September 2008 Newsletter

IBM Retirees Club (Midlands)

(www.retireesmidclub.org.uk)

September 2008 Newsletter

Editorial

Our trip to Norwich was judged to be a great success by the attendees, in spite of the weather being somewhat inclement at times. Our thanks to Alan Palmer for putting together an excellent programme.

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There have been some changes to the planned events for the remainder of 2008. Firstly, we have decided to cancel, due to lack of numbers, the visit to the Black Country Museum and also to Oxford for the guided walk - thanks to those Committee members who did the preparatory work for these. Secondly, we have decided to run a trip to the Three Choirs vineyard at Newent on 26th November - see announcement and booking form later in this Newsletter.

We now have a date and venue for our Christmas Lunch - details later in this Newsletter. I have also been asked by Gerry Coombs to include an announcement of an annual get-together which is mainly attended by ex-West Midlands CEs - I know there are quite a few ex-CEs out there so get in touch if you would like to attend.

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I seem to writing about 2009 events before the programme has even been announced but as most of you will understand, we sometimes have to make committments to hotel, travel companies and others well in advance. I have already announced the Burns Night Supper (details in August Newsletter - there are still tickets available) and you will see details of our trip to Holland in April. As you may remember, we planned to run this trip in April this year but had to postpone due to various problems. However, there was quite a lot of interest so get your booking forms to Simon as soon as possible.

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There have been comments from members that upcoming meetings of the PC Group have not been given enough publicity and this has meant missing meetings that one would like to have attended but have been unable to do so because of another committment.

In future, I will include the dates of future meetings and agenda (when known) in the PC group information - see link at end of Newsletter.

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

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Three Choirs Vineyard - Wednesday November 26 (organiser Phil Dalton)

Following very enjoyable visits in previous years to the Three Choirs Vineyard just outside Newent, Glos, it has been decided to return there again this year. The visit will start at 12:00 and include a tour of the vineyard (weather permitting) and plant, wine tasting (of course!) and a superb 3 course meal in a private dining room. Due to the menu being revised to the winter selection at the beginning of October, the selection cannot be included at this time.

As most attendees in previous years have wanted to take a few bottles home with them of the superb wine on offer, the organiser will once again take orders during the lunch and purchase them in a single transaction in order to obtain a discount of up to 30+% per bottle.

All of this for only £20 per member and first guest, but numbers are strictly limited to 20 due to the size of the dining room.

Due to the menu not being available until October, to reserve your place(s) send a refundable deposit of £10pp to Phil Dalton via the attached booking form. When the menu is available it will be forwarded to those with reservations.

- Go to Booking Form

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Christmas Get-together - 6th December 2008

Gerry Coomb's wife Una has for a number of years organised a Christmas get together for those of us on the western side of the Midlands. We normally get about 24 attendees who are in the main ex- West Midlands CE's and their partners. This year we will be meeting at the Mill Hotel Alveley on the 6th December at 12:30 for 13:00.

We would be happy to invite anyone who would like to attend to get in contact with us for details at:-

les.sherlock@tiscali.co.uk (01746 780 318) or gerry.coombs@virgin.net (01746 780 568)

Les Sherlock

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Christmas Lunch (organisers - Ken Hope and Alan Palmer)

This year the Christmas Lunch will be on Thursday 11th December. There are a number of you who have not been to a Christmas Lunch recently and some who have never been, so why not contact your 'old' colleagues and make up a table with them? Or just come along and find out who else is still around!! This is our main reunion event of the year so please take advantage of it.

We have chosen a location that we have used in the past, The Woodhouse at Princethorpe, because we enjoyed the quality of their food. The new management have now created a larger dining room and there will be round tables that seat eight people so we will have plenty of space and it will be even more sociable and comfortable.

There will be traditional silver service or your choice of meats from the carvery. Menu details and booking forms will be in the October newsletter. We look forward to seeing you there.

Ken Hope

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Trip to Holland 23-27 April 2009 (organiser Simon Barratt)

Although final details are still to be worked out, we are planning on going to Holland from Thursday 23rd April to Monday 27th April 2009. We will be staying in a minimum 3-star hotel in the Noordwijk area for four nights' DB&B (although the recommendation is that we make our own arrangements for dinner on the Saturday night (only) if we want to see the finale of the parade in Haarlem). On the Friday and Sunday, we'll have the coach at our disposal for visits to such places as Schevingen, The Hague, Delft, and Madouradam (entrance fee if more than twenty people -- €10.25 each, payable locally).

The main attraction will be the Flower Parade which takes place from Noordwijk on Saturday 25th at 9.30am and finishes in Haarlem at 9:00pm. The procession will comprise twenty large floats and more than thirty decorated luxury cars (sic), interspersed with marching bands. Whether we will want to, or be able to, see the entire parade from start to finish remains to be seen.

The price per person will be approximately £335 and will include Executive Coach Travel, return ferry crossings from Dover to Calais, three nights' DB&B plus one night's B&B, the Flower Parade, and admission into Keukenhof Park to see the bulb fields.

To secure your place, please complete the booking form and send a deposit of £30 to Simon Barratt, Laurel House, The Green, Tredington, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4NJ by 7th November 2008. The balance of approximately £300 will be required by 6th March 2009.

- Go to Booking Form

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European Health Insurance Card - EHIC

I'm sure most of you have heard of the EHIC which replaced the E111 several years ago and will get you free health treatment overseas (subject to certain conditions, of course).

What you may not have noticed is that the card has an expiry date. And guess what, my card expires 01/03/09, just before the trip to Holland! However, it is very easy to renew - just go to www.nhs.uk , search for EHIC and follow the instructions.

My thanks to Adrian Mills for pointing this one out.

Brian Wilson.

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Sir Edwin Nixon

Most members (I would venture to say 'all members') will remember Eddie Nixon as a well respected Chairman and Chief Executive of IBM but not all will know that he died on 17th August. I have had several members reminding me of this and I am therefore including two links so that members may, if they wish, find out more detail.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2627712/Sir-Edwin-Nixon.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4581796.ece

Brian Wilson

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