Upton Jazz Festival Saturday June 29th (Organiser David Dagley)

Upton Jazz Festival this year will be held in the actual town; June 28th - June 30th; we will provide tickets for the Saturday and it will be a ‘do it yourself’ day.

This year the events will be held in venues throughout the town; no information is yet available as to which band is playing where. A list of the venues can be found here.

Checking with the event organisers, I’ve been told that information about ‘who’s playing where’ won’t be available untill June 1st (when the actual programme goes on sale). I’ll let you know as soon after that when I get the programme (although you are encouraged nevertheless to purchase a programme for yourselves on the day..in support of the event). A list of bands can be found here.

Although no formal lunch has been planned anyone interested in meeting up for a casual drink then I suggest The White Lion - I’ll be there (crowds permitting!) around 1.30pm.

Coach Trip to the Tatton Park RHS Flower Show - Thursday 25 July 2013 (Organiser Barry Wiggins)

Founded in 1999 as the “Chelsea of the North”, the show is held in the grounds of the National Trust estate The North’s greatest garden party has lots of fresh ideas for visitors who enjoy growing their own fruit and veg. See them at the Great British Allotment area, or if ornamental plants are more your thing, head to the Floral Marquee to find a huge choice from some of the UK’s top nurseries.

Tatton Park Flower Show is well known for its competitions and innovations in gardens and design.

Don’t miss our Galaxy Gardens, which look set to create some fascinating show gardens designs.

The cost of this excellent day out will be in the range £25.00 to £35.00 for members and first guests, depending on final numbers. Further guests will be £43.00. To reserve a place please complete the booking form and mail it, with a deposit of £20.00 per person (payable to ‘IBM Retirees Club Midlands’), to enable group tickets to be purchased, to:

Barry Wiggins, 24 Southbank Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1LA

Acknowledgement will be sent by email or post (SAE required).

Paris, Versailles and Monet’s Garden - Friday 20th to Tuesday 24th September 2013 (inclusive) (Organiser Dave Compton)

I am delighted to report that we now have sufficient numbers for this trip to go ahead. However, there are spare places on the coach, so if you know anybody (first and second guests) who would still like to join us then please let Dave Compton know as soon as possible. (NB: this would be subject to hotel room availability).

The final cost will be in line with previous estimates (see December newsletter).

Dave Compton - Tel: 01295 770355 , Email: dave@compton-family.eu

Westonbirt The National Arboretum - Sunday 13th October 2013 (Organiser Carole Robertson)

Westonbirt the National Arboretum, Tetbury,south Cotswolds, is one of the most magical and important tree gardens in the world. 17 miles of paths to explore, 16,000 trees and shrubs — some of the oldest, rarest and largest of their kind in the UK.

A coach from/to IBM Warwick to the Arboretum with a professional guide for a walk around this National treasure — all this for £23 per head for members and first guest and £29 for second guests.

I have requested a Guide for our tour and will confirm departure time from Warwick when I have a firm slot booked. I will purchase concession entrance tickets in advance and hand these out on the coach. The plan is to travel to Westonbirt and give us all enough time to have some refreshments before we start our tour. There is a choice of Café or Restaurant at Westonbirt [this cost not included in ticket price.].

Coach trip and day out at Abbey-Cwm Hir (‘A palace in Radnorshire’) on Wednesday November 20th 2013 (Organiser Peter Barnes)

The owners have spent significant time and energy in creating a magnificent Christmas collection. The owner Victoria Humpherson has made the statement that this is the only property in the UK to have all 52 rooms decorated with Christmas trees and to individual themes; for example, 2011 had a Victorian theme and 2012 had a Gothic theme.

(You can obtain more detailed information from the website: abbeycwmhir.com)

The coach will leave IBM Warwick at 8am, with a comfort stop in Leominster and stopping for a sumptuous lunch at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. We are then taken to Abbey-Cwm-Hir, where we will all be expected to take off our shoes to protect the carpets and flooring, so you will need to take your slippers with you.

After the tour we will increase the tension by holding a “best decorated slipper” competion complete with prizes being given to the two couples with the best decorated slippers in the opinions of the judges (my wife and myself).

We will then be offered coffee or tea and a mince pie before we begin our journey home with a planned arrival in Warwick at about 8pm.

For planning purposes, the cost will be approximately £40 per member and first guest, depending upon numbers attending. The price for additional guests is estimated to be £47.

The meal at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells will be a delicious two course meal, with Christmas crackers and your choices from those shown below: