Forty-two members and guests attended the Members’ Weekend meeting. On arrival, members enjoyed tea, coffee and biscuits and were able to view the fine 80-sheet standing display of postcards showing Guernsey churches and hotels, including items of the late Victorian period, kindly provided by Jill Flemming.
Following the evening dinner, the traditional “Three sheets to tell a story” competition was held, which saw seven members entering displays. With Richard and Jill Flemming scrutinising the score sheets, they were pleased to announce that the winner was Roger Harris with his display titled “A photograph sent from England to Jersey in December 1940, when the only permitted means was by the 25-word Red Cross Message”, with Gerald Marriner as runner-up.
Saturday morning was taken up with the bourse, which saw some energetic dealing taking place with the dealers from the Channel Islands, and the viewing of the 700+ auction lots. Following coffee, it was down to the business of the room/postal auction which saw the lots cleared in just over two hours. Our grateful thanks to Nick Stuart, our auctioneer, Bryan Elliston, who kept the sales logged, and Richard Flemming and Mark Bailey, who acted as the runners, and to all those members who bid for the lots. Without your bidding there would be no auction.
Saturday afternoon saw two excellent invited displays, with Chairman, David Winnie, showing “Guernsey sub-Post Offices”, and Jon Aitchison showing “The Long Lost Bill Newport and Anders Backman Herm Collection”.
The evening commenced with a drinks reception followed by the “banquet” attended by members, guests and two special guests from the Guernsey Philatelic Bureau, Bridget Yabsley (Head of Philatelic – Guernsey Post Ltd.) and Dawn Gallienne (Head of Corporate Engagement – Guernsey Post Ltd.), both very kindly bringing gifts from the Bureau.
Displays on the Sunday morning session were provided by the following members: Mike Moody, Ron Brown, Trevor de Feu, Julian Bagwell, Nick Stuart, Richard Flemming, John Triggs, Gerald Marriner, Brian Sole, Roger Harris, David Laurillard and Bob Macdonald.
More details on the displays shown at the meeting will appear in the September issue of Les Iles Normandes, but some images of members presenting a display are shown below.
