The Leader Newspaper 26 June 23 – Edition 977

First born in 1998 thanks to the enthusiasm of a group of music fans, the San Javier International Jazz Festival has evolved into one of the most important cultural events in the Murcia region, if not the whole of Spain, achieving national and international recognition, bringing together some of the most important and influential musicians from the jazz scene together to fuse their style with those of other musical genres such as blues, soul, bossa nova and funk.

The 25th edition of the festival, which takes place from June 30th to July 23rd, will bring together such greats as Dianne Reeves, Djavan, Niels Lan Doky, and The Waterboys, among others.

The director of the Festival David Martínez pointed out that the 25th edition, "commits to the present and the future, although it takes the opportunity to look back and remember the musicians who have already passed through here and have made it great." Martínez also had words of recognition to the one who was its creator and director, Alberto Nieto, present at the event, whom he thanked, for continuing to collaborate with the festival.

Brazilian music legend Djvan will feature in the opening of the festival, with performances by the brilliant trombonist Steve Turre, and the very young new sensation in the world of jazz, Samara Joy.

Other established artists such as the vocalist Michele Hendricks together with the trumpeter and singer, Ronald Baker; The New Champs “In memory Joey DeFranceso”; the British soul-pop group, Mama's Gun, and the project that unites the Italian jazz group, Musica Nuda and the Spanish pianist, Chano Domínguez.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

Although there is far too much for us to feature in this article, a full schedule of events is available via the promotor locations, including the town hall, although a couple of last-minute confirmations didn’t make some of the official literature, the first, scheduled for July 8, is Antonio Serrano and Dianne Reeves quartet.

The first, well known to the festival audience - he was with the Argentine Luis Salinas in the first edition -, is a highly sought after harmonica player; undisputed master of his instrument in the fields of jazz, blues, flamenco, tango and even classical music.

Along with Olivier Ker Ourio and Grégoire Maret, he is one of the three greatest virtuosos of the chromatic harmonica in Europe. As for Reeves, there is little to say: five times Grammy winner, named 'Jazz Master' by the National Endowment for the Arts - the highest honour that the United States grants to artists of the genre - and the San Javier Jazz Award in 2015, a legend on a par with

Saturday 1st July

Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and Shirley Horn.

It will be the fourth time that she performs at Parque Almansa.

The Waterboys, more commonly known for their pop pieces than jazz, and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra will appear at the end of the event in which the WhittingtonCampillo duo will also be performing, and in which the Paolo Fresu quintet will be reunited and in which Scott Hamilton will inaugurate the Nuevo Teatro del Almansa Park.

The director of the Festival, David Martínez, was accompanied by the Mayor, José Miguel Luengo and the general director of the Institute for Arts and Sciences, ICA, Manuel Cebrián, presenting the details of the program, which will be dedicated to the recently deceased musicians who left their mark on Festival Internacional de Jazz de San Javier, such as Joey DeFranceso, the pianist Ransey Lewis, who was awarded the Festival Award, and the saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Friday 30 June

Saturday 22 July

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E T R Y

C O R N E R

To see your poem published send to: office@theleader.info P O

The pleasure trip was underway

The sea engulfed the sub

Five people on a journey down

The sky lost up above

In search of the 'Titanic'

To explore it's resting place

All happy to be diving down

With smiles on every face

The water getting darker

Getting black when two miles down

A hint that there is something wrong

Turned smiles into a frown

And suddenly the pleasure trip

Is one of terror fiction

Each face wrought with sheer horror

Hopelessness a fair description

The submergible was failing

Almost taunting the five crew

Who were lost in total panic

As there was nothing they could do

No chance of opening up the hatch

The pressure was too high

No hope of floating to the top

Their destiny to die

The Oxygen was limited

Each breath a precious gift

They new their prayers were futile

But still prayed their end was swift

Then in a nano second

In a breath too short to take

The submergible imploded

Sealing everybody's fate

The ocean claimed it's bounty

As the oceans often do

And near the wrecked 'Titanic'

There was graveyard number two

Five people on a pleasure trip

Who didn't make the tour

God Bless them all, They had no clue

What the ocean had in store.

“UNFATHOMABLE”

By David Whitney, Torrevieja, c2023

Brazilian legend Djavan

British Soul-Pop Group Mamas Gun

The Waterboys

POPULAR BRITON ELECTED TO LOS MONT ESINOS COUNCIL

But this was not the first election fought on behalf of the PSOE by Natalie, a member of the party since she first moved into the town in 2002. “I think it was 2007 when I was unsuccessful at number 11.

Four years later I suffered the same fate, listed at number 9. I missed the subsequent two Municipal Elections, as I spent time back in UK, but on returning to Los Montesinos and resuming my involvement with politics, I was elevated to number 6 on the 28M list, which saw my election to the council as part of Mayor Butron’s increasingly successful team.”

Originally from London, Cllr Hayes moved to Spain to join her father’s business in Benidorm over 40 years ago. The family then moved down to Torrevieja but on regular visits to Los Montesinos, Natalie fell in love with the town, finally making the move, along with her daughter, who attended the local school.

“Initially I worked at Greenlands in the bar and restaurant, before finding myself increasingly involved as a translator. That led to me taking on part time employment within the council where I worked closely with the mayor, in his demanding commitment to the expat population.”

Next week, however, Natalie, will be taking up her part time council role, where a seamless transition will see her assuming the responsibility for Foreign Residents, and with a certain amount of freedom to set her own working hours, she will now be able to give back so much more to her local community.

Although only employed for 20 hours per week, the plans are for Natalie to hold 2 regular surgeries a week, with the rest of her time spent, either helping with her constituents problems or getting out and about in the municipality itself.

“There are so many new projects that I would like to consider and perhaps introduce,” she said, “better integration, social welfare, language skills, matters relating to the padron and to residencia. I particularly want to promote openness and better communication.”

Following the Municipal elections at the end of May, a new British councillor is currently introducing herself to her local community.

Cllr Natalie Hayes is one of a number of new representatives who will join returning mayor, Jose Manuel Butron, on the Los Montesinos town council, when she formally takes up her new role on 1 July.

Natalie appeared at number 6 on the PSOE municipal list which, on 28M, saw Butron and his party increase it’s majority, capturing 9 of the available 13 council seats.

She told The Leader, “This was a clear reward for the many thousands of hours of tireless effort that the mayor has put into establishing the town of Los Montesinos as a ‘well managed and powerful’ municipality within the Vega Baja elite, a town in which many influential families now reside, and a town that continues to grow in popularity amongst the expat population.”

Natalie is also keen to get to know as many of her constituents as possible. She is open and very approachable, and she asks that you introduce yourselves to her if you see her in the street, or if you are passing the town hall. She said that she is in her current position because of, and for, the expat population, so she will do everything to help where she can.

“‘It has been so rewarding to be involved with the local population, and now, being employed as a councillor, I will have the opportunity to do so much more for the people of Los Montesinos. I look forward to serving the community along with the mayor and his PSOE government, for at least the next four years.’

Natalie has promised to keep The Leader informed of all her future projects and developments which we will pass on to readers.

NATALIE HAYES - Out and about in Los Montesinos

COLD CALLS IN SPAIN BECOME ILLEGAL ON THURSDAY

The week begins in Spain with the publication of industrial prices for May and the main economic-financial indicators of companies for the first quarter. Outside our borders, but within the eurozone, the ECB Forum on central banking is held in Sintra (Portugal), while in Germany June Ifo comes to light.

In the US, the main reference on Monday will be the Dallas Fed manufacturing index for June. We have to wait for the official legislation to be published but the end of the mandatory use of masks in Spain is in sight this week, although they will still be “recommended”. The only locations where masks were still required were health-related sites such as hospitals and pharmacies.

Thursday means no more cold calls or spam callers in Spain, as new legislation comes into force which makes the practice illegal. From now on, you have to give your express permission to receive marketing or sales calls. You should of course exercise caution in reading the terms and conditions of anything you sign up for from now on, as it may well include a clause requesting this.

The Covid Enquiry will be dominating headlines in the UK this week, firstly with the Chief Executive of UKHSA, Dame Jenny Harries, explaining her role during the pandemic on Monday, but the star of this week’s show is likely to be Matt Hancock, back in front of the cameras, but not eating intimate animal parts or snogging his mistress, but instead clarifying his assertion that there was a ‘lack of concrete preparedness plans’ in place when he entered office in 2018, because one thing we have learnt is everything is always somebody else’s fault.

LOS DOLSES - ORIHUELA COSTA

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American court drama plays out in real life on Wednesday when Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey appears, in person, facing numerous sexual assault charges.

So far, he has denied, and subsequently vowed to clear his name, on 12 counts of sexual assault, indecent assault, and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent against, with numerous victims between 2001 and 2013.

In politics in the UK, MPs might be more nervous of their future than some of them are now as the UK boundary commissions will send final recommendations to Parliament on

new constituency maps before the next elections.

Back to Europe and continental leaders will gather in Brussels later this week for yet another summit dominated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but other topics on the agenda include the economy, migration, China, and July’s summit with Latin American and Caribbean leaders.

Finally, as Pride Month comes to a close, the celebration of the LGBTQ+ communities continues with Pride events in both London and Madrid on Saturday, and locally, Torrevieja will be celebrating the same next weekend.

Matt Hancock will appear before the Covid Enquiry this week

MASKS WILL NO LONGER BE MANDATORY IN PHARMACIES OR HEALTH CENTRES

The measure is expected to be confirmed at the meeting of The Council of Ministers on Friday

Dog owner charged following hanging death

The Guardia Civil has charged the owner of a dog that was found dead hanging from a wall.

The man has been charged for a crime related to the protection of flora, fauna and domestic animals, animal abandonment and animal abuse resulting in death.

The Local Police first alerted the Guardia Civil of the dog. In their report, they stated that it was a large dog, weighing about 35 or 40 kilograms, brown in colour and a breed similar to the 'American Stanford'.

It was said to be hanging by the neck with a chain of a couple of metres in length, hooked by means of a carabiner to the collar and tied to the trunk of a fig tree.

The Local Police identified the owner of the animal who said that the dog had fallen and that "this had happened to him before".

He also told the agents that he did not have the required vaccinations or any documentation.

The environmental agents from SEPRONA of the Guardia Civil opened an investigation to clarify the facts. In addition to the information provided by the Local Police, the Guardia Civil officers carried out a technical-ocular inspection in the place where the lifeless body of the dog was found, also taking a statement from the owner of the dog.

