All about
March 2023
From kings to Prime Ministers; Why Benahavis is Andalucia’s richest town with an expat population of around 70%
TOWERING SUCCESS
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The
A honeypot for the rich and famous, Benahavis offers an example of a true Spanish success story
than the bustling coast
ANDALUCÍA
offers a more relaxed lifestyle best: a week what Benahavis offers dabble with by a on grow- National Park. the of hiking followedin the open air. T just seems to keep this tiny Spain’s sixteenth national park, a paintbrush out ing. The statistics for from the soaring peaks often covered with By coincidence his visit came at (hence the name), Netflix descendenclave, a short drive Banus snow in winter for the same time as snazzy nightlife of Puertoremark- are some of the most amazing ea- ed on the village to film a couple with The and Marbella, are quite hiking and bird-watching, above of scenes from the hit series soaring villa in the able. Crown. Renting out a enclave of place in gles and vultures frequency. Long the highest-earning earn- with increasingfrom the Benahavis exclusive Benahavis portrayed the midAndalucia (with an average population Best reachedof La Quinta, a three- Zagaleta they that Lady Diana ings of €38,000), its by last urbanisation walk takes you up to 1990s holiday Jemima Gold(of which 68% is foreign) 7,300 res- hour circular castano santo - holy took with her friend family estate, year had soared from at her nearby the famous smith since years 9,244 1000 - that at idents to a healthy Tramores. num- chestnut tree 2022. It could hit the magicpredict old is said to be the oldest in Mala- The cast and crew were regularly both filmber of 10,000 this Spring, ga province. seen around the village,well as enas experts. ing various scenes, of growth It’s a massive amount digital nojoying their time off. Gorge possible promotion and is mostly down to looking to other walks “It is the best mads and teleworkers surround- But there are many in particular we could have had,” explains Counlive somewhere warm spaces. right from the village, river gorge, cillor Scott Marshall, who’s artist in ed by nature and open and golf down into its famous hik- father David moved to Benahavis The free tennis, footballlanguage, where many people combine the 1970s. to the vilswimming, or up towards lessons for kids, plus of the Both visits were thanks does ing with yoga and pilates for adults the stunning country retreat where lage’s connection to the Goldsmith on Goldsmith family, not do any harm either. Bo- family, who are heavily focussed offer wealthy Benahavis really does partic- the UK’s former Prime Minister years ago. something for everyone, have ris Johnson stayed three Press, Continues on next page ularly as its nearby hills desig- First revealed by the Oliveto enjoy recently been officially Nieves Johnson had turned up nated the Sierra de las
VERDANT: Leafy Benahavis
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APPEAL
Nolotil campaign grows KILL THE
OVER 500 people DRUG have signed an Olive Press petition to keep tourists and expats safe from the deadly painkiller Nolotil. Our Kill the Drug campaign urges Spanish health professionals to agree to follow the 2018 directive banning the German-made drug for British, Scandinavian and Irish patients. Since launching on February 12, some 505 people have backed the campaign, with many adding comments. One supporter wrote: “Well done for tackling this problem. Too many lives have already been lost.” While Nolotil is now banned in 40 countries, it is still being regularly prescribed around Spain. Campaigner Christina del Campo of the Association for Drug Affected People (ADAF) claims her group has over 100 cases of British people dying from the drug. Others have had amputations ‘and worse’. “Something needs to be done about this as nobody’s taking notice. It’s excellent the campaign is growing,” she said. We now plan to contact local health facilities to urge them to comply with the official warning from Madrid that urges hospitals and clinics not to hand out the drug to foreigners. Please sign the petition by searching ‘Stop Nolotil deaths’ on Change.org.
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DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Spanish authorities ‘must bring justice’ for British expat mum who died while giving birth at Marbella hospital
A BRITISH expat died while giving birth at a private Costa del Sol hospital after being refused a C-section, it has emerged. Kelsey Brown, 34, had been rushed to Ceram Hospital, in Marbella, on July 20, 2021, where a scan revealed her baby had died. Yet, despite the tragedy, hairCompare funerals the dresser from LivPlans cover the erpool whole of Spain was told Interest free payment plans she could from €2,250 or as little not have as €29.16 per month Plans range from simple unattended direct cremation to a more traditional send off
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She began delivering the baby at 1.30pm with doctors using forceps to deliver the boy, named a C-section or an epidural and Daniel, who was found with his would have to give birth naturally. umbilical cord wrapped around While bleeding heavily and in his chest, stopping him from ‘horrendous pain’, there was sim- feeding. ply not enough blood on site for A delivery of blood did not arrive the procedure, a UK coroner’s until 6.45pm, but just half an hour later, at 7.15pm, Kelsey was court was told. pronounced dead. Her mother, Maria Brown, told Blood the BBC that she was a ‘loving Incredibly, blood supplies did not mum’ to her surviving child, who arrive until more than five-and-a- was aged five when the tragedy half hours later. occurred. A lack of blood likely led to her The family are now demanding death. answers from the Spanish auAndre Rebello, senior coroner thorities, who did not provide for Liverpool, said: "Kelsey was crucial medical documents to the advised she could not have a cae- Liverpool coroner. sarean and she could not have an Mr Rebello told the court this epidural, and would have to give impeded his ability to properly birth naturally." investigate the death, forcing him to declare an open conclusion due to lack of evidence. “Hopefully the Spanish authorities will See page 32 make efforts to bring justice to what occurred,” he said. “They should be looking to see if there By Laurence Dollimore
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PAINFUL DEATH: For Kelsey and her baby
were opportunities to do something meaningful for a different outcome." Mr Rebello previously told the court that the results of a post-mortem in Spain had been ‘withheld’, as had medical notes from Ceram Hospital. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, there could be a long wait for the Spanish investigation to bear fruit.
Healthy
Kelsey’s mother insisted she was ‘very healthy’ and didn't drink or smoke. “Kelsey really looked after herself. She was a great daughter, a great sister and a great mum,” she said. Kelsey had moved with her husband to the Costa del Sol in 2019, with their toddler, who was five when she died. The family are not commenting further until the Spanish authorities have completed their investigation. Opinion Page 6