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. 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.

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.

"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 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- best pleased."But you're married".

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

"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.

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