Investigations confirmed that the owner of the animal, had previously been responsible for two criminal acts against pets, the first of them due to animal abandonment, by not providing the dog with the minimum required care, or veterinary assistance, such as a health certificate, vaccination or microchip.

In addition, he was charged with a second crime for animal abuse resulting in death because, although there was no intention to cause the death of the dog, there was recklessness on the part of the dog's owner, having not taken any action that he could prevent the events from repeating themselves, knowing that these same events had occurred previously.

The dog owner has been placed at the disposal of the Magistrate's Court of Cartagena.

The Guardia Civil reminds the public that if they know of any case of animal abuse or abandonment, they can report it via the telephone number '062', or by email to: 'seprona@guardiacivil.org'.

One month before the general elections, the Health Council has agreed to remove the mandatory use of masks. It will no longer be necessary to wear a mask when entering a pharmacy or during a visit to a nursing home or a health centre. It’s use will continue, however, in areas where there may be patients such as cancer units, in emergency rooms, operating theatres and ICUs where they have always been used. ?

The decision means ending one of the last protection measures against Covid and returning to the pre-pandemic situation making way for the end of the health crisis.

But for it to enter into force there is still one more step. This should take place on Friday, when the matter will be debated at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers, and

where the recommendation submitted by the Ministry of Health will be discussed.

The Community of Madrid was the first to request the measure last February due to the good epidemiological situation. Experts in Immunology and Public Health also advised the withdrawal.

However, the decision, four weeks before the general elections, has been described as "electoralist."

The mask was imposed in 2020 during the worst period of the pandemic, when the numbers of deaths and those affected by Covid were running out of control.

Gradually, during the last three years, the Government has been relaxing its use, first outdoors, then on public transport and now in social and health centres.

Royal British Legion suspends members after they denounce ‘Aggressive’ Chairman

been thrown to the wolves, all because the Branch Chairman, Kevin Reardon, with temperatures in the high eighties, allowed his 79-year old Standard Bearer to wear ‘shirt sleeve order’ during a memorial service to the late Queen Elizabeth II, held outdoors by the Orihuela City Council, in the September mid-day sun.

Mr Reardon was removed from the Branch Chair by the District Chairman for ‘disobeying a directive’, despite this being a regular occurrence, one that is replicated in hot climates around the world.

At a second memorial service the following week, Kemp was verbally abusive to both Mr Reardon, a retired major with over 30 years military service, and the branch Standard bearer, Mr Eddie Coleman.

remained closed for almost 9 months, during which time members have been unable to meet, the branch assets have been frozen and despite having raised almost half a million euros toward the poppy appeal in recent years, the branch has been unable to carry out any fund-raising activities.

So as the authorities continue to ‘sit on their hands’ in London, dozens of branch members have now either left the RBL or indicated that they will not be renewing their membership because of their ‘shoddy’ treatment. This would appear to be the ‘Duty of Care’ currently being applied to Orihuela Costa members in Spain by the hierarchy of the RBL.

Over nine months have now passed since members of the 140 strong Orihuela Costa Branch of the Royal British Legion first complained about the ‘bullyboy conduct’ of the Chairman of the District Committee in Spain (North), and yet, in all that time, the only action taken has been closure of the branch, the dismissal of it’s committee and the suspension of 3 of the Orihuela Costa complainants, a former Army Major, a retired Royal Navy Commander and the long serving Honorary Branch Secretary.

In the meantime, the subject of the complaint, Spain North Chairman Jack Kemp, has been completely untouched, allowed by the Legion Complaints Committee in London, to continue with his duties, and is now, rather

bizarrely, about to chair the meeting that will decide on the future of the branch.

And all the time that this has been going on, since September 2022 in fact, the needs of the 140 paid up members have been largely ignored, as the branch has been prevented from meeting, despite petitions to the RBL President, Lieutenant General James Bashall, the RBL Chairman, Jason Coward and the RBL hierarchy in Haigh House, London.

DUTY OF CARE

In it’s National Charter ‘A Duty of Care to members’ is just one of the principles that the RBL claims to regard, above all others, and yet the 140 Orihuela Costa members, with many hundreds of years of loyal service between them, have

He shouted and screamed at both, and in the words of Mr Reardon, “He towered over me, just, inches from my face. I was covered in his spittle as he yelled at me in front of a large retiring congregation. Even young recruits don’t get such treatment!”

Both Reardon and Coleman submitted written complaints about the disgraceful display of aggression by the Spain North Chairman, to the Overseas Secretary, Bob Chambers, the Legion Complaints Committee and the highest RBL body, it’s Membership Council. Sent separately were a number of witness statements from observers, including at least one senior RBL official and yet, other than the suspension of Mr Reardon, which has resulted in the closure of the Orihuela Costa Branch, no action has been taken.

Unfortunately the branch has now

Former Standard Bearer Eddie Coleman at the memorial Service, in ‘shirt sleeve order’ with the Mayor of Orihuela City at the time, Carolina Gracia.

District Chairman Jack Kemp is about to oversee the meeting that will decide on the future of the Branch

The evergreen Lady Banks Rose

No Virus Ever Went to College

Can I ask you to please settle down, as the lecture is about to begin. I know those chairs aren't very comfortable, but I'm hoping they will help you to stay awake. Or some of you anyway. One or two would be nice. Or at least the person in the front row with all the pens in his jacket pocket.

A virus, you will be happy to learn, does not possess a brain or anything remotely similar to a brain: viruses are not sophisticated thinkers. You've probably met someone like that, haven't you?

In your Boxing for Beginners class, perhaps.

Viruses are smaller than bacteria and there is zero possibility that a single virus could develop little grey cells, far less compose a symphony or be attractive to another single virus, even during a speed-dating encounter.

However, owing to their ability to mutate and become resistant to drugs -- and a vaccine is a drug -- some viruses are able to give our brains a run for their money. The recent strain of Omicron is one such blowhard sprinter, quick out of the blocks and eager to show our various vaccines a clean pair of heels, or an unclean set of spikes.

Before we drown in mixed metaphors, let's hope all variants fall at the first fence and run out of puff long before this marathon is over and our virologists collect their gold medals. Here endeth the strained analogy.

Many predators attack humans only when they feel threatened, or afraid, or when we encroach on their territory. Saltwater crocodiles, commonly called 'salties', are an exception to this rule; they have been known to knock Land Cruisers off roadways with one swipe of their tails, and are not fastidious when choosing food. In their unfeeling viciousness and speed of attack, salties resemble our new arch-enemy Omicron, the Hannibal Lecter of the virus world. (To be fair to salties, they often spend most of the day loitering in pools or basking in the sun, at which point they could easily be mistaken for innocent retired expatriates.)

Pavlov proved through experiments with dogs that a neutral stimulus like a bell could be made to produce the same response as a powerful stimulus such as food. And that sentence, basically, won him a Nobel Prize. I wish I had known it was as easy as that, I would have bought a dog.

Pavov showed that if you nudge -- or inoculate -- a body often enough, it learns to remember -- or become immune. It's the story of Covid in canine form! I know that if you were to place a tray of food in front of me, then fire a starting pistol, I would

wolf the meal down in the service of science. Provided I liked the food involved -- did Pavlov ever take that into account?

Children, whose fear of corona viruses receded when told they were immune, began to exercise their natural curiosity, asking such questions as, "Do viruses have wings? If not, how do they navigate between their victims? If they run out of energy in midair, do they crash-land, or become a parachute-variant?" That boy's father must have been in the SAS.

One of the easier inquiries put to me was "How did Omicron move so quickly from one country to another?" to which I, of course, replied, Smoke gets in your eyes, no, I explained that it probably went by plane like many of us used to do. Except Omicron travelled free, and we were the ones who paid the price.

I hope you enjoyed the lecture and now know the answer to my implied question -- you remember, the one about which of us have brains? People who get vaccinated do, is the correct answer. And you can bet your life on that.

Rosa banksiae, also known as The Lady Banks Rose or BanksíRose, is an evergreen climbing rose, which also works well as a ground-cover rose.

Athornless climbing rose, it is ideal for a garden, that has children and pets running around.

It flowers in Spring, with miniature double white or yellow flowers appearing in clusters. The foliage is small and fern like.

Banksia rose will tolerate a wide range of soil types, but, it prefers well drained moist soil, which is rich with organic matter. It requires a sunny position, if it is to flower well.

When watering, keep moist in its first year, until established. In dry conditions it's drought tolerant. Remember it absolutely dislikes the soil being waterlogged.

Use a slow release or rose fertiliser during the growing period. Add a layer of mulch, to keep in the moisture, however, keep the mulch away from the stem.

It can grow to a height and width of 9m. Prune to shape and to keep vigorous, however, annual pruning is not required.

If required, prune in Summer, immediately after the main flush of flowers is over, around the end of Spring or early Summer.

These plants flower on last seasonís wood, so pruning in Winter will mean an absence of flowers for the following season. Remove any damaged branches.

They are excellent for covering a fence or bare wall, and will quickly cover the area.

PE PE TS IN SP TS IN SP AIN AIN

Pretzel was born on the 16th April and is now ready for a new home. He has had his first vaccination and is used to being around people.

Call: 645 469 253.

THE LIFE YOU SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN

Next week will mark the 24th anniversary of my last swim. This morning I walked along La Zenia Beach and I peered out to where I went in for a dip on that hot summer’s afternoon in 1999. Once more I scanned the surface of the sea, looking for the tip of a rock which I know is there somewhere. Like every other time since then, my eyes have failed to locate it.

It was the first week in July. We had opened what was to become Spain’s best known pub, ‘Paddy’s Point’, on 4th June. My wife, Pamela, had just arrived out to join the fun after breaking for school holidays on 1st July.

I was under ‘fierce pressure’. The pub was flying, but there was still a bit of work being done and we had a staffing issue. The Dublin guy I appointed manager failed to turn up and the man I gave his job to was, by his own admission, not up to it.

Yolanda, Oliver, and Irish students were carrying a huge lump of the workload in those crazy first few weeks.

Pamela’s first day, and she headed to the beach after lunch. I am not a person for lying on the beach, but I promised to join her for an hour later on.

As soon as I finished what I was doing I found where she had adjourned to at the furthest corner and most secluded part of the beach. We chatted for half an hour, and sort of resented it when a noisy bunch of Spanish teenagers decamped close by.

It was time to leave and as always a cool dip in the sea would be the last act; a temporary respite from the blazing sun.

