes,Tipton pointed out that"persistent weakness in the US labour market has Wall Street

Business Banking

Shouldering responsibility for some 2,000 of Barclays Bank's local business accounts is a weighty challenge; but for Sandra Betteridge, who took over as business banker in April this year it is a challenge that she welcomes.

it may be the first G7 currency to raise interest rates" while the dol lar's weakness against the euro stemmed from recent G7ccjmments and what appears to be a switch of America's former "strong dollar" policies.

Tipton had this advice for local businesses which use foreign ex change as part of their purchasing structure:

And,after a career spanning 22 years with Barclays in Gibraltar, it's also a job for which she is ide ally equipped. She knows many of the customers personally and her wealth of practical knowledge — combined with the bank's on going policies of in-house training — has meant that she has a ready answer to most customers' prob lems,however complex these may be.

"it gives mc a chance to catch up with a lot of paperwork," she shrugs off the late hours with the ever-present smile that is some thing ofa personal trademark.For though Barclays now limits the hours (from 10.30am to 1pm) when the business banker is avail able to customers coming in off the street — often without an ap pointment — her phone rings con stantly during banking hours.

convinced that official rates will not rise until late next year at the earli est — and even then,only if growth accelerates sharply."

In Euroland, he added,the ECB has "possibly finished with cuts as the market thinks Eurozone growth has begun to recover." Given the poor performance of the major Eu ropean economies,it's a generously over-optimistic view, but Tipton added a rider that if the market strengthens or the US-led global recovery "turns out to be weaker than expected, the ECB could cut again."

"In the UK most economists think rates will be on hold until the start of next year," he said."Recent signals have been more up-beat, suggesting a recovery in the manu facturing sector, strong growth in services and renewed strength in the housing market."

Where foreign exchange rates are concerned, Tipton points out that sterling has benefited recently against the dollar"on the basis that

"If you know that you want a particular currency in two months time,buy or sell now. For example, if you are holding euros now and need US dollars,exchange the cur rency today and place the dollars in a dollar account at call or on fixed term deposit until the funds are re quired."

Alternatively, Tipton suggested, customers should consider a for ward exchange contract which cov ers "the sale or purchase of specific a amount of currency at a specified exchange rate for settlement on a future date or between two future dates, which eliminates exchange risk during that period."

The calculations of these and of other interest rate options tend to be complex — but the banks are there to explain them and they're worth exploring as a way of insur ing against the sort of swing that the currency markets are likely to experience as the global recovery moves ahead — varying in strength from country to country.

"And,on the relatively rare oc casions when 1 can't provide an immediate answer during a cus tomer's visit, or if he or she phones, there's always someone on the managementteam who can help," she explains. "Whenever possible I try hard to provide an immediate response."

Her.role as business banker covers a wide range—from open ing new accounts,to dealing with loans,requests for overdrafts and arranging standing orders. Then there are questions about pay ments and how to make them, queries about accounts and bank charges...and — the bugbear for many local businesses — trying to track the whereabouts of incom ing funds.This often involvessev eral phone calls to other banks both local and outside Gibraltar.

And with a steady growth in the establishment of new firms and small companies across Gi braltar's business sector,each day brings new and varied demands on her time. Often — though she is a mother with two teenage chil dren — she works for several hours after the bank has closed and its telephones have switched off for the night.

"Reducing the hours has made Sandra's day far less disjointed and that in turn has led to an im proved ser\'ice from the business banking office," says Barclays Gi braltar Director Tim StreatfeildJames who instituted the changes.

"Particularly with new custom ers, people who come in wanting to start a new business, it's a case of looking after them from day one. and then handling their problems as they crop up,"Sandra adds. "With new businesses, as with older,established customers, it's my job to try to make their lives easier. And when I succeed, that's a constant source of per sonal satisfaction — why I really enjoy what 1 am doing."

Friendly and outgoing,Sandra is essentially a "people person" who enjoys talking to customers and helping iron out any prob lems they may have. And she be lieves it is important that "even when a customer is upset when he or she comes in,they should leave with a smile." Though occasion ally her efforts elicit little more than thinly upturned corners of the client's mouth,most leave her office — or replace their handsets — happier than at the outset.

The dollar's weakness against the euro stemmed from recent G7 comments and what appears to be a switch of America's former "strong dollar" policies

REGULATION... Why Bother?

We live in a world where each aspect of our daily lives seems to be subject to more and more regulations, more bureaucracy, more control. This is particularly true in the case of the financial world. When we open a bank account and we are required to produce documents proving who we say we are. When we pay money into that account, we may be required to show where the money comes from.

It is even more onerous for fmancial firms themselves. They must comply with a series of regulations concerning the way they do busi ness; they are required to make regular returns to the regulator and are subject to regulatory inspec tions of their premises. What is more they must pay for the "privi lege" of this. Often the cost is ulti mately bom by the consumer.

So why bother?

Financial transactions are based upon trust. Indeed trust is vital to the financial system as a whole. Trust that the money you place in the bank will be available to you when you need it. Trust that the insurance you take will pay out if the insured event occurs.Trust that the financial advice you get is suit able for your circumstances.

Without that trust the system breaks down. People keep their money under the mattress and the banks have nothing to lend. If peo ple do not trust the advice they get and so do notinvest in shares,com panies cannot raise capital and therefore have difficulty in getting the cash they need for expansion.

Trust was easier when you knew the provider. However we live in a global financial community,where consumerssimply cannotapply the personal trust test they once could. To even attempt to achieve the same result would now require an amount oftime and cost beyond the means of most people.

Regulation has now stepped in to provide a replacement. Regula-

Gibraltar's Financial Services Commissioner, Marcus Killick

tion allows the consumer to use fi nancial firms they do not know per sonally because the regulator has

tory requirements that the firm does so, and regulatory sanctions if it does not. In effect the regulator saves consumers money as it pro vides an economy ofscale in moni toring because it is cheaper for a single regulator to do it than for every consumer to do it for them selves.

Without regulation, consumers are faced with limited information; they have limited opportunitiesfor assessing quality and have limited chance of assessing the safety and soundness of the provider

Therefore without regulation to give consumers some independent assurance about the terms on which they will be doing business, the safety of money and other assets which they entrust to the financial firm, and the quality of advice re ceived,saving and investment may be discouraged, with damaging economic consequences. However,itmustbe emphasised that regulation does not provide a guarantee. It can help reduce risk.

Regulation allows the consumer to use financial firms they do not know personally because the regulator has done the checking for them

done the checking for them. Trust in the firm itself is replaced with reliance upon the regulator.Instead of trusting that you will be told the risks of an investment, consumers rely upon the existence of regula-

by vetting those who wish to sell financial ser\'ices and products and by setting rules of behaviour (such as requiring that the adviser as sesses the suitability of a product before recommending it to a cus

tomer). However,there will always be risk,and regulation is an aid to, not a replacement for common sense. Regulation also performs other fimctions. For example, with some financial institutions, particularly banks,the collapse of one may lead to the collapse of others. Such sys temic risk cannot be analysed by in dividual consumers,indeed it often cannot be assessed by single regu lators. Rather the risk to which a multinational bank is exposed has to be looked at on a global level. This can only be achieved through international cooperation between the regulators in those jurisdictions where that bank is located.

Turning to the issue of customer identification. We need to make sure criminals cannot use our finan cial institutions to launder money or, worse, use them to facilitate the financing of terrorism, Part of the way we prevent this is by making sure a firm knows who its custom ers are and then makes sure the business they conduct with that customer is in line with what is ex pected and investigate when it is not.

Such an approach has proved, time and time again,to be an effec tive way of catching drug traffick ers and others. If we can use this method to help get drugs off our streets and to catch other criminals many would say it is worth the in convenience. Some compare it to the security checks at the airport, inconvenient, but acceptable be-

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cause of the protection it brings.

The issue is therefore not the need for regulation but its scale and application. It is too easy for some regulators,in an attempt to reduce risk to a minimum,to over regulate and stifle legitimate business. It is too easy for some consumers to let a regulatory structure replace their own common sense. It is too easy

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Ultimately effective regulation is . a partnership between regulator, consumer and the finance sector it self. The consumer must exercise common sense and report a concern as soon as they become aware of it.

; Thefinance sector must abide by the spirit as well as the letter of the regulations and deal with their cus tomer as they themselves would

The regulator must listen as well as regulate and make sure it does not fall in to the trap of regulation for regulations sake

for a finance sector firm to apply regulations blindly without consid ering their intent.

Financial services regulation will not prevent all instances of crime or incompetence. It can, however, help in preventing the criminal or incompetentfrom rurming a finan cial institution or assist in their prompt detection.

expect to be dealt with. The regula tor must listen as well as regulate and make sure it does not fall in to the trap of regulation for regulations sake. It must be prepared for, en courage and welcome constructive challenge.

One Irish Place POBox 166 Gibraltar

T; + 35075181 E: gam@gam.gi W: www.gam.gi

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Commission

Member of the Gibraltar Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Managers

Member of the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers

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Total internet protection is available in Gibraltar in the shape of a small Network Box that takes up no computer space but blocks every unauthorised attempt to access your machine or network

'It's automatically up graded between ten and twelve times a day from the manufacturer's control cen tres — and that's as a mini mum/ said Nick McAuliffe as he explained the features of the Network Box range. This little box provides inhouse network security that is ideal for businesses of every size, and goes far be yond the normal firewall and anti-virus protection that most users rely on.

'It takes about 15 minutes to connect it up, and the main advantage is that it doesn't use PULL technol ogy,which is when the user sets the system at intervals, as with anti-vi rus upgrades. This is PUSH — the box is connected to eleven centres worldwide which are constantly upgrading.'said Nick,adding,im pressively,'It's the only protection system that has proved to be 100% successful against everything.'

'Everything' includes spam, porn, viruses, trojans, worms... in fact anything you decide not to al low into your system. Nick ex plained that when itcomes to spam, (the junk email that can range from being a bit of a nuisance to an over whelming nightmare), the Netbox has a fantastic system.'It uses Heu ristic software,' he said, 'which checks all incoming mail; if it rec ognises it as spam or porn it either rejects it or can put it into a sepa rate folder, apart from your regu lar mail, according to your prefer ences.'

I learned that Network Box doesn't only do that with spam.'It also checks on all incoming data for strange behaviour. When it spots anything it doesn't recognise it quarantines it and immediately re ports it to the international operat ing centres,'said Nick.'This means that you are protected against vi ruses that haven't even been recog nised yet by the normal anti-virus programmes. The mere fact that it is something new is enough to trig ger the alarm.'

He explained that even the best anti-virus programmes only up grade once a week, and even con scientious users only upgrade on a fortnightly basis. A lot of nasty things can happen in that time.The

Blaster worm that caused world wide damage twice this year was not picked up by the main anti-vi rus programmes,but Network Box

cutting them.They can also find out who your suppliers are,how much you're paying... anything they want to know.'

Hacking is another worry that the box deals with in its advanced firewall capacity

quarantined it at once.

Hacking is another worry that the box deals with in its advanced firewall capacity.'While 1 was at the Hong Kong headquarters of Net work Box recently;' Nick told me, 'a company rang in to say that they were experiencing a lot of traffic through their computer. The Net work Box technology was then used to trace the problem back to a hacker in Brazil who was using the Hong Kong company's computer network to handle and distribute millions of spam emails. TTie Bra zilian authorities were alerted, given the hacker's details and he was quickly arrested.'

It seems that most of us tend to think that hacking is something that only happens to large companies, but there are all sorts of levels of hacking. 'They are highly organ ised and hold conferences where two thousand people can gather to swap information,' Nick said. 'You can even getsimple hacking tools off the internet. Some me dium size companies have been wiped out because rival firms used hacking to study how much they were quoting for work — and then under-

He also told me that being hacked or struck by a vi rus is something that major com panies prefer to keep quiet about, so the extent of unauthorised in trusions are never fully realised by the public. But hack ers are con stantly

searching for computers that they can use to facilitate the spread ofspam—and when they find PCs that are of no use to them they often sim ply destroy them to get them out of the way.

'And,'Nick added,'every hacker would like to go down in history as the per son who destroyed the internet and therefore the one who destroyed world wide business. If everyone had a Network Box this am bition would be almost im possible to realise. This is the most advanced security available—and it's been go ing for five years now. It's been proven over and over and hasstood the test of time. It sells in Gibraltar to companies ranging from a staff of two up to, so far, a network of one hundred computers - but there's no limit. The range of boxes and each one's flexibility means it can be tailored to suit every busi ness.'

For full infonnatum on the mani/ features ofthe Network Box including how it even speeds up pour computer or net work because it operates outside of the machine rather than as part ofit call Nick at Apex Compu ter Technology on 79716. Y(n('II befascinated.

Nick McAuliffe of Netivork Box

Though the global banking industry had a bumpy ride last year - and there are strong indications that in Britain, particularly, the massive accumulation of personal and household debt promises more problems for lenders in the medium term - Gibraltar has weathered the storm better than many other off-shore(and smaller on-shore)jurisdictions.

And while there have been a handful of local job losses in the sector in the wake of the with drawal of two banks from the Gi braltar market,banking on the Rock continues to grow.

In practical terms, the past year hasseen the level offunds managed by banks on behalf of customers fall, however, the numbers of cli ents using the Rock's banks to man age their investments has risen by nearly 15 per cent. As at the end of March, 2003, their combined de posit base stood at £2.6 billion, ac cording to the recently published

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annual report of the Financial Serv ices Commission.

"Our bankers continue to be verv positive about the immediate, me-

as the "Costas" increasingly be come the Florida of Europe, more opportunities are created for ser\'icing an affluent customer base," he

dium and long term future for busi ness development," the FSC's head of banking supervision, David Parody, writes in the report."And,

adds.

Currently 18 banks operate on the Rock. Ten of these are incorpo rated in Gibraltar and are licemsed

bv the Commission. There are also seven branches of EEA-authorised banks as well as a branch of a nonEEA authorised bank from jersey, licensed by the Commission. "Gibraltar continues to be an at tractive location from which to con duct banking business," Parody says. "Its ability to tap freely into the entire European market through passporting is probably the biggest attraction for any poten tial newcomer, offering as it does competitive advantages over cither financial centres outside the Euro pean Union. An established and

"Gibraltar continues to be an attractive location from which to conduct banking business"

Recruitment of

7f if involves people - we are here to help"

proven regulatory system which is open and transparent adds to the jurisdiction's attractiveness."

Gibraltar's regulatory mecha nisms drew plaudits from the IMF in a report released last year and Parody refers to two specific recom mendations it made in relation to banking supervision - both of which were accepted by the FSC. One has already been acted on by the Commission, while the second (related to a loan classification re gime)will be put in place when ac counting standards in this area are finalised. The FSC "sees no risk to financial stability in the interim, un til the regime is put in place," Parody points out.

"Perhaps the greatest change to the supervisory processes for banks during the year was the move away from a largely desk-based super\'ision to a risk-based approach which includes on-site work by the bank ing division," he con tinues. "This is part of the on-going de velopment within the Commission as it seeks to make better use of its resources

through its impact on banking and other services-industry opera tions," Collins writes.

"Gibraltar's ability to match UK standards of insurance regulation was recognised officially by the United Kingdom on 11th June 1997. This, in turn, placed Gibraltar on a par with all other EU jurisdictions. Consequently, insurance institu tions regulated by the Commission are permitted under EU law to 'passport'throughout the EU with out seeking a separate licence in each jurisdiction to do so.

"Undoubtedly the industry's ef forts — combined with Gibraltar's ties to Britain, the marketing work of the Government of Gibraltar and the stable political environmenthave played a significant role in this growth," he adds."Equally the ex istence of a skilled infrastructure of insurance managers, audit firms and the legal profession has con tributed to this growth. Two of the three leading global insurance manage ment companies now have a presence on the Rock.

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by identifying areas of risk within individual banks • and then mitigating these. The Commission sees this as being of real benefit to the^ Industry and is grateful for the banks' co-operation.

"Work on rolling out the risk framework across the entire bank ing sector will continue during 2003."

Similar optimism is reflected in the comments by Chris Collins the FSC's Head of hjsurance Supervi sion He reports that insurance "has become the fastest growing sector of Gibraltar's financial services" and in the past year ten new li cences were issued, bringing to 31 the number ofcompanies operating on the Rock by the end of March this year.

Of the ten, six were granted to 'open market' insurers and four to captive insurers. The captives in cluded Gibraltar's first Protected Cell Companv (FCC), established under legislation introduced in 2001 and which at the end of 2002 had six cells doing insurance busi ness. "Such growth not only pro vides additional employment but contributes a valuable multiplier effect to the general economy

In the continuing global debate amongst regulators ' and the industry over the r adequacy of solvency marSn gins,no one view or method of assessment enjoys consen sus, Collins adds. "While Gi braltar complies with EU legisla tion and UK practice,the Commis sion also tries to assess the risks in herent in any business plans pre sented to it. Accordingly, where the business being written warrants it — and taking into account the li censee's other risk exposures as well as the economic and business environment at the time — the Commission will always impose higher requirements than the EU minimum.

"Insurance company solvency needs to be monitored not only in retrospect but also going forward. Consequently the Division intends to introduce annual budget and business plan monitoring on a for ward-looking basis for the year 2004 in respect of all'open market' insurers. This will allow the divi sion to carry out limited stress test ing of different market and eco nomic scenarios and,together with on-site inspections, will enhance the Division's overall capabilities."

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Two of the three leading global insurance management companies now have a presence on the Rock

Training Matters

THE GIBRALTAR FINANCIAL SERVICES HANDBOOK

Editor: Or D. M.Sloma

PC Box 555, Gibraltar

www.gfsh.gi Tel & Fax (350)79385.

Information on the Rock's off-shore advantages in Taxation, Law, Banking, Company & Trust Formation, Insurance, Business, Property and Financial Services. Comprehensive A-Z Index for the visiting professional or businessman and the discerning investor.

Detailed appendices on relevant Gibraltar Government legislation.

240 pages providing a practical guide to doing business and working in Gibraltar.

An employee who is comfortable with the technology he/she is using will perform more efficiently

Do you expect your new employ ees to be already trained when they show up for their first day on the job? Too often employers are look ing only for a "ready-made" em ployee. It is unrealistic to believe that all new employees have the abilities and skills necessary to immediately perform the required tasks to your standards.

There are also employees, who have picked up their knowledge through "trials and errors" and are often in misconception of being an "expert",and would endeavour to solve ail the IT problems at their empiovers'expense.

The missing link is the lack of professional training and retraining for new and established employees. The benefits are very cost effective.

TTiere are numerous benefits of investing in employee training and development,including;

1. Increased job satisfaction and morale among employees.This has an added benefit of making your company more attractive to prospective employees.

2. More motivated workers, which in turn tends to increase productivity and spur profits.

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3. More effective and efficient use of workers' time as a result of higher skill levels, combined with a better understanding of the job function.

4. Employees who know they are competent, and therefore feel more confident. Self assured, well-trained employees are im portant in the debt collection function.

5. An increase from employees in the number of ideas, recom mendations and suggestions for improving performance,or processes and procedures.

6. Lower overall employee turno ver and less absenteeism.

7. Investing in employee training

enhances the company image

as:

• a good place to work

• a company that offers its employees the opportunity to grow and meet their in dividual goals and aspira tions

• a company that values em ployees

• a company that nurtures its employees

8. Creating a pool of cross-trained employees can bridge gaps when someone unexpectedly leaves the company — or if they accept a transfer or a promo tion.

9. Doing so tends to create more efficient employees that require less supervision and who need less detailed instructions. This frees management's time for higher value added activities.

10. Employees that receive in houses training tend to be bet ter equipped to adapt to changes and challenges facing the credit department in par ticular, and the company as a whole.

Department managers must de termine where training is needed.

It is usually a poor use of resources to implement a department-wide generalised training programme. Scarce resources(such as a training budget)should be allocated where it is most needed. If the company'sl training budget permits each em ployee to be trained, then training! should be customized to;

a. the needs of the departme and;

b. to the skills and aptitudes of each employee.

Training Tailor Made can be con-^ tacted on Tel: 78714 Mobile:54303

Email: info@trainmgtni.com

Recruitment in Gibraltar

The physical size of Gibraltar is in no way reflected in the number of available qualified and experienced professionals especially in accountancy, banking,IT,Company Management and secretarial areas. Relocating companies will therefore be pleasantly surprised at the plethora of staff at all levels from blue collar to board level.

A company must be registered with the Government Employment Ser\'ices Department. Legislation then dictates that all vacancies be notified to said department at least two weeks prior to commencement of employment. Once this is done, companies may advertise in one of the local daily newspapers or uti lise the services of a Professional Recruitment Agency.

Blue collar and junior positions can normally be filled by the Em ployment Services Department and media advertising which generates applications from many unem ployed applicants.

Professional personnel presently employed but for varying reasons wishing to move on plus those peo ple looking to relocate or 'return home'to Gibraltar will often regis ter with a recruitment agency. This ensures total confidentialitv whilst maximising opportunity.

Companies dealing directly with a professional agency therefore benefit from maximum choice whilst gaining a personal service

A coinpawjs persoitncl is its biggest asset

and understanding of their particu lar needs. This guarantees only candidates qualified for the specific placement are presented and that such applicants have been personallv interviewed and screened prior to registration.

Candidates personalities and fu ture career needs can also be dis cussed and compared to the com pany's prior to interview so mini mising waste of expensive com pany man hours.

Legislation

Upon candidate selection an Em ployment Ser\'ices contract of em ployment must be completed and signed by both parties and for warded to the Employment Serv ices Department for approval. Two copies are returned to the company, one for the company records and one for the individual which must be taken to the Income Tax Office to ascertain a personal tax code.

Salaries vary from company to company and are presently similar to those of central/Northern Eng land, minimum wage being £3.75 per hour (for last four years), the

number of days holiday used as an incentive, bank holidays being the statutory minimum laid down by Government.

Quality Control

Companies may wish to evi dence to themselves and to their clients the company'scommitment to quality. 150 9001 (International Organisation for Standaalisation)is a Quality Management System which enables companies to sim plify their operating systems thereby improving efficiency and profitabilit)' whilst ensuring every member of the team is committed to establishing quality objectives for key aspects of service delivery. A recruitment agency with qualified ISO Auditors can assist in all as pects from initial set up to internal audits.

CTS Gatekeepers for Onshore Governments?

The dramatic hardening over the past decade of government attitudes to the way that a string of financial services providers run their business has created new problems and a massive volume of extra work for Gibraltar firms and particularly for local accountants, lawyers and banks who manage trusts or trust companies on behalf of their clients.

Driven by concerns about money laundering, the outflow of invest ments from high-tax to low-tax ha vens and, at times by sheer politi cal expedience, jurisdictions have tightened their regulatory proce dures — often stringently — de manding greater "transparency" in terms of company accounts and in formation about directorships as well as a tougher"Know Your Cus tomer"(KYC)regime.

Spearheaded by the O.E.C.D. whose membership comprises high-tax countries and which wields a "blacklisting" cudgel over non-compliant jurisdictions — and the Financial Action Task Force,the anti-money laundering arm of the IMF, offshore jurisdictions have born the brunt of these campaigns; while the implementation of EU measures such as the IV and Vll Di rectives have added to the burden of Gibraltar and have sent tremors through centres as far apart as Jer sey and Bermuda or Labuan and the Isle of Man...

And the effects have been wide spread,for as well as triggering con cern among the authorities of off shore financial centres, the mo\'es have led to a re-assessment by most international banks and legal and accounting networks of the risks in volved in providing corporate and trustee services(CTS)... particularly when these are off-shore — where CTS activities often form a signifi cant part of a firm's business.

