Hello there! Gibraltar Stories is back after an enforced break due to Coronavirus and all that that entails. Back in March, I was focusing on Women in Gibraltar as it was International Women's Day back then. I had planned to round off the series with a look back at a special conference which took place in Gibraltar. Now, two months later than planned, I can bring you that episode. On 5th March, Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses and Women in Business Gibraltar hosted an International Women's Day conference onboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel in Ocean Village. Speakers at the event came from a wide range of different fields including business, health, broadcasting and the emergency services and spoke on many different topics. I went along to experience it for myself, and you can hear all about it in this episode. My special thanks to Neil Warburton from iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories Logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories Website. Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

Throughout March Gibraltar Stories is focusing in on stories of Inspiring Gibraltar Women. So far, we have heard from the worlds of business and music, today it’s the turn of someone who has entertained and informed Gibraltar through theatre, broadcasting and print journalism. This week, I am thrilled to be able to share the story of someone whom I admire a great deal – a person who loves telling people’s stories as much, if not more than I do. I feel extremely honoured that she agreed to tell me hers… This episode is dedicated to Alice Mascarenhas. Alice once harboured the dream of becoming a Marine Biologist but life took her down a different path and led her into radio, she has presented the 'Centre Stage' show on Radio Gibraltar for the past 22 years, she also has a weekly column ‘Alice’s Table’ in the Gibraltar Chronicle and has published two books in the last year as well. ‘Alice’s Table’ a compilation of 13 months of Alice’s weekly columns from the Gibraltar Chronicle is available to buy from the Gibraltar Chronicle. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards a paid internship for a trainee journalist. ‘Elio Cruz - One Man, Many Talents’ is available for sale from the Gibraltar Fine Arts Gallery. My special thanks to Neil Warburton from www.iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories website. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com or look out for Gibraltar Stories on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

In this week’s Gibraltar Stories ‘Inspiring Gibraltar Women’ episode you will hear from a truly inspirational young woman, Layla Bugeja. From opening the Main Stage at the Gibraltar Music Festival for Ricky Martin, to juggling her A-Level studies around her song writing and music commitments wandhat the future holds for her as she sets her sights on a move to Tennessee, Layla, at the age of just 18 has achieved so much already. I was thrilled to be able to have a chat with Layla recently and not only that, she performed a couple of her newest songs for me too. My thanks to Layla for finding time away from her school work and between gigs to speak to me. If you would like to find out more about Layla, you can find her on Instagram @thelaylaroseband you can also hear songs by The Layla Rose Band on Spotify and Apple Music. Layla's songs 'Soul on Fire' & 'I Stopped Fighting' were written and performed by her and they are included in this podcast with her permission. My special thanks to Neil Warburton from www.iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories website. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com or look out for Gibraltar Stories on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

Hello and welcome to Gibraltar Stories. As this coming Sunday 8th March marks international women’s day I thought it appropriate to spend a few weeks speaking to some of the inspiring women I have met within the Gibraltar community while it has been my home. Over the coming weeks I hope to bring you some conversations with women from all walks of life in Gibraltar and give them a platform to speak about what they do. The first inspiring Gibraltar woman I spoke to is Denise Matthews, a mother and (in her own words) ‘a feisty business woman’ with her own PR company, she is also chapter director of Start Up Grind Gibraltar, an organization which connects start-up businesses forging a community for entrepreneurs. Denise recently won the Director of the Year award beating 600 other candidates at the annual Start-Up Grind global conference in San Francisco, she also becoming the first woman to hold the title. To find out more about Denise and her businesses, please check out: Denise Matthews’ PR company is One Media & Events https://www.onemediaevents.com/ Start Up Grind Gibraltar https://www.startupgrind.com/gibraltar/ My special thanks to Neil Warburton from www.iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories website. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com or look out for Gibraltar Stories on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

