Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 158 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

OLIVE PRESS

The FREE

The box is open

Out of the way beauty spots you need to visit

GIBRALTAR

Vol. 5 Issue 158

www.theolivepress.es

The Rock’s ONLY free local paper

October 6th - October 19th 2021

See page 14

BACK ON TRACK

NAMED: Schiffer, Guardiola, Blair and Iglesias A HOST of Spanish gangsters, oligarchs and celebrities have been caught up in a giant offshore tax scandal. Former king Juan Carlos, football manager Pep Guardiola and singer Miguel Bose, are among the biggest Spanish names stung in the so-called Pandora Papers. But it is the Italian gangster Raffaele Amato, who was arrested in Malaga, model Claudia Schiffer, who has a home in Mallorca, and Julio Iglesias, who lives in Marbella, that will be of most interest locally. All of them have been exposed as having offshore accounts alongside at least five Spanish politicians in the giant trove of documents released this week. In total, around 600 Spaniards are now under scrutiny after being named in the Pandora Papers leak, which was compiled by over a dozen media groups around the globe.

Spotlight

The papers also put the spotlight on Russian oligarchs and godfather Amato, who used offshore companies to amass wealth and assets around Malaga. A series of well-known expats, such as pop star Shakira and Nobel-Prize winning author Mario Vargas Llosa, appear to have broken tax rules. The use of off-shore companies is not illegal or by itself evidence of wrongdoing, but the papers show how the super-rich can amass wealth in ways that are not easy for tax agencies to detect. Spain’s tax agency Hacienda confirmed on Monday it would be closely looking into the data dump comprising more than 11.9 million records. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a network of reporters and media organizations, said the latest files are linked to about 35 current and former national leaders, and more than 330 politicians and public officials in 91 countries. Among them are former British prime minister Tony Blair as well as the Spanish politicians, although their names have not yet been released.

AFTER a rocky start, negotiations over future relations between Gibraltar and the EUbloc are set to begin within weeks. The negotiating mandate was approved by European Union ambassadors on Friday following months of discussions paving the way for talks to begin later this month. The initial mandate which was presented in July was rejected out of hand by then Foreign Minister Dominic Raab because it sought to ‘undermine the UK’s sovereignty’.

Tel: 952 147 834 TM

Bloc

He insisted that the bloc ‘think again’ as there was ‘no possibility for this forming the basis for an agreement’. That mandate crossed over red lines established in the New Year’s Eve agreement that allowed Gibraltar to join the Schengen area because it gave Spain the mandate to carry out border control and surveillance at GibralSee page 16 tar’s port, airport and waters. Instead the UK and Gibraltar insisted that Frontex

Talks over Gibraltar treaty could begin within days to determine post-Brexit relations over the future of the Rock By Fiona Govan

would carry out this role, rather than Spain. The British government has taken a hard line over the issue, insisting as recently as last week that the UK would be prepared to walk away with a ‘no deal’ rather than undermine British sovereignty over the Rock. “We are already working, together with the Gibraltar government, on a possible non-negotiated outcome, in the case that we reach the conclusion that this is the path that we must take,” said Wendy Morton, the UK minister for Europe and Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in late September.

Mandate

Although the details of the new mandate from the EU have yet to be published, it is understood that it has taken British objections into consideration and will include ‘the

intention of Spanish authorities to cede control to the European Border Control Agency Frontex’. Once the mandate is formally adopted next week at a meeting of EU ministers, the European Commission, which is responsible for negotiating on behalf of the EU, will be able to start talks with the UK. The mayor of La Linea, Juan Franco, has called the move ‘quite positive as they are aiming for the elimination of the physical barrier and for a smooth transit between La Linea and Gibraltar.” Franco added that, in his opinion, ‘this will contribute greatly to the economic development of the area being maintained and going forward’. “I understand that Gibraltar is a very important economic hub and we hope that this agreement will soon become a reality and that we will be able to enjoy these conditions”, he concluded. Opinion Page 6

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Awareness month THE GHA is launching Breast Cancer booklets during October - Breast Cancer Awareness month - to provide information in case citizens have to see a doctor with a breast concern.

Beach clean-up THE Nautilus Project charity held its 70th beach clean-up in Gibraltar on World Habitat Day, where, in less than an hour, they managed to remove 24 kg of plastic waste.

Dance festival The 20th Gibraltar International Dance Festival, which will take place on March 12, 2022 and is open to individuals, groups and academies to perform in various categories and styles, is now inviting applications.

October 6th - October 19th 2021

Verdict sparks border demo Accident ruling over tragic death of smuggler A SPANISH man who was killed when his boat was in collision with the Custom’s vessel HMS Searcher died accidently, an inquest has ruled. The news was greeted with anger in Spain with 200 demonstrators, including the family of Alfredo Morodo, gathering at the Gibraltar border to demand ‘justice’ for the father of two. Coroner Charles Pitto and a jury had earlier heard how 42-year-old Morodo (pictured) died when the two boats collided as customs officers investigated reports of tobacco smuggling on Levante beach. The incident happened in the early hours of October 1, 2019. Pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer, who conducted the autopsy on Morodo, told the inquest that he had suffered multiple

THE Olive Press has won a victory against ‘evil’ online trolls who have attacked the family of missing Madeleine McCann for the last 14 years. Their aggressive campaign to destroy a new book on the mysterious disappearance and its links to prime suspect Christian Brueckner has taken a hit. Their so-called ‘trolling’ aimed to influence buyers of the book by Olive Press editor Jon Clarke on Amazon, by giving it one-star reviews. Partly spearheaded out of Spain by a retired British detective, the group have long

Drivers banned By Elena Goçmen Rueda

injuries to the head and chest consistent with being crushed between his boat’s engine and the customs vessel. In all likelihood death would have been instantaneous.

Cop charged POLICE officer Wesley Allen, 47, has appeared in court charged with assisting an offender. He is accused of advising an unnamed individual connected to illegal importation, and will appear before Supreme Court on November 8.

The helmsman of the Customs patrol boat and three officers who were on board testified anonymously behind a screen. They told the coroner that they received a tip-off that tobacco smuggling was taking place on Levante Beach.

Fell

Both the captain and the three officers on board said that Morodo's vessel came to a complete stop as the customs vessel approached and a turn made by HMC Searcher was slow. However Morodo and a companion both fell into the sea, with fatal consequences for Morodo.

TWO motorists have been banned from driving for 12 months and fined £300 each for drink driving. In the first case, Manuel Ballester, 41, of Varyl Begg Estate, stopped after police saw him driving at speed down Scud Hill and failing to stop at a give way sign. Officers saw him passing a bottle of beer to his passenger. He then failed a breath test. In the second case, Melissa Golt, 41, of Rosia Steps, was stopped after police received reports about a vehicle driving in an ‘erratic manner’ on Line Wall Road.

TROLLED OVER claimed that Kate and Gerry McCann were to blame for the death of their threeyear-old daughter, in Praia da Luz, in Portugal, in 2007. In the alarming attack, the group even set up a specific Facebook page to target the author and his book My Search for Madeleine, released last month. Describing Clarke as a ‘liar’ and ‘disgraced’, they have claimed that he has been in the payroll of the McCanns and could even have worked with MI5 and the British secret services. An alarming 27% of all reviews were for just one star, many by ‘reviewers’ who had not even purchased the book.

Reviews

After removing nearly 20 reviews, a spokesman told the Olive Press the company will now be considering ‘legal action’ against those that violate Amazon’s policies. The company’s Dagmar Wickham said: “We have clear policies that prohibit abuse of our community features, and we suspend, ban, and take legal action against those who violate these policies.” Trolls have continually attacked the McCann family since the three-year-old disappeared, on May 3, 2007, while on a family holiday.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

October 6th - October 19th 2021

OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

What Charlie did next Charlie Mullins was the Mr Big of plumbing and now has his heart set on becoming the next big musical mogul - watch out Simon Cowell IT used to be that Charlie Mullins was best known for his plumbing. And it’s true to say that the 60-something Londoner first came to international attention for making the blue-collar job sexy in the city, with smart uniforms, liveried vans and a touch of lavatory humour - plumbing-themed number plates (LAV 1, F1USH). Over 40 years on, he still knows his way around a lavatory. But after selling the company

he founded 42 years ago to a US-based home services provider in a multimillion pound deal, Charlie tells the Olive Press he’s pleased that he ‘won’t have to clean any more toilets’. Britain’s richest plumber was in high spirits when we chatted to him from his plush La Cala pad shortly after he sealed the deal to sell Pimlico Plumbers to US company Neighborly, owned by the private equity firm KKR, with his son Scott remaining as CEO THUMBS and retaining UP: Good a 10% share in news for the company. Charlie The press initially reported that selling off the plumbing and electricals business will have netted him a profit of around £110million, but the holder of the first OBE ever awarded for services to plumbing, tells us it is much higher. “The lawyers are still working it out but the deal is going

FORMER Marbella resident Sean Connery has been named as the people’s favourite James Bond. As Daniel Craig hands back his licence to kill with the release of No Time to Die and speculation mounts on his replacement, jewellers Angelic Diamonds decided to find out how Craig measured up to his predecessors. Pretty well, it turned out as he came in at number two. But the top Bond of all time is the man who defined the role - the late Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan came in ahead of Roger Moore at number three. Research from data com-

By Kirsty McKenzie

to make me much more than those reports claimed,” he says with characteristic candour while sunning himself at his home on the Costa del Sol. “The company was always going to be worth more than that. Ballpark I think it will be between £125 to 145million. “I’m delighted. Pimlico has been my life for the last 40 years, handing it over to my son Scott, I couldn’t be happier, I think they are well set to take it international.

