IBM RETIREES CLUB (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
Links to Booking Forms by individual events
Click here to see 2005 Diary
Click here for Committee Contact List Click here for 2005 AGM Minutes
Click here for Archived Newsletters Click here for Membership Information
April 2005 Newsletter
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Editorial
Stratford Races was attended by 25 members and guests, most of whom enjoyed the excellent lunch and some, including your editor (just for once!), managed to end up a little ahead on the day. Thanks to Barry.
The AGM was well attended with 46 members, most of whom met up at the Falcon Inn afterwards for lunch. Apart from the usual AGM business, we had a most interesting presentation from Barbara Clarke (Chair of the South Hants Retirees Club); they run quite a different operation, partly due to the small geographical area, but she threw up some ideas that we may well take on board. Your Committee is already in discussions on some of the points raised by Barbara (and also from our own members) and you will see some output in the "General Notes about Events" section of this Newsletter. Thanks to Carole for her organisation.
You will find the announcement and a booking form later in this Newsletter for our day out to the Jazz Festival at Upton-on-Severn; an ever-popular event. Also, there is some further information on the Rhine in Flames trip which will be of interest to attendees.
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If any of your personal details change - address, telephone number, e-mail addresses, etc. - please note that the only person who can action changes is our Membership Secretary, Gordon Jones. Gordon can be contacted by e-mail at gordon_jones@lineone.net or telephone 01455-556192.
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Brian Wilson, Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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General Notes about Events
Acknowledgement of Booking Forms
Members have made comments that they do not receive any acknowledgement from
an event organiser that their booking form has been received and they therefore
don't know whether they are included on the event.
Whilst there have not been, as far as we are aware, any problems in the past, your committee have looked at possible solutions and have decided that booking forms will be modified to give the option of requesting an acknowledgement. This will be done either by e-mail to the member or by the member including a SAE with the booking form.
Form E111
Most members will be aware of the "Certificate of Entitlement to Benefits
In Kind During a stay in another Member State", otherwise know as Form E111.
This was superceded during 2004 by an interim form E111 which you should
obtain from a Post Office prior to going overseas. This interim form
contains an application for the new European Health Insurance Card which
will be the only valid document after 31st December 2005, superceding the
E111.
Car Parking At IBM Warwick
Many of our events start from IBM Warwick and members will see words such
as "coach will depart from the top car park at........". Just to clarify
this for newer members, "top car park" refers to the first car park on the
left when you enter the site from the Birmingham Road entrance. You
may be asked on the booking form for your car registration number - this
is sometimes required by Security and will be indicated on booking forms
as necessary.
Event Contact
There may be occasions when a member gets delayed when in transit to an event
and this could of course cause problems. For appropriate events, we
will publicise the mobile telephone of the organiser who can be contacted
on the day if any problems do arise.
Brian Wilson
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Rambling Weekend 29th April - 2nd May 2005
The coach will leave the top car park at IBM Warwick at 08.00 on Friday 29th April.
All those attending should have had a note either by email or by post giving an outline plan for the weekend. Would anyone who has not received this note please contact Gordon Jones on 01455 556192.
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Bass Museum and Sudbury Hall 19th May 2005 (organiser - Brian Wilson)
There is still time to book for this event so if you haven't already done so, get your booking form to the organiser as soon as possible. Details appeared in the March Newsletter.
You can travel by coach or, depending on where you live, you might find it more convenient to use your own transport. Either way, don't miss what promises to be an enjoyable day out.
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Upton Jazz Festival - Saturday 25th June (organiser John Stanley - 01386 49938)
Whatever your taste in jazz, you are likely to find what you are looking for at the Oliver Cromwell Jazz Festival on the banks of the River Severn at Upton between Worcester and Tewkesbury. From Trad to Modern, Dixieland to Big Band, the range is vast and of very high quality. If you have been with us in the past, you can repeat a great experience, if you are new to such festivals it really is a great place to start with a wonderful atmosphere. Further information can be found at www.uptonjazz.co.uk .
As in previous years, we have arranged a 2-course lunch at the White Lion Hotel in the High Street where you can meet up with old friends and of course make new ones. The lunch is optional but is highly recommended. If you don't join the lunch, there are lots of places to eat and drink and the pubs are open all day. Meet at the White Lion from 12 onwards for lunch at 1. Please note that your organiser will be unable to attend due to other committments but the lunch will be hosted by Brian Chilver who is no stranger to Upton Jazz Festival.
Your Jazz Day Ticket for the Saturday will allow you to attend any event at any venue. Music starts at 9.00 am and ends around midnight. Around the big marquees on Fish Meadow there will be the usual range of stalls for added interest, sustenance and shopping.
The cost this year for members and first guests is £26.50 for Jazz Day ticket + lunch or £14 for Jazz Day ticket only - the cost for further guests will be £44 or £20 respectively.
Don't forget to enclose a SAE with your cheque and booking form so that the organiser can send your tickets to you.
Great value for a great day out!!
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Rhine in Flames -11th - 16th August 2005 (organiser - John Smith 01384- 860882)
It's been so long since this holiday was announced, we thought it time to give an update.
First a list of confirmed places followed by the waiting list (each member has a 1st guest)
Coach places
J.Smith, D.Dagley, T.Mansell, P.Hay, V.Hay, D.Gregory, R.Tye, B.Wilson, R.Barber,
K.Hope,R.Taylor, B.Cook, R.Paslawski, B.Hall, C.Tudge, M.Brett, R.Castle,
J.Westlake, A.Botherway, A.Blunt, S.Barratt
Waiting list
J.Milton, B.Tovey, D.Dickson, C.Johnson, J.Stanley, J.Doxey
There will be a form in the May newsletter to pay the balance and provide some details of your travel insurance and car registration (if parking at IBM Warwick)
I have just received the final itinerary from Group Travel. There are some changes to the one detailed previously in the Newsletter which should add to the value of the holiday.
Thursday
8.00am departure from IBM Warwick to Dover for P&O Ferries crossing to
Calais, followed by the short journey to Lille. Overnight stay at the Novotel
Lille Centre for D.B.B.
Friday
After breakfast, travel on to the Belgian Ardennes. We stop at the town of
Dinant, overlooked by limestone cliffs, for lunch. We continue on to Alenahr
to stay for the following 3 nights in the Hotel Zur post for D.B.B.
Saturday
This is the highlight of the tour and one of the changes. We will now have
a day cruise of the Main and Rhine, starting at Manneheim before joining
the procession to the Rhine in Flames ending at Koblenz. The coach will then
return us to our hotel in Altenahr.
Sunday
After all the travelling, we thought you might need a rest, so the morning
is free in Altenahr. In the afternoon there will be a short outing in the
Ahr Valley countryside. At some time during the day we hope to arrange a
tasting of the special German red wines
Monday
Depart after breakfast for the short journey to the Dutch town of Valkenburg
for the late morning and early afternoon. This will give you a chance to
visit the secret Grotto, take a chair lift ride or just browse around the
charming town. After lunch we will continue on to Ypres for our last night
stay at the centrally sited Novotel Ypres. Dinner will be served early so
that we will have an opportunity to visit the Menin Gate for the moving Last
Post ceremony in memory of the fallen in World War 1 Tuesday We continue,
after breakfast, on our return to Calais, calling in at a local hypermarket
before catching the early afternoon crossing to Dover. Traffic permitting.
We will arrive back at IBM Warwick approx 8.00pm
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