14 “If we resist our passions, it is more because of their weakness than because of their strength” François Duc de La Rochefoucauld Qu<strong>in</strong>ta <strong>Properties</strong> 15
16 my idea of paradise When Jimmy Tarbuck is not busy enterta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g audiences <strong>in</strong> the UK, there’s just one place he wants <strong>to</strong> be: Qu<strong>in</strong>ta do Lago. It’s a dark, dismal December day <strong>in</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong> when we talk, <strong>and</strong> veteran enterta<strong>in</strong>er Jimmy Tarbuck is already plann<strong>in</strong>g his next stay <strong>in</strong> Qu<strong>in</strong>ta do Lago. “It’s absolutely delightful there <strong>in</strong> the w<strong>in</strong>ter,” he says, “m<strong>in</strong>d you, it’s very nice <strong>in</strong> the summer <strong>to</strong>o. But with my work I only really get the chance <strong>to</strong> be there for a few months each w<strong>in</strong>ter, usually January <strong>and</strong> February. On w<strong>in</strong>ter nights you can sit <strong>in</strong> front of a log fire <strong>and</strong>, <strong>in</strong> the day, out on the golf course, it can be warm enough <strong>to</strong> go round <strong>in</strong> shorts.” Be<strong>in</strong>g Jimmy Tarbuck, it’s never long before the conversation gets round <strong>to</strong> his favourite pastime. Jimmy has played with many of the world’s greatest players along the way, as well as a huge number of celebrity golfers – the experiences form the staple of a lot of his st<strong>and</strong>-up material <strong>and</strong> his book ‘Tarbuck on Golf’. But he’s no mean player himself, play<strong>in</strong>g off a very respectable 10 h<strong>and</strong>icap; <strong>and</strong> the course he most loves? “It’s got <strong>to</strong> be San Larenzo. It’s fabulous.” And if not golf, then it’s football that animates Jimmy. Famous for his support for Liverpool, he was <strong>in</strong> Portugal <strong>to</strong> relish the 2005 European Cup F<strong>in</strong>al. “What a second half. That was the biggest comeback s<strong>in</strong>ce S<strong>in</strong>atra,” he quips. “<strong>The</strong>re’s some good football there,” he says. “Although Faro are not a lead<strong>in</strong>g club at present, Estádio do Algarve (the new 30,000-seat stadium between Faro <strong>and</strong> Loulé) is a great place <strong>to</strong> watch a match. I got <strong>to</strong> see Engl<strong>and</strong> play Portugal there <strong>in</strong> September when Figo won his 100 th cap.” “It’s absolutely delightful there <strong>in</strong> the w<strong>in</strong>ter ...m<strong>in</strong>d you, it’s very nice <strong>in</strong> the summer <strong>to</strong>o.” Jimmy has made his w<strong>in</strong>ter home here for 15 years now <strong>and</strong> relishes every day. He has always been busy professionally s<strong>in</strong>ce he first broke on<strong>to</strong> the scene some 40 years ago, but the last couple of years have seen his workload <strong>in</strong>crease even further: “I seem <strong>to</strong> have had a real renaissance,” he says, “<strong>and</strong> that can make it difficult <strong>to</strong> get away.” Between his TV, corporate <strong>and</strong> theatre commitments (he is just com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the end of a punish<strong>in</strong>g 44-night <strong>to</strong>ur with his show ‘This is My Life’) Jimmy also manages <strong>to</strong> fit <strong>in</strong> a very busy schedule of charity events. Famous for his work with the Variety Club, he also dedicates a lot of time <strong>to</strong> his role as President of Diabetes UK. But even when he’s lapp<strong>in</strong>g up the w<strong>in</strong>ter sun <strong>in</strong> Qu<strong>in</strong>ta do Lago, he’s still often work<strong>in</strong>g for a good cause. “I’m a supporter of the local children’s home, Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, run by a man who deserves a knighthood – no, a sa<strong>in</strong>thood – Dr Vilas Boas. It’s one of the f<strong>in</strong>est homes <strong>in</strong> the world for children at risk. <strong>The</strong> children there are just beautiful kids.” <strong>The</strong> 67 full-time <strong>and</strong> 45 volunteer staff there give the children a family <strong>and</strong> a future, <strong>and</strong> Jimmy regularly helps <strong>to</strong> raise much needed funds. “It’s easy <strong>to</strong> see why so many people want <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong> the Algarve,” he says. “It’s not just beautiful <strong>and</strong> easy <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong>, the people are so warm <strong>to</strong>o. All I can say is that if you are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> buy<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>property</strong> there, the team at Qu<strong>in</strong>ta <strong>Properties</strong> are the people <strong>to</strong> speak <strong>to</strong> – they are terrific.” Qu<strong>in</strong>ta <strong>Properties</strong> 17
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