The First Class CW Operators’ Club
2026 Annual General Meeting & International Gala Dinner
Saturday, 12th September 2026
The Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa, near Crewe in Cheshire.
A special room rate is available to FOC if booked before June 20th, see the booking instructions provided (see below) – this is an opportunity to mark the weekend in your diary. Steeped in history yet thoughtfully refurbished for modern comfort, Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa provides a truly magnificent backdrop for our FOC gathering. This Grade I–listed 17th century Jacobean mansion showcases the grandeur of its era with marble fireplaces, intricate carved woodwork, and striking stained-glass windows.
Its story is as rich as its architecture: over the centuries Crewe Hall has served as a distinguished family residence, a WW II base for the US Army, a Prisoner-of-War camp, and later the UK headquarters of the Wellcome Foundation. Today, the historic Old Hall is complemented by a sleek contemporary wing that houses additional bedrooms, the leisure club, spa, and brasserie. Guests can enjoy full access to the spa and leisure facilities, blending the charm of a stately home with the comfort and amenities expected of a modern hotel.
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR UK & OVERSEAS GUESTS
By Rail:
• Crewe Railway Station is one of the UK’s major rail hubs, with fast, frequent services from:
o London Euston (approx. 1h 30m)
o Birmingham (approx. 50m)
o Manchester (approx. 35m)
o Liverpool (approx. 40m)
• The hotel is just 3 miles from Crewe Station, making taxis or pre-booked transfers quick and easy.
By Road:
• Crewe Hall is minutes from Junction 16 of the M6, providing straightforward access from all directions.
• Free on-site parking for up to 500 vehicles ensures convenience for those driving.
For International Guests – Nearest Airports:
• Manchester Airport (MAN) – approx. 19.5 miles away
o Direct rail links to Crewe (35 minutes)
o 40 minutes by car
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) – approx. 22 miles away
o Rail connections via Liverpool South Parkway
o 60 minutes by car - Birmingham Airport (BHX) – approx. 65 miles away
o Direct rail links to Crewe (1 hour)
o 70 minutes by car
Rooms for the AGM event at Crewe Hall Hotel on Saturday 12th September are now available for booking.
https://www.crewehallcheshire.co.uk/
Hotel Room Bookings
For room bookings made prior to June 20th, Bed & Breakfast rates for Saturday 12th September are:
• £159.00 sole occupancy
• £174.00 double occupancy
Rooms have been allocated to FOC. These rooms must be booked with hotel’s Reservations Team and held on a 12-week release, meaning any un-booked rooms would be released back to general sale 12 weeks prior to the event. At that time, they will revert to normal pricing.
There are two ways to reserve a room for 12th September:
- Call Reservations: 0330 10 71 599 (within UK) or +44 330 10 71 599 (outside UK). Quoting: “Society AGM 2026 on 12th September 2026”. Payment will be made over the phone.
OR:
Quoting: “Society AGM 2026 on 12th September 2026” and ask for a payment link to be sent to you by email. (This avoids phoning or paying over the phone).
Rooms either side of this date:
A 20% reduction is available on the ‘Flexible Rate’ only by using the booking code:
CREWEEVENTS. Note – advanced rates (no cancellation) are at the advertised price.
To book a room for these additional night(s), call or email as above, quoting CREWEEVENTS. If booking via email, ask for a payment link to be sent to you by email.
Annual General Meeting & Presentations (ONLINE OR IN PERSON)
Presentations will commence at 2pm (volunteers welcome!) with a break for tea/coffee before the AGM.
The Annual General Meeting will follow at 4pm (15:00z)
If you intend to attend the AGM either on-line or in person, please register here:
Members attending 2026 AGM in Person —- Members attending 2026 AGM On-line
Saturday Evening Dinner
Saturday 12th September. Meet at 6:00pm for drinks; sit down for pre-dinner speeches at 6:45pm.
Dinner options must be chosen and paid for prior to the event; bookings must be made no later than 4 weeks prior to the event.
The 3-course dinner with wine, tea or coffee costs £58 per person.
You can select your menu choices when placing your booking and you can preview the whole menu Here
Members attending 2026 Annual Dinner
Friday Evening Social Event
Friday 11th September at 7pm: A reservation has been made at the ‘White Lion’ public house and restaurant in Weston, just over a mile from the Crewe Hall Hotel, where the AGM is being held.
Address: The White Lion 31 Main Road Weston, Nr. Crewe Cheshire CW2 5NA
The pub’s website: https://thewhitelionweston.com/.
The committee is asking members who have driven to the weekend’s event to help with transport to and from the restaurant.
If you would like to attend, menu selection and a deposit of £10 per person is required in advance, before August 20th.
Preview the ‘White Lion’ Menu – Advance selection is required. Please forward your meal options to G4IRN before August 20th.
Members attending Friday evening event at The white Lion
Partners’ Event
Janet Warburton G4IRN/2 has organised an Afternoon Tea for partners on either the Friday or Saturday afternoon depending on partners’ availability and preferences. The event will take place in the hotel’s Terrace Bar, which has fabulous views over the gardens and surrounding countryside, and will be exclusively available to the FOC. Weather permitting, the terrace will be open.
It is hoped that the event will include a 20-minute historical tour of the hotel, a Grade I listed building, the original parts of which were built in 1615-1636.
At this stage, please register any interest – this will be followed up as preferences and plans emerge.
The spa, gym, pool and sauna facilities at the Crewe Hall Hotel are available to residents throughout their stay. Treatments can be booked directly with the hotel.
List of partners interested in attending this event
Visit to Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker
Saturday 12th September, leaving Crewe Hall Hotel at 09:30am.
Address: Hack House Lane, Baddington, Cheshire CW5 8BL
The bunker’s website: https://www.hackgreen.co.uk/
Hack Green Web SDR: http://hackgreensdr.org:8901/
The committee is asking members who have driven to the weekend’s event to help with transport to and from the bunker.
“Hidden deep in the Cheshire countryside, the bunker stayed secret for more than 50 years. Now the blast doors are open, you can discover the labyrinth of rooms and authentic equipment used to run this defence region in the event of a National Emergency.
See our nuclear weapons display and come face to face with generations of our nuclear defence. Watch the previous banned film “The War Game” in our cinema. Visit the N.A.A.F.I. Canteen for your survival rations and stop off in the Shop to find souvenirs and Cold War items to take home.”
Cost of entry is £14.50 per person for groups of 10 or more.
If interested, please register the event with advance payment of £14.50 before September 1st
Members attending Hack Green visit
