:cool: Have ever visited Gibraltar?????????????:cool:

Yes loads of times. Have a pint in every bar on the main drag, then try and remember where your ship is. Always a good one that :D

ditto that Artisan. Many good runs down the main drag. Captains Table, Trocadero, Tartan bar. Last there in 1973 onboard the Hardy. Our ships company ran up the rock backwards with the booty's for charity. Many memories. Not a bad place for the tourists as well.

Visited many times with the Royal Navy 1979-2005. I was based there for a year (1981-1982), best year of my single life :thumbsup:

Personally I preferred it when the border (with Spain) was closed, we had the run of our own little island so to speak. Known in virtually every bar especially the Horseshoe, Angry Friar (Mad Bish), Charlie's Hole in the Wall (watch your back - and his dog), and many other bars I could fill this post with. Not forgetting Lottie's beer keller or Irish Town either.

Since the border opened in the mid 80's the place has obviously prospered and changed quite dramatically due to the massively increased tourism. Main Street looks more or less as it was but many of the shops and bars I remember have totally changed.

Memories come flooding back and I could go on for much longer ......

but I won't 8)

Been there twice .
Once in 58 ,Port of call. Once in 60 same reason

If you approach Gib from the Spanish mainland, take a good map and keep your eyes peeled.

From what I remember, the Spanish (peevishly) don't put Gibraltar on their signposts. Unless they call it something else altogether.

Lived and went to school there from '60 to '63. Many fond memories as the Rock was our playground and if you didn't fall in the water there was no way you could get lost.

Try a walk through the rock to Catlan Bay, very spooky. Visit St. Michaels cave, an awe inspiring sight.

I was posted there between 88 & 90 and don't remember half names as well as some of you guys who where there years before me.I was always playing football and not in the pub.Those all weather pitches ironic really as you could play football on them if it had rained or was raining

It seems as if you who lived there dindnt like it as much as us who used it as a bunkering/waterhole :hihi:

The football pitch at HMS Rooke was a killer, red gravel and very unforgiving to the knees and elbows. Rooke has now gone sadly but I had many happy hours in the Senior Rates mess on afternoon sesh's. I was also tempted to climb the sheerlegs in Gib Dockyard but on sobering up and looking at the height of them, I'm glad I didn't.

oh I did enjoy it

My first three ships when I went to sea were all being refitted in Gibraltar when I joined them. We had to get the first one out in a hurry owing to a small skirmish called the Falklands War. Thankfully we weren't quick enough and got down to the Falklands just after the ceasefire. First trip to sea!!

I stayed each time in the Bristol Hotel while we got the ships ready for living onboard. Had some absolute hoots, got horrendously drunk most of the time. Went across the border into Spain when it opened fully on my third trip, also trips across by ferry to Tangier, marvellous I felt like Humphrey Bogart.

I loved it then but imagine so much of the enjoyment stemmed from the job and the people that it would be totally different if I went back.

Go there quite alot, get baccy and booze for friends and fill-up the car with cheap petrol at Morrisons/safeways.
if it's a nice day i'll take lunch in Casement square and sit and watch the world
and the tourist go by.

Go there quite alot, get baccy and booze for friends and fill-up the car with cheap petrol at Morrisons/safeways.
if it's a nice day i'll take lunch in Casement square and sit and watch the world
and the tourist go by.
:Looks like you've got it sussed. Casemates I remember it well when i lived there It wasn't that nice but when i went to Gib in 98 ish it was going under a lot of improvement and suspect it's quite nice now...............do you live in La Linea?????????????

Greetings Double,
La Linea is under going a massive building programme, but still retains some of it's old charm. I don't live there but visit quite alot.
It's still a bit of a bind crossing the border and i think it's time they sorted it out.

i used to live in gib in 1992, my dad's a royal engineer! the RAF's private beach was by far the best one there, and i have vivid memories of the red gravel athletics/sports field that i used to play rugby/shred my skin on!!!

i used to live at the point near the lighthouse... had some good times watching Winston runners out in the bay being chased by spanish gunboats!

Stopped off there for a day, July 1955, enroute from Port Said to Liverpool on HT Lancashire. Only had three weeks to do.