Cowell

“It was getting to the point where I was thinking how we were going to expand it over the next ten year and whether that was something I wanted to do. Now Scott can build on what I started - and I can focus on other things.” Namely, becoming Spain’s answer to Simon Cowell. Yes, really. “I’m going from plumbing to pipes!” he hollers down the phone, cackling madly. “I know common sense and business and I think why not? I’ve always been into my music.” Indeed tinkering with music management might not be

Double 0 top piled from monthly Google searches, Instagram hashtags, and Wikipedia page visits revealed the controversial Scotsman to be top. Fond for his love of golf in and around Marbella, Connery eventually left Spain in the 1990s, dismayed at the number of new properties being built in the area. He famously quipped: “These people are not going to see me in my underpants, I am leaving Marbella.” He may have passed away in 2020, but Connery lives on in the memories of legions of 007 fans.

ESTUCO INTERIORS

SUCCESS: He enjoys the good life as mad as it sounds. Charlie, a council estate lad who left school at 15 with no qualifications, has always been strategic. Friends liken him to a great pool player: as he lines up one shot, he’s making sure he’s set up for the next. But despite his success and reputation as a ballsy and bullish business tycoon, Charlie is the first one to pull somebody’s chain. “I can’t even sing in the shower,” he jokes. “But I know talent. Who knows, maybe this will be the first step at a talent management company along the Costa del Sol.” His first client is Rara, a Cheltenham-born singer who has recorded with the legendary David Bowie producer Tony Visconti. Her songs and vocals have featured on albums including Dean Street Studios, Beach Grooves and Perfect Havoc and Charlie is certain she’s destined for big things. “I see her at the top of the charts. Her next single Bad Boys is going to be huge.” Charlie and Rara first became friends after he spotted her on the entertainment circuit on the Costa del Sol, and he said he knew instantly she would become a star. “There’s always been something about her. I predict she is the next Amy Winehouse.” Like Rara, Charlie loves being in the limelight - “It’s just good business sense. I

KIM CLARK

Benefits Consultancy If you suffer from... • Mobility problems • Pain / Breathlessness • Falls / Stumbles

Or you need... • Help with washing /dressing • Supervision

You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness/disability benefits while living in Spain Centro Plaza 56-57, Avda. Manolete s/n, 29660 Nueva Andalucia info@estucointeriors.com, www.estucointeriors.com, +34 952 810 633

FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

worked that out 30 odd years ago” - with former clients including the Dames (Judy and Helen) Chris Tarrant, Hugh Grant and Joanna Lumley “She did our ads for us,” he says. “Never met her, but I absolutely adore her. My engineers always told me everything and she’s known for being very, very nice.”

Life

Another big move ahead is securing a permanent home in Spain. He’s got his lawyers working on securing him dual citizenship so he - a firm Remainer - can enjoy life on the Costa regardless of what Brexit throws at him. He has his eye on building his property portfolio down the coast. The next stop? “It’s got to be Marbella doesn’t it?” Charlie is 68 – he’ll be 69 next month - and he isn’t showing any sign of scaling down his professional endeavours. Might he ever retire? “I don’t really understand the concept,” he says. “I’m very permanently in Spain now and there are plenty of great singers on the Costas. I am just here to give them the right advice and point them in the right direction,” he laughs. “And have a good time.” Nothing gets in the way of Charlie having fun, or – you sense – in the way of making millions.

WAGS ON TOP WHEN it comes to WAGS, Barcelona resident Shakira reigns supreme. The singer, who is married to Spanish footballing legend Gerard Pique, beat off competition from Victoria Beckham and Perrie Edwards to score first place and be named the most successful soccer WAG in the world, scoring 99 out of 100. The word itself - which stands for footballers’ wives and girlfriends, came to prominence during the mid 2000s when strikers wanted to pose on the cover of Hello! with streaky tans and a Hermes clad spouse. But WAGS have always been more than arm candy - and now we have the stats to prove it. The data analysis team at SlotsUp have crunched the numbers to show that the wives and girlfriends of football's most popular players are successful in their own right. Shakira definitely fits the bill. The 44-year-old is even more successful than her famous footballer husband with a predicted net worth of €296,399,800 and a social media following of over 122 million.

Amazing, single-malt whiskey deal ASK FOR PRICE Staternustradingsro@gmail.com Minimum 12 bottles

Delivery to business

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

HARD SLOG ONE of Andalucia’s most iconic races will finally be run again. Ronda’s tough 101km race, run by the army regiment La Legion, is to be held in May 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. The hilly ordeal, launched in 1995, takes place over 24 hours and can be run, walked or cycled and has previously attracted participants from Gibraltar.

Legion The race was originally established in 1995, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Spanish Legion when the Commander in Chief decided to organise a civil and military event to bring the legionnaires closer to the population. The result was a backbreaking race, where camaraderie was, and still is, a relevant factor. According to the official race organisers, those participants who had registered to compete in the 2020 race will be given priority to race next spring, and any vacancies will be filled with those who register on the waiting list that will open in January.

Historic kiln

GIBRALTAR has restored an old lime kiln built in the late 19th or early 20th century that produced quicklime for the construction of the water sewers and underground reservoirs. The Willis’s Road kiln is one of two on either side of the western and eastern slopes of Gibraltar that produced quicklime. This kiln may also have supplied the quicklime needed to whitewash the large area of Rock above Moorish Castle, which had been stripped of vegetation and prepared to collect rainwater, as well as to whitewash the tanks and tunnels where water collected in the eastern sewers was stored. The railway tracks leading from the kiln, which may have led directly to the waterworks themselves, can still be seen.

October 6th - October 19th 2021

GETTING A BOOST

SOME 5,000 new doses of Pfizer vaccines have arrived in Gibraltar for booster shots to over 50s, and to vaccinate youngsters between 12 and 15-years-old. Vaccination of young people will begin after the mid-term holidays, while booster doses for GHA and Social Services Agency staff will begin to be administered from Monday, October 11. Seniors centres have already started giving shots to residents. A total of 890 people will be vaccinated

Thousands of jabs arrive in fight against COVID By Elena Goçmen Rueda

in four days. Vaccination began this Monday at Hillsides and Bella Vista and continued on Tuesday at Mount Alvernia. On Wednesday, the team will be at John Cochrane Ward, Jewish Home and John Macintosh and will finish on

PICARDO CATCHES COVID CHIEF MINISTER Fabian Picardo has missed the Tory party conference after catching COVID. He had been due to attend a reception at the conference. Picardo tested positive on Friday after returning from a trip to London which meant he has to isolate for 10 days and therefore cancel all political engagements including a reception he was to host at the conference in Manchester on Sunday night, The event was attended by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who gave a ‘barn-

storming speech’ expressing sadness at Picardo’s absence. Johnson said: “I know he will be fine because he’s been double-vaccinated and he is going to bounce back stronger than ever, just as the British economy is going to bounce back stronger than ever and just as the friendship, the unity between this country and Gibraltar is going to be cemented forever,” Johnson said. Picardo said: “I feel perfectly well and have returned home as required by the contact tracing office.”

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

Spanish recognition

Thursday by seeing more staff at Mount Alvernia. Health Minister Samantha Sacramento said: “I am proud that we are in a position to start the COVID-19 booster vaccination, starting with the most vulnerable.” “The nursing home staff continue to work tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of our residents and I would like to thank them for their continued diligence and professionalism.”

Vaccine

A further 7,000 doses of vaccine are expected to arrive from the UK in the coming weeks. Director of Public Health, Helen Carter, encouraged Gibraltarians to get the booster dose to avoid reduced immune response among the over 50s, the immunocompromised or those with long-term illnesses. Consent forms and information leaflets on the child vaccination programme will be sent to parents in the coming days.

