Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"Mrs. Maureen Mathieson"

"President's Night"

The society resumed on Friday 2nd September with a display entitled "Nifty Needles" by our recently installed President, Mrs Maureen Mathieson.

Many examples of different types of lace/embroidery were explained with examples of needlepoint lace (very intricate & done by hand); bobbin lace & machine made lace. These were shown through stamps & cards from various countries including Croatia, Belgium, France & Switzerland (an example of a lace stamp "appeared"). Other lace was shown, including "lace" made from recycled plastic milk bottle tops which was spun into thin yarn. Paper lace which was incorporated in to Valentine cards was also shown as were World War 1 Embroidered cards (sent home by servicemen) & a World War 2 "Hands across the Sea" card. Maureen explained that in Elizabethan times ladies had huge lace ruffles around the top of their dresses (at the neck). These lace hand produced lace strips were only 1 inch wide but 45 yards long; so much time was spent producing them. She concluded her first round with a display of no less than 95 postcards which showed the Bayeux tapestry.

For her second round Maureen continued into patchwork quilting which is used worldwide. Images of Amish patchwork were shown along with patchwork postcards which were sent from Vancouver, Canada. One of the cards shown was actually sent through the post. Other items on show included images of enormous banners from Kelvingrove Art Gallery; 12 in all (one for each month of the year) & entitled "Keeping Glasgow in Stitches". Embroidered football badges also featured as did tapestries from 13th century churches & Ecclesiastical Embroidery. The first beaded cover ever produced & which was part of the "Fabric of the Nation" stamps issue; a set of 40 issued by Singapore, was shown. She concluded her display with two enormous "Embroideries". The first was "The Hastings Embroidery" which depicts the story of the Sussex town from 1066 to 1965. The second was the story of "Operation Overlord", The D Day Landings" & which is situated in the D Day Museum in Portsmouth. Both of these embroideries were completed by the Royal School of Needlework.

Andy Napier gave the vote of thanks to Maureen commenting on what must have been a massive undertaking to put such a display together.

Our next meeting in the Hamilton Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is on Friday, 16th September, 2022, at 7:30pm when Mr Mike Turnbull of Falkirk Philatelic Society, will present "Aviation". 

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