England (1977), BA (Hons) in European Politics and French from the University of Derby (2001). Before coming to Spain, Jennie worked for the late Phillip Whitehead MEP in the UK and Brussels, Arts Council England as a Local Government Liaison Officer and for the DCLG (Dept. for Communities and Local Government) as a project manager. She has been in Spain since 2009 where she combines journalism with her work as a qualified English teacher and examiner. She has been with SUR in English since May 2015 and in January 2016 she became the correspondent for the Axarquía region.
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Local
As existing supplies of masks and protective equipment rapidly diminish in Spain, groups of volunteers across Malaga province and the Costa Tropical have started to make them in their own homes. Town halls, businesses and individuals are rallying t
Local
One of the exceptions to the Spanish government's tight restrictions on movement during the coronavirus lockdown is for dog walking. However, there is a lack of clarity as to what is allowed. Anything from being 50 to 250 metres from your home, to 20
Local | Education
Public and private education centres across the province have all had to adapt almost overnight to the coronavirus emergency. There are 338,765 pupils in public primary and secondary education across the province, along with 22,575 teachers; they t
Local
The coronavirus crisis has meant that official exams have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, leaving many students and public sector workers uncertain abut their futures. There is a lot of doubt over how various examinations will be affecte
Local
The film crew from Channel Four's A Place in the Sun have been in the Axarquía area east of Malaga to talk to British residents this week. Presenter of Channel Four's A Place in the Sun, Danni Menzies, interviewed a couple at La Viñuela reservoi
Local
Women along the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical will be coming together to mark International Women's Day, which is on 8 March. A demonstration will be taking place on the streets of Malaga, starting at 6pm on the Alameda de Colón (on the corner o
Local
When you combine passion, knowledge and business acumen, success comes naturally, if not easily. Joanna Styles, the brain and braun behind Guide to Malaga knows exactly what that feels like. In under five years Joanna, 54, has built up a successful
Local
Nerja foreigners' office has said that this year's residents' day could be postponed until autumn. A note sent out on Monday said that the date would be confirmed in due course. However, there was no explanation as to the reason for the possible chan
LifeStyle
On 28 February 1980 the people of Andalucía voted in a referendum to make the region an autonomous community with devolved powers from central government. Sixty-two per cent of the electorate, or 2.84 million people, turned out to cast their votes;
What to do
As part of a weekend of activities marking international Women's Day in Almuñécar, 11 women from the USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK will be reading monologues written by resident, Lesley Hart, in collaboration with Almuñécar's International Women's
Local
So far there has been little change for most Brits living in Spain since the UK officially left the EU on 31 January. It might have been a timely reminder for those still needing to apply for residency, exchange driving licences and register on their
Local
Vélez-Málaga town hall last week unveiled a new environment plan which aims to plant over 1,000 trees in the town this decade. Under the slogan 'One Child, One Tree' the town hall and local schools aim to have planted 165 trees by the end of Februa
What to do
The next Nerja Arts Society lecture, which will take place at the town's cultural centre on Tuesday 18 February, will be given by international journalist Anne-Marie O'Connor. INFORMATION When. Tuesday 18 February, 5pm (doors open 4pm) Where. Ner
Local
Almuñécar's first dog park, situated to the north of the town's Alhucemas gardens, opened last Tuesday. The town hall said it decided to create the park following calls from residents as well as a petition from local animal organisation, APAMA.
What to do
The Cueva del Tesoro music festival starts this evening, Friday 7 February, at the Rincón de la Victoria cave. Four concerts, one each weekend, will offer a selection of opera, gospel, flamenco and fusion music. Malaga-born singer-songwriter Manu
Opinion
So we've arrived at Brexit day. It's important to remember though that today is largely symbolic; UK MEPs and the last UK commissioner, Julian King, left the European Parliament and Commission respectively earlier this week and as such the UK no long
National
Since the result of the referendum became clear in the early hours of 24 June 2016, the 300,000 Brits in Spain, along with their counterparts across the EU 27 and European citizens living in the UK, have faced uncertainty, grief, hope and resolve: a
LifeStyle
As Spain started to make its first steps as a democratic and open country after 36 years of Franco's dictatorship, the treaty of friendship and cooperation with the USA was signed on 24 January 1976. Diario SUR's front page headline the following day
What to do
The annual La Molina de Riogordo in English olive oil day will be taking place on Saturday 1 February. The event is now in its third year and provides English speakers with the opportunity to learn about one of the Axarquía's most important products.
LifeStyle
The 35th La Herradura international Andrés Segovia classical guitar competition finished with Marko Topchii (Kiev, 1991) from Ukraine wining first prize. Second prize went to Vera Danilina from Russia while Mircea Gogoncea from Romania took third.
What to do
Soprano singer Aurea Marston will be joining Malaga resident and pianist Cornelia Lezin for a number of concerts in Andalucía in January. Like Cornelia, who lives in Cajiz where she regularly holds concerts in her converted mill, Aurea is originally
LifeStyle
On 10 January 2014 two sisters, both by then in their 70s, met for the first time. Josefa Campos Fernández, 78, was born in Antequera and her sister, Remedios Campos Cantador, 74 was born in Córdoba. They have the same father but different mothers.
National
As Britons living in Spain and across the EU27, as well as EU citizens living in the UK, come to terms with the reality of Brexit following last Thursday's election, groups representing them are beginning to plan for the future. Far from giving up,
Opinion
Like me, many Brits on the Costa del Sol woke up feeling numb, shell-shocked this morning. Some sort of majority was likely, but not the landslide that has happened. Brexit is now inevitable. Under what terms exactly we don't know, but we can safely
LifeStyle
On 13 December 1938 ONCE, an organisation to provide assistance to blind people in Spain, was created. A government decree endorsed its foundation and granted the then national organisation of the blind the right to sell the so-called "pro-blind"
National
As the UK went to the polls on Thursday, not only were Britons living in Spain watching closely, but also Spanish citizens residing in the UK. The UK media claimed the 2019 General Election was "the most important in a generation" and news was comi
LifeStyle
On a Friday afternoon in late November and tucked away in a church hall at Puente Don Manuel in the Axarquía, I found a group of ten volunteers putting together bags of Barbie and baby dolls with assorted clothing and accessories. Surrounded by toys,
LifeStyle
Around 50 people attended a meeting to launch a new University of the Third Age (U3A) group recently at La Viñuela restaurant. La Viñuela councillor Ria O'Brien said, "We had a very successful launch despite the inclement weather." She explaine
Local
Around 75 people, including Britons, Germans and Belgians, participated in the second session of a tree planting project run by the Colectivo CreceT organisation near Periana recently. Find out more : www.colectivocrecet.com Facebook: Colectivo Cre
Local
A number of British residents on the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical appeared on the UK's ITV News on Thursday evening, giving their views on Brexit and the forthcoming UK General Election. An image taken from the ITV News broadcast on Britons in
Local
Ann Jenkins, the founder of Playa Patrol, recently completed her two week leg of a round-the-world all female crew boat trip with the UK based organisation, eXXpedition, which is carrying out research into plastics in our seas and oceans. How long
LifeStyle
On 15 November 2005, British national Tony Alexander King was sentenced to 36 years in prison for what judges described as the "savage, cruel and inhumane" murder of 17-year-old Sonia Carabantes during Coín's annual feria in August 2003. He was also
Local
As the UK parliament debated Boris Johnson's withdrawal deal during a highly unusual Saturday sitting in the House of Common, protesters gathered to request a People's Vote, or second referendum, in London, following a similar event which was held in
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach festival announced on Thursday that the first tickets for the 2020 event are to go on sale on Sunday 20 October. Some 15,000 tickets, priced from 33 to 45 euros, will be available from 5pm via the festiva
LifeStyle
On 18 October 1997 the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was officially opened by King Juan Carlos I. On the night before the official inauguration, 5,000 people were invited to a party at the museum which included fireworks and concerts. The idea fo
Local
The Axarquía Animal Rescue (AAR) charity is organising a sponsored zip wire challenge on Sunday 20 October at the Comares zip wire. Anyone interested must register as soon as possible as places are limited. The 20 people already participating, amon
LifeStyle
Steven Craven and Nick Harcourt-Smith are the only two remaining British musicians who have been part of Malaga's philharmonic orchestra since it was formed in 1991. As the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga heads towards its 30th anniversary in early
What to do
The Palacio de Congresos in Marbella will host the environmental charity event Towards Nature on 14 and 15 October. The event is aimed at students and is designed to raise awareness of how climate change is affecting the world, as well as how to e
Local
The Red Cross in Vélez-Málaga will be offering free memory stimulation courses for English-speakers from October. The courses are designed for the over sixty-fives to help with sharpening the memory, helping with response time and logic skills. The
Local
Lux Mundi will be holding Harvest Festival services in both Torre del Mar and Fuengirola centres in October. The Torre del Mar service will take place on 6 October at 11am and in Fuengirola it will take place on 27 October, at 8pm. Lux Mundi is
Local
Periana town hall will be holding a monthly flea market as of this Sunday. The event will take place on the last Sunday of every month from 10am to 2pm on Plaza de Andalucía. The town hall says that anyone is welcome to have a stall from fruit a
Local
Sunday's anti-Brexit demonstration in Malaga city centre attracted scores of Brits and Spaniards from across Malaga province as well as people from Granada, Seville and Cadiz. Some 277 people signed a petition to ask the UK and Spanish governments
Local
Organisers of this Sunday's 'Demonstration Against Brexit - Protect Our Rights' event in Malaga city centre say they are expecting "a high turnout". The demonstration will start at 11am on Plaza de la Constitución before making its way down Calle
LifeStyle
From streets to schools, the name Salvador Rueda should be familiar to anyone living in Malaga province. But many may ask who he was. The hamlet of Benaque, where he was born, will be celebrating his life and works on 21 September. ·More informatio
Local
Organisations and individuals along the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical will be doing their bit this weekend to participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is held annually on 22 September. Beaches from Estepona to Motril will see volu
Local
A group of British residents on the Costa del Sol are organising an anti-Brexit demonstration to show their opposition to the UK leaving the EU. The event, Demonstration Against Brexit - Protect Our Rights, will take place on Sunday, 22 September.
