14th-17th January
- Drumming Out
BRITISH SENATE
DRUMMING OUT WEEKEND
“Ancient and Modern”
January 14th – 17th 2010
Jury’s Inn Hotel
Milton Keynes
Welcome to Milton Keynes!
Please join us for an action-packed Ancient and Modern best of British weekend which we hope will appeal to British, Scottish, European and US/Canadian Senators alike. Milton Keynes is a modern town (220,000 population) situated between London and Birmingham with excellent road and rail links to both. It started life in its current form as a second generation “New Town” in 1967 based around 5 existing towns and 13 villages, one of which gave it its name. Settlement at Milton Keynes goes back 4000 years so there is plenty of ancient history too. Recent history has included one of the largest British railway workshops in Wolverton (now closed) and the wartime site at Bletchley Park which we will visit. Milton Keynes is home to the Open University and UK headquarters of prestigious international companies including Mercedes, Audi/VW, Scania and Santander Bank. We will be staying at the Jury’s Inn, a modern hotel in Central Milton Keynes within 800m of the railway and bus stations and easy walking distance of the main shopping centre. We have negotiated excellent rates.
Thursday 14th January
Arrive after lunch, time to visit one of Europe’s largest shopping centres, a short walk from our hotel. Then join us for the official start of the weekend with an early dinner in Loch Fyne Fish Restaurant (meat and vegetarian options available) then a traditional British Pantomime (oh yes we will!). For those unable to arrive in time for dinner (17.00), you can book just the Pantomime (starts 19.00).
Friday 15th January
We head to the ancient “gleaming spires” of Oxford – one of the best of British Education centres. Oxford was founded in the 9th Century and the University was founded in 1167. Many of the current Colleges are almost as old. After an orientation tour in our coaches (with refreshments provided), we will take a leisurely cruise on the River Thames on our private chartered boat. Further refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided on board as we pass Oxford’s riverside sights on our cruise. On return from our cruise, Blue Badge certified guides will take us on a walking tour of Oxford’s historic sights and Colleges. Further refreshments will be served on our journey back to the hotel. Our best of British “Ancient and Modern” theme continues with our 60s-themed dinner when we will be entertained by the FAB BEATLES who are one of Britain’s best Beatles Tribute bands!
Saturday 16th January
Today we visit Bletchley Park (“Station X”), the home of the best of British wartime brains. The house itself and most of the huts used during the war by Alan Turing and his team (leading mathematicians from Oxford and Cambridge Universities) still remain. Bletchley Park was the heart of the British Codebreaking team; the work they carried out cracking the “unbreakable” German ENIGMA codes helped turn the war in the Allies’ favour. However, Germans are now most welcome! Replicas of the Bombe code-cracking machine and Colossus, the world’s first semi-programmable computer are icing on the cake on top of other exhibits forming a large museum. The Chairman even donated one of the smaller exhibits! Lunch will be at Bletchley Park (at which presentations should be made) and there should be time for a further look-around before the bus back to our hotel. After some relaxation time back at our hotel we will gather for the Chairman’s drinks before being called through to the Drumming Out Banquet where we will enjoy a sumptuous meal with wine before the Drumming Out ceremony.
Sunday 17th January
The traditional Champagne Senate Breakfast/Brunch will be an excellent way to finish off an enjoyable weekend while welcoming in the 2010 Senate Chairman and saying farewell to all your old and new Senate friends from all over before heading home.
Further Information
If you wish any further information contact Senator 53370 Marie Stanley c.m.stanley@open.ac.uk for bookings or Senator 50259 Chris Read chris@kingsp.demon.co.uk for travel advice. For more details of Bletchley Park, see: http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/content/visit/attractions.rhtm. The programme is subject to change - check the British Senate web site www.britishsenate.org.uk.
How to Pay
Senators with UK Bank Accounts should pay by Sterling cheque payable to ‘British Senate Drumming Out 2010’ or electronic transfer to a/c 60830220, sort code 60-14-55 (quote your Senate number as reference and e-mail Marie Stanley to advise payment). For others preferred payment method is sterling cash to British Senators attending events or Paypal. Bank/online transfers are also possible (full payment only). A 5% surcharge is levied when paying by Paypal or bank/online transfers to cover Paypal/UK Bank charges. Contact Marie Stanley for details of how to pay by Paypal or international transfer.
Accommodation Reservations
All accommodation must be booked by telephone direct with the hotel quoting British Senate Drumming Out 2010. Please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Jury’s Inn Hotel, Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 2HP.
http://miltonkeyneshotels.jurysinns.com/jurysinn_miltonkeynes
t: +44(0) 1908 843700 f: +44(0) 1908 843777
Room Rates per Night Bed and Breakfast (all nights)
£72 for rooms with double occupancy
£69 for rooms with single occupancy
We hope that you will not find a better rate on-line! Our prices for hotel-based events depend on you booking as part of our group! You must book at these rates to qualify for the Senate Breakfast “Residents” Rate.
Travel Arrangements
By car, leave the M1 at J14 – route details on request. Parking is available nearby for a small charge (obtain vouchers from hotel on arrival). By train, the hotel is only 800m from Central Milton Keynes station on the West Coast main line. By air, the most convenient airports are Birmingham (frequent fast direct train) or Luton (hourly Virgin bus that will stop by request outside the hotel). Second choices would be Heathrow or Stansted then by bus or train via London – more complex journeys. Gatwick is best avoided. For those travelling by air, we can advise the most appropriate travel arrangements from the airport.
| When |
14th-17th January
|
| Where | Milton Keynes |
| Audience | JCI Senators, partners and guests are welcome to attend this event. |
| Contact | Marie Stanley <> |
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