IBM Retirees PC & 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 ladevie@dsl.pipex.com Alan Bridgman abri@waitrose.com
Meetings
The next meeting will be on Friday 24th September 2010. Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm. IBM Warwick
Agenda:
Trip to Bletchley Park
It is three years since we last visited Bletchley Park (18th October 2007) and much has happened to this remarkable venue since then. It is now the location for the National Museum of Computing; it has received support from IBM and HP; it has received two grants from English Heritage for the preservation of its buildings; but the last Government refused to support Bletchley Park in any form! So they still urgently need the support of us, the public.
We can do no more than repeat the announcement of the Bletchley Park trip in 2007, which was the best attended of all the IBM Midlands Retirees trips that year. On the booking form we are asking if you would prefer to go by coach, or independently by car – if there are enough takers for a coach we will try to put one on.
Bletchley Park is renowned for the WWII Enigma code breaking project. This work led directly to the development of early computers. After tea/coffee and biscuits and a short introductory talk by your guide, the first part of the tour, which lasts approximately one hour, takes place in the grounds and visitors will discover what went on at each of the key locations, including the famous wooden code-breaking huts.
The second part of the tour, which continues after an included sandwich buffet lunch, will include a visit to the rebuild of Colossus , the world's first semi-programmable computer (to which The British Computer Society made a donation of £75,000 to help keep Colossus operational), the Churchill Collection and Block B which you can explore at your leisure. You will also have the opportunity to browse in the shop for that all important memento of your visit before being escorted by your guide back to the Mansion for refreshments before departure.
If you are travelling independently, please follow the directions on the Bletchley Park web site to the Mansion. Tell Bletchley Park security that you are with the IBM Retirees party, and they will direct you to the car park. From there Bletchley Park Customer Service directs us to the meeting room where we meet our guide. We will be served coffee and biscuits at 10:30 in time for the start of the tour at 11:00 and the day is planned to finish at 16:00. Please aim to arrive no later than 10:20, which will give time to park and walk across to the Mansion.
The Bletchley Park website http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk gives more details of what is available.
If you would like to join this trip please complete and return the booking form to Brian Wilson.
Yahoogroup CV34PC
You may find it useful to be a member of this egroup. It is mainly used for reminding members of upcoming meetings but can also be used for distributing items of interest to other members and perhaps asking for comments on a technical issue or problem. If you would like to be included, please contact Roger or Alan in the first instance.