February 2017 Newsletter
This month we have the announcement of the Spring Lunch in March, the combined rambling and sightseeing trip to Pembrokeshire in May and a visit to “Pete’s Place” in June.
The AGM will take place at the Royal British Legion(Knowle) Club, 1611 Warwick Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9LU on Monday 13th March. As refreshments and buffet lunch will be included, would those members able to attend please send their confirmation to Brian Long (brianlong1@hotmail.com) by 1st March. The meeting will start with coffee at 10:00.
Michael Fabianski, Newsletter Editor. E-mail: ibmmidretnews@gmail.com
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Drinks survey
Many thanks to the 49 members who responded to this survey. The results were so evenly spread that we found it impossible to draw a clear conclusion, proving that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. The Committee therefore agreed that meal organisers would bear in mind the different opinions and options expressed, but the final decision would up to the meal organiser and be based on the type of meal, discussions with the venue and the administration involved.
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Event report: El Greco Ethnic meal, Wednesday 18th January
We had 17 out of a maximum of 20 people for the Greek meal in Stratford. I had booked a Mezzes meal for the group — 22 dishes for everyone!! It took two or three waiters to bring us all the food, in shifts. As promised, they even catered for the one vegetarian in the group, by modifying two or three of the main meals on the menu. Everyone seemed to enjoy the event, which went on for some time, as you can imagine. The only problem was finding a parking place in Stratford — a perennial problem in the town.
Alan Bridgman
Organiser
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Aston University - Dry Eye Study
This item relates to a research study that is taking place at Aston University, Vision Sciences Building:
“The study involves carrying out a number of tests to check the dryness of patients eyes. The ultimate goal is to find out what the cause of dryness may be because it is not well understood. We require patients over the age of 30 and participants will be remunerated £10 for their time and travel expenses.”
If you are interested in participating in this study please click on the images below for further information:
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Events
Click here to see the list of the events which are provisionally planned for 2017.
The following is the status of those events which have been announced.
Booking Conditions. Click here to read the terms and conditions.
Photographs from Past Events. Click here or here to view a selection of photographs from past events.
Spring Lunch on Thursday 23 March 2017 (Organiser Gary Wooding)
I am pleased to announce that this year’s Spring Lunch will be held in a very special place — The Leamington Tennis Court Club. This is not a normal tennis club — it’s the world’s oldest real tennis club. It was formed in 1844 and the court was built in 1846. Real tennis is rather different to lawn tennis and has somewhat complicated and archaic rules, many of which were allegedly created by Henry VIII to compensate for his increasing lack of mobility.
The building, which is in Bedford Street, Leamington Spa, is rather nondescript on the outside, and belies its interior. Our lunch will be held in the club’s bar, and we are promised that an actual match will be played in the adjoining court whilst we are enjoying our welcome drinks.
I have booked Jonathon Partridge as our guest speaker who will tell us about the history of Jaguar Motor Cars.
The price for this event, which includes a welcome drink, 3 course lunch, and rounded off with tea/coffee, is dependent on the IBM subsidy which has again been reduced, and is £30.00 for members/first guest, and £42.50 for any subsequent guests. Unlike previous years, wine or drinks with the meal is not included, but a £5.00 voucher will be issued to each guest as a contribution to drinks of your choice. Rather good wines, ranging from £16.95 a bottle upwards, can be purchased from the bar, and I have arranged corkage charge of £5.00 a bottle should you wish to bring your own.
Although the club doesn’t have its own carpark there are several public ones within easy walking distance. There is one right next door and another just round the corner.
Bedford Street is one-way northbound and is parallel to The Parade, and the club is immediately behind the Benjamin Satchwell pub in The Parade.
Please make your menu choices from the following menu.
Gary Wooding - Email: binswood@gmail.com, Telephone: 01926 425485
Refer to the document Event Booking Conditions for terms and conditions.
Combined Rambling and Sightseeing trip to Pembrokeshire
Monday 22nd May to Friday 26th May 2017
Organisers: Alan Bridgman (Sightseeing) and Terry King (Rambling)
We have decided this year to go to Pembrokeshire, a part of Wales which has a wide variety of countryside and attractions. We are using the services of Group Travel again and we are booked into the 3* Fourcroft Hotel in Tenby. On the cliffs above Tenby's sheltered, sunny North Beach, Fourcroft looks spectacularly over the old fishing harbour and across Carmarthen Bay.
Itinerary
The sightseeing itinerary will hopefully include some or all of the following:-
Provisional cost
Depending on the number of people who wish to go on this trip and the size of the IBM grant (which we do not know yet!),
the approximate cost for members and first guests will be £399; and £450 for 2nd guests.
This cost includes 4 nights half-board accommodation (DBB),
executive coach travel to & from IBM Warwick and for excursions during the trip.
Finally…
If anyone has any further suggestions for sightseeing trips,
please let me know. (no promises, mind you!!) and I will do my best to include them in the final itinerary.
Alan Bridgman
Sightseeing Organiser
Refer to the document Event Booking Conditions for terms and conditions.
Pete’s Place Thursday 1 June 2017 (Organiser Gary Wooding)
I am pleased to announce a very different type of event. Pete’s Place is a beautiful 20 acre private park with a lake, a small wood, and a ride-on miniature railway. There is an “African Queen” type of steam boat giving rides around the lake and the small island. The miniature railway is almost a mile long and is considered to be one of the best private ones in the country. All rides are totally free. Pete, the owner, provides all this totally free of charge; all the Retirees Club asks is that you make a donation of £10 per car to Pete’s favourite charity — the Air Ambulance. There is ample parking for all cars, and donations will be collected as you pass through the gate. This event is not restricted to Retiree Club members — tell your friends and the rest of your family, get as many people as you like in your car, it’s still only £10 per car.
So that we can get an idea of the number of attendees, please send a booking form, either by post or email, to Gary Wooding:
64 Binswood Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV32 5RY
Email: binswood@gmail.com, Telephone: 01926 425485
Refer to the document Event Booking Conditions for terms and conditions.
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Sub-Groups of Retirees Club and Employee Club
The IBM (Warwick) Rambling Club is now a subsection of the IBM Midlands Retiree Club. Any member of the Midlands Retiree club is welcome to join our subsection. Our subs are £5 per person per year. Our programme consists of a meal in late February, a monthly ramble with a pub lunch using own transport and an AGM in December. We also share a 3-4 day trip using coach transport with retiree sightseers in May.
Any retiree who would like to give us a try, can come along on one of our monthly walks without needing to join. Meal subsidies are available only to members and not for those joining us on a trial basis.
Go to a list of the planned walks for 2017 and other information.
For more information, please contact Terry King, terryaking@hotmail.com.
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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.
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Click on the links below for more useful information.
IBM Midlands Retiree Club Constitution Committee Contacts AGM Minutes Newsletter Archives IBM Club Warwick UK IBM Club Newsletter Production IBM Alumni Directory IBM Hursley Museum IBM Shares IBM Rewards Employee Purchase Plan IBM Pensions Trust (IBM Contacts and other useful information)