I am not much of a swimmer. The length of a pool would be the top of my game. We had taken swimming lessons shorty after we married, but like so many other things I attempted – I wasn’t great! There was a red flag flying that day … but sher what had that to do with me … only going in up to my waist. That’s the way we were, and where we were, when the wife said; ‘don’t go out any further; we better go back.’ We both turned and started wading back to shore. She was about 2 metres ahead of me, when I decided to immerse myself under the water to cool my head.

No more than 5 seconds, but when I surfaced I was surprised that there was no ground under my feet. No panic and I started swimming to catch up with Pamela but then the realisation hit that instead of closing the gap it was widening and I was drifting backways. ‘Pamela I’m in trouble’, I called. Now, I was very fit; doing loads of walking,

working and still playing competitive squash, but I was already getting tired.

Pamela must have called out to the youngsters on the beach to get help. I didn’t see or hear this; but that 14 year old girl that we resented being beside us, put her two fingers in her mouth and let out a piercing whistle. I was aware of a crowd gathering and funny what goes through one’s mind. I decided I wasn’t going to make a scene or entertain them in any manner!

I suppose I was less than a hundred metres out. I remembered from the swimming lessons that the coach recommended that if you are in trouble in the water, turn onto you back and float. But I knew if I tried to do anything at all, it’s down I was going. It was then that the pointed tip of a rock touched my left arm. It was about two feet above the water. I threw my arms around the tip and clasped my legs against it.

The waves did their best to pull me away and a couple of times I thought I was losing the battle. The rock was slippy and terribly rough, and If there was any doubt in my mind as to the precariousness of my situation, the fear I detected in the eyes of the first lifeguard to get near me after about ten minutes, left me in no doubt.

He was roped to his companion and he tried throwing me a yellow yoke on a rope but I couldn’t grab it and I continued to cling on where I was.

Eventually, he got close enough that I could grasp his hand and they pulled me in. The applause from the spectators wasn’t for me

Both Mrs Youcantbeserious and I were in shock. The first thing I said to her was; ‘you can put the black suit away.’ Her reply was; ‘don’t you ever make a joke like that to me again.’ There wasn’t a bit of skin left on the inside of my arms and my legs were patterned by jagged cuts from the rock that saved my life.

I looked for it, but I never saw that rock again. For the previous eleven years, at least one person had drowned on that beach every year, but there was no fatality that year. I believe I was meant to be the one for 1999. Thank you, again God!

Pamela and I vowed we would never tell anybody this story, but I am telling you now, because I don’t want you or anybody belonging to you to take chances with water.

Remember, I was no reckless teenager and it nearly got me.

In the summer of 1970 I worked at a mine called ‘Pipe Lake’, in Manitoba. Lots of lakes

and lots of bored miners.

We used have safety demonstrations underground once a month and obviously this cost the company a lot of money while machines were idle. But unexpectedly we were all brought to surface for the June safety meeting, where we joined all the surface and office staff.

The mine manager addressed us thus: ‘Mining is a dangerous game and we have safety demonstrations to help keep you alive. Statistically, one of you here will die in a mining accident every two years. Statistically, two

NEWS IN BRIEF

of you will die this summer from drowning.’ Maybe it was our boss’s words, but nobody drowned while I was there and my wish is that this article might do the same for a reader.

85 people drowned in Ireland last year. Schools are out, holidays are happening and a dip is so inviting in this heat. Just use your head – instead of putting it underwater!

DON’T FORGET

The best safety device ever invented is taking care.

ROJALES MOORS AND CHRISTIAN FIESTA!

By Andrew Atkinson

Rojales celebrated their inaugural Christian and Moors 2023 Fiesta with a bang, as thousands of people took to the streets.

"We have made history! Thank you to all the people who have made it possible, the Central Board of Moors and Christians, staff of the Rojales City Council and above all to you, the public and festive people for being with us for another year giving your all.

"We start the countdown to the 'Chupinazo' 2024," said a spokesperson from Rojales Town Hall.

“Somewhere out there, a rock came up out of the sea and saved me.”

Torrevieja Fair will open in New Location

Having managed to put pressure on the Mayor of Torrevieja,Eduardo Dolón, who promised to move them to an area near the Friday market,on account of the work that is taking place at the port, there had been no action for some six months.,however,we are told that this week the fairground workers will be able to resume their activities in their new location.

One of the problems with the new location was said to be the lack of power, which is needed by the rides,not that it has ever presented an issue for the countless events which have previously taken place at the Parque Antonio Soria,but the town hall promised to fix the issue they had highlighted. Unfortunately though,the fair will have to reduce in size for the Brilla Torrevieja festival,featuring the Black Eyed Peas,and will close fully during

the Regaetton Beach Festival (RBF), neither of which will seemingly have problems with the provision of a power supply.

The land is about 13,000 square metres where the market complex opened in 2017 at a cost of 5.3 million euro but it can barely offer 60% of the necessary energy.

However,the problem highlighted by the town hall has not been fixed by them,but rather the solution has been found by the operators themselves,who will provide their own energy by situating generators on the site.

The fairground workers,some 80 stallholders,have at least been able to solve the issues themselves,despite the lack of action from the town hall,although they do hope this is only a temporary situation,which is expected to continue until at least 2025.

The fair prior to moving from the port area

Arts & Culture &

China’s National Acrobatic Circus arrives in Torrevieja

The world-renowned National Acrobatic Circus of China will be at the Torrevieja Municipal Theatre on the 17th, 18th and 19th of July. In three unique sessions, the Torrevieja public will be able to enjoy an evening of spectacular acrobatics, staging, magic and excellent staging.

The show, which is described as absolutely unique, will have more than 35 artists performing, including more than 20 Olympic gold and silver medals and various other awards from many international circus festivals

Alarge number of the performers have also featured regularly with Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun).

The show invites the public to travel into a world of fantasy, a story that will take you to a universe where magic is everywhere, told through dance, the expressiveness of the spectacular performers, with juggling, acrobatics, superb choreography, colourful costumes and lights.

It is one of the longest running and most distinguished circus troupes in China, where it is especially acclaimed because of the unique acts such as the Great Teeterboard, Grand Flying Trapeze, Group Contortion, Straw Hats Juggling, GirlsíBalance With Bowls For its quality, the China National Grand Acrobatic Circus has been awarded the National Art Fund and the 5th Hunan Art Festival Tian Han Special Award in 2015. Since then, it has won more than 30 prizes and awards in various international circus and acrobatic competitions.

SPANGLES IS CELEBRATING

Lyn Baines,Chorus Manager,said: “Good things come to those who wait,and we’re excited to be working with Stu Denham on the next phase of our journey.

Stu has a musical background,has sung in a barbershop quartet in the past,and is no stranger to a cappella singing and ringing those chords.

CRESCENDO FREE CONCERT

Crescendo International Choir performed a wellattended free concert Saturday, June 17, at The Club, in Quesada, a new venue for the choir. This was the choir’s final concert of the year before summer break.

The choir sang the following songs at the concert: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, I Say a Little Prayer for You, Make you Feel my Love, The Rose, What a Wonderful World, You Raise me Up, The Rhythm of Life, Sway, City of Stars, Amapola, Historia de un Amor, Clavelitos and Les Misérables. For more details about the choir, see crescendochoir.com.

You can also follow the group on Facebook at CrescendoTorrevieja.

If you have questions, email info@crescendochoir.com.

The choir would be delighted to have more singers, especially basses.

This international group sings a variety of songs ranging from musicals to spirituals, from pop to classical, mostly in English or Spanish.

Rehearsals will take place at Rincon de Miguel in Los Montesinos starting on Monday September 4, between 17:45 to 20:00. All singers are welcome!

We love his bubbly personality, he’s great with audiences and he will fit right in with us.”

Spangles is busy working on some new songs which will certainly become audience favourites.If you love singing and fancy giving the a cappella style a try,why not go see them at a rehearsal and,if you like it,start learning to sing these new songs along with the team!

Spangles rehearse every Thursday,

from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm at Centro Municipal Las Claras, Calle Helena,Los Narejos,Los Alcázares and you are certainly welcome to visit us – no appointment necessary!

If you’d like to book the chorus for an event or you are thinking about joining them,you can find out more on their website: www.spangleschorus.com or email info@spangleschorus.com

(L-R: Linda Coats, Stu Denham, Lyn Baines, Barbara Burks)

Crescendo International Choir performing its June concert at The Club, in Quesada.

The New York Times has described it as "a delight for the five senses."

by Tony Mayes

WILL THE TITAN TRAGEDY LEAD TO A RETHINK OF INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS?

onto the few lifeboats available, while those in 3rd class where kept locked below for hours.

Over the past week the world watched the unfolding of a huge mission to try to rescue unfortunate people who went on a sightseeing adventure in Titan, a submersible, to view the wreck of Titanic.

People were gripped at the drama. Were the victims trapped 3.5 miles below the surface, in a vehicle they could no longer operate or communicate with people on board a ship on the surface? Millions hoped that somehow their craft would be discovered before oxygen ran out.

I am sure I am not alone hoping that the submersible had suffered some catastrophic event which meant they died instantly, rather than suffering hours of absolute fear, hoping that they would be discovered in time, and probably fearing in their hearts the inevitable, that they would not.

Wreckage discovered some distance from Titanic showed the submersible had suffered a catastrophic implosion, which happened on its descent, and the five would have died in milli-seconds. Thankfully, the only good thing to come from this tragedy is the five would not have known anything and would not have suffered.

But I also think that it is disgusting that the super-rich are prepared to spend 200,000 pounds each to go on a sightseeing trip to get a glimpse of where more around 1,500 people lost their lives a century ago. It’s even more of an abomination that there are billionaires, not content with the money they already have, that they have to dream up some tourist “attraction” to make even more money, and especially to something so emotionally sensitive as the Titanic wreck.

They used their huge wealth to get around the law or use an experimental vehicle which had not undergone extensive independent testing. Apparently, people who worked on Titan were concerned at its safety, and the law could not touch the Titanic tourism because it was operating in international waters.

US court documents show a former employee of OceanGate, the billionaire-backed company operating Titan, warned of potential safety problems with the vessel as far back as 2018.

The documents show that David Lochridge, the company's director of marine operations, raised concerns in an inspection report. Typically, a spokesman for OceanGate declined to comment on the safety issues raised by Mr Lochridge and other safety concerns.

Ironically some people were concerned at the safety of Titanic before it set sail, so there are parallels between the two disasters, money before safety.

