Sir Jack Petchey founded Clube Praia da Oura in Albufeira
AHETA, the association of Algarve hotels and tourist establishments, has lamented the death of Sir Jack Petchey, a British businessman and philanthropist best known in the Algarve as the founder of Clube Praia da Oura in Albufeira.
“Sir Jack Petchey was a businessman in the Algarve and the founder of Clube Praia da Oura, among other significant investments he made in the region,” AHETA says in a statement sent out to newsrooms this Wednesday morning.
“Subsequently, he went on to create a foundation in his own name, which is still active today, although now under the name Prime Skills, always with the goal to help young students in the business sector. The Algarve, and Albufeira in particular, owe it a great deal, maintaining collaboration protocols, especially with the municipal councils of Albufeira, Loulé, and Silves, which, in addition to the foundation itself, are the main funding entities of the project,” the association adds.
Sir Jack Petchey also was a keen supporter of AHETA, having helped the association purchase equipment for its auditorium and “other spaces intended for training” when it was faced with financial difficulties at the end of the construction of its headquarters building. “A bust of Sir Jack Petchey, commemorating his deep involvement in the associative area, is present in the auditorium,” the association says.
“As his earthly presence comes to an end, AHETA expresses profound sorrow for the irreparable loss and extends heartfelt condolences to all his family and friends,” it adds.
Sir Jack Petchey died on Thursday, June 27 at the age of 98 in his home in East London, the Jack Petchey Foundation announced last week.
“From humble beginnings, Sir Jack was born in 1925 to poor working-class parents in Plaistow, East London and grew up in Manor Park. Despite leaving school at the age of 13 with no qualifications, he had already begun to demonstrate some entrepreneurial skills in working for the local greengrocer at the top of Goldsmith Avenue,” the foundation said.
Speaking of his achievements in the Algarve, the foundation said Clube Praia da Oura “became one of the most popular mixed-use leisure developments in Europe; he took much pride in visiting every month and driving its success. He supported a local orphanage, Pirilampos, and later introduced a charitable foundation in the Algarve“.
In 2004, Sir Jack was awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty The Queen, for services to young people, the foundation points out. In 2011 he was further honoured as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen’s representative, Sir David Brewer, at a presentation attended by hundreds of young people and youth leaders in Kensington Halls. In 2016, he was knighted in recognition of his charitable work.
He was also made an Honorary Freeman of the City of London, Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Newham, Honorary Fellow of the Universities of East London and Queen Mary College London, given an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Essex, made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Dance, Honorary Commodore, Sea Cadets, Honorary Vice President of Table Tennis England and Patron of UEL’s Entrepreneurship Society, the foundation adds.
He is survived by his wife Lady Frances Petchey, his daughters Jackie, Susan and Amanda and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