FORMER Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police, Ian McGrail, has been recognised by Spanish counterparts with an award. Policia Nacional of Algeciras and La Linea awarded him an honorary plaque. Representatives praised the former commissioner for his willingness to exchange information across the border and take part in joint operations in the fight against cross-border organised crime. McGrail thanked his counterparts for their recognition and said it was an honour and a privilege to receive the distinction. McGrail ‘retired’ two years earlier than planned. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo pledged at McGrail’s request to order an independent inquiry into the retirement.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD

BRITISH

For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

www.visitgibraltar.gi

Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC

Phoenician Empire Calentita

Jazz

INTERNATIONAL

THE ROCK The MoorishMusicCastle Festivals Festival Pillars of Hercules Food Week, Chess, Snooker, Darts, Backgammon Championships 100000 YEARS National LITERARY FESTIVAL

Neanderthal Settlements

ibraltar

#VISITGIBRALTAR

A year of Culture

Bring hearts, minds and souls

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

WATCH OUT

MOTORISTS heading over the border to Spain better watch out as new road rules are getting closer. A total of five new traffic fines have been given the green light, after proposals by the DGT last week. Among the new rules is a doubling of the penalties for driving with a mobile phone in hand. The penalty will rise from the loss of three to six points off drivers’ licences, as well as a likely €200 fine.

PRODUCTION is well underway on The Crown season 5, and now cast and crew have been spotted up the coast from Gibraltar on the set of the hit series. It has returned to film on the Costa del Sol, with camera equipment and trailers seen in Puerto

Banus. Director Philip Martin looked happy in his surroundings as he stepped out on the port to film scenes. While no actors have been spotted yet, rumours are cir-

Secret chamber discovered in cave sheds new light on life of Neanderthals

By Rob Kiteley

Gibraltar Minister John Cortes said: “These are exciting finds that open a new chapter of our rich history. Knowing Vanguard Cave well, I often wondered what might lie behind the sands. Now we are beginning to get a first glimpse “The work in this chamber will now continue with the prospect of exciting finds that have remained sealed for over 40 thousand years” Archaeologists have discovered evidence of Neanderthal activity, and have found stone tools, campfires and other evidence of their presence in the cave. The hope is that the newly discovered chamber will shed

fresh light on Neanderthal culture and way of life. In July 2016, the Gorham’s Cave Complex became a world heritage site, with UNESCO saying it shows ‘an exceptional

our CROWNING GLORY Save countryside

40,000 year-old mystery A SECRET chamber that is thought to have been sealed for 40,000 years has been discovered above Vanguard Cave. A team of researchers from the Gibraltar National Museum, led by Clive Finlayson, discovered the chamber, which is part of the Gorham cave complex, one of the last known dwellings of Neanderthals in Europe. The discovery could provide researchers with fresh insight into the Neanderthal way of life tens-of-thousands of years ago. Neanderthals are believed to have lived in the cave complex between 55,000 to 28,000 years ago. The newly discovered chamber is being excavated and is currently around 13 metres in length.

October 6th - October 19th 2021

testimony to the occupation, cultural traditions and material culture of Neanderthal and Early Modern Human populations through a period spanning more than 120,000 years’.

culating that the crew could be using the Cotas’ sparkling blue water to recreate scenes from when Diana and her lover Dodi Fayed went on holiday to St Tropez in 1997.

Good work! FIVE police officers have been given commendations by the Police Commissioner for excellent work. Members of the Recruitment, Training and Performance team received the awards after successfully running two training schools simultaneously during the pandemic. They introduced a paperless system, ran online lessons and introduced an IT-based Probationer Management system. The officers to receive the award were: Inspector Sean Picton, Sergeant Daniel Ruffle, Gibraltar Defence Police Sergeant Dina Laoudy, PC Sharon Berini and PC Gavin Davidson.

DOZENS of expats have joined angry protests outside Andalucia’s Junta opposing the raft of giant solar farms that threaten the region’s countryside. The demonstration, organised by Aliente, an umbrella group representing dozens of local protest groups, was opposing plans to swathe numerous areas with photovoltaic panels just a short drive from Gibraltar.

Oppose

As reported in the Olive Press over recent months, the protests have grown in momentum as communities joined forces to oppose plans for the industrial-size projects. Protesters argue that areas of outstanding beauty will be destroyed by the solar panels which are planned ‘without proper environmental impact studies’. “Yes to renewable energy, but just not like this,” was the message on one banner held during the protest. Large private energy companies such as Iberdrola and Endesa are creating ‘a new speculative bubble that will exploit our countryside for obscene profit margins’, claimed one protester.

NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

O LIVE P RESS

The

GIBRALTAR

Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION TIME TO TALK WITH a little luck the political posturing between Spain and the UK over the Gibraltar border will soon be put to rest (see front page). The Rock’s government has consistently taken a firm but conciliatory stance on the issue of customs and immigration checks. The prize for Gibraltarians and Spanish cross-border workers has been simply to be able to live their normal lives with as little disruption as possible. An ‘in principle’ agreement to in effect become a part of the Schengen travel area was greeted with warm applause from all sides of the debate. But, perhaps predictably, some Spanish politicians threw a spanner in the works, insisting that Spanish police would be in charge of all immigration checks at the border. The UK rejected the outline proposal for talks as an affront to UK sovereignty. Having made representations to the EU, an acceptable framework for discussions has now been drawn up. We would ask that throughout the talks the main issue should never be forgotten - the wishes of the people of Gibraltar and La Linea should be respected.

BITTER TASTE THE Pandoras Papers leak of records – while proving no criminality – has uncovered the murky world of offshore financing. From politicians to business magnates, pop stars to footballers, the lid has been lifted on just how many famous names in Spain have stashed wealth overseas. An investigation is being launched, which for some of those named may be an uncomfortable experience. Even if they have done nothing wrong by the strictest legal definition, some 600 wealthy Spaniards and famous names are now being associated in the same group as tax-dodging oligarchs, gangsters and fraudsters. In a time when many people have been struggling financially through no fault of their own, the fact people with unimaginable wealth have been hiding it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. For many years Spain used Gibraltar’s finance industry as a stick to beat the Rock with – largely unfairly. Well maybe those Spanish commentators should have been looking a little closer to home at its own citizens and residents.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Isha Sesay isha@theolivepress.es

Katherine Brook katherine@theolivepress.es

Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

Glenn Wickman glenn@theolivepress.es

Graham Keeley graham@theolivepress.es

Cristina Hodgson cristina@theolivepress.es

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

OFFICE MANAGER Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@theolivepress. es

DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es

NEWSDESK: 0034 951 273 575 For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 HEAD OFFICE

Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva Deposito Legal MA 834-2017

AWARDS

2016 - 2020 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2020

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

Getting out of Dodge SARAH O’Neill has travelled for most of her adult life and was living in Malawi, Africa, in the three years running up to the referendum. So to see her country suddenly wrenched from the bulk of Europe by Brexiteers who had been fed so many lies was extremely upsetting. “I was devastated by the 2016 result,” explains the 49-year-old charity worker, originally from London. “I came back to the UK in August 2017, hoping to return to the charity/non-profit sector, but there was nothing. “No-one knew what was going to come with Brexit, and there was belt-tightening and freezing of employment everywhere.” A family apartment in Nerja (Malaga) was her one golden opportunity to ‘get out of Dodge’. “I moved in May 2018 to get all my ducks in a row before the Brexit deadline. “I learnt Spanish, obtained my residency and swapped my driving license over.” She continues: “Before Brexit, I came and went as I pleased, and I had plenty of visitors from all over Europe.” “But then of course, COVID happened, and then the true outcome of a hard Brexit.” It has certainly not been a bed of roses, she insists, however. “I have often wondered if I’ve done the right thing. Life here is not easy, and the earnings are much less than the UK, employment is scarce, and the TEFL industry (Teaching English as a First Language) is particularly awful. “We have sunshine, of course, but I do miss my friends and family.”

Brefugees Simon Wade speaks to the real Brexit leavers, on why they decided to escape to Spain, and whether they have any regrets

RITISH expats living in Spain watching events unfold in the UK in recent days may be forgiven for feeling a certain Schadenfreude as critics of the government lay the blame with Brexit. As British petrol pumps run dry and with the threat of empty shelves by Christmas, The Olive Press sought out the views of those who made the move to Spain as Brexit loomed.

Hate what the UK has become DAVID Waters doesn’t mince his words. “I hated what the UK had become after the Brexit vote, particularly as we lived in an area where the majority were Brexiters,” the retired policeman explains from his new home in the Canary Islands. Citing a lack of freedom of movement in Europe and a weak withdrawal agreement, he and his wife Anne

couldn’t ‘wait to get away’. “We sold up, lock, stock and barrel and moved to Lanzarote” he continues. While the Lancashire couple couldn’t move until the end of the transition period, they had to get visas which are reviewed every two years until they’re both accepted as permanent residents. The 64-year-old, who is now writing a blog about

his experiences, adds: “Although it wasn’t an ideal time for us, we thought ‘if not now – when’?”

WORRY FREE LIFE AS A PENSIONER HELEN Singh made the incredibly brave move from Yorkshire to Spain after the Brexit result. The Remain voter, from Harrogate, took the decision after seeing what was happening to the UK, post-Brexit. “I always wanted to live in warmer climes, [and] the Brexit result was a decisive moment.” She eventually moved and gained residency in 2019: “I sold up, moved to Mazarron (Murcia) alone and have never

looked back.” Now retired and ‘living life to the full,’ she continues: “I would never have had a life as a pensioner in the UK.” “Here I have made friends and can afford a worry free life - I definitely made the right choice. “I knew I would never go back, it depresses me to see a government that is destroying my country and I cannot forgive them for that.”

FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS EXCLUSIVE: Expats rights are ‘really important’ to the British government, UK’s Europe Minister tells Fiona Govan

HE UK’s Europe Mi- working very closely with nister has told the them and with the Spanish Olive Press how she authorities to work throuhas been liaising gh the details,” she told with expat groups before the Olive Press at the Brisitting down with the Spa- tish embassy. nish government. “Citizens’ rights continue Wendy Morton met a num- to be really really imporber of campaign groups tant to us,” continued Morin Madrid prior to a series ton, 54, who has been a of key meetings with the Conservative MP in the West MidSpanish government to lands since ‘iron out’ is- ‘Citizens’ rights 2015 and sues that have joined Boris continue to be Johnson’s caemerged under the Brexit binet in Fereally really bruary 2020. Withdrawal important to Morton acAgreement. knowledged Chief among us’ the ‘challenthe concerns ges of worraised by Bremain in Spain, Brexpats king though bureaucracy’ and EuroCitizens were faced by many expats in continuing problems with Spain and said she would driving licence exchanges be raising issues with the and residency applications Spanish government. being rejected. “We are working towards “These groups provide a a long-term solution for vital communication chan- the exchange of driving linel with the expat commu- cences,” she said, adding nities in Spain and we are that the deadline had al-

ready been extended to October 31 for those who had registered their intention before the December 30 cut off point last year. “Whether it is MET: Wendy Morton and Gonzalez-Barba an extension of that dead- ble approach’. line, or a bi-lateral agree- Since Spain introduced ment, this is a live issue the new residency card for that causes concern and Brits in Spain, the TIE, on we are working on the de- July 6 last year, 168,700 tails,” she explained. applications have been reFor those who have had ceived. their residency applica- Spanish authorities report tions rejected by the au- that 2,400 applications thorities and believed they have so far been rejected. met the criteria the minis- The British government ter said: “Our advice is to does not agree with peoseek proper legal advice.” ple being sent notices teBut she did say that she lling them to leave the would be raising the issue country within 15 days. during talks with Spain’s “It does not agree with the Secretary of State for the 15-day time limit and we EU Juan Gonzalez-Barba will be bringing it up with and was working on ‘the the Spanish authorities,” possibility of a more flexi- she said.

October 6th - October 19th 2021

www.theolivepress.es

BREXIT

RECENT poll by a weekly freesheet suggested that over 8 out of 10 expats preferred it to other local rivals! But with just 300 people questioned for the poll, it is ‘incorrect, misleading... and slippery methodology’ to use the words of a market research specialist. As a sample of a group, 1% would surely be the bare minimum to get a fair result. And given there are well over 250,000 English-speaking expats on the Costa del Sol that would be 2,500-plus people. “A total sample of 300 is far too small to be representative of the huge diverse group of expatriates who speak English on the coast,” said an expert, who ran a successful market research company in the UK. “It doesn’t allow for any investigation within the data, the numbers are just too small and I assume they have also cherry picked from the findings to suit their article.”

WANTED FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT ESSEX couple Ian and Eve Honeywood, from Chelmsford already had their ‘small but sufficient property’ that they used as a holiday home, so making the jump wasn’t so huge. Spain was their escape from long, stressful hours working in supermarket logistics and they always planned to retire here. “Being here in Frigiliana (Malaga) was our heaven, all our stress was left at the airport,” explains Ian. The 64-year-old knew that when Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees Mogg announced they were backing the leave campaign, it ‘would be riddled with lies’. “I completely understand why the UK voted out - ‘Leave’ lied and ‘Remain’ had a poor campaign,” he insists. “On the morning of June 24, 2016, I decided I wanted to leave the UK. “I watched the country deteriorate over a period of time and no longer wanted to live in a place I believed was sinking. “I wanted to be European and I wanted the freedom to roam, work and live where I wanted ... within weeks we had left the UK.” They quickly settled into the Spanish way of life and gained residency after just a year.

CLIFF James vowed never to return to the UK after leaving for foreign shores following the referendum in 2016. “The result was a huge shock, like a bereavement,” the 49-year-old from Cambridge explains. “Overnight, it felt like the country had returned to the Dark Ages of igno-

Desperation

Wife Eve, 61, admits: “I haven’t regretted the move for one single day. We’re the lucky ones as living here before Brexit guaranteed our right to remain.” “I feel desperately sorry for all those people in the UK that have had a lifelong dream of moving here in retirement now become very complicated, if not impossible.” She continues: “The rights of the young British people have been taken away and I hope things will change for them in the future.”

Not returning to the Dark Ages rance and hatred.” He continues: “It was always clear that the basis of the debate was about racism and xenophobia, rather than economics or sovereignty. “All this nonsense about the colour of passports and ‘taking back control’ was just an excuse to retreat to some feudal ideal of ye olde England, where power is concentrated in the hands of the political classes.” The former journalist adds: “I had been searching for something better,

somewhere more hopeful and forward-looking, a utopia maybe.” After travelling for a year, taking in Himalayan temples, peace projects in Israel and Palestine, and serving at refugee camps, he met his future husband, Alvaro, in Buenos Aires. The pair are now settled in their ‘utopia’ in Fiñana (Almeria), where they run a farm, making olive oil. His Brexit ‘odyssey’ provided inspiration for his book, Life As A Kite, a political travelogue about leaving the UK because of Brexit and looking back at the country as things went from bad to worse.

Halfway through cancer treatment SHAZ Hopson, from Nottingham, made the leap to Spain despite being halfway through cancer treatment. The ex-public sector worker made the brave decision as she and her husband, Frank, were so sure it was the right place to live. “I wasn’t going to let cancer stop me,” the 58-year-old insists. “I was halfway through chemotherapy treatment when we left, and Spain then took over my treatment schedule. After two major surgeries, ra-

Lies, lies and faulty statistics

diotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy in Spain, she has been classed as ‘cancer free’ since October 2018. “We knew we wouldn’t be able to do it if we waited until afterwards, so I took early retirement and we moved to Pliego (Murcia) in 2018.” “Try doing that post-Brexit,” she quips. Shaz now spends much of her time working as a voluntary counsellor for the MABS cancer charity, and walking her 14-year-old dog, Jess.

New job, new friends! AMELIA still jokes that she must be the only person in the world to be thankful of COVID. She says she was ‘terrified’ living in England on her own during the pandemic, largely because of the way the UK government handled the crisis. In contrast, she insists attitudes were so much better in Granada, where her mum Diana lived. Just as the end of the Withdrawal Agreement was looming, the 30-year-old moved to Spain in August 2020, and started learning the language. Despite having the support of mum, the lack of available jobs made the move difficult. But Amelia eventually got all her papers sorted, and now lives and helps run a Dutch bar in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol. “I have absolutely no regrets, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be,” she exclaims. “I’ve got new friends. I enjoy my work. We all have fun, we all moan, and it does get stressful. “Yes, hard work I have never been happier. The quality of living is so different in Spain compared to the UK. “I feel truly blessed to have found an amazing job and live in a beautiful country.”

It’s a sign of desperation when a newspaper uses such desperate and biased information to suit its narrative. We know you - our readers - prefer a paper with proper journalists, real reporting versus translated content every day of the week. A paper with a clear USP and purpose. But then you are our loyal readers who for 16 years have been dutifully picking us up every fortnight - and visiting our website every day! Maybe we’ll ask you on our next distribution day what YOU think - and maybe we’ll ask 3,000 of you, which would be halfway to having a proper sample. We might even ask you a relevant question about who you prefer online. But we probably don’t need to ask that. Our rival probably did but didn’t like the answer so buried it!

SPECIAL AUTUMN DISCO UNT

TH E O live Pr es s 50 % sp ec ia l di on lin e is of fe ri ng a sc ou nt fo r th e m on th s to su bs next 3 awar d- w in ni ng cr ib e to its po pu la r, w W ith do ze ns of eb si te . st a do ze n- pl us jo or ie s a day an d w ith it, it is a gu ar ur na lis ts w ri ti ng fo r an to uc h w it h ev te ed way to st ay in er ythi ng th at m at te rs ar ou nd Sp ai n th is Au tu m n. Co m e an d fi nd ou have so fa r re gi t w hy 20 ,0 00 pe op le st er ed at w w w .th eo live pr es s. es .