For, while in most offshore juris dictions the notorious days of the brass plate companies(and the easy annual income these generated) have ended, firms continue to pro vide CTS and,in effect,run the com panies. Their clients are often little more than passive shareholders or beneficiaries of the companies or trusts.

The intensification of the war on money-laundering over past dec ade hasseen a significant shift in at titudes towards CTS providers in off-shore regulatory circles. Where once many authorities tolerated the incorrect notion that directors pro vided by corporate service provid ers were "nominee directors" — a somewhat nebulous term — the new regulatory thrust is to make company managers and trustees the sentries in the campaign.

Intensification of the war on money-launder ing over past decade has seen a significant shift in attitudes towards CTS providers

At the same time a series of highprofile cases in onshore courts has debunked the concept that a nomi nee director can reduce or deny his responsibility for a company, and off-shore regulators have shown that they no longer will accept claims that a director is merely a "nominee".Some have gone so far as to bar the use of corporate direc tors, insisting that at least one lo cally based person should take re sponsibility for any company's mis demeanours.

In fact, offshore courts have al ways imputed a high degree of re sponsibility to,and have demanded a high level of ethical behaviour from,trustees. Nevertheless,seen as vulnerable targets by the big on shore players,offshore jurisdictions have tended to become convenient whipping boys in a game where the field is not level and goalposts are frequently moved.

For instance,all offshore jurisdic tions require extensive—and some times even over-zealous — KYC procedures before a company can be incorporated or allocated.

In America,on the other hand,no questions are asked by most com pany incorporators. Similarly, in most off-shore jurisdictions any per son acting as a professional trustee must obtain a licence and is then closely regulated, while in Britain anyone can act as a trustee and needs no official approval to do so.

Where, before the introduction of anti-money laundering legislation, its is probably fair to say that many off-shore CTS providers were less than diligent in their KYC proce dures, this no longer holds. Most have tightened their KYC require ments and certainly in the case of Gibraltar these are more stringent than those applied in most other fi nance centres.

In fact, money launderers are to day more likely to use London or New York — where there is a rea sonable chance that illicit transac tions will be lost in the huge daily volume of legitimate business than risk the sharper(and more fo cused) eyes of CTS providers and regulators in off-shore jurisdictions.

The issue has also been clouded

bv an almost indecent willingness of the bigger players and interna tional bodies to lump together money laundering and "unfair tax competition",treating them as a sin gle target to be attacked, secure in the knowledge that they will have widespread support for their oppo sition to the former.

in fact, the two issues are sepa rate and largely unrelated. For while almost all offshore jurisdic tions are anxious to eliminate money laundering — indeed, their AML legislation and regulatory practices play a significant part in how they are viewed by the inter national financial community few are willing to abandon the prin ciple of strict customer confidenti ality.

Given added impetus by the glo bal war on terrorism spearheaded by the US and Britain in the wake of the tragic events of 11 th Septem ber, the drive to prevent the move ment of illegal funds has also wid ened the perimeters of the potential minefield though which financial service providers—bank staff, pro fessional managers, accountants and lawyers — must pick their way. They have become the gatekeepers charged with identifying and re porting money laundering activities — the definition of which has also been widened.

For instance, Britain's new Pro ceeds of Crime Act (which came into force in February) lays down that the offence of money launder ing is committed if a person con ceals, disguises,converts, transfers or removes from the UK criminal property; if he becomes concerned in an arrangement that he knowsor suspects — a significant twist, this — facilitates the acquisition, reten tion,use or control of criminal prop erty; or if he acquires, uses or con trols criminal property.

It's a broad butcumbersome pal ette, and one of its effects is to cat egorise as "criminal property' funds received in Britain represent-] ing the benefits of an off-shore tax arrangement — which is perfectly legal in the off-shore finance centre, but if made in Britain would be re garded as criminal tax evasion. Similarly,simple nominee arrange ments that rely on non-disclosure could also fall under the Act's defi-

nition of money laundering.

"It has become more vital than ever that both onshore introducers of business and off-shore adminis trators are comfortable that off shore tax planning arrangements would be considered as'avoidance' and not'evasion'by the tax authori ties/'says a leading Gibraltar-based international tax accountant.

"Working out what enquiries should be made and where to draw the lino will prove a headache for financial service providers, includ-

conviction failing to report suspi cion carries a maximum prison term of five years.

So a person who may be too pre occupied — or over-burdened by work — to make the relevant checks... or who may have been careless,lazy...or even who is tem peramentally inclined to give a cli ent the benefit of the doubt could find himself or herself facing a prison term.

And the position of CTS provid ers as wilting or unwilling "gate-

Whether you require an offshore structure or a company to trade in the UK.Jordans offer the complete range of corporate services to ensure that you don't get out of your depth when running your overseas business. Our range of services include;

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keepers" for onshore governments could become even more onerous as the high-tax regimes tighten the screws with increasingly aggressive tax-avoidance legislation that re flects their concerns about the grow ing mobility of business and the in ternational spread of e-commerce transactions.

Changes at Turicum Gibraltar

brought a shift in focus.

"There is no change to our ex isting philososphy which is to pro vide the best possible tailor-made advice to clients," says Urs C. Huni who has taken over the helm from Fritz Stucke as chief execu tive officer. "We uphold tradi tional Swiss private banking val ues such as confidentiality and continuity and maintain a very personal and long-term relation ship with our clients," he adds.

Huni,whose employment with Credit Suisse included spells in Brazil and Argentina before being posted to Gibraltar, was instru mental in the appointment of two other former Credit Suisse staff members to Turicum in Gibraltar.

Following the appointment of three new staff members at senior management level Turicum Pri vate Bank is to expand the scope of its operations in Gibraltar and among the expatriate communi ties in nearby Spain. The Rock's arm of the Swiss-owned institu tion, which epitomises the lowkey practices for which the Swiss banking system is renowned, will for the first time look to attract lo cal clients as part of its activities.

In the past the Gibraltar arm of the bank has relied for its business solely on clients introduced by its shareholders, but the injection of new blood — all three newcom ers were previously employed by CreditSuisse's local branch—has

Andreas Businger and Mario Fabbri have joined the local team as senior investment managers.

"We believe that as independ ent private bankers much of our strength lies in the fact that in pro viding advice to clients we can re main independent," Businger ex plains. "We are not tied on any particular product and can hon estly try to choose the best possi ble solution to meet the needs of individual clients."

"Turicum Gibraltar is very comfortable with its existing client base and with local regulatory practices," Huni adds.

"Regulations here are strong, but Gibraltar is by no means overregulated."

"Those who come to know or suspect that a client is engaged in money launder ing, but fail to notify the authorities will have a criminal liability."

ing lawyers and accountants," he adds."TTiose who come to know or suspect that a client is engaged in money laundering,but fail to notify the authorities will have a criminal liability."

the term "suspect" — sus picion is a far looser term than be lief — becomes significant, for a

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Health & Safety

I have been professionally involved in Health and Safety for nearly 10 years and have found it a fascinating subject — although many people seem to think I want to stop them doing their work or even to shut their business down. As a health and safety advisor I have no intention of doing anything like that. My aim,and that of any health and safety advisor, is to get the job done safely — without risks to the health of either employees or customers, or anyone else for that matter.

I also find that friends have be come much more safety conscious since I became involved in health and safety. If we go out for a meal to a restaurant we have not used be fore I quite often find myself bom barded with questions and com ments like; "Should that fire exit door have a table in front of it?" "Would you look at that electric socket with all those adapters in it — it is red hot."

As you can imagine that starts to raise all sorts of other questions. "How would we get out of here if there was a fire?" "If the fire exit is blocked — what about the fire ex tinguishers? Are there any and can the staff get to them if they were needed?" And "What about the fire detectors in the kitchen — have they been deactivated?"

At this point I am starting to say "Look 1 only came out for a meal!"

Health and safety issues affect us all, ivhether in our oiun place of work or using public areas such as restaurants

staff retraining time or any other way of preventing it happening

Company Formation

Offshore Company

Company Management

Nominee Services

Tax & Accounting Legal Services

Contact: Penny Tel: 41056 Fax: 42595 3/1 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar

Licence No. FSC005001B

Is your attitude to health and safety the same as that restaurant owner? Do you think of health and safety at work as one of those bor ing subjects that the Government has foisted on you, only one stage better than completing Tax returns? Or are you too busy to think about health and safety? &)me people say it is too expensive to comply with the legislation.

Well think again. If you think implementing control measures is expensive just consider the cost of an accident to one of your employ ees. The obvious costs are the lost time while first aid is given, or worse a trip to the hospital or re pairs to broken equipment.

But what about the costs for in creased insu ranee premiums,inves tigation time, claims from the in jured person or their family, bad publicity and the resulting loss of business, salary costs for the absent employee and possibly temporary

again, possibly even fines if a seri ous breach of legislation occurred.

It makes good business sense to prevent, or reduce accidents. For small businesses having one em ployee off work can be a big per centage of the work force.

Many people think that Health and Safety legislation is a new thing, yet another innovation of the EU. But this is not the case. Health and Safety Legislation has been around for a while. There are records of health & .safety legisla tion in Egyptian Hieroglyphs.

There was an occupational health system for the workers who built the pyramids AND they were given a pension if they were unable to work as a result of an accident.The Old Testament in the Bible contains reference to needing protection on the roof edges of houses to protect people from falls from height and it also gives the penalty if the main breadwinner of the family

If you think implementing control meas ures is expensive just consider the cost of an accident to one of your employees

was killed or prevented from work ing again. Really not much differ ent from today. Accidents in the construction industry account for a large proportion, over 40%, of the accidents reported to the enforcing authorities — and that is only the reported ones, the actual number could be much higher.

People don't report accidents for a variety of reasons, including:

• They are embarrassed or feel a bit silly

• Some injuries are considered a part of the job

• No-one told them the accident reporting procedures

• They don't want to report an ac cident in case the rest of the team

There are records of health & safety legislation in Egyptian Hieroglyphs...

lose a bonus.

Just before the Piper Alpha disas ter one of the mechanics on the rig had an accident and broke a bone in his arm. However his team were due to complete their shift in a cou ple of days time and were,officially, accident free. As a consequence they were all due to get a substan tial bonus; the foreman's was to be several thousands of pounds.So the mechanic completed his shift, with

a broken arm, went home and re ported to his local hospital and Piper Alpha's accident rate remained unchanged and unchallenged.

So my message to employees would be: Report all work related accidents — and if you sec some thing you think is an 'accident wait ing to happen'report that as well. It will give your employer a chance to fix it before something serious happens.

Developing with Care

Whenlocal property de

veloper, the Fairhomes Luxury Property Group, found a Canary Date Palm,prob ably planted some 30 years ago, in cramped conditions at their Lord Napier Mews site on Rodgers Road the cheapest and easiest option would have been to chop it down.

"This seemed such a pity," said local director Barbara Sellors, "and we were keen for the tree to survive in Gibraltar so I called Paul Naughton-Rumbo in the Planning Department and asked him if he could think of a good home for it. He suggested con tacting Cynthia Eagle of the En vironment Department;she found a very good home for it; right in front of the Cathedral on Main Street where one of the four plant ers containing the very same va riety of palm tree, had had its oc cupant terminally vandalised".

Moving the tree was no easy task and required the careful co ordination of building contractor. Dew Construction Ltd,tranporter Portman Ltd,the Police,and land scape company, Gibralflora.

EPOS point-of-Sale

The whole operation took over 3 hours, but the tree now looks so much at home that many regular promenaders along Main Street might not have noticed its arrival!

The developer who funded the operation, the Fairhomes Group, are also behind Ocean Village. "We were very pleased to help make this possible," said Barbara, "and are iso supporting the Bo tanic Gardens Palm Bed Project. Trees and plants help to make Gi braltar an even more pleasant place to live, work and visit."

Complete

Interface

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on the Rock

Two years ago,a branch of the Compliance Institute was inaugurated in Gibraltar. A membership of forty was achieved and during the last two years the local centre has successfully run two Foundation Courses in Compliance and Risk Management. Additional events have also taken place in conjunction with other bodies within the financial services sector. Throughout this period encouragement has been received from the Financial Services Commissioners of the day, Martin Fuggle and Marcus Killick.

However in Gibraltar we are caught between the need to provide more locally centred training and a need for recognition of the training being undertaken. The local centre was very fortimate to be introduced to Charles Cattell and Ray Russell, trainers ofconsiderable experience. Their enthusiasm in running the Foundation Course and the encour agement of course participants to discuss concerns led to some inter esting discussions.

Since the early months of 2003 the Council of the Institute has been considering its future. It now tran-

A meeting of members look place in October followed by an open meeting of all interested parties to discuss the proposed initiative and to gauge support. The new asso ciation will welcome the support of everyone either working directly in or interested in compliance. Both individual and corporate member ship will be available,the latter be ing something not available with the UK Institute.

The concerns are that the new association will struggle to gain support,due to the many demands currently placed on people in their

spires that a decision appears to have been made to close down the centres in offshore locations. At the time of preparing this article the local jcentre Chairman and Com mittee had not received a response to a letter asking the President to outline the specific reasons for the decision, which effectively "disenfranchises" members in Gi braltar. The committee also wanted to know why the decision appears to have been taken withoutseeking the views of members in Gibraltar. Whilst we do not believe that the council has ratified the decision, it is clear that Gibraltar is one of the centres that do not feature in the future plans of the UK Institute.

Prior to the above decision being relayed to Gibraltar, the local cen tre committee had been discussing the setting up of a more locally based association — The Associa tion of Gibraltar Compliance Offic ers. In view of the UK decision, plans have been brought forward a little quicker than originally in tended.

working environment as well as support currently given to other associations within the financial services sector.

Franco Cassar, President of The Gibraltar Bankers Association ex pressed concerrrs on several issues in The Financial Column of The Gi braltar Chronicle on 23rd September 2003. His views demand support and it is certainly not the intention of the new Association to create a greater demand for the few who really try and support local initia tives.

However,there are issues arising where all should welcome com ment and discussion, and a forum specific to compliance may focus the mind of any discussions.

In today's financial world every decision, transaction or action has a compliance element. The MRLO or Compliance Officer/Manager of a small regulated business should not feel isolated. There is every possibility that the concerns ofone are the concerns of many. There is not a ready-made forum to share

Compliance issues and requirements will not be disappearing. Realistically the demands will be increasing.

ideas, concerns and views. The new association hopes to fill that vacuum and be such a forum, in addition to offering local training

viding a forum for discussing, of fer training specific to the needs of compliance personnel, and at the same time raise .standards of all li

In today's financial world every decision, transaction or action has a compliance element

utilising both local and UK based trainers. Ray Russell and Charles Cattell have offered support and discussions are taking place to con sider the viability of the proposal. Compliance issues and require ments will not be disappearing. Realistically the demands will be increasing. Let us hope that the new Association can assist in pro

censed entities thereby enhancing the reputation of the jurisdiction in a positive way into 2004 and be yond.

Trevorj Nichols is Managing Direc tor of Global Advisory Services Ltd, Suite B, Ground Floor, Regal House, Queenswai/, Gibraltar. Tel:46830 Fax: 46840 Email:globaladv@gibni/nex.gi

TAXI !

City slickers in London are get ting around in a Union Jack liver ied taxi advertising Gibraltar.

One of our famil iar barbary macaques is pic tured saying 'Come and see me in Gibraltar'and the slogan'Home from Home'greets passengers.

Global Advisory Services Limited

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• In-house/Extemal Training and Workshops

• Support in implementing Health & Safety Policy

• Assistance in preparing Health & Safety Manual

• Fully Accredited and Qualified lOSH Trainer

Regulatory Compliance

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• Outsourcing of Compliance Requirements

Medution

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VEHICLE INSURANCE Gibraltar's Mini-Boom

The escape from the chills and rain of northern Europe to Spain's sunnier ; and warmer climate by tens of thousands British, German and Scandinavian car-owners has generated a mini-boom for "niche" financial players such as Gibraltar's Ibex Insurance.

Since setting up in a small rented office almost three years ago with a staff of five.. but also with solid links toa Lloyd'ssyndicate— Ibex has become a major and suc cessful player in Spain's competi tive vehicle insurance market. It now employs more than 40 staff in Gibraltar—includingtwo full time lawyers and a motor assessor — has recently introduced a sophisticated IT infrastructure and has twice ex panded its premises in Neptune House, each time buying the ac commodation.

"Business has developed to such an extent — particularly in the past year — that we are considering en tering into partnership alliances with some Spanish insurance pro viders," Ibex's founder John Harrison tells me. "And next year we will set up an 'approved re pairer' network in Spain."

In spite of skepticism in the local insurance industry when Harrison set up Ibex to handle basic insur ance across the border, from the outset he was optimistic that the expatriate market on the Costas was rich in potential. He "head hunted"two local insurance experts

who shared this view — David Evans and Clarke Russell — and their initial optimism has been "more than justified", Harrison says.

"Motor vehicle insurance has re ally taken off -.so much so thatsome of the products which we originally planned to offer have had to be put on the back burner... at least for the time being,'he adds.

product lines."

Nor, if official Spanish growth projections are correct, is this an unattainable target. According to the Spanish Commercial Office,by the end of 2005 Spain will be the home (or second home) of some four million expatriates... mainly from the UK, Germany and Scan dinavia — Ibex's main customer base.(In fact the volume of German

By the end of this year Ibex expects to have about 50,000 customers on Its books

In two years the company has written more motor policies than its main competitor, the Spanish arm of the UK Calls Direct giant, can boast after four years operating in the sector, Harrison says. And by the end of this year Ibex expects to have about 50,000 customers on its books."We are looking to have an ex-pat client base of about 100,000 by 2005. With that sort of volume we can 'grow' our clients and put the emphasis on other personal

business has grown so substantially since Ibex began its operations in Spain that all of its documentation, including application and claim forms, is available in German as well as in English.)

Although Ibex's premiums are not as low as those of some of the firm's Spanish competitors, where the Gibraltar company scores over its rivals is not only in the product it offers,but in the shared language of its clients, Harrison admits.

"Whether their vehicles are UKor Spanish-registered, the Brits ob viously prefer dealing with a sys tem that they am familiar with,par ticularly when it comes to handling claims," Harrison points out. "We offer what they arc used to. Span ish insurers handle things some what differently - and, of course, the loss ratios for Spanish nation als is considerably higher."

This also tends to push Spanish premiums higher, though Ibex along with most other insurers also re-assesses premium rates on a quarterly basis. "Claims and loss ratios are the tightest rein we have in controlling the business," Harrison explains.This has become vital in the climate of "blame and claim", particularly as the majority of Ibex's clients are British - notori ously encouraged by a steady diet of television advertisements which urge viewers to claim at no cost to themselves.

Here Spain's "Paremo Scale" which lays down the level of dam ages which can be claimed at a pre determined rate is "a much more satisfactory way of dealing with claims", Harrison adds.

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IBDO The BDO Group

The BDO Fidecs Group is a Gibraltar based group of companies which provides a range of financially related ser\'ices to both businesses and individuals. The suite of professional serv ices available whilst varied, successfully com pliment each other to provide a "one stop"Cen tre of Excellence.

All of the relevant businesses are licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission and include:

•Professional Trustee services

•Company Management

•International Tax planning and advice

•Insurance Management services including captive insurance companies

• Audit and Accountancy

•Personal Financial Planning — life insurance and investment advice

• Business Advisory services.

The BDO Fidecs Group started business in Gibraltar in 1990 operabng from offices in the Eurolife Building with a staff of 3. In the inter vening years the group has not only grown in reputation for the provision of a first class serv ice, but now employs over 60 staff and in the near future will once again be operating under one rooffrom the newly renovated Montagu Pa vilion.

In this current world there is a growing re quirement for professional advisors to be able to advise on a global basis and this was one of the reasons that the Group became part of the BDO International network of independent ac countancy firms in 1996. The network has rep

resentatives in over 100 countries and therefore the Gibraltar based BDO Fidecs Group(and ulti mately the client) benefits greatly by having ac cess to adviceaboutallaspects of^e tax and regu latory requirements from the other members of BDO International businesses in their jurisdictior^s. BDO International aims to be the leading advisor world wide,dedicated to providing serv ices to growing businesses and the people l^hind them, an ethos which also ties the local BCKD

Fidecs Group into the network.

Locally, each of the dynamic business di mensions provide an effective and efficient pro fessional ser\'ice,and with its'can do'attitude when v^orking closely with each client,has the ability to provide practical solutions to satisfy everyone's needs within the local and interna tional regulatory framework.

BDO Fidecs Group can be contacted on 00350 42686 or via email on bdofidecs@bdo.gi

Innovative financial structuring (3) BDO

BDO Fidecs Group

P O Box 575. Montagu Pavilion 8-10 Queensway, Gibraltar

Tel: 00 350 42686 Fax: 00 350 42701

Email; bdofidecsebdo.gi

Website: www.bdo.gi

Yacht Registration in Gibraltar

Entitlement

People entitled to be owners of British Flag vessels are:

• British nationals

• Citizens of the European Union

• Companies incorporated in ju risdictions which are subject to UK laws, and have principal places of business in these lo cations

Non-British nationals can make use of Gibraltar companies to own their vessels. The vessels can then be registered in the names of their Gibraltar companies,with the own ers or their nominees holding aU the shares in the Company.

All vessels registered in Gibral tar be they in the name of Gibraltar companies or EU citizens, are re quired to appoint Registered Agents in Gibraltar who are en trusted with the annual renewal of the registration of the vessels for and on behalf of the Beneficial Owners of the vessels.

VAT(Value Added Tax)

Advantages

Gibraltar's situation at the gate way to the Mediterranean, its Brit ish Flag Registry and the facilities provided by all three of its marinas means that it is ideally placed to service all registration, mooring,re pair and maintenance needs asso ciated with the yachting world.

All vessels registered in Gibral tar are registered as British flag ves sels with documentation being identical to the UK requirements and are required to fly the Red En sign.

Gibraltar's status within the EU is that it is a full EU member except that it is exempted from levying VAT as it does not form part of the EU's Common Customs Tariff area.

For this reason, it is important to differentiate between countries fall ing within the HU's CCT area and other EU territories such as Gibral tar.

Under the laws applicable to yachts registered in Gibraltar in the name of limited companies it is;

• Not necessary for shareholders or company directors to be na

All vessels registered in Gibraltar are registered as British flag vessels ... and are required to fly the Red Ensign

For the reasons described above, if you register your yacht in Gibral tar you pay;

• No VAT in Gibraltar

• No Import Duty (if your vessel is not based in Gibraltar)

• No tax on sale of your vessel

tionals or residents of Gibraltar

• Not necessary for the vessel to be surveyed annually

• Not necessary for the skipper to hold any form of mariner's cer tificate in the case of pleasure yachts under 80 GRT.

VAT is normally charged on yachts which are used within Com mon Customs Tariff waters,regard less of whether the yacht is owned by a Gibraltar company. For this reason it is important to note that whether a yacht is registered in Gi braltar or any other British Flag port, it is also subject to the condi tions imposed by other countries as to the length of time that it may re main in any port without becom ing subject to Import Duty as a for eign registered vessel.

Although VAT-free temporary importation status is still available to yachts that do not spend more that eighteen consecutive months in CCT waters, this is conditional upon the yacht not being used by any EU residents during its time in CCT waters.

If a vessel which is seeking a

transfer of its Port of Registry from a country within the Common Cus toms Tariff area to Gibraltar,has al ready paid VAT on its purchase value, it would be important to show that the "resale" of the vessel to the name of a Gibraltar company is effected within the CCT area in order to preserve its VAT-paid sta tus.