Posted there in 1948,Royal Northumberland Fusaliers,Casemates and Moorish Castle. Went back when the border opened mid 80s and then lived on my boat in Shepperds Marina for months at a time between trips in the Med.Nice place and the Gibraltarians are easy to get along with. The Spaniards are a pain at the border,deliberately causing long queues.

Asti, I see you live in Duquesa,I had a flat in Benalmadena and also kept my boat in the Marina during the winter,happy memories.

Greetings Floridablade,
Back in uk at the moment, have to replenish the depleted funds in the coffers
then back to Spain/Gib. I've never been there in the height of summer and hope to make it this year.
I've found Gibraltar the sort of place that grows on you, the more you visit the less you want to leave. I've found it a real pain taking a car over the border,far too much traffic and no parking, just as easy to jump on the old No 10 open top bus.
Do you ever go back?

Greetings Floridablade,
Back in uk at the moment, have to replenish the depleted funds in the coffers
then back to Spain/Gib. I've never been there in the height of summer and hope to make it this year.
I've found Gibraltar the sort of place that grows on you, the more you visit the less you want to leave. I've found it a real pain taking a car over the border,far too much traffic and no parking, just as easy to jump on the old No 10 open top bus.
Do you ever go back?
No I'm stuck in Florida and just too old now to go back,but quite often I feel like saying sod it and catching the next 'plane out,I loved Gib. and Southern Spain,should never have left. I've sailed up and down that Med. coast so often I knew it like the back of my hand.

Floridablade, I see you are an ex fusilier. You may be interested in contacting ex RNF and RRF people , or just seeing whats going on with the Regiment now. Contact me at alvan_hartley@yahoo.com and I'll give you more info. By the way, Iv'e been to Gib too (1971-72) loved it !!

Alvan

la linea a few years ago was a dump but now its all been redeveloped and gone upmarket.gibralta full of thresher cheap booze and cig shops,go up the chair lift to see the caves and the apes ,really good. watch out for smack heads begging all the time, park up and walk in accross the airport runway or you will queue hours to get in and out.wotrh a visit for cheap cigs ,and to see apes but once is enough.

Ex RAF wife here! Lived in Gib from 77 to 81. Had my son out there @ RNH.
We lived at Chiltern Court. Gawdddddd you lads were noisy trying to stagger back to your ships at night! hahahahaha

First went there in '43 by sea,a group of Dolphins escorted us in. Next,and last time,was in'87. The place was'nt all that different.

:cool: Have ever visited Gibraltar?????????????:cool:

i spent 18months on the rock while doing my National service in 1954/56
with the Duke of Wellingtons and enjoyed it

rotherham with sun

I was there in 1992 and found it a great little place, the people are very friendly and place was the place for bargain buys.

I know it's a few years since I was there but reading the posts it doesn't sound as if it has changed much.

Enjoy it.

PopT

Asti, I see you live in Duquesa,I had a flat in Benalmadena and also kept my boat in the Marina during the winter,happy memories.

I also lived in Benalmadena near boinanza square , I still have a place there.
Asti are you friends of Terry and Natilie from Killamarsh ?

went last year, made a wrong turn, decided to turn around on runway and got nicked, thought the place was dross, give back to the spainish i say,george

its only the cheap fags and booze that i go there for, got back from spain yesterday, caught spanish flu while there so not feeling too well at present, you cant beat brittany for a holiday, they dont like the french and treat the brits very well,george

I'm looking for information about that time, my father-in-law served on Gibraltar during 1954-1956 for his national service, do you have any pictures, details, information from that time. His name is Ray Cobby, Lance Corporal, he was in the RAOC and also rowed for the Army Whaler crew? I really hope you can help.


i spent 18months on the rock while doing my National service in 1954/56
with the Duke of Wellingtons and enjoyed it

It seems as if you who lived there dindnt like it as much as us who used it as a bunkering/waterhole :hihi:


you may have a point but lookig back loved it... for you guys passing through it's a holiday for us it was everyday life. still a great posting though

I'm looking for information about that time, my father-in-law served on Gibraltar during 1954-1956 for his national service, do you have any pictures, details, information from that time. His name is Ray Cobby, Lance Corporal, he was in the RAOC and also rowed for the Army Whaler crew? I really hope you can help.

Don't really have any info but if you go on the site facebook there's a group called RAF Gibraltar they have some good photos on there :thumbsup:
hope this helps a little