IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
August 2010 Newsletter
Editorial
Our narrow boat trip on the Birmingham Canal system was very successful - weather was just right and the meal excellent. Sadly, four members had to cancel at the last minute which meant we couldn't offer their places but the 19 members and guests enjoyed the interesting contrasts of old and new whilst enjoying the meal; it was also interesting to note how people use the canals for leisure activities - running, walking the dog, cycling and (in one case) a rather complicated exercise routine. Many thanks to Peter Barnes for a well organised evening out.
The status of current events is as follows:-
22 August - Sunday Lunch on the Shakespeare Express. Details and booking form in July Newsletter.
25 September - Visit to Shuttleworth Collection. Details and booking form in July Newsletter.
21 October - Day Trip to Lincoln. Details and booking form in July Newsletter. Please note that deadline has been extended to mid-September,
26 October - Visit to Bletchley Park. Announcement and booking form in this Newsletter. Please note the change of date.
24-29 October - Rioja Trip. Details in July Newsletter.
11 November - Skittles at Snitterfield. Details to be announced later.
28 November - Birmingham Military Tattoo. Announcement and booking form in this Newsletter
You will note two new events - Bletchley Park and Birmingham Tattoo. These will be popular so return your booking form(s) to the organiser(s) as soon as possible; inparticular, there is a very tight lead time for the Tattoo and you must return your form and payment by August 25th.
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After my announcement last month about providing space in the Newsletter for members' advertisements, I have received not one advert but two. You will these at the end of the Newsletter in the section entitled - imaginatively enough - "Members' Advertisements". I have included an abbreviated version of the conditions at the beginning of the section to act as a reminder.
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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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IBM Midland Retirees Club and IBM PC & Technology Club
Trip to Bletchley Park on Tuesday 26th October 2010 (organisers: Roger Goodman / Brian Wilson)
It is three years since we last visited Bletchley Park (18th October 2007) and much has happened to this remarkable venue since then. It is now the location for the National Museum of Computing; it has received support from IBM and HP; it has received two grants from English Heritage for the preservation of its buildings; but the last Government refused to support Bletchley Park in any form! So they still urgently need the support of us, the public.
We can do no more than repeat the announcement of the Bletchley Park trip in 2007, which was the best attended of all the IBM Midlands Retirees trips that year. On the booking form we are asking if you would prefer to go by coach, or independently by car – if there are enough takers for a coach we will try to put one on.
Bletchley Park is renowned for the WWII Enigma code breaking project. This work led directly to the development of early computers. After tea/coffee and biscuits and a short introductory talk by your guide, the first part of the tour, which lasts approximately one hour, takes place in the grounds and visitors will discover what went on at each of the key locations, including the famous wooden code-breaking huts.
The second part of the tour, which continues after an included sandwich buffet lunch, will include a visit to the rebuild of Colossus , the world's first semi-programmable computer (to which The British Computer Society made a donation of £75,000 to help keep Colossus operational), the Churchill Collection and Block B which you can explore at your leisure. You will also have the opportunity to browse in the shop for that all important memento of your visit before being escorted by your guide back to the Mansion for refreshments before departure.
If you are travelling independently, please follow the directions on the Bletchley Park web site to the Mansion. Tell Bletchley Park security that you are with the IBM Retirees party, and they will direct you to the car park. From there Bletchley Park Customer Service directs us to the meeting room where we meet our guide. We will be served coffee and biscuits at 10:30 in time for the start of the tour at 11:00 and the day is planned to finish at 16:00. Please aim to arrive no later than 10:20, which will give time to park and walk across to the Mansion.
The Bletchley Park website http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk gives more details of what is available.
Brian Wilson Telephone:- 01926 777710 Email brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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IBM MIDLANDS RETIREE EVENT - BIRMINGHAM MILITARY TATTOO (organiser Peter Barnes)
To be held at the NIA 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 28th November - Members £13:00 and first guests, second guests £19:00
Whether you prefer Massed Marching bands, exhilarating displays or the splendour of the Grand Finale there is something for everyone at the Birmingham Tattoo at the NIA.
Massed Bands
The band of the Kings Division
The band of the Royal Irish Regiment (TA) and the pipes & Drums of the Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
The band of the Polish Guard#The Royal Netherlands Army Reserve band
The Royal Swedish Navy Cadet band
Exhilarating Displays
Combined Cadet Force 150 year commemorative Display
Royal Air Force Drill Display team
Royal Air Force Cosford Queens Colour
The Inter Service Field Gun competition
Racing Dogs 'flyball' competition
The Lone Piper
UK Disco Display Team
Birmingham Tattoo town crier
Parade of Standards and Grand Finale
Come on, let your hair down and enjoy something slightly different!!!!
In order to get tickets for the event, I need firm bookings by 25th August.
Peter Barnes email:- l-barnes3@sky.com
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Members' Advertisements
If you wish to submit an item for this section, the following guidelines must be observed:-
Only IBM Retiree Club members may submit material and it must be on their own behalf and not for friends or relatives.
IBM personnel number must be included.
There is a 50 word maximum on members' submisions.
The Editor will decide whether an advertisement is suitable for inclusion; if not, the member will be given the reason for rejection.
The Editor may have to reject an advertisement for space reasons - some months have quite a lot of Club business to include.
Whilst some advertisements are obviously suitable (e.g. holiday accommodation which members own, charitable fund-raising events), others may not be appropriate. Please check with Editor if in doubt.
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Tea and Cakes in the Hills
Why not spend a pleasant Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August, walking the Burton Dassett Hills and call in at All Saints Church to take tea and homemade cakes from 2pm until 5pm. All Saints Burton Dassett dates back to the 12th Century and has recently been renovated to restore the medieval wall paintings. It is situated just off the B4100 between Gaydon and Warmington.
Contact Dave Compton for further details (dave@compton-family.eu – 01295 770355).
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Boom and Bust in Roman Purbeck
There will be a Symposium on the Bucknowle Romano-British Villa in Dorset County Museum, Dorchester on Saturday 2nd October 2010. The title is "Boom and Bust in Roman Purbeck - a villa economy and its portable antiquities in a wider context". The price of a ticket for senior citizens is £10 (£20 - full price). The symposium starts at 10:30am and finishes at 5:00pm.
Tickets can be obtained from Alan Bridgman, Friends of Bucknowle - abri@waitrose.com or telephone 01789-267134.
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Click on the links below for specific information. Links to booking forms are from the event announcement.
2010 Diary General Notes about Events Photographs from Past Events
IBM Midlands Retiree Club Constitution
Committee Contacts AGM Minutes
Newsletter Archives Newsletter Production
PC and Technology Group (Founded by Harry Green)
IBM Pensions Trust IBM Alumni Programme
IBM Rewards Programme IBM Employee Purchase Programme