EU citizens seeking to re-register their vessels in Gibraltar in the name of Gibraltar companies should note that any VAT levied by CCT member countries on their vessels would be conditional upon their status as EU citizens and not on their vessel's Port of Registry. For this reason it would certainly bean advantage if those EU citizens seeking to re-register their vessels in Gibraltar and continue to use their vessels within CCT waters, havealready paid VAT on theirvessels.

4. A Notarised copy of the vessel's current Certificate of Registry (if not a new vessel).

5. A Notarised copy of the ven dor's passport(if not a new ves sel).

6. A "Declaration of Ownership" form.

7. Either an original Measurement and Tonnage Certificate or a Notarised copy of the same as issued by any one of the follow ing Classification Societies:

• Bureau Verilas

• Lloyds of London

• Germanischer Lloyd

•American Bureau ofShipping

• Det Norske Veritas

• RINA

• TheYBDSA

8. If the intention is to register the vessel in the name of a com pany,then all of the above pro cedures should be preceded by the setting-up of the Company itself.

The Gibraltar Yacht Registry is itself able to act as the Accounting Authority for Gibraltar registered vessels

Procedures for the registration of a vessel in Gibraltar

If you were to choose to proceed with registration in your own name,there would be a number of documents that would be required to be completed in a particular manner in order to comply with Gibraltar Registry conditions. These would be:

1. A Bill of Sale(in a format com pliant with Gibraltar Registry conditions) to be signed by the vendor of the vessel before a Notary Public.

2. Either the original Builder's Certificate or a Notarised copv of the same.

3. Confirmation of the name of the vessel that is to be registered in Gibraltar.

Radio Licensing for Gibraltar registered vessels

All vessels .seeking a Radio Li cence in Gibraltar, are required to appoint an Accounting Authority in Gibraltar to attend to the settle ment of all costs arising from the usage of the on-board Radio equip ment. It is useful to note that the Gibraltar Yacht Registry is itself able to act as the Accounting Au thority for Gibraltar registered ves sels, subject to certain conditions being met by the client.

Forfurther iuforivatiou please con tact: Jonathan Sta^netto, Form-a-co (Gibraltar) Limited, E-Mail: formaco@gibnet.gi Tel: 79959 Fax: 79894

SBRVICBALL

Business Manaj^ement Services

y/4 Coopenifjc Lane. Gihraltar. PO Box

Wp are all you need for all your needs

Business Starting-up / Office Rental

Company Formation and Administration

Company Secretarial & Management Services

Yacfit & Shipping Registry

Private Mail Boxes (Security Guaranteed)

Maritime Services in Gibraltar

Maritime Legislation in Gibraltar

Doing Business in Gibraltar A-Z Index of Maritime b Ancillary Services

The Jyske Bank Story

Who is Jyske Bank?

Jyske Bank was established on 7 July 1967, following the merger of four banks in the mid-Jutland area of Denmark. In 1981, with the takeover of Copenhagen-based Finansbanken, Jyske Bank achieve nationwide coverage, and now has 123 branches across Denmark. There are also branches in London, Hamburg and Fuengirtila and later this year an office in Cannes in the South of France will be opened, plus one in Poland in 2004. Jyske Bank also has full subsidiary banks in Switzerland and in Gibral tar.

Jyske Bank is an independ ent bank owned by about 213,000shareholders. No sin gle shareholder has a control ling interest, which ensures the Bank's continued inde pendence.

And what about Jyske Bank (Gibraltar)?

jyskc Bank(Gibraltar) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of jyske Bank A/S which has been operating in Gibraltar since 1987, when it bought Gibraltar's old est bank,Galliano's Bank. Since then the bank has continued to establish itself as a highly re spected and attractive business partner giving excellent quality, flexibility and value to its cus tomers, stakeholders and share holders.

Private Banking

Jyske Bank(Gibraltar)Limited prides itself in providing cus tomers with a wide range of fi nancial products designed to ac commodate all their require ments. Whatever the customer's banking needs, they are pro vided with a personalised ser\'ice. Every customer is appointed an account manager and the ul timate aim of each account man ager is to create long lasting per sonal relationships and provide flexible solutions to each custom er's individual needs.

...in eight different lan guages...

The bank understands that when discussing fi-

Tim Marschall, Getieral Manager oflyske Bank(Gibraltar) Liniitcil

nancial and Investment solutions, it is important for customers to speak their own language and so advice is offered in eight different languages. Each customer should therefore be able to discuss their banking and investment needs with an account manager who speaks their language.

...and in your vicinity

Being visible in defined markets by travelling to meet customers and by holding various events is ex tremely important. It gives the cus tomer and the adviser quality time to get to know each other thereby creating a close and long lasting re lationship, This relationship is nur tured by regularly contacting cus tomers to keep them updated with the bank's views, opinions and in vestment opportunities. Together with their customers the account managers create investment portfo lios and offer pro-active advice in currencies,equities and bonds. The bank also has its own extensive range of mutual funds which are managed by fund managers,jyske Invest. There are also four Portfo-

JYSKE BANK

lio Management Funds which give investors the opportu nity to invest in different strategies according to their risk profile.

Advantageous products...

Although the bank offers long term investment solu tions it understands that cus tomers need access to their accounts and so to facilitate this they issue a Gold and a Classic Visa Debit Card in fourdifferentcurrencies. This gives cu-stomers the flexibility they require to access to their funds worldwide.

...and equity release

Over time, customer's needs change and so jyske Bank's account managers are very flexible in offering the appropriate advice and assist ance. If customers are inter ested in purchasing a prop erty, thev will be offered the Keypian mortgage. The Kcyplan mortgage is a loan used for financing properties along the Costa del ^il, the Algarve,and the Cote d'Azur. Not only does the bank provide the finance for the property, but the Credit Department gives advice as to the best choice of loan cur rency plus arranging and assist ing with all the practical issues which arise when buying a prop erty abroad. In the Credit De partment, they do not only pro vide mortgages. If market con ditions are favourable the team in Credit also gives advice on eq uity release schemes and in con junction with Private Banking they can create and attractive in vestment vehicle.

A bank with high ideals

Jyske Bank has its core values clearly defined. They are com mon to all and govern the way the employees behave towards each other and towards others.

The cornerstone of jyske Bank's business is close relationships with customers and stakeholders and they use their values consist ently to build upon these rela tionships.

To learn more about jyske Bank, please visit their website:jbpb.com

Solid persona] relationships make for solid investment performance. And when that happens - everybody wins. That's our approach. When you invest your money with us, you can be sure that we will invest the time and effort it takes to get to know you, your goals and concerns.

Here, a personal adviser will help you choose between investment options like domestic and foreign securities, mutual funds,investment loans, or deposit ac counts. Your adviser will work with you to create the investment strategy that's best for you, with complete objectivity and discretion.

Talk to a bank that invests in relationships. Call us today at +350 59 261.

Opportunities for Business in Great Waters

Merchants along the Mediterranean littoral have from time immemorial used ships to transport their wares from place to place. The safe anchorage of Gibraltar Bay has likewise played its part in this activity.

No economic history has yet been written on the use of Gibraltar as an import base from Spain and North Africa. Such activity was no doubt accelerated by the Moorish occupation of the Algarve and southern Spain,indeed until they were ex pelled from Europe in 1492, the Strait must have been like a Moorish highway. In spite of Barbary pirates the Spanish occupation of the rock saw contin ued economic activity between the 6,000 wealthy inhabitants and the town of Cadiz and Seville. The plun der of shipping along the coast between Gibraltar and the Algarve also made many a British privateer wealthy. Further proof of the profitability of Gibraltar to the local merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries is illustrated by the fact that when the Rock was captured in 1704 there were no less than 21 churches and monasteries in exist ence. The major memorials to this era being the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned and, though today seriously neglected, Witham's Cemetery.

The establishment of a British garrison and naval base and the end of the Spanish and French sieges of the Rock saw a great ex pansion of the shipping trade particularly due to the declaration by Queen Anne, of Gibraltar as a free port, the establishment of a Lloyds signal station in 1776, the protection offered to British cargo ships by the Royal Navy, the Ad miralty Prize Court,and theNapcv teonic War during which goods were shipped to and from Gibral tar by both sides—all enhanced the Rock's commercial growth.

The establishment of a coaling station for the Royal Navy also ac customed commercial steam ships to bunker in Gibraltar and all the great names in shipping lines called. This trade made the transi tion from coal to oil bunkering easy for the now well-established on

shore commercial infrastructure, At the moment Gibraltar supplies, with fuel obtained from Spain, a very large percentage of ships pass-

rocco under the latest Intereg projects in aid of coastal trade. As a result Gibraltar is at the north eastern pivotal point of the box

Opportunities lie not only for bunkering, insurance fr cruise liner trading in Gibraltar itself, but for providing the financial, accounting b legal expertise for the burgeoning warehousing activity

ing in and out of the Mediterra nean.

The European Union is presently gi\'ing emphasis to Spain and Mo-

which has as its other three comers Algeciras, Cadiz and the now be ing constructed new port of Tan gier.

Just as the wealthy Spaniards who occu pied Gibraltar in the 16th century made money out of coastal trading,so some of their shipping interests could be casting cooperative eyes on Gibraltar in or der to accesssome of the Intereg money,available only for trans-border ac tivities. In this there are opportunities for Gi braltar's financial and insurance expertise to come to the fore and gain all the concomitant advantages provided by such a potential in flux of capital to our shipping industry.

Port enhancement is an area where business opportunities lie not only for bun kering, insurance and cruise liner trading in Gibraltar itself, but for providing the financial,accounting and legal expertise for the burgeon ing warehousing activity due to in creased use of Algeciras as a con tainer port. Bulk commodities may no longer be broken in Gibraltar, but, just as in the past wealthy Spanish merchants chose to bring their wealth and treasure to trade from the Rock, so means could be explored to channel the business ac tivities connected with EU Intereg cash to the present day financial service providers in Gibraltar.

Whilst merchant shipping fi nance and ship owners have and still largely conduct their business in Greece, there is no reason why some of these should not now be attracted to the increased waterborne trading along the coasts ad jacent and opposite to Gibraltar, There is now a Category A shipping register, there are plans for en hancement of the port,the Bay sees the second largest container port apposite the Rock in Algeciras, surely time spent in looking at the potential of our "great waters" might prove a profitable exercise.

• Dr. DM Sloma is Managing Editor of the Gibraltar Financial Services Handbook

Property Purchase with Charles A. Gomez & Co.

To get an idea of increases in the price of residential property in Gibraltar we conducted a survey of transactions from our firm's files. The average price differential from 1993-2003 came to 74.8'!;.. We had chosen conveyances from as many developments as possible. Some properties had more than doubled in price. that sellers know the value of what they are selling.

When repre senting buyers we ensure that exhaustive en quiries before contract are made so that our client knows ex actly what they are getting.

As members of the panels of solicitors of the main mortgage lenders we are able to offer cli ents some sav ings on their outlay without ever resorting to cutting corners.

The results show that now more than ever,home ownership represents the biggest outlay of money that the vast majority of people ever make.

They say that 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread'. Inthe property department oflaw firm Charles A.Gomez& Co.,wo seek to ensure that clients; both buy ers and sellers enter into trans actions with eyes wide open and aware of all the facts. We have the good fortune of dealing with the main players in the industry lenders and estate agents to whom reputation is much more important than making a quick buck.

Unfortunately, not everyone thinks the same way and some try to give the impres sion that you can buy a £200,000 flat with the care and preparation that you might take in ordering a pizza for home delivery.

We make sure

The conveyancing department ofCharles A.

Gome/& Co prides itselfon a repuiuiion for turning transactions around in a diligent yet quick manner.

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

Wc are firm ad herents to the old Gibraltarian adage: "Lo barato sale caro" (rough English translation: cheap stuff ends up being costly).

We do not make claims that we cannot back up with facts but we would be very surprised if any other firm invests more time and energy in ensuring that our clients get the greatest degree of information and advice.

The firm has over 20 years experience and has rep resented literally 10(K)s 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, "Gome/ & Co are also on the panels of solicitors i)f many banks and building six'ieties and we have an excel lent relationship with all to ensure the .smooth run ning «)f transactions,"

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

The Property Market 2003

The property market as we all know has been rising steadily for several years since the low point in the cycle in the early 1990s. In 2003 we fint^ our property market at a very high altitude where the lack of oxygen it seems is causing some crazy things to happen which is not entirely unexpected given the economic conditions.

The star sector of the market to day is obviously the residential sec tor and every property owner is aware of how much their home is now worth by looking at the pages of advertisements in the local pa per, and also the prime retail mar ket, where record rents are being paid and huge premiums to secure prime positions on Main Street.

Free markets are all about de mand and supply, so the situation can be easily summarised as being one of high demand and limited supply. But there is a little more to it than that. In Gibraltar there is al ways going to be a limited supply whatever the demand happens to be. We also have a two-tier market with a clear split between indig enous local demand and interest from outside. Both the residential and the prime retail markets are two tier markets and the demand from the latter pushes the prices and rents up into the stratosphere fuelled by among other things, the easily available and cheap bor rowed finance which is also tax ef ficient.

Mavbe that reason is not so ap plicable to the retail market as it is to the residential, and there are other reasons for the high premi ums being paid for prime retail positions and record rents, but the implications on the local sector of the market are the same — prop erty simply becomes too expensive.

Today estate agents are selling properties in a matter of days,e\'en before the photograph appears in the window and details prepared. A flat in one of the shared owner ship projects has just been agreed at a price that notso long ago vs ould have been achieved at Queensway Quay.

Are we heading once again into a local housing shortage? Quite possibly when prices of starter homes necessitate higher and higher multiples of salary in order to obtain finance.

But on the positive side, Gibral tar as a whole is worth considerably more now than it was worth ten years ago in terms of land value.

Today we have developers and speculators proposing new projects, which will raise the qual ity of the available stock of proper ties and continue to make Gibral

tar an attractive place to buy luxury homes.

The infrastructure of the town centre has improved significantly

This has undoubtedlv improved the overall 'shopping experience'.

The Westside reclaimed zone is now fully developed and even

market for future larger space us ers who will find it difficult to find accommodation.

The office market has always been unpredictable however and rental levels arc very sensitive to demand and supply. The trend for owner occupation continues and allows businesses to invest in their own properties rather than paying rent, which many regard as dead money. This seems to be particu larly true of smaller local busi nesses. The larger international oc cupiers,like banks tend to prefer to rent with gives a little more flexibil ity.

with the pedestrianisation of Main Street and the success of the Casemates Square regeneration.

Furoport is nearly full although the conversion of one wing into our new hospital does restrict the office

The town centre has also ben efited from the Goverrunent spon sored assistance in the form of tax breaks to improve facades and shop fronts. This concept now applies to the whole of Gibraltar and the ef fect is positive. Older properties however are still crumbling away because of the unsuitable law con cerning pre war tenancies. This amounts to a private sector spon sorship of social housing and the matter reallv must be addressed befom these older properties can no longer be saved.

In summary therefore, the prop erty market is in very good shape when viewed from the perspective of activity and values.

There are new projects on the way, which will enhance our envi ronment even though most of us will never be able to afford them.

Gibraltar is clearly attractive to outsiders. We must however be careful to ensure that we are not priced out of the market at the bot tom end and this is something for Gov ernment to address. Certainly there will inevitably be a large pent up demand for low cost housing very soon, if there is not one al ready, and there needs to be some form of mechanism to keep these properties within the low cost sec tor of the market, even at times of very high value like today.

The property market is in very good shape when viewed from the perspective of activity and values

Nicholas Gale, MRICS, is a Char tered Surveyor and Chief Executiveof the Seek Group of Companies, which offer professional property advicefrom offices in Gibraltar, Spain and the United Kingdom. Tel: 46579

LEEDS & HOLBECK — ONE YEAR ON

Leeds & Holbeck Building Society, which opened its first branch outside Britain in Gibraltar last November is on track to announce a successful first year's trading on the Rock,and to celebrate has expanded its lending operation to include Spain's Costa del Sol,according to Sally Butcher, manger of the local branch. Up to now the Gibraltar arm of the society has concentrated on providing loans on Gibraltar properties.

However, at the beginning of October it launched three types of locally-available loans for anyone looking to purchase either a home to live in or a holiday home in the popular Spanish coastal region. They are also available for anyone looking to re-mortgage.TTie loans are available to EU(including UK) nationals permanently residing in Spain,Gibraltar or the UK and to UK expatriates resident in Gibral tar or Spain.

The loans include a five-year fixed rale deal at 5.75 per cent and a three-year tracker based on the UK base rate plus0.95 per cent(at the current Bank of England rate of 3.5 per cent this would be an attractive 4.45per cent)with up to £1,000 cash-back. There is also an Espafia Variable Rate loan, which tracks the Bank of England Base Rate plus 2.00 per cent(currently

equivalent to 5.50 per cent) and has unlimited capital repay ments.

Highlights of the five-year fixed rate deal include a maxi mum loan value of 66 per cent and a tapered early repayment charge of six months interest in the first year reducing to reduc ing to four months in year five. There are no extended "lock ins" and there is an application fee of £199.

As well as a 1 per cent cash-

e/gt

and tapered early repayment charges.

The Espaha Variable Rate deal provides for unlimited capital re payments — on which there is no early repayment charge at any time. Maximum loan value is capped at66 per cent and here, too,there is no application fee.

back up to £1,000, there is no ap plication fee for first tracker deal

which also provides for a maxi mum loan value of 66 per cent

"This is an exciting develop ment for the Society and a great way to celebrate the first birth day of the branch on the Rock," Butcher said. "The range has something for everyone and will suit UK residents or ex-pats who are thinking of moving or want ing a second home on the Costa del Sol. The venture follows our rapid growth into the savings and investment market in Spain and Gibraltar and is a great com mitment to the future of Gibral tar."

The venture follows our rapid growth into the savings and investment market in Spain and Gibraltar"

^ally Butch

Gibraltar's skifUfte has changed beyond ri^B^iition in partsfrom 15 y^brs(&o

With demand continuing to keep the prices of middle-range and even "cheaper" properties at unrealis tic and inflated levels Gibraltar's housing boom continues. And, in spite of Government plans to make some 600 new homes available for lower income buyers — with some of these to be rented as part of its housing stock — prices are unlikely to fall according to local developers and estate agents.

The boom — fuelled in part by improved incomes, changing so cial patterns and an influx of ex patriate workers into the burgeon ing finance sector — also extends to the upper and luxury end of the market, according to Trevor Tho mas, managing director of prop erty developers Taylor Woodrow which currently has plans in the pipeline for three new projects on the Rock estimated to cost a total of £15 million.

"The local market is clearly buoyant and should remain so for the foreseeable future," Thomas told me recently.

"As well as the new projects that we and others have in hand there has been a recent surge in re-sales ofluxury apartments...at substan tially enhanced prices."

Following the successful mar keting of all apartments and al most all of the penthouses in the £35 million,state-of-the-art Ocean Village project within days of the

developers opening a buyers' reg ister Fairhomes is considering a second, similar waterfront devel opment,according to Greg Butcher the property and health foods ty coon who has masterminded the scheme.

And its success has rekindled plans to build 19 luxury townhouses on reclaimed land in

in the hotel and leisure field — in volves the creation of a 10,000 sq m.artificial "island"extending the length of the marina's seaward side. It will provide each of the three-storey semi-detached homes with its own 20m yacht berth.

But is there a danger that the "luxury" end of the market will become over-subscribed? That the

in the Ocean Village complex have been bought by local residents and that there is a string of Gibraltarian would-be purchased for what has been dubbed as"phase two"of his development.

And the government appears to share this view for plans are well advanced for its ambitious £300 million scheme to transform the stretch of coastline between the Rock's Eastern Beach and Catalan Bay into a major tourist attraction with hotels,restaurants and leisure facilities as well as housing.

the Queensway Quay Marina at a cost of £20 million. Though these ' were submitted for planning per mission last year they have lin gered on the back burner since then. The project, by the Gibraltar subsidiary of Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo(WATG)— one of the world's leading design consultants

flood of new homes for wealthier buyers will reach saturation point?

Developers think not, and both Thomas and Butcher argue that many of the more expensive homes are bought by Gibraltarians moving up the property ladder. Butcher points to the fact that more than 40 per cent of the apartments

Following its public tender proc ess the Government has awarded a company — jointly owned by Chelsfield International and the multi-billion Australian developer Multiplex — preferred bidder sta tus.This gives the company 90day exclusive negotiating rights to reach a detailed and binding agree ment with the Government.

The negotiations are currently under way,according to a Govern-

Redwood Int International Freight Forwarders

"The local market is clearly buoyant and should remain so for the foreseeable future"

mentspokesman.They involve the provision ofa 500-yacht marina,at least two hotels and other tourist and leisure facilities,a "boutique" cruise ship terminal and "several hundred residential homes of which at least 200 will be afford able housing for the local market."

It will also involve beach replen ishment and coastal protection along the stretch and will include the improvement of the two exist ing beaches as well as stabilisation works.

Meanwhile Taylor Woodrow is to start work in November on four luxury villas at Sandpits — tar geted at the upper end of the local market — and negotiations are "well advanced" to acquire the Rock Hotel's staff quarters from the Bland Group where the devel oper intends to build 21 apart ments for which planning ap proval has already been obtained.

The company also hopes to ex pand its development at "The Cliftons"and plans for a further 21 luxury apartments in what is be coming a major housing complex are currently before the town plan ners, Thomas tells me.

"Helped bv the Governmentcoownership scheme and,of course, the influx of expatriates to jobs in the finance sector, over the past decade the local property market has matured," Thomas says. "I'm confident that the market will con tinue to grow."

And his optimism is shared by local estate agents most of whom see no end to the RcKk's boom... or the rise in the price of homes that has accompanied it.

Over the past two decades the dramatic change in the Rock's economy from MoD dominance to a thriving finance and tourist cen tre has brought a substantial in crease in incomes and this has brought a change in the pattern of home ownership. Where 20 years ago only six per cent of Gibraltarians owned their own homes, today that figure has reached 45 per cent — and is still growing.

This has put pressures on the lo cal housing market and,in spite of new homes coming onto the mar ket, this Is unlikely to slacken, ac cording to Jeremy Boyd, manager of the Norwich & Peterborough's estate agency operations.

Since the estate agency opened in 1998, each year has been more successful than the previous one and in the past two years alone, turnover has doubled, he says "Butin spite of new developments there are still not enough single homes being built. And I see no end to the pressure on space."

Norwich {t Peterborough Estate Agents now In Old Bank

move

up

new opportunities at Queensway Quay Resales

RAGGED STAFF

Superb 2 bedroom , apartment on first floor, j Good condition, covered| and open terrace directly 1 overlooking the marina. £300,000.

