Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"The ASPS President presents....."

Mr. Graham Mill

The Lanarkshire Philatelic Society had a most enjoyable Opening Meeting on Friday evening (13^th). The President of the ASPS (Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies), Mr Graham Mill, was the guest speaker. Graham had, very kindly, stepped in at short notice as our incoming President was unwell. We extend our thanks to Graham for so doing.

He presented a wonderfully varied selection of displays – beginning with a memorable show of souvenir Covers from each annual ASPS Congress from 1962 onward. Each was designed by the Society sponsoring the Congress for that year and usually depicted either a famous building in their town or a special historic event that has happened there. The special Postmark that was also designed for the occasion. Special covers marking the 200^th Anniversary of the RNLI were displayed.

A colourful show of postcards and covers showing the Mull and West Highland Railway when it ran on the island of Mull from Craignure to Torosay Castle. This narrow gauge railway opened in 1983 and a wonderful selection of illustrations of the engines and the carriages was viewed. It closed in 2010.

Next a wonderful array of Special Scottish Handstamps issued by the Special Handstamp Centre – amongst these were included the Handstamps for - Glasgow City of Culture; Centenary of the Forth Bridge; William Grant and Son, Dufftown; Golf – Open Championship at St Andrews – and many others!

The Boys Brigade was well represented in covers, stamps, postmarks, postcards – and included interesting copies of 2 letters sent by a young camper to his mum in 1905 – detailing all the things the campers were doing throughout the day.

Finally – a display of commemorative stamps of Belgium issued through the years – including views of the wonderful "Flower Carpet" held every 2 years in Brussels in the Grand-Place.

Vice President, Robert Watt, accorded a warm thanks to Graham Mill for presenting members with such an interesting and varied display of the different genres members like to collect!

Our next meeting in the Hamilton Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is next Friday, 20^th September 2024, at 7:30pm when (all being well) our new President will display. 

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