OLIVE PRESS MALLORCA ISSUE 158

ca just one day before his arrest on the Spanish island.

The owner of Irish bar O’Malley’s revealed the individual, believed to be Liam Byrne, was part of a group that refused to pay their bill.

The 20-strong mob, who had been drinking heavily, became unruly when the bar owner placed the tab on the table and refused to settle up.

“The group didn’t want to pay. I threatened to call the police and he did pay,” the owner revealed, asking not to be

By Walter Finch

named.

“There were about 20 of them and they tried to cause trouble. When I mentioned the police, they went quiet.”

The owner added: “I didn’t know who he was and in fact I’m glad I didn’t know. Here in Spain he is just another tourist.”

Byrne, 42, was detained the following day at a restaurant in Alcudia while having a meal with family members. Spanish authorities swooped after

Byrne had entered Palma from the United Arab Emirates using a false passport. They were acting on a warrant related to gun-running charges in the UK linked to the ‘Encrochat hack’, which

UNRULY: Kinahan man Byrne was wanted in the UK

gave European police forces access to the online chats of various organised crime groups across Europe.

The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) discovered that Byrne had recently travelled to Mallorca to secretly reunite with relatives who were on the island. They contacted their Spanish counterparts who managed to locate a car that he used, and from that they traced his

whereabouts and arrested him at the restaurant.

Byrne had previously fled arrest

in Britain in early 2022 when several of his colleagues were rounded up by police.

The NCA said Byrne led an arms-trafficking organisation as part of the Kinahan Clan that bought pistols and submachine guns that were then sold

Continues on Page 2

Leading gangster sought by Interpol refused to pay huge tab in Mallorca one day before his arrest

Clucking nuisance

NEIGHBOURS have complained about being kept awake by a group of feral chickens that have settled down near the sa Riera de Palma waterway in the capital.

Prison time

A 21-strong gang of Romanian pickpockets based in Palma and taken down in 2020 could face a total 38 years in prison as their trial starts.

Good news

TWO kids aged four and 14 who were allegedly fed rat poison by their mother in Manacor have been released from hospital. The mum is being evaluated by psychiatrists.

Pupil aggro

PALMA residents are complaining about the noise and lack of parking spaces caused by pupils’ end of school trips with it becoming a popular destination for 18-year-olds in their final year.

RAINBOW’S END

Hundreds of Rainbow Family hippies kicked out of ‘bizarre’ illegal nature park festival

HUNDREDS of hippies, many from northern Europe, have been evicted from one of Andalucia’s most protected natural parks.

The members of the so-called Rainbow Family were illegally camping for the impromptu festival high in the Sierra de Grazalema.

The group, who previously lived in northern Spain, had decamped to the inaccessible site for the ‘sacred fire’ bash, which coincided with the lunar cycle.

The cult-like hippies - who had set a number of illegal fires, despite the dangerous drought conditions - had squatted on land owned by a local livestock farmer.

“There were about 200 of them and it took 100 of our officers to

By Alberto Lejarraga

evict them,” a policeman from the Guardia Civil told the Olive Press

During the complicated operation, the officers had to park in the village of Benaocaz and then walk ‘over an hour’ to the site.

“It was totally inaccessible by car,” added the cop, who participated in the eviction.

He explained they had taken the extreme step due to the ‘high risk’ of fire and after both the owner and park authorities put in official denuncias “The estate is used for the stockbreeding of goats, but this group had simply broken through the fences allowing the animals to escape.”

DIRTY COP

THE former head of the Policia Local in Palma has been arrested after child pornography was found in an office previously occupied by him.

A routine computer audit by Palma City Council discovered the obscene material and CDs and hard drives were removed from the office. The seized items featured photographs and videos of explicit sexual content involving minors. An internal probe was ordered with the find-

The agent continued: “They had set many fires, a major one, which they call ‘the sacred fire’, and several others around the site.

“It was really dangerous particularly as we are talking about a highly protected area of valuable trees which cannot be accessed by fire engines.”

He added the operation had ‘lasted hours’ as a number of the group attempted to prolong it as much as they could and some refused to leave.

“When we arrived many of them grabbed their backpacks

ings passed on to the Policia Nacional who detained the former official at his home on Thursday and carried out a thorough search of his property.

The arrested man retired as police commissioner over four years ago after a career stretching back over 30 years with strong links to trade unionism.

He has no current links with Palma police bosses and inquiries are ongoing.

A senior commander said: “We are all appalled and the fact is that we find it very difficult to believe that all the crimes he is accused of are true.”

and

started to walk down to the village.

“However, others told us they had a lot of stuff and were about to have lunch. We were understanding and gave them plenty of time to eat,” the officer explained.

He added that one group refused to leave the ‘sacred fire’, refusing to leave and acted ‘belligerently’ leading to two arrests.

They claimed that since its creation in Oregon in the 1970s, the group had only been evicted once, in Austria, 40 years ago.

According to Wikipedia, the Rainbow Family is a ‘counter-culture group, which is a loose affiliation of individuals, some nomadic, generally asserting that it has no leader’. They put on yearly, primitive camping events on public land known as ‘Rainbow Gatherings’.

Its stated goal is attempting to ‘achieve peace and love on Earth’.

to other groups. Many of the firearms were purchased with systems that left no fingerprint markings which meant weapons used in crimes were much harder for the UK police to identify.

Byrne set up home in Dubai where police said he was able to maintain his ‘high standard of living’ while continuing to contribute to the activities of the criminal organisation.

The US authorities issued a five million dollar reward leading to the capture of the three leaders of the Kinahan gang and blacklisted four others last year.

One, Malaga-based Johnny Morrissey, was arrested a few weeks later in Mijas.

Fugitive

A Policia Nacional spokesperson said: “Capturing the fugitive Byrne was a top priority for the United Kingdom as he belonged to the Kinahan gang.” The Kinahans were based on the Costa del Sol for over a decade and became embroiled in a gang war with the fellow Irish Hutch clan since 2015 when they murdered Gary Hutch.

In 2016, Dubliner Trevor O’Neill was killed in front of his family outside a Mallorca supermarket in a tragic case of mistaken identity. The Kinahans believed him to be the nephew of Gerry Hutch. The Olive Press has distributed at O Malley’s for years and even has a stand.

The pensions conundrum.

Your pensions are key to your long-term financial security. With the complex UK pension regulations, Spanish tax regime and frequent rule changes, specialist advice is essential. The problem for expatriates is that UK pension transfers often require UK-regulated advice, but most UK advisers cannot advise EU residents post Brexit.

Blevins Franks is authorised to provide regulated advice on UK pensions to residents of Spain. We have in-depth knowledge of the UK pension and Spanish tax regimes and the planning opportunities for expatriates.

From front

Rocking chair rockers

By Dilip Kuner

CHUCK BERRY may have been dubbed the Father of Rock, but Spain is about to welcome a slew of stars who could be called the ‘Grandads of Rock’.

Leading the way (in terms of age) is Welsh superstar Sir Tom Jones. He will be taking to the stage at the Starlite Festival in Marbella (hopefully without the need of a zimmer frame) on July 10. While some might think it is a bit odd to still be performing at the age of 83, Sir Tom probably thinks It’s Not Unusual.

And he

Pull up your surgical stockings, put in your teeth, straighten your toupee and get ready to party

would be right.

Fellow octogenarian Bob Dylan, 82, is certainly not leaving his fans Blowing in the Wind, and will treat them to some of his most famous tunes in Barcelona on June 23 and 24.

The ever sprightly Rod Stewart will be bringing his

78-year-old Hot Legs to Starlite on July 21 while Yusuf Cat Stevens still thinks it is a pretty Wild World when such a glitzy festival shoves wads of cash into his 74-year-old hands for his June 21 show. Meanwhile, 76-year old Iggy Pop brings his 20-date world tour to Marbella on August 2. He will have been flying round the globe from Europe

BIG WEDGE

HER ancestor the Duke of Wellington made his name stomping round Spain in his famous wellies, and now Eleanor Wellesley is looking to the same country for footwear inspiration. But the 27-year-old niece to the current dukewho is also the 10th Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo and has a 2,400 acre estate in Granada gifted by the Spanish government - has set her sights lower on the social scale than her illustrious foreShe has launched her own brand of shoes espadrilles - the traditional canvas and woven grass footwear worn by farmers in Spain in the past. But her high-wedge espadrilles are perhaps not suited to peasants, especially with a price tag of €530.

FEMALE

The Moving onto something a bit heavier, 77-year-old Ian Gillan will be taking to the stage with Deep Purple (no, we are not talking about the colour of his veins) at the Rock Imperium Festival in Cartagena on July 24.

The next day, Gene Simmons, 73, will Kiss goodbye to Spain at the same venue with one of the colourful band’s last dates ever.

No doubt he and his infamous bandmates will be growing old disgracefully as they Rock and Roll All Nite.

And just in case you aren’t already feeling ancient as your childhood heroes strut their stuff, the surprisingly old (to some of us) Michael Bolton (70) and Sting (71) are also heading to Marbella on June 30 and Pamplona on December 16, respectively. But at least we can take refuge in the far more youthful Seal, who will be performing at Starlite on July 7. At a mere 60-years-old he gives the younger generation something to look forward to…

house hunters (and no doubt some men too) will have their hearts set a flutter when estate agent Tony Company shows them round. The chiseled 27-year-old has been officially voted as the most handsome man in Spain at the Mister International Spain competition in Tener ife. Company, from Pal ma (Mallorca) is 189 cm (6’2”) tall and has already been turning heads as Mister Balea rics for a year. He is not just a pretty face. He got a degree in International Ho tel Management and a Master’s in Manage ment before settling into life as an estate agent specialising in luxury rentals.