Local
A British woman who runs the A New Day Spain dog refuge in Pedrera, (Seville province), has reported that she returned home on Wednesday to discover funds raised for the refuge had been stolen. Maria Bradford, 61, told SUR in English that she and h
LifeStyle
On Sunday 6 September 2009 Malaga city hosted its first international air festival, with some 200,000 people flocking to its beaches to watch the displays. Forty planes and 90 pilots participated in the event which lasted five hours and took place
LifeStyle
The American International Club (AIC) is a Nerja-based club whose members live locally, from Almuñécar to Torrox, but originally come from all different corners of the globe. The club says it is "open to all nationalities" and at the moment boasts
LifeStyle
Ria O'Brien was elected as a councillor in La Viñuela for a second term in the local elections in May. She was first approached in 2015 by the village's PSOE-A mayor, José Juan Jiménez López, as he recognised a need to have a native English-speaking
Opinion
Speaking on BBC Radio Four's The Today programme on Thursday, Commons Leader and hard Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg described the impromptu anti-Brexit protests that erupted across the UK following the announcement that Parliament was to be suspended for
National
Spain-based campaigning groups have been reacting to news this week that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has gained approval from the Queen to suspend parliament for up to five weeks in the final lead up to what is currently believed to be Brexit day
Opinion
The Bishop of Malaga has announced that Father Jesús Ramesh Babu Gudapati, the priest who has had ongoing xenophobic abuse from a gang of youths, is to be moved from the parishes of Benajarafe, Chilches and Cajiz to Monda and Guaro in September and F
What to do
The fifth year of the music festival Nerja Ciudad Abierta, Music In Other Spaces, which is now known as '3 En El Paraíso,' will be taking place on 2 and 14 August and 4 September at the Hotel Paraíso del Mar on Calle Prolongación Hernando de Carabeo
Local
Algarrobo town hall has sent letters to 500 dog owners along with dispensers containing bags for faeces and bottles which should be filled with vinegar and water to be used when their dogs urinate in public spaces. The letters remind owners of a 3
LifeStyle
Nearly 2,000 people packed the gardens of the Nerja Caves on Friday night to see Queen tribute band, God Save the Queen, from Brits on holiday and long-term residents to Spanish Queen fans. A 40-minute delayed start had the impatient audience burst
LifeStyle
Dita Grunte and Rafa Coellho have a clear vision: to combine their skills as artists with good environmental practices. It is said that charity starts at home and this is definitely the case with the couple, who have been living in Almuñécar since Ma
LifeStyle
Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach festival has once again put the town firmly on the musical map of Spain with an event that continues to exceed expectations. Thousands of 'Weekers' descended on the town on Wednesday with high expectations for this the s
LifeStyle
Fuengirola resident and British retiree Michael Griffiths has recently completed one of the Camino de Santiago routes to raise money for the town's Lux Mundi ecumenical centre, which he attends regularly. He raised almost 1,000 euros for the centr
LifeStyle
During the hot summer months it is all too easy just to pack up the swimming costumes and parasols and head to the beach. Regular dips in the sea and beach bars serving a constant supply of drinks and food provide everything needed to keep cool. But
Opinion
The Duke of Cambridge said on Wednesday that he would be "absolutely fine" if one of his three children came out, but admitted that because of their roles he would be "worried about barriers and persecution". It would be nice to think that the rest o
What to do
Malaga resident, Thomas Kaurich, will be accompanied by two former Julliard School colleagues, Liba Schacht and John Sharp, on Friday 5 July at the English Cemetery in Malaga. The three, will be forming a chamber music trio (piano, violin, and cello)
Opinion
Having written off being able to vote in the European Parliament elections ever again after the June 2016 referendum, imagine my joy when it turned out that I would have one last opportunity to do so before Brexit, as the UK government failed to reac
Local
A two-day exhibition of artwork next month will be the culmination of an innovative and international project in which local Arts Societies (Nerja, Costa del Sol and Benahavís) have collaborated with the Museo Jorge Rando in Malaga and the NGO Aldeas
LifeStyle
On 10 May 1936 Manuel Azaña (b. 10 January 1880, Madrid) was elected as president of Spain's Second Republic, amid growing political and social tension in the country, which would eventually lead to Civil War. Azaña had previously held the role of
What to do
Hundreds of local people and actors will be taking part in Riogordo's giant Passion play, El Paso, on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. The Easter story has been performed in the village in this way since 1951; in recent years however the cast has inc
Local
A tourist and cultural train running between Torre del Mar and Vélez-Málaga will operate every Tuesday morning as of next week and throughout the summer months. The train will depart from the Azucarera (sugar cane factory) in Torre del Mar at 10am
LifeStyle
Hundreds of local people and actors will be taking part in Riogordo's giant Passion play, El Paso, on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. The Easter story has been performed in the village in this way since 1951; in recent years however the cast has inc
Local
Nerja's annual Residents' Day, has been cancelled altogether after being postponed twice due to bad weather. The event was initially postponed from 24 to 31 March due to an unfavourable weather forecast. Further rain predicted for Sunday 31st mean
LifeStyle
On 29 March 1985 over 20 years of negotiations with what was then the European Economic Community (EEC) reached a positive outcome when Spain's accession to the bloc was agreed. The announcement was made following a visit to Madrid by a delegation
Local
Twenty-seven nationalities took part in a clean-up operation on Almuñécar's and La Herradura's beaches last Saturday. Forty thousand cigarette butts and almost a tonne of plastic and other rubbish were collected by more than 500 volunteers througho
Opinion
Over a million people attended the Put it to the People march in London last Saturday asking for another chance to vote on Brexit. The tone was fiercely anti-Brexit and there was even healthy number of brave souls who had voted Leave in 2016 and have
Local
A group of 'Malagueños' were reunited for last Saturday's Put it to the People march in London. Numerous British residents living on the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical travelled back to the UK especially for the protest, where they met up with Span
What to do
Nerja will be celebrating 20 years of Residents' Day this Sunday, 24 March, from 12pm on Plaza de España. The aim is to bring residents, visitors and holiday makers together, along with the numerous clubs, societies and charities that are based in th
National
Numerous Brits living in Malaga will be among at least 100 UK residents in Spain travelling to London for Saturday's Put it to the People march, to call on the government to give the UK population another chance to vote on Brexit. Biggest march to
National
The leaders of the 27 EU countries agreed on Thursday night to allowing the UK an extension to article 50 to delay its exit from the Union. Theresa was told, however that the UK can have until 22 May to organise legislation if prime minister Theresa
National
It's been yet another week of uncertainty and more important votes. Thursday evening's vote to ask the EU to extend Article 50 to delay Brexit still lives residents unclear as to when, how and if the UK will leave the EU. The extension vote follow
Opinion
It was heartening to see so many men, young and old, actively participating in the International Women's Day march in Malaga last Friday. However, on Saturday morning, less than 12 hours after International Women's Day had ended, I had been sent, by
National
The House of Commons has passed the amendment to the UK Withdrawal Agreement that seeks to ringfence rights for Britons living in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK, regardless of the circumstances under which the exit eventually occurs. The a
LifeStyle
With a large foreign population, it is of little surprise then that Malaga and Granada are also home to a number of Brits and other nationalities who have turned their hand to one of the region's key industries: olive oil. OLIVE OIL IN NUMBERS 100
Local
Vélez-Málaga town hall has released a provisional estimate of a minimum of 100,000 euros worth of damage caused to properties and cars in El Trapiche when a mains water pipe burst last week. This was the figure given by Vélez-Málaga mayor, Antonio
