RETIREES CLUB
(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)
Links to Booking Forms by individual events
Click here to see 2003-programme
Click here for Committee Contact List
Click here for Archived Newsletters
September 2003 NEWSLETTER
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Editorial
The Shugborough trip was enjoyed by the 34 attendees - one member commented that it was a bit worrying to see items in the museum which had been in use in his own home until recently; our thanks to Gordon for an excellent day out. Fourteen members attended the Town and Country Festival at Stoneleigh plus one or two others who went under their own steam. All agreed that there is a lot of varied things to see and I think there were quite a few aching feet at the end of the day!
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I sometimes get comments from members saying that they have problems viewing the Newsletter on our web site so it may be helpful to remind members of the process.
The main work is done on my PC using a program called AOLPRESS. The next Newsletter is in a html file known as 'index.htm' and I input to this as copy arrives. There are other files which are linked to index such as booking forms, committee contact list and so on. There is also an archive file of old Newsletters.
The newsletter is published about mid-month and at this point is uploaded to our web site, together with any associated booking forms and updated files. I then check all the links on the web site and if all is ok notify Carole Robertson who produces the hard-copy for members who take the Newsletter by post and then send an e-mail to notify all members that the Newsletter is available. As a final check, I click the web site address on the e-mail to check I haven't mis-keyed the url. When all links check out, the current Newsletter is archived, the file 'index.htm' becomes the next newsletter and the process starts all over again.
I hope this short explanation helps. If you have any queries (not TOO technical) please get in touch.
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Please contact Gordon Jones at gordon_jones@lineone.net or telephone 01455-556192, for all membership changes such as address, telephone number, e-mail address.
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Brian Wilson, Editor. Telephone: 01926-777710 e-mail: brian_h_wilson@msn.com
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Calke Abbey, Tuesday 14th October 2003 (Gordon Jones 01455-556192)
We will leave Warwick by coach at 09:30 to arrive at Staunton Harold about 10:30 (allow 10 minutes either way) in time for morning coffee/tea (included). There will be time to look round the garden centre (note that this is not Wyvale) and also the Craft Centre (this is also a different one and has one or two unusual vendors). The National Trust church can only be viewed from the outside as it is not open on weekdays at this time.
The coach will be available at 12:45 to take everybody to Calke for lunch (not included in the cost). However, anyone wishing to walk across to Calke can do so via field path, woodland, roadside and drive, the distance being about 2.5 miles.
The house, former home of the Harpur-Crewe family, opens at 13:00 and we will have tickets time for about 14:00. You are free to view at your leisure; guided tours are available but these are morning only and in any case very expensive (£75). Allow time to view the gardens and park which should not be missed.
Before leaving for the return to Warwick, there will be an included afternoon tea at 15:30 with scones.
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Advance Notice of Gourmet Lunch 14th November (organiser - Iain Hewitt)
You are invited to a gourmet lunch at Love’s Restaurant, Dormer Place, Leamingtonon Friday 14 November at 12:30pm for 1pm. Steve Love is the chef patron of this outstanding restaurant looking out on to the bandstand by the Spa centre. Steve trained under 3 Michelin star chef Alain Ducase in Paris - and now you will be able to sample some of his creations here in the Midlands. There is free parking in Dormer Place and Newbold Terrace plus public car park by the cinema. Following a welcome drink a three course meal followed by coffee will be served (wine and mineral waters included). There will be at least 2 choices for each course; additionally, vegetarians and allergies can be catered for - please give plenty of notice.
The restaurant will be open exclusively to club members on this occasion. NB restaurant is non-smoking throughout..
Gourmet means epicure ie for the connoisseur of meats, wines and the like. The lunch menu is not a gourmand menu for the gluttonous - so if you prefer your ‘meat and 2 veg’ and large portions, then this is probably not for you. On the other hand if you are fastidious in your taste, and enjoy eating well presented and freshly prepared food and drinking fine wines in good company then this may well be for you.
Booking forms and menu selections will be published in next month’s newsletter. The cost to members and 1st guests will be £15-50/head. The restaurant only has 24 covers so the event will not be open to additional guests - also, bookings will only be taken by letter accompanied by cheque in order to ensure "first come, first served".
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Christmas Markets end November/beginning December (organiser John Smith)
We have decided to run an extra event. This will be a 2 or 3 night stay in Brussels travelling by Eurostar. The high speed section in England will be finally open, so you will have the chance to travel at speeds up to 170mph. The provisional itinerary will be:
Day 1 - Travel to London via a block booked Chiltern Line train. Join the Eurostar early afternoon travel to Brussels , arriving late afternoon. Evening free.
Day 2 - Free time to visit the large Xmas market in the Grand Place
Day 3 - Stay in Brussels or join optional visit to Aachen or Valkenberg Xmas market
Day 4 - Return by Eurostar early afternoon to London, the Chiltern Line to Warwick
Price £110- £130 including Bed and Breakfast, travel Warwick to Brussels return. (the optional visit would be extra as some people may prefer to stay in Brussels)
Date - Early Dec 2003
This note is to check if there would be any interest in this type of event.
Please Email or phone to register your interest before 30/9/03.
John Smith 01384860882 Email JSATQB@WHSmithnet.co.uk
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New Year in Guernsey (organiser - Brian Wilson)
We are pleased to tell you that our Treasurer has agreed a subsidy of £50 per head for members and first guest. This means that the cost of the event to members and first guest is now £130 plus the cost of travel. Details were in the June and July Newsletter (now's the time to check the Archived Newsletters links, folks). I have attached a booking form should any members wish to join the party but I must emphasise that you should check flight availability as they are getting booked up.
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Future Events
Your Committee are in the process of finalising the events for 2004 and we hope that you will enjoy the mix that we have come up with. If your suggestion isn't in this year, it is probably because we can only run so many events over the year - we do keep a note of all suggestions, so it may be that your suggestion can be included in the future.
One area that we have looked at with a view to doing something different is our overseas trips. These are always popular and are normally run in September. However, we thought some variations on this might be popular. The New Year in Guernsey has attracted quite a few members and you will see that John Smith is looking for interest in a trip to the European Christmas markets. Or - what about a short trip to the US, say Boston or New York?
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