Rebecca was born in Portsmouth, England. Her father, who was born in India and left as a child during the uprisings was a factory worker. This paid the bills but his real passion was music, particularly guitar. Her mother was from the garden of England also known as Kent who sometimes went to Southsea on holiday. These holidays were fortunate because it was during one of the trips Rebecca’s mother met her future husband. In a time when mixed race relationships were actively discouraged it is remarkable that her parents not only met but on their first proper date her father proposed and her mother accepted.

   “Life was a struggle for my parents and growing up on a renowned council estate in Portsmouth was hard. Luckily for all of us we eventually managed to finally set up home in Emsworth, a small fishing village about eight miles from Pompey.

   “I went to Warblington School and suffered the slings and arrows of comprehensive education up to ‘A’ level. Looking back the mixing of the sexes at comprehensive schools did prepare me for life in social ways that are often lacking in single sex education. I find I can interact with most people and have a better sense of who I am, where I am and where I’m going.

   “After college I bought my Mum’s car from her, a Renault 5, for £200. My two girlfriends Flee and Sark (don’t ask) and I decided we’d set off for a drive. Normally I spent every Christmas with my parents like all young people. But my two friends were more or less given no option and decided to rebel this one year. So on the 23rd December we set off with our savings, the Renault and a couple of bags of enthusiasm.”

   “With a plan?” I asked trying to imagine three girls, a map and the continent of Europe. “No plan, to be honest we wanted to experience the freedom of choice that only youth and inexperience could offer. Off we set and we were having a fantastic time. The constant hostels or motels were eating into our savings though until one night we were a little tired so rather than look for somewhere to bed down for the night we pulled over, got into our sleeping bags and slept in the Renault.”

   “In the Renault 5? Three of you?” I asked incredulously. “All three and we never used a hotel again for 6 months it saved us a fortune. Hostels are more restrictive too, in the mornings you have to get up and leave, it was all too much so the car became the hotel. All the way down through France, Spain and into Gibraltar.”

   “What made you head directly to southern Spain and Gibraltar?” I wondered. “Well the weather was a little rough, it was winter and winter in Lyon this particular year was wet not exactly holiday weather. So we looked at the map we had and the only piece that was red (as in mean temperature) was the Malaga area so off we set.”

   “You were obviously quite strong independent women?” I asked. “Well we were until Ronda.” “Ronda, what happened?” She continued, “Ronda although a beautiful place was the only place we had real trouble. It was broad daylight and we were robbed at knifepoint of all our money. Probably the old story of a drug user needing money but it meant we needed to find some work or we wouldn’t be eating. So we came to Gibraltar.” “What did you do then?” “Well I found work in Pizza Hut and in pubs particularly Uncle Tom’s Cabin which was a bit rough but it paid. Then things took a twist that to this day people think a little crazy. After being in Gibraltar for only four weeks I got married.” “Married?” I was thinking she’s got to be crazy... “Why? What happened then?”

   “Well to be honest it was just something that happened, it was a whirlwind/holiday romance. Looking back it’s hard to say why but it is now done and the marriage lasted more than nine years and my ex-husband and I are very good friends. Of course the other girls still had adventure in their eyes. Flee and Sark wanted to head off and finish the trip. I still wanted to go and we felt, after a discussion, it was safer with three than two. My husband understood and as he lived on a boat that, in his words, wasn’t up to scratch for me to live on. We decided I would continue the trip and while I was away he would work on the boat to make it a more, desirable residence.”

   “Hang on… you just got married, married to someone who four weeks earlier you hadn’t met then to cap it you want to continue the trip and he thinks it’s a good idea?” “That’s about the size of it.” Rebecca continued, “we travelled directly to Lisbon and marvelled at the architecture of Portugal. Then through the beautiful northern part of Spain it was a great trip and I am going to write a screenplay about the whole adventure one day.”