Hello there! Gibraltar Stories is back and what better way to kick off the new series than with an episode about the event which kick starts the Gibraltar social calendar each year – the Cavalcade. In this episode you can hear from Eric Abudharam, President of the Gibraltar Cavalcade Committee as well as some of the people who worked round the clock over the Christmas period to get their floats ready in time of the big night on 5th January. My thanks to everyone who took the time to speak to me for this podcast including Eric Abudharam, Horace Bonfante & Amanda from Mount Alvernia & Meddoc, Syna Smith from the Balloqui Family & Europa FC float and Leno Bridges from the Glacis United float. My special thanks to Neil Warburton from www.iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories website. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com or look out for Gibraltar Stories on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

In this, the final Gibraltar Stories episode of 2019, I’m sharing a Special Olympics story with you. This year has been an unforgettable one for the athletes involved in the 50th Anniversary Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi. Back in March, nineteen athletes from Gibraltar travelled to the games and took part in a range of sports including athletics, swimming, golf and equestrian. One of those athletes was Julian De Las Heras, who won silver in golf. In this episode, Julian speaks about how Special Olympics has changed his life, we also hear from his golf coach and Special Olympics Gibraltar Executive Committee member Andrew Ramage. For more information on Special Olympics Gibraltar, please visit: https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/europe-eurasia/gibraltar My special thanks to Neil Warburton from iamunknown.com for designing the Gibraltar Stories Logo and creating the Gibraltar Stories website. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories, please visit gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

In this, the third and final podcast episode looking at this year’s Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, I speak to Richard Hamilton. Author of two books about Morocco and a former North Africa Correspondent for the BBC, Richard tells me about his affection for Tangier and the frustrations he experienced while researching this latest book ‘Tangier - From the Romans to the Rolling Stones’. A magnet for creatives like William Burroughs, Paul Bowles, Henri Matisse and Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones, the city has captivated and inspired many visitors and some of their stories can be found in Richard’s book. For more information on The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, please check out their website http://www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com/ And you can find Richard Hamilton’s website here http://www.richard-hamilton.com/ To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

Feminism, the life of John Buchan, the history and habits of our furry neighbours - the Barbary Macaques and a thriller set in Gibraltar all feature in this second episode looking at the 2019 Gibraltar International Literary Festival. Now in its seventh edition, the festival draws writers and visitors from far afield as well as showcasing local talent. This year, forty speakers enthralled audiences with their take on the world and their literary works. This week’s episode of Gibraltar Stories features conversations with Ursula Buchan, Paola Diana, Professor Larry Sawchuk & Professor Lianne Tripp and Kitty Sewell. For more information on The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, please check out their website: http://www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com/ To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

Each year, in November Gibraltar becomes a hive of activity and intellectual discourse as the Literary Festival rolls into town. Now in its seventh edition, the festival draws writers and visitors from far afield as well as showcasing local talent. This year, forty speakers enthralled audiences with their take on the world and their literary works. This week’s episode of Gibraltar Stories concentrates on some of the local writers who presented their work at this year’s festival. For more information on The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, please check out their website: http://www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com/ To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit www.gibraltarstories.com Books written by the Gibraltar writers featured in this episode are available to buy from the Gibraltar Heritage Trust shop (https://shop.gibraltarheritagetrust.org.gi/) and the Gibraltar National Museum shop (https://www.gibmuseum.gi/) Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

Each spring and autumn, Gibraltar is on the route for migratory birds either heading north into Europe or south into Africa. The Rock's geographical position and topography makes it an ideal route for crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. Every year volunteer bird ringers travel to Gibraltar to help monitor the birds and track their health and progress. The base for this activity is the GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) Observatory & Field Centre at Jews Gate in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. In this podcast episode you can hear from some of the volunteers who make regular trips to Gibraltar to ring the birds as well as from Jill Yeoman from GONHS. If you would like more information about GONHS or would like to volunteer for the organisation in future, please visit www.gonhs.org To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

