Quality and consistency – for holiday harmony

Having worked for many years in management within the manufacturing industry, John Storey speaks from experience. John, now retired, and wife Sarah, a former primary school teacher, discovered the Holiday Property Bond while on holiday as guests of Bondholder friends. “Without a doubt, the easiest way to ‘sell’ the Bond is to allow the Bond to sell itself,” John reflects. “Having had two Bond holidays with our friends we could see that the superb standards we enjoyed the first time round of accommodation, service, facilities and location were no fluke. Sarah and I thought: ‘Hmm…We’ll have some more of this!’”

Since becoming Bondholders themselves five years ago the Storeys, from North Yorkshire, have wasted no time in “maximising the return” on their investment. Overseas holidays have taken them to Stigliano in Tuscany; Constant in the Dordogne; La Reserva de Biniorella in Majorca; and Rocha Brava in the Algarve. Meanwhile UK holidays have seen them enjoying Tigh Mor Trossachs in Perthshire; Henllys in Anglesey; Langton House in Dorset; Braithwaite Court in Cumbria; Buckland Court in the Cotswolds; and Barnham Broom in Norfolk, where this photograph was taken.

Pictured with Sarah and John are the couple’s daughter, Jane, son-in-law Richard and baby Annabelle. “It’s a great opportunity for generations of the family to get together,” says Sarah, “in a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings.” “Jane hasn’t yet used our Bond to holiday independently of us,” adds John. “But our son, David, has: at Sibton Park, in Kent, and at Biniorella, and they went Points- free each time! Now that our children have children of their own – David and wife Laina also have a baby daughter, Natalia – their use is likely to increase.”

Pressed to name a favourite site, the Storeys plump for not one, but two. “In the UK, it has to be Henllys,” says John. “The views are wonderful, the facilities are great – and the onsite golf course appeals to both me and my son-in-law! Mind you, with two courses Barnham Broom offers great golf too."

Sarah, meanwhile, rates Constant very highly. “The Dordogne is beautiful anyway – the site, a fully restored French hamlet, is in such lovely countryside,” she adds. “And the site and its facilities are exceptional.”

Sites on John and Sarah’s wish list include Duloe Manor in Cornwall, and St Brides Castle in Pembrokeshire. “We love exploring the countryside, and coastlines – for which both Wales and Cornwall are famous.”

Sarah and John are both enjoying an active retirement. Both like walking, gardening, books and films – and volunteering; they both volunteer for the National Trust. John, however, has also indulged his passion for folk music – indeed, he spends much of his time writing songs and performing in Yorkshire folk clubs and has three CDs to his name. Might he be persuaded to write a song about the Holiday Property Bond? “I don’t know about that,” he smiles. “But I’m happy to sing the Bond’s praises!”