LifeStyle
The Nerja Arts Society attracted its biggest audience yet to a dynamic narrated talk held recently about the history and culture of flamenco. Heartbeat of the South was presented by the Nerja society's chair, Helen Sijsling and performed by member
What to do
Around 20 artists from Granada, Malaga and Madrid are exhibiting work at the 'Erotica' exhibition which is currently on at Almuñécar's Casa de la Cultura. The featured work includes painting, sculpture and poetry by members of Almuñécar's Arte Sur
LifeStyle
The British and Spanish communities of Malaga province are uniting to help 33-year-old Soraya Pérez Bradley in her fight against Leukemia, by organising a series of fundraising events to help towards urgent medical treatment. The first event took
What to do
Dr Simon Poole will be giving a talk in English at the olive oil cooperative tour and talk in Riogordo tomorrow, Saturday 2 February. OLIVE OIL TOUR & TALK Where. Riogordo olive oil cooperative Paraje del Campo (at the entrance to Riogordo from Vél
LifeStyle
It is a coincidence that the Kazimir Malevich exhibition at Malaga's Museo Ruso should be showing at the same time as Malaga-based British artist Derek Worthington, is putting the finishing touches to a collection of three dimensional abstract collag
Local
Save Our Homes Axarquía (SOHA) will be holding its 2019 AGM on Wednesday 23 January at the camping bar and restaurant in La Viñuela, starting at 7.30pm. On the agenda is how the recent change in government at the Junta de Andalucía is likely to af
Local
Lux Mundi Torre del Mar has launched an appeal asking for donations of wool or knitted and crocheted squares to make waistcoats and shawls for homeless people and those in wheelchairs, ready for next winter. Donations can be taken to the ecumenical
LifeStyle
A year of celebrations for The Arts Society reached a climax this week with its CEO joining branches in the province for the final events to celebrate a series of milestones. While The Arts Society, formally known as NADFAS, reached its 50th year in
National
Another week of Brexit turmoil began on Monday with disappointing news for anti-Brexit campaigners in Spain and across Europe. The UK's High Court announced its decision to reject the 'UK in EU' challenge against the illegal funding limits of pro-Bre
LifeStyle
I finally managed to catch up with Julie Abedin this month, two years after I first heard her, and Comares-based band Mentally Ska'd, play at an Axarquía Animal Rescue fundraiser in the area. This time she was performing just with the band's drumme
LifeStyle
Five Year 11 students from Almuñécar International School, along with their teacher, Manuel Galiana, travelled to Malaga's Materno children's hospital earlier this week to donate 300 euros to the hospital's Asociación de Voluntarios de Oncología Infa
LifeStyle
The Nerja branch of the Arts Society will be holding a full day of celebrations on Tuesday 11 December to mark its 25th anniversary and members will be joined by the organsation's chief executive, Florian Schweize, as well as founding member, Roberta
Local
Two running clubs based in Torre del Mar are planning to act out the Nativity play on top of La Maroma mountain on Saturday 22 December. Members will carry their costumes, as well as typical Christmas sweets and hot chocolate, in rucksacks for the 16
LifeStyle
Nikki de Gruchy is hard to pin down; she recently finished a photography exhibition at the ethnographic museum in Riogordo, in the Axarquía, and from there she flew to Lanzarote to participate in the annual PhotoEspaña PhotoWalk. She took part in the
Opinion
So the war on sexism rages on. At a recent appointment with the social security gynaecologist, which in Andalucía, where we have a woman Socialist leader, is still called 'family planning', I was left wondering whether the woman doctor who attended t
National
Brexit Brits Abroad have released a statement, in light of last week's draft deal turmoil, which aims to direct concerned British citizens living in other EU countries, to factual websites. The team said "Given how unsettling recent events must be
LifeStyle
When I arrived at La Vaquería, owner Su Derrick, was serving up mango jam tarts to one of her regulars, Audrey, who lives locally, near Benamargosa. We all agreed that jam tarts have lost out to trendy cakes such as muffins and cup cakes and start to
National
Citizens' groups representing Britons abroad have reacted "with anger and disappointment" to the draft Brexit deal which Theresa May's cabinet approved on Wednesday evening. British in Europe, which is an umbrella organisation representing British
LifeStyle
Axarquía members of the international charity, Food for Change, raised 650 euros for the charity Los Ángeles de la Noche, the food kitchen based in Malaga, through a fundraising spa day on 3 November at the Centro Dhama complimentary therapy centre i
Travel
Escaping the heat of Malaga for a ten-day trip around the Baltics would, in normal circumstances, have been heaven, except that I managed to time it in the middle of the pan-European heat wave. Still, it made packing easy and with my cabin-size troll
LifeStyle
British food and travel writer, blogger and photographer, Fiona Dunlop, was in Malaga last week ahead of a six-day gastronomic tour of Andalucía and following the launch of her new book, Andaluz. 'Secret Andalucía' is the first tour Fiona is giving
Local
The next Playa Patrol Community Beach Cleanup will take place at Playa Cantarriján, between Nerja and La Herradura, on Sunday, 25 November, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Playa Patrol carried out its first beach cleanup in the La Herradura area in Octobe
National
Brexit Brits Abroad, the research programme studying the sociological impact of Brexit on UK citizens living in the European Union, has published its latest report 'What does freedom of movement mean to British citizens living in the EU27?' Not onl
LifeStyle
On Thursday 2 November 2017, prosecutors in Madrid called for former senior members of the Catalan regional government to be denied bail and held in jail following the attempted declaration of independence on 27 October when MPs voted to create a "Ca
Local
The UK Department of Health and Social Care has published details of the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill which the department says on its website, has "been introduced to give the government legal powers to fund and implement healthcare
Local
Brits living in Malaga and Granada provinces were among those who travelled to London from all corners of Europe and the UK for last Saturday's People's Vote march. The march was organised by The People's Vote campaign group which wants the governm
LifeStyle
Ask anyone who has ever fostered a cat or dog and they will tell you that first and foremost they do it "to save lives". However, with the numerous animal rescue centres across Malaga province all crying out for help as the number of stray and abando
Local
A 54-year-old German man died on Tuesday when his paraglider fell to the ground in the Camino Almenara area of Almuñécar. Emergency services were alerted at around 2pm when a witness called to report that they had "seen someone fall with a paragli
Local
Weekend Beach festival organisers announced on Wednesday that the 12,000 tickets that went on sale on Tuesday for next July's event in Torre del Mar sold out within hours of the launch. The tickets were sold at an early-bird price of 28 euros with
National
The Minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker, was in Madrid last week to meet with Spanish government ministers, UK Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, and members of the business community. He also took part in a roundtable discuss
Opinion
Meeting up with friends last weekend in Brussels - the city that brought us together some 20 years ago as young, self-assured European Politics students from different UK universities who were working as 'stagiares' for different British MEPs - I tho
LifeStyle
On Wednesday 5 October 2011, Spain's Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the 18th Duchess of Alba, married her third husband, the civil servant Alfonso Díez Carabantes. The wedding took place at 1.15pm in the chapel of the Palacio de las Dueñas in
LifeStyle
When I arrive at Lux Mundi Torre del Mar to interview Katherin Ockenfels, I find her laughing and joking with a fellow volunteer at the centre about payment for an excursion she had signed up to do. She starts off our conversation by animatedly telli
What to do
While the summer may be drawing to a close, there is still plenty to look forward to next month for lovers of art in the Axarquía. In the area east of Malaga, October is punctuated by two stand-out dates: first up in the inland village of Frigilian
LifeStyle
Volunteers from Lux Mundi Torre del Mar and Fuengirola met at the Santa Rosa hotel in El Morche, Torrox, on Wednesday for their annual lunch. This year it was the turn of the East of Malaga centre to host the event, coinciding with the silver anniver
Local