With just under a week to go before Hallowe’en, this episode of Gibraltar Stories looks at some of Gibraltar’s ghost stories. ***This episode comes with a health warning: Listeners of a sensitive nature and young children may not enjoy all of the subject matter in this episode - it does get a bit gruesome in places. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea!*** Gibraltar, just like any other city has a whole host of ghost stories and spooky legends, the most famous of which is probably the Grey Lady of the Convent (the ghost of a young nun who was allegedly bricked up into the walls of the Convent to prevent her from eloping with her lover). There are tales of long departed soldiers still making their patrols through the many miles of tunnels within the Rock itself and Moorish Castle which has seen centuries come and go sitting above Casemates Square. Gibraltarian writer Jackie Anderson is in the process of collecting an anthology of Gibraltar ghost stories and is on the look out for any which may have passed her by. Do you have any to share with her? You can make contact with Jackie via email to: jackiegirl@hotmail.co.uk Jackie’s blog which features some of her writing on Gibraltar’s ghosts can be found here: https://halloweenchillingtales.blogspot.com/ Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

Today, the 21st October 2019 marks the 214th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Gibraltar had a role in that battle providing provisions for the ships and their crews beforehand and treating some of the wounded afterwards. Two of the men who lost their lives in that battle are buried at the Trafalgar Cemetery in Gibraltar, and each year in October, an act of remembrance takes place there. In this mini extra episode, I share some of the atmosphere from yesterday's remembrance service. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

From his first performance as a tree in a school production to acting alongside Sir Kenneth Branagh and performing in front of Michael Jackson whilst working in Japan for Disney, Christian Santos has had a varied career. Now back in his hometown of Gibraltar, he's Principal of GAMPA (Gibraltar Academy of Music and Performing Arts) and this year, has also taken up the role of Deputy Mayor of Gibraltar. In this episode of Gibraltar Stories, Christian Santos speaks about his career so far, GAMPA's "I Am Me" project aimed at building self-confidence and mutual respect in children and young people and his hopes for the future. To find out more about GAMPA, please visit their website: www.gampa.gi To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

In June this year, the first ever anthology of Gibraltar poetry was published. It came about following an appeal by the Independent Writers and Artists Project in Gibraltar for any budding poets to submit their poems. After much deliberation by a panel of judges the Anthology of Contemporary Gibraltar Poets was compiled containing 30 poems from 10 different poets. In this episode, one of those judges and poets, Giordano Durante explains the reasons why the anthology was created. If you would like to get a copy of the Anthology of Contemporary Gibraltar Poets, you can pick one up at the Gibraltar Museum shop, the Gibraltar Heritage Trust shop or at the main Eroski supermarket by the airport. It’s hoped that the anthology will eventually be available digitally for a wider audience too. To find out more about the Independent Writers and Artists Group and the Equality Rights Group, please check out their Facebook pages. To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds. Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston.

For one week in July, Gibraltar played host to athletes from across the globe for the 2019 NatWest International Island Games. Teams from 22 islands competed in 14 different sports from Athletics to Triathlon and Beach Volleyball to Sailing. It was the biggest sporting event ever to be held on the Rock and Gibraltarians took the games to their hearts. In this, the second of two special Island Games episodes, you can hear from some of the people who volunteered to help make the Games run smoothly as well as hearing from the Chair of the Organising Committee, Linda Alvarez about the legacy the Games have left for future generations in Gibraltar. To find out more about this summer’s games and to see the fantastic photos taken by the volunteer photographers check out: https://www.gibraltar2019.com/ To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please visit: gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

For one week in July, Gibraltar played host to athletes from across the globe for the 2019 NatWest International Island Games. Teams from 22 islands competed in 14 different sports from Athletics to Triathlon and Beach Volleyball to Sailing. It was the biggest sporting event ever to be held on the Rock and Gibraltarians took the games to their hearts. In this, the first of two special Island Games episodes, you can hear from athletes who were involved in the games as well as the Chair of the Organising Committee and hopefully you will get a sense of the amazing atmosphere at some of the various sporting events. Look out for Part 2 coming out next week. To find out more about this summer’s games here: https://www.gibraltar2019.com/ To find out more about Gibraltar Stories and listen to all the other episodes, please check out www.gibraltarstories.com Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

