|
CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME MESSAGE - TREVOR CORNFORD, FRGS
A
WARM WELCOME to our new Website, from myself and all the Committee.
It
is very pleasing to take another step forward in promoting our Society and hobby. Not only widening its appeal, making it
easier to join or find information, but most importantly perhaps, have a forum for all members, established or new, to have
a 2 way communication with us and each other.
I
hope you will browse the site, especially the EVENTS page, and see the attractions we can add to your special area of interest – and if you do not find it, tell
us.
Better
still, contact the POLAR POST EDITOR John Youle who is pleased to receive articles to enhance knowledge, pose questions, or simply provide an interesting philatelic
story.
While
I personally specialise in the Scott/Shackleton Expeditions, of the Heroic Age, the rest of the Committee equally show the
diverse collecting interests of members generally, from modern Indian Antarctic bases to Whaling mail and studies of cancellations
and Expedition Postcards to Thematic or Social History, both North and South.
Over
the years this diversity has expanded the appeal to collectors from all around the World. Newer subjects such as old Photos,
QSL cards, Literature, original letters and maps, now all catch members’ attention.
This
diversity means we are in touch with most collectors’ sphere of interest and can point enquiries in the right direction.
We
thus act as a broader fulcrum for collectors who may also have specialist society memberships such as Scandinavian or Thematic
where we embrace such interests.
If you are interested in either or both of the Polar Regions, North and South,
please try us out – the Application form can be downloaded from this site.
Please
specify your range of interests on the Application, but whatever they are, you will receive a sample past copy of Polar Post on joining, and shared enthusiasm.
Welcome
again!
27th February 2010: The PPHSGB Annual General
Meeting and London Spring Meeting will take place at Philatex, the Horticultural Hall, corner of Greycoat Street & Elverton
Street, London SW1 in Room 32 from 15.00 to 17.00.
!NEW! 2nd October 2009 to 11th April 2010 – THE HEART of the GREAT ALONE – An Exhibition of Antarctic photographs taken by Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley
at the Queen’s Gallery, Holyroodhouse, EDINBURGH, Scotland. For more details please go to:http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/HOTGA/
!NEW! November 2009 to March 2010 –
UKAHT at Port Lockroy. Port Lockroy is one of the most visited tourist sites
within the area governed by the Antarctic Treaty and one of only a few to have a post office. You can follow
events at Port Lockroy on the UKAHT Website:http://www.ukaht.org/diaries.html
There is
a larger team this season and major building work is planned for January/February 2010 after the Gentoo Penguin chicks have
hatched. A Nissan Hut is to be erected to serve as accommodation for the UKAHT team. Please bear in mind when sending philatelic
requests to Port Lockroy (via the Post Office, Stanley, Falkland Islands, FIQQ 1ZZ) that the UKAHT is a registered charity
and the team is made up of volunteers. All donations are very welcome. Please also bear in mind that the possibilities for
getting mail from Stanley to Port Lockroy are limited and that the seasonal Port Lockroy Post Office closes at the beginning
of March and does not re-open before the first or second week of November.
1st January
2010: New Stamp Issues TAAF. 8 individual stamps and 2 souvenir sheets are to be issued. They can be viewed in colour
at:http://www.taaf.fr/rubriques/philatelie/timbres/philatelie_timbres.htm
23rd December 2009: New Stamp Issue: The Centenary of the South Georgia Post Office – Details
with illustrations in colour of the issue are available at: http://falklandstamps.com/
!Modified! 9th December 2009: Grosvenor Auction, Session 2 at 2pm.
This session included lots 554 to 813 relating to the
Falkland Islands and Dependencies (including South Georgia) and lots 814 to 849 relating to Antarctica.
There were some superb classic items available as well as more modern lots.
The highlight among the Antarctic items was Lot 826, an envelope sent by Titus Oates to his mother bearing two “Victoria
Land” 1d stamps cancelled 9th February 1911 (9 FE 11). This item realised £3200 against an estimate of £1000
to £1200.The auction catalogue and realisations are available
in PDF format on the Grosvenor Auctions Website: http://www.grosvenorauctions.com/
3rd December
2009: Centenary of the Opening of the Post Office on South Georgia. The earliest postmark date recorded is 22nd December
1909 and the first post was despatched on the SS Cachalote on 23rd December 1909. A postal canceller of the Falkland Islands
was used in combination with a one-line hand stamp reading SOUTH GEORGIA.