For the fourth year in a row, a group of former British service personnel will be in Malaga to participate in a number of Battle Back Golf tournaments, also open to the public, to raise money for the charity which helps injured soldiers. Dates inc
National
The UK in EU collective, of which Bremain in Spain is a member, is awaiting the decision of the UK High Court as to whether it will hear its appeal against the UK government's response to the challenge over the alleged illegal spending limits of the
National
Cofounder of international clothing brand, Superdry, and multimillionaire, Julian Dunkerton, announced last week that he would donate one million pounds to the People's Vote campaign. Dunkerton, 53, said that if Brexit had happened 20 years ago, "S
What to do
The towns of Almuñécar and neighbouring La Herradura will be ending August on a varied musical note with the fifth Blues Festival taking place this weekend at La Herradura Castle while El Majuelo park in Almuñécar will be resonating to the sounds of
LifeStyle
No sooner had the residents of and visitors to Torre del Mar put Santa Ana back to bed on the last evening of the town's feria, than they were woken at 8.30am last Friday to the sound of the Eurofighter flying overhead, marking the start of the town'
What to do
INFORMATION What. The first Noches en el Castillo festival. Where. La Herradura castle When. Wednesday 1 to Tuesday 8 August, 10.30pm Further information. www.almunecar.es or www.consiguetuentradas.com for tickets In its first year, Noches en
What to do
The third International Torre del Mar Air Show will be taking to the skies over the town's beaches from Friday 27 until Sunday 29 July. Forty-two aircraft from Spain, the UK, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy will be participating in the event which i
Local
Nerja-based animal shelter, APA, is holding a gathering on the town's Balcón de Europa tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am in an attempt to re-home a number of dogs that are at risk of being made homeless when the organisation is forced to close its current
National
Research organisation, BrExpats Abroad are inviting Britons living in other EU countries to participate in a brief survey to help them better understand the impacts of Brexit for UK citizens living in the EU27. They say that through the project, r
LifeStyle
The fifth Weekend Beach festival closed in the early hours of Sunday morning reporting record ticket sales with 140,000 people attending over the four days and 38,000 attendees on average per day. "It has been another successful, incident-free year,"
What to do
Grammy-winning American saxophonist, Kenny Garrett, and British swing singer, Claire Martin, with her quartet and swing band The Jump Club, are the international names performing at Atarfe's seventeenth Festival de Jazz en el Lago this weekend. INF
What to do
The village of Macharaviaya will be staging its annual Fourth of July celebrations with a parade through the streets of Malaga on Friday 6 July, starting from Plaza de la Marina at 7.30pm. This will commemorate the role of General Bernardo de Gálvez
LifeStyle
On Saturday 6 July 2008 a young Rafael Nadal beat reigning Wimbledon men's champion, Roger Federer, in what many have hailed as the greatest Wimbledon final in history. In a match which lasted just 12 minutes short of five hours, making it the long
What to do
The Weekend Beach Festival, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, starts on Wednesday 4 July in Torre del Mar. DETAILS What: International music festival. Where: Playa Poniente, Torre del Mar. When: 4 - 7 July Information and
National
An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets of London last Sunday, on the second anniversary of the EU referendum, to ask the government for a People's Vote on the final outcome of Brexit negotiations. Anti-Brexit campaigners travelled from acr
LifeStyle
Most people will remember the 1980s US sitcom, the Golden Girls, in which a group of older women lived together in a large house and shared the trials and tribulations of ageing together. Move on 30 years and the concept of shared living, or 'coopera
Local
Vélez-Málaga's councillors for Torre del Mar and Caleta, Jesús Pérez Atencia and David Vilches, announced on Monday that the Q for quality flags, which are given to beaches that meet specific tourism and environmental criteria in Spain, have been awa
Local
Almuñécar's Aquatropic water park opened its doors last Thursday for the 30th year running. To celebrate the anniversary, manager of Aquatropic, Vicente Barbero, said last week that visitors would find a new and improved wave pool. Barbero added
Local
The remains of Roman walls have been unearthed during major restoration work to Almuñécar's historic centre. Workers were improving water pipes and supply in Calle San Joaquín when the discovery was made. A number of similar discoveries have been
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The First International Art Exhibition at the Azucarera, in Guadalfeo, Salobreña will be taking place from Friday 21 until Sunday 24 June. INFORMATION What: International Art Exhibition Where: Azucarera, Guadalfeo, Salobreña When: Thursday 21 t
LifeStyle
More than 100 patients, staff and family members attended the third Diaverum dialysis clinic party at the Santa Rosa hotel in El Morche last Sunday. The party was organised by staff who work at the clinic and was free for those attending. Among th
Local
Animal lovers are up in arms in Benamocarra following the publication of a leaflet by the town hall which threatens fines of up to 750 euros for feeding the local cats. Antonio Fernández Arcas, who says he has been feeding the felines every mornin
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The 59th Nerja Caves International Festival of Music and Dance will get under way on Saturday 16 June with a performance by African-American soprano and jazz musician, Barbara Hendricks, inside the cave itself. INFORMATION Where: Nerja Caves and Pl
LifeStyle
Liz Brown can be easily identified by her British nurse uniform. She is a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in the UK as well as being, as far as she is aware, the only Briton registered with the Colegio Oficial de Enfermería in Malaga. "It was a very
LifeStyle
Almuñécar, on the Costa Tropical, is celebrating 20 years of gastronomy this weekend, with the annual Feria Gastronómica in the town's Parque El Majuelo. The event, which is organised by the Almuñécar Valle Tropical hospitality association, officia
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The village of Árchez is today celebrating its second Residents' Day as part of the annual cultural week. There will be music from Jukebox Bandits at 8pm and Proyecto Mandarina at 10pm as well as a market selling food from the countries represented i
LifeStyle
British athlete, Julia Chi Taylor has achieved her goal. She arrived in Almuñécar last Saturday, on her 59th birthday, after running 1,000 kilometres barefoot across Spain. Julia started her epic journey in the town of Suances in Cantabria on 23 Ma
LifeStyle
Readers may be familiar with Ian Rutter's voice from his Life Stories programme on Talk Radio Europe. Classical music fans may also have heard him presenting his show on The Wireless Radio; an internet-based radio station. Ian, 55, and his partner
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Nerja Cultural Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a number of special events throughout May. INFORMATION What. Nerja Cultural Centre 20th anniversary events Where. Nerja Cultural Centre and other locations. Further information. www
Local
A community fundraising event in aid of the Cudeca hospice in Benalmádena will take place at Cómpeta's municipal swimming pool this Saturday at 10am. The swimming challenge will involve two teams; an Elite and a Challenge team, whose aim is to swim
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Ars Nova, a Granada-based quartet, will be playing at El Molino de Cajiz on Sunday 6 May and then on Thursday 10 May at the Sala Unicaja de Conciertos María Cristina in Malaga. They will be accompanied by pianist and owner of the Molino de Cajiz, Cor
LifeStyle
Don Dossett has met some of the biggest names in Hollywood and knows who the more easygoing and more difficult film directors are. For almost 20 years he designed and built sets for movies including Superman, Judge Dredd and Kenneth Branagh's Haml
Local
Nerja town hall foreigners' department is reminding residents that car and motorbike tax must be paid by Thursday 17 May. This can be done by taking the invoice to any bank and that a standing order may be set up for future payments by going to the
Local
Local police officers along with Almuñécar's beach cleaning and maintenance company, Urbaser, were called to identify and remove a dead horse which had been washed up onto the town's Cabalajío beach during last week's bad weather. The animal did no
What to do