THE UK’s oldest known Red Kite has died 29 years after he was hatched in Spain.

‘Aragon’ was part of a programme to reintroduce the species to England and arrived in the Thames Valley in 1994. He was recently found injured outside a school in Oxfordshire and later died at a bird sanctuary. His ring identified him as one of the second batch of chicks reintro duced.

His survival to the ripe old age of 29 surprised experts who did not know how long the first chicks had survived. The reintroduction of the species has been a huge success, with an estimated 6,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

But now it is the once robust Span ish population which is in trou ble. There are only 11 breeding pairs in Caceres province and just four within Badajoz. Brit ish birds are now being rein troduced into the homeland of their Spanish ancestors.

Hot property Kite down

TOM JONES

Bottoms up!

A GERMAN football team set themselves a daunting challenge when they sat down in a Palma bar and ordered a THOUSAND pints of lager. That worked out at 20 beers each for the 50 members of FV Bonn-Endenich 1908 party, a club in the German sixth division,

Despite an heroic effort to down the lot, they ended up falling short with bar staffwho took an impressively fast 24 minutes to pour the drinks - tipping the last 150 beers down the sink.

“They gave away a number of them to other tables and we ended up throwing away around 150 beers,” an employee at Bamboleo said. The boozy players ended up paying a €2,300 bill. It is not the first time a German team has ordered a mad number of beers in Mallorca. Last summer, 25 players of the SG Ropfe ordered 600 pints of Pilsner for breakfast at the same bar.

Spanish church finally admits to nearly 1000 victims of child abuse since 1945

THE Catholic church has admitted 728 of its members have been accused of abusing children in Spain over the last 75 years.

While the real numbers are likely to be far higher, it is the first time the church has come up with such high official figures, which include 927 victims.

The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) admitted the numbers, between 1945 and 2022, after it came under considerable pressure from the media.

"We are ashamed and today are aware of the road ahead

BUM RAP

By Alberto Lejarraga

in terms of ending the scourge of sexual abuse within the church,” admitted CEE Secretary Francisco Garcia. While campaigners were happy that thr church was finally coming to terms with the appalling levels of abuse and the legacy, they insist it needs to go further.

In particular, it does not include data before 1945, or from any of the victims of an in-depth El Pais investigation. The newspaper has unearthed

1,957 alleged victims abused in at least 966 separate cases. It has also exposed the abuse

ANGRY Mallorcans have complained about three tourists walking around ‘half-naked’ in Calvia.

A residents’ association fed up with mass tourism in the municipality has expressed its indignation after a photo of three women wearing tiny thong bikinis was posted online.

The group of visitors were spotted walking on a busy shopping street.

A current regulation of the municipality of Calvia prohibits walking naked or half-naked in the street.

“It is forbidden to walk like that around town,” a local said, while another described the scene as ‘disastrous,’ adding that they ‘don't deserve this kind of tourism’.

However, there were also comments supporting the outfit.

“There is nothing wrong with the human body. Those criticising have an inferiority complex,” a resident posted.

Animal law

AN Animal Awareness Education Day organised by the Guardia Civil took place in Palma on Saturday.

The aim of the event was to highlight the importance of nature and fauna conservation in the Balearic Islands. Exotic animals, birds of prey such as hawks, as well as snakes and farm animals were on show to the public at the HQ of the force. Information on invasive species on the Balearics was given, and attendees were educated on their responsibilities as pet owners.

of 503 clergymen, of which only 191 have been put under official investigation.

The church admitted its numbers only correspond to those received by the child protection offices of the dioceses, established in 2019.

It is a big jump however the 202 complaints the CEE claimed it had received in 2021, which rose to 506 in 2022 and now 728 this year. Lawyers working for the European Commission calculate ‘thousands’ of victims will be discovered.

The majority of abuse (47%) took place in schools, while 80% occurred before 1990. Over 60% of the accused are already dead.

Lift plunge

THREE construction workers have been seriously injured after the ladder lift they were in collapsed in Calvia. They are believed to have fallen three floors. One of them, a 54-year-old, suffered severe injuries to both legs, while his 44-year-old workmate has an open fracture in his ankle. And the youngest one, of 32 years of age, broke his right leg. They were all treated at the scene before being rushed to hospital.

NARROW SQUEAK

By Walter Finch

FIVE tenants have miraculously survived after their two-storey house collapsed on top of them.

All five people were at home when a balcony and then the building’s facade crumbled away in the El Terreno neighbourhood just before midnight on Tuesday.

They were shocked by an awful rumbling sound and then sat astonished as their home started to come down around their ears.

But when they tried to escape, they found that the door was blocked by debris and they were trapped inside.

Fortunately, they all managed to emerge from the rubble unscathed.

“It was 11:30 pm and I was already in bed when I heard a spectacular noise,” resident Rafael Delgado told Ultima Hora.

“I grabbed the animals and ran out as fast as I could.

“We warned [the landlord] three months ago that the house was not in good condition. People were leaving, and she kept renting out rooms,” he added.

“She didn't care.”

Within minutes, multiple teams from the Palma Fire Department and the police arrived at the scene, successfully pulling the renters to safety.

During Wednesday morning, firefighters and engineers from Palma City Council returned to the site to

Five escape unscathed from house collapse

inspect the dwelling.

Local authorities have now launched an investigation into the incident to determine the causes of the collapse.

SUMMING UP: United for change!

A NEW united left party has formed to fight the general elections next month.

After tense negotiations, the group called Sumar (meaning ‘Unite’) set up just hours before a deadline to register coalitions expired at the weekend.

The new force includes anti-corruption party Podemos, which is currently in coalition with the Pedro Sanchez’ PSOE government.

Led by Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz, it comprises a total of 15 smaller parties, including the IU (United Left), Mas Madrid and Mas Pais, plus green groups, including Equo.

The strategy aims to snare more votes to fight off the likely challenge of a coalition government set up between the PP party and the far-right Vox party, which it is feared will make major gains.

MALLORCA'S Playa de Muro has been voted the world's best beach in an online survey from nautical retailer Rightboat. Over 300,000 people gave their opinions and plumped for the island's longest beach which stretches for six kilometres and is divided into four sections.

Contributors to the survey praised the Blue Flag beach near Alcudia for its tranquility, crystal clear and shallow waters, and its large area allowing plenty of space for everybody to enjoy it.

Voted top expat paper in Spain OPINION

Catholic Guilt

IT’S beyond comprehension that a global institution, one which gives comfort and reassurance to 1.3 billion baptised members, can also be responsible for systematically abusing unknown numbers of children.

The Ryan Report in Ireland and a similar one in Australia have detailed widespread abuse over many decades.

While countless cases have been reported worldwide, including in the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, the Phillipines and most of Europe.

The dark jokes and gallows humour that surrounds the activities of a minority of Catholic priests towards young boys in their care is just one way to cope with the horror.

But the historical efforts of the church to deny and cover up these historic crimes is almost as monstrous.

So some credit must be due to the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) after it finally admitted that hundreds of its members stand accused of child abuse over the past 75 years.

Instead of pursuing the shameful tactic of covering up the abuse, either to protect themselves or some more esoteric notion of ‘protecting the Church’ itself, they had the courage to trust in the truth.

Because, as any good Catholic would know, the only way to right a wrong and heal a wound is through confessing the truth.

Credit must also go to El Pais, who have tirelessly and courageously tracked down and shone a light on this most heinous and uncomfortable of issues. The church must now follow suit and continue to shine a torch into every one of its dark murky corners.

And we must finally hope that the Vatican itself will finally have the courage to follow Spain’s lead.

Please Mr Post

EXCLUSIVE:

THE photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono posing after getting married in front of the Rock of Gibraltar are among the most seminal from the Rock n Roll vaults of fame.

The iconic shots that have appeared in thousands of publications and dozens of documentaries show perfectly the depths of love the Beatles lead singer and his Japanese paramour were in.

The story has been recounted to death, but like so many chapters in the life of the world’s most famous band, there is a back story almost as interesting.

And in this case it’s a darker one, for the set of photos - and others taken during the period in 1969 - were stolen, leading to a half-century

closer to finding the negatives and explaining, at last, what happened to them.

It comes after the Olive Press received two anonymous letters from an individual in America named only as ‘R Sheelly’, with nearly two dozen copies of the negatives inside. Some blown up on card-

ANONYMOUS: But detailed and intriguing letters from America

board, some as part of a contact sheet, they arrived two weeks apart, posted from Colorado and gave few clues to the sender’s identification. But what they did do was bring one of the most exciting times in British music history very much back to life.

The photos, including John Lennon wearing a silly hat, reading a newspaper on a plane, and canoodling with his new wife - as well as posing at the registry office and signing the marriage forms - have only once been seen before. And that is in the book of the man who borrowed them before they mysteriously vanished. Poring through them was like watching a decades-old cold case come back to life before our very eyes: The blackened embers of one of the greatest mysteries in Beatles history spluttering and sparking up once more.

Stamped from Fort Collins, Colorado (a ‘fake address’) on April 25, the first letter teased us with promises of new leads and a tantalising clue behind the legendary negatives, missing for nearly five decades.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

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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. AWARDS

The second letter, a week after we published a story on the first letter, expressed the writer’s pleasure at making print and reaffirmed her goal - to get the missing photos ‘back to the photographer who took them’.

