After a gap of two years, twenty-six members and guests attended the Member’s Weekend Meeting at the Three Swans, Market Harborough from the 22nd – 24th April. Following the Friday evening meal, there was the traditional “Three sheets to Tell a Story”, which was won by Alan Moorcroft with his “The Transportation of Marie Le Nobel from Jersey”.
Saturday morning commenced bright and early with members viewing some of the 700+ lots for the room and postal auction. With bidding starting briskly, the 700+ lots were cleared in a little over two hours. Thanks must go to Nick Stuart, who presided as auctioneer, and Bryan Elliston, who acted as accountant. Grateful thanks must also go to Mark Bailey and Richard Flemming, who acted as ‘runners’.
Following lunch, Saturday afternoon was taken up with three main displays starting with David Winnie’s excellent 100+ sheet display titled ALDERNEY. This was followed by Gerald Marriner’s extensive study titled The Effect of the Mail Service during the German Occupation. The afternoon concluded with Bryan Elliston’s display titled A Call to Arms – Life and times of the Guernsey Arms stamp.
Saturday evening saw members gathering for an excellent Annual Dinner and a post-dinner quiz, kindly organized by Nick Stuart, that had most people stumped.
Sunday morning was taken up with a further two main displays starting with Gavin Wood and his display on SARK during the Occupation and Julian Bagwell with Early Guernsey Philately. Between these two main displays, and his need to depart from the meeting early, Ron Osborne gave a fine 33-sheet display that included a Jersey – York wrapper dated 23rd November 1840 bearing a QV 1d black and an 1871 cover from Guernsey to Bengal bearing a scarce 9d ‘straw- coloured’ adhesive. The rest of the morning was taken up with four shorter displays, starting with Alan Moorcroft with his display titled Channel Islands mail sent under franking privileges; which was followed by David Laurillard’s display titled A Tour of Jersey’s Martello towers by postcard. Next came Brian Sole with his display titled Royalty Issues by Jersey, and finally, Richard Flemming with his 16-sheet display titled Mail between the Channel Islands and France 1760 – 1843. David Winnie, Chairman concluded the weekend meeting by giving his thanks to all members who had provided their excellent displays and all members and guests for attending. He also looked forward to meeting everyone again in April 2023 at the Peninsula Hotel in Guernsey.
Images courtesy of Mark Bailey and Richard Flemming