CISS Members’ Meeting at EuroPhilEx 2025, NEC, Birmingham, Saturday, 10 May

Thirteen members and one guest attend the Members’ Meeting as part of EuroPhilEx 2025 held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Six members provided some enlightening displays:
Richard Flemming – Mail from the Channel Islands to Overseas Destinations 1845 – 1880 David Winnie – Early Channel Islands Kragg cancellations Nick Stuart – Forwarding Agents Gerald Marriner – Overseas Destination Mail James Grimwood-Taylor – Many Different Islands, including early Alderney and Sark items Nick Martin – French Channel Island Mail: Chausey, Mont Michel

CISS Members and guest attending the Members Meeting at EuroPhilEx 2025 – Photo by Richard Flemming

CISS 75th ANNIVERSARY MEMBERS’ WEEKEND, PENINSULA HOTEL, GUERNSEY 11 – 13 APRIL

Whilst the official opening of this event was scheduled at 4pm on the Friday, those members of the Society who had arrived early were able to participate in two events, ably organised by John Triggs, On Friday morning, 12 members and guests visited Guernsey Post headquarters at Envoy House for a tour of their updated facilities to include the Philatelic Bureau. At 1.30pm, there was a meeting of the Royal Philatelic Society London hosted by John at which 15 members and guests were entertained by displays, specifically of non – Channel Island material. The quality of material shown was extremely high and everyone was “royally” entertained.
The official opening of the CISS Anniversary weekend commenced for the 43 members and guests in the Grande Havre Suite at the Peninsula Hotel, Guernsey with an informal tea and coffee “Welcome” by the Chairman, David Winnie. A most interesting standing display of postcards was also provided by John Triggs titled “Candie House – Priaulx Library estate history – Postcards of Priaulx Library, Candie grounds and garden”. The evening’s splendid hot buffet was followed by the new “Single Sheet to tell a Story” competition which saw seven members provide a wide range of material. Following the voting, scrutinised by our Chairman, he was “overjoyed” to announce that Jill Flemming, with her display titled ‘The Monnai Church’ was the winner, with Richard Flemming a close second, something Jill will remind him for the rest of his life!
Saturday morning commenced with the viewing of the 596 auction lots and dealers’ bourse, with the dealers seeing some brisk business. At 11.00am prompt the main auction commenced, with Nick Stuart acting as Auctioneer, Bryan Elliston recording the bids and Jill Flemming and John Triggs acting as ‘runners’. Of note were the prices realised for some of the Allix postcards, with many far exceeding their reserve.
The afternoon was taken up with two invited major members’ displays, commencing with Gerald Marriner showing “The Channel Islands Internee Mail Service”, followed by John Triggs displaying “Guernsey Parish Sub-Post offices”. These were particularly well received.
The evening celebrations began with a pre-dinner drinks reception provided by the Society with special guests, Bridget Yabsley and Lorraine Ecuyer from the Guernsey Post in attendance. This was followed by a most excellent four-course Anniversary dinner. David Winnie then addressed the members and guests by detailing the history of the Society over the last 75 years and what steps were being taken to retain and recruit new members to ensure future of the Society going forward. The final “surprise” was a magnificent CISS 75th Anniversary cake which was ceremonially cut by Beryl Laurillard, wife of CISS President David Laurillard.
Despite the late-night finish, 12 members, who were presenting, were up bright and early on Sunday morning to provide a wide range of Channel Islands material for the “Members’ Displays” session. These were most enjoyable and much appreciated by the audience of members and guests. The presentations were provided by:
John Triggs – Guernsey Sub-Post Offices
David Winnie – New acquisitions
Richard Flemming – German Occupation of Alderney 1940 – 1945
Gerald Marriner – An Unusual Red Cross Message Form
Robert Corden – New acquisitions
Brian Austin – Liberation
Julian Bagwell – Guernsey Ship Letter Handstamps
Peter Williams – Two items relating to his childhood in the Channel Islands
Roger Harris – Channel Islands Airmails
John Stranger – 100th Anniversary of Flown Cover
The 75th Anniversary Weekend meeting ended at 1.00pm, with Chairman, David Winnie, thanking all those members and guests who attended for making the Weekend such a memorable occasion.

