Known to so many simply as “Joe”, José Manuel Teixeira Gomes Pearce de Azevedo, OBE – 35 years Honorary British Consul to the Algarve and the man The Times newspaper dubbed ‘Mr Tourism’ for his sterling efforts to promote the region in the 70s – has died, aged 83.
The grandson of Portimão’s claim-to-fame Manuel Teixeira Gomes – the seventh President of the Portuguese Republic – “Joe” played a pivotal role in the early days of the Algarve, very much bridging the cultural gap between the Portuguese and the British.
Apart from his consular work, Dr Azevedo was the region’s first tourism chief, head of the local ports authority, a founder member of afpop (the association of foreign property owners in the Algarve), vice-president of the Anglo-British Society in London and a long-time member of the Royal British Club in Lisbon.
According to his friend of many years, veteran journalist Len Port, “Joe’s” favourite motto was “may the hinges of friendship never rust”.
“Joe” died on Monday afternoon (January 20) at Portimão Hospital. His coffin will be placed in the chapel of the Igreja do Colégio in Portimão at 4.30 this afternoon (Tuesday). The funeral will be in the same church at 3pm tomorrow (Wednesday).
For the full tribute story, see this week’s Algarve Resident, out on Thursday.
