IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)  

                                  (www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)

 

December 2012 Newsletter 

Editorial 

Twenty four intrepid travellers flew to Budapest for the Christmas Markets.  There were a couple of problems down to the tour company but this was compensated by a good hotel and the enjoyable Christmas atmosphere.  Many thanks to Alan Bridgman for all his efforts in organising this.

This year seems to have sped by and I write this having attended the last 2012 event - the Christmas Lunch, as always a good opportunity to catch up with friends and ex-colleagues.  From what I saw, everybody enjoyed themselves - even the sprouts were OK!  Our thanks to Mike Fabianski for all his efforts.

Those who attended the lunch will have received a card detailing the events planned for 2013 - if you weren't at the lunch, click the link in the 'Events' section to see the list which I am sure you will find of interest.  There are announcements and booking forms for four events later in this Newsletter.

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This will be my last Newsletter as Editor - after nearly ten years it seemed about time to hand over the reins to a fresh face.  That face is Mike Fabianski who I am sure is more than competent to keep you all informed about various Retiree activities.  It has been a most enjoyable time and I have had excellent support from the Committee and other members who have provided input - thanks to you all.  

Merry Christmas and  a Happy New Year to all members and their families.   

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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. E-mail: ibmmidretnews@gmail.com

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Events 

Click here to see the list of the events which are planned for the current year.  The following is the status of those which have been announced. 

  

Booking Conditions  Click here to read the terms and conditions.

Photographs from Past Events  Click here to view a selection of photographs from past events.

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Chairman's Notes

Here I am once again anticipating the final event of 2012 - our Christmas lunch. When I was running my own business after I retired from IBM I wasn't able to attend many of the events that the IBM Retirees Club was running. The one exception was the Christmas lunch when I knew that I would be able to meet up with so many of my past IBM friends and colleagues. And this event still seems to serve the same purpose today, so I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible next week. My thanks to Michael Fabianski for organising the lunch.

Now you probably don't realise that this is an historic edition of the Club's Newsletter! Our Editor, Brian Wilson, has been editing and distributing this document on a monthly basis to keep all of us informed for the past 10 years. A tremendous achievement. But a few months ago Brian told us that he wished to stand down as Editor. So I would like to thank Brian, on behalf of the Committee and all the members, for his hard work. This therefore is the last Newsletter that will be edited by Brian; Michael Fabianski has kindly volunteered to take over Brian's role in 2013.

The plans for next year's events are well advanced and we hope to distribute the provisional programme at the Christmas lunch as usual.

May I wish you and all your families a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

Alan Bridgman

Chairman, IBM Midlands Retirees Club

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A Tapas Meal at the renowned Catalan Restaurant in Warwick - 23rd January 2013  Organiser - Alan Bridgman

Join us for a casual dining experience at the Catalan Restaurant ("the best tapas this side of Barcelona since 2004") in the centre of Warwick on Wednesday 23rd January. We will have exclusive use of their restaurant for the evening. The menu will include a choice of 10 tapas, which, I am told, will be brought to the table in three "waves". There will be sufficient of each dish for everyone to enjoy. The price of the meal will include the tapas, wine, dessert and tea/coffee.

Cost: £18.50 per member and first guest; £23.50 per second guest. There is a limit of 25 guests, so please book early.

Time: 7:00pm for 7:30pm. There will be a cash bar open for anyone who wants a drink before the meal.

Location: Catalan Restaurant, 6 Jury Street, Warwick CV34 4EW. Telephone: 01926-498930

If you wish to look at the website of the restaurant please use this link: www.cafecatalan.com .

- Go to Booking Form

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Spring Lunch with Speaker from Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance - 24th February 2013

(Organiser Brian Wilson)

We are continuing the 'Helicopter' theme this year with a guest speaker from Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service.  This promises to be a most interesting and informative talk; the setting will be Kenilworth Golf Club at 12:30 for 1:15.

The post code of Kenilworth Golf Club is CV8 2EA - for anyone unsure of how to get there I will provide directions nearer the time.  Please send me your booking forms by 31st January so that I can finalise arrangements with the Golf Club.

The price for this event, including lunch with welcome drink and wine, will be £19 for member/first guest.  We may be able to accommodate second guests at £30 each but I will waitlist them initially.

Please make your menu choices from the following:-

Starter

Main Course

  All main courses served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes

Dessert

To finish - Coffee/Tea with Mint Crisps

Brian Wilson      

- Go to Booking Form

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4 Days in the Lakes (Keswick) - Friday,10th to Monday, 13th May 2013 inclusive

(Organisers: Barry Wiggins and Alan Bridgman)

For the combined rambling and sightseeing trip in 2013 we are planning to spend a few days in Keswick in the Lake District. This will continue our recent series of successful combined trips to the Isle of Purbeck, Forest of Bowland and the Isle of Wight.