Whatever your favourite dish is, from burritos to bratwurst, from macarons to Moroccan pinchitos or even Gibraltarian calentita, there’s bound to be something to suit you at the annual Calentita food festival. This summer Calentita returned for its thirteenth year with stalls selling food from many of the nationalities represented within in the Gibraltarian community. Alongside the culinary aspects of the event lies a deeper message to look at the ethical and environmental impact of the food we eat both at Calentita and in our everyday lives. Not only that, this year’s festival fell on the eve of the Gibraltar 2019 NatWest International Island Games, so many more different nationalities were represented in the customers as well as the stall holders. In this episode of Gibraltar Stories, I hope you get a flavour of what the event was about this year as we hear from one of the organisers; Owen Smith and two of the speakers, Claire Louise Foster from The Kasbar and Vidya Heisel from the Danyadara Permaculture Project. For more information on the topics covered in this episode, please check out these links: https://www.calentita.gi/ https://danyadara.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thekasbar/ Music on this podcast is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

Gibraltar Stories is back with a brand new series looking back at some of the great events we've enjoyed on the Rock this summer as well as sharing some Gibraltar Stories you may not have heard before. The Gibraltar Stories theme music is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

The Frontier Closure 50 Years On : Part 6 – The Legacy “There was a positive aspect of this as the latest siege, in that it presented challenges…. which, I think, the Gibraltarian rose over with flying colours ” – Manuel Perez On 8th June 1969, Spain’s General Franco closed the land border between Spain and Gibraltar. Overnight, supply lines were cut, families were separated and telecommunications ceased. This week, in the 6th and final part of this series of podcasts looking at the impact of the Frontier Closure, I hear from a several of the people who have contributed to the series so far about the legacy of the closed frontier years, and why it’s important to remember this period in Gibraltar’s history. My thanks to all those who contributed to Part 6 : Ambrose Avellano, Dr Jennifer Ballantine Perera, Sylvia Ballantine, David Bentata, Irma Casciaro, Paula Galliano, Dr Joseph Garcia, Aileen Gordon, Manuel Perez, William Serfaty, Henry Smart, Juan Carlos Teuma, Tito Vallejo Smith & Jackie Vila. The photograph used to illustrate this series online is reproduced by kind permission of the Gibraltar National Archives. The commentary from archive news footage is included by kind permission of GBC. ‘Going South’ & ‘Take me to the border’ is performed by Philip Valverde and was written by Frank N Valverde & Philip J Valverde. The Gibraltar Stories theme music is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston

The Frontier Closure 50 Years On : Part 5 – The Workforce “He was like my uncle, and we embraced, and we cried. We shed tears …. it’s not just an employee, it’s Francisco” – David Bentata On 8th June 1969, Spain’s General Franco closed the land border between Spain and Gibraltar. Overnight supply lines were cut, families were separated and telecommunications ceased. This week, in Part 5 – The Workforce, I look back at the impact the withdrawal of the Spanish workforce had on Gibraltar, the personal stories of co-workers stopped from returning to work in Gibraltar and how Gibraltar got back on its feet and back to work in their absence. My thanks to all those who contributed to Part 5 : Dr Jennifer Ballantine Perera, David Bentata, Irma Casciaro, Ali Douissi, Paula Galliano, Dr Joseph Garcia, Clive Golt, Luis Montiel, Manuel Perez, Alfred Sacramento, William Serfaty, Henry Smart, Tito Vallejo Smith & Jackie Vila. The photograph used to illustrate this series online is reproduced by kind permission of the Gibraltar National Archives. The recording of the late David Hoare is included by kind permission of GBC. ‘Going South’ is performed by Philip Valverde and was written by Frank Valverde. This episode is dedicated to the memory of William Serfaty. The Gibraltar Stories theme music is by DP Music on www.melodyloops.com mixed with Gibraltar atmospheric sounds Gibraltar Stories is produced, edited and presented by Lindsay Weston