Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

The Committee "Entertains"

"A whistle-stop tour of Jamaica" – this was the title of one of the Displays presented to the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society on Friday evening. This was the occasion when the Committee "Entertained" the members – and there were various "whistle-stop tours" given.

With postmarks, registered labels and postcards of Post Offices, the "whistle-stop" tour of Jamaica was presented by Terry Woods; 

Sheila Sinclair, with postcards and stamps took members round Alaska – the 49^th USA State – purchased from Russia on 7^th July 1958; 

then over to the Faroe Islands with David Haig – with maps and interesting postcard views;

and finally, more locally, over to the Isle of Arran where, with postcards – each with composite views – Margaret Lyth led members on a tour around the island.

Andy Napier was flying away from Fiji – The First Trans-Pacific Flight - from the USA to Australia – on 9^th June 1928, made a stopover in Fiji - the first airplane to land there – and a selection of covers posted on Fiji and carried on the next leg of the flight - from Suva, Fiji to Australia, was displayed.

Duncan McIntyre, with the help of covers issued by BOAC – was flying away to various destinations – stamps and postmarks identified the destinations.  

Ken Norris was in Gibraltar – he presented lovely commemorative covers of various Philatelic Events there.

War also featured. Postcards and mail sent from the Somme during WW1 – also German "Feldpost" mail – and a series of postcards of "Kaiser Bill" – both respectful and humorous – were displayed by Raymond Baldock; 

WW2 – displayed by Brian Dow – in April 1940, Germany invaded Norway and this necessitated the overprinting of German stamps with the letter "V" (Victory by Germany). The Norwegian Government-in-Exile issued stamps – printed in London and posted at sea on Norwegian ships; 

Gary Cheyne displayed the beginning of the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. The war began in Andalucia and stamps, charity stamps and Fund raising stamps, propaganda and paper money issued there were displayed – along with covers and mail sent out at this time.

A surprising miscellaneous postcard display –  humorous, vulgar, naughty, advertising – was presented by Ken Liddell;

and finally, as this is 2020, a Leap Year, Beata Sim gave a display of mail covers posted on the 29^th February 1972 – the last day to use pre-decimalisation stamps.

Dr Ken Liddell led members is giving warm thanks to all who had presented such an interesting selection of displays – and also thanked Ken Norris for sponsoring the evening.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, 17^th  January, 2020, at 7:30pm when Dr Brian Dow, will present his display of "Farming"

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