Torrevieja’s new Cricket Club

They say that all things come to those who wait and such is the case for Torrevieja Cricket Club who last week were granted an area of land behind the Sport Complex in Torrevieja on which to play cricket.

The area was surveyed by members of Torrevieja Cricket Club, Cricket Espana, Graham Knight the Director of the Foreign Residents Office, Councillor for Sport Daniel Plaza and members of the Town Hall and a plan of action put into place to enable cricket to be played and practiced in the zone provided. 

Work is already underway in turning the former sand football pitch into a cricket field, netting being put up to stop stray cricket balls damaging anything and other necessities. To action plan is to develop cricket at all levels in the town, from youth to senior teams. With Torrevieja’s diverse population base, interest has been expressed by expats and those from former British territories, especially India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia, in forming a team. The next step for those interested is to contact the club who shall then provide you with details of meeting times and start to put together the genesis of the first Torrevieja Cricket Club. Those interested should contact: George 610 006 783 or Ben 677 335 707.

Torrevieja’s Alzheimer’s Association Fashion Show a resounding success

Strutting their stuff were none other than AFA volunteers showing off clothing and accessories from the Alzheimer’s Association Charity Shop.
Torrevieja’s Alzheimer’s Association Fashion Show took place last week in the rather posh, for a show of second hand goods anyway, Real Club Nautico. However, with the clubs long flowing staircase and intimate surroundings, it was the perfect venue to show off some classy clothes that would have felt at home on any catwalk.  


Strutting their stuff were none other than AFA volunteers showing off clothing and accessories from the Alzheimer’s Association Charity Shop, which is situated in Calle Maestro Francisco Vallejos behind the Inmaculada Church in Torrevieja. Items were available for purchase at the show and what’s left over, is back in the shop itself, so get down there quick and grab yourself a bargain in time for Christmas, or as a present!

Sitting in the front row of the audience were Councillors Dolores Canales, Marisa Zafra and Guadalupe Díaz from Torrevieja’s Town Hall and the show was
 hosted by local journalist and Television Torrevieja presenter, Francisco Reyes and Shani Ormiston. The fashion show was not the only reason that a couple of hundred people made their way out last Friday as the evening also showcased some of the best in local talent headlined by International recording artist Ricky Valance plus Shani, Juan Ángel, Los 4midables and Raquel Peña’s dancers.


Matilde closed the evening by handing out flowers and plaques to all who had assisted in the evening, to representatives from the Town Hall and thanked everyone for supporting such a valuable cause.

Age Concern Sur awarded the prestigious Diego Ramirez award in Torrevieja

It was glittering night of who’s who at the Salones Bahia Costa on Tuesday December 7th, as many of Torrevieja’s best-known faces turned up in force to celebrate the 39th edition of the Diego Ramirez Pastor awards.
Originally this was just an idea put forward by Diego Ramirez Pastor to encourage Torrevieja’s born and bred, who had moved away, to make an effort to return to the city to celebrate the ‘puente’ day, December 7th, the eve of Torrevieja Patron Saint Purisima’s day. Years later, his family and the Town Hall made it an official event on the town’s calendar to give an award to someone local for their contributions to the town. The event broadened its horizons a few years back by giving two awards, one to an individual and another to a local group, association or charity, for their work in the community. 

This year, the jury awarded the prize to Eduardo Gil Soto, president of the Virgen del Rosario Brotherhood and the NGO Age Concert, which was established in 1998. Eduardo Gil Soto is one of Torrevieja’s elder statesmen, with family in local government and high places around the city. His passion over the years has been to help build up the community of La Mata into a thriving township, a suburb of Torrevieja which residents can feel proud to belong to. La Mata now boasts Torrevieja’s largest and finest beach, is reclaiming its famous sand dunes, producing local wine and building its own social centres, libraries and other facilities; many of these initiatives from Snr. Soto.

Age Concern has been helping the ‘third age’ in the region, not just in Torrevieja but from Southern Alicante to Pilar de la Horadada and beyond, with support and advice. They have opened charity shops, run their own community centre, lending library and drop in centre to help one and all and have been one of the major charity associations working hand-in-hand with other groups such as AFA to make life easier for those that have made Torrevieja their home.

Among those voicing their support to Age Concern, included Torrevieja’s mayor Pedro Hernández Mateo, Councillor for Foreigners and Technology Pedro Valero and British Consulate from Alicante, Janine Lamont while Age Concerns President Maureen Payne both accepted the award and gave her speech in Spanish to all the guests.

Age concern has about 90 volunteers who provide help to over 300 elderly people in the community and furthermore, they are collaborating actively with the Alzheimer sufferers’ Association AFA TORREVIEJA, with the backing of the City Departments for Social Welfare and Foreigners’ Affairs in Torrevieja. Congratulations to both Eduardo Gil and Soto and Age Concern for helping to make Torrevieja a better place to live in.

Jane Cronin's full house for her talks on Spain

It’s sometimes said that your typical expat is not really interested in learning more about their host country, Spain, which is why so few of us have mastered or even tried to learn the language.
However, if this week’s turnout at Los Arcos Restaurant for the first of Jane Cronin’s talks is anything to go by, there certainly are a lot of residents that would like to know more about Spain, to integrate more and chat more often with their Spanish friends and neighbours. 

Over 200 people packed themselves into the showroom at Los Arcos on Monday to hear about and watch an informative slide show about the Dictator Franco. It’s easy to forget that democracy as we know it has only existed in Spain since his death in 1975 and until then, Spain had a very interesting history. Jane captivated the full-house with a short Spanish history lesson before delving into the life and times of Franco, one of Spain’s most loved or loathed leaders. It’s also an era, the Spanish Civil War, which that generation of Spaniards are very reluctant to discuss; it’s also difficult to find books and DVDs about the man or to uncover truths about his ties with Hitler and the Axis parties of Europe. Thus, Jane’s talk proved enlightening to many, as suddenly pennies started to drop as to why one must get ten pieces of paper stamped to achieve the simplest of Town Hall duties, or at least simple if one was living in the UK!

