Eye on Clube Praia da Oura

London Youth Charity

In November at a dinner at St James's Palace, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was presented with, and unveiled, a bust commissioned by Jack Petchey and sculpted by Frances Segelman, one of Britain's most prolific and successful sculptors. The dinner was in aid of London Youth, a charity which Jack has supported for some years, and who wished to raise additional funds to provide young people in Greater London with "a place to grow - not simply a place to go". Jack Petchey has recently formed the Jack Petchey Foundation, to assist young people in East London and West Essex - the area where he was born and raised - and wants to "help young people to help themselves." Having become a successful businessman Jack wants to "give something back" - and who better can he assist than the budding entrepreneurs of tomorrow?
Visit the Jack Petchey Foundation website on www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk

 Calling all golfers
Coming to the Algarve but never lifted a set of golf clubs?
Well now's your chance, thanks to a new golfing initiative established by CPO. The resort now has its very own golf desk, housed in the reception of the Oura Praia Hotel and manned by Sheila Mehl, who retired to the coast from Huddersfield. Sheila, who has played both Wentworth and Gleneagles and is former club secretary a t Salgados Golf Club, says: "Golfers can get at least 10 per sent discounts by booking at the desk and we can even arrange golf lessons if they've no experience. "Sheila plans to organise a tournament every Friday at Vilamoura or Salgados if there is sufficient demand. Clients can choose from up to 25 courses o nth coast such as Pine Cliffs, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura, with discounted prices starting from around 2,800 escudos.

Tune in to Teletext
The resort has turned to TV to get its message across.
It's all there at the touch of a button, said Resort Manager Ana Maria Rosa. And she was right! Teletext is the new 'technological tool' aimed at getting more owners and guests to familiarise themselves with the resort and all its facilities. Gone are the handbooks, and in their place, tow bright and breezy channels (with soothing music of course) packed with an encyclopaedic and colourful A-Z on your favourite resort. No stone is left unturned: Menus, excursions, activities for everyone, phones, theme weeks, sales, you name it, they've got it. And as a marketing took it certainly works. The all-important channels are 5 and 6 - and if you're disorganised as yours truly you'll probably find them as exciting as Sky News and Eurosport - but definitely more informational.

Welcome, Linda!

Former Customer Care Officer Linda Thorndyke has swapped Essex for a new life in the sun, joining CPO's

Linda, who spent three years at Ilford, says she has adapted well to her new life at the resort.
"I like the friendliness here, and the views - how can you compare it to driving from Romford to Ilford in the morning," she says.
Sales staff have also welcomed her valuable expertise in good customer service. "I have settled in well, but until you try these things you don't know," she says.

Hat-trick...
Timeshare is booming - and  the staff are blooming!Yes, the staff at Exchange House are multiplying, but don't worry, it won't add to our administration costs. We recently welcomed no less than three Millennium babies - a hat-trick no less! Michelle Bickerstaff, our Accounts Clerk, gave birth to baby Connor: mother and baby are doing well. Pictured below are the two other proud mums, Deniece Connolly (a well known face from our CPO Travelshop) with baby Morgan, and Paula Mulverhill-Young from our Administration Department with baby Joseph. Paula is already back at work at our Ilford Head Office, and Deniece will be returning soon to assist you with your flights, car hire and excursion bookings.

Celeste's silver lining
Congratulations to Celeste Rosa, CPO's assistant financial manager, who recently celebrated 25 years with the company.

Honeymoon heaven

We enjoyed every minute at CPO - and it was our honeymoon!
   To be facing the sea was so romantic. We are sure we could not have asked for better all-round.
                Geoff and Sheila Whittle
                Wigan, Lancashire

Food  for thought

We used  the a la carte restaurant every night and thought that the range and quality of food  was so good.  The staff are very pleasant and polite too.  The apartment was very clean and we were delighted with it.  We may well return.
            Jane and  Philip Simms,
            Baldwins Gate, Newcastle

Exchange elation

Owning two weeks I decided on an internal exchange, which was well organised through CPO, for weeks 40 and 41. Imagine my elation on arrival to be told I was to have my own apartment 753, for both weeks. 
   Brilliant  feat of organisation - and the weather  held up as well.
             Graham  Watton,
              Fleet, Hampshire