IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)  

                                  (www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)

 

October 2011 Newsletter 

Editorial 

Many thanks to Phil for organising the day out to Longleat (who could forget the Marquess of Bath's artistic efforts!) and to Simon/Tony for organising a most enjoyable trip to Alsace.

Full details of our ever popular skittles evening appear in this Newsletter - we have to limit numbers for this one, partly because of the need to allow everybody to have a turn at demonstrating their bowling skill!  

Don't forget our Christmas Lunch - with prices creeping up all the time this must be something of a bargain.  

Dave Compton may have a couple of spaces for the Turkish meal if you are quick - the restaurant must have the final numbers by 17th October - so telephone or email Dave asap; I am repeating the announcement in this Newsletter for your convenience.

We try not to announce events for the following year too soon but in some cases we have to do this.  You will already be aware of the trip planned for Arras in April, details for which are in this Newsletter and I am also pleased to say that our member Mike Davies has come up with an interesting three night/four day trip to Cardiff; further details later but get the dates in your diary - 24-27th July 2012.   

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 Events Status

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

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Event Reports

Longleat - 7th September

Longleat must rank as one of the most difficult attractions to reach from Warwick, as it is effectively in the middle of nowhere, with no good roads South of the M4. Without the overtaking capability of a car our coach took a route that was comfortable for the passengers, but took 3 hours to get to Longleat. Once there our group of 13 scattered amongst all of the attractions that Longleat has to offer. Most went to look around the spectacular house and gardens. Those who entered the house were allowed into the private apartments in which the Marquis of Bath's had his personal collection of paintings, whilst others went to a spectacle of a different kind. Namely a birds of prey show, where the birds flew very low making the audience duck their heads at frequent intervals. A variety of birds were displayed, with the shows climax being at least 11 birds in the air, or your hair, at the same time! Then there was the Jungle Express; A narrow gauge steam railway that runs through woodland before emerging at the side of the lake before re-entering the station. On the lake some of the group took a ride on one of the boats that give a 15 minute tour, feeding the seals that live there and seeing the Silverback Gorilla which lives on his own island. Other attractions included a Parrot show and Jungle Kingdom, where you could walk through an area where Chipmunks were loose. I apologise to any member of the group who went to other available attractions which I have not mentioned.

It must not be forgotten that our coach took us through the Safari Park where there must be one of the best collections of animals in the UK. For me personally, the highlight was seeing the big cats, lions and tigers and the soon to be allowed out of quarantine, Cheetahs. Although a close second, must come the Monkey Drive-Thru where to watch a troop of monkeys seeing if anything is removable from the exterior of cars, and yes even our coach, can only be described as a most enjoyable experience.

Longleat must certainly rank as an attraction that has it all, no matter what your interests or age.

Phil Dalton

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Alsace Trip, 19 to 26 September 2011

Sixteen of us presented ourselves at the car park at IBM Warwick on Monday, 19 September, for a 7:00am departure to start our journey to Mulhouse via Dover/Calais with an overnight stop in St Dizier. The weather looked promising, with clear blue skies which stayed with us for the entire week. On Tuesday evening, two more travellers arrived to bring our numbers up to eighteen – a nice manageable number.

We spent our first day in Strasbourg, first wandering around the streets, then rejoining our coach for an guided tour round the city, followed by lunch and then a canal tour. It was easy to see where all our money had been spent on buildings housing the various European parliaments and courts.

The following days were spent in more down-to-earth surroundings. Riquewihr introduced us to the distinctive architecture of the area, followed by a visit to the Centre for the Reintroduction of Storks and Otters and a local winery where we learned that the grapes are crushed by air pressure at three times the pressure in your average car tyre! At the tasting that followed, the host appeared to loose track of just how many wines he had intended for us to sample! However, he still managed to sell us a few cases of wine.

We returned to our hotel to discover that our key-cards had been told that we were only staying one night – they all had to be re-validated. For that inconvenience, we were offered a champagne aperitif at dinner the next evening.

A visit to the French Railway Museum was followed by our next excursion -- to Ribeauvillé, where we had lunch, bought a few more souvenirs and some more wine, and then made our way to a local distillery for an eau-de-vie tasting. By the number of sales made, it would appear that eau-de-vie is very much an acquired taste!

Our journey home was broken by a visit to the home of Mercier Champagne, which included a mini-train trip through their extensive cellars, and a half glass of champagne.

Luckily, our overnight hotel in Reims, although the same chain as our hotel in Mulhouse, presented us with none of the problems we’d experienced during the week.

