1975–1985

1975

The year 1975 was a year in which the Owners' Association faced severe financial difficulties, and when the two Spanish presidents and the Danish president, along with the chairman of Club Andalucia, held numerous meetings discussing how to resolve the problem. There was disagreement on everything – especially measures that would cost money for all period owners and thus the Spanish owners. Agreement was reached only on pursuing legal action against the two development companies, Playa Tropical S.A. and Playa Velilla S.A., to recover unpaid management fees for the apartment periods they owned.

In September 1975, Club Andalucia finally received replies to letters sent to the administrator, Manolo, concerning the finances of the owners' association, and for the first time in ages, the responses brought positive news.

It was announced that the two largest debtors, Playa Tropical S.A. and Playa Velilla S.A., who at the start of the year owed the owners' association approx. 1.5 million ptas, had now reduced their debt to approx. 750,000 ptas. This was partly because Playa Tropical S.A. had made payments against old debt and now owed "only" approx. 250,000 ptas, and partly because the owners' association, acting on behalf of Playa Velilla, had let out that company's apartments and offset the rental income against its debt to the association, thus bringing it down to approx. 500,000 ptas.

Club Andalucia's strong push in the spring to carry out debt recovery proved very effective, including several rounds of negotiations held by the club's chairman and the president of Block A with the administration, Spanish presidents and legal counsel.
As a result, the financial position of the owners' association improved sufficiently for the administration to function acceptably once again, avoiding substantial increases in management fees.

Previously, the state agency CAMPSA had ordered everyone to conserve oil, gas, petrol, and other fuels.
For Playa Tropical, this meant that the allocation of oil for heating and hot water for the period 15/10 1974 – 15/10 1975 was capped at 45,000 kg – roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of 10 Danish detached houses.

However, the administrator announced that so much fuel had been saved that there would be enough to last the rest of the year.

1976

In 1976, Club Andalucia's growth, vigilance and keen insight into affairs at Playa Tropical resulted in primary influence within the owners' association, "La Comunidad", effectively passing to the club. Through a tremendous effort, the board succeeded in having all of the club's nominated candidates elected as apartment representatives at the association's annual general meeting, whereas the Spaniards, lacking the Danes' flair for organisation, hardly had any candidates elected. A total of 83 representatives were elected, 79 of whom were club members who, if unable to attend Playa Tropical's general meetings in person, could grant proxies to Hans Gejlsbjerg and Bo Lütze – who also held the posts of president and vice-president in the owners' association – to exercise their voting rights.

(A few years later, however, the Spaniards acquired that previously lacking flair and secured the majority of representatives).

1977

In 1977, Club Andalucia had grown from a small, largely social club of 36 members into an association of 250 members. The secretariat had expanded so much that, from 1 July, it became necessary to restructure this role – previously carried out entirely without remuneration by the club's former chairman, Mr Bo Lütze – into an independent manager position receiving a very modest fee considering the workload. Under this reorganisation, it had been natural to ask the former chairman to step down from the chair to take on the role of manager, carrying on the work he was already doing.

He was now to carry out all the club's duties, apart from bookkeeping and treasury tasks, though he still needed to stay informed about them to update the board at meetings.

On 1 July, Hans Chr. Gejlsbjerg took over as chairman, and Mrs Irene Mikkelsen was hired to handle the bookkeeping and treasury role, and later also the collection of management fees and club subscriptions from members, alongside providing member services.

MilestoneThis year marked the 10th anniversary of Playa Tropical's Block A and Block B.

1979

MilestoneIn 1979 Club Andalucia was able to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

At the club's annual general meeting on 21 September, board member Mr Erik Pontoppidan was up for election. As he was in the process of selling his last period at Playa Tropical, the chairman considered it inappropriate and unsuitable for Mr Pontoppidan to be elected for a new three-year term. The other two board members could therefore not recommend his re-election. Since Mr Pontoppidan – notwithstanding this – maintained his wish to stand, a vote had to be held, as other candidates had also come forward.

In this vote, chartered engineer Preben Mikkelsen was elected as a new board member.

State-authorised public accountant Mr Vagn Henriksen was elected as alternate.

Mr Laus Jørdorf was re-elected as auditor for the club.

The club's board then consisted of:

• Hans Chr. Gejlsbjerg, Chairman
• Niels Holme
• Preben Mikkelsen
• Vagn Henriksen, Alternate

1983

In 1983 Club Andalucia's annual general meeting was held on the ninth of September at Den Gyldne Fortun in Copenhagen. No fewer than 107 attendees took part in the successful event, including invited guests: Playa Tropical's "Administrator", (Manolo), Señor Manuel Rodrigues and his wife.