The village of Frigiliana will be combining its fifth Día de Miel de Caña (molasses day) with the annual May Cross Day on Saturday 28 April. The event will start at 10am and finish at 3.30pm. Most activities will be centred around the village's Ingen
National
Bremain in Spain, the anti-Brexit group formed by British residents in this country, joined last weekend's launch of the PeoplesVote campaign, aimed at securing a public vote on the UK's final deal for its exit from the EU. Pro-Europe organisations w
Local
Scottish triathlete, Christopher Roy, took first prize in Almuñécar's Pikaeras triathlon last Saturday. He completed the competition, which consisted of a 750-metre swim in the sea, 20-kilometre bike race and a five-kilometre run, in one hour and sev
Local
All of the political parties at Moclinejo town hall have voted in favour of creating an animal protection and rescue unit. The unit (Unidad de Protección y Rescate Animal or UPRA in Spanish) will form part of the Moclinejo-El Valdés civil protectio
LifeStyle
This year is a special one for the Arts Society, Formerly Nadfas (National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies), both in Malaga and internationally; the latter is celebrating 50 years this year, while the Costa del Sol branch, which was t
LifeStyle
The sun came out for the 19th Nerja Residents' Day last Sunday. The event started at 12 noon and was opened by local mayor, Rosa Arrabal, and foreign residents' councillor, Jorge Bravo. It attracted around 2,500 people, many of whom are foreign res
LifeStyle
Kassandra Stultiens Zandstra is hoping to organise events in the area to inspire other young women to consider being a pilot. She often uses the new flight simulator, Flight Experience, in Marbella and would like to arrange events to show women in pa
Local
A jeweller's in Almuñécar reopened this week after work was carried out to accommodate a 15th-century water system as well as earthenware pots that were found during renovation work. Jeweller Manuel Torres said that the work had "taken longer than
Local
The sun came out for the 19th Nerja Residents' Day last Sunday. The event attracted around 2,500 people throughout the afternoon, many of whom are foreign residents in the town. Nerja's population, according to the latest figures is 22,121 people, of
What to do
Myra Cecillia Azzopardi from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Spain will be talking to members of the U3A (University of the Third Age) Axarquía, as well as anyone who wishes to attend, on the subject of Brexit and how it will affect Britons living i
What to do
The village of Cómpeta will be celebrating its 10th art walk over the Easter weekend. F 31 March, and 1, 3 and 4 April, the doors of the village's art studios and galleries will be open. Thirty-five international artists, representing ten national
What to do
George Orwell's only son, Richard Blair, will be talking to the Arts Society both in Fuengirola (Costa del Sol branch) and in Nerja on Tuesday 27 March. INFORMATION What: Talk by Richard Blair, George Orwell's son. Where: Danish Club, Fuengirola
Local
Organisers of Almuñécar's annual Jazz en la Costa festival have announced that American-born Cécile McLorin Salvant (1989) will open this year's event. McLorin Salvant has won two Grammy awards; one in 2015 for her album 'For One to Love' and again
Local
This year Save Our Homes in Axarquía (SOHA) is marking a decade since it was set up by a group of Spanish and foreign residents in the area who had learned that their houses were, to all intents and purposes, illegal in the eyes of the Junta de Andal
Local
Organisers confirmed the final line up for this year's Weekend Beach festival last Thursday, which will take place in Torre del Mar over the first weekend in July. The event is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year with 95 artists on the bill i
LifeStyle
Justin Smith, 48, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales, and Sonia Janin, 40, from Lyon, France are a husband and wife team of artists who have chosen the town of Casares in Malaga to make their art. They first met 15 years ago in London, where So
LifeStyle
The Missing Migrants project tracks incidents involving migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers who have died or gone missing in the process of migration. According to the website (missingmigrants.iom.int), 81 people have died trying to cro
LifeStyle
The next exhibition at El Casino will open on 31 March and will feature a number of artists. There will be workshops and activities on each Saturday throughout April, for which booking is essential. Roberta explains that the type of art and artist
Local
Coral Coraxalia are looking for members to sing in a Royal British Legion concert at the Nerja Caves restaurant on 21 April. Under the leadership of Eusebio Pita, the choir will be rehearsing on Thursdays from 5.30 to 8pm in the Casa Cultura on the A
Local
Around 30 people, including volunteers and representatives from charities and the Axarquía hospital, attended a presentation given by British Consul in Malaga, Charmaine Arbouin and Neil Hesketh, from Support in Spain, at the Axarquía hospital in Tor
LifeStyle
The Arts Societies Costa del Sol and Benahavís shared a joint celebration of the society's 50th Anniversary in the ballroom of the Gran Hotel Benahavís last Thursday afternoon. Around 100 members took part in the event which was given the name Gold
LifeStyle
I was first introduced to Roberta Gordon-Smith at the Acompalia Artística exhibition at the Azucarera in Motril last December. After seeing one of the pieces she was exhibiting, a sofa with a life-size painting of a nude woman sprawled out on it, I k
LifeStyle
On 2 March 1944, General Francisco Franco's government passed a law to issue all Spanish citizens with a personal identification number (DNI). The Council of Ministers approved the introduction nationwide for "total efficiency for the unquestionabl
National
Bremain in Spain has said that it "welcomes the progress made with the second reading of the Overseas Electors Bill" which aims to give Brits living abroad a 'vote for life' in UK elections, instead of the current 15-year cut-off period. The second
LifeStyle
Chris O'Hare, 42, and his partner, Gabriella Gratrix, 45, are relaxing in the mid-February sun in a bar on the N-340 road that runs through Torrox Costa when I first meet them. Both a picture of health and sipping fresh orange juice, the only thing t
LifeStyle
Paul Bradley, 68, who has lived in Nerja since 1992, was taking a stroll through the town when he saw an old friend sitting at the well-known Kronox cafe near the Balcón de Europa. He stopped to have a coffee with his fellow Englishman and this chanc
Local
Nerja town hall foreigners' department, together with the Pérez Parras law firm, will be holding a conference in English on holiday rentals and the new requirements introduced by the regional government, the Junta de Andalucía last year. The confe
LifeStyle
Bruce Reynolds will be performing at El Molino de Cajiz near Vélez-Málaga on Sunday 4 March along with Nick Graham as part of the Paradise Blues duo. "Nick came up with the name after a few days at our place. I think he quite likes it there," Bruce
Local
Two table tennis tables have been installed on Torre del Mar's beach, next to the biblioplaya. Bats and balls may be rented from the biblioplaya (storytelling area), which is located in front of the El Boquerón beach bar. The tables are free to u
Local
Wyclef Jean, best known for being one of the three members of American hip hop group, The Fugees, is the latest confirmation for this year's Weekend Beach music festival in Torre del Mar. The group's biggest hits include, 'Ready or Not' and a cover
National
Following her research trip to Malaga in October 2017, Professor Karen O'Reilly has published an interim report on the initial findings of the Brexit Brits Abroad research project. The report, 'What Does Brexit Mean for British Citizens Living in
National
The organisation British in Europe has published guidelines explaining how the agreement reached by the UK government and the EU negotiators, following the first round of Brexit negotiations, which concluded in December 2017, affects Britons living i
National
Groups campaigning for the rights of Britons living abroad are encouraging citizens to write to their UK constituency MP to ask them to back the Votes for Life bill. The second reading of a Private Member's Bill, which is being led by Glyn Davies,
Local
An event is to be held on Wednesday 7 February about how to apply for Spanish citizenship. The talk will be given by local language academy, Aprendo Idiomas, and will be aimed at British residents who may be considering becoming Spanish citizens in
LifeStyle
Foreign residents from across the Axarquía attended the event which started off at the town's Agro-olivarera cooperative. Participants were able to see first-hand how the olives are sorted upon arrival when they are brought in by local olive growers,
LifeStyle
Our lady of the Candelaria is celebrated every 2 February in a number of towns and villages across Spain, South America and even in the Philippines. The celebration is particularly important in the Canary Islands and notably in Tenerife, where the
