Journal Articles

Given the continuing Government Covid-19 restrictions and the uncertainty for these being lifted by the 21stJune 2021, our long weekend planned for July has regrettably been postponed. I know this is disappointing, but it is essential that the Executive Committee makes this decision now to advise you in good time.

However, I am pleased to inform the membership that we have re -booked the Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough for the 22^nd – 24^th April 2022, this being our historical and traditional month for our CISS long weekends.

Please note these important dates.

As an alternative to the long weekend, we are sure you would wish to know that we are in discussion with the RPSL, London to establish whether it would be possible to hold a Member’s Day meeting on Saturday 24^th July 2021. Naturally, this will be dependent on Covid-19 restrictions being lifted at that time. When and if arrangements are firmed up, we will let you know and provide details of the theme for the meeting.

Twenty-nine members attended the first Member’s Meeting held via Zoom video conference on Saturday, 17th April, with four apologies received. The benefits of such a meeting became evident when members from New Zealand, the USA and Europe were able to attend without the expense of travelling to London, allowing distant members to become more engaged in the activities of the Society.

Thanks must go to Gerald Marriner and Nick Stuart for providing the two excellent, high quality displays which were much appreciated by the audience. Gerald’s display consisted of 44-slides titled “Jersey and Sark Destination Mail”, whilst Nick Stuart’s thirty-eight slide display featured some interesting errors, flaws and constant varieties of the first Guernsey pre-decimal and decimal definitives.

For the benefit of members who could not attend, or who wish to look at the displays again, the two presentations were recorded during the meeting via YouTube and are accessible for logged-in members to view on our “News” page of the Society’s website: www.ciss.uk.

Hopefully, by the time you receive this issue of Les Iles Normandes some of the Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted and we can start holding meetings at the Royal again. Please see details below. Despite the Covid restrictions, I am pleased to report that we were able to hold our Annual Competition Day. I wish to thank those who submitted entries to the Competitions Secretary for judging, and congratulations to the class winners – see page 34. On the 17th April we held our first Member’s Meeting via Zoom, which I have to say was a great success. Thank you to all of you who joined us, even if it was 1.00am local time for John Goose in New Zealand (2.00pm BST). Feedback has been positive and we may be adding an annual Zoom meeting as an addition to our usual meetings programme. A brief report on the Zoom meeting is to be found on the next page.

Hopefully, you have all received notification that the Member’s Weekend meeting at Market Harborough 23rd – 25th July 2021 is postponed until April 2022. Unfortunately, the hotel could not confirm that it could permit that weekend as it all depended on the Covid restrictions in place at the time. At least, by holding the Member’s Weekend Meeting during April next year means that we will be back on track for our usual Spring weekend meetings. As a replacement I have arranged for a Member’s Meeting at the Royal Philatelic Society London on the 24th July 2021, meeting at 10.30am (see below).

Take care, keep safe and hope to see you at the Royal in July.

Proposed forthcoming meetings:

24th July 2021                   Member’s Meeting. Theme: Smaller Channel Islands.

25th September 2021     Annual General Meeting and room auction/displays.

4th December 2021        Member’s Meeting. Theme: Letters Q, R and/or S.

It is anticipated that this meeting will be held at the Royal Philatelic Society London, 15, Abchurch Lane, London, EC4N 7BW subject to Covid-19 restrictions in force at the time. For latest information about any of the above meetings please visit the Society’s website at www.ciss.uk, or for those members who cannot access the website, the Secretary may advise you by letter of any change before the next Journal, if timing requires or allows this. Please be aware that current Covid-19 restrictions at the Royal require members to wear a face mask indoors and to keep 2m apart.