June 2007 Newsletter

IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)

(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)

June 2007 Newsletter

Editorial

Our trip to the Isle of Man was judged to have been a great success by all who attended. The ferry wasn't the best we've ever travelled on but the sea was calm in both directions. Full marks to our driver, Clive, who was able to organise visits to pretty well most of the places of interest (even if we couldn't see anything when we got there due to the mist!). "Well done" to John for organising this one.

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This month we have our Summer Lunch at the "Gate Hangs High" in Hook Norton. We have had a good take up and so should prove a lively event, helped I am sure by our after-lunch speaker.

Two new events are announced this month. Firstly, you will find details of a visit to Lille for the Christmas markets, together with a booking form if you wish to go. Lille is always worth a visit and the market at Christmas time adds that extra interest.

Secondly, Phil Dalton has been busy organising possible train trips - see the announcement later in this Newsletter. For anyone wishing to go I would recommend contacting Phil at the earliest opportunity as these trips tend to sell out quite quickly - meals on a train are quite an experience and Vintage Trains do it very well.

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Some of you will no doubt be aware that we have been having trouble with our email file. I have included a piece later in this Newsletter which I hope will go some way to explain matters. If you have any queries, please drop me an email.

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Brian Wilson, Newsletter Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com

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Denby Pottery and Kedleston Hall - 11th July 2007 (organiser - Brian Wilson)

At the time of writing, there are places for three couples on this trip (more if you are using your own transport). If you would like to go, there is still time to book - the main announcement appeared in the May newsletter but just to remind you......................

Firstly we go to the Denby Pottery, where we are booked in for a Craftroom tour lasting about one hour and which introduces the various aspects of the manufacture of the pottery. There will be an opportunity to look round the Visitor Centre where you will find the Denby and Dartington Crystal Factory shops, garden centre, gift shop and other establishments, together with Bourne's Restaurant where we are booked in for a two course lunch.

After lunch, we take the short drive to the impressive National Trust property at Kedleston Hall where there will be free time to view the house and extensive grounds.

The costs for this trip will be £15 for members and first guest to include coach travel from IBM Warwick, the Craftroom tour and the two-course lunch in Bourne's restaurant. Entrance to Kedleston Hall is free for members of the National Trust, £8 for non-members. Some members will find it more convenient to make their own way to Denby and Kedleston Hall, in which case the cost will be £8.00.

If you are a National trust member, don't forget your membership card.

Any problems on the day, ring the organiser on 0771 969 6312.

- Go to Booking Form

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Visit to Ffestiniog Railway and Area - 10th to 13th August 2007

Organiser:- Simon Barratt 01608 661996 07837 051 289

There are still a few places left on this trip. Details appeared in the May Newsletter so if you would like to go on what should be a most interesting weekend, please return booking form to organiser as soon as possible.

- Go to Booking Form

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Trip to the Loire Valley 22 - 26 September 2007 (organiser Alan Palmer)

We have not had sufficient demand to go ahead with the September trip to the Chateaux of the Loire so sadly we have had to cancel. We feel that it was probably announced after many of you had already made plans for September breaks.

As we are thinking of running a similar trip next year, any comments would be appreciated. The Committee's annual planning meeting will take place in August and an indication of interest from members would be helpful.

Please email Alan Palmer on aandapalmer@tiscali.co.uk with your comments.

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Train Trip from Birmingham Railway Museum (organiser Phil Dalton)

The IBM Midlands Retirees Club committee is considering adding a new item to the agenda for 2007. The item is a trip on a Vintage Train tours starting from the Birmingham Railway Museum, with all bar one tour involving steam haulage. All tours will be in Pullman class which includes a Full English breakfast and a traditional 3 course roast dinner. Although fares are not yet finalised, the not to exceed fare for members and first guests are shown below

As a result of all required tickets having to be purchased upfront it is requested that any members interested in the tour that will be selected show an expression of interest by sending an e-mail as such to Phil Dalton at phil_dalton@btinternet.com as soon as possible but by Tuesday June 26th at the latest. This will ensure that the correct number of tickets are purchased - not too many, not too few. You can phone on 07918 131 503 but please use email for your reply if at all possible.

Details of tours in the sequence from which one will be selected for obtaining tickets :-

1. Saturday 29th September - Nene Valley Railway 40's Weekend - Steam Hauled by 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" .

Travelling through Rutland, Stamford and Peterborough, the train will run onto the Nene Valley Railway via Fletton Junction and Longueville Junction and then steam along to Wansford, the headquarters of the railway, where they will be holding a nostalgic '40's weekend. You are invited to dress in 1940's style, although ration cards will not be required!

