IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
January 2009 Newsletter
Editorial
101 members and guests attended our Christmas lunch at Princethorpe. We were in the new marquee just down from the main building which worked well as there was plenty of circulating space for people to mingle; the only down side to this was that the car park had not been completed as had been promised so conditions were not ideal from that point of view. A big "thank you" to Ken Hope for all his hard work.
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Quite a lot happening on the events front this month - for your convenience I have put a brief summary of what's on offer as the first item after this editorial and also updated the 2009 Diary - link at end of Newsletter. In particular, please note the arrangements for the AGM so that all runs smoothly.
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Alan Bridgman has given me the dates for the next three meetings of the PC Club. Please follow the link at the end of this Newsletter for further details.
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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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Update on 2009 Events
24/01/09 Burns Night Supper Bookings closed
22/02/09 Spring Lunch Still open for bookings
05/03/09 Day Trip to Greenwich Announcement and Booking Form in this Newsletter
16/03/09 Annual General Meeting Announcement in this Newsletter
23-27/04/09 Holland for the Dutch Flower Festival Still open for bookings
8-11/05/09 Rambling Trip to Torquay Still open for bookings but note that no single rooms available
21-25/09/09 Trip to Northern Ireland Announcement and Booking Form in this Newsletter
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Spring Lunch (with a Theatrical Flavour) on Sunday 22 February 2009 at the Shakespeare Hotel, Chapel St, Stratford
(organiser Ken Hope)
This year our speaker will be Brenda Leedham who was Head of the Wigs and Make-up Department of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for 30 years. Brenda has many interesting and amusing tales to tell of the techinques she used and the actors on whom they were used.
The cost will be £18 per member and first guest and this includes a welcome drink (drinks at the table are at your own cost).
The welcome drinks will be served from 11.30 am and the talk will start at 12.00 noon, before lunch. The meal will be served from around 1.15 pm.
Menu Choices
Please complete the booking form with your choices for each course using the identifiers on the menu - I suggest you also mark it on the menu and bring it with you!
Car Parking
The hotel is in the centre of Stratford upon Avon on Chapel Street. Street parking is charged for, even on a Sunday,. except for Stratford District residents. Town Car Park charges are high . Please car share if possible. I have some reserved off-street free spaces in the area and will allocate them after you make your booking, about a week before the event. Please complete the booking form as appropriate.
Numbers are limited so please complete the booking form and return it to me as soon as possible. Any places not booked by 7th February will be available for second guests at £25.00 per person.
Ken Hope, 12 High Street, Barford, CV35 8BU. Telephone:- 01926 624203 Email:- kenhope@barford.org.uk
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Day Trip to Greenwich - Thursday 5th March 2009 (Organisers: Alan Bridgman and Roger Goodman)
We will have an early start from IBM Warwick at 8:00am, travel to central London and then embark on one of the Thames cruise boats to arrive in Greenwich by river, as so many famous people have done before us. After having got your bearings in Greenwich, we will meet up for lunch at the historic Trafalgar Tavern, overlooking the river and frequented by Charles Dickens. You will then have the rest of the afternoon to explore the many museums and tourist attractions in the area. We will meet up with the coach in Greenwich at about 5:00pm to travel back to Warwick. Estimated return time will be 8:00 - 8:30pm.
GREENWICH is designated as a World Heritage Site and its many attractions include the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, The Royal Observatory, the Prime Meridian and the Peter Harrison Planetarium, The Fan Museum, the Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College, the Wernher Collection in the Ranger's House, and Greenwich Market.
Most of the attractions lie within the 180-acre Greenwich Park, which is London's oldest Royal Park with some of the best panoramic views of London and the River Thames from its highest point. Museums are mostly free, but some museums and specific exhibitions make a charge.
If the above does not wet your appetite, you could catch the Docklands Light Railway at the nearby Cutty Sark Station and visit the Isle of Dogs, the Museum in Docklands, or Canary Wharf. And if you really want to be adventurous you can walk under the Thames in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel (1217 feet in length) to Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs, where you can also catch the Docklands Light Railway.
Unfortunately the Cutty Sark is still under wraps and won't be open to the public until 2010.
The cost of the trip is £25 per member and 1st guest; £37.50 for 2nd guests. This cost includes coach and boat services and lunch. Numbers are limited so it is advised to book early. We will provide a more detailed information pack before the trip so that you can plan your day.
