Kenneth Eric Norris FRPSL

11 March 1937 to 22 April 2023

Obituary, written by Dr. Brian C. Dow, which appeared in ABPS News, Autumn 2023

Just before Ken went into hospital, he had completed over 50 years of perfect attendance in the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society for which he was still Minute Secretary, Roll Keeper, Auctioneer and Honorary President (having already been President twice and also Secretary).

One of these 1000 or so meetings did however clash with attendance at a wedding, but he still managed to sign the book that evening and returned for the rest of the wedding reception.

It was with the Lanarkshire that Ken was Congress Delegate and when Lanarkshire hosted Congress for the second time, he became the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies (ASPS) President.

Eight years later, Ken’s commitment to advancing philately was acknowledged by the ASPS when he was the 15^th recipient of the Alex McConnell Medal. It was also with the Lanarkshire, that Ken gave the Tom Rielly display in 2004.

Ken was also a member of many other clubs and societies. In the Caledonian Philatelic Society, he was variously president, secretary and, latterly,       auctioneer.

Indeed, a visit to Ken’s around January to March of any year you would be faced with a staircase reduced to half its width by the various auction lots for various societies. Via the Caledonian, Ken helped at the 88^th Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in Renfrew in 2006, when he was a member of the Organising Committee. It was at this event that Ken was awarded the Congress Medal in recognition of dedication and voluntary service to British philately atnational level. Despite being averse to email and computers, during Covid lockdown Ken was eventually coaxed into the 21^st Century by Elizabeth Nairn and did attend several Caley Zoom meetings.

Ken’s local and specialist societies are too numerous to list - fifteen or so - but includethe Royal Philatelic Society of London of which he was a Fellow. Ken attended many Dorothy Martin North-East Weekends in Newcastle and he was very active in the organising committee for the Dundee Weekends. Ken was also involved in promoting youth philately - initially in Stonelaw High School, but also at Morningside Primary Newmains and with Elizabeth Nairn at Burnside Primary.

If you are a stamp collector you may well have encountered Ken when he visited other societies to display his various collections – Ships and all their elusive cachets; Gibraltar; David Livingstone, Superlatives, Scottish Postal History through Edwardian postcards or perhaps many other topics.

He also helped judge not only society competitions but also served as a National judge and helped in the Bin Room for many Scottish Congresses. Ken was also in the organising committee for Glasgow 2000.

Ken loved Philately. Ken lived Philately. Philately will miss Ken.                 

Dr Brian Dow

Ken celebrating his 86th birthday