 Postcard sent with
the First Post from South Georgia postmarked on 22nd December 1909 with Falkland Islands’ Canceller F.4D and bearing
the large SOUTH GEORGIA Imprint (ex. Heijtz).
1st December 2009: 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in Washington
D.C. by 12 Nations. To date Chile (EXPO ANTARTICA $270 stamp issued 18th March 2009), BAT (Antarctic Fauna – six stamps
issued 6th November 2009), Ross Dependency (five stamps issued 25th November 2009) and TAAF (€0.56 Penguins and
map issued 1st December 2009) have issued stamps relating to the event. In the past most countries have commemorated the entry
into force of the Treaty on 23rd June 1961 and thus further issues are expected in 2011.
 25th November 2009: New
Issue Ross Dependency: 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty - Details with illustrations in colour of the issue
are available at:http://stamps.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/
18th November 2009: The December issue
of Polar Post was distributed ahead of schedule
despite the recent strike action by postal workers. The issue includes 2010 Calendar Cards for the Falkland Islands and South
Georgia kindly provided by Tim Underwood of Creative Direction (Worldwide)
Ltd on behalf of the respective post offices. A Membership Renewal Form is also enclosed. Please pay your 2010 subscriptions
promptly.
9th November 2009: New
Issue South Georgia: Corals - Details with illustrations in colour of the issue are available at: http://falklandstamps.com/
6th November 2009: Three
new BAT stamp issues were released at Signy by this season’s Antarctic Postman Hugh Marsden – Crabeater Seals;
50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty and Climatic Change/Ice Shelf Changes. Details with illustrations in colour
of these issues are available at: http://falklandstamps.com/
19th October 2009: HMS Endurance is still high and dry undergoing a survey to assess the costs of repairs estimated
at over £20 Million. The ship is thus not going anywhere at the moment and some newspaper reports suggest that she may
be scrapped. HMS Endurance will be replaced by the aptly named Ocean Survey Vessel
HMS Scott (H131) for the 2009/2010 Antarctic summer season. The ship will sail south shortly under the captaincy of Commander
G. Hesling.
12th October 2009: The Society has learnt of the passing of former member Robert F. “Bob” Barnes FRPSL. Bob
was a founder member of the Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group and has published a number of books and articles relating
to the Postal History of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies. An appreciation of Bob’s contribution to the two Societies
and Philately at large will be published in the March 2010 issues of Upland Goose and Polar Post.
11th October 2009: PPHSGB Residential Weekend at
the Royal Cambridge Hotel:
 Members
at Dinner on Friday Evening
35 Members and partners were joined by guest of honour – Antarctic Explorer and
author Charles Swithinbank - for an excellent weekend of displays relating mainly to the Weekend’s theme, Whaling. The
auction run by Bil Tilbury on Saturday 10th was lively with Lot 24 rising to the heady heights of £600 against
a reserve of £40.
On Saturday evening “Members’ Entertain” attracted 14 displays on a variety of subjects. Sadly the museum
at SPRI was closed for extensive rebuilding work but Steve Allen stepped in with an impromptu display of 40 sheets on the
various Fram and Maud Expeditions. Thanks go to all members who attended and in particular to those who gave the main displays
– Wilf Vevers (South Georgia), Serge Kahn (The 2nd French Antarctic Expedition), Steve Allen (Fram and Maud Expeditions),
Lesley Marley (“A Whale’s Tale”), and Robert McMillan (Norwegian Whaling Mail). Gerald Marriner was prevented
at the last minute from attending and his display (BAT Bases 1948-2005) was presented by Trevor Cornford who organised the
weekend. Well done Trevor!
The next Residential Weekend in planned for the same venue in autumn 2012 when the PPHSGB
celebrates its Diamond Jubilee.
 Trevor Cornford and Robert Hurst flying the Flag
The Crowded Meeting Room on Saturday Morning
An attentive audience for one of the Displays during 'Members Entertain'
|
