Signy Island - Base H
75th Anniversary Reunion March
2022
Download this page and form as a pdf to print out
THE SIGNY 75TH ANNIVERSARY
REUNION NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT !!
(SOONER RATHER THAN LATER)
Organising a reunion involves placing a deposit (which in my case was non-refundable) and risking other financial penalties if one cancels the event with various periods of notice. Ordinarily this would not be too much of a problem as I would have arranged 'cancellation insurance cover', but this is impossible to obtain in these COVID times and so up to £4,000 of family savings are at risk if I have to cancel the event at a late date due to lack of interest.
I'm therefore urging people to complete a booking form & send payment as soon as possible if they intend to come to Birmingham on the weekend of 19th March 2022 for this very special anniversary.
The amount I stand to lose increases steeply if I have to cancel later than mid-September, so if there are fewer than 30 confirmed & paid attendees by midnight on Tuesday 31st August 2021 I will regretfully have no option but to cut my (& my wife's) losses and cancel the booking I have made for this event.
If I do end up having to cancel, all those who pay monies in the next 2 months will have this refunded in full.
If there are enough early bookings made to ensure the event is able to go ahead next March, bookings will continue, and can be amended, up until the 1st January 2022.
SIGNY
(BASE H) 75TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION WEEKEND
BIRMINGHAM
17th - 20th MARCH 2022
FINAL DETAILS AND BOOKING FORM
Venue: Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, 53 Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2RS
With the success of the vaccine roll-out and the likelihood of an autumn booster, the prospects for getting together safely in March 2022 seem very good, but because of the impossibility of getting cancellation insurance early bookings are especially important this year.
The Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre is part of the University of Birmingham Group and opened on 1st September 2018. Birmingham University is one of the world's top 100 educational institutions and has always been a pioneer. Founded in 1900, it was the UK's first civic university, welcoming students regardless of their social or religious background. In the 1960's it was home to several sections of the British Antarctic Survey, including Geology under Dr Ray Adie, Botany under Dr Stanley Greene plus the Geophysics unit. Virtual tours can be had at https://www.edgbastonparkhotel.com/virtual-tours Hotel reception telephone 0121 414 8888
Accommodation: All accommodation
is to be booked by members themselves. Do
not forget to quote 75THAR to get a 15% discount on the best
available Flexible B&B rate if you choose Edgbaston Park Hotel.
The Reunion will run from Thursday evening through to Sunday
morning, although it is appreciated some may not be able to
arrive until the Friday evening or Saturday. However,
you will be spoilt for choice for things to see and do in the
city and university so why not make a long weekend of it!
Proposed Programme:
It is hoped that people will bring Signy artifacts
etc for display in the meeting room during the weekend.
Thursday 17th: Meet & greet in
the bar area from 6pm onwards. The 17th March 2022
is exactly 75 years from the day when G de Q Robin,
J.H. Anderson, P.E. Biggs & W.H.Roberts 'officially' arrived
at Signy as its first base members in Trepassey.
During the evening of it maybe possible to have a Zoom
link up with 21st Century Signy as preparation for
a hopefully longer connection on the Saturday evening prior
to the dinner. Preliminary enquiries with BAS have
said this should be possible and, hopefully, technical expertise
& communication satellites will enable the link to be established.
The bar should be open to around midnight.
Friday 18th: 7.45 - 9.00 am
Breakfast in the 1900 Steakhouse Bar & Grill.
9.00am
onwards Guests are then free to visit some of
Birmingham's
many places of cultural or historic interest or take a 4 mile
'Heritage' walk to 'The Black Eagle' in Handsworth
- a great pub for a lunch stop. The walk is fairly flat
following the historic Old & New 'Main Line' canals from
Smethwick Galton Bridge station which is reached by train from
the University station across the campus from the hotel.
The pub is close to Soho House, the home of
pioneer industrialist Matthew Boulton, where the famous 18th
C Lunar Society met to discuss & demonstrate scientific and
engineering discoveries over a meal. This could
be visited in the afternoon, or folk could head back to Edgbaston
or on to other City Centre attractions.
Full details of these attractions will be provided to attendees.
