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.
Other 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.
The Closed Frontier
(Photo: courtesy of the Gibraltar National Archives)
The plaque which was unveiled at the Unite the Union building in Gibraltar to commemorate the contribution made by the Moroccan workers who came to Gibraltar during the closed frontier years.