The British Ambassador to Spain Denise Holt made her first trip to Malaga province last week on an official visit.

Accompanied by British Consul Bruce McIntyre, Ms Holt held talks with Spanish authorities in Malaga before visiting the city’s famous English cemetery and the Cudeca Hospice in nearby Benalmadena.

The ambassador was particularly impressed with the cemetery, which was built in 1831 by the then British Consul in Malaga, southern Spanish newspaper Sur reports.

Describing the cemetery as a “wonderful historic site”, Ms Holt visited the graves of several famous former Malaga residents, including the writer Gerald Brenan, whom she called “a great hero of mine”.

The cemetery was run by the British Consulate until recently, when it was handed over to a specially-created foundation containing members of the local British, Spanish and German communities.

Brenan’s former home in Malaga is to be turned into a museum commemorating his life and the “romantic travellers” of Spain, Typically Spanish reported recently.