Another 70s story from David!

Hi Jackie, well my last month’s short story prompted a few more Guardia related stories and very interesting they were too.
Having not been back to the Costa Brava for donkeys years I expect there have been massive changes but in the 70s the coast road from Lloret to Barcelona ran past the huge Knicker (Bragas) factory on the right hand side in Callela.
Well it was near the end of the season and I was returning from Barcelona, just after midnight on my own in my little Mini fast approaching the Knicker factory, over the slight brow in the road I went, when there standing in the middle of the road were 2 Guardia with machine guns on the waist pointing at me. I remember my heart pounding but not much else, the guns were pointed to the curb side indicating what I had to do, I parked and put the window down, a gun nozzle is pointed about 6inches from my nose with “Get out” “ hands on roof” you don’t make any funny remarks simply do as your told, my legs were kicked apart and I was frisked (nothing thank god) then they ask what was in the car (again nothing) when they saw a roll of posters in my back window shelf “What is that” thank god my Spanish was getting better, I had to explain they were tourist posters for the hotels with pictures of Lloret castle, the sea front etc. They took them out unrolled them all over the place then stopped some old boy who had come out his house to see what was going on, and asked him if the photos were of here? (Most Guardia were brought in from other parts of Spain and moved around so as they didn’t make friends and take bribes etc) or perhaps they were just being awkward anyhow the old chap said yes the photos were of Lloret and without so much as a good night the Guardia just Jerked the gun indicating scram. I did, checking that I hadn’t wet myself!
The outcome... Guardia didn’t normally carry machine guns unless there was an alert and it seems that day there had been some sort of ETA terrorist attack in the north and a single bloke on his own in a car was fair game, it was mid 70s and the other side of life the tourists were sheltered from, I remember calling in at the Moby for a quick one but don’t think I mentioned the incident to anyone (who would believe you!!)
Next time Bullfighting?

Photos fromDoug

l'd just like to apologise to everyone as my computer has recently packed up all together and I've not got access to all the photos for the old stuff which you have all sent in, but all is not lost l have the hard drive which contains all the photos etc, so it won't be long before things get back to normal...with a new PC!
Todays photos dating back to the mid 70s were sent in by Doug Tappin and were salvaged from my email inbox.

3 photos from Frank

Hope you have all put your clocks forward!

Today we have 3 more pictures from Frank, What about the 3rd one, where is that taken?

Nice outfit Andy!

Jimmys photos from the 70s

Thanks to Jimmy for sending his photos from 1974-75. In the first one taken at the Beachcomber in 74 are Jake, Alan and Jimmy. 2nd photo taken at the Moby Dick also 74 - Pat, Elaine, Jimmy, Joanie and Eddie who Jimmy says was a well known boxer. 3rd pic from the Highlander 75 - Jimmy, Ian, Mary, Ricky and Gary.

Frankie's Photos

Thanks to Linda for sending Frankie's photos through, too complicated for him to do it himself she said....What would you do without her Frank !

Frankie's keeping well out of the way in this photo!

At the bus station.

Paddy's bar

A Story from Glendon

The stories which people are sending in seem to be very popular judging by the comments which are been left, here we have another story today from Glendon and again it involves a gun!

I worked in Lloret 1972/3, Las Cuevas/Western Saloon/La Cala/Londoner/ Also DJ Garbi Park Disco around April 72. End of the season 72 October I was working the top Bar at the Londoner, around 9pm a big Spanish guy started ordering brandy (103 Black if I remember correctly), as the night came to a close around 2am, I gave him his bar bill..,he pushed it back to me, I started to cash up the till, he asked me to give him the takings for the evening, I said no thinking he was a little drunk and tried to have a joke with him, he then pulled a pistol from his belt and threatened to shoot, not at me, but anybody who was ready to confront him (I dived on the Floor under the bar), within a few minutes a large black Limo pulled up outside the bar where Edgar Bach then one of the owners was whisked away, the Guardia then turned up and escorted the gunmen out of the bar, the staff had a nightcap in silence trying to make light of the incident. The next day I was walking to work and I saw two Guardia parading up the main drag, I recognized one of them was the gunman from the evening before, he looked at me nodded his head, with a certain smirk on his face, of course this was in the reign of Franco, when I understand that no Guardia could do no wrong, I wonder if Alan (A.A. Excursions) remembers the incident.
Has anyone heard from the tall  Guy Louis from Liverpool,he was somewhat older than us at the time,but as mad as they come,or even Chris who managed many of the bars/Clubs for Edgar/Geoff. Fond memories  of my time in Lloret.

Photos from Doug Tappin

 

I have another new batch of photos this time from Doug Tappin who is now living in Nerja and was working in Lloret during the 70s at PPs disco.... I'm told by Lee who sent in the photos on behalf of Doug that he never shuts up about it!

We have another regular reader of the blog who worked in Lloret (in the 80s) Brian who is now living and running his own bar in Nerja these days maybe you 2 should meet up and you can both have a good chat about your days in Lloret!

(The photos have somehow come through in reverse so apologies for that)