Last weekend hundreds of people climbed the Med Steps in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve as part of the Med Steps 5 Challenge to raise funds for the Cancer Relief Centre here in Gibraltar. This time last year, I did it too and took my microphone along with me. In this episode I share some of the atmosphere from this fantastic fundraising event.
After a career as a paparazzi photographer capturing images of Hollywood stars and royalty as they holidayed on the Costa del Sol, Gibraltarian photographer Juan Carlos Teuma is now back home in Gibraltar and has changed sides to work for the establishment as official photographer for the Gibraltar Government. Gone are the days of hiding tress and spying on celebrities from roof tops, he now takes official photos for Government publications and press events, and this week he shares some of his adventures photographing the rich and famous.
Should you find yourself in Casemates Square around midday on the tenth of September, you will be surrounded with a sea of red and white, thousands of Gibraltarians dressed in their national colours, waving the red and white Gibraltar flag with the castle and key motif, and you’ll be in no doubt that Gibraltar has a fierce national identity. For activists and proud Gibraltarians Annette & Paul Tunbridge, Gibraltarian identity is something which shouldn't just be championed every Gibraltar National Day.
Imagine being sent far away from home to a place where bombs drop on a daily basis, where you may not speak the language and everything’s strange. For thousands of Gibraltarians this was the reality of life during World War II following the evacuation of the civilian population from the Rock. In this episode I hear from Joe Gingell, who has spent years researching the memories of families who were sent away from their homes during the War.
Gibraltar first issued its own stamps during the reign of Queen Victoria and the Rock’s stamps are collected in over 50 different countries around the world. This week we hear from Aaron Enriles, Philatelic Manager at the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau, the man in charge of issuing these miniature works of art.
Fifty years ago this week John Lennon and Yoko Ono flew into Gibraltar by private jet to get married. Their hastily arranged Registry Office wedding proved inspiration for the song; the Ballad of John & Yoko. Five decades later, the John & Yoko effect is still being felt in Gibraltar today, with the Rock proving a popular venue for weddings.
Gibraltar prides itself on being a melting pot of cultures and religions. Over the years, those varied influences have been reflected in the languages spoken here and have contributed to form the local dialect of Llanito. This week, languages teacher Dale Buttigieg looks back at the history of languages in Gibraltar and has suggestions for how Gibraltar can maintain its multilingualism today.
Preparations are well underway to host the 2,500 visitors who will arrive on the Rock for the Gibraltar 2019 NatWest International Island Games in July. Representatives from 24 different Islands will compete in sports as diverse as athletics and judo, ten-pin bowling and beach volleyball. It’s been described by organisers as the biggest sporting event to come to the Rock. In this week’s episode, we hear from Chair of the Organising Committee Linda Alvarez.