CORMORANT WHARF

Norwich and The Old Bank, 1^1^ Peterborough cannon Lane, ESTATE AGENTS Gibraltar

Tel: 48532 Fax: 45051 E-mail: enquiries@npea-gibraltar.co.uk

Magnificent 3 bedroom apartment, on the first floor with views over the pool, gardens and marina. 151 sqm plus 50 sqm terrace. Use of pool, gardens and fitness centre. £495,000

ORDNANCE WHARF

Brand new 3 bedroom apartment having superb direct marina facing views. Air-conditioned, 129 sqm with 13 sqm terrace. Use of pool and fitness centre. Underground parking. £425,000

Naval Hospital Hilt: (POA)

• Luxury 4 bedroom house

• Fully fitted kitchen and bathrooms'Wooden floor ing and working fireplace •

2 lock up garages • Large Terraces + private pool

Rapallo's Ramp: £170,000

• Bright 2/3 bedroom apart ment• 2nd floor ■ Wooden floors • Open plan kitchen to living room • Fully fitted bathroom • City Centre

Uttle Genoa: £395,000

• New development over looking Catalan Bay • 3-bed end-terrace prop.(128m'l •

2 bath + cloakroom, living room/fireplace • 3 balco nies. shutters, marble/wood floors * Double parking space • beachside * Devel opment inc. swimming pool

• Completion due 2004

Main Street: £210,000

• 2/3 bedroom apartment • 1st floor living room, dimng room/3rd bedroom • High ceilings • Fitted kitchen with appliances'Utility room* City Centre location

Europlaxa: £295,000

Offplan resale opportunity (approx 149m') on new de velopment • Luxury 4 bed, 2 bath (1 ensuite). 17m' bal cony + drying balcony 3m'

• ff kitchen w/ appliances

Montagu Gardens: £325,000

Queensway Quay: £325,000

•

DEXTEROUS HOUSE 3 bedroom duplex in Ordnance Wharf. Large master bedroom with own terrace, superb marina views, air conditioning, use , of pool and fitness centre, i 120 sqm, 17 sqm terrace. ( £379,000 i i

CORMORANT WHARF|

Superb 2 bedroom 'i apartment, fourth floor, South and West facing aspect. 121 sqm plus 13 sqm terrace. Airconditioned, use of pool, gardens and fitness centre. Allocated parking. £397,000

Queensway Quay

Sales & Information Centre

Queensway Quay Gibraltar.

Tel: 40550 Fax: 75529

email: gibmag@taywood.gi

Mr Taylor Woodrow

Jeremy Boyd (centre) with team Dino,Jackie and Bea of Norwich and Peterborough Estate Agents outside their neiv premises at The Old Bank. Cannon Lane

IRISH-AMERICANS PLANNED CAPTURE of GIBRALTAR

The son of a Canadian-born newspaper magnate Bennett inher ited the New York Herald and made the newspaper famous worldwide by sending reporters on exotic m issions and by sponsoring daring racing competitions in yachts,bal loons and aeroplanes. His most fa mous publicity stunt was to send Henry Stanley to Africa to find Dr. David Livingston. The story of Stanley's expedition (1879-1881) was followed by readers around the world and produced the im mortal line "Dr. Livingstone I Pre sume".

Bennett Jr. also financed expedi tions to find the northwest passage, and to the Arctic, unfortunately the great man is quoted in Christy Campbell's book Fenian Fire (Harper Collins 2002) as having "delighted in hiring notorious fel ons and revolutionists to fill his pages. The newspaper's foreign editor had served ten years in Dart moor for shooting a policeman. The drama critic set out to capture the Rock of Gibraltar,the night edi tor drew up the operational plan."

The night editor with plans to attack the Rock was Brigadier Gen eral Francis Frederick Millen an Irish-born (Tyrone)American who was a member of Cian-na-Gael, a rebel group associated with the Irish Republican Brotherhood an organisation that supported the Irish Republican Army.

Millen was an adventurer and soldier of fortune. He served in the British Army in the Crimean War (for obvious reasons he denied this),fought for Guatemala in 1863 and from 1864-1867 for Juarez in Mexico against the French-ap pointed Emperor Maximilian.

It was while directing artillery for Juarez' army that Millen achieved the rank of General and also where he was mcruited to the Fenians, a violent group fighting for Irish independence.

In 1865 Millen was sent to Ire land on military reconnaissance and took part in a failed coup at tempt.

On return to America he was hired by Bennett as a correspond ent for ^e Herald.It was during this time when,as chairman of the mili tary council of the Clan-na-Gael,he devised his plan to capture Gibral-

Eccenfric Gordon Bennett}r wa> the heir to the New York Herald and financed Stanlei/'s expedition in quest ofLivingstone as a marketing plot/ — his drama critic later devised a plan to capture the rock of Gibraltar

would be well to make advances to the King in reference to the aid we might be able to render him in getting hold of Gibraltar by treach ery."

O'Kelly's efforts came to nothing but meanwhile Millen was hatch ing an even more outrageous plan — a rising up worldwide of en emies of the British Empire,includ ing Zulus, Boers, Afghans and Americans.

The British had their spies and because Millen was anything but discreet they were well aware of what was going on. Mr. George Crump,the British Consul in Phila delphia reported to Whitehall in March of 1878.

"General F.F. Millen, believed to be the Chairman of the Military Board, affirmed to my informant that there is a great desire on the part of the Russian government to aid the Irish nationalists.The report that a Russian naval officer was in New York for the purpose of pur chasing steamers for the Russian Government to be used as trans-

H^''aP|yf93ched the

general of New York, Senor de Uriarte, and presented a plan for tar.

Working with Millen was an other Irish-American, James O'Kelly, who had recommended Millen for the job at the Herald. A Fenian at 15, O'Kelly had fought with the French Foreign Legion be fore being hired by ^nnett Jr. In 1873O'Kelly suggested thatheand the Spanish-speaking Millen should be sent to Cuba to cover the rebellion taking place there. While O'Kelly lived in the jungle with the rebels Millen sat comfortably in his Havana hotel room and took credit for his colleague's rebel-relayed dispatches. When the rebellion col lapsed Millen escaped on a steamer while O'Kelly was captured and sentenced to death.

O'Kelly cooperated with the Spanish and ser\'ed only a short jail term. He then sailed to Madrid where he hoped to convince King Alfonso of Spain to join Russia in a war against Britain. He wrote to a fellow conspirator, "I think it

Brigadier General Francis Frederick Millen, an Irish-born American, drew up plans to capture the Rock

port was founded on truth."

In a dispatch a month later Crump wrote:

"A rising of the Fenians in Ire land is positively intended... it will be precipitated by an outbreak of hostilities between England and Russia... Every Irish militia regi ment has its Fenian officers elected who have a full knowledge of the proposed scheme. General F.F. Millen is to be the commander in Ireland."

In 1879 Millen toured Ireland and Scotland to raise support.Soon after his return to New York he ap proached the Spanish consul-gen eral of New York,Senor de Uriarte, and presented a plan for the cap ture of Gibraltar. It was stamped with the seal of the Irish Republi can Army.

It was much more detailed than O'Kelly's earlier presentation and employed the use of a system of time torpedoes:

"They might be so arranged as to explode any minute of any day within thirty days from the time of setting them."

The bemused Spanish diplomat turned the plan over to the British Consul who relayed it to London with the comment:

"It is signed by General F.F. Millen, who, it will be remem bered, was in former years one of my informants... Mr.de Uriarte has kindly offered to keep Millen, "in hand"... and will furnish me with any reference to Fenian movements which he may obtain with confer ences with Millen."

Obviously, though he had worked as a spy for several organi sations, Millen was not very good at keeping secrets. He also wasn't very good at gaining allies in the fight against the British, although he never stopped trying.

Millen wasstill employed by the Herald when he died at home of a heart attack, aged 68.

James O'Kelly parted from the Clan-na-Gael in 1880 and was elected MP for North Roscommon.

James Gordon Bennett Jr. left America for Paris in 1877. He con tinued to run his papers from there and launched a Paris edition of the Herald which lives on today as the International Herald Tribune. He died in 1918 aged 77.

Gordon Bennett Jr. was an eccentric in the extreme and because he was very wealthy he could indulge his eccentricities to the extreme.

Christine Bottino-Danino — A Personal Banker

rungs of the bank's promotional ladder and in June became one of the four personal bank ers at Barclays in Main Street...These, in ef fect, arc the public "face" of the bank for its thousands of private clients.

"My father used to work for Barclays and it was he who suggested that 1 apply for a tem porary job as a 'stop-gap' telephonist," Christine explains. "Then, somehow, it just snow-balled... and I've never regretted it."

After a spell as a 'permanent' telephonist, she became a cashier,later taking over as chief cashier at the bank's old branch in Gibraltar Heights... and remains on friendly terms with a stream of the customers from those days whom she now sees regularly in her new role as a personal banker.

"Gibraltar is a relatively small community where,in a sense,everyone knowseveryone," she says,"Nevertheless it is remarkable how many older customers come in and remem ber mo from the Gibraltar Heights branch.

rewarding — "mainly because of the wide mix of people that 1 meet each day and the range ofproblems or questions which 1 have to deal with." ,

As well as regular bank customers with personal accounts — and new customers wanting to open an account—Christine deals with a steady flow of tourists.These may have queries about anything from cashing travel lers'cheques and foreign exchange rates-al though in the main banking hall there are clearly marked counters which deal with these! - to visitors who want to arrange to have money transferred to Gibraltar from an account they hold elsewhere.

When,soon after leaving sehtK>l, Christine Boltino-Danino joined the staff of Barclays Bank in Gibraltar the appointment was tem porary — a three-month stint as a telephonist to cover for a permanent staff member who wason maternity leave.That was 30 years ago and since then—with interruptions to become a mother herself! — Christine has climbed the

"And its not just locals," she adds with a smile. "Soon after I took over as a personal banker, an English couple who were tourists came in. It must have been at least ten years ago — if not longer — since I had .seen them, but thev recogni.sed me... and it turned out that they had been customers of the bank when the husband had worked in the Dcxkyard."

Of all the jobs she has handled during her years with Barclays,Christine reckons that per sonal banking is the most enjoyable and most

An oasis...

"Dea/t

AR

"Then there are locals who have credit card queries or who want to arrange telegraphic transfers of cash to their sons and daughters who are studying in the UK — we have quite a lot of those — and at the end of each month there is usually a string of pensioners with a range of questions about their payments, she says.

There are also the regular visitors dubbed repetitive customers by Christine — who come in almost daily with trivial queries re lating to their accounts."I think some of them are just lonely and drop in to the bank to see a friendly face or have someone to talk to for a few minutes."

And,in Christine and her fellow personal bankers,they find the friendly face — the face of the bank.

...in a festive world!

Yes 1 knowthat's not your real job descripticm but someone's got to do it!!

Every year at around this time someone in the organisation is asked to 'organise the Christmas party','sort out the Christmas bash'or get some infomiation on the 'Christmas do'.

This mav seem easv but frankly it can be as ditHcult as working out the molecular structure of DNAor (even more complicated) predicting David Beckham's next hairstyle!

At the Rock we realise the following:

YOU AREA BUSY PERSON

YOU PROBABLY HAVE A BUDGET

YOU WILL WANT VALUE FOR MONEY

9^,YOU WILL DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE AGREAT TIME

<2^ GREAT FOOD IS IMPORTANT ON THE NIGHT

HAVING ORGANISED THE EVENING YOU WILL WANT TO RELAX!

Why not call, fax or e-mail Toby Tobelem or Janet Waterfleld on 73000. 73513 or Toby;a rock hotel.gi respectively.

Give them a call,come and have some tea or coffee and a chat.

We promise you - you won't need an arm or a leg. to be waited on hand and foot!

Yours with premature Christmas wishes

EuropaKoad.tiibraitar

Tel:(-^350)73^MI0 Fax:(+350)73513

E-mail: rock hotel « gibnynex.gi Web site: w« w.rorkhotelgibral tar.com

The Royal Caipe

9KaH£ew!y ^eweKer^ Repairs

"Till lijpes ofTiepairs 2)one

yCew

J' uH Ti!aii<je offutfelleri^. (. i/iains, Jiravehh, j ('//arms. (■roues. Oiamonf!fV/, /)a6ies ffewellety from 1^24

Ramp Tel: 50478

the silver shop

Andrea Keeps on Entertaining

Since Andrea Martin returned to the Rock from her musical studiesin the USA, hercareerhas undergone dramatic changes — but she is still singing.

Andrea Martin

Horse Barrack Court & Casemates Arcade

1st May - 5th May 2004

Conference forAmateurs & Professionals on "The Wonderful Flora ofSouth Africa including the Succulent Plants "

There is u distinguished list t)f 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. PO Box 843. Gibraltar

E-mail: alameda@gibnet.gi Tel: 9567 72639 or 41235

Fax: 9567 74022 + your name and address

"It's my life!", as she crooned some of her favourite sounds dur ing our interview.

I reminded Andrea that was what she said in our last interview, for theGilmjihnMagozhie, fiveyears ago at her native Catalan Bay, fol lowing her musical studies at Bath University. She was setting off to follow her star.

"Was it that long ago? I look so young, 21 in my academic robes. I've travelled a long way and done a lot since then".

She still looks vivacious, sun tanned, different hairstyle. I told herthat 1 had heard hersingingjazz and felt it was the metier for her. How had this come about?

"My two vear classical scholar ship in New Yorkdidn'tcompletely work out. 1 am grateful for ail the help, including the Government grant, which I received. I didn'tlive up to my expectations; I am an ex trovert type of character and felt that the classical discipline re stricted my natural personality. I'm sure that there are singers who

don't have this problem.

"1 was exposed to many influ ences — Mozart, the arias 'Mar riage of Figaro', 'Cossi fan tutte', 'Magic flute'; some Bellini, Massanet; no Wagner, nothing too dark, i also had to listen to others' opinionsofmy voice, not always fa vourable.

"1 loved the music, still do, and the classe.s but perhaps 1 found them too restricting. Those who succeed are dedicated, work hard to the exclusion of all else. People -said I was moving about too much during performances — 'too Latina'. But it's my nature. 1 feel a music inside and it just comes out.

"1 lived on the New Jersey side, just five minutes from Manhattan; through the Lincoln Tunnel — I'm not too keen on tunnels. I was in\ ited to share a flat in Manhattan and met lots of musical people and visited many concerts, shows and clubs. A friend took me to the Blue Noteand 1 experienced a jazzgroup playing — 1 can't remember who, but I thought what is this? Itopened

4/2 Crutchetts

f'

a door.

"Previously friends at Bath had often said Ishould broaden my rep ertoire into the jazz field. 1 listened to a few CDs, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole and such and thought I could do this. So I learned some songs.

"When I returned to Gibraltar earlier this year, 1 felt very de pressed musically. I didn't know where I was going. My mum and dad felt 1 should continue with the classic career. But 1 had to earn a liv ing and was fortunate to obtain em ployment with GB Airways at the Aiqwrt,lovely job but the hoursleft me very tired. Work, sleep — not

when I saw them with their hands to their eyes, 1 thought 'Oh, my; they don't like it'.

"They loved it. I hadn't realised it was their song. He had written it for her.

"The words are so meaningful. He's a brilliant writer. He invited me to his table and they said they loved my rendition.

"Leanne Delaney, a friend since childhood, inv ited me to meet the musicians at the Eliott Hotel, 'George Posso and His friends'and others and 1 sang with Albert Chiappe, Dennis and 'Chips'.

"Jazz is so free. You can put your own interpretation on a standard

much time to sing

"I was successful at the Certamen de Musica Ligora in La Linea dur ing the summer. There were a dozen finalists and 1 was fortunate to win, with Albert Hammond's 'When you tell me that you love me'and Rocio Jurado's' La Septima Ola'. This led to an appearance on the La Linea TV, where i talked and talked. 1 also loved my 1."^ min. (16 min) spot with GBC's Gerard Teuma during Fair Week.But really it's the singing I enjoy.

"Henry Sacramento looks after my local engagements and I've managed a couple of gigs. The lat est was a Dinner date at'The Little Rock in Casemates Square,where 1 sang a varied repertoire of a dozen numbers, including Albert Hammond's ' When you tell me that you love me'. Albert and his wife were in the audience — 1 didn't know it was his place — and

ballad, express vourseif and it's yours! I intend to include some well known songs — 'Summertime', 'Crazy','The nearness of you' and investigate more.

"I'm also booked for a jyske Bank function at St. Michael's Cave and a show in Madrid and in London. I'll sing whenever I have the oppor tunity and include my jazz when ever it's appropriate.

"I'm off to London shortly, with my demo,to meet up with a musi cal contact, through Eric EMul,and hope he'll open some doors and get people to listen to me. I'm getting enough money together for a few month's stay.

"The past few years'experiences have enabled me to find out who I am and what I am really good at and what 1 want to do. The love of my life is singing and there can be no better life than doing what you really like doing."

Golf Winner

'When I returned

o Gibraltar earlier this year, I felt very depressed musially. I didn't know where I was going.'

Experienced campaigner Mike Cowbum (left) u>on Med Calf's La Ouinta competition vickinf uv the Blue Sku Trophy with 37 points.

Longmes DolceVita 18ct gold

SAILING IN THE MED, AND LOVING IT...

It's not a statement I would have predicted that I would ever have made. I'm no sailor and couldn't imagine how living on the water could compare with the conven ience of living on dry land? But in fact I found sailing, marina life and living on board to be absolutely mar vellous. Maybe we were just lucky but myself and six friends(average age 60-plus) from Portugal's Algarve went sailing in the waters around Gibraltar and had such a great time that we can't wait to do it again.

The boat in question is the Ocean Viking a beautiful 60-foot schooner owned by Andre De Barr of the Tun nel Restaurantand Bar in Casemates Square. The deal was — we char tered the boat for a week to sail around the Med and Andre would provide the food and a skipper. Both turned out to be superb.

We drove down from the Algarve on a Sunday and spent the firstrught on board in order to get used to the feel of the boat. Only Allan, men tioned above,had considerable sail ing experience. Big John, an exRoyal Marine, certainly was famil iar with life at sea and many things nautical but myself and Maggie were both novices, John's wife Shirley and their friends Alfie and Linda had never been sailing before. Shirley was convinced she would spend the whole trip wrapped up in her bunk being sea-sick!

Well none of us suffered even the slightest from the dreaded 'mal de mer' and amazingly there were no squabbles,no whining and no tears. There were, however,lots of laugh ter and lively discussions and fan tastic meals. Everyone took a turn at the helm, the women tended to make the sandwiches when we were at sea but the men helped with the cooking and the washing up.By the end of the week we were all becom ing dab hands at 'raising the main sail','getting the fenders out','tack ing with the Jenny (Genoa jib)' and making the'OXO'knot. Alfie even went up in the bo'sun's chair.

I believe things went so well be cause both the boat and the skipper inspired confidence. The Ocean Vi king is superbly fitted out with two double-guest cabins and two cabins with bunks in the central part of the yacht. There are two toilets with

Ginger at the heam of the Ocea.t Viking

There is plenty of room and every night there were eight of us seated around the dinner table hand-held shower facilities. The crews quarters are in the bow where there is a separate toilet and shower. The galley has a combined fridgefreezer, a gas stove and oven, elec tric kettle, double sink, and plenty of storage space. There is plenty of room and every night there were eight of us seated around the din ner table.

Initially we were supposed to have the first two dinners on board and the remaining mealsin the vari ous Spanish marinas where there are

dozens of good restaurants. But we enjoyed dining together on board so much and Andre's chef provided such fine food and so much of it giant steaks, chicken in pepper sauce, prawns and salmon — ^at we had all of our dirmers on board except the final one when Andre treated us to dinner at The Tunnel.

Then there was the skipper. Gin ger Sergeant. Sounds like a name from an Haling Comedy.But Ginger was no laughing matter. He was 'The Skipper' and he made us tow

the line. With the help of the experi enced Allan, who we dubbed 'The First Mate', he whipped us into some semblance of shape.

With his wiry build, red beard, captain's hat and hand-rolled ciga rette Ginger looked the part and played it. When we set out on the Monday morning we had gone only five feet when the engine conked out.

Without hesitation. Ginger, a former Royal Navy CPO, donned hisswimming trunks and went over the side to check that nothing had got wrapped around the propeller. I think that gesture reassured us all that we were in competent hands. The problem turned out to be elec trical and was soon solved.

We motored out into Gibraltar Bay and Ginger started giving or ders.He didn't bark them butspoke calmly.

He let us rookies fumble about and only intervened when it was obvious that we had got ourselves into fixes we couldn't get out of. It was a good way to force us to learn.

Sailing out into the Strait we ex perienced winds of 20-25 knots and the occasional wave that sprayed the cockpit that gave us a good soaking. There was a lot of traffic and once we had to come about to avoid a fast-moving freighter. But everyone was smiling and joking and relish ing the breeze, the sun and the salt air.

One thing we learned was that it is very difficult to get a berth in the Mediterranean, especially a yacht the size of the Ocean Viking. It had taken four hours to reach Ceuta,the Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast opposite Gibraltar, but there we were turned away even though we had phoned ahead. Ginger de cided we should motor down to Smir, a modern marina near Tetouan,Morocco,where there was plenty of room.

AtSmir we took advantage of the good shower facilities and had a walk about before dinner. Although Smir is an excellent marina there isn't much to do there, particularly outside of July and August.

The next morning we did some chores and gawked at the rich peo ple's yachts(mostly motor)moored around us.

We hoisted Alfie up the bos'un's

We met for coffee a few weeks after our sailing adventure and Allan asked me,"How are things?" To my surprise I replied,"I'm kind of missing the boat."

chair to free the halyard so we could raise the Moroccan 'courtesy flag'. Then we were bussed off tofetouan to visit the souk. We had the usual guided tour that anyone who has been to Tangier will be familiar with. Including the high-pressure carpet sale — but we didn't buy.

That day's sailing was the best of the trip as we experienced different conditions on our way back to Ceuta. First we had 20-25 knot winds, then we were virtually be calmed and finally we had 30-35 knot winds and reached speeds of between 9 and 10 knots. TTiis was when the Oceatt Viking was really 'healing'(at least as far as we begin ners were concerned). When the

braltar was the friendly and experi enced Steve and he was accompa nied by a young backpacker and family friend, Kelly, who would be sailing for the first time. Now,feel ing quite confident, we 'the motley crew'soaked up the sun,enjoyed the sites and did our duties as Ginger had taught us.

As we sailed along the coast of Spain in a fresh breeze, I remember looking over at all the high rises and developments and thinking of all those poor schmucks driving along the dusty,fume-ridden highway.

Steve took us around the bay un til we caught up with the dolphins (we had also seen some in the Strait) and then we moored at Sheppard's

O/rC'SV/y/cM 200S at f/ie Shaft fTTote/

We invWe you to join usfor a traditionalfestive holiday, where the emphasis is on quality combined zvith a relaxed andfriendly atmosphere.

- 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-lunch drinks, highlighted by a visit from Father Christmas

Christmas Lunch

~ Boxing Day ~

(Friday 26th December)

starboard rail seemed to be about a foot above the water Shirley asked Ginger,'How much further does it have to go before we turn over.'

"About half an inch," was the Skipper's laconic reply.

That night there was room at Ceuta but only after a friendly fel low yachtsmen agreed to move his boat and after some nifty helmsmanship and use of the bowthrusters by Ginger. Ceuta turned out,to my surprise, to be quite nice town and a pleasant surprise was the duty-free liquor.

Our next two ports of call were Duquesa and Estepona.

We were refused a berth at the lat ter until Maggie, who was bom in Argentina, impressed the 'marineiro' with her fluent Spanish.

Sadly Ginger had to leave us to go to a wedding and even though we had only been together for a few days it was a sad parting. We had a little party for him and gave him some books and bottles of Portu guese wine. He said we were the most'relaxed'crew he had ever had. We took it as a complement.

Our skipper for the return to Gi-

Marina tor our last night.

To emphasise that 1 am not exag gerating when 1 write that for all of us it was a 'wonderful experience' I will relate what Alfie had to say on the last day. He was standing at the helm looking out over the Ocean Vi king and the Marina.

"It's kind of sad isn't it," he said to me in his Liverpool accent.

"What is?" 1 replied.

"It's all over."

The Ocean Viking is available for charier to individuals, clubs or youth groups seeking the opportunity to un dertake sail training under theguidance of an experienced instructor. Anyone seeking to gain an RYA sailing qualifi cation or build experience is welcome.

