(The Dolphins of Camp Bay)
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Looking down at Camp Bay I had only very vague recollections of the resort (certainly those Dolphins) but couldn’t for the life of me remember there being so much concrete. For a minute I was sure there used to be more beach before than there is now but then when I looked back at an old photo of my daughter (she’s in red below) at the venue I have to concede perhaps my memory was playing tricks on me.
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(My daughter Tracey at Camp Bay 1976).
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What I think I did recall (if I remember rightly) was that the days were longer in Camp Bay than over at Catalan Bay (correct me if I’m wrong) because of the shade from the Rock and so naturally it was a popular beach to take the children to after work especially given that at HMS Rooke we worked tropical hours and finished at 1pm (I think) unless we were on duty.
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Recently I saw a very old photo (above) of Camp Bay before any it’s developments and it looked so fabulously natural; it was just a small cove with sand, pebbles and a couple of little cottages, a bit like a smaller version of Catalan Bay’s fishing village and very much the kind of beach I love to chill out on with a flask of tea.
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In contrast to that old photo I also recently saw published plans (above) of a possible future development at Camp Bay and (given my old fashioned persona) I was horrified. Perhaps a development of that sort may bring more employment to the people of Gibraltar and contribute to the economy – particularly in these uncertain times I don’t know, I’m no politician and not being a Gibraltarian I don’t feel it my place to even comment. But if I’ve learned anything in my life it’s that development isn’t always progress.
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Not far on I knew I would encounter (what I knew to be) Nuffield Pool and I was really looking forward to seeing it again although I wasn’t looking forward to reliving one particular memory (though I knew I would). With thoughts in my head on the past, present and future of Camp Bay I continued on my walkabout with Gibraltars never-changing, lovely sunshine warming my body.
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Lovely blog post of Camp Bay.The plan for the hotel has not been approved which makes it very good news 🙂.
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Oh thank you for that update it’s made my day 🙂 And thank you for your lovely comment. Alan
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Thankfully the plans for the demolition of Dolphin Bar and the building of apartments etc were not approved. I myself started a petition and got 800+ signatures in ten days plus 280+ comments. I am hoping there will be no Appeal!
Camp Bay looks smaller now because of the two pools and the park. The shore has a wall in front to prevent damage during the storms and hence the whole area looks smaller than in 1976
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That’s brilliant Maruchi, very well done. There’s no doubt your efforts had the impact needed. The very idea of building something like that there is beyond belief. Thank you so much for that update and your ongoing support of my memoirs, I do appreciate it. Alan 🙂
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