Evening: There will be an opportunity
for a limited number to take taxis to 'The Barton
Arms' which is on CAMRA's 'Heritage Pubs of the
Midlands' list, having 'one of the most beautiful pub
interiors in the country'. Hopefully there
will be the possibility of a guided 'Tour of the Tiles'
before a Thai meal washed down with Oakham Ales. The full
'Taste & Tour' package cost £19.95 in early 2020.
Alternatively
guests can eat, drink & chat at the Edgbaston Park Hotel or
nearby student eateries in Selly Oak.
Saturday 19th: 7.45 am - 9.00
am: Breakfast in the 1900 Steakhouse Bar & Grill.
9.00 am - 9.30 am Registration and collection of
badges / goodies bag (if not already completed).
9.30
am - 4.15pm: Talks & slide presentations by volunteers
with breaks for Coffee, tea & biscuits (11.00 am), Lunch, sandwiches
& chips (1.00 pm) and Coffee, tea & biscuits (4.15 pm) included.
4.30 - 5.30pm: A 'Signy Reunion 1st':
hopefully a Live Link-up via Zoom with the Fids coming to the
end of the 21/22 summer season at the modern Base H and a chance
to ask questions.
5.30 pm:
Move out to allow tables to be set for the meal.
Pose for Reunion & other group photos / Bar etc.
7.30
pm: Reunion Dinner (smart casual)
in the Fry Room (which can seat up to180) continued at the Bar
until 12pm.
Sunday 20th: After breakfast guests are free to mingle or maybe visit interesting sites on campus:- Winterbourne House & Garden, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Lapworth Museum of Geology & maybe Medical School Museum.
Please copy / complete this form & return to John Edwards at the address below or send via email to jaejed@hotmail.com by Tuesday 31 August 2021 if you want to ensure the event goes ahead as planned
Any queries please text 07837 198355.
Name (Please Print): ______________________________________________Title__________________
E-mail _______________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________
Post Code_________________ Telephone /Mobile __________________
Service with BAS/FIDS:-
Signy Winters / Summers / Ship / HQ etc _________________________________________________
Post(s)__________________________________________ Years____________
Full name(s) of any guest(s) _______________________________________________________
I / we anticipate attending Thursday evening Friday Saturday Sunday morning (Please mark as appropriate)
Number of people anticipating coming on the Friday walk __________
Number of people who would like to visit & dine at The Barton Arms on Friday night if places are still available._____
Please indicate your choices of starter, main & dessert:-
Menu You Guest 1 Guest 2
StartersLeek & Potato Thyme-infused Broth (VE) Smoked Salmon, Beetroot & Tartare Sauce Bacon, Onion & Cheddar Tart & Beef Tomato Salad
MainsChicken Breast, Roast Pots, Broccoli & Leek (GF) Braised Shin Beef, Garlic Mash, Carrots & Leek (GF) Root Veg & Cider Crumble, Champ Mash+ (VE)(GF)
DessertsWarm Apple Pie & Vanilla Bean Custard Dark Chocolate & Orange Tart+Vegan Ice Cream (VE) Tiramisu with Caramel Popcorn
Bottle of Red & White wine per table of 8 persons & tea or coffee & mints are included
Cheese, biscuits & glass of port (£9.95 extra)
Cost / person (Saturday Reunion programme, Lunch,
3-course Dinner, Magazine & 'goodies') - £90.00
Cost
per person as above but including cheese, biscuits and port
- £99.95
Some individuals may just want to come for the Saturday Evening Dinner to meet and chat to people. In this case the cost per person would be £40 or £50 depending on whether cheese, biscuits & port were required.
Most Important ! Any special dietary requirements:
________________________________________________________
Payment: I am paying a total of £______________ by: Cheque BACS Please indicate
If you are paying by cheque, please make this out to J.A.Edwards (Signy75) and send it with this form to:
John Edwards, 157 Welford Road, Shirley, SOLIHULL, West Midlands B90 3HT
If you are paying by BACS transfer please make this to John Arthur Edwards (Nationwide Flex Direct) Account 2892 1917 Sort code 07-04-36 Make sure you quote your name as your pay-in reference please. If paying by BACS please effect the transfer before sending your application.
All applications will be acknowledged by email or phone.
If you have not heard from me within 2 weeks of sending your application please contact me. Emails & postal items do sometimes go astray.
John Edwards