STAMPEX

Message from the Chairman

I have asked the Editor for a little space just to say Hello to everyone and to thank the ASSS for electing me as the new Chairman. I shall do my best to promote the Society and uphold its good name.

This will be the first of an occasional series of short messages and I would like to use this one to thank alt involved with the Society’s participation in Autumn STAMPEX. A number of members prepared interesting and attractive exhibits, some competitive and some invited, and these were displayed in frames on the upper gallery. The organisers provided a large banner with the Society’s name and we were featured on three pages in the catalogue.

The Society also had a stand at the exhibition and my first task, as "Chairman" was to go and find some chairs for people to sit on! It was just as well we had some chairs because quite a few members and friends called for a chat and several new members joined. Special thanks to Eric Simmonds who staffed the stand full time for the first two days.

En route to London, I visited the Minehead Philatelic Society to give a display in honour of Sir Arthur C. Clarke who was born there. All societies and organisations in Minehead had been invited to do something special during the year 2001, and I was delighted to be part of this. Sir Arthur’s brother came along to the meeting and very kindly presented me with some beautiful space souvenirs and also a ballpen with some very amusing wording printed on the barrel — "Stolen from Sir Arthur C. Clarke". Those members who have received a Certificate of Participation for their display at STAMPEX may be interested to know that I used that pen to sign the certificates.

We are a very scattered Society, which made the meetings at STAMPEX so special. However, I just wonder if it might not be possible for some regional meetings to be arranged. Please give this some thought and if anyone would like to co-ordinate a meeting in their own area, do let me know.

Winter is nearly here, which usually signals an upsurge in philatelic activities. Happy collecting!

Margaret Morris

Competitive Results from STAMPEX

Astrophilatelic exhibits:

Bart Beimers — Stepping Stones to Space — 80 (Vermeil)

David Saunders — Manned Russian Space flights — 71 (Silver)

Margaret Morris — Detector Story — 81 (Vermeil)

Arie Olckers — American Space Shuttle — 72 (Silver)

Literature exhibits:

Club Nederland — 66 (Bronze Silver)

Orbit — 68 (Bronze Silver)

Displays from ASSS members (non competitive)

From Jeff Dugdale - Yuri Gagarin (3 frames), Apollo XI (3), First Britons in Space, First Americans, First Shuttle flight, First ever space walk, First Woman in space, China Prepares to Put a man in space.
From Harvey Duncan — Halley's Comet (4)
From Eric Simmonds — Nicolaus Copernicus (3)
From Ivor Steadman — Manned Space Flight
From Ray Billings — Space themed postcards
Other displays came from Francis KiddIe, and non member Frank Jones.

Members Who Called In

Also known to have called in at our stand during the five days of STAMPEX were the following members and friends of the Society — Mike Wiles, Bill Pile, John Guy, David Saunders, Arie Olckers, Godfrey Winston, Harvey Duncan, Jeff Dugdale, Ian Stirman, Gordon Stirman, Francis KiddIe.

Margaret Morris also reports that the founder of our Society, though no longer active in the ASSS — Robin Cleator also dropped in to say hello.

New Members

Two new members — Trefor Jones of Caernarfon, Gwynedd and Alex Richenduller of Highams Park, London — joined at our stand and we hope that others will have been attracted by our publicity and will have joined later as a result.

STAMPEX in the Eye of a Novice

From Eric Simmonds, Reading, Berks

Wednesday 19th

My day starts at 5.30 a.m. As usual the train is delayed and the dulcet tones of the station announcers apology do not enthral me at 6 am. Arriving at Kings Cross I learn that trains are not running to the Angel, Islington so it’s a taxi. Now the day really begins.

I must say I was really impressed by the British design Centre Building with security at a premium yet I was welcomed with a smile and a pleasant "Good morning!" On finding the ASSS stand I set to work putting up posters and copies of the front cover of the last 30 Orbits to adorn the back wall and then I put out the fliers and pamphlets and freebies which PRO Godfrey Winston has obtained for the show.

As I take a short breather a lady approaches me carrying a chair and selling it down she introduces herself as our Chairperson (Margaret Morris) - obviously! Together we rearrange some features of the stand and talk about what we can bring the next day to add more colour and interest to the area. We decide to run the booth as an open house for people to read in and sit and talk about Orbit and the Society.

The exhibits by members are of a high standard, easy to walk around and for me a delight to view and photograph, but my main criticism is the lighting which makes viewing and photographing a problem, not just around our exhibition but elsewhere on the upper floor.

Thursday 20th

Eight prospective new members express much enthusiasm on various aspects and two more join there and then after looking at a copy of Orbit. During a breather I am able to talk to several traders all of whom were very helpful and provided generous discounts on seeing my ASSS badge — an unexpected delight. Back at the stand Mr. Peter Duck of the Scouts P.S. with whom I have corresponded turns up and Margaret Moms introduces me to many eminent people in the stamp world. ASSS member no 008 John Guy joins me at the stand for a few hours and we spend a couple of hours in interesting conversation, again being visited from time to time by many passers by.

At 6 p.m. it’s time to head for home and after saying farewells and thanks for knowledge imparted I express my regrets I cannot stay longer or return on future days. I would so liked to have met more ASSS members who are to turn up later in the week!

Constructive Criticism

We could have done with more information somewhere along the line about the size and furnishing of the stand to allow us to show off the Society to its full potential for when you look at the exhibits you can see the quality within the Society. The purpose of the stand was to attract new members and we did this by talking to people who stopped.

Our display was fine but it wasn’t a magnet judging by the glances of passers-by.

 

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