May 2021 Newsletter

Now that lockdown is virtually over, we are able at last to arrange another visit to Pete’s Place in August; see below for details.

The Rambling Group is planning the first walk of the year for Thursday 10th June. If you would like to join this walk please see the information below. New members are welcome to join without fee.

We received some great entries for the Spring photo competition; see below for the results.

Again with the prospect of the end of lockdown, we are looking at possible venues for a Christmas lunch and hope to be able to make an announcement soon, so look out for it in a future newsletter.

Michael Fabianski, Newsletter Editor. E-mail: ibmmidretnews@gmail.com

Spring photo competition

Thank you all for your entries to this competition which has been judged by the club’s committee.

The winner is Suzanne Bradshaw who receives the prize of a bottle of wine.
Second place was taken by Michael Fabianski and third by David Lees.

All the entries may be viewed using this link.

Click on the images below to see higher resolution versions.

1. Suzanne Bradshaw

2. Michael Fabianski

3. David Lees

The following is the status of those events which have been announced.

E2108SLA: Wednesday 18 August Summer Lunch and Cruise. See March newsletter.
E2108PPL: Thursday 26 August Pete’s Place. See below.
E2108PPL: Thursday 26 August Batsford Arboretum. Detaikls to follow.

Booking Conditions. Click here to read the terms and conditions. Members should also be aware of Public Liability Insurance provided by the Club.

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

E2108PPL: Pete’s Place Thursday 26 August 2021 (Organiser Gary Wooding)

Now that lockdown is virtually over, I am pleased to announce that we are able at last to arrange another visit to Pete’s Place, a beautiful 20 acre private park with a lake, a small wood, and a ride-on miniature railway. There is an “African Queen” type of steam boat giving rides around the lake in which there is a small island. The miniature railway which surrounds the lake and circles the wood is almost a mile long and is considered to be one of the finest private ones in the country. There is ample free parking for all cars.

All rides are totally free. Pete, the owner, provides all this totally free of charge; all the Retirees Club asks is that you make a donation of £10 per car to Pete’s favourite charity — the Air Ambulance.

Please ensure that you include your car’s registration number on the booking form.

This event is not restricted to Retiree Club members — tell your friends and the rest of your family, get as many people as you like in your car, it’s still only £10 per car.

Get there in the morning after about 11:30 and stay all day, bring a picnic and use the barbeques that are freely available. It’s a day out you will remember — I promise. The grand children will love it.

Pete’s Place

Pete’s place is just outside Pailton, near Monk’s Kirby. The actual address is…

Fairfield House
Coventry Road
Pailton
Rugby
CV23 0QA

SatNav co-ordinates 52deg,26min,04.99 sec N, 1deg,19min,13.48sec W

The entrance is not overly visible; here are two views from opposite directions…

Pete’s Place entrance

Here is a map…

Pete’s Place entrance

So that we can get an idea of the number of attendees, please send a booking form, either by post or email, to Gary Wooding:

64 Binswood Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV32 5RY
Email: binswood@gmail.com, Telephone: 01926 425485 or 07807 676866

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

Go to Booking Form (or Word document).

Sub-Groups of Retirees Club and Employee Club

IBM Retirees Rambling Group

The first walk of the year is planned for Thursday 10th June. If you would like to take part, it will help if you can answer the following questions.

What is your preferred distance (min & max)?
Will you want lunch?

Depending upon answers the walks almost certainly will be around Napton with lunch at The Folly. The inn has just re-opened and has lots of “outside” seating, much of which is under cover.

Please contact Terry King, terryaking@hotmail.com for the latest information.

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IBM Retirees Technology Group

The IBM Tech Club meets using the Zoom video conferencing platform at 11.00 on the third Friday of each month. The club is a place where you can talk to IBM folk about matters technical. For example, help or advice on buying or using computers, smart phones,touch pads; engineering, electronics, wifi, bluetooth, cryptography, bitcoin, using computers to making movies, songs or musical works, best software, streaming, the internet, photography, diy, and anything else about the modern world you would like to understand better.

Apart from the technical discussion we try to have a talk by a club member at each meeting. This depends very much on members volunteering to prepare and show something they are interested in.

At 11 o’clock on the day of the meeting click on the link below. It should take you straight into the meeting.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88338135221?pwd=eFYyUTdKZjRUSlR4V0RqZmFYMmlCQT09

If you need help with Zoom contact John Rickman (rickman@argonet.co.uk) in good time before the meeting.