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.
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