Jill Flemming receiving certificate and Easter egg prize from David Winnie, Chairman
John Triggs (left) and Gerald Marriner, who provided the two main presentations on Saturday afternoon.
Thirty-seven members and guests attended the CISS’s 75th Anniversary drinks reception at the Peninsula
The 75th Anniversary cake prior to cutting by Beryl
Beryl Laurillard cutting the cake with guests, Bridget Yabsley (right) and Lorraine Ecuyer (centre), President, David Laurillard, and Chairman, David Winnie, looking on,

Anniversary Conference – Programme

Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025

The Peninsula Hotel, Les Dicqs, Vale, Guernsey GY6 8JP

Friday 11 April

10:00Visit to Guernsey Post, Envoy House, La Vranque, St Peter Port. Depart from hotel at 09.40
13:00Regional Meeting of the RPSL hosted by John Triggs, FRPSL
Non-RPSL members welcome
Tea and Coffee at 13.00
16:00Official Opening and Welcome to the Member’s Anniversary Meeting with tea and coffee
19:00Buffet Supper
20:30Single Sheet Competition

Saturday 13 April

09:00Bourse and Viewing of Auction Lots (including tea/coffee at 10.30)
11:00Room Auction
13:00Lunch (not included)
14:30Invited Member’s Display:
Gerald Marriner, FRPSL –
“Channel Islands Internee Mail Service”
15:30Tea / Coffee
15:45Invited Member’s display –
John Triggs, FRPSL:
“Guernsey Parish Sub-post Offices”
18:45Drinks Reception
19:3075th Anniversary Dinner

Sunday 14 April

09:30Members’ Displays
11:00Tea / Coffee
11:15Members’ Displays
13:00Close of Meeting and Lunch (not included)

Standing Display

NB: There will be a standing display kindly provided by John Triggs:

Candie House – The Priaulx Library Estate History – Postcards of Priaulx Library, Candie Grounds and Garden”

Attendees

Brian Austin

Julian and Barbara Bagwell

Ann Brehaut

Stan Challis (Guest)

Robert and Maria Corden

Lorraine Ecuyer (Guernsey Post)

Bryan Elliston (Treasurer)

Richard and Jill Flemming (Secretary)

Roger and Linda Harris

David and Beryl Laurillard (President)

Gerald Marriner and Nellie Ramlogan

Nick and Sara Martin (Editor)

Robert McDonald

Jocelyn McKenzie

Peter Mollett

Kim and Janet Pitts

Andrew Rundle

John and Maureen Stranger

Nicholas Stuart (Auctioneer)

Derek and Sue Tomlin

John and Carol Triggs

Colin and Carol Turner

Steve Wells

Norman Wilkinson

Peter Williams

David and Sue Winnie (Chairman)

Gavin Wood and Guanglan Chen

Bridget Yabsley (Guernsey Post)

CISS ANNUAL COMPETITION DAY AT THE RPSL, SATURDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2025

Fourteen members and three guests attended the 2025 Annual Competition Day held at the Royal Philatelic Society London. Twelve competition entries were submitted to Julian Bagwell, CISS Competition Secretary, covering four competition classes: Occupation Postal History and Markings, Postal History, Stamps and Postcards, with entries from the UK, Channel Islands and New Zealand. The entries were judged by Graham Winters and Patrick Reid prior to the event, with Graham Winters attending the RPSL on the day to provide valuable feedback on each competition entry.

Further information on all of the 2025 competition entries can be found on the CISS website at www.ciss.uk, and click on the ‘Competitions’ page, then open ‘Competition 2025’. Just by clicking on each individual image all pages of each competition entry can be viewed.