The trip is from Friday 10th May to Monday 13th May 2013 ( 3 nights), returning to a long weekend format which some prefer to the mid week arrangement.We are booked into the Keswick Country House Hotel, which we have used before and some members have returned to independently. The hotel is just outside the town (easy walk) and was originally the Station Hotel when trains went through Keswick. It is a very comfortable hotel with an excellent restaurant and is set in its own parkland - go to website: www.thekeswickhotel.co.uk .

This trip we are again using the services of Group Travel Limited. There will be the usual full programme of sightseeing trips and coach tours put together by Alan (suggestions always welcome) alongside many suggestions and details for walks in a spectacular area of the northern lakes. Full details of the programme will be available well before the trip.

The full cost of this trip will be £250 for members and first guest and £315 for second guests. The cost includes coach travel to and from IBM Warwick, 3 nights dinner, bed & breakfast, and the services of the Group Travel tour driver.

Please respond promptly if you are interested in this trip

Alan Bridgman, Sightseeing Organiser

Barry Wiggins, Rambling Organiser

- Go to Booking Form

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Paris, Versailles and Monet’s Garden – Friday 20th to Tuesday 24th September 2013 (inclusive) (Organiser Dave Compton)

Chic, romantic, charming, elegant and beautiful perfectly describes this vibrant city that never fails to enchant and surprise you and it is plain to see why so many people return year after year. The allure of Paris is never likely to fade, and our visit to this glamorous city is arranged to show you the unique atmosphere and as much of the city as possible in the time you have.

Preliminary details of this 5-day trip to the Paris area in September to include:

· 4 nights bed & buffet breakfast at the 4-star Millennium Hotel Paris Charles de Gaulle, which has an excellent location. This modern hotel is situated just north of Paris and effortlessly combines a convenient location with a unique sense of style and character, modern amenities, a heated swimming pool and a fitness centre. All bedrooms are well equipped with satellite TV, air-conditioning, safe, tea & coffee making facilities and direct dial telephone.

· 3-course set Dinner on the first night.

· Full day tour of the Palace of Versailles

· Morning visit to Monet’s Garden.

· Evening Coach tour of Paris.

· Optional sight-seeing visits.

· Free time to explore further.

· Return coach travel from Warwick with a possible shopping stop on the way back.

Due to a number of trade events in the Paris area, we need to get hotel rooms booked for this trip as soon as possible. We are asking, therefore, for expressions of interest backed by a £50 per person deposit. If you require insurance, please also add £35 pp at this stage. In the unlikely event of there being insufficient interest to make the trip viable, these deposits will be returned. Full costs will be in the region of £400-450 per person for member and first guest. Second guest at approximately £500-550 per person, plus insurance where required.

Please send booking form and cheque to:-

Dave Compton, Ashby House, Northend, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 2TN.

Telephone:- 01295 770355, Email: dave@compton-family.eu

and this will be acknowledged by email unless an SAE is enclosed.

Refer to the document Event Booking Conditions for terms and conditions.

- Go to Booking Form

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Announcements and Advertisments

Campaign to Protect Rural England

CPRE are organising a photographic competition.  If you fancy showing off your skills and perhaps winning a prize, please see the competition details. 

Alan Palmer Membership Secretary CPRE Warwickshire

-  Go to Competition details

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Sub-Groups of  IBM Club and Retirees Club

IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group (founded by Harry Green)

The IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group meets every alternate month for a lively discussion on PC and technology topics in the digital age. There are usually one or two specific presentations given by members or by outside speakers, which the members of the Group have requested. We try to provide a reasonable balance between PC "techie" topics, new technology, and topics of a more general nature such as digital television, Internet telephony and digital photography . So whether you are a newcomer to the PC or a more experienced user, we hope you will find something of interest. You are very welcome to join us.

Contacts:-   Roger Goodman  email:- ladevie@dsl.pipex.com           Alan Bridgman   email:-  abri@waitrose.com

- Go to meeting dates and other information

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IBM Midlands Golf Society

IBM Retirees and spouses/partners are eligible to play, the events being subsidised by IBM.  

Please contact one of the undersigned with any queries.

Contacts:-     Graham Seal  email:- gaseal@sky.com           Michael Davies   email:- enosmd@ntlworld.com                

- Go to Fixture List and contacts

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Click on the links below for specific information.  Links to booking forms are from the event announcement. 

                

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