IBM RETIREES CLUB (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
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Click here to see 2005 Diary
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January 2005 Newsletter
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Editorial
Happy New Year to all members and their families!! Your Committee hope you will find event(s) to interest you in the 2005 programme and a list can be found by clicking "2005 Diary" at the head of this newsletter or by referring to the blue programme card. Please note one change to the list - we were intending to run a trip to Bulmers at Hereford in October but they have apparently been taken over and trips are no longer possible; Rick is investigating the possibility of another event related to cider but details will be published when known.
The Christmas lunch was a resounding success with no less than 116 attendees - almost a record. Many thanks to Tony and Gordon for all their hard work.
The New Year is getting off to a good start with the meal at the Emperors Chinese Restaurant in Leamington which is almost fully booked at the time of writing. It looks as though our speaker at the Sunday lunch at Ryton Organic Gardens on February 20th should have a good audience as bookings are coming in well; there is still room so get your booking form to Anne as soon as possible - click HERE if you need a form. Don't forget Stratford Races on 14th March - details further in this Newsletter.
Please note that the rambling weekend is now fully booked and no further bookings can be taken.
I did say in the last Newsletter that I would be issuing a booking form for the AGM and pub lunch but have deferred this to the February Newsletter. This is because we want to have a location which does a good meal, is close to Warwick and has good car parking.
You will have seen the initial announcement in the November 2004 Newsletter of the trip to Northumberland and details appear later in this Newsletter together with a booking form. There is also a booking form for the trip to Germany, details of which also appeared in the November 2004 Newsletter. Demand for places on these trips is likely to be heavy so get your booking forms to the organisers as soon as possible.
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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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Stratford Races - Monday 14 March (Irish Day) (organiser Barry Wiggins)
After a beak of a couple of years we are again running a day at Stratford National Hunt races (voted best small racecourse in England). Those who have come in the past will need no reminder of the excellent facilities and exciting racing, not to mention the chance to recover your costs from the bookies
This is Stratford's regular prelude to the National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham so there is plenty of buzz even if Best Mate is unlikely to be running!
We will be in the members (Club) enclosure with access to bars, restaurant and undercover seating. There is an option for a pre-racing 3-course lunch in the Paddock restaurant.
Lunch will be at 12.30, racing starts at 2.00pm
Please see the booking form for prices and booking arrangements and note that you should book ASAP and not later than 14 February.
Barry Wiggins: 24 Southbank Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1LA
Phone: 01926-854580 E-mail BWiggins@southbank.freeserve.co.uk
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Trip to Northumberland & Alnwick Castle & Gardens 3-6 June 2005 (organiser Tony Mancell)
The advanced notice of the trip is so you can make an early decision on this trip, as the hotel bookings need to be firmed up by the end of January.
Provisional Itinerary
Friday 3rd June Depart from IBM Warwick (time to be confirmed) and travel to Durham, with time to purchase lunch and visit the Cathedral and the town. Travel on to Hexham, late afternoon, check in to Hotel, dinner included.
Saturday After breakfast, travel to Alnwick Castle and Gardens. The Gardens have the Grand Cascade of water as its dramatic centrepiece. Four water displays are synchronised by computer to provide the ½ hourly displays. Beyond the Cascade are the Ornamental Gardens and Rose Garden. Along with a Woodland Walk, we can also spend time in the Giant Treehouse (adult size fun!) or lose yourself in the Labyrinth. A guided tour of the Alnwick Gardens is included to start us off!
Entrance to Alnwick Castle is included in the trip and Alnwick town centre is only a few minutes walk away. The Castle was built to protect England from the Scottish armies and today is voted one of the finest castles in Britain. It features in several recent films, Harry Potter, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Elizabeth have used the Castle.
Sunday After breakfast we will make our way North along the coast, visiting Seahouses, Bamburgh and then heading inland towards Gragside House (NT). This House and its Gardens are set on a rocky crag high above Debdon Burn and was the home of Lord Armstrong, the Victorian inventor and landscape genius. Lunch will be available here.
It is intended that anyone wishing to visit Newcastle could be dropped of at the railway station enroute.
Monday 6th June Straight after breakfast we will travel south to the Beamish Museum. This open air museum shows us life at the turn of the century and is well worth the visit.
Leaving the Beamish Museum we travel back to IBM Warwick for early evening.
Hotel Best Western Beaumont Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland
3 night's half-board, all rooms en-suite
Cost Member and 1st guest £195.00; travel insurance is recommended and is available via us at £7 per head; please add this amount to your deposit.
We now need deposits of £30 per head. Please returm your booking form to the organiser by 31st January please as we have to confirm the number of rooms required and pay a deposit. The remainder of the cost (i.e. £165 per head) will be requested later.
Tony Mancell 01926-613313 e-mail tony.mancell@btinternet.com
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Rhine in Flames 11-16 August 2005 (organiser John Smith)
Bookings are now being taken for the 2005 European coach holiday. The total cost will be £255 per head for members and first guests. We are now asking for deposits of £75 per person and this should be included with the attached booking form. The cheques will not be cashed until we have a confirmed booking for the Riverboat tickets.
Intially bookings will only be accepted for members and 1st guest.
Everyone must have travel insurance; details of this will be requested when we ask for your final payment.
N.B. Bookings are accepted in order of receipt in the post. This IBM event is normally overbooked. So if you want a seat get your booking in quickly.
John Smith 01384-860882 email john@quarrybonk.freeserve.co.uk
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