Breakfast at leisure

11.00 am

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

Buffet lunch

8.00pm

Boxing Day dinner with live Jazz Band

- New Year's Eve

(Wednesday 31sl December)

8.00pm

Pool Bar 8th floor

Welcome cocktail, dinner dance with live band, and wonderful novelties

Champagne at midnight

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

E-mail: eliott@gibnet.gi HTTP://w'V/W.GIBRALTAR.Gl/EL10TntOTEL

He said we were the most 'relaxed' crew he had ever had. We took it as a complement.

Looking for somewhere to

by Eddie Eliott

Honours shared in another great season

Tommy Finlayson, archwist, writer, lecturer and GCA

Chairman is very happy with the way this past cricket season has played out.

"Each of the local clubs has won a trophy, unlike recent years when the UKCCC has scooped the lot. This is not a criticism of them, after all their success has been well justi fied, but this summer the others have proved they can be beaten."

UKCCC took the GCA Senior League for the 3rd successive sea son, unbeaten this time, with Roy Rodgers, skipper Chris Watkins and Garry de'Ath leading the League bowling averages and Tony Bircham their highest scoring batsman. Grammarians opened the seasonby

Leading young bowler was Steven, followed by Aswan! Karan. But we have a dozen young players ready to take on senior cricket and repre sent Gibraltar internationally at ICC level.

"That's why we appointed a Youth Development Officer six years ago. Before that cricket was getting into a bad state, we went to our first ICC trophy in '82 with 40 year olds and we had been languish ing since.

"Dave Gelling was appointed in '97 and did a great job, setting up a

capturing the Wiggins Shield, played between the four local clubs; and GCC/ Calpe finished it offwith Murto Cup, the oldest local trophy. The 20 overs league was won by the Calpe youngsters and the 20 overs Cup by the Commanders, an ex-pat side. The National Day Trophy was won by GCC, continuing the record t)f Christian Rocca in retaining it for 9 seasons.

During that time, hard-hitting batsman Chris has invariably led the aggregate ams and the averages, but not so this summer. He did score the most runs, in all competitions (531), but failed to score a century.

Centuries were scored by Richard Buzaglo; returned to the Rock, Dominic Aldworth, a class player from Malaga, and two of Gibraltar's voung talents — Steven Gonzalez and Mirpuri Kabir.

"It's the new young talent which gives us most pleasure. Apart from Steven and Murpuri, we have bats men Punjabi Dheeraj, Iain Latin, Mark Bacaresc and many others.

system in schools, with the help of willing teachers and they showed great interest; the kids love it. Cricket has been receiving so much TV exposure. When Dave left after a couple of years, there was a bit of a gap before we were fortunate to secure the services of Phil Hudson, a fine young cricketer and Level 3 coach. He continued the good work amongst the youngsters, he had such a rapport with the schoolchil dren. He worked hard developing players as young as eight, and teams at U13, 15, 17 and 19; who have competed at ICC tournaments around Europe. He also had time to lead the batting averages and open the bowling for GCC, taking some wickets.

"Now Phil has left us for a good career move, an appointment at Lord's, administering European cricket which gives another good friend at HQ.

"Gibraltar is totally committed to the development of cricket around Europe. As an Associate Member of

1 would like more local players to gain coaching awards and have some input"

the ICC we will always raise a team to support tournaments, even though we are small and sometimes stretched. Many of our opponents are often lax with the qualification requirements — our players are Gi braltar qualified.

"Our results this pastseason have not lived up to expectations as Phil and I have felt that some of our lead ing players have not performed as we know they can- they have ap peared mentally inhibited,it's been frustrating. But you have to learn to win at cricket, it's not easy. What gives me most joy is to go out to Europa and see so many eager young players. I feel that we are dealing at twolevels—one,to bring young players into the game and have a broad base; and two, to se lect an 'elite' few who can benefit from advanced coaching away from Gibraltar. We have sent young Steven on two 'MCC academies' and several others to Bradfield Col lege.

"But now we must have continu ity and appoint a new Development

Officer.Things have changed.It was difficult to find Dave, then a slight gap before we got Phil. This time is a bit different — a small announce ment on the web and we've had six applicants;one a Staff Coach.But we must be sure who we appoint,for a three-year contract — it's a very de manding job, not just coaching cricket but encouraging schoolchil dren into the game which Dave and Phil did so well. 1 would like more local players to gain coaching awards and have some input. It's a tough job for one.

"Another fine advance is being in vited to play at the new magnificent cricket facility in Tangier. Morocco is another country being brought into the sphere of cricket. They are ata very early stage,apart from their facilities and coach, and Affiliate Members of ICC.They were thrilled to welcome Associate Member Gi braltar and treated us remarkably well. All we had to find was the ferry fare from Algeciras. They need the competition and we shall be renew ing the contact in the New Year."

Adam's Journey to Gibraltar

Adam Hollioake is on his way to the Rock. He set off from Edinburgh on 3rd October to walk the length of England making stops at all ma jor English cricket grounds until he reaches Hove, Sussex, from where he will sail to Di eppe.Then he will get on his bike to cycle to Perpignan,into Spain and down to Gibraltar, to arrive on 23rd November, before setting sail for Tangier.

Adam is a renowned interna tional cricketer who has just an nounced his retirement as a most successful captain of Surrey. An Australian by birth he was devas tated,as were the cricketing frater nity and others worldwide,by the tragic death, in a motor accident, of his equally distinguished younger brother Ben.

Adam has made it his pledge to raise €5 mil lion over 5 years to es tablish a Chase hospice, in London, for termi nally-ill children. This 'Adam's Journey' he has undertaken is his initial commitment, raising funds along the way.He is accompanied in the venture by Scott Welch,Eu ropean Heavyweight boxing champion, and friends Matt Church and Ian Sutcliffe. When they arrive on the Rock, several fund-raising events have been planned including a celebrity'fun' cricket match at Europa, a Gala Dinner at the Casino, with a char ity auction. A full social pro gramme is being arranged before they complete their 'odessey' by sailing to Tangier, the latest out post of the cricketing world.

On National Day, many people were drawn to the large Blue Flag with its six stars, of the Southern Cross, being waved vigorously by two golden oldies'. On arrival you were welcomed witb a big hug and howd'y'do'from Ernie and Viola Howells, visiting Gibraltar from down under'— Maylands, Perth, Western Australia — their home for the past 30 years!

When they left the Rock all those years ago, they were two of the most well known and respected lo cal citizens — Ernie, a leading li censed victualler and Viola, the first 'Miss Gibraltar', in 1959.

Viola had returned once,17years ago on family business and was crowned that year's'Miss Gib.';for Ernie this was his first trip back in all that time.

Ernie Howells had first come to Gibraltar in 1950 with 224 Squad ron as an Air Electronics Operator on Shackleton aircraft, including the first Mk.3 testing around the Rock. During his second tour of duty he had fallen for and married Viola Abudarham, a local beauty. During a subsequent, unaccompa nied,posting to Ballykelly in North ern Ireland, he had received a tel egram — "Phone The Savoy Hotel in London's West End stop I've been elected Miss Gibraltar stop. Viola."

Viola takes up the story:"In those days, the first Miss Gibraltar con test was organised by the Vox news paper and they were advertising for volunteers—noonecame forward. 1 was put under pressure by Julio

Torres and Eddie Campello to sign on. I did and,after.several girl-less weeks, talked some of my friends to join me. Eventually we were sixincluding Julio's sister Julie and Nina Dalton. I cut up an old evening dress, put on shoulder straps, borrowed a one-piece bath ing costume, with skirt!

The show was held at the Ince's Hall and me — a married womenwas elected and sent,by air, to Lon don where Mr.Eric Morley was not

friends theGillingvvaters,.Mike and Pili, who were acti\'e in business. Pili, Housekeeper at the Montarik Hotel, managed to get Ernie a job as Bar and Restaurant Manager, from where his success saw him 'head-hunted'by Mr.Tony Cottrell and Laurie Mayers, to mn the big new place in the heart of Main Street, the Pia/za Grill -flagship of the Saccone & Speed empire.

It soon became established as 'numero uno' for food and ambi-

I cut up an old evening dress, put on shoulder straps, borrowed a onepiece bathing costume, with skirt!

best pleased."But you're married".

"Yes 1 am and here to represent Gibraltar".

"Well you'd better get on with it this time,but I'll have to change the rules".

Eventually Ernie,from Kent,and Viola tried to set up home in the UK but "it was awful" and came back to the Rock to join up with their

From there, Ernie moved on to 'an Anglo's pub', the Angry Friar, opposite The Convent, which had until recently been a small Swiss jewellers and clock repairers — not the big bar of today.

The Howells hoped to establish a B & B and home for their family in the building upstairs, but when

Viola in 7959 ivinning thefir^i ever Miss Gibraltar title this didn't materialise they felt re stricted as did their friends the Gillingwaters. Some backpackers had dropped into the bar singing the praises of the'paradise that was Oz'. Gibraltar didn't seem to offer the kind of futures they wanted for their growing families; so, in No vember 1974, all ten of them, four adults and six children, found themselves at London Airport

by Eddie Eilott

heading for Australia.

"It could have been Canada", says Ernie,in his usualjocular(Eng lish serviceman's) manner. "Once we'd decided to leave the Rock,we checked out the options — family in Canada, family in Australia let's spin a coin."

Viola quickly interjects:"I'm glad it came out 'tails'. Canada would have been too cold."

"So we arrived at Perth and were booked into the penthouse suite at the Palmeira — £160 a night — we were soon living in two caravans on a nice site.

"On the first day we sent our kids to school dressed up 'Gibraltarstyle' — shirts, ties, stockings, shoes. Four hours later they emerged — stockings in pockets, shoes around necks —'They don't wear them here' and they have been happy ever since.

"So we settled in Perth where we have lived; running a variety of businesses, including a supermar ket. Mike and Pili returned to Gib. after a few years "to ensure that their children had an English edu cation".

Ernie, after some years as an 'in-

Rock Drama

Rock Dramatics has been set up for kids age 4 to 17 and will be producing two performances a year. Rehearsals take place every Saturday morning at St Andrew's Hall(near the Eliott Hotel)and all children are welcome. At present the group is working on Grease which will he staged on 13th and 14th November at the John Mackintosh Theatre (tickets £5 from 47555). Proceedsfrom the shows go to child related charities loithin Gibraltar. Call 47555forfurther information.

terior designer',is now retired and as active as ever, picture-framing nowadays."I was Secretary of The Lions at one time, too much work, I'm now a 'Lion at large'.

"We live on a big spread, amongst other families — almost a village, wide roads, grass verges, loads of space and parking,swim ming pools — with my family, six grandchildren, close-by... and three big palm trees which I sit un der with my books and tea, watch ing the sunset and the moon rise... paradise," says Viola.

And what about Gibraltar?

"It's changed so much... so crowded with buildings and peo ple. It's wonderful. It lakes us hours to walk down Main Street,so many old friends stop us here and in Spain... there's such an ambi ence. Everyone comes to Casemates... my diary has been totally full of appointments for the whole month.

"Will we be returning regularly? Perhaps so. We've had such a great time."

To recover, Ernie and Viola took the long way home—Florida,Cali fornia, Hawaii,Perth.

A New Delivery Service for Gibraltar

(guaranleed/iisl and efficient deliveries to Businesses and Households)

Why not have your chosen local and U.K. ISewspapers delivered to your own doorstep anywhere in Gibraltar

W« can also deliver your Lottery and Tele-Bingo Tickets directly to your door (Tickers provided hv lioriion Commission.igeiUs)

Special Ratesfor . Pensioners!

Our

Squash summer training camps xvere held recentlyfor junior and top senior players on the Rock. Professional squash coaches Jaz Karim and Alison Wray ran thefive day camps assisted by three GSA qualified coaches. Pictured above are thejunior players who took part.

/I 2^ I

The most imaginative gift shop. If nature hasn't thought of it it's not worth having. Come and enjoy shopping with us.

First Fbor, Casemates Shopping Precinct & Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, The Alameda, Tel: 41708/ 72639

• Pizza'^%sta *''Salads• Fresh juices

• Cappuccino • Ice Creams

NOW OFFERING DAILY SPECIALS

Grand Casemates Sq Tel: 44449

.solid, silver dolplilii charm UO the silver shop ra.seiiialcs aitadc. glhrallai* NELSON

Bar Brasserie Home of Quality

Live Entertainment Friday, Saturday fit

Sunday Nights

50009

FLOOR

Gibraltar Museum (special exhibition rooms) Ground

CASEMATES SQUARE

ETounst Office

The Nature Shop

8, The Eye Studio Opticians

(Stt pages SB-6S for rostaurant b barinformation)

The word Casemates, 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 'Mattus'(drunk)l

KIMBEL BEARS

Handmade Teddy Bears for all occasions

Holybears, Bearagrams and lots more...

l/7d Casemates

Tel/Fax: 48857

E-mail; kimbel@gibnet.gi

10, Fortunes Inspirational Centre

11, Cafe Solo

12, All's Well

14, Jana

19, The Silver Shop

21, Mineral World

22, KImbel Bears

26, The Tunnel Bar

28, Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie

32, Sherlock Homes

33, Al Fresco's

35, Pizza Hut

■ fc HI

9 Gibraltar auAlST BOAR

Open: Monday - Friday 9am - 5,30pm Saturday & Sunday 1 Cam - 3pm

Watergate House, Casemates Square, Tel/Fax: 74982

Email: tourism@gibraltar,gi

Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk

What's Happening — November 2003

Tuesday 4th November

The Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation 6 Support Group meets at the John Mackintosh Hall 8.30 pm

Wednesday 5th November

Guy Fawkes Night at Coaling Island. For further information please con tact Community Constable William Fabre Tel 72500

Friday 7th November

Training Workshop — The responsi

ble Coach with Graham Hawkins 6pm •9.15pm. Tel: 76522 Fax: 42749

Sunday 9th November

Remembrance Sunday at The Cross of Sacrifice 12.00 noon

Monday 10th November

Training Workshop Developing Jun ior Sports Clubs with Victor Hermida 6.15-9.30pm. Tel 76522 Fax: 42749

Wednesday 12th - 18th November

Round Table Exhibition at The John Mac Hall Lower Exhibition Room

Thursday 13th - 14th November

Rock Dramatics performance

"Grease" at John Mackintosh Hall Theatre 8pm. Price: £5. Tickets from Angela Barham Tel : 47555

Thursday 13th November

Armistice Day at The House of As sembly 11am

The Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Cello Recital atThe Convent 8.30 pm. For further information please con tact Angelo Tel: 78267 Ext 234

Saturday 15th November

Gibraltar Botanic Garden Tour. Meet ing place - The Nature shop at the Alameda cottage near the entrance at Red Sands Road 10.30am. There is no fee but donations are welcome

BFBS Wireless for the Blind Party Night at Camber Boat Owners Club, Coaling Island 8pm. Limited tickets

£10 available from BFBS office at Rooke. For details call Tel: 53720

G.O.N.H.S monthly outing Refugio de Juanar {Autumn flowers). Meeting place is at the Spanish side of the Frontier Sam. People wishing to at tend should get in touch with Leslie Linares Tel: 75356

Monday 17th November

Training Workshop — Goal setting and planning to win with Tony Segovia.

6:15pn-9.30pm.Tel: 76522 Fax: 42749

BFBS Wireless for the Blind 2003 WFTB Charity Dinner at The Thyme Restaurant-Cornwalls Lane 8pm. Price £45.00. Book on Tel 49199.

Tuesday 18th November

GONHS talk by Fernando Barrios Bolivian Amazonia at John Mac Hall

Charles Hunt Room 8.30pm. Free.

Wednesday 19th November

BFBS Wireless for the Blind 2003 Tune in to BFBS Radio 1 in Gibraltar on 93.5 & 97.8FM 10am - 7pm to raise money for charity. If you want get involved contact BFBS Tel: 53720 during working hours

Friday 21st November

Miss Mini Gibraltar at John Mac Hall Theatre 8pm.Tickets: £8 available at Blossom -Unit F22 ICC.

Sunday 23rd November

Gibraltar Heritage Trust tour of The Convent(20 members only)2.30 pm.

Meeting Place: Rear Entrance. For further information contact Gibraltar Heritage Trust Tel/Fax 42844

Monday 24th November Training Workshop — Running sport & personal effectiveness with Michelle Smallwood. 6.15pm - 9.30pm. Tel; 76522 Fax: 42749

Wednesday 26th -29th November

Bird Breeders Association Live Bird Exhibition at The John Mackintosh Hall Lower Exhibition Room 6 Gallery

Sunday 30th November

Gibraltar Ramble. The meeting place is the Spanish Side of the Frontier just to the right of Aduana Vehicle Exit at Bam

Crafts Clas

One-strol<e painting classes during November at6 George's Lane. 3 hours £25.00 all equip ment provided. Morning classes (lOam-lpm) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, evening classes (7pm - 10pm) Mondays and Thursdays. For booking and in formation call 77992.

NB: See page 52 for regular weekly events and club activites

2/3 Casemates Square Tel: M195

Tlic iMspirAtioMAl Centre

Yow'll De fASciMAtcb At FortwMcs

UiiiisiHil Gifts for CvrnioihOh the Cosemiiles Balcoini Tel/Ftiy:

NEW DINNER MENU

(available 7pm - late)

Bhona Prawns/ Dover Sole/Swordfish / Salmon / Madeiran Fish & Prawn Kebab/lUladeiran King Prawn Kebab 'Vesuvius'

(Available Sam •7pm)

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

Regular Live Music Big Screen TVs

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

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

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

S'tzzlmT

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 fr Brandy Sauce/Jamaican Pepper Pot/ Beef in Red Wine fr Mushroom / Garlic Chicken / Tandoori Chicken / Special mixed Grill (for 2 only• tandoori fr garlic chicken,fillet pieces, prawns,swordfish, sausages, bacon,tomatoes fr peppers)

Bell Pharmacy

Your Family Chemists

Here to help you by answering all your pharmaceutical questions

Consult us cit 27 Bell Lane TpI: 77209 Fax: 42939

Dr Rene A Beguelin MB BS General Practitioner Sally Corea

BSc (Hons) Ost. 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

180 Main Street SafewayPharmacy Tel:51482 Tel:75765

Freee-mai!adviceline contactlarry@gibnynex.gi

Sto/ie

5 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar. Tel: 73765

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

Body Building Products (Creatine etc)

Open:9am •1pm & 3pm •6.30pm

HEARING AID

— CENTRE— AGENTS FOR PHILIPS HEARING AIDS

Open Mon.-Fri. lOam-lpm / 4pm-6pm 2 Horse Barrack Court, Gibraltar Tel: 73341

®)ptometrlsl

^ chTopracc Health Clinic Qrsat North Ruii RajsBS money

t \ ' 1 D C.I aid'/' g

Dr StevenCrump B.Sc.DC.MCC

Open: Mon - Fri ')..30um • 6..Wpm

Treatment of Back Pain, Neck Pain, Headaches,Limb Pain & Spnrt.s Injuries

Tel: 44226 ICC Siiile F5C Isi KIwr, Caicmateb. Gibrallar of Uririsli Cliintpniclio A.'iMii iiilitiii

HERBALIFI' INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR

(littp://www.herbalife.com)22 years 54 countries

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

J.Mottershead Tel/Fax:(00 350) 72011 Mobile:Gibraltar 58889000 24 College Lane,Gibraltar

I EYE STUDIO

^ OPTICIANS

" Unit20B Grand Casemates uj Tel: 47800 Fax: 47801 FOR A PROFESSIONAL OPTICAL SERVICE

SEETHE DIFFERENCE

HSA Rey-sieteij

McTimoney Chiropractor

Gentle holistic treatment for all back or muscular problems and sports injuries

Gillian Schirmer MA,DC, MMCA CliRic (Claudia's).

1st Floor, 58 Mam Street Tel 74040 or after fiours 40026

STEINER CHIROPRACTIC CLINICS

Dr Carsten Rudolf Steiner BSc DC

Member of the British Chiropractic Association

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

L. M. PASSANO

British Registered Eye Examination Contact Lenses 38 Main Street Tel: 76544

Dr Keith J Vinnicomhc

«iXS (Wulol LIJS M S ttiig) MKiDI'lUKi

Dental Surgeon Unit FSB ICC , 2a Main Street Tei/Fax: 40747

Emergency After Hours: 78756

for Multiple Sclerosis

healing 8c caring for three decades

Phone:70421

Samuel tbffui BDS

DENTAL SURGEON

Bruce Hogg BDS(Hon.\)

DENTAL SURGEON

Visiting Orthodontist & Oral Surgeon 62 Main Street. Suite 6.PO Box 909, Gibrallar Tel: 76817

Now available, health products to sleep on at night and to wear by day, from a long established Japanese company operatifig in over 20 countries. These products are totally natural, and both provide more effective sleep and increase energy by day. They also ease discomfort in the joints and back.

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

1st Chiropractic Centre

Family Healthcare

HSA Df Michael Pim DC,D'Ac

Df leyla Pim BA,DC

306 Main Street,Gibraltar (next to John Mackintosh Library) Tel:44844 www.Istchiro.com e-mail:enquiries(®1stchiro.com

Gibraltar Dental Hygienist Emma Wells loas one of 47,000 athletes ivho took part in the Great North Run last month. Completeing the run in under 2.5 hours she was running to raisefunds for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust and managed to raise in excess of£1,500. Emma ivould like to thank all those who sponsored her.

Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival

MO Productions are organising the Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival to be held between 1st and 3rd March 2004 at the John Mackintosh Hall.

Produced by Seamus Byme and Alfred Rumbo the competitive Festival will run along the lines of UK National Festivals,accredited by the British Federation for Fes tivals.

'I am sure that this will become a worthwhile activity for our com munity and indeed a memorable cultural event,' said Seamus Byme.

The event is an open Festival and will be divided into the fol lowing age categories: Under 11, 12 to 15 and Over 16s.

An entrance fee of £5.00 is pay- Organisers Seamus and Albert able on registration with closing date for entries Monday 15th De- further information are obtainable cember 2003. Entry forms and by contacting Seamus on 79758.

Chiropractic Conference on the Rock

BIORESONANCE PRACTITIONER

Gisela Keuper-von Kader BRTR CREPiTO

Healthier Life Clinic

252/2-11 Main St

Tel: 70421

Website: www.healthierlife.gi

CHEMISTS

Bell Pharmacy 27 Bell Lane

Tel; 77289 Fax: 42989

Louis' Pharmacy

Unit F12, International Commercial Centre, Casemates. Tel: 44797

mCHIROPODISTS

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

Tel: 75769

The first Internatioiml Chiropractic Conference was held on the Rock in the middle oflast month when there was a keynote speech from Ted Koren DC (piictiiredfront right). Other speakers at theforefront in setting healthcare policy came from the USA and Europw to the Caleta Hotelfor the three day ei>ent. The conference, organised b\i Michael Pint DC of 1st Chiroptractic Centre(pyictured centre back), was opwi to eoeryone, prrofessioiial or the interested public and was a great success.

No More Waiting for Cataract Ops The Gibraltar Government

and the Gibraltar Senior Citizen's Association last month announced a joint-initiative to accelerate cataract operations for elderly people.

During the summer the Senior Citizen's Association approached the Government seeking help in getting cataract operations more quickly for senior citizens. Very often the delay in getting this rela tively quick and simple operation has a disproportionately adverse

JOHN

affect on the quality of life of eld erly people.

The Government is to imple ment a waiting list elimination procedure, enabling all people awaiting cataract operations to have their operation during a 4to 6 week period before the end of this year.

To achieve this the Gibraltar Health Authority is bringing to Gibraltar two ophthalmologists to perform these operations during weekends.