Our journey to Calais was interrupted by the unwelcome attention of the local Gendarmerie, who pulled us over for a minor infraction of the traffic laws. An on-the-spot fine was imposed on Tony, our driver, before we were allowed to continue.

The English Channel was as flat calm as it was possible to be, and the blue skies only deserted us as we neared Warwick.

We’re already talking about a repeat visit in five years’ time. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Simon Barratt

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Event Booking Forms

We have been investigating what information is required on our event booking forms.  All booking forms ask for basic information about the participants - more recently included has been the requirement for the member to give their IBM personnel number in addition to name and contact details.  For overseas trips we have asked for  full details of passports and travel insurance but after some consultation we can now reduce the amount of detail that is requested.

For passports, we only ask for the expiry date of the passport for each person on the booking form.  This acts as an 'aide memoire' for each person to physically check that the expiry date is indeed valid for the duration of the trip.

In the case of travel insurance, it is not required for days out but IS required for multi-day trips, whether within the UK or abroad. Booking forms now have a specific question asking for confirmation that everybody has adequate travel insurance and it is a condition of booking that this is so.  For further information there are two links - one to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site - a mine of information - and also to IBM Retiree Club Event Booking Conditions.  If in any doubt, contact the event organiser.

Brian Wilson

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Chairman's Notes

Well, here we are again with another year coming to an end. I hope that those of you who have managed to attend our events have enjoyed them. We have just sampled the delights of the Windsor Castle kitchens and we still have a few more events to go - the Olympic Site trip and the New Year trip to Cornwall. Dave Compton is encouraging you to bring all your friends to the Turkish restaurant in Warwick (could it be the lack of a Belly Dancer that is proving a problem?); and Dave Dagley is once again challenging everyone to come along and knock down as many skittles as possible in Snitterfield. But the most important event is being announced in this Newsletter - the Christmas lunch. When I was working full-time a few years ago I didn't have the time to come on many events, but the IBM Retirees Christmas lunch was essential to keep me in touch with all my IBM friends and colleagues. Please make every effort to come along this year. Phil Dalton tries to keep the cost of the lunch down as much as possible to make it affordable for all.

My best wishes to all of you

Alan Bridgman

Chairman, IBM Midlands Retirees Club

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ETHNIC MEAL at The Aubergine Turkish Restaurant - 26th October 2011 (organiser Dave Compton)

The Ethnic Meal this year is a return visit to the Aubergine Turkish Restaurant in Smith Street, Warwick, on Wednesday 26th October (7 for 7.30). Unfortunately, it will not include the traditional entertainment on this occasion since the lady in question will, by then, be 8½ months pregnant!

Menu:

Starters:

Main course:

   Ocakbasi (Turkish BBQ) consisting of:

Turkish sweet:

followed by coffee

There will also be a vegetarian option from choice of five dishes which will need to be ordered in advance (I will send details of the choices separately).

The cost for members and first guest will be £18.50, including half bottle of house red or white wine (beer or soft drink options also available).

There will be a maximum of 20 places and we will have exclusive use of the restaurant.

Please send your completed booking form with full payment to :-

Dave Compton, Ashby House, Northend, Southam, Warwickshire, CV47 2TN.

Cheques should be made payable to IBM Retiree Club (Midlands).

Dave Compton   Email:- dave@compton-family.eu

- Go to Booking Form

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Skittles Evening at Snitterfield - Thursday 17th November 2011 (organiser David Dagley)

A skittles evening has been organised to take place at Snitterfield Sports Club for the evening of Thursday 17th November 2011.

This will be a 'self drive' event with a 19:30 meet and a 20:00 start time.  A hot buffet will be provided that will suit both carnivores and vegetarians together with prizes for the evening's winners.  Maximum number of participants will be thirty; ladies should not bowl in high heels.

Costs for the evening will be £5.00 per head for member (including a drinks voucher) and first guest, £11.50 for second and subsequent guests.  

David Dagley   Email:- david.dagley@lineone.net

- Go to Booking Form

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CHRISTMAS LUNCH 20TH DECEMBER 2011 at ARDENCOTE MANOR HOTEL,

THE CUMSEY, LYE GREEN ROAD, CLAVERDON NR WARWICK CV35 8LT

Again we have managed to keep the cost of the Christmas lunch at £12.50 per head for members and first guests. There will be the usual welcome drink on arrival and wine with the meal.