Graham Winters providing feedback on one of the 2025 CISS Competition Day entries

Graham Winters with those 2025 Competition entrants who were present at the RPSL. From left to right: Bryan Elliston, Richard Flemming, Julian Bagwell, Graham Winters (one of the two judges for the 2025 competition entries), David Winnie, Nick Stuart and Jill Flemming.

Julian Bagwell, CISS Competition Secretary, with Graham Winters

Long-standing CISS member, David Gurney FRPSL, awarded Honorary Life Membership

At the Member’s Meeting held at the Royal Philatelic Society London on Saturday, 8 February 2025, long-standing member of the Channel Islands Specialists’ Society, David Gurney FRPSL, was awarded the status of Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his substantial contribution to the Society.

David joined the Society in November 1970 and in September 1974 became Packet Superintendent, a position he held until June 1995 when he became Auction Secretary. In June 1999, David took on the position of Journal Editor, a post which he held until December 2023.

Not only has David held many committee positions, he has produced numerous textbooks on Channel Islands philately, including Channel Islands Sub-Post Offices and their Postmarks (1983), Red Cross Postal Message Scheme with the Channel Islands during the Occupation 1940 – 45 (1992), The Post Offices of the Smaller Channel Islands (1993), The Postal History of the Guernsey Sub-Post Offices (1995). The Postal History of the Jersey Sub-Post Offices (1995, and Letter Forwarding Agents of Great Britain handling Channel Islands letters 1673 – 1855 (2011).

David Winnie, Chairman, Channel Islands Specialists’ Society, presenting David Gurney FRPSL with his Honorary Life Membership certificate at the Member’s Meeting held on Saturday, 8 February 2025 at the RPSL.

CISS members’ display at the Royal Philatelic Society London on Thursday, 9 January 2025 to celebrate the society’s 75th anniversary

Nineteen displays by members filled the 54 frames at the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) on Thursday, 9 January 2025. Exhibits ranged from early Forwarding Agents, Ship Letter Mail, Sub-Post Offices, Smaller Channel Islands, the German Occupation, 3rd Anniversary of Channel Islands Liberation, Postal Independence and four frames of postcards, to name but a few. Comments received from members of the RPSL and CISS members attending the exhibition included “…amazed at the depth of material on display”, “An amazing display”, “Such a superb display” and, “…you have raised the profile of the CISS with the quality of material on display”. The exhibition booklet also came in for praise as to its content and quality; a copy of which each member of the CISS will receive in due course.

A buffet and drinks reception followed in the evening at which James Podger FRPSL gave the” “Vote of Thanks”, and the newly elected President of the RPSL, Simon Richards FRPSL, gave a special thank you to CISS President, David Laurillard for the society’s efforts in putting on such a wonderful display of material. He then presented each member who provided exhibits with a “Certificate of appreciation”.

James Podger FRPSL giving the “Vote of Thanks” to CISS members present at the awards ceremony
CISS President, David Laurillard with the President of the RPSL, Simon Richards FRPSL
CISS Members at the presentation of certificates by Simon Richards, President RPSL

All photographs by courtesy of the Royal Philatelic Society London

Member’s Meeting at the Royal Philatelic Society London on Saturday, 30 November 2024.

The meeting will commence at 11.00am with a 50-lot room auction followed by members’ displays of exhibits that will be shown at the CISS 75th Anniversary Event that will be held at the RPSL during January 2025. Please can I remind members who wish to bring material for display on the 30 November to bring only ONE display of 16 or 32 sheets.

The afternoon session, commencing at 14.00GMT, will comprise of two members showing one of their exhibits to members via Zoom. Gerald Marriner will be showing Jersey Postage Due Instructional Marks, and Alan Moorcroft will be showing The 1940 Evacuation of the Channel Islands. It is anticipated that each display will last approximately 20 – 30 minutes. Zoom login details are shown below.

Zoom meeting ID: 892 3949 0310 Passcode: CISS30! or the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89239490310?pwd=h2QFra6Rwk1iDHwZCNU85atGAKirvG.1

Remember, if you do not have the Zoom app on you computer/tablet you will need to upload it onto your device to access the meeting.