BSc (Podiatry), M.Ch.S

'J

Treatment of all Foot Problems

Ingrown Toe-nails including Surgical Remova

Biomechanical Analysis for Insoles / Orthotlcs including Children

• Wart (Verruca) Clinic

• Diabetics

L Wilding BSc (Hons), MChS, SRCh, ABAHChP

180 Main Street

Tel; 51482

Safeway Pharmacy

Tel: 75765.

Free advice line: larrv@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 Pim BA. DC

1st Chiropractic Centre

306 Main Street.

Tel: 44844

E-mail; enquiries@1stchiro.com

Website: www.1stchiro.com

Gillian Schirmer MA, DC. MMCA

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

Tel: 74040 or after hours: 40026

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

Tel: 75769

DENTAL SURGEONS

Samuel Ibgui BPS

Bruce Hogg BDS

62 Main Street. Suite 6, PO Box 909 Tel: 76817

Dr Keith J Vinnicombe BPS(Wales)LOS

RCS(Eng) MFGDP(UK)

Unit F5B. International Commercial Centre, 2a Main Street

Tel/Fax: 40747

Emergency After Hours: 78756

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

Dr Rene A Beguelin MB. BS

Central Clinic. 1 A Centre Plaza.

Horse Barrack Lane

Tel: 59955 Fax: 49495

E-mail: beguelin@gibnynex.9i

Dr J. Shelley

Dr M. Salem College Clinic, Regal House. Queensway.

Tel: 77777 Fax; 72791

E-mail: info@collegeclinic.gi

Website: www.collegeclinic.gi

HEALTH STORES

The Health Store

5 City Mill Lane.

Tel: 73765

NATUROPATHS

Sally Correa BSc(Hons)Osi. Med. DO NO

Central Clinic. 1A Centre Plaza.

Horse Barrack Lane.

Tet; 59955 Fax:49495 Mobile:57158000

E-mail: sarahacorrea@hotmail.com

OPTICIANS / OPTOMETRISTS

Eye Studio Opticians Unit 20B Grand Casemates

Tel: 47800 Fax: 47801

Cache 6 Co Limited 266 Main Street.

Tel: 75757

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

OSTEOPATHS

Sally Correa BSc(Hons)Ost. Med. DO NO Central Clinic, 1A Centre Plaza. Horse Barrack Lane.

Tel: 59955 Fax: 49495 Mobile; 57158000

E-mail: sarahacorrea@hotmail.com

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

G. Keuper-von Kader BRTR CREFlTO Healthier Life Clinic.

252/2-11 Main St

Tel: 70421

Website: www.healthierlife.gi

CHIillDA prize puzzle

Across

I. Talent(4)

'Decorative Crajti

•Hand

•

•

Send completed crossioord to: The Cannon Bar, Cannon Lane, Gibraltar.

One entry per person.

FIRST PRIZE: Lunch for 2 at The Cannon Bar

Winner notified in next issue ofThe Gibraltar Magazine. Closing date: 24th November 2003

Crossword Winner Marie Martinez, Bcnzimra's Alley

by Alan Gravett

3. Almond paste used in cakes etc.(8)

8. Uncommon(4)

9. Without shape(8)

II. Decorative(10)

14. Clear(6)

15. A dozen(unless you're a baker)!(6)

17. Mediaeval entertainer(10)

20. A dozen (if you are a baker)!(8)

21. Hit hard — bidding for all the tricks at bridge (4)

22. Remedy(8)

23. English public school(4)

Down

1. Waterspout with a grotesque face(8)

2. Moniker (8)

4. Sanctify by application of oil(6)

5. Citizen of Harare,for example(10)

6. Quarry(4)

7. Facial feature (4)

10. Moved into another country(10)

12. Illuminated e.g. an evening sports event(8)

13. He will take you across a river (8)

16. Most clean (6)

18. Girl's name(4)

19. Is not(to a Cockney)(4)

Oyen tfie dfoor to your dream fiome

Come to Spain, come to "Las Palmeras' Prices from only 184,451 Euros/£115,282 *

Fantastic NEW residential complex on the Costa del Sol in Santa Margarita. Less than 10 minsfrom Gibraltar and 5 mins from the beach. Attractive setting with pool & gardens. De signed and constructed to a high standard with 10 years con struction guarantee. Project backed by proven British developer. 2 year construction period. (Hu-hangeme l.f)Ei;m.s/l£. Pnccexcludcs7%VAT)

For brochure contact: U.A./. SA. PO Box 146. Gibraltar. Tel 00 350 74911. Fax. 00 350 75428. Email: clarasoi@gibnet.gi(English speaking .staff)

SANTA MARGARITA

Nueva Santa Margarita SANTA MARGARITA PROMOCIONES INMOBILIARIAS

Own your dream home, only 10 mins from Gibraltar

Fantastic Prices from 153,258 Euros / £95,786. Very attractive financing deals

For further information please call 74911 or 956 176265/690664

Note: exchange rate used 1.6 Euros / £1. IVA excluded

"Las Almendros"

PETER USTINOV & THE GRAND PRIX OF GIBRALTAR

In September 1958,Peter Ustinov, thirty-seven years old and already renowned as an actor, writer and producer, walked into the New York studios of Riverside Records clutching a handful of notes. He emerged a few hours later, having fashioned out of thin air and the nimble dancing of his wild imagination an enduring comic masterpiece: The Grand Prix of Gibraltar. It is by anybody's standards an amazing tour-de-force.

Working entirely alone,with only his rough notes to guide him, Ustinov created a memorable cast of characters for his mythical race, many of them based on famous rac

ing drivers of the day. The great Ar gentinian driver Juan Fangio be comes Jose Julio Fandango, while his English rival Stirling Moss is re born as Girting Foss.

The French team are more inter ested in wine and women than win ning,the Germans are ruthlessly ef ficient, the Italians forever brawling and the British bumbling amateurs who will somehow muddle through. The Russian observer, needless to say,turns out to be a spy more intent on taking photographs of the dockyard than paying atten tion to the race. It is all in the glori ous tradition of national stereotyp ing which the Stalinist doctrine of political correctness has since largely killed off. Yet while bitingly sharp,Ustinov's inspired caricatures are ultimately gentle,almost loving, as befits a man who has been a good will ambassador for UNICEF since 1971.

The mystery of The Grand Prix of Gibraltar is how such a quintessentially British piece of humour came to be issued not only on an Ameri can record label, but one that was devoted primarily to jazz. For that, ironically, we may have to thank Hugh Hefner, founder of Plai/boy magazine.

Hefner was,and is, a great lover ofjazz. When heset about construct ing the largely imaginary archetype of his "typical reader" in the 1950s, he came up with a young, affluent male who was a connoisseur not only of beautiful women,but also of fine wine, good food, jazz music and... sports cars. Suddenly the music that had once been synony mous with New Orleans brothels, Chicago speakeasies and smokefilled New York clubs became the musical equivalent of the coffee-ta ble book — an accessory to a mythi cal ideal of high living.

Riverside Records, founded in 1952 by the wonderfully named Orrin Keepnews, had by i958 built an enviable reputation among jazz fans both for its traditional and his torical releases, and for its innova tive contemporary catalogue. River side, in the vernacular of the time.

was hip. To emphasise the tenuous link which Hefner's imaginary play boy figure had forged between the two, Keepnews issued a series of "specialty" records which consisted of recordings of sports car races. It seems bizarre that people would actually buy and listen to record ings

Riverside Records approached him. He had a remarkable knowledge of classic cars, and had owned a number from the Golden Age of motoring — Aston Martin,Hispano Suiza, Alfa Romeo. He was also a devotee of motor racing. Stir all of that together,and it is indisputable

He had arfen^eTth?Monaco urani Prix, and somehow the concept of staging a similarly unlikely race on the Rock

of car engine noises, but apparently this was so.

In 1953, one of Peter Ustinov's plays. The Love ofFour Cohmeb, had been staged on Broadway starring Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer. He was also becoming a familiar face in films,especially the Roman epic Quo Vadis in which he played Nero, so he was not entirely unknown in America when he made his own Broadway debut as a performer in 1957 in his own comedy, Romanoff and Juliet. It was a hit, and he was soon appearing regularly on TV talk shows where his legendary reputa tion as a peerless raconteur was born. It was around this time that

that in 1958, Peter Ustinov was hip too.

Riverside really had no idea what exactly they wanted Ustinov to do. They had a vague notion that he might come up with something sa tirical about motor racing, but that was all.

Ustinov admitted, when inter viewed shortly before The Grand Prix of Gibraltar's long overdue reissue on CD in August 2002, that he had no idea either. He had attended the Monaco Grand Prix, and somehow theconcept ofstaging a similarly un likely race on the Rock of Gibraltar came to him. He scribbled a few notes and went to the studio.

Accents may come easi

ly to a man fluent in French, German, English, Italian, Russian and Spanish, who can also get by well enough in Greek and Turkish, but besides providing the voices for his international cast of characters, Ustinov also provides the sound effects, mimicking the engine noises of his imaginary cars, a feat apparently helped by the fact that on the day of the recording he was suffering from a mild cold.

Though it was conceived as a parody of the Monaco Grand Prix, The Grand Prix ofGibraltar,does more than merely substitute the name of the Rock for that of the principality.

Ustinov knew Gibraltar, and lov ingly recreates various parts of its to pography. Anyone old enough to remember the Rock in the 1950s will find The Grand Prix of Gibraltar not only funny,but wonderfully nostal gic.

Apart from incongruously includ ing an American team in his line-up, Ustinov makes almost no conces sions to what was originally in tended to be an American aud ience. The humour is of the resolutely Brit ish kind that Americans find it no toriously difficult to understand, and there are numerous references which would surely have baffled them completely.

For example,Ustinov introduces as one of his chief commentators a certain Roland Thaxter. British lis teners instantly recognised his inspi ration as Raymond Baxter, the vet eran BBC broadcaster best known today as presenter of Tomorrow's World, but a man who would have been totally unknown in America.

The Grand Prix of Gibraltar is one of those quirky comic gems that de fies categorisation and sounds as fresh now as it did the day it was recorded.

Copies of the original vinyl album have long been difficult-to-find col lector's items,particularly for collec tors of Gibraltar memorabilia. It was made available on cassette during the early 1990s, but with its recent reissue on CD,a new generation of listeners can finally experience a whimsical masterpiece created out of nothing almost by chance one September day in 1958 and which, against all expectatior\s, is continu ing to delight listeners almost half a century later.

THE BRILLIANT HUMORIST TAKES A DEVASTAIING LOOK AT SPORTS CAR RACING

aiV«R,SIPK

Arts 6 Crofts

The Arts Centre,on Prince Edward's Road holds art classes for children and adults.

Children can take part from 5-6pm Mon days.5-6.30pm Tuesdays and 5-7pm Thurs days. Aduit classes are field on Mondays and Tuesdays 6-30pm-8pm and Wednes days 6.30pm-8.30pm, with an additional life painting class on Wednesdays 7pm9pm, Tel: 79788.

The Rne Arts Association Gaiiery on 1 st Floor over the glass factory in Casemates is open 11am - 2pm and 4pm - 6pm Mon day - Friday, Saturday 11am - 2pm.

Arts b Crafts Gaiiery next door is open

Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm(summer)6pm (winter), Saturday 9.30am - 3pm,

The Poetry Society meets on 20th of each

month Contact: Audrey Batty on 44355

Charity Evonts

Charity Boot Sale at Safeway's car park every Sunday.

Church Services

Bahia Tel: 43637 for meetings.

Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Tfiniiy lei 78377. Sung Eucharist. Sunday 10 30um 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 Church.

Governor's Parade. Tel: 77040. Worship and Sunday School 10.30am. Bible Study

Tuesdays 7.30pm.

Evangelical Bretheren Assembly, Queensway Quay. Sunday 11am,Tuesday

Bible Study 6pm. Thursday Prayer Meet ing 6pm. Hindu Engineer's Lane Tel: 42515.

Jehovah's Witness 26u Line Wall Road Tel: 50186

Jewish 10 Bomb House Lane Tel: 72606. Methodist 297 Main Street Tel: 77491. Sunday services 11am and 7pm. Midweek Fellowships.

Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned,215 Main Street Tel: 76688 Fax: 43112.

Board Games

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

The Gibraltar Scrabble Club meet at the John Mackintosh Hall every Monday. Bank holidays changed to Thursday of same week. Contact Vivian or other committee members 71967 /Gib mobile 54000835

Time: 7pm-11 pm All players welcome.

The Subbuteo Club meets at the John Mackintosh Hall in the Charles Hunt Room from 7 30pm • 11 pm.

Dance Modern & Latin American Sequence

Dancing sessions every Monday at the Catholic Community Centre at 8.30 pm (be ginners classes at 7.30 pm. Everyone over 15 years welcome, www.gibnvnex.gi/inst/ cccseqdance/start.htmi

Old b Modern Sequence Dancing ses sions at the Catholic Community Centre at 8pm, beginners at 7.30pm, Wednesday

The DSA Old b Modern Sequence Dane* ing sessions at the Central Hall every Riday at 8.00 pm, beginners at 7,30 pm. Fur ther details on Tel: 78282 or e-mail manvio@gibnet.gi Everybody welcome.

clubs activities

Senior Citizens Teatime Dances are held at the The Youth Centre, Line Wall Road on Monday afternoons 2pm - 5.30pm. All senior citizens welcome for coffee,lea and biscuits. Entrance free.

Children aged 4 plus may attend classes in classical ballet, Spanish dance and hiphop at the Liza School of Dance on 3rd floor of the Methodist Church, 297/299 Main Street. Classes on Wednesday h Friday from 6pm at Chiltern Court (4Cs). Tel: 58111000.

Line Dancing at Oueensway Club, Central Hall every Wednesday at 8pm -9pm be ginners; 9pm- 10pm advanced. Everyone welcome, including visitors to the Rock. For further information contact Helen 50381 or mobile 540137760.

History b Heritage

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust is located at The Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Square Tel 42844.

The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association is dedicated to the preservation of the Rock's transport and motoring heritage. It aims to assist members in the restoration and maintenance of classic vehicles.

Members and vehicles meet on the first Sunday of every month at Safeway's car park from 10am. Prospective members welcome to attend, Tel: 72481 Fax: 72033 E-mail: gibdassiciSgibnynex.gi.

Outdoor Activities

Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural His tory Society rambles are walked on the last Sunday of the month (meet Spanish Side of frontier, just to right of the Aduana vehicle exit at 8am). Tel: 74645/71956 for details. All welcome. GONHS organises birdwatching every Saturday when a mem ber will be available on site at Europa Point Observatory to the right of the lighthouse from 2pm. The GONHS Birdwatching and Naturalist walk up the Mediterranean Steps takes place every Sunday from 9am to 11am. Contact 72639/76818 for details on GONHS.

Performing Arts

Stage Musicals Group meet every Wednesday and Thursday at their rehearsal room at British Lines Road (next to the Frontier loop)at 8pm. For further informa tion contact Iris on 73098.

The Trafalgar Theatre Group meets on 2nd Wednesday of each month at The Garrison Library 8pm. All 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 quiz zes, including a theme quiz. Starts at 8.30pm,all welcome and prizes are givenFree entrance 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 in Casemates has a pub quiz and entertainment on Sunday nights.

Social Ciubs

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

Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes(Gibraltar Province) meets at the RAOB Club, Vault No. 1, Jumpers Bastion on the fol lowing days: Provincial Grand Lodge, 1st Monday of month, 8pm. Executive Meet ing, last Monday of month 7pm. Knights Chapter, 2nd Monday of month 7.30pm, Examining Council. 3rd Monday of month

7pm. William Tiltey 2371, Thursdays8pm. Buena Vista 9975. Wednesdays (fort nightly)7pm.Por Favor 9444,Wednesdays (fortnightly)7pm. Farewell 1{XX)1,Tuesdays

8.30pm. Goldacre 10475 (social) last Fri day of month 8pm.

The Tuesday Ladles' Club meets at 8pm at the Queensways Club on the first Tues day of each month. And is open to all women in Gibraltar who enjoy meeting people and making new friends. It is a non profit making organisation, and any pro ceeds are donated to charity at the end of the financial year. Contact Anne Tel: 43869, or Margaret Tel: 70816

Special Interest

Ciubs 6 Societies

Gibraltar Horticultural Society members get togelher on the lirst Thursday of the month at 6pm,John Mackintosh Hall. The society's main feature is the Annual Flower Show held in Spring. Other events include slide shows, demonstrations on flower ar rangements and outings to garden centres plus an annual tour around the Alameda Gardens. All welcome.

Gibraltar Internet Club meetings are held monthly on Mondays at the College of Fur ther education from 7pm to 9pm. All are welcome to attend, whether experienced surfers or just starting to get acquainted with the net. There are a number of com puters connected to the internet as well as a number of machines with programs for the creation of web pages. Also avail able is a colour scanner for anyone who wants to scan pictures for personal use.

The Gibraltar Photographic Society meets on Mondays at around 8pm at Wel lington Front. Basic courses in photogra phy, competitions etc.

UN Association of Gibraltar PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 52108 Mobile: 56657000 E-mail: unagibrallar@maii.com.

Sports Supporters Clubs

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

Portsmouth FC supporters would like to start a Club. Anyone interested please call Billy 58873000.

Sports b FHness

Golf: Med Golf tournaments are held monthly. Tel: 79575 for details of mem bership or tournament venues/dates.

Skatlng:Gibraltar Skating and Xtreme Sports Association opens its Skate F^rk at Coaling Island, Queensway, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 5 - 9pm. The Skate F^rk has state of the art ramps for those who enjoy Xtreme/aggressive roller biading or skate boarding. The park also provides leisure skating facilities within its excellent skat ing rink (when not being used for roller hockey training). For info contact the Fork's Manager Mr Eric Young 70710 (Tuesdays to Saturdays) or just turn up at the park.

Squash; Gibraltar Squash Association, The Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road.

Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association opens its swimming pool for early swimming every Monday to Riday 7am • 8.45am (swimmers can also swim any time between 12 noon and 4pm and 8pm to 9pm Monday to Riday). Tel: 72869.

Table Tennis;The Gibraltar Table Tennis As sociation will be holding training and play ing sessions at Bishop Rtzgeratd Middle School on Wednesdays from 6pm to 10pm and Thursdays 8pm to 10pm. Contact Eugene Rons on 72934 or just turn up at

sessions.

Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full pro gram of Yoga classes from Monday to Ri day at 33 Town Range. Tel: 41389. Every body welcome.

Support Groups/Associations

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at 7pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and 11am Satur days at Nazareth House Tel: 73774. Citizens'Advice Bureau service aims that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibili ties of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their needs effectively. Late opening hours Wednesday 5.30 - 7.30pm. Open two Saturday morn ings each month. Tel; 40006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit 10 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 Hall, except for July and August.

Gibraltar Marriage Care.Ree relationship/ marriage counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catho lic Church, but open TO anyone).Tel; 71717. Hope. Support after miscarriage or still birth. Tel: 41817.

Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 70720

Overeaters Anonymous support group of those with a compulsive overeating prob lem. Call help line for details of meetings Tel: 42581.

Psychological Support Group. Nazareth House. Group therapy Tuesdays 7- 9pm (social, crafts, games, music etc.). Work shop Thursdays 2pm-4pm. Tel: 51623. With Dignity Gibraltar is a friendly sup port group for separated, divorced, wid owed or otherwise unattached peopleRegular meetings Wednesdays9pm at the Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Road. Outings and activities. Contact Rli 71824 or Gladys on 71465 for information.

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

Women'sAid. Aims to protect women and children from violence. Tel: 41999.

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

Live Music Venues

The Lord Nelson in Casemates has live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Jam session on Sunday evenings - ail musicians welcome.

The Tunnel, also in Casemates, has live music every Riday nightfrom 10pm and live etertainment on Saturday nights from 10pm until late (watch this space for details of their Thursday night live entertainment!).

There is live music at Corks 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 nightsfrom 8.30pm

The Rock Hotel, Europa Road,has regu lar entertainment from 4-6pm with gui tarist Tito Valerga. and on Saturday eve nings with Masquerade.

Thursday night is Jazz night at the Ellott Hotel from 9pm.

A Florida recording contract has led to Gibraltar group

Milbajac releasing an album at the end of October.

If you don't recognise the name Milbajac then perhaps Glow will spark a light in your head. That's what Milbajnc were previously known as,from when they first got together in 19% until earlier this year.

So why the change of name when they had a good following under their original title? It turns out that there was a good and practical rea son for it: when they were negoti ating the US recording contract they were told that there were already three groups in the States called G/ine, and that they would have to come up with something different if they were to land the deal.

Wanting to make sure they cre ated a new name that was original and therefore not already in exist ence,the band sat down and even tually devised one that was made from all the members'initials; Mark Brooks,(drums), Lawrence Imossi (vocals),Jordan Ahnan(lead guitar) and Corey Alman (bass).

That did the trick and the group was signed up by Tony Bongiovi. That name sounds familiar? Well, it should do because Tony is a cousin of John Bonjovi (who changed the spelling of hissurname for neatness) and runs Bongiovi Records & Entertainment in Florida. A fairly powerful force in the US music business, Tony has

worked with Ozzy Osbourne,Talk ing Heads and many other famous names.

Back in '97, when the band was still a-Glow,they brought out a fivetrack HP called Rain which was re leased locally through Milestone Records and sold well on the Rock.

The new album. Shade of Grey, came about as a result of the group sending a total of 25 demos to the Florida agency.Tony Bongiovi liked what he heard, whittled the number down to eleven and asked them to come over to Florida to record the tracks at Power Station Studios.

The group's eclectic sound is pop-rock, and Shade of Grey con-

out of the eleven on this new re lease.

At the other end of the scale is a raucous punk number called The only one with, as the group them selves put it, 'a bit of everything represented on the other tracks'.

Milbajac are semi-professional and have played all over Spain as well as locally. It's likely that they will be performing their new album in Florida and they are also expect ing to be in a Gibraltar concertsoon, organised by Rock on the Rock.

There are no plans to release Shade ofGrey in Spain or the UK at present,just the United States and Gibraltar. I learned that they had to put a bit offirm but

sound Is

tains a good mix of styles, with some of their previous popular songs alongside brand new titles. All of them are written by the band, and one of the new ones is a tribute to former band member Michael Danino who has, sadly, passed away. It's called We shall meet again. Michael was also co-writer along with the others on five of the songs

friendly pressure on the Florida studios to get them to agree to release it in Gibral tar;the company thought the market was too small and distant to be viable, but Milbajac prevailed — and good for them. That's also another good reason to buy the CD,which is now in all

t>f Gibraltar's record shops — all three of them!But at least local fans (and those who will become fans after hearing it) have been given the chance to share with Florida an other of Gibraltar's talented musi cal exports.

Let's hope this hard-working, pleasant-mannered and original band continues to be appreciated in more and more countries as their steady upward progress continues.

p

BUT ALBUMI

The group's eclectic

pop-rock, and Shade of Grey contains a good mix of styles

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aCOFFEli! baby boom

Have you ever wondered why there are so many prams and pushchairs — or, for that matter, so many patently pregnant women — in Main Street? It's all those cups of coffee consumed by Gibraltar's menfolk!At least that's one theory — if the latest researches by a group of Brazilian scientists are to be believed. They claim that drinking coffee makes men more fertile by making sperm more active and speeding its approach to the female ova.

If correct,their researches turn old conceptions on their head, for old wives tales (and many modern doctors) argue that drinking coffee can lead to fe male infertility — a concept that inspired Johann Sebastian Bach's "Kaffee-Kantate". Com posed in 1737 the cantata in praise of coffee was also an at tack on official moves in Ger many to prevent women from drinking coffee which was thought to make them sterile. It includes an aria in which the heroine sings:"Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee."