The other sickening parallel is that it was the super-rich on board Titanic who were allowed

Today, billionaires, not content with their ocean-going cabin cruisers, luxury homes all over the world, businesses they view as playthings, and “enjoying” every luxury in life, are still not content and look for more thrills. They give little if any thought that any search and rescue operation, carried out by several ships and aircraft because of its very nature, puts more lives at risk.

Adventure tourism is on the increase – apparently there are more people climbing Everest than ever before. Super rich tourists want to take flights into space, while others want to explore the most dangerous underground tunnels. Rescuers are put at risk if something goes wrong. Is it time to tell “rich adventure tourists” that they will not have millions spent on their rescue if something goes wrong?

The human race has always had its explorers – way back in time they were prepared to head off on ocean voyages of discovery, not knowing whether they would fall off the edge of the world.

Thousands of people were involved in the search and rescue attempt to try to save the lives of the five super-rich in Titan. This must have cost millions. Now compare that to the paltry efforts to save the lives of more than 600 would-be illegal immigrants trying to cross the Mediterranean. It makes me think what a sad and sick human race we still are. If you are super rich you are worth saving, if you are poor, you’re not. True on the Titanic, true today too.

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would want to spend 200,000 pounds to see the Titanic on a tourist sightseeing trip, or half a million to fly into space.

I hope this tragedy will make at least some super rich to take stock of their lives. Just think – if the 100 richest people in the UK were to donate just half of their huge wealth, the NHS could go much of the way to be put back on it’s feet, or doctors and nurses could get the pay rises they so justly deserve, or councils could be given a cash handout to rectify some of the list of social things which need sorting – from social care to the endless potholes in the roads, better State education and more bobbies on the beat, etc. etc.

Back in Victorian times, benefactors donated vast sums to help society, but now greed has taken root in such an entrenched way that billionaires are prepared to spend vast sums on something so ridiculous as totally unnecessary as sick sightseeing trips.

I hope some good comes out of the Titan tragedy – firstly that more controls are introduced to put safety first rather than money, and secondly that the super-rich find some far more useful and beneficial way of spending their vast wealth.

A resident of St John's places flowers in tribute to five people who died in the Titan.

QUICKIE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ANSWERS Week 976

QUICK QUICK

ACROSS: 7 Handle; 8 Carton; 10 Protect; 11 Tract; 12 Leer; 13 Merry; 17 Rogue; 18 Face; 22 Bower; 23 Upright; 24 Select; 25 Falter.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Shapely; 2 Uncover; 3 Sleep; 4 Mastery; 5 Atlas; 6 Unite; 9 Strenuous; 14 Correct; 15 Haughty; 16 Fetters; 19 Abuse; 20 Swell; 21 Broad.

CRYPTIC YPTIC

ACROSS ACROSS

1.Lewd (9)

8.Sick (3)

9.Impoverished (11)

11.Present (7)

12.Sword (5)

13.Fertiliser (6)

15.Card game (6)

17.Tapestry (5)

18.Increase (7)

20.Unwilling (4-7)

22.Japanese sash (3)

23.Wrong (9)

CAN YOU MASTER THE SUDOKU CHALLENGE?

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

Solution on Page 23

DOWN DOWN

2.Target (3)

3.Period (5)

4.Embellished (6)

5.Guardian (7)

6.Naughty (11)

7.Positioning (9)

10.Co-sharing (11)

11.Colleague (9)

14.Decide (7)

16.Suds (6)

19.Seed (5)

21.Flightless bird (3)

ACROSS: ACROSS: 7 Vacant; 8 Plaice; 10 Routine; 11 Piece; 12 Ears; 13 Stint; 17 Seine; 18 Poop; 22 Pulse; 23 Laertes; 24 Spread; 25 Kennel.

DOWN: 1 Oversee; 2 Acquire; 3 Annie; 4 Sloping; 5 Biped; 6 Revel; 9 Rectangle; 14 General; 15 Content; 16 Epistle; 19 Spasm; 20 Alarm; 21 Seven.

ACROSS ACROSS

1.Sickened that Sid turns up with two other men (9)

8.Spanish cry from some Poles (3)

9.Bolt is again changed on the vessel (7,4)

11.Knife the horse on film (7)

12.Build upright (5)

13.Ill-treated the American in a plot (6)

15.Part of the head church (6)

17.Student in a crowd to see the composer (5)

18.Solicit some material, say (7)

20.RAF chaplain in the government? (3,8)

22.Like a small animal (3)

23.One not needing to hear about real pride (3-6)

DOWN DOWN

2.She gets aid, somehow (3)

3.Noun I write out to describe the workers (5)

4.Certainly not loose leggings (6)

5.See what the bishop's flock is (7)

6.Asuccessful snooker shot might bear fruit (6,5)

7.One doing casual work on a lock can be enticing (9)

10.In English, s'il vous plait (2,3,6)

11.Trunks suffering erosion on a tree, say (9)

14.Captivate during the tenth rally (7)

16.Be sparing with the first man in the list (6)

19.Innocent Ivan goes out East (5)

21.Agirl from Stevenage (3)

LEADER TRIVIA QUIZ (Answers on page 23)

1. Which nut (indigenous to Australia) is named after a 19th century Scottish chemist?

2. In which city was the original "Ghetto" located?

3. The eruption of which volcano in 1883 lowered average global temperatures for five years?

4. The movie poster tag line for which 1964 film was "The hotline suspense comedy."?

5. Friend and foe alike, how many soldiers died on average each day during WWI?

6. The name of which US state stems from the Latin words for hot oven?

7. Only 2 players have received 2 red cards while playing in FIFA World Cups. Song was the first player, who was the second?

8. Which country was the first to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact in 1968?

9. Where were an estimated 150 native American men, women and children massacred by the US 7th Cavalry on December 29, 1890?

10. The following lyrics are all from songs with the name of a city in the song title. Can you name the song? a. A nuclear error

but I have no fear, b. You stood and you watched as my baby left town, c. They got some crazy little women there and I'm gonna get me one, d. Can't be too careful with your company, I can feel the devil walking next to me

11. The Thomas Cup or World Men's Team Championship, now the Uber Cup, is an international badminton competition. Since its inception in 1948 only six countries have won this tournament. Can you name them?

12. The name of a British musician who had a number one UK hit in the year 2000 and a term used in both motor racing and the card game bridge.

13. Who is the voice of the great lion Aslan in all three Disney film adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia?

14. Transparency International once gave which former president of Indonesia the title 'Most Corrupt Man who ever lived'?

15. The following words are the first line to which 1986 film? "I was 12 going on 13 the first time I saw a dead human being."

16. Which book, written by Johanna Spyri (pronounced 'spear e') and originally published in the German language, has sold more than 50 million copies since 1880, making it one of the best selling books of all time?

17. Name the Oscar winning song from each of the following singers. a. Matt Monro, b. Bruce Springsteen, c. Louis Jordan, d. Christopher Cross

18. Which of the modern man made wonders of the world did French painter Paul Gauguin help build?

19. According to the US Energy Information Administration; which five countries in the world have the largest proven oil reserves?

20. On the flag of which European country is there a coat of arms depicting a mitre (miter) and two cows?

Spain’s Audiencia Nacional declines to approve new charges for British Paedophile

Mark Frost, formerly Andrew Tracey, was crowned as the paedophile 'king of terror' by the Daily Telegraph. He was just one of dozens of British criminals who thought that by moving to Spain he could find a safe haven so, in November 2015, he travelled to Santa Pola where he thought that, as a retired pensioner from the UK, he would not attract attention in this quiet coastal town of almost 40,000 inhabitants.

However, the UK National Crime Agency defined him as one of the worst paedophiles they have ever encountered, so he remained at the very top of their radar and in 2016, after an international police operation, he was arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard and handed over to the UK authorities. In 2013 he had previously been arrested by Thai police, but he managed to escape jail, flee the country and avoid possible conviction. In the hands of the British authorities, however, there was no such opportunity and in 2017 he was sentenced

One of Finland’s most wanted criminals arrested in Torrevieja

Agents of the National Police in Torrevieja have arrested a fugitive who is on the run from the Finnish justice. The man was detained following the arrival of a European arrest warrant issued by the Finnish authorities for fraud.

The detainee, wanted since 2018, faces a sentence of seven years in prison, being one of the most wanted people in that country.

Finnish authorities issued a European arrest warrant that was brought to the attention of Organized Crime Group I of the Provincial Police Station of Alicante, by the International Fugitives Group of the General Police Station, on suspicion that he could haveg settled in the coastal area of the province of Alicante.

The investigators began the search for his loca-

by a British judge to 13 life sentences.

During his trial, Frost admitted to 45 offenses against at least 30 minors, that he had carried out over a 25-year period, but as reported by The Guardian Newspaper, only 11 of his victims were identified: two British victims that he had assaulted

in Worcestershire in the 1980s and 1990s, according to the BBC, and nine Thai children that he attacked between 2009 and 2012. As it turned out, this was only the tip of the iceberg. Even after he was imprisoned the National Crime Agency (NCA), believing there were far more crimes still to be uncovered, made a public appeal to encourage victims to come forward from his time as a boy scout leader and a schoolteacher between 1970 and 1990 and on August 19, 2022, a Westminster court issued details of a further 24 offenses of child rape, child abuse and child pornography.

However, in a decision dated May 24 of this year, Spain’s Criminal Court, the Audiencia Nacional, declined to approve the prosecution of Frost for these crimes, concluding that the 1973 Penal Code in force when the crimes were committed gave them a statute of limitations of a maximum of 15 years in the most serious cases, and which cannot be applied retroactively.

The time span in which they could have been prosecuted has therefore expired, according to court’s resolution, which is supported by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In the UK, there is no such statute of limitations for these offenses.

Judge Mark Lucraft QC, who presided over the 2017 trial, said Frost, now aged 76, must spend a minimum of 16 years behind bars and only be able to apply for parole when he is 86.

tion, "discovering that he was in Torrevieja, for which a police patrol was activated that ended with his arrest," according to a statement from the National Police .

The 44-year-old detainee, born in Finland, was placed at the disposal of the First Investigating Court of Alicante on duty, awaiting his appearance before the First Central Court of the National Court on Monday.

British lottery winner penniless in Santa Pola

Lawrence Candlish is a former lottery winner who won 5.5 million pounds in 1997 (almost 6.5 million euros), but who has since ended up penniless and claiming disability benefits back home in UK. Candlish, originally from Gateshead, won the fortune at the age of 23, then distributing the winnings among his relatives, including his sister, Melanie Batey.

