By Kelly Trico

In 1975 the legend that is Charles Trico opened a bar in Gibraltar called the “Hole In T’ Wall.”

It was and has always been the Royal Navy's number one drinking establishment. Almost without exception every member of the Royal Navy for the last 40 years has been wasted in this bar as it was said in Navy circles that if you hadn’t been to the “Hole In T’ Wall”, you hadn’t been to Gibraltar.

The ceilings were covered with crests, pennants, flags and random things gifted to the bar by the seamen themselves.  For the past few months these have all been auctioned including the iconic sign which hung outside the entrance.

Last Friday and Saturday the bar sadly opened for one of the last weekends and Royal Navy Veteran Steve Ron Greenwood organised a final farewell to mark the end of an era by inviting all who had ever visited the bar to come and bid farewell.

Many took the opportunity to fly to Gibraltar for this auspicious occasion, for one last run ashore at "Charlie's".

The response was unbelievable as a mob of 250 ex-Royal Navy personnel, from all over the world descended on the pub for the last time to pay their respects to their friend Charles Trico whom they call “Gibraltar’s Queen”.

On both nights the bar was full to the point that people were flooding out onto the Calle Comedia.  The members of the Royal Navy thanked Charles for his many years of service to them by organising a lunch at the Mess. He was presented with a plaque of the Rock of Gibraltar from the members of the Warrant Officers’ and Senior Rates Mess in Gibraltar.

T-shirts were also sold on EBay just like the ones Charles had sold many moons ago and were worn by many over the weekend.  

Charles was also known to make the best JCs in the world and hundreds were made during these two nights. After the celebrations, Charles finally gave away the secret recipe so that all can continue enjoying this drink.

Charles would like to tell all those friends of his all over the world that even though the bar will no longer open after the 27th January, if they ever do come into Gibraltar they can contact him and he will meet up with them again.

Kelly Trico is Charles Trico’s niece. She is pictured below preparing the famous JC mix! 

{fcomment}