Dubbed the "Devil's Brew" soon after its introduction to Western Europe by Italian trad ers early in the 17th century,cof fee has a chequered history and its spread to become the world's second most popular beverage — tea,thanks largely to China's massive population remains top of the list! — involves political skullduggery, smuggling and even a few romantic touches. Its origins as a drink are sur rounded by myth. According to one medieval version, the effect of coffee beans on behavior was noticed by an Arab shepherd called Kaldi who noticed that his sheep became hyperactive after eating the red "cherries" from a certain plant when they changed pastures.

He tried a few himself, and was soon as overactive as his herd. The story goes on that a monk who just happened to be passing at the time scolded him for "partaking of the devil's fruit." Just what a monk was do ing in the Arabian desert before the first Crusade is not clear, but according to the yam,the monks soon discovered that this fruit from the shiny green plant could help them stay awake for their prayers.

Another version also provides the name"mocha",by which cof fee was originally known

throug}n.)Lit much of Europe. Ac cording to this talc,"an Arabian was banished to the desert with hisfollowers to die ofstarvation. In desperation, Omar had his friends boil and eat the fruit from an unknown plant. Not only did the broth save the exiles, but their survival was taken as a religious sign by the residents of the nearest town. Mocha. The plant and its beverage were named Mocha to honour this event."

Early African ex plorers record that an Ethiopian tribe, the Galla, also used cof fee, but not as a

the region. When it reached Western Eu rope,in 1600 its "infidel" origins persuaded the Roman catholic hierarchy that it was the devil's drink. However,Pope Vincent III decided to taste it before banning it — and enjoyed it so much he

Pope

ill decided to taste

drink.They would wrap the beans in animal fat as their only source of nutrition while on raiding par ties. Arabs are thought to have begun to cultivate the wild coffee plant about a thousand years ago, with Turkey the first country to adopt it as a drink.

Regarded as a delicacy its secret was fiercely guarded and trans portation of the plant out of the Moslem nations was forbidden by the government.The actualspread of coffee was started illegally when an Arab smuggled beans to some mountains near Mysore,In dia, and started a farm there. The descendants of those original plants are still producing coffee in

baptized it,saying "coffee is so de licious it wouid be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."

The Dutch East India Company became the first to transport and cultivate coffee commercially,with a plant smuggled out of the Arab port of Mocha in 1690 and for a quarter of a century dominated the market — and dictated prices — from their plantations in Ceylon and in their colony Java... hence the brew's nickname.

But in 1713 the Dutch unwit tingly provided Louis XIV of France with a coffee bush whose descendants laid the foun dations of the entire Western cof fee industry — when a French na

val officer Gabriel Mathieu du Clieu stole a seedling and planted it on Martinique.

Within 50 years an official sur vey records that there were 19 million coffee trees on Martin ique,and historians reckon that 90 percent of the world's coffee produced today is from de scendants of the stolen plant.

The Brazilian coffee industry — today the world biggest pro ducer — has its origins in 1737 when a Dutch official was sent to arbitrate a border dispute be tween the French and the Dutch colonies in Guiana. Notonly did he settle the dis pute, but he began an affair with the wife of French Guiana's governor."Although France guarded its New World coffee plantations to prevent cultivation from spreading, the lady said goodbye to the Dutch man with a bouquet in which she hid cuttings and fertile seeds of coffee."

"Fertile seeds"... which brings us back to Main Street's matrons...

Britain'sfirst coffee house was opened in 1652and was quickly followed by other "talking shops" which became known as "penny unhvrsities"-the price of a cup. Edivard Lloyd's coffeehouse opened in ISSSand became a popular haunt of merchants and maritime insurance agents, eventually becoming Lloyd's of London, ike best-known insurance company in the world.

Vincent

it before banning it — and enjo^^d it so much he baptized it

DRY STONt WALLINtj

Now that we are back to some cooler weather, here is a construction job that will warm you up! A dry stone wall is one constructed without the use of cement,so that you can insert plants into the cracks or fissures.

It" you have a position in you gar den facing NW,N or NE it is ideal for a project of this sort, because there is a wide range of plants which can be used. A wall facing the sun will limit you to plant choice, as even many succulents including the true cacti can burn against a wall in this part of the world. It is possible to have a wall facing east,but one facing south or west should be avoided.

The choice of plants can range from the leafy succulents such as Aeoniums, Dudleyas, Echeverias, traiiingCrassulas etc,for a wall that has no overhanging trees, to ferns and moisture loving Anthuriums, Bromeliads and various Aroids for a wall shaded by trees or a neigh bouring building.

If you have an unsightly comer, this is a wonderful way of cover ing it up and beautifying it. Trail ing Pelargoniums can look superb too, in fact ideal for an east facing wall.

A dry stone wall should lean back at least 15" from the vertical. The method of construction is quite easy,but you must first create a firm base on to which the first row of rocks are placed. You then run in at the back of each row of rocks some soil,preferably not too sandy, lightly watering it as you go to set-

tie in. This soil should come just over the top of each row of rocks, so that the next row sits on a thin layer of soil. It is best to stagger the

them in place.

Once a wall has been constructed and planted, it can either be hand watered using a spray nozzle,or set

The pictures accompanying this article are from my own garden, where I have used the local rock. The type of rock you use is a mat ter of choice, although slightly softer rocks tend to allow the wall to bond together better. However, local limestone rock as we have here in Gibraltar can be used.

rocks, and this makes the wall stronger,and it will look much bet ter too. Do not make all the fissures too narrow,so as to leave room for the plants. If you wish to create a wall thatlooks as though it has been planted for many years, use mod erately mature plants straight away, and literally build them in as you construct the wall.

At the top of the wall if there are no overhanging trees or bushes, you can plant anything you wish, provided they want much the same cultural treatment as the plants be low.

With a wall that has been con structed and planted, it is usually possible to insert cuttings later with a little care. An ordinary long screwdriver is an ideal tool in which to make the hole,into which cuttings are inserted, then jet in some water so that the soil settles back around the cuttings and holds

an oscillating sprinkler in position a few metres or so from the base and switch on.

Some dry stone walling needs to be done atthe Alameda before long to accommodate various succulents from the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands.

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If you have an unsightly corner, this is a wonderful way of covering it up and beautifying it

Echeveria Cv. Topsy Tuny (left) ami Echeveria setosa (ri^ht)

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Conve-i'. Garoens. Gon.'u'll Garden R.iniu

www.medgolf.gi

medgolf@gibnet.gi

Tel: 79575 Fax: 44307

Photo Framing, Watercolours, Oils, Tapestry, Frame Boxes, Medal Mounting, Custom Frames 41D Town Range Tel: 72629 gibraltarprinf5@aol.com

To advertise on these pages contact Tel/Fax: 77748

'ITic Picture Gdl!er\For the largest selection of frames in Gibraltar

Mirrors, Prints, Oils and Gifts Unit 16. Wiilers^nnlciisTi'l:428''!

ROCK PHOTOS Ltd.

Commercial Photography

Weddings. Communions, Portraits / iilr'U nilei

UNTER' KtSTAURANT

For connoisseurs of fine food and lovers of elegant dining, Bunters restaurant offers a superb international menu served in elegant surroundings with a warm and friendly atmosphere.

The extensive menu includes many mouthwatering specialities along with a good selection of desserts to finish

Visa, Mastercard, Diner's Club

Reservations are advisable. College Lane, Gibraltar.

Tel/Fax: 70482

E-mail: bunters@gibraltar.gi

Website: www.gibraltar.gi/bunters

Open: Monday - Thursday 12 - 3pm,7pm - late Sunday 7pm - late Closed: Friday and Saturday

Let's Have Some Fair Play!

If sport is a metaphor for life, then consider this. In most sports, tennis, golf, snooker, cricket most participants are fair even if some stretch the rules as far as possible.

In some sports, and here I am thinking of rugby, all sorts of may hem may be attempted by the play ers.

By and large, however, the word of law, personified by the referee, umpire etc. is sacrosanct and penal ties for transgression accepted.

Occasionally you find a sport,and here I am thinking mainly of golf and snooker, you find players penal ising themselves by owning up to sins, which no-one has noticed. In real life, this would be like walking into the police station and saying "Look,Sergeant, I've just got home from Malaga in 40 minutesso I must have been speeding. You'd better fine me". Not likely, is it?

You may have noticed that I have omitted, thus far, reference to soccer. Here, not only do many players cheat but then they object to the referee's reac tion and appeal against every ad verse decision. Even for something mi nor like a throw-in!

yet to see one of the incidents

Occasionally, EUFA or FIFA pro nounce a crackdown on,say,diving to gain a free kick. I see little evi dence of the results of these crack downs but this is rather like the po lice saying "don't speed along here for a while, as we have put in cameras to catch you". Except that is exactly what happens!

But here, the general attitude of all those involved is in favour of the concept of getting away with it if you can.

Even the most inveterate thief, when arrested, will say "it's a fair cop, guv., you've got me bang to rights" or words to that effect.(His lawyer may try to get him off but that is the lawyer's job just as the thief's job is to steal).

But in soccer, ex-players (now earning vast sums as commentators, summarisers or whatever you want to call them),just throw their hands in the air and say "it wasn't like that in my day but it's the modern atti tude".

In a recent Women's World Cup final Sweden beat Brazil 2-1 with the Swedes committing dozens of fouls. The commentators(one of each sex, incidentally), both agreed that the foul count should be ignored, the fact was Sweden had a plan and stuck to it. The referee did not even see some of the pushes and shirt pulls but that was her fault.

Now here, you have to stop and say, what does that mean? Does that mean it's OK to steal,speed,assault people etc. so long as you are not caught? Do we really want to live our lives like that?

We do not, however, have large numbers of citizens claiming to have been mugged just to gain an advantage.

Just as we would hope for a crime free life, then soccer fans hope for a foul free game.Sad,isn't it, thatsuch an event is a raritv worthy of com ment?

But the football "police" and those with the ability to change atbtudes seem reluctant to take action. Over the years,there have been foot ball managers impaired in many ways. Men of integrity like Jock Stein,whodied at the end of a match because of his cardiac problems. Sheffield Wednesday once had a manager with one leg.

But never can a team have been managed by a man as visually im paired as Arsene Wenger. Having presided over (as I write) 52 sendings off he has yet to see one of the incidents.

When a man as intelligent and thoughtful as he promotes the view that on 52 occasions, he was either looking somewhere else or the inci dent was too trivial for him to no tice, it is time to despair.

Yet mostsoccer fans don't despair, we come back for more hoping that each game will see a change in atti tude and be a real celebration of the "beautiful game".

If only life were that simple.

aving presided ever 52 sendings off he has

Verandah Bar of Eliott Hotel reopens

The Verandah Bar ofthe Eliott HotelIm reopened after being totallp reftirlhshed and looksfabulous. The design of the bar is stylish and contemporary incorporating natural elements such as wood and marble. Customers ofthe new bar will find a more private environment,as the open plan style has gone in favour of a separate bar area. The terrace, called The Victoria Gardens, remains unchanged. A nezo plasma screen dominates one of the walls for those wanting to catch up on the news or sporting results. And don't forget the fabulous Thursday night Jazz sessions.

Cancer Relief Coffee Morning Success

The recent Macmillan Cancer ReliefCojfee Morning,held at the Garrison Library, was a huge success raising Cl,050 to be divided between the Lady Williams Centre and the UK Central Fund — no meanfeatfor the approximately 240 people who spent some of the pleasant two hours drinking cojfee and eating delicious cakes!

®iai(vcas

The H'pCi place 0" of To*""

9ifuated right on the water's edge at Marina Bay offers you a full a la carte menu and exceptional daily specials

We're open all 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

IT'S OFFICIAL! WINE IS GOOD FOR YOU...

Okay, perhaps not exactly official, but recently there certainly has been plenty of evidence from various research projects to suggest many benefits from drinking moderate amounts of the vinous liquid.

Mtiny readers will already be aware of The French paradox', a term batted about for many yearswhy do the French have less heart disease than the UK,even though they consume all that olive oil, red wine and gauloise? True, that theory owes more to the total diet and not just the wine -drinking el ement.

About five years ago there was some great news for those of us wine drinkers who instinctively knew wine was good for us, but who (because of the 'tut-tut-youshouldn't-be-doing-that' brigade) felt a pang of guilt every time we had a glass of wine (or two) with our evening meal, it was discov ered that red wine contained an el ement called reservatro! that helped prevent the formation of thrombi and blood clots in blood vessels. Scientists even named a particular grape variety. Cabernet Sauvignon, as having the highest concentration of reservatrol and, even more incredibly, they pin-

Rome).

So, since clearly there has never been a better time to start enjoying wine, this will be a regular spot each month reviewing wines that are available in Gibraltar for you to try and enjoy.Of course it won'tjust be red wine I'll be reviewing be cause white wine has its benefits too, not least it's ability to wipe out

riar

Opposite the Governor's Residence

Sunday Lunches * Breakfast•Pub Lunches

Food served 9.30am•4pm.6pm - 9.15pm(Sunclav roasts 11 - 4pin.6pm - 9.1.Spm) Open Moil. - Sat, 9,.^()am to midnight Sun. IIam - midnight

287 Main St, Tel: 71570

pointed Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon as the paragon of this particularly welcome virtue. These days recovering cardiac patients in UK hospitals are encouraged to take a glass of red wine with their meal(ofcourse,doctors do not rec ommend this to patients with a pre vious history of alcoholism).

So wine lo\'ers could finally open a bottle (or two) of wine without looking over their shoulder for any raised eyebrows.

More recently there have been two more research papers pub lished that have been music to my ears. Firstly, Harvard Medical School has demonstrated that reservatrol also acts to extend the life expectancy of any organism that is fed bv it — encouraging news indeed! Secondly, and par ticularly good news for me,is that professional wine tasters are able to use and develop more parts oftheir brain than non wine drinkers —yes honestly it's true!(Research carried out by the Santa Lucia Foundation,

bacteria that can cause food poison ing. And don't forget champagnewidow Cliquot famously drank lit tle else and lived to the ripe old age of 89!

So,here are the wines I've picked out to tantalise your taste buds this month:

Firstly I must mention Domaine Laroche Chablis ler cru Les Vaudevay 2001,£14.75(from Anglo Hispano, 5-7 Main St tel: 77210). This superb wine has recently won the IWC trophy for the best white wine 2003, boating hundreds of other wines in a massive blind tast ing. It's a classic example of Chablis' steely complexity and clean fruit flavours. Also from Anglo Hispano, the delightful Chiroubles 2001, £7.35.(A Beaujolais cru wine from their new range of wines fn>m top Burgundy pro ducers Bouchard Pere & Fils). It's bursting with juicy strawberry fruit, very drinkable and a definite step up in quality from averagesu permarket Beaujolais.

This will be a regular spot each month reviewing wines that are available in Gibraltar for you to try

Next into my glass is the lovely Martin Codax Albarino 2001,£6.45 (Lewis Stagnetto, 41 Main St, tel; 41550). Spanish white wine has al ways had a bad press,but with ex amples like this from Galicia,things are definitely improving. It's el egant, tantalisingly fruity and with zesty acidity, perfect with grilled oily fish such as salmon.

Moving to Ribera del Duero, Spain's highly fashionable wine re gion, I've tried Emina Joven 2001, £3.95 (Lewis Stagnetto,as be fore).

The term 'joven'sug gests a young, imma ture 'green' wine, but with 4 months barrel ageing this is full, rich and round with lus-

licious!

Even further North in Somontano,1 have been privileged enough to try the stunning Blecua 1998,£39.00(also from Sacarellos). Vinas del Vero set out to prove they could produce a 'super-wine' and they have. It is seamless perfection and a real treat. Best of all, Patrick Sacarello will do a case of six for £180.00!

Finally, I've just been reminded of one of my favourite wines, Enrique Mendoza Pinot Noir 1999, £6.62 (Wines Di rect, unit 2 Portland House,tel:47922).In the D.O. region of Alicante the Mendoza family are producing characterful varietal wines, Pinot

Aromas of ripe fruit and spice followed by beautifully balanced tannins and wood- delicious!

dous brambly fruit and ludicrously good value!

Moving a little further North to Rioja, I have recently tried Finca Valpiedra Reserva 1997 £11.59 (Sacarellos 57 Irish Town, tel; 70625), the single estate wine from Bodegas Martinez Bujanda. Good rioja is always a pleasure and this is excellent. Aromas of ripe fruit and spice followed by beautifully balanced tannins and wood —de-

^tvarZ/e^

Steak House Grill & Taoeni

Where people

meet to eat

a fine and varied lunch menu and a compreheirsive a la carte menu that complimenls both our kitchen and our customers.Everything from toasties to tagliaielle and from full English breakfasl to Jamaican Pepper Pot.

Charlies Sizzling Specials wiili steaks or mixed grills. We also carry a good selection of wine, spirits and beers.

We're on the harbour wail at the beautiful Marina Bay so book a pleasant table for two or just sit watching the world go by while sipping an ice cold beer. Reserve on Tel/Fax: 79993

No. 2 Admiral's Walk, Maruia Bay. Gibraltar E-maii: george@gibnel.gi

We love to cater for groups and parties so why not spend thai ne.\l special occasion at Charlies?

Noir being notoriously difficult to get right. But this a winner- full fla voured and gamey without being overpowering, structured without being heavy, and great value.

While you're shopping at Wines Direct don't forget to stock up on La Gitana Manzanilla, £4.68, from Bodegas Hidalgo. It's how Manzanilla should be;lively,tangy and slightly salty — 1 always have a bottle in my fridge

Al Fresco's Opens in Casemates

Spinach Pie Stuffed Aubergines Toasties 2/3 Casemates Square Tel: 7^195

Bar Restaurant

Traditional Homemade Pub Food including Fish & Chips, Steak & Ale Pie Quiches etc

Pictured above are Mike and Christine ofAl F}vsco's the latest good eatery to open in Casemates Square. Al Fresco's is open from Monday to Saturday $m - 7pm and serves a good variety offoodfrom breakfasts, fish and chips, toasties, entrecote steak and salads to home-made Gibraltarian dishes such as calentita, stuffed aubergines, croquettes and spinach pie. Well worth a visit.

FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED

FRIENDLY FAMILY ATMOSPHERE

Food Seized from: 9.30am-10pm Mondays to Saturdays, I2am - 10pm Sundays

Fish El Chips Ploughman's Lunch Pastries Apple Pie

Not so long ago there was only one fish and chip shop in Gibraltar, and no other type of take-away or sandwich bar. Then along cam^ Tasty Bite...

'My father, uncle and two other partners opened Tastv Bite in 1969, when the frontier closed' Francis Sene was telling me.'As far as I re member it was the first take-away on the Rock,apart from the one fish and chip shop, Irish Town Fisher ies.'

Well, the renowned Irish Town Fisheries has long gone but Irish Town is still graced by the highly popular Tasty Bite — and,perhaps curiously,it's still in the same place as it was in 1969 but the address has changed.

'My wife Lillian and I took over from my father in 1983;' Francis continued,'when it was still in the small location just one door up in Tuckey's Lane. But we became so busy that we couldn't cope in the restricted space, and so six years ago we doubled the size by expand ing next door into 59A Irish Town. What was the whole of the premises is now the kitchen.'

That move was a good one:good for the owners'and helpers'nerves, and good for the customers who had more room to manoeuvre and more products to pick from.'That was another motive for the move;' Francis agreed,'regular customers loved the quality but because they came so often they were starting to ask for a greater variety.'

They got variety all right: there are now an astonishing 115 choices on the menu,and that's not count ing drinks which would bring the grand total to 136. And when you consider that everything on the list is fresh and 98"/ii of it is made by Francis and Lillian along with their qualified cook,Juan,and his helper Eli, you have to marx'el at how re laxed and cheerful they always are. 'I start at 6am, preparing food and then at about 10am 1 go to the mar ket when the trucks with the fresh fish are starting to arrive.' said Francis.'We finish between 5 and 6 in the afternoon,so it's near enough a twelve hour day.'

He describes the food as mostly local, which means a mix of Gibraltarian dishes in particular and a Mediterranean menu in gen

eral along with all tlie UK favour ites.

'Calentita and torta acelga (spin ach tart) are very popular;' he told me,'so are the omelettes, all the breaded items, croquettes and the

gt>od. Don't expect me to list all 115 items, but there are 41 filled rolls and half baguettes, 8 of the rolls being variations on the bacon butty, (and there are chip butties too) ranging up to the spicier end which

If you ask for chicken you'll be asked 'Which one?' as there are wholes, halves, quarters, breaded, cordon bleu, burritos or drumsticks

menestras and potajes (stews).' 1 learned that most of the recipes have been introduced by Lillian herself along with parents,in-laws, grandparents and friends, which explains the local flavour of so many of the dishes.

Don't be put off by the fact that the line of customers sometimes overflows into Irish Town.That's a sign of popularity,not ofslow serv ice.'We know that most of our cus tomers are in a hurry, so we make sure we give a very quick service; we ensure that by having every thing ready prepared.'

Logically, if the queue was due to slow service then less people would come along,so there would be no queue;therefore the existence of the short queue means the serv ice is quick — and that the food is

includes chicken tikka. If you ask for chicken you'll be asked 'Which one?' as there are wholes, halves, quarters, breaded, cordon bleu, burritos or drumsticks as well as chips plain and chips in various spicy flavours.

Salads — 10 Mediterranean types.Pies — no less than 25 to pon der over, from steak and kidney and Cornish pasty to calabacines or pimientas rellenos(filled courgettes or peppers). Then there are boquerones rellenos or rebozados (anchovies,filled or breaded),jibia guisada (stewed cuttlefish) and filled calamares, amongst others. There is also a soup, usually either vegetable or gazpacho,according to season, and there are lots of sand wiches and baked potatoes with various fillings. Ten desserts and

Warm

e\'ery drink from water to beer are listed, as are the specials. These vary according to season and avail ability, and include seafood paella, and,in the winter,callos. Callos,for the few who might not know,trans lates as 'tripe', but there is little re semblance to the bland fatty Eng lish dish of the same name. This is an exceptionally savoury,juicy and meaty meal that has to be tasted to appreciated. And at Easter time there is the Gibraltar speciality, a cake called 'hornazo'.

The range of customers is as ex tensive as the menu and reflects the quality and variety on show:'We get the whole cross section,' said Francis, who also ran the long gone Paradise Stores supermarket in John Mackintosh Square(now Hall mark Cards) with his father, who still helps out at the Tastv Bite. 'Housewives,professionals,school children all come regularly;plus we get a fair number of tourists who come in and ask 'what's that?'- we always try to get them to sample some local dishes.'

Tasty Bite is on the corner of Irish Town and Tuckey's Lane and opens from 9am to 3pm Monday to Fri day and 9am to 1.30pm on Satur day. The phone and fax advance ordering service is highly popular and saves time: telephone 78220, fax 74321. And the prices are very attractive too.

TTie unassuming outside of Tasty bite

Air<onditioned

Various top beers

Outside seating to watch the world go by Homemade specials every day

Open 7days a week

John Mackintosh Sq Tel:71804 Trnditiotwl pub in the middle oftown

Just A Nibble

oCa UeranJali

RESTAURANT

Simply Delightfiil Delightfully Simple open lunch &.dinner,closed Tuesdays km 135,Playa Guadiaro,Torreguadiaro, Spain. Tel:(956)615998

j]ar6arf/^pe

Hm||& Opp.Queen's liulel Tel:44380 Ctpen from 10.1111 Monda\^turday. Clox'd Sunday Brcflitfii.'ils • • Sa/Ji/.': • Club Sivnlu'ich•Plouglmuiii • FPh & C/iips

•Sra»ii;ii • Bi<r,^Yrs•Mhiuli'.Sft'ufc etc

The Venture Inn StulU', Henry &. Michael Lyneh s Lime Tel: 75776.44427 breakfnsi ii. Iiiiicli

ciav

"NVarket Taver/?