Local
Weekend Beach festival organisers along with the deputy mayor for Torre del Mar, Jesús Pérez Atencia, used Fitur to announce that internationally renowned DJ, David Guetta, would be performing at this year's Weekend Beach festival. The announcement
LifeStyle
Lux Mundi Fuengirola and Torre del Mar received donations of women's and men's clothing as well as children's toys over the Christmas period. The donations were distributed to homeless people in the area who use the centres' weekly soup kitchens a
LifeStyle
There will be great excitement in the streets of Malaga this evening, just as there has been since 1923, when the first 'cabalgata' or Kings' parade, took place in the city. Since 1913 it had been a tradition in the city to take toys to children i
Local
Local police in Almuñécar detained a driver with French nationality last Friday on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and falsifying documents. The driver was stopped during routine checks on the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I when the officers caug
Local
Frigiliana's councillor for tourism, Carmen Cerezo, presented the town's new promotional video last week. The two-minute video, which can be watched on YouTube, will be used to promote the town through social networks and replaces the last one whi
Local
The dates were announced last week for the tenth Cómpeta Art Walk. The event will coincide with Easter Week and will run from Saturday 31 March until Wednesday 4 April 2018. The Art Walk will not be open on Sunday 1 April. Various locations, incl
Opinion
It was impossible not to be moved by the last carol sung at the Lux Mundi carol service in Torre del Mar last Saturday: Silent Night. Noche de Paz in Spanish and Stille Nacht in German. The words were put up on giant screens in all three languages so
Local
Mayor of Nerja, Rosa Arrabal, along with councillors and representatives from Malaga province's Diputación signed off the completed work to the town's fire station on Tuesday. The service, which will cover Nerja, Frigiliana and Torrox, is expected
LifeStyle
Father Christmas chose the town of Periana in the Axarquía for his dress rehearsal last Sunday ahead of the big night. He said that he likes to "make sure everything is ok" a week before he does it for real in case he has to make any changes. This
Local
Tucked away in a valley overlooked by the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama mountain range lies the diminutive hamlet of Acebuchal. Situated between Cómpeta and Frigiliana, this once forgotten place is enjoying a renaissance. During Spain's Civil War it
What to do
As has been the tradition for 36 years, this Sunday Torrox Pueblo will be holding its Fiesta de las Migas. Every year, on the Sunday before Christmas, the town shares one of its traditional recipes with residents and visitors. INFORMATION When: S
What to do
While many towns and villages display nativity scenes in their town halls or other buildings (in Torre del Mar there is one in the Azucarera building, complete with live goldfish, while in Cómpeta a local father and son take over a premises on the ma
What to do
Highlights of La Herradura's Christmas activities include a Christmas sweet-making workshop today, Friday 15 December, at 11am and again at 4pm in the civic centre. On Saturday 16 a Christmas concert will be given by the Bahía de la Herradura choir
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach Festival added new names to the 2018 line-up earlier this week. American rock band, The Offspring, along with Jamaican reggae legend, Jimmy Cliff, will be two of the biggest names at the fifth Weekend Bea
Local
City Sightseeing, the open-top bus tour company which operates in cities such as Malaga and Seville in Andalucía, as well as major cities around the world, inaugurated a sightseeing train in Nerja on Tuesday. Nerja is the eighth Andalusian destinat
National
There was bitter disappointment from British in Europe to a 17-page report which talks of "agreements in principle" and states the caveat "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed", leaving millions of EU in UK citizens uncertain about their futu
LifeStyle
Today, 8 December, is the second of two public holidays in Spain in early December. The first is 6 December, or Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución) which marks 6 December 1978 when the new constitution was approved following the end of the Fran
Local
Businesses connected with the tourism sector in Nerja completed the first phase in a training programme aimed at teaching the sector how to welcome Japanese tourists. The course included an introduction to Japanese, to the country, Japanese touris
LifeStyle
Acompalia Artistica's three-week-long exhibition opened on Saturday evening in the Azucarera de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar sugar factory) in Motril. It is the culmination of three months of work by a group of international artis
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The Arts Society Nerja currently has an exhibition, Golden Andalucía, on in the Sala Mercado in Nerja, which is the start of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Selected pieces that are currently on display will be sent to London to join other work
LifeStyle
Helen Sijsling is the current chair of The Arts Society - Nerja, formerly NADFAS. The UK- based organisation, which has five branches in Malaga and Gibraltar alone, changed its name in May this year and Helen says that she "supported the change 100 p
LifeStyle
Tr3s Puertas, a contemporary and international cultural association, is exactly what Torre del Mar needs. At a time of exciting cultural developments for this small seaside town, a place where anyone can feel welcome, international artists can expres
What to do
The El Valle Drama Group's 2017 panto - Dorothy and the Wicked Witches -which they describe as "a pantomime loosely based on The Wizard of Oz" will be performed on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December (matinee). INFORMATION When: Frid
Local
While there is great uncertainty surrounding many of the rights of British citizens living in other EU countries post Brexit, applying UK law to a will is not one, according to Sandra Wrightson of De Cotta Law. Anyone living in Spain has the right to
Local
As more and more foreign people come to live, and inevitably die, in Malaga, Spanish-run funeral homes are having to accommodate the wishes and cultures of a host of different nationalities, at least this is according to Jaime García Fernández, an ad
Local
Friends, neighbours, foreigners' councillor, Jorge Bravo and infrastructure councillor, José María Rivas Gálvez, joined Alfons Mettel who retired earlier this year after 30 years as president of El Capistrano village in Nerja last Thursday for the re
LifeStyle
The charity spa day at Las Orquideas hotel in Los Romanes last Saturday raised 815 euros for the Los Ángeles de La Noche charity. With the help of the hotel, the therapists who give up their time, and the clients, the spa days have raised over 5,00
LifeStyle
Karen O'Reilly is a professor of anthropology and sociology currently employed part time by Goldsmiths, University in London, to work on the BrexitBritsAbroad research project, which is researching the impact that Brexit is having on British national
What to do
The Moldavia National Opera and Concerlírica Internacional will be presenting Verdi's Nabucco at the Casa de la Cultura on Wednesday 15 November. INFORMATION When. Wednesday 15 November, 8pm Where. Casa de la Cultura, Almuñécar Tickets. From 1
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Italian-born jazz singer, Alessia Desogus, will be performing on Saturday 11 November at the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñécar. INFORMATION When. Saturday 11 November, 8pm. Where. Casa de la Cultura, Almuñécar. Tickets. 10EUR in advance, 12EUR on th
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach Festival announced last weekend that 10,000 tickets were bought in just two hours after they went on sale via the Weekend Beach website for the next event, which will take place from 4 to 7 July 2018. Th
LifeStyle
The Junta de Andalucía's Social Services department was overwhelmed by calls from families across the region after announcing a campaign to take in children who had become victims of hurricane Mitch, which struck central America in October and Novemb
Local
Almuñécar town hall has issued a reminder to residents that a free collection service for unwanted household furniture is available by calling the council before collection day. The call comes following an increasing number of such items being found
LifeStyle
Symphonic Rock is quite a thing and orchestras are becoming more intrepid in their compositions. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has an album which covers versions of Bon Jovi's Livin' on A Prayer to Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell. Malaga's Cervantes Th
LifeStyle
