Click here to view the December 2019 issue of the New Midlander. Any copy for the next edition should be delivered to the Editor, Dr. Ken Flint by the last week in January for publication on 1st February 2020.
The meetings of Stratford-upon-Avon Philatelic Society on 27th Nov and 11th Dec will now be held at the previous venue of the Sports Centre Community Room at Stratford-upon-Avon School in Alcester Road, CV37 9DH as unfortunately Stratford Racecourse suffered from the recent flooding (the Press Room will not be available until the new year). The dates, times and subjects are unchanged, just the venue changes. When we start again at the Racecourse on 15th January 2020, the meetings will be in the Bar area next to the Press Room, instead of in the Press Room. This is intended to solve problems such as the lack of lighting around the disabled ramp to the Press Room and the slightly cramped conditions in the room.
The Autumn 2019 MPF Convention was held on November 10th at the Banbury Festival of Stamps, and included the MPF 2019 Individual 16-sheet competition, with Cilve Jones winning Best-in-Show with a Large Gold medal for a display of "Insured Mail". The full results of the competition are here.
Following discussion and agreement at the MPF Convention, the MPF Competition marking schemes have been updated in line with that of the ABPS and FIP. The minutes of the MPF meeting are here.
The list of dealers for the November Knowle Stamp Fair on 17th November is here (9:30am to 4pm).
An updated copy of the MPF List of Speakers is available here (November 2019). If you spot any errors then please let the MPF General Secretary know as soon as possible so that the list can be corrected.
After a few months of declining attendance and declining dealer numbers Andrew Vaughan is trying to revitalise the Knowle Stamp Fair. It takes place on the third Sunday of every month except May. Please try to attend this fair and also try to publicise it to other members as too many stamp fairs are disappearing these days. See here for the dealers at the next fair on 20th October 2019.
The ABPS Executive Bulletin dated August 2019 (see here) includes news from the ABPS AGM held at York on 20th July. George Henshilwood has now been appointed as Secretary with Neil Ritchie moving to a key role in assisting the development of the ABPS website. Our MPF chairman Steve Harrison was appointed ABPS Vice-Chairman. The ABPS capitation fee will be £1.50 per member from 1st January 2020. Presentations were made at the AGM to winners of the Award of Merit and the Congress Medal was presented to Gerald Marriner.
Click here to view the October 2019 issue of the New Midlander. Any copy for the next edition should be delivered to the Editor, Dr. Ken Flint by 24th November for publication on 1st December 2019. The entry form for the MPF Autumn 2019 Individual 16-sheet competition is included in this New Midlander, with a closing date for entries of Sunday 20th October.
Click here to view the August 2019 issue of the New Midlander. Any copy for the next edition should be delivered to the Editor, Dr. Ken Flint by 24th September for publication on 1st October 2019. Ken is particularly looking for articles of a philatelic nature.
Initial feedback on Midpex 2019 has been very positive from collectors and dealers. Thanks to all dealers, societies and collectors who attended. A provisional date for your diaries is Saturday 3rd July 2021 at the same venue, subject to a more detailed review of proceedings and to contractual agreement.
Click here to view the special "MIDPEX" June 2019 issue of the New Midlander. MIDPEX 2019 was held at the Warwickshire Event Centre on Saturday July 6th 2019, from 10 am to 4.30 pm (ample free car parking, no entrance fee). The event in 2019 attracted superb support with around 60 dealers, including post cards, stamps, postal history, accessories and ephemera, and nearly 40 Specialist Societies.
From September 2019 Stratford-upon-Avon Philatelic Society will be meeting at The Press Room, Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, Luddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9SE.
The Midland Philatelic Federation’s Annual General Meeting was held at 12 noon on May 19th 2019 at the Benn Hall, Newbold Road, Rugby CV21 2LN in conjunction with the Rugby Stamp Fair. Michael Chapling was elected as Treasurer, having been standing-in since the very unfortunate death of Mark Rollason, and Roger Williams has been elected as Competitions Officer. The Minutes of the AGM are here. The results of the MPF Spring 2019 Inter-Society competitions are here, with John Walker winning Best-in-Show with a Gold medal for a display of "Stars and Bars Flags".
Unfortunately due to falling numbers Aldridge Philatelic Society has had to close, as of May 2019.
The Midland Philatelic Federation’s Annual General Meeting and Spring Convention was held in conjunction with the Rugby Stamp Fair on May 19th 2019. The Annual General Meeting took place at 12 noon. The Spring Convention included the MPF 9-Sheet Inter Society Competitions.
Click here to view the April 2019 issue of the New Midlander. The next issue will be a special Midpex 2019 edition and will be sent out at the start of June. Any important notices for this issue should be sent to the Editor, Dr. Ken Flint by 24th May.
The MPF Committee is very grateful to Michael Chapling who has volunteered to take over as MPF Treasurer, and he has been co-opted on to the MPF committee, to be formally elected as Treasurer at the MPF AGM in May.
It is with great regret that we have to inform members that Mark Rollason, our MPF Treasurer, has died suddenly and totally unexpectedly at the age of 53. Mark's funeral was on Tuesday February 19th at 11.15 at Cannon Hill Chapel, Canley Crematorium, CV4 7JT.
Click here to view the February 2019 issue of the New Midlander. Any copy for the next edition should be delivered to the Editor, Dr. Ken Flint by 24th March for publication on 1st April 2019.
The January 2019 ABPS Exhibitions Newsletter is available here.