Open Sam Mon to Sat, 10am Sun

Serving the best breakfast in town till 3pm Karaoke every Wednesday & Saturday from 9pm till late come and ioin the great atmosphere

E^mbv^r5^1 Arms

^ 'SJ N;ivjl Hospilcil R(l Tel 78961

Great homemade load

^1^^ great value!

: i. "■ IIV 'Oi"' d-nj' r ;,!V 1/:;aay la'-' Sui i' l.iy Midd.iv M'Onig'H Sundays rccid tiie pjoers over bpeciai biuncti

iiart\ it video tool hall (earn private parties

liimie-i'ookcd lotid ;ivailahle horn IDuni • lOpiii

Homemade K<K>d

Daily Specials

Big Screen TV \ / live football

Open lll-midnifhl iFn-Sai 1 lum-laml

Main Street open: 7 d.ivs ') - i.iiv. Suiulav ID - late

Homemade F°<Mid Daily Specials Big Screen TV live f'oolliall

/'if! A WhiMle Unit 1H. Waiergardens. Gibraltar Tel: 76167

WKMBLKY BAR

10 South Barftick Ramp. Tel; 78004

• Hot & cold bar snacks

• Function room

AL ANDALUJ

BAR REmURANT

Qp.vi /n";i .s'liar - l.ilc iSjf©

Wc ••cnr hiri!kta>l>

Delicious Mfditerranpan (iiisine

I .4 iiitr nrtiny I'lfyrimu' tn the . tc':;''!

c

Piccadilly

IDtaIBA(DIL(D

open from 9,30 lor breakfast, lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays

Marina Bay, Gibraltar

Tel: 276799 Fax; 76288

Breakfasta • lunch

Afternuun Tea (£1.99)

Vegetarian and Non-

Vegelarian Menus Homemade Desserte Eat-In or Take-away 9EN6IBIE PRICES

/■.tHfinA Outside Catering Service LFWt' J Ljuy Open; Sam - 5.30pm j, Monday - Friday Tel:48014 iStFIOOriCC

The Lunchbox

301 turotdwers Tel: 49310 with orders

• Fresh filed Baguettes & Rolls

• P.mini Bread ■ Range of Local Dishes

• Homemade Cakes & Desserts

Ri'I.in vvilli Ihi' ( iirddlde in c.ur

FRESHLY

2 Pool Tables Garden Terrace Duck A Firkin Open Building 6. fiuroptin Ijiii l.itiu Gibraltar Tel: 72745

casa

Come end enjoy real Italian meals in DibreHer's leadir^ pasta houae IE CarvMn Lane Tel; 40637 for reesrvationa

"/ Irish Ti'wn, Gibr.iltar Tel.7iiii23

Thek/rck Co/B'

2nd Floor ICC (next to HeaUK Centre! Tel: 52990

EAT IN OR TAKE-AWAY

JOIN US AT THE ROCK CAFE

Have a Collee jnti w.iii !o' vour '10011)6:

i'lii' J'ir iv.-l Kw

Uiirf a

BAR - RESTAURANT - air-conditioned104/106 Irish Town

ALL Private Parties catered for including Kids'Birthday Parties

UNBEATABLE PRICES

TEL:4718T

FAX: 46645

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, avocado & smoked salmon or fresh carrot & ginger soup to start,followed by barbecuedspareribs,beef vlagra,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 all the family.

Open;7 days,9am - late.

Buniers Restaurant

1 College Lane Tel/Fax: 70482

Elegant intimate restaurant located just off Main Street op posite Mothcrcare. Bunters serves good international cui sine including Magret of Duck with brandy and demerara sauce, spicy kebab of fillet of beef with black bean sauce and prime grilled Irish fillet steak. Starters include Stilton and Guiiuiess pate, king prawns with garlic mayonnaise and Scottish smoked salmon.

Open: Monday - Thursday 12-3, 7-1U.3U (last orders) and Sundays 7-10.3(1 (last orders).

Cafe Solo

Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 44449

Modem Italian eatery set in Casemates. Everything from chargrilled squid on a salad of zucchini & mint yoghurt,or aromatic prawn salad on romaine leaves bound in wild mushroom & sherry mayonnaise, to pastas (eg: smoked haddock risotto with mascarponc and basil oil;open ravioli of swiss chard,basil,garlic and potato with parmesan 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,after noon and dinner. Well worth a visit, especially if you ap preciate good wines and cigars

Open: Lunch & Dinner. Closed Sundays.

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

rMjl

1M3 Market Lane. Tel: 77313 MM

Good no fuss Chinese Restaurant off Main St near Post Of fice serving all the traditional favourites including Spring Rolls, Chicken Salay, Buddha Duck in Black Bean Sauce, Pork Sweet and 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

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,roasted goatscheese 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 ralalouille sauce,to pan roasted guinea fowl filled with ricotta and thyme on spinach and mush rooms Madeira jus, and griddied pepper fillet steak sliced on balsamic roast red onions and red wine jus. The lunch menu includes baked mu.ssels with garlic, tomatoes and breadcrumbs, chilli oil, and Italian cold meat platter with artichokes, gherkins and capers. Air-conditioned, parking.

Da Paolo

Marina Bay. Tel: 76799

Da Paolo serves a high standard of attractively presented

international cuisine right on 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 ratatouillc gratinated with mozczarella; or perhaps the loin of pork baked in cider with cinnamon. Continental/Eng lish breakfast,lunch,inc. light meals & baguettes, and full a la carte dinner serv€^d. Quayside terrace.

Open:from 9.30am. Closed on Sunday.s.

The Rib Room Restaurant, Rock Hotel. Tel: 73000 www.rockhotelgibraHar.com

With stunning views of the hay, the Rib Room is acclaimed for its high standard of ser\'ice and cuisine. Ultimate venue for intimate dinners, or larger gatherings, the Rock Hotel rises to the occasion 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 Manzanilla,4-courses always includes roast

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-]0pm daily. Credit cards:.AE. D. E, M,V

Simon's Restaurant

44 Comwail's Lane. Tel: 47515

[T7r

Excellent food in a sophisticated, intimate atmosphere. 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 camembert. 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 Iamb with mint, redcurrant and red wine sauce or the grilled fillet of mero with avixrado and prawns. There is something todelight every palate. Fully air-conditioned. Open:evenings(bookings recommended)

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

Pleasant,quality restaurant for banquets/intimate meals off Main St opposite po.st office. Well presented dishes include tikkas, samosas, bhona prawns, pakora, tandooris, kofte curry, lamb Jatfrazi, and prawn biryani. Air-conditioned. Open:noon- 3pm,7pm - late.

informal^

A! Andalus Bar Restaurant

3 College Lane. Tel; 49184

Small eatery in the centre of town serving lots of tasty food from sandwiches and baguettes to barbwues(Iamb chops, fillet steak, mixed grill etc) and tajines. Try the cous<ous (beef, veggie,chicken or lamb)or the tapas - £1 (eg: Span ish omelette,boiled crab legs,garlic chicken,cuttlefish stew).

Open:Sam - late evening. Now serving breakfast from Sam.

A1 Fresco's 2/3 Casemates Square. Tel: 74195

Good variety of food from breakfasts and fish and chips to toasties,jacket potatoes,entrccote steak and tasty local fare such as cnlentita, 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, burg 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 Pasta Casa

15 Cannon Lane. Tel: 40627

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

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

Charlie's Steak House Grill

Marina Bay. Tel/Fax; 79993 MM

George and Paula are your hosts at Charlie's where you will find a wide selection of international fCH>d including sizzling steaks, tandcKiris and seafood dishes plus daily spe cials. Try the special sizzling mixed grill which includes tandoori ajid garlic chicken breasts, slices of prime fillet, king prawns,sausages,bacon,tomato and peppers. Regu lar theme nights. C^ayside terrace.

Open:9am - late every day.

Jusl A Nibble

1st Fir International Commercial Ctr. Tel:78052 BMd

Full blown licensed cafeteria serx'ing 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

1st Floor ICC Tel: 48014

Comfortable bright and airy cafe .serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine from breakfast and lunch to after noon tea. Homemade desserts a speciality. Eat-in or takea way at sensible prices. Outside catering service.

Open:Sam - 5.3(}pm Monday to Friday.

The Lunchbox 301 Eurotowers. Tel: 49310 with orders

Fresh fiUed baguettes and Vienna/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/ire/iir/c in the coffee and TV lounge. Range of kKal 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,soups,desserts,homemade ice-cream 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, Sat 9 - 4, Closed Sun.

Piccadilly Garden Bar/Restaurant

3Rosia 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 seafood, breakfast,churros and hamburgers. Open:from breakfast to late.

Pizza Hut

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

All favourite pizzas from classic to Sdcilian, Pan and Roll ing. Salad bar,garlic bread and pastas. Buffet eat as much 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 the 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 8am,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:lOam-lOpm.

Sacarello Coffee Co.

57 Irish Town. Tel: 70625

Con\'erted 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, toasties,dub 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-creams and soft drinks.

No smoking Inside,large terrace outside.

Open:from 8.30am

The Tasty Bite

59a Irish Town. Tel; 78220 Fax: 74321

Ta.sty Bite has one of the biggest take-away menus around with home cooked meats,filled baguettes,burgers,chicken, k^abs and everything else you can think of!

Open: Monday - Saturday.

bars&pubs

All's Well Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 72987

Traditional pub in the fashionable Casemates area. The name comes from the 18th century practice of locking the Casemates Gates to the city at night when the guard would announce'All's Well'before handing the keys to the watch.

All's Well serves Bass beers, wine and spirits plus tradi tional pub fare. Full English breakfast is served all day, hot meals such as pork in mushroom sauce, sausage & mash, cod and chips and steak & ale pie are complimented by a range of salads and filled jacket potatoes, l^rge terrace.

The Angry Friar

[Tff

276 Main Street. Tel: 71570 MM

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)

Located:Opposite The Convent.

Aragon Bar

15 Bell Lane. Tel: 78855

A friendly traditional bar serving good homemade food. Outside tables available.

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

The Cannon Bar

27 Cannon Lane. Tel: 77288

E-mail:|anegib@gibnynex.gi

Still 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 frt>m breakfast to dinner- Largevaried menu. Top sporting events covered on overhead TVs. Private functions catered for, Open:9.30am to midnight(Fri and Sat to lam). Food served 9.30am to lOpm).

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 lunchtime (12-3pm) with daily specials. Toast,coffee and scones served 9.30-ll-30am,af ternoon toasties. English breakfast- Tuesday evening is Curry Night, Thursday evening Is Steak night

Open:9:00am - late. Closed Sundays

Duck & Firkin

Building 6, Europort. Tel:72745

Live football on a giant TV showing all premier league ac tion from Sky Sports plus more. Quiz machines,2 poker machines,2 pool tables. Karaoke on 2nd SatunJay in month. Food served 10am - 3pm Mon-Sat.

Open;from lllam -midnight(Friday-Sat urdayllam-lam)

The Edinburgh Arms

Naval Hospital Road. Tel: 78961

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

Open:Mon-Thurs lOam-midnighf,Friday &Saturday midday-lam,Sunday midday-midnight.

The Horseshoe

193 Main Street. Tel: 77444

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

Open:9am to late, Sunday 10am - late.

Facilities: Main Street terrace.

The Market Tavern

Waterport/Casemates Gates. Tel:50800

Serving good food from salads, snacks and full English breakfast (until 3pm)to burgers, toasties, curries, fish and chips, and pie, chips and gravy. Pool table upstairs. Live music Friday 9pm -late. Karaoke Wed and Sat 9pm- late.

Open:Sam - late Men • Sat,Sun lOam-late.

Lord Nelson Bar Brasserie

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

E-mail: reservations@lordnelson.gi

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

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

Open:from 8am for breakfast until late.

Pickwicks

Governor's Parade. Tel: 76488

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

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

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

Quarterdeck

Quayside, Block 2 Watergardens. Tel: 50360

Freshly cooked filling meals from £2.95 at this friendly lit tle bar on the quayside at Watergardens. Happy hours 5-7 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. Serving good pub food all day including breakfast,omelettes,salads,jackets, toasties and main coursessuch ascurry,chilli,lasagne,scampi,burg ers and fish and chips. Kiddies menu available.

Open:9pm-12 Mon - Sat,Sun 11am-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 forbreakfast(English or toast and cereal). Lunch/evening

menu includes fillet steak, fish and chips and salads. Kids menu 99p. Home of Med Golf(10% discount on food for Med Members). Home of Leeds United FC supporters club.

Facilities: Outside seating.

Open:frotp 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 horn 10am - 5pm.

Facilities: terrace seating.

Open:9.30am - midnight Mon - Sat. Happy hour5T2,6-7.

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 daily. First floor'Hoots' — 2 match pool tables, ptiker machines,darts board,games machine, bar — open from 1pm daily. Second Fkwr'Nest'— Ameri can pool table, poker machine,games machine,card table, bar — open from 5pm daily.

The Three Roses

Governor's Street. Tel; 51614

Dermol and Val from Scotland run this bar, known as The Scottish Embassy, ser\'ing homemade food (until 6pm). Dartbc^ard and pool tableOpen: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 served all the time. Good bar food such as pies with peas, pasties, toasties and buigers, plus the occasional barbecue on the terrace.

Open: 111- late 7days a wivk.

The Tunnel

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

Large bar located in the historic Casemates Square.

Menu: Wide variety of affordable food including Sizzling specials from 7pm. Seiectionof international meals,Indian specialities, vegetarian selections, homemade ice-cream. Sunday caivery served 1pm-9pm (hot & cold).

Facilities: Large terrace,big screen TVs,regular live music. Open:7 days a week 9am - very late.

"The Venture Inn

Lynch's Lane.Tel: 75776

A good central meeting place,this bar serves home-cooked food 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 Pd. Tel:70500 Fax:70243 email:eliott@gibnet.gi

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

Wembley Bar

10 South Barrack Ramp. Tel: 78004

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

Open: 11am - midnight Sunday - Thursday, 10am - lam Friday, llam - 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 specialsserved by hosts Eaion, and Mollic. Air conditioned, terrace.

Open:from 10am 7days a week.

acrosstheborder

La Verandah Tel:(956)615998 km 135,Playa Guadiaro,Torreguadiaro,Spain.

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

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

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

light-hearted

Odile and Ian

Whateverhappened tothesum

mer? It only seems a couple of weeks ago that I was warning people about being careful in the sun and now that seems like a lifetime ago. We've already had the first real rain of the winter and what a downpour it was. Like most other Main Street mov ers I went to work wearing summer clothes and then gotsoaked to the skin.

After all the sim and heat of the last few months I quite enjoyed the rain it was a bit of a novelty. However the novelty soon wore off the wetter I be came.

Gib's Answer to Trinny & Suzaime

All this changeable weather plays havoc in all sorts of ways, especially when it comes to choosing what to wear. Two of Gib's unlikeliest follow ers of fashion who couldn't decide whether or not it was summer or win ter were Colin and Trevor a pair of Gib's intrepid window cleaners, who on one day had their summer shorts on and then because it rained decided it must be winter so the next day they were both sporting winter gear and,of course,outcame the sun and they both wished they had kept their shorts on. It must be difficult for the lads with such a vast wardrobe to choose from.

Collectingfor charity Christmas is Coming... way too soon!

For at least one of the big supermar kets summertime ended before Octo ber even started. In fact they could hardly wail to get some of their Christ mas stock on the shelves. It's hard to believe but on a bright sunny Sunday morning in very early October, when it must have been at least 24 degrees and very much beach weather, as I threw myselfaround the shop grabbing the bare essentials I found myself look ing at Christmas stuff. Now [ like Christmas as much as anyone but al most three months before the big day! think it's a bit early!After all there's still a bit of late summer left to enjoy yet. I expect before very much longer most of the shops will be in Christmas mode, so remember on 1st November there's only 55 days left before Christmas Day. And that should be plenty of time to do all your shopping. If you like a real bargain have a look in the Silver Shop where to get you in the mocxl for shop ping there's a l()7o discount during the month of November.

Banger Bonanza

Up at the Sausage Factory"Big Phil" has been conspicuous by his absence of late. I'm told that he's had to get stuck into some rather serious DIY at

home,especially with winter practically on the door step, so he's got in a new "Banger Boy" bv the name of Neil whose banger making skills are just as good as Phil's — in fact one or two of Gib's banger addicts think that he might just have the edge on Phil. Perhaps he'll be able to think of even more ways that Ali can cook them, but that will be a bit tricky considering she's eaten them for dinner every day for months.

Donde Returns

Quite a few of you will remember "Donde" Dave who lived on the Rock a few years ago. Well he turned up in Gib in September for a short holiday and very well he looked too. Mind you he spent a fair bit of time with the incorri gible Russ Crawford so just how fit he was by the time he left is anyone's guess but it was nice to see him again.

Congrats!

Congratulations to Luanne and Paul of the Piccadilly Gardens on the birth of a baby son Nicholas. Grand-Ma Aloma seems tickled pink.Congratulations also to Sabrina and Mark on the arrival of a baby boy Kadrian, a little brother for Francesca.

While on the subject of new babies, during a discussion with a few of Gib's

A

look at Gibraltar society with "H"

Dave the Rave

Valerie of Conywrite

Girls onfilm

Charles

Chris and Kay

finest about whether or not they were morning or night time sort of people, one of the gang, namely Dee of Pickwicks, freely admitted that she didn't like getting up in the mornings and was very much a night time per son. Now Dee is expecting a baby in January and I suspect that she might have to get used to getting up in the morning when the baby arrives.

Luck of the Draw

Some people lead a lucky life, none more so than Marie of the Cannon Bar who went to a concert and while enjoy ing the show bought some raffle tick ets,and guess what?She won. Her prize was lunch for two at the Cannon Bar. 1 hope she left a big tip.

Bad Leg Club Goes International

This month sees two very worthy new members of the Bad Leg Club. First up is Nicky of Attractions who I saw coming towards me with a very d istinctive limp,in fact it was difficult to make out which leg she was limping on. The reason for this most unusual gait was because poor old Nicky was carrying an injury to both feet. First of all she stubbed her toe and it turned black and blue with bruises and then while limp ing along she somehow or other man

aged to sprain her ankle on the other leg making her a very worthy new member. Also this month we have our first International member, Ben Ridgwell an overseas reader who first of all broke his toe {quite how I'm not sure)then while still recovering carried on playing football until he took a dive and managed to break a finger. Per haps he should take up knitting or something instead of football.

Many Happies!

Birthday boys and girls this month include Wendy,Amber,Jayne,Barbara, Ben, Dave Evans, Doris of the Herit age Trust, Heidi, Ernest Reeve, Ray Langham,Judy of the Caleta Hotel and Sally of Wyse Hire.

Flower Power Refugee

I was taking a stroll recently and as I passed the Angry Friar a voice called out"Hello H". I looked all around but couldn't see anyone 1 recognised and then 1 spotted someone 1 thought I knew but wasn't quite sure. Then 1 re alised who it was. It was none other than Ted Wheatley minus his beard and mostache, he did look different and with his hair grown long he looked like a refugee from the days of flower power and hippies.

Pilarand Francis Sports Report

This month's sports report is a real mixed bag. Local golfers will all be looking forward to the Volvo Masters at Valderrama, seeing the world's great players in action makes us lesser mortals wonder what it is they do that we can't.

And for Rugby Union fans it's the World Cup currently being played in Australia where England are fancied to do well.

But for soccer fans it was Euro 2004 which grabbed the headlines in the UK in October.,.,for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately.

However,the game against Turkey ended in a 'glorious draw' putting England through to the next round.

But for me and all the other countless fans of the "Mighty Orient" the really big news was the sacking of Paul Brush the manager. True he hadn't had a great start to the presentseason, in fact it was terrible, so off he went before it got any worse. They then won the next two games so perhaps our luck has changed. It's hard work being an Orient fan.

Back to Main Street

That's it for this month,see you on Main Street.

A drink with the boys

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Natural History & Heritage Park

dmission to the Natural ,History and Heritage Park is between 9.30am and 7pm by tickets(includes entrance to sit^S 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 E7.00 / Chil dren age 5-12 years: C4.00, 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 History & 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).

The flora and fauna on the

Upper Rock are considered to be of great conservational value. It's a perfect place for birdwatchers, as migratory species use Gi braltar as the shortest crossing between Eu rope and Africa, but botanists will also be interested to see over 6(X)species of flow ering plants, including some unique to Gi braltar. Watch out for colourful lizards, the norvvenemous 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 actuailv (ust part of a Moorish town and castle which was built up during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Penin sula. spearheaded from Gibraltar in 71 IAD by Tarik-ibn-Zeyad ("Gibraltar* is a corruption of the Arabic words "Jebel Tarik" - Tarik s mountain). The part we see today. The Tower of Homage, dates back to 1333AD, when Abu'l Hassan recaptured the Rock from the Spanish. The lower provides an excellent view point as it did for its Moorish builders centuries ago.

Natural History & 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 enjoy a stroll be neath pines, dragon trees Ihd 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 ticketTickets 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

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 Fiat Bastion Road. Geological Research Station and Lithoiogy of Gibraltar. To visit please contact: F. Gomez Tel. 44460.P HodkinsonTel.43910.

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe(Museum within premises) Europa Road. 10am-7pm Monday to Friday, nam-7pm Saturday,Sun day and Public Holidays. Closed 1pm-2pm. Admission free.

Trafalgar Cemetery: Trafalgar Road, open Sam - 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 shod time.

Tourist Board Tal; 74950

Gibraltar National Tourist Board, Arjndel Court. 179 Strand, London Tel 0207 836 0777 Fax: 0207 240 6612 E-mail giblandon(&aol.com

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 75669

The centre of Gib's cultural life, this centre includes a cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11 pm Monday to Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Bus Routes

Route 2: Caleta Hotel•5 mins past the hour. When Sir Herbert Miles Rd is ready,the bus route will siaa 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 0830- 1700.

Birthday 14 June

Tercentenary Holiday* 4 August

Summer Bank Holiday 30 August National Day* lOSeptember

Christmas Day Holiday 27 December

Boxing Day Holiday 28 December

'Gibraltar Only

Spain/vxec/.- New Year 1 January: Epiphany

SJanuary: St Joseph 19March; Labour Day 1 May; St John 24 June; St James 25 July; Assumption Day 15 August; National Day

12 October: All Saints 1 November; Im

maculate Conception 8 December; Christ

mas 25 December. Moveable: Maundy

Thursday; Good Friday: Corpus Christi.

Gibraltar's streets are filled with military pageantry every Saturday morning when the Rock's past is brought alive bya troop of soldiers in IBth 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.

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 mm) 1830 -2130(every 1/2 hour)Saturday 08001000 (every hour) 1(X)0 -1800 (every 1/2 hour)1000 - 2130 (every hour)Sunday 1000 - 14(XI (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 Europa 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, Mam 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 1645 every 30 min)Sat 0700-2100 Sun 10(X) -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 mm)1400 - 17(X)(every 30 mm)1700 -2000 hours(every hour)Sundays (no service).

Route 10: Runs Frontier. W. Churchill Ave, Glacis Rd. Watergardens. Gib 5, GASA Pool. Safeway, McDonalds. Europort Ave, British War Memorial. Mon - Fri 0830 -2030(every 20 minsi Sat 0830 -1900 Sun 1000 -ia».