With his prize Candlish bought seven houses around his own for his relatives and donated £1.2 million to a dozen relatives. A Newcastle United fan, after thugs burned down his house, he decided to move to Alicante, where he bought a property in Santa Pola that he named Casa Shearer, in honour of the legendary footballer Alan Shearer.

Along with his father, Frank, he opened an Irish-themed bar and restaurant.

Despite his windfall, Candlish squandered his prize money and declared bankruptcy before his father committed suicide in 2009. Despite residing outside the UK, and suffering from a

bone disease, Candlish claimed disability benefit, while failing to notify the UK authorities that he was living in Spain. As such, he was

able to fraudulently pocket £13,365 between May 2005 and December 2010 . His sister, who suffers from paraplegia, also moved to Spain with her husband in 2007, where she also continued to claim over £23,000 in income support and disability benefits, despite having received £800,000 of her brother’s lottery prize.

In October 2012, both Candlish and Batey pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court. Both received a sentence of nine months in prison suspended for 18 months. Registrar Tim Roberts QC warned them: "They both knew what they were doing was fraudulent." Before his lottery win, Candlish was barely making ends meet on a weekly wage of £125 as a factory worker.

More cases of disgraced lottery winners Candlish isn't the only lottery winner to have squandered his fortune. A metalworker who won a £7.5m prize in 1998 lost everything in messy divorce case.

Callie Rogers, Britain's youngest lottery win-

ner, who won £1.9m in 2003, spent thousands of pounds on wild parties, three breast augmentation operations, drugs and around £300,000 sterling on designer clothes. Eighteen years after her success she was applying for Universal Credit, a UK state benefit, after spending her entire fortune.

The list of lottery winners who ended up penniless, then separating from their loved ones and even ending up in jail continues to grow. However, the Candlish case is a clear example of how a stroke of luck can take an unexpected twist. After his boom times and his fall from grace, in 2010 he returned home from Spain penniless.

Vince Ward, his defence attorney during the trial, noted that since his win, Candlish had fallen on hard times. His restaurant business had gone bankrupt and his father had taken his own life. These traumatic experiences illustrate the grim consequences that can sometimes come with a lottery windfall. They were each given nine months’ in jail, suspended for 18 months.

Mark Frost being arrested in Santa Pola

Candlish ended up penniless and on benefits

The Church of JESUS CHRISTof Latter-Day Saints in Torrevieja meet at 10.00 each Sunday in their chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. All Welcome. Phone or whatsapp the missionaries on 659 016 733

Join us at the SALTCHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. We are a friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship. Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, PolÌgono Ind. Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. We look forward to meeting you. www.Saltchurchspain.

Facebook SaltChurchSpain

International Christian Assembly, Calle Beniajan 14, Torrevieja -Evangelical Church. Sunday Service 11

a.m.; - Contact 966 799 273 / 660 127 276. Evangelical non-denominational church. ww.icatorrevieja.org

The Car of the Month at AUTOMOVILES CRESPO is a 2021 Ford Focus ST-Line X Petrol Automatic which is priced at just 25,500 euro. Come along to our large showroom in Elche and see our vast range of new and used cars or call 96 666 22 60 for all our latest offers. See page7. We can assure you of the biggest and best in the area for price, choice and quality.

ENGLISH SPOKEN

COMMUNITYCARE ASSOCIATION (CCA) is an Association that caters for residents of Orihuela Costa over 60 years of age. It facilitates the provision of fair and adequate social facilities for everyone. It is located at the Centro Civico Alameda del Mar. Open 3 times a week for a programme of English speaking activities, support, information and advice with the support of Orihuela Council. Anyone wanting to join CCAsocial activities, learn Spanish, to paint, watercolours or acrylics can pop along where you will be welcomed by volunteers. We are open between 2pm -6pm Mondays and Thursdays, Wednesday 2pm - 5pm. You can register between 1pm & 2pm on those days, in the Cafe area where you will find Eva or Norah. email: communitycare@gmail.com

Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur is here to help you with problem solving and well being for the over 50ís. We need volunteer Drivers and people to join our Home Visiting Team to visit a Residential Home, and take them out for a coffee. Call into our centre at C/Paganini s/n, Urb. La Siesta 03184 Torrevieja or ring 966 786 887. Or email: costablanca@ageconcern.org.es

Royal Naval Association, Torrevieja Branch now meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Lakeview bar/restaurant, Quesada. For more info contact Chairman Tony Jenkins on +44 7576 117 222, Secretary Steve Hemingfield 0n Mob/Whats 711 011 373

The RAFACosta Blanca RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the RAFAand the RMG is via the RAFA website rafa.org.uk.

Los Alc·zares Digital Camera Club. Interested in photography? We invite you to come and join us at our twice monthly meetings. Please contact coordinatorladcc@ gmail.com or see http://www.los-alcazarescamera.club/ for details.

RESPONSIBILITIES ALLOCATED FOR NEW ORIHUELA COUNCIL

In what we hope is not a sign of things to come the document was actually leaked 24 hours before the scheduled announcement with the formal document then hastily released to avoid further embarrassment.

The new mayor, said nevertheless "it will give Orihuela stability and achieve its objectives".

The Local Government Board will be chaired by the mayor and made up of Manuel Mestre, Víctor Valverde, Gonzalo Montoya, Agustina Rodríguez, Matías Ruiz, Rocío Ortuño, Ana Isabel García and Mónica Pastor, councillor - secretary. The list of responsibilities is divided between the coalition partners: PARTIDO POPULAR APPOINTMENTSMayor Pepe Vegara. Economic Regime, Communication and Protocol.

Victor Valverde Sáez: Infrastructure and Maintenance, Rural Development, Employment and Emergencies.

Matías Ruiz Peñalver: Urbanism and Housing, Heritage.

Rocio Ortuño Cartagena: Festivities, Waste and Street Cleaning.

Mónica Pastor Felices: Internal Procedures, Citizen Security

Vicente Pina López: Education and Commerce.

Victor Manuel Sigüenza Riquelme: Sports and Transportation

Noelia Grao López: Agriculture, Environment and Markets

Irene Celdrán Ruiz: Consumption, Transparency and Health. VOX COUNCILLORS DEPARTMENTS:

Manuel Mestre Barea: Coast (Beaches, International Residents, Maintenance and Coordination Services)

Gonzalo Damián Montoya Alcocer: Culture and Tourism

The Orihuela Council has confirmed the distribution of delegations among the councillors following its election.

María Agustina Rodríguez Navarro: Social Welfare, Equality and Human Resources

José María begins his second term

In the recent local elections, José María Pérez Sánchez, a farmer by profession, has become the second most voted mayor of the PP in the Valencian Community, and the first in the province of Alicante. He begins his second term with a large absolute majority in a team of 14 councillors in a municipality of about 28,000 inhabitants.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Saturday in the Plenary Hall. It was also followed by hundreds of people watching it through a giant screen installed outside the Town Hall building.

The Partido Popular in Pilar de la Horadada has increased its share by 998 votes, which translates into 3 more councillors than it had

in the last legislature. The Municipal is now made up of 14 councillors from the Popular Party, 6 from the Spanish Socialist Workers Party and 1 councillor from VOX.

In his investiture speech, the mayor said that "this victory is not only mine, but that of the entire town", and that "it has been your support, your enthusiasm and your dedication that have made this triumph possible", adding that "together we have shown that when we unite around a common goal, we can achieve great things".

In addition, the allocation of departments that took effect on Monday is as follows:

María del Mar Sáez Martínez: Citizen Security, Human Resources, Social Services, Housing;

Vox starts to get Firm Hold

Although in many places the Partido Popular (PP) did better in the municipal and regional elections than the vote in 2019, they did not obtain a sufficient portion of the electorate to secure an overall majority, and have had to look at collaborators to form coalition governments.

Earlier this week, the current President of the Govt, Pedro Sanchez, pointed out that the far-to-extreme-right Vox is not the biggest threat to society, but rather the PP adopting their policies is, and, little into a week of these municipal governments being formed, that is exactly what we are starting to see, as, perhaps out of desperation, the PP are agreeing to implement some of the extreme Vox policies.

Already, we have seen a Valencia language school closed down. Vox advocates for a single unifying language.

In the Valencia town of Náquera, the agreement to govern is based around some 20 measures, some controversial, such as a ban on the displaying of rainbow flags in support of the LGTBIQ+ community.

The local government agreement contemplates the creation of departments for bullfighting, hunting and Family and Life, which will be managed by VOX.

Vox also wants to replace the current gender violence laws, and in Náquera will ban protests in support or recognition of the victims of gender-based violence, because, as one of their vocal heads, José María Llanos, states, "Macho violence does not exist".

Regionally, the PP did insist that one key Vox member, who had been convicted of gender violence, was not included in the government as part of their agreement.

Ana Isabel García Mateo: Citizen Participation and Youth María Carmen Portugal Bueno: Family and Statistics

Ángel Albaladejo Miralles: Urbanism, Heritage Rufino Lancharro Muñoz: Public Services, Asunción Sánchez Martínez: Festivals, Employment, Equality, Districts; José Antonio Martínez Delgado: Sports, Nieves Moreno Moreno: Health, Modernization, International Residents; Darío Quesada Ferrer: Culture, Education;

Rosario Rojano González: Commerce, Melisa García Roda: Youth; Pedro Miguel Moya Albaladejo: Treasury, Environment;

Elisabet Marcos López: Seniors, Animal welfare

Eva María Martínez Pagán: Tourism; José Antonio Sáez Egea: Recruitment.

Torrevieja Government Roles

The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, has announced the roles that the 16 councillors making up the new Government team will have.

Although there is little change, with 16 councillors, 2 more than previously, it allowed him to redistribute areas to reduce the workload of some councillors. He has announced the creation of new departments such as: Universities, Childhood, Citizen Attention, Prevention and Health Promotion, Gender Policies and LGTBIQ +, as well as Attention to Functional Diversity.

EDUARDO DOLÓN SÁNCHEZ, Mayor, Council. Projects, Urban Planning and City Development.

The Vox head in Valencia, welcomed by the PP, is a former bullfighter, Vicente Barrera. He will be the vice president of the Generalitat, second to Carlos Mazón of the PP. Valencia, who has recently agreed funding for the promotion of bullfighting.

They will of course celebrate Spain and the Constitution, as they are important values, as part of their Spain for the Spanish policy, where foreigners are not welcome. Vox are particularly vocal against Catalonia, and their policy of unification is to be achieved by the destruction of unique areas with their own cultures and identity.

