EXCLUSIVE: Royal Marine reflects on the ever-changing Gibraltar on Remembrance Day

By

Jacque Talbot

-

21 Nov, 2019 @ 15:51


GIBRALTAR has changed a lot according to a former Royal Marine in town to remember the war dead.

But Corporal Pete Wilkins believes the Rock will always be part of the UK family, even with Brexit on the horizon.

The former corporal attended the military parade with other military veterans at the British War Memorial on Line Wall Road.

“It’s a lovely place, always has been,” Wilkins told the Olive Press. “But it’s getting more crowded.

“Every time I come here there’s more buildings, there’s not much you can do now before you go out a bit further.”

“I did three tours here of four months each in the 60s and early 70s,” he explained.

“It’s important because the Royal Marines along with the Dutch Marines took Gibraltar in 1704.”

Looking up at the Mid-Town complex towering over the British war Memorial he said it was ‘nothing like this’ when he first arrived in Gibraltar in 1965.

“It’s progress – you can’t prevent it,” admits the former Royal Marine.

“But there’s only so much land you can build on before you have to fill in the sea!”

Two large reclamations on either side have increased the size of the land area of Gibraltar with another planned for the port area soon.

“The people are still aware of their colonial past,” Wilkins said. “The traditions go back hundreds of years.

“When the dust settles on Brexit, the UK will have its own identity along with Gibraltar within the Union.

“I think the border arrangements will continue after it because although there is a lot of background politics, Gibraltar needs the manpower from Spain to work here.”

Interesting.

 

Many fond memories of Gib, even the rock runs had their moments with stacks of bootnecks still half cut zig-zagging their way up the rock swapping dits from the run ashore.

Does anyone know if Charlie's Hole in t'Wall is still going?

 

Your starter for ten........

When was the last Royal Marine unit posted and based in Gibraltar?

 

It closed eventually in 2016. I remember going in for a pint, around 2003 and saying to Charlie "You still alive? Thought you died years ago, mate"

He went ballistic as it turns out everyone visiting over the preceding decade had said the same to him.

He's still alive & kicking I think: https://www.yourgibraltartv.com/blogs/10935-jan-22-iconic-hole-in-t-wall-pub-to-close-after-40-years

 

No idea I'm afraid. They must have made an impact though... we used to get (verbal) grief there from some. One incident resulted in the first (and last) time I saw someone being punched off a moped. Mne McShortfuse certainly lived up to his reputation that day!

 

That's a real shame, what a place that was.

I know what you mean, I'm surprised he's still alive. I never fancied one of those Joan Collins cocktails that he had in the big optic.

Just looked at the article, nice one. I'd pay a king's ransom for one of those t-shirts.