But first, we have to travel back to the spring of 1969,

NO HABLO INGLES

The PP’s leadership hopeful joins a long line of Spanish politicians with no English

LEADERSHIP hopeful Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the Popular Party (PP) made a candid confession on live television last week: with around 50 days to go until the snap general election called by adversary, Pedro Sanchez, he does not speak English.

Speaking on a talk show, he added that his linguistic problems were shared with ‘the majority of Spaniards’. Although he does, however, speak Galician as well as Castilian Spanish and as such described himself as ‘bilingual’. But Feijoo has also struggled with names in English, not

just the language, recently mangling Bruce Springsteen’s name to call him ‘Bruce Sprinter’.

Prime Minister Sanchez will be a tough act to follow when it comes to the language of Shakespeare.

Sanchez speaks very good English, and during his five years in office has used it to great effect – whether in live interviews on US TV, or at international summits. But it turns out he is a real anomaly. In fact, Sanchez is the only prime minister since Spain returned to democracy able to fluently speak it while in office. As for the other leaders and politicians, there have been a series of gaffes that have left them looking rather silly.

Former PP Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy famously sat

By Jon Clarke & Walter Finch

and a time of the Apollo program and sexual emancipation, when the soul of a young generation was unleashed by a new brand of rock’n’roll.

The fabled Summer of Love was imminent, New York was gearing up for Woodstock, and the Beatles had just played their last ever public performance.

Lennon, by now one of the greatest icons in pop music, had eloped with his controversial lover, Yoko Ono, often dubbed a groupie and hanger on.

They had chosen to wed in the one place where the press would not be able to hound them - at the registry office in Gibraltar.

At the peak of General Franco’s embargo of the British-held peninsula, the region was isolated and inaccessible, the border closed and flights limited.

John and Yoko flew out on March 20, 1969, and there they met a young London hipster photographer, David Nutter, who was handed the ‘secret assignment’ and had no clue of who his subjects were to be.

“I was told to come to Gibraltar with my camera and no questions asked,” Nutter told the Olive Press.

Londoner Nutter is a fabled snapper whose career spanned the golden era of rock and pop, working with luminaries such as Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Elton John and the Beatles themselves.

The ‘magical’ day of the wedding featured just a few close friends and family of the couple - Paul McCartney absent - and no press. Nutter snapped away as the couple, who were like lovebirds the minute they landed at Gibraltar airport, trooped over to the local registry office and got married, giddy and in high spirits. The pair then embarked onto their famous down for a meeting with his British counterpart David Cameron and uttered the classic line: “It’s very difficult todo esto…” Meanwhile PP leader Jose Maria Aznar did his best to speak English while in office, but it wasn’t until

he left politics that he really got the hang of it. (As a side note, he spoke Spanish in a Texan accent while in the United States in 2003, for reasons that were never fully clear).

But perhaps the most famous incident involving a Spanish politician and English was when Ana Botella, Aznar’s wife and the then-mayor of Madrid, gave her famous speech to

the Olympic Committee when the city was bidding to be host. Her phrase: “There is nothing like a relaxing cup of cafe con leche in the Plaza Mayor” became an immediate hit, and remains something of a meme all these years later. For much of the Spanish political class, in particular the PP, it would appear that some serious study is still needed.

Two extraordinary letters to the Olive Press have breathed fresh life back into one of the key celluloid mysteries in the Rock n Roll hall of fame

EXCLUSIVE

June 2023

BEAT THE HEATStay cool by design

See page 16

On top of the world

The Spanish-loving British architect who has just won the world’s most prestigious architecture prize. Find out inside

RENT RISES CAPPED

RENT rises have been capped to no more than 3% in 2024 after a new housing law came into effect.

The legislation controls rents, as well as putting new limits on evictions. Among other changes, which come in immediately, tenants will no longer have to pay an agent a fee when they sign a rental contract, and only the landlord must pay.

Newhousinglawnowinforcehasfar-reachingconsequencesforlandlords

By Dilip Kuner

Meanwhile large landlords are now considered as having five properties, down from 10.

Furthermore, when these landlords have tenants in official ‘high-rent zones’, they can only charge rents

based on official government rates. These zones are defined as districts where average rents or mortgages are at 30% of the average household income… or where prices or rents have risen three points higher than inflation over the past five years. Small landlords, meanwhile, will benefit from tax breaks encouraging

them to put their empty properties on the rental market.

Another clause means landlords will have to give advance warning of evictions, rather than them being sprung on tenants at short notice.

The legislation is a big win for the government in the run up to the general election on July 23.

It was approved thanks to the votes of the government’s junior coalition partner Unidas Podemos, and smaller groups such as Mas Pais and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC). Both the PP and far-right Vox voted against it, as well as some other parties that usually support the government, including the Basque Nationalist Party and the Canarian Coalition.

Mortgage defaults at record lows, despite rising interest rates

Staying afloat Mark Stucklin www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

FORECLOSURES initiated by mortgage lenders were the lowest on record in 2022, suggesting that rising borrowing costs have not yet translated into a wave of mortgage defaults.

There were just 16,851 mortgage foreclosures initiated by lenders in 2022, down 19%, and the lowest level since 2014, when the National Institute of Statistics started publishing these figures.

Foreclosure initiations fell much more than the national average in the Canaries, with a 39% decline in Tenerife and 28% decline in Las Palmas, but in the Balearics, which also attract many foreign buyers,

foreclosures actually rose by 47%, completely bucking the national trend.

The overall decline got bigger as the year went on, with a 1% increase in Q1 turning into a 30% decrease in Q3, before falling back to -23% in Q4.

The last quarter of the year was also the lowest quarter on record going back to 2014.

At the same time as mortgage foreclosures were declining, borrowing costs were rising fast with 12-month Euribor, the base-rate to which most Spanish mortgages are tied. It went from -0.478 in January 2022 to 3.018% in December, driving up monthly repayments for borrowers with annually

resetting mortgages. For reasons that are not clear, ris -

ing borrowing costs have not yet led to an increase in delinquent mortgages, as you might expect. The majority of new mortgages signed in 2022 were fixedrate, which helps, but the majority of outstanding mortgages will be variable, so most borrowers in Spain will be feeling the pain of higher interest rates.

Yolanda Díaz, Vice President in the government from the hard-left Podemos party, proposed in February freezing all mortgages, effectively making them fixed rate, pointing to record banking profits whilst many families ‘are having problems paying the mortgage’. Apparently she hasn’t seen

the latest mortgage foreclosure figures published by the National Institute of Statistics, which suggest that mortgage distress is at record lows. “It’s time to freeze mortgages and moderate the extreme profits of big banks so we all win,” she said.

Justice

Podemos argues that freezing mortgage rates is necessary to ‘restore social justice’ but it also punishes fixed-rate borrowers whilst rewarding variable-rate borrowers who were happy to take on more risk in return for lower payments whilst rates were low.

Brits lead Swedes and Dutch

THE Brits are still leading the way for property purchases on the Costa del Sol. They have beaten both the Swedes and Dutch for sales in the first quarter of 2023. The trio of nationalities are spearheading the market, and bought a third of all properties between them.

Nadia Calviño, the Vice President for the Economy, says the government has already taken ‘the most adequate measures’ whilst avoiding ‘negative collateral impact’ and creating distortions between variable and fixed-rate mortgages. The low level of mortgage foreclosures is a healthy sign that homeowners are not in financial distress, despite rising inflation and borrowing costs. At least not yet. On the other hand borrowers are probably cutting back on discretionary spending whilst keeping up with mortgage payments, which is bad news for the economy.

British buyers account for 14% of foreign buyers, followed by Sweden (12%) and Holland (8%), according to real estate agency Sonneil.

Budget

The portal has named Marbella, Estepona, San Pedro, Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Mijas among the most sought-after destinations for those with an average budget of €300,000. Other nationalities that have their eyes set on the Malaga coastline are Argentinians and North Americans, according to the portal.

Real

knowledge of the island and widespread experience in luxury real estate.

Located in the exclusive urbanisation of Sol de Mallorca, this stylish family villa consists of an entrance hall with cloakroom leading into a spacious salon, with living and dining areas. A top of the range open plan Italian designer kitchen features Siemens equipment and 80 bottle Gaggenau wine fridge, separate pantry and separate utility room. On the upper floor there is a large TV lounge with real fireplace, four double bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms and all with access to balconies. There are open and covered terraces perfect for an alfresco lifestyle. The beautiful grounds contain a swimming pool, pergola, boule/petanca court, fountains, rose beds, fruit trees and a cactus garden.

A short walk takes you to the famous Three Finger Bay and the area is surrounded by protected pine forests. Port Adriano and Puerto Portals are a few minutes drive away and Palma takes just 20 minutes.

Borrowers in Spain will be feeling the pain of higher interest rates

Rent Scam

POLICE have dismantled a criminal organisation that scammed holidaymakers by charging them advance deposits for vacation rentals for properties that they did not own.

The ‘Rent Scam’ operation, whose mastermind ran the scheme from prison, led to the arrest of 29 people, with 13 others currently under investigation. The network carried out over 128 alleged scams across Spain, targeting the province of Madrid in particular.

The gang consisted of 42 people - a quarter of whom were women - and operated in different teams led by the jailbird with a history of computer fraud.

Golden opportunity

INTEREST in the Span-

ish Golden Visa scheme has jumped since Portugal and Ireland closed down their own schemes in February.