Club membership subscriptions remained unchanged at kr. 85 for employed members and kr. 65 for pensioners.

Up for election was board member Niels Holme, who did not wish to continue. He was succeeded by auditor Mr Bent Johansen.

Mr Carl Lorenzen was elected as the club's auditor.

1984

MilestoneIn 1984 one of the club members, photographer Mr Kaj Grosen, took on the task of producing and editing a new club magazine for Club Andalucia . The magazine was named "Club Andalucia", and the first issue was published in April 1984.

Playa Tropical now had around 1,200 apartment owners, 60% of whom were Scandinavians, with the remainder being Spanish, British, German, French and Canadian.

During this year, all refrigerators were replaced, and work had also begun on replacing mattresses and modifying bed frames – the spring frames had become so slack in many places that we had to solve the problem by taking a couple of doors off their hinges, laying them across the frames, and placing the mattresses on top!

Yet it was wonderful being there, and at the beach's oldest restaurant, El antiguo Meson, as well as Casa Paco, Argentina Steakhouse and other beachside restaurants, you could get the menu of the day comprising three courses with wine and bread for approx. 600 ptas (approx. 3.5 €).

CurioThe chairman, Hans Gejlsbjerg, had also seen to it that the Spanish text in the menus at El Meson and Casa Paco was translated into Danish 🤭 (which could still be seen in 2010 😀).

From town past Playa Tropical, the "Paseo" is now virtually finished, boasting lovely paved footpaths and a well-asphalted roadway beautifully illuminated at night along its entire length, lined with around 100 palm trees. On the section between El Meson and just past Casa Paco, there are now two lanes separated by a wide central reservation with grass and palm trees. It looks truly splendid!

At the municipal office, one can see a model of a project funded by the municipality. The proposal aims to develop a recreational area along the paseo between town and Playa Tropical, featuring facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools, a jetty, restaurants, and more – all combined with green spaces and tropical planting.

(As is known, this project did not materialise, but was replaced by the "Vandland" water park, which still exists today).

1984 was also the year the statue of Abderaman I was unveiled and the Majuelo park opened.

On 31 August, CAD's annual general meeting was held at Pejsegården in Brønshøj, attended by 70 members.

The chairman reported that the general meeting in Spain had proceeded smoothly without any votes taking place, that few complaints had been recorded in the office's complaints book, and that growing interest in the three blocks was evident.

Presidents and administrator were all re-elected:

• H. Gejlsbjerg, President for Block A
• A. Vilén, President for Block B
• M. Urenia, President for Block C
• Manuel Fernandez Rodriguez, Administrator

A. Villén was authorised here by all presidents to act as the legal signatory for the three owners' associations – in view of upcoming legal proceedings to recover debts.

(This would later prove to be an unfortunate mandate!).

The daily charge for gas, water and electricity was increased from 200 ptas to 270 ptas (1.2 € to 1.6 €).

In addition, new management fees were approved, coming into force as of 15/12 1984.

Based on a collection exchange rate of 7, the future fees will be:

(As can be seen, CAD's "Collection and Payment Function" had much more to juggle in 1984 than in 2010, when the management fee became uniform for all fortnight periods).

Membership subscriptions for Club Andalucia remained unchanged at kr. 85, though pensioners paid only kr. 65 per year.

Preben Mikkelsen, who was up for election, was re-elected as a board member, while Vagn Henriksen and Carl Lorentzen were re-elected as alternate and auditor respectively.

1985

In 1985 it became increasingly clear that the once magnificent building complex of Playa Tropical was now showing signs of such heavy wear and tear that major maintenance work was required.

From the Danish side, pressure was applied to improve services regarding the maintenance of the apartments, both inside and out.

Furthermore, the gas installations were – at least by Danish standards – illegal and dangerous, due to, among other things, excessive pressure in the indoor gas pipes and inadequate ventilation.

Preben Mikkelsen therefore urged both the members of Club Andalucia and the office at Playa Tropical to always ensure that apartments are aired out before turning on electricity and gas.

At Club Andalucia's annual general meeting, once again held at Pejsegården in Brønshøj, nothing out of the ordinary happened other than the re-election of all board members up for election and an increase in the club membership fee to kr. 100, although pensioners could still get by with kr. 65.

Do you have memories, photos, or club magazines from 1975–1985? We would love to hear from you.