IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
August 2006 Newsletter
Editorial
As noted in the July Newsletter, your Committee are having their annual planning meeting at the end of August. There is still time to make your views know - please send your comments and suggestions to our Chairman, Ray Castle, by phone on 01789-751228 or by email at ray@boxacre.freeserve.co.uk .
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Our overseas trip to Alsace in mid-July was thoroughly enjoyed by all attendees. Apart from a couple of showers, the weather was excellent, which made the various outings that much more pleasant. The hotel was very good, so all in all a good trip. Our thanks to John Smith for all his organisation and a particular 'thank you' to Simon Barratt for all his hard work 'on the ground' in Alsace.
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The publication of this Newsletter occurs at the same time as our visit to the Shrewsbury Flower Show - there's a lot to the Show than flowers, I suspect. We will keep our fingers crossed weatherwise.
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Those of you who went on this year's Rambling event will know that there was a photographic competition. Gordon Jones tells me that the winner was Brian Dunston. Congratualtions to him.
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Later in this Newsletter, you will find an announcement and booking form for our trip to the Hook Norton Brewery, followed by lunch at the rather interestingly named 'The Gate Hangs High' - sounds like something out of a Clint Eastwood film! I have included detailed directions so you shouldn't get lost.
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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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Tyntesfield - National Trust. Tuesday 12th September 2006 (Organiser - Ray Castle)
There are still a couple of seats available on this trip so don't delay and get your booking form to the organiser as soon as possible and in any case by 25th August please. Itinerary is as follows:-
We will leave IBM Warwick at 9.00am and with a comfort break en-route plan to be at The Walton Park Hotel, Clevedon, for lunch by mid-day. Our allocated arrival time at Tyntesfield is 1.45pm, so will have ample time to explore the hotel's cliff top gardens and enjoy a leisurely buffet lunch with dessert. The main bar will be open for us but the cost of drinks is not included in the price of this special package. We will depart for our return journey at 5pm and hope to be back in Warwick around 7.30pm.
The cost for the day is £16.50 per person, members and first guests only. National Trust Members have free access to the house, chapel and garden, so, PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS WITH YOU ON THE DAY. The additional cost of entry for non-members will be £9.00. Do not send this with your booking; this will be collected from you on arrival on the day.
If you have any problems on the day which may delay your arrival at the departure point, the phone contact for Ray Castle is 07970 663353.
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Visit to Hook Norton Brewery Friday 27th October 2006 (organiser Simon Barratt)
We are visiting this well-known brewery during the morning and this will be followed by lunch at The Gate Hangs High. Please assemble at the brewery no later then 10:15 as we are booked on a tour which will take in the processes we will no doubt have an opportunity to check out the product at some point.
As an appendix to this newsletter, you will find directions to/from the brewery and our lunch venue.
Lunch at The Gate Hangs High:
To start, choose from:- Soup OR Pate
To follow, choose from:- Chicken with Lemon Butter OR Steak and (Hooky) Ale Pie
Puddings from the Board at extra cost
Coffee £1.30 extra
Please indicate your preferences for the two courses on the booking form and submit £10 each for Member and First Guest by 9 September 2006.
Simon Barratt Telephone:- 01608 661996 with any queries.
Any problems on the day, ring Simon on 07837 051289
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Rioja Trip to Spain, 8 - 15 October 2006 (organiser Rick Paslawski)
The club trip to Rioja is fast approaching and the balance outstanding is due before the end of August. Please complete the booking form with the amount due as per the list below and also include your car registration and insurance details.
The basic cost of the trip is £380 per person leaving an outstanding balance of £340, so will those couples who have not requested a cabin upgrade please send cheque to the organiser for £340 per head, ie. £680 per couple.
For couples who have requested a 4-berth inside cabin (Eysenck, Templeton, Tovey) the balance due is £735.
For those with a 4-berth outside cabin (Compton, Fabianski) the outstanding amount is £765.
For those with club cabins (Bradshaw, Johnson, King, Paslawski, Simmonds, Wild) the requested amount is £790.
Any queries to Rick:- Telephone 0121 705 7719 or email rickpaslawski@tesco.net
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Gordon Jones, our Membership Secretary, maintains the membership database so if you change your e-mail address or any other personal details - address, telephone number, etc. - please note that Gordon is the only person who can action changes. He can be contacted by e-mail at gordon_jones@lineone.net or telephone 01455-556192.
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Newsletter Links
Links to Booking Forms by individual events
Click here to see 2006 Diary Click here for Committee Contact List
Click here for General Notes About Events Click here for 2006 AGM Minutes
Click here for Archived Newsletters Click here for Membership Information
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