Consultancy firms offering international Golden Visa services have claimed that Spain has benefited the most from the Portuguese and Irish government decisions to cancel their residency-by-investment schemes, with a surge in online searches and enquiries.

According to Aston’s research, Google searches for terms related to the ‘Spanish Golden Visa’ increased 68% between March and April, ahead of Greece (+34%) and Malta (+29%), two other popular destinations in the EU that offer a visa and longterm path to residency in return for cash.

According to another company called IMI Daily, there are currently 7,500 active Gold en Visa residency permits

SpaincashinginafterIrelandand PortugaldroppedGoldenVisa

By Mark Stucklin

in Spain, with 2,462 issued last year, the third biggest number on record since the scheme was introduced in 2013.

Only 2019 (2,656)

NOWHERE TO BE HEARD

HOLLYWOOD star Amber Heard has moved to an anonymous, suburban street in a sleepy Madrid barrio

Fresh from a series of hard fought court battles with ex-husband Johnny Depp she has bought a €1.7 million, 200 m2 villa on the outskirts of the city, it has been reported.

Heard’s luxury residence is located in El Viso, one of the wealthiest and most exclusive neighbourhoods of the Spanish capital.

After selling her home in Yucca Valley, California for €1 million, Heard initially settled with her young daughter in Costitx, Mallorca. However, despite her attempt to go by a pseudonym, Heard’s presence in the small town caused quite a stir in the area, so she sought out somewhere else she could go unnoticed.

Surrounded by the crème de la crème of Madrid,

Heard can adopt a more anonymous lifestyle in El Viso, where she is neighbours with Span ish stars including Mar Flores and Xabi Alonso. Heard recently gave an interview in fluent Span ish, revealing her intentions to stay in Spain.

A friend of Heard echoed Amber’s hopes of staying out of the Hollywood limelight.

“She’s bilingual in Spanish and is happy there, raising her daughter away from all the noise,” the source said.

“I don’t think she’s in a hurry to go back to work or Hollywood.

“But she’ll be back when the time is right, for the right project.”

saw more Golden Visas issued.

One investor can apply for multiple residency permits for family members and dependants.

The Spanish government has come under renewed pressure from Brussels and Spain’s left-wing parties to shut down the Spanish

scheme.

The Spanish government says it plans to reconsider the scheme. This could involve increaseing the investment threshold from €500,000 to €1million or possibly to terminate it. But with the general election due next month nothing will be done in the near future.

SEIZED FOR THE NEEDY

NEARLY 100 empty properties are being seized from their owners in Catalunya.

So far 70 flats are being expropriated from large property owners in a bid to create more council housing.

The apartments - located around the region, from Tarragona to Vic - will be converted to social housing in areas of high residential demand.

It comes after a law was passed by the Catalan Parliament in 2022 allowing local authorities to expropriate a home if it remained unoccupied for more than two years.

Initially owners are being allowed to take action and rent out their homes, or to come up with a good excuse.

Letters to the owners are going out this month and if no ‘acceptable’ answer is given, they will be expropriated.

The regional government has set aside €5 million to buy an initial 50 to 70 flats at a fair rate.

“We are doing everything we can to help families in a vulnerable situation,” explained regional councillor Juli Fernandez.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

After a Spanish-loving British architect won the prestigious global Pritzker prize, Isabel Max takes a look at Sir David Chipperfield’s buildings in Spain

PERCHED on a Valencia shoreline, the horizontal planes of the striking America’s Cup building cut through the sky, like the white capped wakes of sailboats.

The emblematic building, Veles e Vents (or Sails and Winds), in Valencia port, is often singled out as Costa Blanca’s most captivating constructions.

VELES E VENTS

Built for the America’s Cup, it is a visual link between the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Valencia. Designed by David Chipperfield and Fermin Vazquez with a simple, minimalist style, the building is 25m high and has a surface area of 10,500 m2; the incorporation of horizontal platforms provides shade for the terraces, from which visitors can enjoy marvellous views not only over the marina and beaches, but over the entire city itself.

But how many people know it was designed by British architect Sir David Chipperfield, 69, whose lifetime achievements have just landed the Pritzker Prize, the industry’s highest honour.

The gong - dubbed the ‘Nobel of architecture’ - is awarded annually to the living architect who has best contributed to the built landscape with consistent talent, vision and commitment.

Past winners include Rafael Moneo, I.M Pei, Zaha Hadid and, last year, Francis Kere.

“Chipperfield is assured without hubris, consistently avoiding trendiness to confront and sustain the connections

between tradition and innovation, serving history and humanity,” said Chairman Tom Pritzker, at the cere-

CIUTAT DE JUSTICÍA

The Ciutat de la Justíca masterfully unites the legal courts of Barcelona and L’Hospitalet, consolidating what were once 17 buildings across the two cities into a mere eight buildings, situated in a bright public plaza. Chipperfield has injected colour and dynamism into his designthe pink, green, yellow and blue buildings vary in volume and none of the buildings stand parallel to one another - contesting the visually monolithic tradition of legal buildings.

mony in Greece in May. A climate change and social inequality activist, Chipperfield’s buildings are known for restraint in design and in materials.

He makes preserving ‘place-hood’ a top priority in his work, using locally sourced materials and paying homage to the natural and architectural landscapes of their locations.

Chipperfield, who founded his London-based practice in 1985, is not just the visionary behind Veles e Vents, which was built for the America’s Cup and is a brilliant visual link between the Med and the city of Valencia. He also designed the amazing Ciu

Continues on page 12

DOING JUSTICE TO COLOUR: Chipperfield’s Cuitat de Justicia

IP2-10046 - Club Nautico Santa Ponsa, 2 Bed, 2 Bath, Underground Parking, Large Terrace

Two bedroom corner apartment for sale in Santa Ponsa. Front line to the marina with a spacious terrace overlooking the communal pool and the wonderful Santa Ponsa marina. This wonderful apartment offers plenty of potential. 2 double sized bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large living space offering plenty of light. The community is fantastically located with direct access straight into the port, the beach literally a 5 minute walk away and it also has a communal pool. There is also an underground parking space included in the price. Click on our QR code to see full photo set.

AWARD WINNING DESIGNS

Chipperfield is currently working on a renovation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Southwest Wing in New York City, as well as projects in Stockholm, Venice and Moscow.

His

From page 10

Inspiring designs

tat de la Justícia in Barcelona, a colourful eight building complex of the legal courts of the Barcelona and L’Hospitalet governments.

It is not just Chipperfield’s designs which find a home in Spain.

Since 1995, the architect has savoured bayside views from a striking holiday home up in Galicia (pictured right).

In the unostentatious fishing village of Corrubedo, the home blends a modernist style into an ordinary terrace beside a harbour.

As with the Galicia home, it is ingenuity, rather than a distinctly Chipperfield style, that imbues his body of work with lasting elegance.

“We know that, as architects, we can have a more prominent and engaged role in creating not only a more beautiful world but a fairer and more sustainable one too,” Chipperfield said at the ceremony in Athens. “We must rise to this challenge and help inspire the next generation to embrace this responsibility with vision and courage.”

EPITOME OF COOL

POWER OF PLACEHOOD: Chipperfield’s buildings are designed with the history and culture of their locations in mind.

award-winning designs include the River and Rowing Museum, in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire (below) and the Museo Jumex in Mexico City (above).

JET-SET COAST TAKES OFF

UNCERTAINTY, inflation and Americans are driving Marbella’s roaring housing market this year, according to a leading real estate agency.

The ‘jet-set coast’ has seen house prices shoot up massively since shrugging off what was, for Marbella, merely a minor inconvenience in the Covid pandemic.

Despite the pandemic, the Ukraine war and supply chain issues, the Marbella housing market has risen by a third since 2019.

“Currently the rental market is very busy, with very little availability for all of the villas and everything that is available is booked instantly,” Marketing

Executive Anton Valov, at Key Real Estate, told the Olive Press.

“And renting rather than buying is driven a lot by global uncertainty, with the world being in such a state of flux at the moment.”

The consistent demand has made

it so that the concept of a ‘low season’ in Marbella no longer exists, with a continuous influx of tourists and part-time residents throughout the year.

But the ultra net worth individuals also see Marbella real estate as a safe haven asset in a time of high inflation.

The market for properties valued at over €4 million has seen a particular surge, according to Anton.

And finally, Americans are rocketing up the rankings for property purchases, driven by investment in Malaga by US tech firms.

Google’s cybersecurity centre of excellence is one of a number of projects that will further transform Malaga into a tech hub.

But does all this activity mean that the Marbella housing market is one giant bubble?

“In the last 40-odd years, the real estate market has never really fallen,” Anton explained. “In fact, it has only been rising and rising.”

HOME RETURNED

A COURT has ordered a town hall to return a house to its owners after it was expropriated in 2001 to build five storeys of social housing.

The court ordered Palma City Council to pay the owners over €60,000 in compensation for damage done to the building during its years of control.

The finca was included in reform plans for the Sa Calatrava area. The 155 m2 property on Calle Bastio d’en Berard had been acquired by a German couple in 1995 who did not live there but rented it out. The owners took legal action over the compulsory purchase price of just €60,000 as well as opposing the expropriation. They lost on both counts but

By Alex Trelinski

plans to develop the site did not materialise. The building was vandalised and occupied by squatters with its state deteriorating so much that it partially collapsed with Palma council announcing plans to pull it down last year. It said its condition was down to a series of tests undertaken for an archaeological study prior to the start of the non-existent site construction. The couple began fighting to get the finca back in 2010, stating that the maximum period for an authority to use an expropriated property had gone well past the five year

expiry date.