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: Charlie Mullings reveals 1- EXCLUSIVE: plans to become spain’s Simon Cowell could eruption of la palma 2- ANALYSIS: volcano trigger a tsunami WATCH: storms hit southern Spain cau3- sing floods that turned streets into rivers admitted for gallstone 4-opBritbutex-footballer loses right leg at scandal hit hospital on spain’s costa Blanca - VOLCANO UPDATE: sulfur dioxide cloud 5spain from the La Palma volcano to hit mainland today as volcano enters more explosive phase

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

October 6th - October 19th 2021

YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE PAYING THE PRICE

LAH, blah, blah! So said climate activist Greta Thunberg when she castigated politicians as she led climate protests in Milan. Interestingly, many politicians support her point of view that younger generations are suffering from the results of older generations’ actions. She added: “Hundreds of millions of you are facing rising seas, failing crops, burning forests, and evermore ferocious storms - daily challenges that lead to lost opportunity. And your future is literally being stolen before your eyes.” Even Boris Johnson agreed that the protesters have every right to be angry with those who are not doing enough to stop it. As always senior politicians try to say the right thing. The UK prime minister is currently sensitive to this as he is chairing the COP26 conference next month in Glasgow.

WHAT IS THE COP26 CONFERENCE? The Conference of Parties was established by the United Nations in 1995.

As far as the environment goes, this meeting of world leaders is probably the most important this century. It will have a huge impact on the world’s climate control crisis. It will be held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. Resolutions passed will make major changes in our everyday lives. The world is warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans. The last 10 years have been the warmest since records began in 1850. Extreme weather events have been witnessed around the world heatwaves, floods, forest fires. At this conference, 200 countries are being asked to present their plans to cut emissions by 2030. Some of the expected announcements could include: • • •

Making a faster switch to electric cars Speeding up the phasing out of coal powered stations Cutting down fewer trees, and planting millions more

Watch out - it will be all over the news. Over

Green

Matters

WALK THE WALK

By Martin Tye

It’s time to stop talking the talk and actually take action 25,000 people are expected in Glasgow and not just the world leaders, negotiators and journalists. Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to be in Scotland’s largest city. There will be a mountain of talk about climate justice and money. In a nutshell, the developed countries of the world have proved reluctant thus far to put their hands deep enough in their pockets. Developed countries are responsible for past emissions. Emerging economies experience some of the worst effects. And they have no money. Huge investment is needed to help countries produce electricity from renewable technologies such as solar and wind. For example, India produces 70% of its electricity requirements from burning coal.

China’s position will be key. Apart from its obvious intentions to rule the world, it is the world’s biggest polluter and has invested heavily in coal powered stations all over the world. We need to look past Boris’s inevitable posturing and examine the facts. I, sadly, share the same view of many scientists that we have left it too late to avoid containing temperature increases below the 1.5C agreed by world leaders with the Paris Agreement in 2015. It’s an old adage, but rings true… ‘No pain,no gain’ Are we prepared to make painful decisions to protect our world for future generations?

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

100% Certified Green Energy

PLASTIC HEROES Spain to ban fruit and veg packaging

Switch with Mariposa Energía Cheaper tariffs 100% green energy Excellent customer service Easy-to-understand bills

GUARANTEED SAVINGS

THE sale of fruit and veg in plastic packaging is to be banned in Spain from 2023. A royal decree is in the process of being passed, which will ban plastic wrappings weighing less than 1.5 kg. However, there will be some exemptions, including the packaging of food ‘at risk of spoilage when sold in bulk’, which will be put on a list to be drawn up by AESAN (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition). The decree also sets specific targets to reduce the use of plastic

Birds

galore We also install Solar PV Panels 20-year comprehensive guarantee Full maintenance support Low cost finance options

CONTACT OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TODAY +34 951 120 830 | GOGREEN@MARIPOSAENERGIA.ES WWW.MARIPOSAENERGIA.ES

THE first bird census carried out in Sierra de las Nieves, in Malaga, has confirmed the presence of 82 species. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this park, in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda mountains, together with nearby Sierra de Grazalema and Los Alcornocales Natural Park, forms part of one of the major birding hotspots in Spain. The most abundant bird species detected was the chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), with 324 specimens, followed by the redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus).

containers and promote reusable ones. These include halving the number of plastic bottles sold by 2023; making 100% of packaging recyclable by the end of the decade and making 50% of packaging sold in hotels, restaurants and cafés reusable by 2025. Not everyone is convinced the legislation is the right way forward. Galician chemist Deborah Garcia Bello argues that specialists in materials science should be consulted. She claims that the change will make the problem of food waste worse. She said: “Food needs to be preserved and kept safe for the longest time possible, and this is very much dependent on packaging.

Tools

“The new regulations will result in companies opting for packaging made from less sustainable and non-recyclable materials, such as plasticised cartons.” She advocates using tools such as reusable bags made of raffia, polyester or polyethylene netting, which although plastic can be reused. Other measures being considered include finding alternatives to plastic bottles and single use plastic cups at events, and encouraging people to bring their own reusable containers to be filled in shops.

LA CULTURA

October 6th - October 19th 2021

BOLLYWOOD DREAMS

India’s hottest star heading for Spain this Autumn

Unsettling statue ALMOST imperceptible against the glassy waters of Bilbao’s River Nervion, an eerie human face stares out from the tide. But the unsettling lifelike head is a new, thought provoking art installation under the Zubi Zuri bridge in the north of Spain. Contemporary artist Ruben Orozco designed the submerged statue to make people think about humans’ impact on the environment over the

years. The Mexican hyperrealist made the unsettling 120kg figure with a fibreglass figure and the ‘drowning girl’, as she has been dubbed by locals, reveals herself each day as the tide rises and falls. The enigmatic figure is entitled ‘Bihar’ (‘Tomorrow’ in Basque) is part of a campaign by the BBK Foundation, the charitable arm of Spanish lender Kutxabank.

PUT YOUR HAT IN THE RING BENALMADENA is hopeful that architectural firms will apply in droves for a design competition to rehabilitate the town’s derelict bullring. It has fallen into a state of disrepair after it was closed by the regional government in 2011 for safety reasons. The adjoining sports centre has already been revamped, and now the town council wants ideas on how best to give the bullring a new lease of life as part of a scheme to renovate the entire area.

BOLLYWOOD royalty Deepika Padukone will be reportedly jetting into Mallorca to shoot scenes for her upcoming movie Pathan. A source said that the aim is to make the film, which also stars Shah Rukh, a visual spectacle that no one has seen before, with its director Siddharth Anand going out of his way to achieve this ambitious goal.

Exquisite

“No other Bollywood film has ever shot in these places so audiences, who haven’t been to these expensive and exquisite places, will see them for the first time. “Visually these settings will add grandeur and lavishness to the film,” the source was quoted as saying. As well as a 20 day stop on the Balearic island from October 10, the crew is also set to make pit-stops in Cadiz and Vejer De La Frontera. Born in Copenhagen to badminton player Prakash Padukone, Deepika was raised in Bangalore and

BEAUTY: Deepika Padukone

made her Bollywood debut with Om Shanti Om in 2012 The star is now one of the highest-paid actresses in India with accolades that include three Filmfare Awards and in 2018, she was named as one of the 100 most influential people

in the world by Time. Alongside her acting career, Padukone is vocal about issues such as feminism and depression, launching the foundation Live Love Laugh to create awareness about mental health in India.

Johnny cancelled

HOLLYWOOD star Johnny Depp warned that no-one was safe from ‘cancel culture’ as he collected San Sebastian’s Donostia Award in the face of criticism from women’s groups. The 58 year-old actor was heckled during a press conference in the northern Spanish city when a recording of exwife Amber Heard was played. Depp lost a libel battle with British tabloid The Sun that labelled him a ‘wife beater’ last year, when a London court ruled he had repeatedly assaulted his former partner Amber Heard. Addressing the protest he said: “It’s a very complex situation, this cancel culture, or this instant rush to judgement based on essentially what amounts to polluted air. “It’s got so far out of hand that I can assure you noone is safe, not one of you, so long as someone is willing to say one thing. It takes one sentence, then there’s no more ground,” he said as he picked up an honorary lifetime achievement prize.

HOLD ON!

‘Making Tax Digital’ for Income Tax scheme delayed until 2024 explains Emilia Carvell

OLLOWING an announcement made by HMRC, it has been confirmed that the mandation of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD) has been pushed back to April 2024.

Why has HMRC been delayed? Whilst there is no single answer to this question, we can shed some light on the reason for the decision, and the factors that have led to the delay. One of the biggest factors is pressure from accountants and accounting bodies. The accounting industry is understandably concerned about change from one annual tax return submission, to quarterly submissions - because whilst you may only have to submit for a single business, some accountancy practises may be looking at thousands of clients, with multiple self employments (not to mention property income!). Some accountants are predicting that MTD will require 30% more effort or input per client, and so have requested a longer lead time to prepare their clients, and their practice. The government have also stated that by pushing back the roll out date for MTD will better support businesses emerging from the pandemic - in a statement from Lucy Frazer, Finance Secretary to the Tre-

asury wrote: “The Government recognises the challenges faced by many UK businesses and their representatives as the country emerges from the pandemic over the last year. In recognition of this and of stakeholder feedback, we will now be introducing MTD for ITSA a year later, in the tax year beginning in April 2024”

So, what does this mean for you? To be honest, probably not much! Existing Olive Press readers will already know that we think preparation is key, and that hasn’t changed - but now you just have even more time to prepare! The purpose and functionality of MTD hasn’t changed - from April 2024 you will still be required to keep records digitally and submit quarterly updates for your property income & self employment. You will still be required to submit your annual Self-Assessment Tax Return for tax years prior to April 2024. The new penalty system that we wrote about in our previous article still stands but will now come into effect from April 2024.

