2008

Dear Oakdowners,
This letter is being penned on a beautiful Autumn day, the Park still looks wonderful, the leaves are turning golden, fruit on countless
varieties of trees and shrubs are already being enjoyed by our resident and visiting birds and the bedding plants have been replaced to
assure you all of a colourful Spring welcome.
Sidmouth was again a blaze of colour during 2011 and was thrilled to win 2 cups in the Britain in Bloom competition. The Preece Cup
for the best small town in the South West and the cup for the best seaside project, which of course included the Rhynchosaurus Sperceri
at the Triangle, which was created and is maintained by the generosity of Oakdown guests. To date, your contributions have raised more
than £4000.00, with your continued support we look forward to being able to sponsor ‘the beast’ again in 2012. Oakdown also sponsors
the beautiful flowers on the War Memorial at the Parish Church- a very apt tribute to heroes of all the wars and generations.
The ‘Hopper Bus’, which Oakdown also helps to sponsor, runs from the Donkey Sanctuary to Sidmouth and back several times daily
during the main season, many guests have enjoyed this free service, hopefully the service will be available again in 2012.
For 2012, the Spring Bank Holiday is to be on Monday 4th June with Tuesday 5th June also being a Bank Holiday. National celebrations
are being planned for these dates, as it will be the Diamond Jubilee of our Queen, only the second monarch in British history to achieve
60 years on the throne. We at Oakdown will be lighting a Jubilee Beacon on the evening of the 4th June and all guests are invited to join
us and to raise a glass to her majesty.
We are delighted to announce that Oakdown has just been awarded a Silver Award in the new ‘Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2011’ We
have also received our 16th consecutive David Bellamy Gold Award (only 8 other Parks in the UK share this distinction). David Bellamy
wrote ‘Let me congratulate the Franks family and the Oakdown Team on another well deserved Gold Award- give yourselves a pat on
the back for everything you do to help Britain’s wildlife and countryside. I was particularly pleased to hear that you have carried out
such a wonderful ‘green’ renovation on your original amenities and that Photovoltaic Panels are being installed on the roof’. Also
influenced by the refurbished amenities, the AA increased the Oakdown grading score to 91% and the Loo of the Year inspector was
most complimentary when he visited in September and again awarded Oakdown 5*.
Here at Oakdown we are constantly learning how to get closer to our goal of creating ‘the perfect holiday’. It takes time and experience,
but each year we push the limits and performance just a little further and the busy 2011 season and aspirations for 2012 and beyond are
no different.
To this end we have obtained planning permission to extend Oakdown into the area to the South of Sycamore/Maple Groves and to the
East of Oak Grove. The proposed layout will be similar to Oak Grove and will take Oakdown into the next generation of Holiday Homes
for more Private Owners to be able to purchase and enjoy having a base here in lovely East Devon. The planned layout is available on
our website. All existing boundaries, natural screening and accesses will be maintained and any noise and disruption will be kept to a
minimum when works commence.Indigenous trees and shrubs similar to those already planted on Oakdown will be established throughout.
So whatever your Oakdown Dream or perfect position for a new Holiday Home from the 2013 season onwards, please speak to one
of the Team, we will be delighted to make your dream come true- enjoy to the max!
We have two brand new Holiday Homes for sale on Oak Grove, number 36 has a 32’x12’ Victory Vermont sited and number 43 has a
42’x14’ Pemberton Park Lane Vista, both are beautiful Holiday Homes and ready to be viewed now, both are displayed on our website.
We are open to realistic offers for these Holiday Homes and so are offering them to ‘Oakdowners’ in the first instance.
Due to popular demand we are extending our seasonal touring pitches onto Beech Grove, with a height-restricting barrier being placed
at the entrance to give the same degree of security as currently enjoyed on Oakdown.
Thank you to everyone who supported or donated prizes for Trish Gitsham’s Tombola or bought an ‘Oakdown Friend’, this together has
raised an amazing £687.09 for CLICSargent . Trish has asked us to say she will be holding another Tombola on August Bank Holiday
2012, she will welcome suitable prizes and we at Oakdown are able to store such items which you may wish to donate in advance.
The enclosed tariff itemises relevant prices for 2012, which includes the 20% VAT. Our cancellation plan has been discontinued, though
any plans already accepted for 2012 will of course be honoured. We are proposing to continue to offer all guests the opportunity of
cancellation insurance by suggesting a local specialist company- Rothwell & Towler, details of which will be enclosed with receipts and
available on our website. You are strongly advised to ensure that you have this or other cover against holiday loss in unforeseen
circumstances. Any amendments to any reservations will in future be charged a £10.00 administration fee.
The Loyalty Privilege Tariff continues to be warmly appreciated, we will be offering a 2.5% discount off your account if you have
holidayed with us in 2010 or 2011 and then return to either the Touring Park, letting holiday caravans or the Cottage in 2012 (this does
not include seasonal or storage fees). As a thank you to our loyal guests, a £15 discount will be put against your next booking when we
receive a booking deposit from a friend recommended by you via our postcard enclosed. Don’t forget to put your details on the bottom
of the card so we know who you are!
We will continue to use the format of the payment of Touring fees to be the same as Holiday Home guests have experienced for many years,
that full fees will be payable 28 days before the commencement of your holiday. We believe this gives the Oakdown Team more time to
welcome you after your journey and greatly improve the transition of arrival and movement onto your pitch and so the start of your holiday.
Please keep an eye on our website www.oakdown.co.uk as it is now possible for you to book, pay deposits and balances online, the Team
will of course still be delighted to hear from you if you wish to make your reservation/payment by telephone or email. We now have a
Facebook page where we invite Oakdowners to become “Friends of Oakdown” or you can follow us on Twitter for all our latest news!
So Oakdown carries into 2012 with it’s long tradition of market leading, multi award winning, fantastic value for money and modern
facilities along with bonuses if you have holidayed with us before or introduce a friend- so as we say in our brochure- “all roads lead to
Oakdown- do come and join us!”
Jock and Karen, Steve and Glennis, Graham and Viv, Helen and Jenny join us in thanking you for the pleasure of your friendship and
goodwill during the past year. We all send you greetings and our best wishes for a New Year blessed with good health, happiness and
prosperity and very much look forward to renewing those friendships and welcoming you to Oakdown again in 2012.
Yours very sincerely, Roger, Doreen, Alastair & Andrianna Franks