Palma Council rejected all of their arguments and requests, with the matter ending up in court, which has now found in favour of the owners.

The court ruling said: “After 18 years, the work or service for

which the expropriation was undertaken has not been carried out.”

It ordered the €60,000 compensation to be paid, but Palma council can still appeal the sentence to the Superior Court of Justice.

This villa was built in 2020 with noble materials of the highest quality and is tastefully combined throughout the property. Located in the exclusive residential area of Portals Nous and with beautiful garden views, within walking distance to Portals Nous town and the beaches.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION info@themallorcadeal.com

tel: +34 693 516 446 www.themallorcadeal.com

Plaza de Portals 3, local 4, Portals Nous, 07181, Balearic Islands

In an outstanding location, this spacious frontline apartment has stunning, south facing, sea views and has direct access from the pool area to the adjacent ‘Balneario’ golden sand beach. This exclusive community is set on an elevated rocky promontory above the largest beach of this popular resort that has attracted some of the island’s best hotels, restaurants, bars and facilities.

This superb apartment provides 3 double bedrooms and 2 modern bathrooms (1 en suite). A spacious ‘open-plan’ living room and modern fully fitted and equipped kitchen with breakfast bar. The living area opens onto a large south facing terrace, ideal for sunbathing and dining ‘al-fresco’ whilst enjoying spectacular sea and marina views. The terrace is part covered and part open with retractable sunshades.

MODERN LUXURY VILLA, PORTALS NOUS WATERFRONT APARTMENT, ILLETAS SEA VIEW APT, PUERTO PORTALS MARINA

BEDS 4 | BATHS 4 | BUILD 550m2 | PLOT 890m2 BEDS 3 | BATHS 2 | PLOT 172m2

1

A massive black moggie stalks across an industrial building in Murcia. Leaves suggesting a concrete jungle adorn the bottom of the building where a normal-sized man can be seen cradling his cat.

Off the wall

Murals are the new metropolitan art brightening up cityscapes

WALK through the backstreets of Estepona and count the massive murals adorning its high rise buildings - you could be forgiven for thinking Banksy had paid the town a clandestine visit. Ranging from homages to Miguel de Cervantes to celebrations of the town’s seafaring history, the diverse daubs, that number nearly 50, are a prominent part of one of the Costa Del Sol’s most aesthetic towns. But Estepona is not the only place to have fantastic murals, as we demonstrate here.

2 This stop-you-in-yourtracks mural with its nod to Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights can be found in Ordes, Galicia. The work of Italian artist Blue, it features a tribute to vegetarianism with produce praying to a blender.

4 It’s not always apartment blocks or houses that are illuminated by murals. Here, the Plaza de Armas bus station in Sevilla has a sleeping girl offset by eye-catching vivid colours.

3 Street artists Shepard Fairey and D*Face teamed up for these two murals in Malaga. Located next to the Centre for Contemporary Art (CAC), the pair were created for a street art festival.

5 The Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz is known as the ‘Painted City’ for its murals which are featured on a walking tour. ‘The Thread of Time’ recalls its medieval past when it traded in fine fabrics.

If you are interested in selling or buying a property, our experienced agents at Strand Properties are trusted advisors and are happy to help with that. Contact us:

BEAT THE HEAT

IN June and July, as the mercury soars, we all need respite from the sweltering heat.

To get ahead of the challenge, here are some interior design tips to keep your home cool - and stylish - during the hottest months of the year.

Whether you are lucky (an anything-is-possible home builder or handyman), or plucky (a keep-cooland-carry-on stoic), the number one piece of advice is: Don’t let the heat in!

If you’re building from scratch, the golden rule is: Windows exposed to direct sunlight become radiators, so set them back under bulkheads,

Cool interior design tips for the sizzling spanish summer, writes Julia Begbie

overhangs, and louvres. But if your home is built you’ll need to embrace shade, and the most effective cooling strategies for existing buildings include:

1. Applying window film to reflect heat

2. Installing awnings (toldos*), sail shades and pergolas to keep the sun off windows

3. Fitting external blinds (persianas*) to block the sun completely

4. Insulate and ventilate the roof.

Solar-powered roof vents help to release hot air that gets trapped inside. (ED: our Velux windows achieve a similar affect)

*With toldos, choose light colours to help reflect the sun’s rays, and for traditional-style homes look at traditional materials such as esparto grass, see examples at MIV Interiores

Other tips

Otherwise (perhaps counter-intuitively to some) keep your windows shut when the sun is up, and consider installing mosquito screens so you can throw windows wide open at night.

REACH YOUR POTENTIAL

The Agency Mallorca can tap into worldwide media connections

WHEN selling your property, you want to reach the most diverse audience as possible with vast exposure.

With hundreds of Real Estate agencies starting up every day, why not choose one which has the most potential to reach a widespread audience?

This is where The Agency Mallorca scores highly. The properties it features are picked up by international media on a regular basis as examples of some of the best real estate that Mallorca has to offer.

It is a franchise of The Agency RE in Beverly Hills, which is renowned for its expansive network of over 80 offices across the United States - and it is growing fast across Europe. With the rising number of Americans flocking to the island, The Agency Mallorca presents a unique

opportunity for property owners. One of the key advantages of selling with The Agency Mallorca is its exceptional marketing capabilities.

As a highly regarded agency in the United States, The Agency has established strong media connections, leading to extensive press coverage of their properties worldwide.

By listing your property with The Agency Mallorca, you can tap into this broad and diverse audience.

The impressive portfolio of The Agency Mallorca has already caught the attention of prestigious publications such as the San Francisco Chronicle, Hollywood Reporter, Wall

of Andratx was featured in both Mansion Global and the Wall Street Journal. Such articles provide an incredible viewership of up to 8 million views, ensuring your property gets the attention it deserves.

If possible, open windows to create a through-draught. Magnetic mosquito door curtains are an inexpensive and effective solution. At times of abundant water, i.e. not right now, hose down your balconies and patios at dusk. Harness the cooling effect of evaporation to reduce radiant heat outside as you throw open your windows at night. If it’s important to match your hose to your house – or, for that matter, to your handbag - check out the exquisite range from Garden Glory And, by way of an eco-apology for that last suggestion, choose the most energy efficient appliances and light bulbs available. Energy-efficient appliances not only save money on energy bills, but also generate less heat, helping to keep your home cooler. And if you want hot food, cook outside in the evening: everyone loves a barbecue.

Through its affiliation with The Agency RE and its global reputation, The Agency Mallorca offers property owners access to an extensive network, local expertise, and a track record of successful sales.

With its focus on maximum exposure and an ability to attract potential buyers from around the world, The Agency Mallorca is the ideal partner to showcase your Mallorca property.

Big fan

Just as evaporation cools your terrace, it can also cool your body. Electric fans don’t change interior temperatures, but the wind chill effect of air moving over your body helps evaporate sweat and creates a cooling effect. Magnovent sells stylish ceiling fans, but remember to turn your fans off while you’re out; they don’t shift the mercury.

That deals with physical heat, now to psychological heat. What decorative measures make for a chilled look?

In terms of colour, think cool and refreshing. Light colours like white, beige, and pale blues and greens reflect sunlight, conveying a sense of coolness and calm.

Ceiling fans stir the air and create movement in gauzy fabrics like sheer linen and muslin, visually supporting the sense of breeze.

Look at suppliers like Mark Alexander, a company producing

rugs and carpets with lightweight, natural fibre options like jute or sisal.

Let the jungle in Houseplants add greenery and help purify the air and regulate humidity levels, so incorporate nature within your home for a cooler, more refreshing atmosphere.

Opt for low-maintenance plants like succulents and ferns, plants that thrive in the summer heat.

Cluttered surfaces gather dust and make a room feel stuffy and hot, so clear the clutter and embrace a minimalist approach to your summer decor. Keep surfaces clear, and select simple, streamlined furniture that allows air to circulate freely. And finally, keep hydrated and add colour and elegance to your space by keeping a stylish jug of ice-cold water or a refreshing summer cocktail on hand, served in chic glassware, or indeed super-chic Italian poolside acrylic courtesy of Italian brand Memento Synth

For more information on this and many more properties in The Agency’s portfolio, please visit www.theagencyre.com or telephone on +34 871 610 678

STYLISH: Neutral fibres are perfect

PIC

Interiores

PIC CREDIT: Mark Alexander fabrics

Garden Glory

Sliding seamlessly outside

some tips

INDOOR/outdoor living is the epitome of modern home design, seamlessly blending our indoor spaces with the natural environment.

It brings a resort-like feel to our everyday lives, reconnecting us with nature, but getting it right is often very tough. When envisioning this space (above), the focus was on providing an inviting and

EXCLUSIVE LISTING

entertaining atmosphere, while showcasing some of our favourite products. The design considered various zones that cater to different activities, such as relaxation by the pool or grilling up a feast for good company.

To evoke a tranquil mood, a tonal colour palette was carefully selected. Laying terrazzo, concrete and a stone

veneer for the external finishes, provide a soothing ambience blurring boundaries of its natural surroundings. Bold prints were introduced in the soft furnishings to infuse vibrancy and visual interest.

These prints become focal points, breathing life into the space and add character and personality to the overall design.