Daniel Fichera is a professional pianist originally from Michigan in the USA. He and his partner have lived in the Axarquía for 12 years. When they bought their first Spanish property in Chilches, Daniel, 58, says that the house was initially suppose
Local
Nerja town hall will be running nine-month Spanish courses for beginners and intermediate level students at centres in the town. Those interested in the intermediate level classes should contact the teacher, Pilar Medina, by email: pilarmedinaarra
National
Following the end of the fifth round of Brexit negotiations last week, the British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, released an update via the British Embassy in Madrid's social network pages. In his statement, the ambassador said that on citizen
Local
The BrexitBritsAbroad Project is an extensive and innovative sociological study that questions what Brexit means for Britons resident in other European Union member states. Working closely with Britons living across the 27 member countries of the
What to do
The fifth Festival del Mar will be taking place on 7 and 8 October in La Herradura. The event will start with a street parade and other activities include conferences, workshops, children's activities and talks by marine experts. Information
LifeStyle
Following on from the success of the free, outdoor Flamenco Abierto concerts on the Cerro San Cristobal in Vélez-Málaga over summer, an autumn programme has just been unveiled and is being given a helping hand with publicity by British couple, Ben an
Local
A third Phoenician necropolis has been discovered in Almuñécar, with the remains of a man and woman, along with a funeral urn and ceramic amphora. The find confirms a theory that there were Phoenician artefacts buried in the Monte Velilla area of t
Local
Nerja Museum, which belongs to the Nerja cave foundation, has reported record visitor numbers this summer. Over a three month period from 15 June to 15 September, 27,000 people visited the attraction; an increase of 19 per cent on the same period
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St Andrews in Los Boliches will be holding an animal blessing service on Wednesday 4 October at 6pm while St George's Church in Malaga and Vélez-Málaga will be holding similar services over the first weekend in October. In Malaga the service will t
LifeStyle
When professional singer, Simona Mango and her partner, musician Bruce Reynolds, ended up spending a night in a hotel in Malaga due to a cancelled flight, little did they know that fate was actually dealing them a good hand. The musical couple, who
Local
Almuñécar firefighter, David Cabrera, has flown to Mexico to help following this month's devastating earthquakes. He joined seven other firefighters and six dogs from across Andalucía as they embarked on the mission last week. Cabrera said that
Local
Work started on Monday to restore Torre del Mar's second oldest lighthouse, which is situated next to the iconic blue and white one on the town's promenade. The restoration work, which is expected to take around three months, will include moving so
What to do
The Gálvez museum in Macharaviaya will be hosting a collection of Salvador Dalí's paintings of horses. The exhibition, which will run from 15 September until 11 December, comprises of 24 of the artist's works. Animals featured heavily in the surre
National
Citizens' and Brexit groups in Spain have shown mixed reactions to the conclusion of the latest round of Brexit negotiations. Ending recent talks, the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier and UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis,
Local
The Red Cross (Cruz Roja) Axarquía, based in Vélez-Málaga, has a new recruit: Richard Weale. Richard, 57, who lives with his partner Carole in Riogordo, has been with the charity since May this year and is currently the only English-speaking voluntee
Local
Jorge and Kiko Montoro, the twin brothers who cycled from Torre del Mar to Copenhagen and then took part in the city's Ironman competition have returned to their hometown having completed their challenge. Despite difficult weather conditions, incl
What to do
The Festival Tres Culturas de Frigiliana is celebrating its 12th year and will take place from 24 until 27 August. It has become one of the most popular festivals in Malaga province attracting people from all over Spain and abroad. Last year some 3
LifeStyle
On the opening day of his first ever exhibition in Spain, at the Galería de Bellas Artes in Cómpeta, Ray Murphy learned that his entry had been chosen as this year's Cómpeta Noche del Vino poster. Ray is from Essex, where he lives and runs a busin
What to do
Vélez-Málaga is attracting some of the biggest names in flamenco this August with its programme of Flamenco Fusion nights, all of which are free, in the open-air auditorium in Cerro de San Cristobal. Tonight, 11 August, Sanlúcar de Barrameda-based
LifeStyle
The coastline that stretches out along the N340 coastal road from Torre del Mar, through Almayate, Valle Niza, Benajarafe and Chilches is not only steeped in history but also a treat for the eyes and soul in the 21st century. The road, which was once
LifeStyle
Scott Huston, originally from the USA, and his Danish wife Nete have come up with an innovative way of raising money for animal charities in the Axarquía and also helping local businesses to attract customers. They have established the ¡Give Me Five!
Local
Nerja town hall's Foreigners Department has issued an urgent reminder to its foreign residents to check that they are still registered with the town hall. The 'padrón', or town hall census, means that the more people who are registered on it, the m
What to do
Acompalia, the Granada palliative care charity, is holding a flamenco charity concert called 'Flamencos por Acompalia'. The event forms part of the fifth Ciclo Flamenco Ciudad Almuñécar and takes place on Sunday 6 August at 10pm. The charity night
What to do
The Me Vuelves Lorca theatre and music festival has just started its third year in the small village of Laroles in the Alpujarras. The festival is the second phase of a project that Briton Anna Kemp, started around four years ago to try and create
Local
Thousands of enthusiasts crowded onto Torre del Mar's beach over the weekend to see the town's second international air show. During the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, spectators were treated to displays and acrobatics from more than 16 diffe
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Following the success of last year's international air show, Torre del Mar is hosting its second such event this weekend. From Friday 28 until Sunday 30 July residents and visitors will be treated to displays from over 40 different aircraft includ
LifeStyle
Twin brothers and cycling enthusiasts from Vélez-Málaga, Kiko and Jorge Montoro, began a 2,400-kilometre bike ride to Copenhagen on Thursday morning. The 37-year-olds set off from the town's iconic lighthouse at 9.15am, accompanied by other cyclis
LifeStyle
British television programme, Superfoods: The real Story, visited one of Almuñécar's mango plantations last week with presenter, Kate Quilton. The El Pinero farm in Almuñécar received the visit and, with the help of the farm's owner, Antonio Guerre
Local
The story of a retired British couple whose house in Almayate is the subject of a demolition order has captured international attention after they posted their plight on social media, as well as attracting support from SOHA (Save our Homes Axarquía).
LifeStyle
What was it about Almuñécar that kept making British writer, Laurie Lee, return, despite being evacuated from the town by a British destroyer and taken to Gibraltar at the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936? Possibly its unassuming charm, its
LifeStyle
Nerja's famous caves are a favourite among visitors and locals alike, while Rincón de la Victoria's Cueva del Tesoro is a relatively unknown secret, despite being the only marine cave in Europe. An underground favourite Quite possibly the only pl
National
The Weekend Beach music festival, which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary next year, finished in the early hours of last Sunday morning. Organisers and town councillors said in a press conference on Tuesday that an estimated 130,000 people ca
LifeStyle
Oliver Perry is about to open his latest exhibition of sculpture in the Sala el Pósito, a former granary on Plaza de la Constitución, in Vélez-Málaga. The Pennsylvania-born artist is no stranger to exhibiting in Malaga; he first came to the provin
Local
The fourth Weekend Beach Festival got under way on Wednesday evening under tighter security in the wake of recent terrorist attacks across Europe. National Police sources at the event, which around 30,000 people are expected to attend, confirmed that
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El Faro de Torrox is starting guided visits of the archaeological site located next to the lighthouse, as well as the lighthouse itself, in English and German. The visit includes the Factoría de Salazón, the necropolis, the Roman villa and baths.
