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The
Leamington Spa
Annual Southern Africa Philatelic
Conference
6 to 8 November 2015
Friday afternoon marks
the arrival of an expectant group
of keen Philatelists, Alan MacGregor
from Simonstown had already arrived
the previous day, Otto Peetoom parked
at the hotel at 2.30pm and shortly
afterwards Gary Brown and his wife
(from Australia) checked in. The flood
of arriving enthusiasts soon grew,
Brian Trotter brought along Lars Jorgensen
(Travelling from Belgium). The familiar
face of Paul van Zeyl from South Africa
appeared, then there came Simon Peetoom,
the organizer, Mike Berry, Nick Arrow,
Richard Stock, Richard Stroud, Chris
Rainey attended for the first time
and David Morrison followed on his
heels.
As the bar filled during the afternoon,
more smiling faces made their presence
felt Lyn and Rob Lester, Bob Hill,
Tony Howgrave-Graham, Tony Stanford,
Brian Hurst, Tony Johnson, Richard
Weaver, Mike Smith, Robert Johnson,
Chris Board, Alan Harley, Colin Hoffman
and Derek Lambert.
During dinner, the wine flowed and
the subject was by and large philately
and several individuals went to bed
later than planned. Saturday morning
brought along others such as Alan
Drysdall, Andrew Higson, Richard Barnett
and his wife, Pat Flanagan (from South
Africa) John Gledhill and Graham Manning.
Chris and Susan Oliver had other commitments
and didn’t make it until Sunday.
Saturday
morning
Brian Trotter presented
an overview of the new journal Southern
Africa Philately, its aims and
its intended presence of promoting
the philately of Southern Africa.
This was well received and virtually
every individual at the conference
took a subscription to the journal.
I counted around thirty five people
present.
The first display by Derek
Lambert covered Northern
Rhodesia, expeditions by Paul Graetz,
WWI and action in German East Africa.
Next up we were entertained
by Lars Jorgensen,
who led us through the pitfalls
of collecting the Early issues
of Transvaal, the various printings,
different papers, imperforates, roulettes,
perforations and varieties.
After a time, Lars was interrupted
whilst contemplating an inverted VR
overprint with the announcement that
coffee and tea had arrived. Without
batting an eyelid Lars stated Surely
Transvaal Philately is more important
than coffee!
After the break Gary
Brown presented RSA Protea
Definitives with emphasis on
their correct commercial use.
A somewhat belated lunch put the conference
back on schedule.
After lunch
Paul van Zeyl presented
an interesting display on The
Rebellion & the Union’s
entry into WWI in GSWA, Paul
was awarded Gold for this exhibit
at the recent Cape Town National.
Richard Stock was up next,
starting with Bechuanaland 1961 decimal
overprints before moving onto the
Boer War on the subject of Armoured
Trains and looted mail. On this
occasion the coffee break was on schedule. |
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Rob and Lynn Lester, with
their usual enthusiasm presented the
final Saturday display Exhibitions
in South Africa.
Starting with the 1892 Kimberley exhibition,
Rob took us through the decades of
a mixture of stamp and other exhibitions
and finally ended with the last Union
fling at UNIPEX in 1961.
The Saturday
evening gathering
in the bar had an air of expectation
for something special, various attendees
wearing medals, made me glad that
I had washed on the day, sent me back
to my room to don a jacket and tie...If
only I had brought my medals...O’
well you can’t win them all.
On entering the dining room champagne
was being dispensed and those present
were far too old for it to be a wedding
reception.
First Andrew
Higson read the Nomination
as a Signatory to the Roll of Distinguished
Philatelist of South Africa for Richard
Stroud that was met by much
cheering and clapping. Next a Citation
for the Manfred Weinstein Congress
Award presented to Chris Board,
two important milestones of achievement
in the name of Southern Africa Philately.
Finally the annual
contest of ‘Last
ones in the Bar’
finished off an enjoyable and tiring
day.
Sunday
morning
Breakfast at 8 am and people checking
out
Morning displays are to be followed
by the auction after lunch.
Nick Arrow advised
that around 55% of the lots sold with
realizations around £7000.
Leamington
Spa is without doubt
the highlight of the Southern Africa
Philatelic year and next year promises
a new, larger venue, with no stairs
to negotiate and a lift to the rooms.
Details of the Sunday displays will
follow in due course.
The new journal Southern
Africa Philately
will include several articles covering
the Saturday displays - If you haven't
subscribed yet ask the Grandchildren
to pay on your behalf - It could be
your Christmas Box!
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