Somewhat closer to our home, in Elche, a protest was scheduled for Thursday to try to protect the bike lanes in the city, as that has become a priority for the PP / Vox coalition there.

The result of course is that bicycles and scooters will once again have to mix with traffic, creating a greater risk to vulnerable road users. It is also not clear how reducing bike lanes will satisfy the already outstanding legal requirement for reducing emissions.

And in Orihuela, the competency of International Residents has been handed to a Vox councillor, perhaps not the most ideal fit as Vox are generally anti-immigration and anti-Europe.

ROSARIO MARTÍNEZ CHAZARRA, Economic Development (Tourism, Commerce, Hospitality and Industry) and Festivals.

RICARDO RECUERO SERRANO, Education and Universities, Childhood, Innovation and Citizen Services, and Transparency.

ROSA CAÑÓN RODRÍGUEZ, Public Health.

DIANA BOX ALONSO, Sports, Pest Control, and Cleaning of Govt buildings. FEDERICO ALARCÓN MARTÍNEZ, Communication, Police, Security and Emergencies, Public Highways.

INMACULADA MONTESINOS PÉREZ, The Elderly, Census and Statistics, Equality and Women, Gender Policies and LGTBIQ+.

ANTONIO VIDAL ARÉVALO, Environment, Beaches, Transportation, Markets, Fisheries and the Integral Water Cycle.

CONCEPCIÓN SALA MACIÁ, Parks and Gardens, Animal Protection.

SANDRA SÁNCHEZ ANDRÉU, Urban Management, Urban Services, Cemeteries.

JOSÉ ANTONIO QUESADA HURTADO, Culture, Habaneras and Archives.

DOMINGO PAREDES IBÁÑEZ, Contracting, Economy and Finance, Heritage, Youth, Employment, Local Development and Entrepreneurship.

MARÍA JOSÉ RUÍZ EGEA, Urban Cleaning, Waste and Personnel.

TRUDY PÁEZ MARTÍNEZ, NGOs, Functional Diversity.

GITTE LUND THOMSEN, International Residents, Relations with the EU and European funds, and Districts and Neighbourhood Delegates.

ÓSCAR URTASUN NORTH, Social Welfare, Family, and Housing.

FICTION:

The Hondon Writers Circle, between meetings, produces a phrase for members to write a story about – for June it was ‘Come rain, come shine, you are welcome’.

The following is my contribution … amongst others.

Basking in the Italian Tuscany sun on a hillside overlooking the Cathedral of Campo dei Miracoli, with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in its parklands, it is barely visible in the hazy distance as viewed from an imposing square detached house, surrounded by lawns and flowering terraced steps on the hillside, divided by a winding gravel drive leading to the façade of the property.

Over the main entrance set in the midpoint of the fascia at the top of three stone steps, a pair of dark oak double doors, over which a red sign, embossed with bright gold lettering, declaring the property to be the Gratissmum Hotel.

On this Saturday morning the owners of this delightful enterprise, Mr and Mrs Virioeme, were busy preparing a suite of rooms on the upper floors for a special newly married guest, expected to arrive the following morning.

Meanwhile, in another country, about one thousand miles from Gratissmum, a young lady is sitting at a dressing table preparing for her wedding ceremony.

She was Annette Briller, whose excited French parents had arrived from Paris the previous morning for their daughter’s proposed happy day, when Miss Briller would become Mrs George Piove, whose parents had emigrated from northern Italy shortly after the end of the Second World War.

The bride, thrilled by all the arrangements, was agreeably looking at her reflection and following the minute details of her hair being styled by the local hairdresser.

The preparations for that afternoon were in a small very British village, of Cockington with its thatched cottages about an hour’s drive from Torquay’s English Riviera in southern England.

Nazi graffiti artist on trial

A little later in a sunny High Street, outside the small Anglican Church, Annette, helped by her father, steps graciously out of a white limousine to the sound of ‘awes’ and ‘ahs’, from the small crowd who had gathered to ogle the proceedings, as they admired the vision of the beauty in the white bridal gown, those many eyes followed the couple as they vanished into the religious structure.

The Wedding Breakfast was a joyous occasion held in a marquee, not far from the church, its canvas top occasionally flapping in the light wind as the group of people taking part in its covered comfort celebrated the newlywed couple at a lavish banquet, followed by dancing to a small band playing popular music.

Dark clouds started to gather as the outside environment changed to a howling wind with thundering heavy drops of water pounding on their canvas covering, bringing the celebration to an early end.

George looked at his lovely bride Annette and said, “Come Rain … come shine, we will have a wonderful life together, but first, two weeks enjoying each other’s company at Gratissmum”.

She looked up at him, her face a beautiful smile, “Remind me darling … what does ‘Gratissmum’ mean?”

“It is Latin for ‘Welcome’, and I am sure that is what awaits us.”

DOCTORS. LET’S GET SERIOUS.

The Provincial Court of Valencia is hearing evidence against a man accused of making more than 400 graffiti-type paintings with Nazi symbols on the walls of various buildings, both public and private, in the municipality of Carcaixent. The events occurred between 2017 and 2019 when, according to the public prosecution, the defendant painted messages such as "communist pigs", "OI Nazis" and "La Ribera skins". In most cases the affected walls were cleaned, repaired, wwith costs exceeding 7,900 euro.

The prosecution requests a sentence of 3 years in prison for a ëdamages with the aggravating circumstance of committing the crime for racist, anti-Semitic or other kinds of discrimination related to ideologyí.

In the UK, a family member had been trying since December 2022 to make an appointment with a doctor for a worrying problem, affecting their daily occupation, with a painful ligament in their hand. Five months later they were still on the waiting list and it was not possible to get in touch with their GP. In May 2023, in desperation, they went private. Ten days later, after a serious operation to cure their problem and with a left hand working perfectly, they are on the way to getting well again.

Following this event, I looked at the NHS own figures relating to patient numbers per doctor. It is not difficult to do, they

are available on Google.

Since 2018 there has been an increase in patient numbers from 59.1 million to 62.5 million. Currently the number of people registered per doctor is eight thousand five hundredplus, (8500+ per doctor) according to the official figures. Let us look at that more deeply, just supposing a doctor wants to see all eight and half thousand patients in a group, he would need a place larger than the famous Royal Albert Hall in London, which only holds 5272 people, so he would need something like a medium size football stadium. Put it another way, if a doctor was to spend ten minutes seeing each patient on a continuous basis, with no breaks for sleeping or eating, it would take 59 days before a consultation with the last one took place, which is equal to just over eight weeks.

No wonder it is difficult to get an appointment to see a medical practitioner.

WITHOUT BEING POLITICAL!

The political world in the West is shuddering in its attempt to tear itself apart. Gone is the attitude of team spirit of ‘you look after my back, and I will look after yours’ instead it is more like ‘don’t dare, turn your back’.

From the Scottish ex First Minister to Donald Trump’s arrests, popular politicians are being hounded day and night, and the phrase ‘innocent until found guilty’ is torn to pieces as the media and comedians make a living criticising their downfall. In my opinion, in the United Kingdom, a year ago, the knife wielding rat pack destroyed a strong democratically elected government with a large majority, by innuendos about its leader.

However, in this case maybe their wish will backfire as the person, who it is said is one of the greatest orators, instead of retiring into oblivion, takes a weekly full page in an international newspaper to expand on his views.

Factually any action will make a reaction, and, in this case, I doubt, it is what was expected. Take care.

www.facebook.com percy chattey books

We have been talking about summer dos and don’ts, but to be clear, these rules do not only apply in summer, but they also apply all year.

The reason we are highlighting the season is because we always see an increase in these types of behaviours, and an increase in the subsequent fines, at this time of year.

The offence of failing to maintain the proper position in the vehicle comes with an 80 euro fine, at any time of year.

This can refer to passengers with their feet on the dashboard, drivers with their arms out the window, or any other situation where proper posture is not maintained. There are many reasons why this rule is important. For example, in the event of impact, the injuries sustained by a person with their feet on the dashboard are nothing less than horrific, as you have hopefully seen in the first of this series and will now think twice before doing it. The same goes for instances where limbs have been lost or severely injured on account of them protruding from the vehicle. Plus, the seats in a vehicle are designed to give maximum protection, and comfort, and not being correctly positions poses a risk, and can hinder visibility by the driver.

The correct wearing of the seat belt is also crucial. Not wearing it over your shoulder and across the torso as it is designed for is the same as not wearing it at all. That is why the fine for wearing a seat belt incorrectly is 200 euro, the same as if you weren´t wearing it at all.

Seat belts are designed for one purpose only, to save lives. Statistics show that by wearing a seat belt the probability of death when involved in a collision is halved, whereas according to the data from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) and the Instituto Universitario de Tráfico y Seguridad Vial (INTRAS), the risk of death is cut by a staggering 77% in an overturned vehicle. However, in order for the seat belt to be effective, it must be worn correctly, in order for it to fulfil the function it is designed for fully.

The correct way to wear the seat belt is for it to go across the torso diagonally, and across the waist, firmly secured in these positions. The top part must be on the hard part of the collarbone, halfway between the shoulder and the neck. The lower end sits against the hardness of the pelvis.

Remember, the seat belt must be snug against the body. Do not pull it away or put it under your arm, as it will not be effective. You not only must wear a seat belt at all times, you must also wear it correctly.

DAVE ROGERS RIP

It is with great personal sadness that I pass on the news that Dave died suddenly in the early hours of 21.06.23. in Denia hospital.

In the UK Dave had been a good crown green bowler but obviously he had to convert to the calmer flat green version when he joined Country Bowls around 2005. Thatís where Ron and I got to know him and with his encouragement got involved in the regular, Open Bowls events held at most clubs south and north ñ travelling then was no great barrier.

Later he moved to play at Horadada BC until he and Marilyn (Mal) moved up to Calpe a few years ago, where he was just about to join up at Calpe Bowls Club.

To me he was like a big brother, annoying, with a dry sense of humour, a good (if grumpy) skip, and a good friend with a big heart.

Hopefully Dave will be remembered, by those who knew him, with a big smile!

At his request there will be no funeral but perhaps friends would like to raise a glass, of your choice, on 8th July, which would have been his 78th birthday.

Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Marilyn, family, friends and fellow bowlers.

Sheila Cammack

GREENLANDS RESULTS

Greenlands Warriors v Country Bowls.

What a game this turned out to be with the home team lagging behind in the first half then lo and behold it all changed and the Warriors run out winning 8-4

Such a great result against a very strong side,so well done the Warriors.The same result when we played at Country Bowls.