Those of you with access to the internet can view details of Ardencote at: www.ardencote.com

MENU

STARTERS    

MAIN COURSE

DESSERT

Coffee with Mini Mince Pies

To book a place, fill in the booking form and mail it with your cheque £12.50pp for member and first guest, £33 second guest - made payable to IBM Retirees Club [Midlands] - to arrive not later than Monday 5th December, to:-

Carole Robertson, 27 Austcliff Drive, Solihull, B91 3XT

Email carole.robertson@talktalk.net  Telephone: 0121 704 9677

- Go to Booking Form

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Trip to Arras 16-20 April 2012 (organiser Brian Wilson)

Folloowing on from the preliminary announcement in the July Newsletter, this is the full announcement with booking form. The schedule below is much the same as originally published, the main difference being that, after some consideration, we are booked in at the hotal for dinner every night.  

The following is the schedule:-

· Day 1. Travel from IBM Warwick with appropriate comfort breaks to the 3* Hotel Mercure Atria in Arras for four nights bed and breakfast. Dinner and welcome drink included on the first night.

· Day 2. An included visit to the Wellington Quarry, WW1 underground city used by our Tommies and dug out by the New Zealand Tunnellers, with time at leisure in Arras.  Dinner at hotel.

· Day 3. Included visit to Lille, stopping off at the Arques Glass Factory for a factory tour together with a visit to their shop and including a stop at the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge.  Dinner at Hotel.

· Day 4. A full day tour of the Somme Battlefield, calling first at Peronne for a short stop before continuing to La Boisselle to view the Lochnager crater, the largest British mine crater on the western Front. We then head to the Thiepval Memorial with time to visit the new visitor centre and then on to Ulster Tower and Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park, over 80 acres in size with its trench system still intact.  Dinner at hotel

· Day 5. Return to UK via V2 rocket site at Saint Omer with the possible alternatives of Saint Omer itself for those who do not wish to visit the rocket site.  All being well, we will stop in Calais for you to top up your wine cellar.

The cost for all this for members and first guests will be around £360, the exact amount depending on the number of bookings - we may be able to accommodate second guests so please indicate on your booking form.  Deposits of £35 per person (£25 for those who have already paid the initial £10) will be required by 12th December 2011 with the remainder due 1st March 2012. Send your booking form and cheque to me at: 7 Knightlow Close, KENILWORTH, CV8 2PX.

Email: brian_h_wilson@msn.com  

Brian Wilson

- Go to Booking Form

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Announcements and Advertisments

Pendon Museum

Pendon Museum is located near Abingdon in a village called Long Wittenham and contains a tribute in model form to the Great Western Railway as it was in the 1930s, plus other items.  I have mentioned this to several members in the course of conversation and promised to give them further details - however, it occurred to me that other members might be interested as it is not just aimed at specifically railway enthusiasts, e.g. the scenic modelling is a real tour de force.  Go to www.pendonmuseum.com for details.

Brian Wilson.   

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Access to Bedfont Lakes

Our IBM Retiree Administrator has a number of Retiree badges which can be used to access the Bedfont car park.   If anyone would like one, please let me know.

Alan Bridgman  Email:- abri@waitrose.com

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Sub-Groups of  IBM Club and Retirees Club

IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group (founded by Harry Green)

The IBM Retirees PC and Technology Group meets every alternate month for a lively discussion on PC and technology topics in the digital age. There are usually one or two specific presentations given by members or by outside speakers, which the members of the Group have requested. We try to provide a reasonable balance between PC "techie" topics, new technology, and topics of a more general nature such as digital television, Internet telephony and digital photography . So whether you are a newcomer to the PC or a more experienced user, we hope you will find something of interest. You are very welcome to join us.

Contacts:-   Roger Goodman  email:- ladevie@dsl.pipex.com           Alan Bridgman   email:-  abri@waitrose.com

- Go to meeting dates and other information

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IBM Midlands Golf Society

IBM Retirees and spouses/partners are eligible to play, the events being subsidised by IBM.  The fixture list for 2011 is attached, together with proposals for 2012.  

Please contact one of the undersigned with any queries.

Contacts:-     Graham Seal  email:- gaseal@sky.com           Michael Davies   email:- enosmd@ntlworld.com                

- Go to Fixture List and contacts

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

  2011 Diary           Booking Conditions for Events           Photographs from Past Events

            IBM Midlands Retiree Club Constitution     Committee Contacts         AGM Minutes 

                                              Newsletter Archives     Newsletter Production     

                      IBM Alumni Programme                                                   IBM Shares

     IBM Pensions Trust (Rewards, IBM Contacts, IBM EPP and other useful information)         

                                              Parking at Bedfont Lakes and Harrow