What to do
The fifth Festival Tropical gets under way on Saturday 24 June in Almuñécar and will see more than ten different marching bands from Scandinavian countries playing in different locations around the town. Information When:Saturday 24 June
What to do
The fourth annual Festival of Improvised Music will be held in Riogordo this Saturday, 24 June. The event will take place at the Ethnographic museum, starting at 7pm. This year's event will feature a wide range of jazz, improvised music, dance and
National
The state opening of Parliament on Wednesday following the 8 June general election had Brexit at its heart. However, it was the Queen's choice of hat for that captured the attention of many pro-remainers on social media as they felt the blue number,
National
Official Brexit negotiations got under way at the European Commission in Brussels on Monday. Chief EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, met David Davis, the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, two days before the Queen's Speech in the
Local
An 82-year-old British tourist was found dehydrated and disorientated on the side of the A7 motorway 30 hours after disappearing from his holiday home in the Capistrano area of Nerja. The man, who had gone to throw the rubbish out at around midday on
National
The British Prime Minister Theresa May received sceptical responses from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and European Commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, to her announcement of plans to safeguard the futures of over three million European cit
Local
Almuñécar's local police detained a British citizen on Thursday who was in possession of narcotics including hashish and heroin with a street value of 7,160 euros. The arrest was made at the town's bus station when 'Otto', the police force's newest
Local
Details of the second Torre del Mar International Air Show were unveiled by mayor of Vélez-Málaga, Antonio Ferrer and Deputy Mayor, Jesús Antencia, last week. The event, which will take place on 28, 29 and 30 July, will see 40 aircraft flying over th
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When thinking of a link between crime writer Agatha Christie and Spain, Poirot's The Mystery of the Spanish Chest or the writer's own trips to Mallorca and the Canary Islands may spring to mind. Few, however, would come up with the mountain-top villa
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The small town of Árchez in the Axarquía is holding its first Residents' Day on Friday 16 June, dedicated to its foreign population. The event forms part of a cultural week which comes to an end on Saturday. The total population of the village, wh
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Leading representatives from the Nerja Cave foundation allowed journalists access to parts of the Nerja cave system not usually open to the public on Tuesday, with the aim of promoting the idea of making June 6 a UNESCO international subterranean wor
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Joan and Reg Elliott celebrated 75 years together with their son, Cliff and his wife Diana, neighbours and carers at their apartment in Nerja last Friday. Their Spanish neighbours provided a cake and cava to toast the couple's anniversary and the non
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Cleaning operatives working on the beach in La Herradura expressed their, "surprise and incredulity," when they came across a class B explosive pertaining to the American military near to the town's secondary school yesterday. Staff from the Urbase
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Thomas Kaurich will be giving two piano recitals in May; one on 10 June at Bodegas Bentomiz and on 17 June in the grounds of St George's Church in Malaga. He hopes that these will be the first of many and would like to gather support and momentum for
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INFORMATION When: From 3 until 25 June, every day from 11am - 2pm except Sunday and Wednesday Where: Galeria Centro de Bellas Artes, C/ San Antonio 6, Cómpeta Further info: www.galeriacentro.com Irish artist, Noel Lewis, is starting the summer
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Thomas says he has chosen a "traditional programme" which will be the same for both concerts: on 10 June at Bodegas Bentomiz and 16 June at St George's Church in Malaga. It includes Schubert's Impromptu Op. 90 No 4, Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight"
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The Junta de Andalucía has withdrawn its plans for mussel beds off the coast of Almuñécar and La Herradura. After months of protests by local companies and the town hall, mayor of Almuñécar, Trinidad Herrera, announced the decision on Tuesday. She sa
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Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan soldier, politician and one of the most prominent figures in the independence of many South American countries, married María Teresa del Toro y Aleyza in San José church in Madrid on 26 May 1802. Bolívar, who had come to Spa
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Françoise Rajewski isn't your typical 'expat' charity president. For a start, at just 40, she is still very much of working age, and she has a number of piercings. Originally from France, Françoise has lived the UK, Ireland, Poland and Belgium, wh
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Acompalia supports terminally ill patients and their families in Granada province. It provides services free of charge that help patients live each remaining day as fully as possible. The charity offers a helpline, company, legal and interpretation /
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Lux Mundi Torre del Mar welcomed a number of new faces to its open day last Friday. Around 150 people attended the event, which was held in order to show people the numerous activities organised by the centre. Volunteer, Sue Bell, said, "We have s
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Three gardens in the Alpujarra will be open on 27 and 28 May to raise money for charities. The Jardín de la Alpujarra, Órgiva Tea Garden and Jardín Nevada in the Alpujarra region of Granada province will be offering the opportunity for visitors to
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's increasingly popular Weekend Beach Festival announced last week that this year's event has almost sold out. With just under two months remaining before it gets underway, 85 per cent of the full weekend tickets have bee
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A new boutique hotel, the Peña Parda Bay, named after its predecessor, the Hostal Peña Parda, as well as the beach on which it is located, is due to open its doors in time for the summer season. The hotel will boast 18 en suite rooms and two restau
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Nerja town hall's Foreigners Department is reminding residents to pay the annual road tax and garage entrance fee. The road tax deadline is 19 May, while the garage entrance fee must be paid by 22 May. In a note in English to foreign residents, the
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Towns throughout Malaga province will be celebrating their patron, San Isidro Labrador, this weekend. As the patron saint of farmers, he is recognised in many of Malaga province's agricultural towns and villages including Periana, Nerja, Alhaurín el
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The author of the Culture Crime Series of novels, Janet Pywell, has recently launched her latest offering, Book of Hours, which starts off during a Semana Santa procession in Malaga. The book describes in detail the "pomp and pageantry" of the reli
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For Janet Pywell, "flying back to Malaga is like going home" and many of its landmarks are mentioned in Book of Hours. For example, protagonist Mikky dos Santos has breakfast in Café Central before visiting her friend Carmen at the Picasso Museum. Sh
National
With just a month to go before the UK's snap election on 8 June, Britons on the Costa del Sol who are still eligible to vote are being reminded to register to do so before 22 May. The organisation Bremain in Spain has put together a fact sheet wit
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Almuñécar police force have recently recruited a new member to their unit. Otto is a Belgian Shepherd, or Malinois, who will work with agents in the fight against crime in the Almuñécar area. Otto made his debut at the beginning of April and was fo
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The Mancomunidad de Municipios, a collective of the town halls in the Axarquía, has announced a pilot scheme of free Spanish classes aimed at foreigners with little or no Spanish. The course is designed to prepare students to take the official Span
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Cómpeta will be showing off its abundant visual art again this Easter week. From Wednesday 12th, until Sunday 16th (with the exception of Good Friday, 14th) the annual Art Walk will be taking place. Nearly 40 new and ArtWalk regulars will be displa
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On this day in 1988 the Spanish government passed a law to allow private companies to broadcast on Spanish television, paving the way for the likes of Antena 3 and Telecinco to make their mark on the airways. The law was passed by 169 votes to 112,
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Javier León is the new foreigners-department officer at Frigiliana town hall. He has been in the job since 1 March this year, after successfully passing the 'oposiciones', or civil service exams in January. Javier, 48, is already a well-known figur
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British poet, music composer and performer Keith James is back in his beloved "second home" of Andalucía to give a series concerts dedicated to the late Leonard Cohen. A well-known character already in towns such as Cómpeta, where he took part in
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El Paso, Riogordo's famous Passion Play, has been performed at Easter in the town since 1951. It is as popular with tourists as it is with locals, regularly attracting around 10,000 people. The event has been designated by the provincial government
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Vélez-Málaga's councillor for beaches and tourism, Jesus Pérez Atencia, announced on Tuesday that the area's beaches are to have lifeguards over Easter week for the first time. Thirteen professionals will keep watch over the Torre del Mar and Caleta
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INFORMATION When: Sunday 2 April then the first Sunday of every month, except July and August. Where: El Camping bar, Mirador de la Axarquía, Comares. The Comares Eco Market will open for the first time this Sunday, with a Spring Fiesta, at El Ca
National
Nine months after the UK's referendum on European Union membership resulted in a vote to leave the bloc, the UK's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, handed over the official communication of Britain's exit from the EU to European Council president
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For many years Nerja, Malaga province's easternmost coastal town, has been attracting northern Europeans and in particular Britons, not just for holidays, but as permanent residents too. In fact, approximately one third of Nerja's population is made
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Frigiliana's foreigners' department reopened earlier this month and information is available in Spanish, English and French. The post, which had been previously held by Briton Kevin Wright on and off for a number of years, has been filled by Javier L
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INFORMATION When: Sunday 2 April. Where: Torre del Mar beach. Further information: www.facebook.com/colorenlaplaya or www.c-i-eventosdecolor.es You can now sign up for the Torre del Mar Carrera de Color, or 'Colour Run', which will take place o
National
Britons living in European Union countries and European Union citizens living in the UK suffered a blow on Monday when MPs voted against an amendment by the House of Lords to publish plans to guarantee citizens' rights within three months of Article
Local
An article published in SUR in English on 27 January referred to an 'exodus' of British residents from the Costa del Sol. The report quoted the most recent statistics available regarding numbers registered on their local town hall's 'padrón', or popu