The Gladiators v Country Bowls Kites. Greenlands travelled to Country Bowls and this proved to be a very hard game with both sides playing well so to get a 6 all draw seems a good result with shots for Greenlands 89-84,so well played.

TITANS were away to La Siesta and that proved a very hard game for Greenlands who only managed to obtain 2 games thanks to the pairs.Shots La Siesta 103-72

Brave effort by the team against some well-established bowlers.Well done

Greenlands GIANTS were away to Emerald Isle and that was not a good day for them either only managed to gain 2points thanks to the singles player Shots were 89 to70 giving the result of 10 to 2 to Emerald Isle.

Sorry the final result titans against La Siesta was was a win of 10-2 to la Siesta.

So it seems The Warriors carried the Greenlands Flag high this week CONGRATULATIONs to the team

MONTE MAR BOWLS CLUB

Sponsored by The Pub, Gran Alacant Insurances, Dialprix, The Belfry, Sunrise Builders, La Piedra and Dunbars.

South Alicante Summer Trips v San Miguel Christians

At home to San Miguel Christians we had a good result winning on three rinks and drawing on one. Well done to the three winning rinks Des Freeman, David Eades skip Barry Watson, Lynne Armitage, Diane Horsington skip Phil Goble, Tony Kershaw, Ian Hamilton skip Neil Crawford and the drawing rink Julia Hamilton, Paul Dodds skip Keith Young.

Shots Toros 79 ñ 70 Christians. Points Toros 9 ñ 3 Christians. Well done to all who played in the South Alicante Summer Trips we finished fourth.

For further information about Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club check out our website www.montemarbowls.com or email us at info@montemarbowls.com. We are also on Facebook.

Vistabella Bowls Club

South Alicante summer league - Monday June 19th

Vistabella Fairways playing away to Quesada Lancasters. Another hot day for bowls, but played in high spirits. (last game of the summer league). As always a pleasure playing our friends at Quesada, a couple of good wins from Denise Howell, Stuart Allman & Brian Dunn 25- 13 plus Brian Gilham, Alan Bannister & Martin Foulcer 33-6. This gave us a scores advantage overall 104 - 88.

So scores shared Vistabella Fairways 6pts & Quesada Lancasters 6pts.

VCL summer league - Wednesday June 21st

SAN MIGUEL BOWLS

On Monday it was the last games of the South Alicante Summer League to be played. San Miguel Moors were home to Quesada Blenheim's losing 4 - 8, 77 shots to 89. The best winning triple were Dave Homer, Gail Willshire and Fred Willshire, 23 shots to 10.

San Miguel Christians were away to Montemar Torros, where they lost 3 - 9, 70 shots to 79.

On Wednesday San Miguel Deputies were home to San Luis Hawkes, winning 10 - 2. 93 shots to 75. In the Ladies Singles Linda Douglas lost 7 - 21 in the Gents Singles Bob Donnelly won 21 - 17, In the pairs, Jack Jackson and Dave Champion won 23 - 14, In the triples Bob Nesbitt, Ian Hope and Mike Douglas won 25 - 7, In the Rinks Sharon Louise, Ken Guiney, Tom Dalgleish and Eddie Cowan won 17 - 15.

San Miguel Sheriffs were away to Vistabella Saxons where they lost 4 - 8. 72 shots to 92. In the Pairs Anita Brown and Gail Willshire won 19 - 13, and in the Triples Ken Hope, Sandi Hannan, and Stuart Hemmings won 22 - 12. Areminder that the Wasps sessions take place Wednesdays 1.30pm for 2.00pm - Ä5 for an afternoonís bowling with shoes and bowls available to borrow.

Due to the popularity of the Wasps, first time bowlers are asked to attend an initial coaching session on Tuesday afternoons, starting at 1.45pm, by appointment ONLY. To book, please call Dave or Lynn Greenland on +34 667 207 508.

We welcome all bowlers who would like to join San Miguel B.C. as we are a unique clubwe only pay owner fees and a club fee and NO LEAGUE RINK FEES. For further information on San Miguel B.C please contact club secretary Barry Jones on 602 504 905 or club president Alan Campbell on 606 676 118

Vistabella Saxons v San Miguel Sheriffs

Competitive match as always but as it was the last match of the summer league, there was a lot of humour/ banter going around the rinks. Good wins for our singles matches with Sue Wilson showing her form winning 21 - 13 and Martin Foulcer (Mr reliable) winning 21 - 5. Also our fours, top form this season, winning 25 - 13. Scores Vistabella Saxons 92 San Miguel Sheriffs 72.A good win for Vistabella Saxons 8pts San Miguel Sheriffs 4pts. Well done Saxons in getting 3rd place in the VCL league. This time of year we usually say goodbye to a few of our bowlers, whether it be going back to UK or moving on to another club. We wish them all the very best for the future as we also welcome any new members coming to our club. Contact: richardwilley321@gmail.com, Tel: 698 925 932

LA MARINA BOWLS CLUB

I have been away for most of this summer season of bowls, and unfortunately out of touch.

What a wonderful surprise to come back in time to see out last Monday game in the South Alicante Summer League, where a win would secure our position as League Winners and the Championship. Not only did we win that game we won it with a 12-0 victory. WELL DONE EVERYONE and thank you for your excellent performances.

As if that was not enough, we are top of the Wednesday VCL League with 2 games to go and for the pen-ultimate one I had the privilege of marking one of our singles and the team secured a 8-4 win.

I really would like to congratulate our 2 captains Norman Ship and Tom Spencer and their fellow selectors on such a wonderful effort and to all team members for their continued support.

Lastly and as a PS: I met up with fellow bowlers whilst we were away – Derek & Connie Shirley, and Terry and Jean Perchard who wish to be remembered to all and send their best wishes.

The above should have been posted and published last week, I had written it but unfortunately my stay in hospital interfered with my plans. However, it is still relevant and even more so with our final victory against Country Bowls of 12-0 securing our position of champions. A really wonderful achievement winning both leagues that we entered this summer.

As for me I am now home and so full of praise for Thomas and the staff at the Pharmacy, Dr Rosalyn and the staff at the health centre and for the superb attention I received at Torrevieja Hospital. Lastly thank you for your kind wishes and thoughts that were sent, and the beautiful flower arrangement and now let’s all look forward to a new bowls season in September..

By Shirley Hadaway

VB Lancasters and the final game of the Summer League at Quesada

SAN LUIS DOUBLE LEAGUE WINNERS

By Sheila Cammack

After another great week, in a very successful summer season, the WELLINGTONS have finished as league champions.

To follow that, the FALCONS have also won the VC LEAGUE and now play off against Javea Green at Bonalba on Wednesday 28th June.

South Alicante summer league Monday 19th SPITFIRE Div. SL Wellingtons were away v Emerald Isle Vulcans and what a roller coaster of a match it was, it could have gone either way; it was so close, finishing with shots 77-77, 7 points-5. Everyone worked so hard for their team, right to the end. Winners: Kath Reid, Tricia & Pat Reilly 16-12, Giuseppe Galelli, Bill Webb, Dave Webb 17-10 Neil Burrows, Sandra Burrows (who refused to give up, even though she could hardly walk), Scott Malden 17-15.

HARRIER Div. SL Hercules: had a good result at home v La Siesta taking 8 points -4, shots 96-66. Well done to our winners: Phil & Mary Lockley, Jane Hamill 27-6, Sue Kenyon, Dave Notely, Ian Kenyon 27-6, Brenda Reid, Kev McKenna, Stewart Hamill 20-14.

Valencian Championship League Wednesday 21st. DIV A. Falcons had a great result, home v Quesada Lions, winning (after a very close battle) 9 points - 3, 93 shots - 64.

Well done to the whole team for focusing & fighting so hard to achieve this and the overall win. Ladies’ singles. Kath Reid 21-4, Men’s singles: Dave Webb came so close, just losing 17-21, Pairs: June & Keith Jones 15-11, Triples: Dee Hoey, Caroline & John Smyth 23-11, Rinks: Giuseppe Galelli, Bill Webb, Pat Reilly, & Scott Malden, who drew the last shot for a 17-17 draw.

VCL. DIV B. Hawks were away at San Miguel but unfortunately, they couldn’t get past the Deputies; finishing 2 points -10, 74 shots -93. Well done to our Lone Ranger: Jane Hamill who won 21-7.

We are a friendly club with competitive and hard-working members, we welcome new and experienced members to expand our teams. Come and meet us, or better still, come and join us.

Emerald Isle Bowls Club

By ELWYN MORRIS

Monday brought the Spitfire League Title decider to The Isle. The home side needed at least an 8-4 victory to be Champions, but they fell short losing 5-7 Aggregate of 7777. A great game all the same.

N Davis M Ellis C Lindgren 20-12, M Oakley S Marks R Marks 20-15, Well done Vulcans

Victors travelled to La Siesta Wasps and it was a bad day, losing 2-10, Aggregate of 67-102

Well done Victors. It’s been a tough season, but you stuck at it. Great experience for some players

Dukes rounded off the VCL season with a fine 10-2 Aggregate of 89-70 win against Greenlands, D Jones 21-18, N Davis C Lindgren 17-10, P Heaney S Marks R Marks 2614, M Oakley N Prior M Ellis M Dyer 21-7

Earls completed their season at Quesada Tigers and were beaten 2-10 Aggregate of 87-107. A Forrest J McGregor 1915.

Well done both teams and now have a good rest and be ready for OCT

SAPS on Sat at 9-15

LA SIESTA BOWLS (Members Run Club) by Alan

These are the final results from our club, due to the forthcoming sale of the premises, which will cease to be used as a Bowls Club after September.

Hurricane Division - The Wasps welcomed Emerald Isle Victors to La Siesta, which ended with a great win by securing four rinks together with the overall (Shots 102-67) for a result of 10-2. Winning teams being; Anthony Pridmore, Martin Harley & Karen Kirk (30-7). Joy & Brian Gardiner with Jean Cooper (25-8). Ramsay Sinclair, Harold Charleton & John Taylor (1913). Dave Blackie, Derek Biggs & Jim Gracie (19-14). Harrier Division - La Siesta Hornets played their game at San Luis, the opponents being the Hercules, which saw a result of 4-8 (Shots 66-96) for wins on two rinks courtesy of; Lesley & Wayne Howlett with David Laverick (21-9). Jim Gwynn, Derek Barker & Alan Mawer (19-13).