1. 3-SEATER BASKET SOFA by Gubi

2. HAVEN, KENZO FABRIC by Thibaut

3. CLAY TABLE CERAMIC / GLASS TOP – OVAL by Desalto

4. BESPOKE TERRAZZO TILES by Huguet

5. COL.4 FORESTA, YOUNG AND LOVELY by Dedar fabrics

6. FLAIR O’ OUTDOOR CHAIR by B&B Italia

7. CONCRETE WORKS by Michael Roschach

8. MARRONE, BRAC by Mutina

9. OUTDOOR METAL SIDE TABLES by Vitra

10. FLAT CHILL BED 100 by Gandia Blasco

11. COL.6

Avenida Rei Jaume I, 104, local 1 07180 Santa Ponsa - Mallorca

Magnificent Land in Santa Ponsa

Reformed in 2023 plot: 800m2

CP000286 Price: 2,250.000

A Fantastic Townhouse in Santa Ponsa

One of the last available large plots to develop in Nova Santa Ponsa.

Stunning Golf Villa in Camp de Mar, Andratx

over two floors. On the upper floor we find a spacious and bright living-dining room with a fireplace, a fully equipped open kitchen with a laundry room and access to a large terrace with views of the port, on the lower floor there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It has hot and cold air conditioning in all rooms, climalit windows and parquet flooring. It is completely renovated, new plumbing and electrical installations, all with top quality materials. Reformed in 2023.

3 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | plot: 150m2

CP000346 Price: 795,000€

Over 2500 sqm flat plot located at the end of a cul de sac, with the possibility to build an800+ sqm metre mansion plus basement.

Rarely available,semi-detached house family property within walking distance to all the shops and beach in Santa Ponsa.

This property consists of 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms , one en suite. Downstairs you have a bright and well equipped and spacious kitchen with a dining area, a large lounge with access to your private garden with parking area and a guest toilet.

Reformed in 2022

3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | plot: 208m2

CP000355 Price: 1,150,000€

approx.1321m² with private access to the sea. The house of approx 750m² will have a spacious and bright living-dining room, fully fitted kitchen, five bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and seven bathrooms.

Interested, please contact Crocodile Properties for this exciting opportunity.

The property has hot and cold air conditioning , also there is the possibility to open up the basement which is the whole footprint of the property . You can also put in a swimming pool if you wish in the 350m garden. Please contact us for this exciting and rarely available family home.

It is located in a very quiet residential complex with a communal pool and has parking

Refurbished semi-detached chalet with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, terrace, garage, storage room, air conditioning, underfloor heating, fireplace, privacy, and located within a highly sought-after residential complex.

All with high quality materials.

Furthermore it has air-conditioning hot and cold, underfloor heating, venetian blinds, summer kitchen on the terrace, jacuzzi on the lower terrace, swimming pool, garage, two fireplaces, lift, sauna and security system with alarm and video surveillance.

The property has undergone a complete renovation in 2022 and boasts modern and stylish finishes throughout. Perfect for those looking for a comfortable and private living space in a desirable location.

GIARDINO, CAMPUS by Dedar fabrics

12. ELEKTRA PARASOL by Hommes Studio

It’s tricky getting your outdoor spaces up to scratch. Sara Eski of SE Designs has

‘bed-in’ protest for six days in the honeymoon suite at the Amsterdam Hilton, harnessing the interest in their wedding to promote their message of peace.

The remarkable series of photos continued well beyond the wedding day. Nutter would also go on to capture the legendary duo back in New York in their Greenwich Village studio, on their rooftop and even in their kitchen.

One incredible photo captures Lennon on an aeroplane reading a newspaper dated to April 11, 1970 with the headline Astronaut - We May Die from the Apollo 13 catastrophe averted.

But then disaster really did strike - when Nutter ‘stupidly’ lent the negatives to a friend while they were living in New York in the mid 1970s.

The recipient, Anthony Fawcett, who had been an assistant to John and Yoko at the time, was writing a biography called John Lennon: One Day At A Time, published in 1980.

But the negatives in Fawcett’s possession inexplicably vanished after his New York apartment was either repossessed or a quick-fingered guest pinched them - Fawcett has suspiciously given conflicting reports.

Included in the missing batch, taken on Nutter’s Nikon camera, were a dozen never-before published photos of the wedding day in Gibraltar alone.

In the ones seen by the Olive Press (with three published here today) they are seen posing coolly for the camera and lounging on a private jet (see above right). There were also a number of strips from scenes at the registry office itself as John and Yoko went through the legal process of signing the papers on one of the most famous rock and roll marriages of all time.

Understandably upset at the loss, Nutter reported the crime, which led to separate investigations by London’s Metropolitan Police and, later, America’s FBI, but to no avail.

Indeed, a 1983 letter from Southwark Police to Nutter, seen by the Olive Press, shows that officers questioned Fawcett at his home in south London.

Fawcett told them he ‘knew who had the negatives’

and would contact Nutter - whose brother was famous Savile Row tailor, Tommy Nutter - with the information. But in the end, he never did.

And despite Nutter’s best efforts to track down the missing negativesconservatively valued now at around €150,000 - the trail went dead for many years, leaving Nutter bereft.

The first faint sparks of life flickered briefly for the case back in 2005, when world-renowned Beatles memorabilia expert Peter Miniaci claimed he had received an email offering him ‘some rare John and Yoko wedding photos’.

“I was suspicious and asked if the sender had the rights to the images, to which it was claimed that ‘the photographer is dead’ so I didn’t need to worry about it,” he told the Olive

Press in 2016, when we took up the baton.

But, as the Olive Press discovered in a two-part investigation, Nutter was certainly far from dead, and was still alive and living in New York. Where he is today.

Curiously, as we discovered seven years ago, another photographer, American Brian Hamill, had also had photos of John and Yoko - captured in New York in October 1972 - stolen from him.

Having been stored in the Getty archives, they were officially declared as ‘misfiled’ after officials were not able to locate them. Hamill was awarded a paltry $10,000 in compensation.

Yet, shockingly, these same missing photos mysteriously appeared - alongside Nutter’s missing ones - in Fawcett’s Lennon biography, now a long time out of print. Lennon was shot dead the same year it came out in 1980.

Even more mysteriously Hamill also told the Olive Press how he had been offered the opportunity of buying them back in 2010.

It came over lunch in New York, via a lawyer representing an unnamed woman, who offered to ‘broker’ a shady deal in which Hamill would effectively purchase his own photos.

In a letter to the FBI’s Stolen Art Recovery Unit, he wrote that the loss of those images ‘feel like the loss of my memories and, therefore, a piece of my identity.’

“The FBI did next to nothing to help me out when I reported this,” Hamill told us in 2016.

He pointed the finger squarely at Fawcett, insisting we should investigate him.

We said we would try to locate them, however, despite our best efforts to track down the negatives, our efforts came to little.

But we were able to track down a 62-year-old Beatles biographer in the Far East, who issued instructions that the fee for the negatives would be £5,600, he put us in touch with

Our reporter was told to ‘send 90%’ of the agreed price after two contact sheets showing the original negatives were sent as proof of ownership.

After a week of exchanges, two remarkable never-before-seen contact sheets from the wedding were emailed over.

But when the seller (wrongly) suspected our undercover reporter was working for Yoko Ono, he launched into a vile tirade against her before threatening to sue and ending contact.

When we finally approached Fawcett about the negatives back in 2016, he replied: “These were in fact stolen from my New York apartment around 1976 along with everything else from my flat.

“Yoko Ono was extremely upset that these negatives were stolen, and has asked my help many times to try to get them back.”

Nutter admitted he was heartbroken and after adding he was struggling financially, he said he had ‘sort of given up.’ It was ominous.

The fate of the negatives seemed destined to forever remain a mystery.

That is until May 11 this year, when we received our first letter from the apparent Good Samaritan in the USA - ‘a real shot in the dark’, the writer admitted.

In the typed letter addressed to editor Jon Clarke, which left no return address or name, the individual explained she had actually had the missing negatives in her hands in 2011, but did not realise their significance.

Over around 10 short paragraphs she went on to explain that someone had arrived at her office ‘where she worked at the time’ and had taken a set of negatives to her boss, whom she declined to name.

She added that the mystery seller had brought the items hoping to make a profit, but the company had eventually declined, and the negatives remained in the mystery seller’s hands.

“Perhaps the issue of rights came up,” she added.

NEVER SEEN: Lennon on a plane reading the tabloids and three strips of never published negtives. Photos by David Nutter the mysterious seller.

Either way, in the short time the collection had been in the office, she had made digital scans of the negatives in order for her boss to evaluate them and was amazed to see photos of ‘John and Yoko.’ “I’ve been a fan of the Beatles, particularly John Lennon, since I was a kid.

Because of this they had decided not to check what was on it for fear it might be malicious.

“We will now be looking into this,” a spokesman told us. “Thanks for the call.”

The letter writer herself meanwhile appealed to us to help her hand-deliver the scans to the photographers in person.

“I would love to meet Mr Nutter and talk with him about his photographs.

“This is a real shot in the dark with no guarantees it will work, but I’m hopeful,” she concluded.

In the second letter, she wrote: “I’m hopeful these photos will find their way to David and if they bring him new fame and money after all these years, that would be a wonderful outcome.”

When the Olive Press finally managed to track Nutter down to his Manhattan home again this week, he told us it would be ‘fabulous’ to finally receive digital scans of the original negatives.

The pain of ‘betrayal’ and’ losing something very valuable and dear’ to him has lingered for decades.

“I would feel very relieved and ever so grateful just to have anything, even if I don’t do anything with them, but just to have them,” he told us by phone.

