I am pleased to announce that this year’s visit to Pete’s Place is arranged for the usual Thursday. In case you don’t know, Pete’s Place is 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.

This is not a commercial event and all rides are totally free. Pete, the owner, provides all this completely 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. All monies will be collected at the gate.

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. Donations, cash or cheque payable to the Air Ambulance, will be collected at the gate. But remember; this is not a commercial enterprise; Pete makes no money from it at all and all proceeds go to Air Ambulance. Get there in the morning around 11:00 to 11:30 and stay all day, bring a picnic and use the barbeques that are freely available. Tea and coffee is available free of charge, and locally produced ice cream can be purchased. It’s a day out you will remember – I promise.

Following the successful visit to Batsford Arboretum during the autumn of 2021 the club are arranging a summer visit this year during July. The actual day of the visit has yet to be decided but is likely to be on a Friday in early July. The plan is to meet up at around 11 a.m. to tour the garden then have lunch on the terrace of their restaurant. After lunch there is plenty of time to visit the garden centre and shop.

The club has booked two 10-person self-drive day boats (“Charlie” and “Dolly”) for a day trip along the canals. We may stop for a picnic at the side of the canal, or continue moving, depending on people’s choice; one boat might stop and the other continue.

This is a rerun of last year’s trip, except this time we plan to go in the opposite direction up the flight of locks and back. That means that if you want, you can take a turn on the windlass, though not compulsory.

The day boats have both outside and indoor-if-wet seating, plus toilet, cooker, fridge and crockery; bring your own food and drink. We’ll supply some milk and coffee powder.

Sadly the boats are not suitable neither for pets nor wheelchairs, and access is probably limited for the disabled; if you wish to come, and this might apply to you, please contact us first so we can check with the hire company.

Price will be between £10 and £18 per person depending on the number of bookings. We are strictly limited to 20 people, 10 on each boat. Given the success of last year’s event, I expect the event will be well-attended, so the price will be nearer £10 than £18,

We will depart at about 9:30 am; if you want to drive or work the locks, be sure to be at the wharf by 9:00 am for a 30 minute mandatory driving lesson.

Parking is limited; I believe we have 6 places reserved for us, so if you can arrange to share a car it will help.

Anglo-Welsh’s website: www.anglowelsh.co.uk/our-boats/canal-boat-day-hire/

Please complete the attached booking form and send it by email to ibmmidret.money@gmail.com, and I will provide details of how to pay on receipt, or send it with your cheque for deposit to Paul Gover, 131 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, OX17 2PW.

Word document     Printable Booking Form

Refer to the document Event Booking Conditions for Terms and Conditions.

It transpired that the Gloucester Warwickshire Steam Railway were fully booked for all the Fish and Chip “Cheltenam Fryer” trips this year. We are now investigating a possible group trip on the GWSR in September, with time for a meal at one end or the other.