Are there any benefits to the delay?

As much as it pains us to say, there absolutely is! Although we at APARI are super passionate about all things MTD, we are also completely aware that it is a big change for a huge number of taxpayers! By pushing back the start date of MTD ITSA to 2024, it means that the pilot scheme can be extended, ensuring that MTD is tried and tested by even more volunteers prior to mandation - any issues or setbacks should be addressed and fixed by HMRC during this time, meaning that the transition from SA100 to MTD should be as smooth as possible! It also gives taxpayers longer to get to grips with digital record keeping, and MTD ready software like APARI - if you sign up for free today, then by 2024 you’ll be a digital record keeping expert!

What’s the APARI verdict? APARI is already MTD ready, so we would of course have been thrilled for MTD to start from April 2023! However we are aiming to use this time to become even better for our users, and work towards making tax doable!

For all the latest information and advise visit www.apari-digital.com

LA CULTURA

In a third extract from his book My Search for Madeleine, Olive Press Editor Jon Clarke follows the prime suspect in the Maddie case around Granada

October 6th - October 19th 2021

GREEN AND GRUMPY IN THE GLASTONBURY OF SPAIN

LONG had a feeling Christian Brueckner - the current prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann mystery - would have links to Orgiva, with its little-checked, free-spirited community of international travellers tucked away in a string of hidden valleys. The Alpujarras is a region I know well having come across the fledgling Olive Press there in its first few months, while writing a travel article for a British magazine. An area of stunning natural beauty with fascinating local culture, I had stumbled across Issue 5 of this fine organ, while staying at an earthy guesthouse, just outside of Orgiva. Set up by a former energy trader, Jason, who was now living off grid and Mark, a grumpy journalist, who had worked for a few years at the Mercury press agency in Liverpool, it had plenty of attitude. Full of tales of corruption and pleas for the environment, it also turned a spotlight on the drug dealing and criminality the region had started to become known for. I was so impressed I called the pair for a meeting to see if we might work together on a launch of a separate edition of the paper over in Malaga, which came out in November 2006. I spent the next year driving backwards and forwards to Orgiva helping them with layout, editing and, ultimately, injecting a dose of commercial acumen. They may not have been business dynamos, but they certainly knew a lot about the weird mix of expats and Spanish who gravitated towards this inland region. I quickly learnt about the idiosyncrasies and oddness of Orgiva, and got used to the groups of hippies who whiled away the day sitting by the side of the road, smoking marijuana and drinking from litre bottles of beer and cider. This intriguing make-up started brewing in the 1970s, but accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s as no less than three distinct new age settlements grew up close to the town, one called Beneficio (meaning ‘Benefits’) with as many as 1,000 residents at certain times of year. Orgiva became famous for Spain’s number one hippie bash the free Dragon Festival – which plays a part in Brueckner’s story (see inset right) as he attended on various occasions I discovered. The festival launched in the traveller settlement of Cigarrones in 1997 and ran for well over a decade. With only

THE DRAGON FESTIVAL - AND WHERE HE CONFESSED a vague start and finish date, usually over a weekend in March, punters often arrived a week before and left a week later, if at all. While largely supportive (at least accepting) of this community, The Olive Press also ran its fair share of stories about the criminals, sex offenders and drug dealers that hid out in these nearby hills. The majority of residents were not officially registered on the town’s padron, nor did they pay taxes, despite sending their children to the local schools. Many also used false names. So I knew that finding Michael Tatschl - who was a former housemate and jailmate of Brueckner’s - or someone who knew him, wouldn’t be easy, but at least I had a head start with a photo. Calling a few contacts en route I discovered that he was better known as ‘Micha’ and that he had returned to live

VAN LIFERS: And a novel way to walk your dog in Tablones

THE Olive Press has established that Christian Brueckner (top left) spent many months living on and off near Orgiva. He was a frequent visitor to the nearby new age settlements, usually buying or selling drugs, and attended the famous Dragon Festival on various occasions. It was while attending one of these week-long bashes - staying in his giant Tiffin Allegro (pictured) - that he allegedly confessed that he knew what happened to Madeleine. “He turned up in this giant winnebago and we all wondered where he had got the money from,” said his former best friend Micha Tatschl. “I now wonder if it came from his involvement in the Maddie case.” Another former friend Helge Busching tipped off police that Brueckner told him at the festival in 2008 that he was involved in the abduction from Praia da Luz. All three of them had lived and socialised together on the Algarve, before living for years in Granada, the book My Search for Madeleine has established. in Austria some years earlier … but he was friendly and ‘fun to hang out with’. came back most years on holiday. I was He then volunteered that Micha had told he had a girlfriend, Cynthia or ‘Cyn’, lived with an English girlfriend, an artist and used to hang out at the so-called called Emma, for a number of years in Metal Bar on the edge of the town. the nearby village of Tablones. Despite the strict lockdown in Spain at Excitedly, I headed to Tablones but disthe time, the bar somehow managed to covered nobody knew her at all. It was stay open, providing an unofficial com- a community of properties and smallmunity drop-in centre for holdings, many of them the local traveller comshacks, spread over munity. about 16km square. The fact he was There was certainly a Frustrated, and melting collection of waifs and naked behind in the 38 degree heat, I strays at the bar and decided to take a closer on the terrace outside, three marijuana look at Micha’s photos many with dogs, when I on Facebook and spotplants didn’t arrived just before lunchted one of him standing time. even register! under a pergola of what Fortunately most of them looked like the porch of a were friendly, as was the home, clearly in southern landlord, who recognised Micha from Spain, with its line of parched hills with his Facebook photos, which is not too two fire breaks as a backdrop. The fact hard when you have a skull and cross- that he was apparently naked standing bones tattoo on your neck, your nipples behind three huge marijuana plants pierced and a girlfriend half your age didn’t even register! (see pic). Buena suerte, as the Spanish would say The landlord described him however as – by complete chance I looked up and ‘un muy buen tio’, or decent bloke, and saw the exact same line of hills in the

GRANADA PAL: Micha Tatschl and (above) travellers in Tablones distance and, crucially, the same fire breaks. It turned out I was standing just 200m away from the plot where he lived for many years and, after walking downhill for a minute, I met someone who knew Emma. It turned out to be Llewelyn Graves, the grandson of I, Claudius and Goodbye to All That writer Robert Graves, who was living in some sort of commune surrounded by vans. I tried to make conversation, knowing quite a lot about his British-born, Spain-based grandfather, who has a museum in Mallorca, where he wrote the seminal books in the 1930s. Unfortunately Llewelyn was in something of a rush, but he did at least point me in the direction of Emma’s finca. And joy of joys I was ushered in through the house into the shady back garden porch, where a bottle of cold cider was thrust into my hand. Sitting alongside another local expat Ben, we started chatting about The Olive Press. Half an hour later we had ‘Micha’ on the phone and over the next hour he blew the case wide open. FIND OUT HOW IN MY SEARCH FOR MADELEINE, AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

LIBERTYCASHBACK Until

25th

NOVEMBER

2021

Another chance to enjoy €60 cashback from Liberty! ALREADY A CUSTOMER?

A NEW CLIENT?

€ 60 CASHBACK

€ 30 CASHBACK

on each new policy

on your first policy & € 60 from the second policy onwards

Take out a new Car, Home or Life policy and access our Cashback offer! There’s no limit on policies, so there’s no limit on Cashback!

preferred expat insurer

Visit your agent or call 91 342 25 49 Offer valid from 28th September to 25th November 2021. Policies must be paid by direct debit. Applies to new car, home and life policies only. Not for renewals or replacements. Conditions and minimum premiums will be applied in all cases. Visit our website libertyexpatriates.es or ask your broker/agent for full details.

The Olive Press all editions - FP_342x256 - PROMO - October 6th

BUSINESS Teaming up

CHEERS TO THAT!

HEINEKEN’S pints are becoming greener than ever thanks to a new fleet of eco delivery trucks launched in Sevilla. Specially designed for the most sustainable transport of kegs by Andalucian brand Scoobic, the zero-emission vehicles mean the beers can arrive at bars with a lower CO2 footprint. The firm has now rolled out a new delivery fleet across the city which slashes the weight of beers by managing to compress eight barrels into a lighter load - meaning they can whoosh through the city’s narrowest streets at a speed of 7km/h. These zero-emission vehicles have already been spotted handing out Cruzcampo in the bars of the iconic Santa Cruz neighborhood. The objective is to avoid the emission of more than 21 thousand tons of CO2 each year and to help decongest traffic, reduce noise and visual pollution and create a more pleasant living space. The new delivery fleet is also set to boost job creation in the city, with the upcoming opening of the Scoobic - Heineken hybrid vehicle factory.

