Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"David Livingstone"

Mr. Chris. Moffat

Members of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society were delighted to be hearing, at their meeting last Friday, (4^th) about their "local celebrity hero" David Livingstone of Blantyre. This was presented by Chris Moffat of East Kilbride – and it proved to be an amazing display!

Chris had many very old postcards illustrating different aspects of Livingstone’s life – his boyhood, his training as a doctor, and his later life as an explorer and missionary. More showed his travels and service in South Africa - where he met and married Mary Moffat, daughter of Scottish missionary, Robert Moffat. Maps and postcards outlining Livingstone’s travels through Africa were displayed – his exploration of central Africa 1854-56; his Zambesi expedition of 1858-64 and his attempt to find the source of the River Nile 1866 – 1871. Within these displays were postcards, stamps and miniature sheets showing him preaching the Gospel, dealing with the Arab slave traders and freeing slaves from their shackles.

His discovery of the magnificent Victoria Falls (named after Queen Victoria) was well documented on both postcards and stamps. So also, was his famous meeting with Henry Morton Stanley – ("Dr Livingstone, I presume") – & their travels together along with various postcards showing a model of the hut in which Livingstone died, in prayer, on 1^st May, 1873. The tree under which his heart was buried was also viewed. A postcard showed the plaque in Westminster Abbey marking where his body was buried.

There were many views of both the interior and exterior of the house at Blantyre Mill, Lanarkshire  –  also of the 6 light up tableaux showing incidents in his life; and of the shrine with the memorial tablet  - all within the memorial. Postcards showed the statue, in the grounds of the Memorial, of the lion attacking Livingstone – during which his left arm was severely damaged; views of the memorial bridge & of the memorial Church – all in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. 

Some covers bearing the stamp – depicting the head of Livingstone - issued by the Hamilton and Blantyre Scouts in 1988 as their Christmas Post were displayed.

Some interesting views of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa – named after the Lanarkshire town were shown – as were views of Livingstonia, Malawi, and a view of the Livingstone/Stanley Memorial at the site where the two men met & of various statues of Livingstone around the world. 

Along with showing the displays Chris also gave an excellent talk about Livingstone’s life and mission.

Ed Archer, led members in giving thanks to Chris Moffat for giving such an informative, educational and interesting display.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday 18^th March, 2016, at 7:30pm when Robin Sherman FRPSL, from Edinburgh, will give his display of "Falklands". 

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.