And he went on to recall the ‘surreal’ time he had with the two icons of the Sixties, in which he appears in one photo (see left).

“It was an incredible day in Gibraltar, It really was,” Nutter reminisced. “They were in such a good mood. And they were very funny and we had a really good laugh, and it was just wonderful.”

As the Beatles sang in their 1963 cover ‘Please Mr Postman’: Wait, oh yes, wait a minute Mr Postman Wait, wait Mr Postman Mr Postman, look and see

Is there a letter in your bag for me?

I think the photos are wonderful,” she wrote. And coming to the point, she added: “I recently remembered (out of the blue) that one envelope had David Nutter’s name written on it.” When she did an internet search she came across our investigation of Nutter’s missing negatives from 2016, and suddenly understood the importance of the scans she had made in 2011.

“I feel real sympathy for Mr Nutter’s plight and I want to get the scans to him,” she wrote. She added she has also sent a copy of the entire set to the Aperture Foundation in New York, a non-profit that supports photographers as a form of art, in the hope that they would be able to get them to Nutter and Hamill.

But the foundation appeared clueless to the saga when contacted this week, although did eventually confirm that they had received a pen drive, but without

The starstruck photographer was even dragged in to serve as a witness for the marriage ceremony.

“They actually spelled my name wrong on the marriage certificate. Otherwise, it was magical.”

The 84-year-old added he would gladly meet in person with the ‘kind’ anonymous letter writer who got in touch with the Olive Press and asked us to try and set up a meeting.

“I would happily chat about the Beatles and the golden era that we lived through back then,” he continued. We also got in touch with New-Yorker Hamill, who told us the prospect of having the scans would be ‘just dandy.’

“Are you kidding?” he then cried jubilantly down the phone. “I’d be delighted.”

He told us: “I tell my daughter how important journalism is, and I want to say thank you so much for doing this.”

Thus the enigmatic saga, heading towards its 50th year, might finally reach a bittersweet conclusion, as we now await our mystery letter writer to continue the correspondence. Help, we need somebody…yes, it’s over to you Ms secret letter writer, now we need a number!

FIRST SEEN: Yoko and Lennon and (below) with photographer David Nutter

WE – Sandro and Pascal – are two bike lovers from Germany who made their passion a profession. Together with our experienced chief mechanic Ted we believe that biking goes beyond fashion or business. Its a way of life – our way of life!

“If you want it – you can have it”

“If you

Cancer shock

Skin cancer cases soar by 40% in just four years

SHOCK new figures show that the number of skin cancer patients has risen by 40% in Spain in the past four years.

According to the Spanish Academy of Dermatology, over 78,000 cases are diagnosed every year, which means that 120 individuals in every 100,000 people suffer from skin cancer. Within these figures, experts explain that 12 in every 100,000 individuals have Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. However, they warn that in 2040, this form of skin can-

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Dr.Mónica Bonet – University of Barcelona

Dr. Yasmina Adebibe – B.D.S London

Smelly feet warning

RISING temperatures in Spain have brought a warning about foot bacterial infections caused by excess sweating.

The Valencian Community's College of Podiatrists(ICOPCV) says that 'keratolysis punctata' is one of the most frequent conditions to appear on feet in the summer months.

By Alberto Lejarraga

cer, which is by far the most dangerous, will become the second most common tumour, ahead of colon and lung cancer. And it is expected to become the most common type of

EBOLA SCARE

A WOMAN was given the all-clear for a suspected Ebola infection at a Basque Country hospital with tests showing she in fact had malaria.

Ebola is a serious and potentially fatal viral disease with a 50% mortality rate transmitted to humans through wild animals and then between people.

The patient was admitted to the High Biological Security Unit of the Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastian on June 1 after recently returning to a trip to the Central African Republic.

Spain has had just one recorded Ebola case when Galician nurse Teresa Romero contracted and overcame the disease in 2014.

cancer in men by that year. Scientists point out that skin cancer is often caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is already reaching dangerous levels in Spain. So they remind holidaymakers not to expose themselves to the sun for long periods and to always use sunscreen.

“People spend the whole year working inside an office but when the summer holidays arrive, they go to the beach for the whole day. This sporadic, yet excessive exposure is particularly dangerous,” Eduardo Nagore, Head of the Valencian Institute of Oncology said.

Sunscreen

Experts insist 95% of the cases can be prevented with basic measures such as using sunscreen. The number of people suffering from this type of disease is increasing worldwide.

Jorge Escoto from the ICOPCV said: “This pathology is an infection that affects the most superficial layer of the skin that is very common in the summer as excess sweating favours the growth of bacteria.”

The symptoms are the appearance of small holes on the upper part of the skin of the soles with each dimple between one and three millimetres in size They have a tendency to clump together on heels or on the tips of the feet, which are the areas where the foot supports the most pressure when walking. "The grouping of the holes can converge and cause a large injury,” warned Jorge Escoto. “The skin of the affected area may change colour and texture with most commonly a whitish and wrinkled appearance but can turn greenish or even black from an infection, which is normally accompanied by an unpleasant odour” he added. Podiatrists recommend wearing suitable breathable footwear that prevents continuous sweating and to use special socks that are designed to curb sweating.

Susan Taylor-Vickers – BSc, EDH Mercadona Centre, Son Caliu, Palma Nova

LA CULTURA

LORCA’S LEGACY

An exciting new route, including his renovated family home marks anniversary

By Jo Chipchase

SUMMER 2023

marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of Frederico Garcia Lorca. One of Spain’s most celebrated literary figures, the influential poet and playwright was born on June 5, 1898, at Fuente Vaqueros - a small, rural town near Granada.

From humble beginnings in the countryside, Federico Garcia Lorca was destined for great things. He is famed for his works about Andalucia, spurred by his desire to bring culture to far-flung places and address the rural/urban divide.

The eldest of four children, born to a wealthy landowner and his schoolteacher wife, Lorca lived and worked in many different locations, until the Franco regime assassinated him in 1936.

Many of the locations on the ‘Lorca trail’ can be visited today.

Lorca’s various locations

After their time at Fuente Vaqueros, in 1906, the Lorca family moved to Valderrubio, on the Vega de Granada. This remained their summer retreat until 1925. After 1926, they summered at Huerta San Vincente, on the edge of city.

The rest of the time, the family was based in the centre of Granada, first

on the Acera del Darro and, later, on the Acera del Casino. The Granada connection remained with Lorca all his life. He attended school in the city, and the University of Granada.

Although he was a considered an accomplished pianist, he took nine years to complete his degree in Law. In 1919, Lorca moved to the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid, which was his home for a decade, and encouraged artistic pursuits.

Fellow students included filmmaker, Luis Bunuel, and great artist, Salvador Dali, who became a close companion and even allegedly romantic interest. Despite spending time in Madrid, Barcelona and South America, Lorca never forgot his roots.

Lanjaron

Lanjarón dedicated 2019 to Lorca. The town has many fountains bearing his poems, the most beautiful of which is in ‘Plaza de Santa Ana’, just off the main street.

Don’t forget to visit Bar Rincón de Lorca at Hotel España, which serves great tapas.

Laroles

Between August 4-6, the village of Laroles celebrates the eighth edition of its cultural festival, ‘Me Vuelves Lorca’.

The event features live performances of music, theatre, oration, and comedy.

It aims to bring culture to a rural part of Granada, just like Lorca would have done. More info at: www.mevuelveslorca.com

Granada

The city has mounted a walking route that takes in sights associated with Lorca. These include:

● The Huerta San Vincente country house, now converted into a museum, where Lorca’s family enjoyed summers from 1926 onwards.

● Frederico Garcia Lorca Centro - a cultural insti-

Lorca’s works

Lorca is renowned for the 1928 poetry collection, ‘Romancero Gitano’ (gypsy ballads); the 1935 ‘Llanto por Ignacio Sánchez Mejías’ (lament for his famous bullfighter friend, who was gored and killed); the 1933 ‘Bodas de sangre’ (Blood Wedding); the 1934 ‘Yerma’, and ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba’ (house of Bernarda Alba).

During the early 1930s, Lorca encouraged a second ‘golden age’ of the Spanish theatre. He threw considerable enthusiasm into his theatre group, La Barraca, and won respect as a playwright. He was also keen on music and drawing. At the behest of his influential companion, Dali, some of his sketches were exhibited in the Dalmau gallery in Barcelona.

Lorca and La Alpujarra

Lorca’s travels through the Alpujarra began in his youth. A 1918 photo shows the 20-year-old on the bus

WHERE TO SEE LORCA’S LEGACY

tution dedicated to the research of Federico’s life and work.

● ‘El Rinconcillo’ – the traditional restaurant, Chikito, occupies the site of the historic Café Alameda, where intellectuals held the famous El Rinconcillo group. Its heyday was between 1915 and 1922, with members including Lorca, Falla, Lanz and de la Serna.

● Manuel de Falla’s house in Antequeruela Street, near the Alhambra. Lorca visited between 1922 and 1939. In 1962, it was con-

verted into a museum.

● Plaza de los Aljibes - the main access to the Alcazaba of the Alhambra. It has a viewpoint with stunning views of the Albaicín.

● San Nicholas viewpoint – looking over the Albaicin, Alhambra, Darro Valley, the old Granada, and the horizon of the Vega. These views inspired Lorca during his youthful walks.

www.universolorca.com/en/ruta-lorquiana/ lorcas-route-in-granada

from Granada to Motril, passing through Órgiva.

Another image places him beside an orange tree in the municipality of Órgiva.