This was the first of six talks that Jane is giving at Los Arcos and if attendance at the first was anything to go by, get your tickets sooner rather than later as sooner or later it shall be standing room only and for an hour and half, or as was the case with Franco, almost two hours, as the audience craved more and more info.

Along with trying to learn a new language, many expats with time on their hands are both fascinated and frustrated when it comes to learning a little more about Spanish History and Culture. Although the two may not seem to be specifically linked, her new lecture series promises to be both educational, fun and entertaining, as suddenly one begins to understand more about why Spain has certain styles of bureaucracy menus of the day, siestas and all manner of other Spanish foibles, that you may have always wondered, and sometimes, complained about!

Talks start at 11.00 am finishing around 12.30 pm for the price of just 4 euros per session. Coffee and snacks are also available during the lecture. Next Monday (Nov 30th) Jane will cover the Geography of Spain, followed on Wednesday (Dec 2nd) on Moorish Spain, which many Spanish seem to think didn’t happen as they were only here for 800 years, followed by Spain after the Moors  (Monday Dec 7th)
And finishing with a look at Contemporary Society (Wednesday Dec 9th) which should nicely round out your short history and Geography lesson about Spain.

Tickets can be purchased at any time from the bar at Los Arcos Restaurant  or you can reserve your place by calling 968 18 32 58 or 619 488 903 or e-mail adrianwrigglesworth@gmail.com 

On Friday 11th December, join thousands of others for the heart-warming Carols in the Square in the Plaza de la Constitution at 1800 hrs followed by the International Mass in the Church of the Inmaculada Concepcion at1930
There’s no reason not to bundle on that warm coast and head out the door for some entertainment leading up to Christmas as starting this weekend Friday, December 4th when Lyly, the Giants and the Bigheads parade around the streets with the band of musicians, starting from the main square at 1700 hrs and again at 2100. Then. If you can stick the pace, this should lead you nicely to a concert by the legendary Spanish performer Miguel Rios, who shall be at the Sports Palace at the unheard of time for most expats, of 2230 for a 2300 hrs start!

If that was too late for you. Festivities continue the following morning, Saturday 5th December with a Children’s fair from1000 – 1400 hrs, in the Park of Nations.
The following morning sees the start of Torrevieja’s Patronal Fiestas as many a stong man, including an international contingent shall present a floral tribute n front of the Inmaculada church, where much activity has been witnessed the last two weeks to prepare the area in time.

At El Paraiso Restaurant, Torrevieja on Sunday 6th December The Costa Blanca Samaritans are presenting ‘An Evening of Song and Dance’ with guest artists Cathy Carson, The Iceni Dancers and TAABS charity singing show starting at 1900 hrs.

No real excuse for not going out as this weekend is a major Spanish holiday; 6th is the Day of the Spanish Constitution and a national holiday with a bridge day to the 8th, another national holiday dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, but also patron saint of Torrevieja and many other towns. Because the 6th is a Sunday, Friday 4th will also see schools shut along many shops and services.

Putting you firmly into the Christmas spirit shall be the the Rascals at the Virgen del Carmen on Wednesday 9th at 1930 hrs with their Christmas show and whom can also be seen at Lyndyloo Bridal at Paddy’s Point in La Zenia on the 12th December in their tireless efforts collecting money for charity.

On Friday 11th December, join thousands of others for the heart-warming Carols in the Square in the Plaza de la Constitution at 1800 hrs followed by the International Mass in the Church of the Inmaculada Concepcion at1930. Remember to bring your cameras as Torrevieja’s Nativity scene shall also be open, a sight well worth seeing and sharing with friends and family back home.

Download (in Spanish) full local fiestas Torrevieja 2009

Pilar de la Horadada and the afternoon striptease!

According to eyewitnesses, after lunch, two ‘go-go dancers’ who had performed several dance numbers throughout the morning, began what for many of the thousands of Bikers present, was the highlight of the festive day.
Pilar de la Horadada was back in the news this week as reports of a Biker’s Event spread far and wide in the Spanish Press. It’s been reported, and photographed, that a ‘striptease’ took place during the ninth edition of the traditional ‘Almuerzo Motero’. Nothing too different or special to report, as this sort of thing is the ‘norm’ at such events however, eyebrows are now being raised as the event, organized by the Moto Club 12 +1, took place at 1400 hrs in afternoon, while children and families were in attendance!

According to eyewitnesses, after lunch, two ‘go-go dancers’ who had performed several dance numbers throughout the morning, began what for many of the thousands of Bikers present, was the highlight of the festive day. During a 25-minute set they performed a sexually explicit act cumulating with a striptease. Strangely, as reported by both the Town Hall and the organisers, no one complained to them at the time but the entire performance took place while a number of children, aged between four and six, stood at the foot of stage, in full view of both the audience and the dancers. Entrance for children to the event was free.

Although the City Council, collaborated in helping to provide the grounds for the event, Ignacio Ramos, mayor of Pilar de la Horadada reacted with ‘amazement’ and ‘disbelief’ at the spectacle organized by the biker club. "The City Council has nothing to do with the content programmed in that event," he said. For his part, Juan Jose Ruiz, chairman of the organizing body, the Moto Club 12 +1, which has a hundred members, explained that this group has not received a single complaint about the show! He added that control over whom is watching the show "is very difficult" and wanted to emphasise that the responsibility for allowing children to see the "striptease" is always with the parents.

The City Council is now reviewing their policy into allowing future events on Council land!