Johnny Depp partners with Spanish film production company to launch new European venture HOLLYWOOD actor Johnny Depp has announced plans to team up with a Spanish partner in a new European film production venture. The 58-year-old star unveiled plans for IN.2 Film, which will be a UK-based production house, during the 69th edition of the San Sebastian film festival where he received the Donostia award.

October 6th - October 19th 2021

Nissan plant rescue CHINA’S Great Wall Motor is set to ride to the rescue of workers at Nissan’s Barcelona plant which is due to shut down in December. Spanish authorities and Nissan will enter talks with the company with a view to it taking over. The fate of two smaller production facilities owned by Nissan in the region is also up for discussion, with talks involving Spanish electric motorbike company Silence and local engineering firm QEV Technologies also on the cards. QEV operates as a manufacturing hub for Swedish firms Inzile and Volta. Around 3,000 workers are presently employed at the three factories, with another 20,000 indirectly relying on the Nissan plants.

LA-based

This will be a sister company to his LA-based Infinitum Nihil which has been behind titles such as Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger and Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows. The latest partnership involves an international development agreement with Adolfo Blanco´s A Contracorriente Films, a Spanish independent film distribution and production company. Blanco stated that he is ‘very proud to be working with Johnny Depp, and delighted to try and identify films with the ability to target specific

By Amber Edirisinghe

audiences and remain competitive in the market’. These new projects will add to the company’s ever growing list of titles such as Untouchable and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared as well as Aquí y allá and Varda by Agnès. With the help of producers

Alexandra Stone, Jelena Goldbach, Julien Temple and Jeremy Thomas, Depp and Blanco are currently working on a slate of productions set for 2022/2023, featuring films and television series. Depp and British producers Stephen Deuters and Stephen Malit, will be scouting for filmmaking talent around Europe, to create productions ‘focusing on European sensibility combined with American accessibility’.

A CLASSIC DAY IT was a classic car lover’s dream. Vehicle repair specialist Premier Bodyshops celebrated a classic car open day in Estepona Aiden Hammond, the company director, said that the ‘whole street was full of amazing and rare classics’, many of which were restored by Premier. The event had an ‘amazing turn out’ that was ‘even better than expected’, with many visitors coming to see the unique vehicles. All proceeds from the food, drinks and raffle were donated to local animal charity ADANA which was badly damaged in the recent Sierra Bermeja wildfire. The event managed to raise a whopping €1,500.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

on up t r ﬀe tes l o the a i g ec Sp ishin ﬁn

Across 7 Dismantle three-ton hoe or face a binary choice (3,2,3,5) 9 Lament (5) 10 Spent (4,3) 11 Mountain pass (3) 12 Hong Kong martial arts actor Jackie --- (4) 14 Means (7) 17 Gold-extracting chemical (7) 19 Cons (4) 22 Mutt’s mitt (3) 24 Toffee-nosed (5-2) 25 Such as a car’s coil spring (5) 26 Haphazard Peers enter run for businesspeople (13)

Explora tu lado español Online Spanish lessons

Start your free 15 days trial on theolivepress.es/online-spanish-lessons/ *The special oﬀer is valid for registrations until 15/09/21

OP SUDOKU

Down 1 Vast (6) 2 Small white whale (6) 3 Swiss currency (5) 4 American punk-funk band, the Red Hot --- (6,7) 5 Unhorsed (6) 6 Total savages (6) 8 Duller of the senses (6) 13 “Listen!” (3) 15 Excavated (3) 16 Like Lady Luck (6) 17 Redeemed (6) 18 Keenness of vision (6) 20 Almost (3,3) 21 Form of discrimination (6) 23 Complain (5)

All solutions are on page 14

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Boat trip to art

October 6th - October 19th 2021

Massive new gallery on the Isla de Rey features works by Mark Bradford, writes Isha Sesay

The long good chew LOVERS of Spanish nougat ‘turron’ had a treat at Alicante’s Gastronomy Fair 2021 - they had the chance to tuck into the biggest turron bar in the world which measured a massive 56 metres long. Nougat maker Roberto Pico was in charge of making the monster bar which beat the previous record of 55 metres for the Alicante delicacy. Pico worked for a week to make the bar which included 270 kilos of almonds, egg whites and honey. The nougat was cut and offered as a tasting to the public attending the fair.

MODERN modern art gallery masters Hauser & Wirth have opened a 400,000 sqm art centre on Isla del Rey with an opening show of works by acclaimed artist Mark Bradford, In the last two years Isla del Rey’s once-crumbling decommissioned naval hospital, 18th-century outbuildings and 6th-century basilica have been carefully restored by Argentinean architect Luis Laplace, turning the once ghostly ruins into an exhibition space with eight galleries, a shop and restaurant called Cantina. Outside, landscape designer Piet Oudolf, responsible for the garden at Hauser & Wirth’s Somerset base, creat-

ed a beautiful sculpture trail featuring works by artists such as Franz West, Louise Bourgeois and Eduardo Chillida. The gallery’s co-founders, Iwan and Manuela Wirth, said they had been ‘utterly captivated by Menorca and specifically Isla del Rey’ which lies a short boat trip from Mahon. “Our vision has always been to expand the idea of the gallery experience and we believe that this location is a fitting, natural and exciting extension to our centres in Somerset and LA,” said Iwan. It’s hard to conceive of a more fitting location for an exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by American artist Mark Bradford, the winner of a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant and who is known for examining the past through his abstract art.

BEAUTIFUL: Magnificent setting On the choice of Bradford for the opening show, which will run until October 30, Manuela said: “Mark knows the Balearic Islands well having

CORDOBA’S autumn patio festival is scheduled to open this October and will feature 16 venues over two weekends. Residents in the ancient city traditionally throw open their usually private patios and courtyards to show off colourful floral displays to curious tourists. The event will take place in October on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24. The first weekend coincides

lived in Mallorca for a few months in his 20s and his multi-layered nature is a perfect fit given the island setting is in a natural harbour.”

SWEET SUCCESS SPANISH beekeepers care for an astonishing 3 million hives, making it the leading EU nation for honey production. A survey by EU Agriculture designed to show the robustness of each country’s pollinators, which are vital for crops to flourish, revealed the figures for each country. In total there are 18.9 million hives in the EU, with Spain (2.967 million) beating Romania (2.246 million) for top spot, a long way ahead of Poland (1.766 million) and France (1.751 million). Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture has been looking to boost the nation’s honey industry by introducing new labelling laws which must show the countries of origin so that 100% Spanish honey can be clearly identified.

Blooming good show with the Fiesta de la Flora (which is celebrated from the 11th to the 21st of the month), an event traditionally related to botanical and floral art. The second weekend will coincide with the day of Saint Raphael Archangel, patron saint of Cordoba The opening hours to view

the patios are between 11am to 2pm and then from 6.30pm to 8pm. The 16 venues for the Autumn festival were all winners of the more famous May Courtyards Festival, which has been on Unesco’s list of Intangible Heritage of Humanity since December 2012.

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

October 6th October 19th 2021

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Looking for a destination that is picturesque but also tourist-free, well look no further, here is a list of the top 10 hidden destinations to visit on your next holiday...

Cardona, Catalunya

nly an hour and a half drive from Barcelona, this charming medieval village in Catalunya is worth visiting. A castle on a hill overlooks the charming walled city. Visitors can also enjoy the unique experience of sleeping in a castle which has now become part of the Paradores hotel chain. However there are also daily guided tours if you don’t have time or the budget for an overnight stay. This village is not only famous for its rich history but also for its salt mountain.

Setenil de las bodegas, Andalucia

The mountain was created thousands of years ago when this area of Catalunya was covered in seawater. When the tectonic plates moved to create the Pyrenees mountains, the dried salt was pushed up to create something truly spectacular. Measuring 86m, the mountain’s height is constantly changing due to rain and erosion. Salt deposits go as far down as 2km below the ground and have been mined since the 10th century.

Setenil de las Bodegas is a white village in Andalucia that has been sculpted into the rocks, in the narrow canyon carved by the river Trejo. This settlement is particularly unique as it was crafted from the inside of a cave network unlike the others built by the Moors which sit atop hills. Visitors can spend the night in one of the caves and visit the cave restaurants that are among some of the best in the region. For meat eaters this town is well known for its chorizo and cured meats, it also produces delicious pastries for those with a sweet tooth. Some of the other attractions are the Nazari Castle, which watches over the village. Built in the 12th century the castle used to have 40 towers but now only one remains.