On the back of the photo, he writes: ‘Naranjo located at an altitude of 2,000 metres. From here I can see Soportújar, Láujar, Vallacar [sic] and Cáñar. I hear the singing of four rivers tumbling down to the olive trees of the Vega de Órgiva.’

From 1924, Lorca’s family spent summers in the Alpujarra. His mother treated her liver complaint with the medicinal waters of the Lanjarón Spa (‘balneario’). Lorca travelled from Madrid to join his family. While in Lanjarón, staying at Hotel España, he worked on a collection of drawings. He sent postcards featuring the ruined Lanjaron ‘castillo’.

Much of Lorca’s correspondence with the sister of Salvador Dali, Anna Maria Dali, dates to his Lanjarón holidays. This includes the short story, ‘The Mediterranean is One and Indivisible’.

The town has since printed his poems on its ‘fuentes’ (springs), on beautiful ceramic tiles.

Lorca later toured La Alpujarra composer, Manuel de Falla, and they discussed mounting a puppet show. They also visited Guadix, on the far side of the Sierra Nevada.

Lorca’s final moments

With the rise of the far right changing the political climate, and stifling liberal Spaniards, Lorca was removed by the Franco regime in August 1936. After a stint in hiding, he was arrested in Granada, taken to the village of Viznar, held captive, and executed. Although the exact motivations for the killing were ambiguous, Lorca was known for his left-wing political views and activism.

He supported the Republicans, and his work frequently criticised the establishment.

There was also his sexual orientation, which made him a target for persecution at the time. However, despite the attempt at repression, his work would go on to outlive him.

TOUR: From his family home at Huerta San Vicente, where he played the piano, to the Me Vuelves Lorca festival in Laroles

The exact motive for his killing has always been ambiguous

Frederico Garcia Lorca Photo: wiki

SPAIN welcomed a record 7.2 million international tourists in April.

The extraordinary figures were helped by 1.4 million British arrivals, some 8.7% more than in April 2022.

France and Germany come next, contributing more than one million visitors each while arrivals from the US were over 60% up on the same month last year.

Catalunya was the busiest region with 21.3% of the total, followed by the Balearics (16.3%) and the Canary Islands (16%).

Spain is expected to receive between 52.3 million and 54.8 million foreign tourists between May and October, slightly up on the same period in 2019, which was a record year.

Spain's priority is now to attract travellers from distant markets such as the United States, China, South Korea and Japan.

Surf’s up

MALAGA firm Todo Surf Technology has developed an advanced surf forecasting app that provides reports and wave forecasts for over 6,000 beaches around the world. The free app features 360 beaches in Spain and provides long-range surf forecasts from across the globe including wave size, swell period, swell size, water temperature, tides, wind direction, and strength.

SPAIN’S ‘menstrual leave law’ has come into force.

It means that women can now request paid medical leave when suffering from especially painful periods.

The measure was included in a new abortion law that came into force on June 1.

To request the leave, women will have to get a medical note from their doctor.

According to sources from the government, the law is not designed to cover regular period pain, but

Period leave in force

rather intense pain that is accompanied by symptoms such as fever or diarrhoea.

Once leave is approved by a doctor, the Social Security system will cover the woman’s salary from the first day that the period arrives. This means that the woman’s employer will not have to cover the cost of the time missed. The law does not limit the number of days leave available but the norm

NO SLAP NEEDED

will be around three days given the usual time period of menstruation.

Pain

Figures from the Ministry for Economic and Social Inclusion suggest that there are around 6,000 temporary medical leaves granted every year in Spain due to dysmenorrhea (pain associated with menstruation) or abdominal distension.

BUMP IN THE ROAD

Spain’s soaring industrial output hit by unexpected slump in April

SPAIN’S economic good times hit another bump in the road after preliminary data revealed an unexpected decline in the country’s industrial production in April.

The report, from national statistics agency INE, indicates that output across all sectors, except capital goods, contracted.

It marks a disappointing reversal from the 4.1% growth experienced in March, as economists had

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Down: 1 Behave, 2 Stet, 3 Schnapps, 4 Ream, 5 Gift wrap, 6 Alpine, 12 Decision, 13 Crockery, 16 Indian, 18 Satiny, 20 Arms, 22 Rule.

By Walter Finch

hoped for a 1.5% increase. In fact during April, industrial production decreased by 0.9% from last year. On an unadjusted basis, industrial output fell by 4%, contrasting with the 5.4%recovery seen in the preceding month.

The contraction in industrial production was primarily driven by a sig -

CAN YOU SEE ME? THEN SO CAN ALL OUR READERS

nificant 4.9% fall in the durable consumer goods division, closely followed by a 4.3% decrease in intermediate goods output. Meanwhile, production of energy items slid by 1.5%. However, there was a silver lining as the output of capital goods demonstrated resilience by advancing 3.2%.

Decline

Looking at the month-onmonth figures, industrial output experienced a substantial decline of 1.8% in April, in stark contrast to the 1.3% increase ob -

YOUR BUSINESS COULD BE AS VISUAL AS THIS FROM AS LITTLE AS €50 AN ISSUE

FLIGHT attendants of a major Australian airline will no longer need to wear high heels or make-up.

Qantas, which in Spain operates to Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Ibiza, says the new dress code is ‘fit for our times’.

The new policy also allows any cabin crew or ground staff to have long hair, wear diamond earrings, glasses with clear frames or jewellery, including watches. However, the airline’s employees must continue to hide any tattoos and wear their name badges.

Back in work

UNEMPLOYMENT in Spain is at its lowest level since 2008, just before the financial crash.

In May, the jobless total fell by almost 50,000, to 2,739,110.

Over 200,000 new workers were registered in the Social Security system to make a total of 20,815,399 its highest number ever. Some 70% of the new jobs are within the services sector.

Wage slaves

served in March.

This decline represents the largest drop in 13 months, adding to the surprise and concern surrounding Spain’s industrial sector performance.

MADRID has been ranked as the most overworked city in the world. Office space rental company Instant offices says the Spanish capital beat off stiff competition from a number of US cities - also known for their fearsome work culture - with Houston coming in second place.

CLOTHING POVERTY

LESS money is spent per head on clothes in the Baleares than in any other region of Spain.

According to textile business association ACOTEX, residents in the islands spend €215 a year on clothing items.

This is around 28% less than in the rest of Spain, where the average is nearer €300. The figures cover 2022 when the value of clothing, footwear and accessories sales in Spain was almost 20% higher than in 2021. However, the numbers are still much lower than prior to the pandemic.

In 2019, people in Spain spent over 40% more money on clothes than in 2022.

O P LIVE RESS The

Firework Palava

MALAGA residents were left fuming over the racket caused by the christening of a British cruise ship in the port. The crew smashed champagne and let off fireworks at midnight.

Kinky cafe

POLICE raiding a Madrid cafe after complaints of noise were surprised to find 60 people partying and a secret dark room used for orgies.

Chew that

A PAIR of thieves were arrested in Barcelona after stealing a luxury €70,000 watch by holding down the owner and chewing the strap off his wrist.

Hey Jude

REAL Madrid have boldly put aside their past trauma with English players to land the prized Birmingham-born midfielder Jude Bellingham for a nine-figure sum.

Beating off stiff competition from financially juiced Premier League clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea - as well as PSG - they will stump up €103 million to sign Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The sum Madrid will hand over is second only to the €115 million they paid for horror

Real win race to sign wonderkid Bellingham

By Walter Finch

flop Eden Hazard - but more than the €94 million and €101 million they paid for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale respectively. Although not a like-for-like replacement, Bellingham will be expected to fill the boots of

LOST IN TRANSLATION

AS Thor he may be able to smite his foes with lightning and tank a blast from a neutron star. But in real life, actor Chris Hemsworth cannot remember even a basic Spanish sentence. For the Hollywood hunk, 39, was caught having scrawled ‘Estoy muy feliz de estar en España’ on the palm of his hand while at a Madrid promo of his new movie Extraction 2. It translates as ‘I’m very happy to be in Spain.’

And this in spite of the fact that he has been married to Spanish model Elsa Pataky since 2010.

Ballon D’Or winner and Real Madrid icon Lukas Modric, now 37. The 19-year-old will line up next to other elite young tal-

MERRY BERRY

DAME Mary Berry, 88, swapped baking for dancing and went on a six-hour dash to Ibiza superclub Pacha. The Queen of Baking was whisked to the party island by TV chef James Martin, who recounted the tale to Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary, filling the Phil-Schofield-shaped hole on This Morning’s sofa. And the cook-book author, born in 1935, was even seen throwing shapes and burning down the house on the dancefloor. She later called it ‘good fun’ and ‘terribly exciting’.

ent including Vinicius Junior (22), fellow Brazilian Rodrygo (22) and Frenchmen Eduardo Camavinga (20) and Aurelien Tchouameni (23).

Madridistas will hope Bellingham - a rising English star who has never played in the Premier League - will be more Steve McManaman than Johnathan Woodgate or Michael Owen. While the former won two Champions Leagues with los merengues, Woodgate did not play for over a year after his transfer due to injury, and when he finally made his debut he scored an own goal and then got sent off. Owen lasted just one season and spent most of it on the bench.

Trash behaviour

FIREFIGHTERS have rescued a young British tourist after he fell into an underground rubbish bin.

The young man had the misfortune of plummeting several metres into the pit housing the organic waste. The tourist, who suffered bruising but was otherwise unharmed, was freed from his sticky situation by Malaga firefighters after a 30 minute smelly ordeal.