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Fenland Stamp Club
Society History
The current Fenland Stamp Club started with a meeting
of collectors in the ‘Flowerpot’ pub (now empty) on the afternoon of Saturday 5th.
October 1996. However, this was a result of the former club being disbanded in
1993 when many members left as a result of a change of conditions that made it
difficult for members to ensure the safety of displays etc. Six of us joined
King’s Lynn to maintain our interest and two of us are still members.
The original ‘Wisbech & District Philatelic
Society’ started with a meeting of four men in the canteen of Smedleys Limited on the 8th. September 1961.
Two members from the Peterborough Society were helping the two from Fenland on
how to form a club and to join the Federation and as a result all stamp
collectors in the area were invited to attend an inaugural meeting on Friday 20th.
October. The Working Men’s Club & Institute was now the meeting place followed
by ‘Ye old Bell’ (a pub on the Lynn Road but no longer standing), then the
Stuart Rooms in 1965 and soon after alternating between the Isle College and
March Further Education Centre.
Martin Evans, writer and displayer of March Postal
History, became Secretary of the Club for two years before moving to the Exeter
area. Then on Saturday 4th. October 1969 the 19th. Annual
Convention and Stamp Exhibition of the Federation was held in Wisbech at the
Isle of Ely College of Further Education with the AGM and inter club
competitions held on the same day. It was not until April 1972 that the name of
the club changed to ‘Wisbech & March Stamp Club’.
Cedric Fyson, a former March teacher and early
President of the Club was an authority on Penny Blacks. Harry Woods and Vic
Jarrett, both from March, were well respected members and had official
positions in the Club. Albert Eyre and Derrick Plume from Wisbech, joined the
Club in the 60s. and they also had official positions in the club. Chris North
joined in 1978 and he soon became very involved in the running of the Club as
the Secretary. His wife Jo became Packet Secretary and both were involved with
the Federation. Don Lennard arrived in Wisbech in the mid 80s after being a
member in an area of London and was willing to give up his time to help the
Club. He came onto the committee as Assistant Secretary/ Publicity Officer and organised
the Stamp Fairs, starting in 1997, until his death in 2009. I think the maximum number of members
amounted to 46 although not all attended meetings and there were times when
numbers dropped quite low and this was evident in 1993 when the Club closed
down.
At the ‘Flowerpot’ in 1996 it was decided by the nine
people attending to form a new Club and with money and valuables (trophies and
log books) being returned from safe keeping by the Federation a committee of
three should make decisions for the first year. Chris Nursey was named
Chairperson, Chris North became Secretary and myself, Bill Quirk, was made
treasurer with meetings taking place on Thursdays. The first stamp meeting was
held at the home of Mr & Mrs Plume and after that at the United Reformed
Church School Room. At least three other meetings took place followed by a
first AGM when the details of Constitution, competition rules and subscriptions
were agreed for the following season.
The Club started with nine members and built up to
thirty-nine and the area covered is larger including Downham Market, Long
Sutton and Sutton Bridge as well as the villages around Wisbech but obviously
numbers change as a result of people coming and leaving the area.
L. Williamson was an early member of the original club
and he had a very good collection of Wisbech Postal History – I only wish he
was still around! V. Jarrett was a Channel Island expert but he decided that
bowls were taking up too much of his time and never joined Fenland. Chris
North, although no longer a member of our club, was Secretary for a number of
years and he was the instigator of our Fenland Club and is still a very good
friend. I think the only original member of the old club at the meeting in 1961
and was the first Treasurer, is Bert Quick (our two names get mixed up !) and he attended the
‘Flowerpot’ meeting and is a member to this day and is still very interested in
stamps although he attends very few meetings.
I joined the Club in 1971 and met up with many of the
characters mentioned here and others I have read in the records of the Club.
Over the years I have filled all the positions in the Club and having been
Secretary for ten years it would be nice to let others do the work and I can
collect stamps like many of our members – any offers?
Secretary
Mr W. P. Quirk 01945-585308
Email bill.quirk@btinternet.com
Meeting Address
Upper
Parlour,
Church
Terrace,
Wisbech
PE13-1BL
.
Programme 2010-2011
9th September Welcome back,
pay subs, Show
18th September Stamp Fair @
Trinity Methodist Hall
30th September Zanzibar by
Arthur Long
14th October
28th October Cambridge
Forgery Coll by Peter Morton
11th November France &
Paris Exposition by John Shaw
25th November Railways by
Keith Downing
2nd December Floral
Paintings, by Pat Hudson & Xmas Social
2011
13th January Committee to
Entertain
27th Lighthouses by Bill
Quirk
10th February Aspects of
Regionals by Richard Moss
24th February Competition
Evening
10th March British West
Indies Misc. by Bill Gibb
31st March Cambridge P,S,
Visit
9th April EMEA CONVENTION at
Wisbech
14th April Victoria & 4
Kings 1840-1950 by Peter Moreton
28th April A.G.M. &
Letter ‘J’
12th May Social Philately of
St. Omer by Peter Whitfield