VCL League - The Parakeets home game against Greenland’s Titans, resulted with wins on four rinks to claim 8 points plus a further 2 points for the overall (Shots 103-72) ending with a 10-2 result. The winning disciplines being; Rinks: Pauline Johnson, Gordon Paton, Derek Biggs & David Blackie (26-11) Trips: Joy Gardiner, Jim Gracie & Martin Harley (24-12). Singles: Karen Kirk (21-11). John Taylor (21-14).

Charity Golf Day

Carr

The Hoopoe’s rearranged match was a home game against Greenland’s Titans, seeing three of the rinks finishing close with Skip Howlett’s team being very unlucky having to settle for a draw on the last end. The winning teams being; Singles: Mike Inns (21-6). Pairs: Jim Gwynn & Ken Barber (19-17). Rinks: Brenda Quinlivan, Tracey Paffett, Alan Carr & John Skipper (18-17). The game ended with a win 9-3 (Shots 92-76).

For the Hoopoe’s final game, we couldn’t have asked for better opponent’s than Country Bowls Meercats who are always great company especially on this sad day for La Siesta. The game saw some great bowling, most rinks were so close the points could have gone either way but unfortunately not to us as the game ended with one win to collect 2 points by; Singles: Mike Inns (21-19) for a result of 2-10 (Shots 78-90). Congratulations to La Siesta Parakeet’s for winning the “C” Division VCL League

ON COURSE FOUNDATION and THE PINK LADIES

Held at Vistabella Golf on the 22nd of June the event was supported by some 74 players.

We played Texas Scramble on a very warm day and the course was in excellent condition.

Due to some Societies remaining on the old Handicap system we had 2 Divisions,WHS and NON WHS.

Firstly my thanks go to Bob Smith who worked tirelessly

Carp-R-Us Fishing report.

Carp-R-Us fished Round 10 of their Spring Series on the Eden 2 stretch of the Rio Segura.

This stretch has not been used for matches for some time due to flooding and problems with the reeds that line it, but after some hard work by club members the week before, sufficient pegs had been opened up for a match.

Water levels had dropped a lot since a visit two days before and dropped a further 20cms during the match, which makes presentation challenging at times.

This did not stop Tony Flett running away with the match from the downstream end peg. Tony weighed in a creditable 10.28kg caught tight to the far bank using pole and maggots. Second from the peg 2 was Steve Fell who had 6.44kg on pole and bread caught fishing the far bank under the overhanging reeds. Third with his usual method feeder and pellet tactics was Willy Moons with 3.96kg and fourth was Jeremy Fardoe with 3.40kg. Further information about the club can be found on its website www.carp-r-us.weebly.com or on the Facebook page Carp-R-Us

Fishing Costa Blanca

before and during the actual day.

Also a big Thank you goes to Kathleen Rodgers who sat at hole 15 where we had the par 3 challenge and made some 345 Euros.

The Winners on the Day were.

WHS (Left) - Clarkes Bar 5,consisting of Tommy Clarke, Alan Shand,Charlie Rodgers and Nicky Dunne with a Score of Net 56.9.

NON WHS (Above) - Dannys bar 3,consisting of,Paul Rodgers,Brian Holmes,Alan Miller and Alan Small with a Net Score of 59.5

Thanks to everyone who supported the day and helped make the great sum of euro1302.

DARTS PRESENTATION EVENING

Venue - Los Cucalos, La Zenia

The 2023 Serenity lnsurance darts league concluded this week with the presentation of prizes by league sponsor and managing director of Serenity, Jane Leggatt.

The evening commenced with a table buffet and some "mind blowing" magic from the "Magic Circles" Graeme Mykal. Music throughout the evening came from the sounds of D.J. "Connor Solo".

Awards for 180's, Merit, pairs, singles, cup k.o. and league winners were presented by Ms Leggatt, followed by a raffle of 20 excellent gifts, then music and dancing into the early hours.

The 2023 / 24 season commences September, after an A.G.M. in August, details published later.

New teams should contact Simone de Lacy on 600 980 744.

Div 2 winners, Leeson St

Hot Shots, Pat, Mitch, Lesley

CK1 Lads

Aux Cup winners, Toppers

Mark, Singles, Merit, 180 Champion

Div 1 winners, The Gap

Committee, Bob, Simone & Paul Ladies Singles, Chelsea and Yvonne

Div 3 winners, CK1 Ladybirds

Tipsy Toad Tiaras

Hub Hyenas

6x180, James, Ed & Sam

Playing in the shadow of theirdream stadium

By Andrew Atkinson

Valencia, who sit in the lower echelons of La Liga, play in the shadow of what could have been one of the world's biggest stadiums, a dream that was broken in the midst of Spain's 2008 financial crisis, the recession.

At the time construction work of their new 75,000 seat stadium, ground to a halt. Today, the Nou Mestalla remains half-built. The La Liga side's former president Juan Soler announced plans for the new ground in November 2006, with construction scheduled to start in August 2007 and a completion date ahead of the 2009-10 season.

Global finances in the crisis lead to increasing debts at the time. Former defender Fabio Aurelio, who played for the club under Rafa Benitez during 2000-06, told FourFourTwo: ìYou look from the outside and think the stadium is finished, but it's not. Nobody can really say if that day will ever come."

FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE MARK HALSEY ROLLS BACK THE YEARS

Orihuela Costa’s former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey, dusted off his boots to referee a Real Madrid legends game last weekend.

The 61-year-old rolled back the years to play his part in Real Madrid’s 5-0 win over an Alicante Select XI at Orihuela’s Los Arcos Municipal Stadium.

Halsey made many big calls in the top flight over 14 years between 1999 and 2019, having refereed in the Football League for 12 years prior to that.

He took charge of some prestigious matches, including the 2008 League Cup final between Tottenham and Chelsea.

In the Legends game, Edwin Congo bagged a brace, with Jose Amavisca, Fernando Moran and Alberto Rivera also getting on the scoresheet.

Also on the field playing for real was Ivan Campo, who had a five-year spell with the European giants, prior to joining Bolton Wanderers on loan. At the end of his first season with Bolton in 2002 the Spaniard made the move permanent.

Campo was part of the star-studded side assembled by Big Sam Allardyce alongside the likes of Jay Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando Hierro.

He went on to make nearly 200 appearances for the Whites and also had a stint at Ipswich before finishing his career at Cypriot club AEK Larnaca.

Campo has continued to support Wanderers from afar in recent years and was cheering Ian Evatt’s side on as they beat Plymouth in the Papa Johns Trophy final two months ago.

COMMODORE TRIUMPHS AGAIN

The latest SAMM race day was held on Wednesday June 21st. For the second race day running, SAMM Commodore Jack Moss, with his crew Dianne Hardwick, was in a winning boat.

He also returned to the North West to take part in Gethin Jones’ MND appeal in 2021, reuniting with Allardyce and a number of his former team-mates to raise funds.

Campo posted several pictures from the game on his Twitter page and wrote: “Today I was with a special person and big friend: @RefereeHalsey. Very, very happy to see you again in Orihuela playing with @VeteranosRM.”

Aurelio, 43, who made 96 appearances for Valencia, before joining Liverpool in 2006, again under Benitez, said: "it's sad because you've lived there and you know the city. The club and the fans deserve a stadium like this.î

Today the stadium is abandoned - despite multiple proposals over the subsequent years.

Valencia had been dependent on selling their current Mestalla home to fund the new build - but the recession of 2008 hit the property market hard and they couldn't find a buyer. Construction was stopped on what was meant to be the world's greatest football stadium in 2009 after a reported £90million bank loan to fund the remaining work was denied.

In December 2011, a deal was agreed with Spanish bank Bankia to complete the stadium and give them ownership of the current ground, but the deal fell through.

In the first race, all 5 boats were away smartly on a starboard tack but John Down, Laser Radial, made an error and tried to make up for it by switching to a port tack. This was the wrong choice and he ended up in 4th at the 1st mark, the lead boat being Omega, Steve Hall and Andy Grant. Vision, Julian Pering and Stuart Meadows, struggled in the light wind. John was then in catch up mode and passed Cuatro on the 2nd lap and Norman Veneer, also in a Laser Radial, in the 3rd and was then chasing the Omega. The lap times for the Omega were most consistent, averaging just over 10 minutes, and they held off the John to the finish. The wind had increased to between 5 and 6 knots by the 4th lap.

All boats completed 6 laps in the hour long race except Vision which only managed 3. After the handicaps were applied the

race results were Cuatro, Jack and Dianne, followed by Omega, Johnís Laser, Normanís Laser and Vision.

For the second race, with the wind at over 6 knots from S/E all the boats made a good start on starboard .

The Omega was first to the windward mark followed by John in the Laser, and then Cuatro and Norman in the Laser battling it out with Vision bringing up the rear and sailing well in the increasing wind.

This was the order for a couple of laps until John tried his port tack tactic on the 3rd lap which worked this time and he beat Omega to the mark. With the wind gusting to 10 knots at this point this was the order for the remainder of the race.

Lap times were faster than the first race due to increased wind strength. After handicaps were applied the results were John, Laser followed very closely by the consistent Omega in 2nd, then Cuatro, Norman Veneer in his Laser and Vision.

All boats had good races, there were no incidents to mar the proceedings and yet again some of the Average Lap timings were very close.

QUIZ FROM PAGE 14: 1.Macadamia (after John Macadam), 2. Venice Italy, 3.Krakatoa, 4.Dr Strangelove, 5.6,000, 6.California (from 'calidus' for hot and 'fornax' for oven), 7. Zinedine Zidane (Song saw red in 1994 and 1998, Zidane in 1998 and 2006), 8. Albania, 9.Wounded Knee, 10.a.London Calling (The Clash), b.Winchester Cathedral (The New Vaudeville Band), c. Kansas City (Fats Domino), d.One Night In Bangkok (Murray Head) , 11.Indonesia (14x), China (10x) and Malaysia (5x),

Japan (1x), India (1x) and Denmark (1x), 12.Chicane 13.Liam Neeson, 14. Suharto, 15.Stand By Me, 16.Heidi (Heidi'sYears of Wandering and Learning), 17.a.Born Free, b.Streets of Philadelphia, c.Gigi, d.Arthur's Theme (Best that I can do), 18.Panama Canal, 19.In order;Venezuela - 303.806 Billion

258.600 Billion

Billion Barrels.

Valencia's 75,000 seat stadium £90m bank loan denied.

John on the Radial

Mark Halsey with good friend Ivan Campo