Segovia, Castilla y Leon

n the region of Castilla and Leon is Segovia. Known for its history, gastronomy and picturesque views, this destination has it all and it is just one hour away from Madrid. In 1985 the city centre and aqueduct was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO and it’s clear to see why. Visitors can admire the Roman aqueducts built here in the first century AD that are still used to deliver drinking water to this day. The city is also home to the Alcazar, a medieval fortress that provided inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle and its cathedral, which was the last modern Gothic church built in Spain. Make sure you try local specialities such as the mouthwatering suckling pig, it will not disappoint.

Zumaia, Basque Country

his small town in the Basque Country is the epicentre of flysch stones, a natural phenomenon that is sure to delight the eyes of geologists and tourists alike. In fact, some may recognise it as one of the locations in the seventh season of Game of Thrones. Covering 4,300 hectares of land and sea, it is one of the most important geological sanctuaries in the

TRUJILLO, EXTREMADURA This town is a cornucopia of medieval and renaissance architecture. In the Plaza

Mayor resides a bronze statue of conquistador Pizarro and visitors are surrounded by medieval buildings, as well as historic churches. Notable places include the Alcazaba, a medieval Moorish castle and renaissance palaces such as the Palace of the Marquises of the Conquista. Visit on the 1st of May to catch a whiff of Trujillo’s national cheese fair, the most famous cheese competition in Spain.

El Burgo de Osma, Castilla y Leon

andwiched between Zaragoza and Valladolid in the province of Soria is the town of El Burgo de Osma. This historical treasure trove is ideal for history buffs or those who only want to be surrounded by locals. This municipality is home to Roman ru-

ins, a medieval fortress, excellently preserved city walls and a stunning cathedral. What makes it even better is its pedestrianised historical centre meaning visitors can stroll the streets and grab a bite to eat without the noise and bustle of cars.

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 One or the other, 9 Mourn, 10 Laid out, 11 Col, 12 Chan, 14 Intends, 17 Cyanide, 19 Lags, 22 Paw, 24 Stuck-up, 25 Helix, 26 Entrepreneurs. Down: 1 Cosmic, 2 Beluga, 3 Franc, 4 Chilli Peppers, 5 Thrown, 6 Brutes, 8 Opiate, 13 Hey!, 15 Dug, 16 Fickle, 17 Cashed, 18 Acuity, 20 All but, 21 Sexism, 23 Whine.

SUDOKU

elve into the western province of Caceres where you will happen upon the medieval town of Trujillo, in the community of Extremadura.

world. This is a great destination for those who enjoy hiking as some of the best views can be accessed from the flysch walking trails. Zumaia also offers many art exhibits with works from Goya, El Greco and Rivera to name but a few. The town also has a longstanding tradition of fishing octopus, so be sure to sample some scrumptious bites while you´re there.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

October 6th - October 19th 2021

LLAFRANC, CATALUNYA

This small town feels very apart from the outside world and is only half an hour away from the Andalucian capital, Sevilla. As your feet touch the sand-covered streets you are immediately transported back in time, carts are more commonplace than cars and horses are seen tied to wooden posts outside stone houses.

El Rocio, Andalucia The focal point of the town is its enormous church, Nuestra Señora del Rocio, its interior is adorned with gold decorations contrasting with it’s bright white walls.

El Rocío can also be described as one of the ‘gateway towns’ to Doñana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which offers a variety of ecosystems from beaches, to pine groves and cliffs. This is also an amazing place for bird watching as it is also one of Europe’s most treasured wetlands.

Italica, Andalucia

n spitting distance of Seville lies Italica. This settlement was the birthplace of three Roman emperors – Trajan, Hadrian, and possibly Theodosius. As the first Roman settlement in Spain this stunning location offers many historical delights. Explorers can marvel at the 25,000-seater amphitheatre, which was one of the largest in the Roman Empire. There is also the temple of Emperor Trajan,the Traianeum, the Roman baths and the sophisticated aqueduct. As there has been no modern city covering Italica there are still many well preserved houses, five of which belonged to rich families that have beautiful colourful mosaics. Italica’s allure was also recognised by Game of Thrones as it was the film set for the seventh season in 2016.

With its timber framed buildings featuring floral adornments and white painted facades, this municipality looks like you’re

stepping into Bavaria. Since 1940 the town has been recognised as a Historic-Artistic monument and was the first town in Spain to be giv-

en this status. This is a perfect destination to escape the madding crowds and to glimpse at a town wrapped up in tradition and religion. Make sure to visit the historical Plaza Mayor where you’ll be sure to be surrounded by locals, or try some delicious tapas at one of the village’s ancient tapas bars. La Alberca also hosts many interesting religious festivals throughout the year including the fiesta in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption held on August 15. These festivities are marked as National Interest and tourists can witness beautiful vibrant costumes along with elements of traditional folklore.

La Alberca, Castilla y Leon

In north-eastern Catalunya along the Costa Brava lies Llafranc, an idyllic seaside town which is perfect for families and has a calm but buzzy atmosphere. As well as taking a dip in the crystalline waters, visitors can enjoy the plethora of seafood restaurants and local markets here.

For those who favour activities, explore the archaeological ruins or visit the San SebastiAn Lighthouse. Built in the 15th-century it has stunning views out to sea. The town is also known for its famous visitors like Ernest Hemingway and Salvador Dali.

The

REuse REduce REcycle

OLIVE PRESS

We use recycled paper

FREE

MINISTRY of Equality leader Ilene Montero has proposed a new protocol against sexual harassment in the workplace, targetting inappropriate comments, ‘sexual jokes’ and even looking at people in a suggestive way.

COVID prison EIGHT prisoners at Cordoba jail have tested positive for COVID-19, with seven of then having mild symptoms and one being transferred to Reina Sofia’s Hospital. All of the inmates are vaccinated.

Honest finder A WOMAN in Malaga who found a wallet containing €1,300 cash and two credit cards on the street handed it to police, who have returned it to its 70-year-old Venezuelan owner.

Vol. 5 Issue 158

www.theolivepress.es

The Rock’s ONLY free local paper

October 6th - October 19th 2021

Shak attacked

Hopping mad

Equality protocols

FINAL WORDS

GIBRALTAR

Bungling robber loses false leg in botched bankjob find that brave customers and passersby had joined with staff to tackle the robber and during the struggle his artificial leg had fallen off. Cash This meant any escape plans They had demanded cash he had were scuppered and from the teller, but the alarm all he could do was meekly was raised and police dashed sit down and wait to be arto the scene. They arrived to rested in Friday’s incident. His accomplice meanwhile fled empty handed SPAIN is officially a nation of potty Spain is the and is still at mouths, with Spaniards using over 2 fifth sweariest large. A fake million swear words online each year, country in the gun was found according to new research. world, while the USA at the scene. From furious four-letter tirades to came in at number seven, ItA police foul-mouthed phrases, obscenities aly was ranked eighth. Canada spokesman have become more commonplace and the UK rounded out the top 10, said: “At 2pm, than ever. in ninth and tenth place, respectively. a call was Even worse then the Spanish are the It is hardly surprising Spaniards are received reFrench who topped the list of foul- placed so highly on the ‘blue list’ - they porting that a mouthed web surfers. have a whopping 251 different explerobbery was According to research from Preply, tives to choose from. taking place A BANK robber was left without a leg to stand on after his false limb fell off during an attempted hold-up in Alicante. The 45-year-old Italian may well have been hopping mad after brave customers and staff tussled

with him when he burst into the Sabadell branch with an accomplice brandishing a gun.

BAD LANGUAGE!

in a bank branch of Sabadell located in Plaza America in Alicante. “The emergency protocol was activated and a device established that frustrated the robbery and culminated in the arrest of one of the perpetrators who was armed with a pistol that was finally determined to be simulated.” “At least one perpetrator fled from the place, more identification and location management is being carried out by the robbery squad of the Alicante Judicial Police Brigade.” “The detainee is of Italian nationality, 45 years old and with a previous record.”

SINGER Shakira was attacked by a pair of marauding wild boars who snatched her bag while she was walking with her eight-year-old son in a park in Barcelona. The hairy hogs ambushed her and made off with her handbag, before trying to escape with it into the woods. Shakira let her fans know with an Instagram story. Holding up her bag that was now in tatters she said: “Look at how two wild boar that attacked me in the park have left my bag.” The singer, who is married to Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique, explained: “They were taking my bag to the woods with my mobile phone in it.” The 44-year-old Colombian claims she ‘stood up to the wild boar’ to snatch back her bag but unfortunately they still ‘destroyed everything’. She isn't the first victim of a boar attack, as the pests have managed to overwhelm Barcelona in the past few years, with police receiving over 1,100 calls regarding wild boar attacks in one year alone.

952 147 834 * O f f e r

v a l i d

TheOlivePress-256x170-HOME0421.indd 1

f o r

n e w

c u s t o m e r s

o n l y .

S u b j e c t

t o

c o n d i t i o n s .

E n d s

3 1 / 1 2 / 2 1 .

23/7/21 11:27