December 6th
Belgium was the theme this evening and Graham Harvey traveled down from Northampton to show us some of his large collection
starting with the Bird definitives from 1985 designed by Andre Buzin, The display covered all aspects including the eight paper varieties and all of the 184 different designs, These were stamps designed for postage not just for stamp collectors and Graham showed how colours values and country name could be easily removed with a carefull hand and a pencil eraser and warned us not to be deceived by what appears to be a variety.
The second half of the evening was taken up with a tour of Belgium told through Postcards and stamps and something of interest for all collectors.
November 2nd
Alan Crozier, John Spencer and Richard Page traveled to Hemel Hempstead in return for their visit to us, Richard was the first to display and his subject was Bird art on postage stamps, second on was Alan who gave a display of World War 2 material and John finished the evening with George 6th definitives of the Falkland Islands followed by postal stationery of various departments on the Islands.
November 1st
Bill Gibb was our guest for the evening, he had traveled down from the Fens to show us some of his collection of British West Indies. Bill started with Nevis. The early stamps were those of Great Britain. Later printings of Nissen and Parker were displayed to include colour trials, proofs, and postal stationery, There were only three post offices on the island and his strikes included Pre stamp material,
Bill showed us Virgin island material next with early correspondence and forgeries, Grenada from 1764 with fiscals and revenues from 1885, Anguilla independence, British Honduras and Belize, and to finish Postage dues of the West Indies, A most enjoyable evening enjoyed by a large turnout of members
October 4th
Three members from the Hemel Hempstead Society came to display material with Roger Dymond taking to the floor first. His display was based on the Royal mail Railway letter service from 1934 A west country air service was operated using a De Havaland Rapide aircraft and in the same year was expanded to Liverpool Various routes followed after this and in some cases where there were no airports grass tracks were used for landing,
The efficiency of the Air Letter service saw 450 Lbs of mail carried in 1933 rise to 5,625 in 1934 and 385,000 Lbs of mail in 1936.
Next on was Keith Wright who had a rare and varied display of Postal History of Bristol which when started was one of only six postal routes from London, His covers dated back to 1699 and later ones carried the 122 mileage mark his collection included a penny black cover from 1840
Colin Peachey rounded up the evening with Great Britain special event Postmarks, Colin is an expert on postmarks and has compiled a book on the subject, among the events covered was the 1862 International Exhibition.
September 6th
The first meeting at our new venue saw some old members return plus a new member to boost our numbers, The bourse and auction was a success as usual and most members agreed that the new meeting room was a warmer place with reasonable lighting.
June 7th
The AGM saw the Committee re-instated and all agreed it had been a good season with varied and interesting speakers. Most of the evening was covered by reasons for and against changing venues, members voted for a move to a warmer more reliable meeting place. It was proposed and agreed by most members to change to the Methodist Hall in North Street. After the break Brian Alcock gave a display of Aden Sea Posts.
May 10th
Three Members of the Leighton Buzzard Forces Post Office study group displayed material covering the full range of associated collectibles.
Founder member Alan Crozier introduced the group to the audience and gave a brief history of it's founding in 1995. Since then it has issued 48, 12 page bulletins. Alan showed material including a letter of 1826 from the War office and signed by Palmerston, Post cards issued for the troops, sensor marks overprints and Bisect stamps.
Jim Scannel displayed Sudan with Egypt overprints of the Camel Postman, Army Post marks, Pictorial Postage dues and mail sent by his Grandfather together with a letter from King George V.
James Norris gave a account of his Grandfathers travels as a soldier starting from 1917 at the Some traveling through France, Belgium and ending in Cologne in 1920. All covers were date stamped and endorsed, On Active Service.
April 21st
The East Midland Federation convention took place in St Ives and many of our members went along to enjoy a good day out. Many dealers were in attendance and those who had competition entries were all rewarded with high scores in all classes. The Leighton Buzzard Society came 4th overall. Well done everyone. A lovely spring day meant that most of us enjoyed a steady walk by the river into town to experience the busy Saturday market.
April 5th
Two members of the Stevenage section of the North Herts Philatelic Society came to our Society and gave displays of Submarines and Ships, plus Postmarks of Plymouth. Geoff Hopkins was the first to present his material to a well attended meeting, he gave us the History of Submarines from the First built by an American, David Bushnell which was used unsuccessfully in 1776 to sink the British Flagship as she lay in New York harbor and craft of 1859 through to the present day nuclear types. Also the Nautilus of 1880 and midget craft.
2001 saw the centenary of the British Submarine Service and many countries Issued stamps to commemorate the occasion including oddly enough Sierra Leone and Zambia.
Dave Belton took the second half of the evening and like Geoff before him presented us with 90 sheets of superb material. He started his display of Plymouth Postmarks with a letter from 1581 which included a mention of Sir Francis Drake. The land rate at this time was 6d from Devonport to Storehouse. It was more reliable in those days to send a letter from Plymouth to London by Sea Post due to the frequent mail coach robberies by highwaymen. The first Plymouth postmark was used in 1705 and Dave showed us marks from as early as 1729, Mileage marks were used in the 1780's and 90's with variants of the distance from London as 219 and 222, Other items on display were Napoleonic war letters Mulready envelopes and Sub post office marks. Thanks were extended to both our guests for a superb evening with such a wide variety of rare and unusual material.
March 1st
The Annual Auction saw fewer lots going under the hammer, but bidding was brisk and most lots were sold. Some at well over reserve.
February 1st
The Annual competition saw fewer entries than usual.
our Judge Alan Griffiths was pleased to see another improvement in mounting and arrangement and so awarded high marks for all who entered. Winners were:
General Philately--Rory Morrisey -- Thailand
postal History--Brian Allcock--Aden Sea posts,
Thematic--Joint first --Brian Allcock --Mush, Mush
Richard Page--The Osprey
My best six sheets-- Alan Crozier --England
Best in Show --The Palmer Trophy went to--Rory Morrisey-- Thailand.
January 25th
Four members of our society traveled to Amersham on a return visit to their Society. John Spencer displayed Falkland Island Covers, Alan Crozier-Germany "Atonement" Brian Allcock-Pitcairn Islands and Rory Morrisey showed part of his collection of Thailand. Members of both Societies agreed it had proved to be a most enjoyable evening.
January
The New year social was attended by members and their partners and with our friends from the Milton Keynes Society.
|