Route: Tyseley (Warwick Road (Birmingham Railway Museum)), Nuneaton, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough, Wansford.

Fare including return journey on the Nene Valley Railway: £74

2. Saturday 13th October - Lakes Explorer - Diesel and Steam

To the Lake District alighting at Ulverston for a coach transfer to Haverthwaite and a steam hauled journey on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, followed by a cruise on Lake Windermere. This tour will be diesel hauled between Birmingham and Carnforth in each direction and by former LMS steam locomotive 48151 on the Carnforth-Ulverston-Carnforth section.

Route: Tyseley (Warwick Road (Birmingham Railway Museum)), Birmingham New Street, Sandwell & Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe, Preston, Lancaster, Carnforth, Ulverston, Millom, Ravenglass

Fares: including Lakeside & Hatherthwaite Railway and Windermere Cruise £94.

3. Saturday 6th October - Waverley Paddle Steamer Cruise - Diesel Hauled (preserved Class 50)

Waverley - the last sea going Paddle Steamer in the world! Join the historic ship on an afternoon cruise from Southend and along the River Thames passing the Flood Barrier and Millennium Dome before steaming through Tower Bridge.

Route: Tyseley (Warwick Road (Birmingham Railway Museum)), Nuneaton, Narborough, Market Harborough, Kettering, Luton, Barking to Southend Central.Train returns from West Hampstead Thameslink and then routes back to Luton to return as outward.

Note: This tour involves quite a bit of walking at both Southend and on arrival at London Tower Pier. You must be reasonably fit.

Fare: (which includes Southend Pier Railway, London Blackfriars to West Hampstead Thameslink and the Waverley Cruise £94.

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Eurostar to Lille Xmas Market 7 - 10 December 2007 (organiser John Smith)

Lille is the fourth largest city in France - wonderful restaurants, museums, art galleries and shops. During December the main square contains a fair ground including a Big Wheel. The surrounding streets contain over 60 wooden sheds selling all kinds of Xmas treats

We are visiting Lille for a 4 day break travelling from London by Eurostar

Day 1

Included train travel from Warwick to London Marylebone, transfer to St Pancras to board the 12.40 Eurostar, arriving in Lille 15.29.

Taxi from the station to the Holiday Inn Express in the centre of Lille

Day 2/3

Two full days to visit the Xmas market, etc.

On Sunday there is the largest flea market in France in the Waszeems area

Day 4

Return to London on afternoon Eurostar

The hotel is the 3 star Express by Holiday Inn. All rooms have T.V, telephone and tea/coffee facilities.

Included meals 3 Breakfasts

Cost £220 per member and 1st guest

The number of places on this break are restricted. We will need to pay the deposit of £50 each person by June 30th. So if you would like to go send your cheque and booking form ASAP. Places allocated on receipt at organisers adddress .

Organiser John Smith, 105 Thorns Avenue, Quarry Bank, West Midlands DY5 2XW.

- Go to Booking Form

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Email Distribution List

As some of you will know, we have been having trouble with our email distribution list. The list is "locked out" meaning that emails can be sent to the distribution list but it is not possible to update the list in any way. The effect is that the list is becoming seriously out of date.

Perhaps a brief word of explanation is in order. A company called Yahoo operates a service called 'Yahoogroups". An individual may set up a group, which must have a unique name, and any interested party may join, subject to the approval of the "moderator" of the group. In our case the name of the group is "retireesmidclub" and the moderator is the Membership Secretary. So instead of sending out individual emails to our membership, an email adressed to the group ID will be sent to all members who are registered with Yahoogroups and have also registered their email address.

A solution is being actively worked on and details will be published a soon as possible.

It is also worth reminding members that there is no relationship between the email list and the Newsletter web site. You can look at the web site at any time and the latest edition of the Newsletter will be found around mid-month. The email distribution list merely serves to tell members that the latest edition is availble on our web site. If anymember would like further explanation, please give me a call.

Brian Wilson

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Future Events

Phil Dalton is organising a day out on a train, including meals, in late September or early October and John Smith has a trip to Lille for the Christmas market from 7-10 December. See the announcements about these earlier in this Newsletter.

It's 'Prepare the 2008 Programme' time in August when the Committee have their annual planning meeting. We would like you to tell us about any places or events that you think would be enjoyed by others so we can consider them for the programme. Please contact any committee member (see Committee Contact List) as soon as possible.

And don't forget that any member can organise an event under the auspices of a Committee member (who will do all the boring bits) so you might like to think about that for 2008. This has worked very successfully in the past.

Brian Wilson

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Newsletter Links

Click on the links below for specific information. Links to booking forms are from the event announcement.