Alan Bridgman Email: abri@waitrose.com Telephone: 01789 267134
Roger Goodman Email: ladevie@dsl.pipex.com Telephone: 01789 731518
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 16TH MARCH 2009
Our AGM meeting is booked for Monday 16th March at IBM Warwick. We have the Warwick Room booked but everyone MUST check in with Reception against a list I will provide to them.
To ensure everything runs smoothly, allow time for sign-in at Reception and contact Carole Robertson Club Secretary , email carole.robertson@talktalk.net or telephone 0121 704 9677 if you are planning to attend and secondly, if you are joining us for refreshments after the meeting at the Falcon Inn, Birmingham Road, Hatton.
We would very much welcome any member who would like to join us on the Committee and likewise let Carole know if you are interested.
Agenda
10.30 - coffee/tea [outside Warwick Room]
11.00 Welcome by Chairman
Review and approve 2008 minutes
Matters arising
Chairman's Report
Election of Committee
AOB
REFRESHMENTS AT THE FALCON INN, BIRMINGHAM ROAD, HATTON
The 2008 AGM minutes are available on-line [use the link at the end of this Newsletter] otherwise hard copies are available from Carole Robertson.
Carole Robertson - Club Secretary, IBM RETIREES CLUB MIDLANDS
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IBM Rambling Group Weekend Trip - Friday 8th to Monday 11th May 2009 (organiser Gordon Jones)
Location/Hotel: Torquay, Bishops Court Hotel, 3*.
Board: Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal.
Cost: £165 per person before club discount which is not yet determined. Please note that all the single rooms have been taken up.
We require a minimum of 30 persons to run the trip and a £50 per person deposit is required by Macphersons coaches. The hotel may be viewed on the internet at www.bishopscourthotel.co.uk
To book please fill in the booking form and return it to me a.s.a.p.. Please note that if you are a member of the Rambling Club, then cheques should be made out to "IBM Rambling Club", retirees who are NOT members of the Rambling Club should make their cheques payable to "IBM Retirees Club Midlands".
Gordon Jones
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Trip to Northern Ireland - Monday 21st September to Friday 25th September 2009
(Organisers - Alan Bridgman and Dave Compton)
Northern Ireland, now that the 'troubles' are over (an English euphemism if ever I heard one!) has become a very popular tourist destination but without the infrastructure to support it. So, organizing this trip has been an interesting challenge.
The tour will take in some of the finest marine scenery in Europe and also include a guided tour of the handsome city of Belfast, including the new Titanic Quarter which you may have seen featured in a recent BBC Antiques Roadshow. Our accommodation for the main part of the trip is the excellent 4-star Stormont Hotel, overlooking the landscaped gardens of Stormont Castle.
Brief Itinerary
Monday From IBM Warwick to the port of Holyhead in time for the afternoon ferry crossing to Dublin. Overnight accommodation in the Regency Hotel on the outskirts of Dublin.
Tuesday Travel along the shoreline of Carlingford Lough to Newcastle where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. Free time, before continuing to Belfast.
Wednesday Guided Belfast City tour in the morning. Free time to explore the city in the afternoon.
Thursday A drive around the nine Glens of Antrim, following the coast road to the mighty Giant's Causeway. It may be possible to arrange a tour and a tasting at Bushmills distillery if enough people are interested.
Friday Belfast port for the morning crossing of the High Speed Service to Stranraer (2 hours duration). Then a drive back to Warwick with refreshment stops on the way.
The cost will be approximately £320 per person for members and first guests. The cost for second guests will be approximately £400 per person.
The cost includes 4 nights' hotel accommodation plus dinner, bed and breakfast. Executive coach plus driver throughout. 2 ferry crossings. Morning guided tour of Belfast. Excursions as described.
For the tour to be viable we need a minimum of 25 people. The maximum number is 42.
Alan Bridgman Email: abri@waitrose.com Telephone: 01789-267134
Dave Compton Email: dave@compton-family.eu Telephone: 01295-770355
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Click on the links below for specific information. Links to booking forms are from the event announcement.
2009 Diary General Notes About Events AGM Minutes Committee Contacts
Membership Information Newsletter Archives Newsletter Production