   “Any particularly memorable moments on this European Thelma & Louise?” “Loads Frankie, loads, and comic too. I was working in a café/hotel in Montpellier, France once. I was in fact the English version of Manuel, if you remember Fawlty Towers. This place had a husband and wife team that argued constantly and I, the waiter, ran around with my limited French and capability it was as if the whole TV series had been relocated.” “Did you eventually return to Gibraltar and married life?”

   “I did and as an independent woman I wanted more out of life.” “Is this how you got into politics?” “To a degree yes. Gibraltar like a lot of places was not easy to break into for women. I got involved with the then Gibraltar National Party, my initial involvement was with the party’s youth wing and from this point I became interested in European Politics and subsequently LYMEC, the Liberal Youth Movement of the European Community. Our party, now The Gibraltar Liberal Party became full members and ultimately I was elected Vice President.

   “I have been a member of the party now for 12 years. I have a great interest in politics and like all would be politicians I want to see changes in Gibraltar, changes for the people that benefit all the people.

   “I suppose that comes from living in the UK during the Thatcher era, at the time I was vehemently opposed to her. In fact I remember being chastised at school for criticising her. Now of course in hindsight my view has softened towards her, not totally though but somewhat. It’s for these reasons I could see some of the good in what Joe Bossano and the GSLP achieved whilst in Government and how the alliance between the GSLP and GLP could be of great benefit in the future for Gibraltar, a good combination of age and experience coupled with youth and radicalism.”

   “Would you stand for election then given the chance?” I asked. “Without a doubt I would love to. This place has such great potential. I like the history, geography and most of all I like the people. I love the way they speak and the way they view things. There are still things that need to be sorted and the only way to do that is to stay and change from within. I am part of the GLP executive and hope that in 2007 I get my chance.”

   I thought I’d stick her on the spot here a little, “Not too much politics but what would you do if you were in power right now, what is the first thing you would try to change?”

   “For me two things spring to mind. Firstly there is a law that caps rents in old properties; The Landlord and Tennants Law. That is why so many buildings are falling apart, the landlords won’t spend money on repairing buildings when they get such a small return. I’d scrap that law and ensure that these buildings get some badly needed investment while at the same time ensuring that those people who can’t afford high rents are eligible for rent relief and housing benefit. It is the responsibility of the government and would be money well spent.

   “Secondly, I’d get into urban renewal, there is so much that can be done to make Gibraltar even more beautiful than it is and the upper town is a great place to start.” “Do you have any home life?” “Oh sure I have four children, their names are Sigmund (13), Trevelayne (12), Bertolt (7) and Freddie who is 10 months old. Why do you think I care so much about the future here in Gibraltar?”

   “You are currently working in an administrative capacity as well as writing which I see is a real passion. Your play, The Civil Garrison, has been well received?” “Oh yes there has been some interest in putting the production on but like all things it takes money and until we can secure adequate funding I’m afraid the story of Gibraltar in a 3 act play will have to wait. It would be great to see it though. Although where we could find 40 actors for it is another question.”

   “Apart from getting the story of your adventure into print do you have other aspirations?” “Well I have written the first act of my new play, Miss Gibraltar which is a comedy about what would happen if a woman tried to run for Chief Minister in a legislative council.” “Similar to Gibraltar’s?”

   “Similar but not the same, in the end I can only draw on my own imagination. Other than that I hope to be able to continue my work in Gibraltar and one day be a member of Government here in whatever capacity the party wants me.” “Finally what is your biggest passion in life apart from what we have already talked about?”

   “Football. I love it, in fact I cannot wait for the World Cup to arrive and hopefully see England take the trophy. Being born in Portsmouth I am an avid fan of theirs, although I do follow Barcelona and nip up there sometimes to see a game.” “So if you ever got into Government you’d be the political equivalent of Jack Straw, a well known Blackburn Rovers fan?”

   “No Frankie never… football and politics don’t mix, football’s a team game!”