When I was a child I remember my father mentioning the Rio Tinto mining company and the Rio Tinto. To be honest I never paid too much attention but the name stuck with me.
In fact, I thought that he was talking about somewhere in South America. A few months ago Rio Tinto came up in conversation again and to my shame I discovered that the company was actually based in the province of Huelva in Spain.
It was one of those rather quirky British companies which established themselves in Spain and worked away without little fuss or publicity. The Rio Tinto mining company is now an Anglo-Australian company and one of the biggest in the world.
But Spain has a lot to thank the Rio Tinto mining company for....it was the British miners who introduced football to Spain and tennis.
In fact, Recreativo de Huelva, Spain's first professional football team was actually founded by two Scottish engineers. Spain’s first tennis court was built in Huelva as a way to keep the miners fit. Spain has a lot to thank them for and so does Rafa Nadal. jmoore@majorcadailybulletin.es