The Algarve's most feared letter-writer Ron Lavery died on the 4th of February. Long-term resident of the Algarve, Ron loved nothing more than stirring up expats and locals alike through the always-tolerant Letters page of the Portugal News. 

Film director Michael Winner, latterly a restaurant critic and always a bon vivant, died on Monday January 21^st at the age of 77.

His wife Geraldine said he died at his London home after an illness, Winner suffered poor health in recent years including a near-fatal bacterial infection from oysters, MRSA and liver disease.