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Fenland Stamp Club
Stamp Club 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?
Fenland S.C. joined the Federation in 1976.
Secretary
Mr W. P. Quirk
01945-585308
Email bill.quirk@btinternet.com
Meeting Address
Upper Parlour,
Church
Terrace,
Wisbech
PE13-1BL
.
Meetings
Thursday @ 13:45 or 19:30
Programme 2012
26th January Members
Evening-swap, buy sell & May be Auction @ 13.45
9th February Ireland &
IOM by Jan & Tony Kershaw @ 13.45
23rd February Competition
Evening Judges from Spalding @ 19.30
8th March A
Tour of Norfolk by Reverend Walden @ 19.30
24th March Fenland Stamp Fair
@ 10.00
29th March King George V
& Castles by Richard Lewis & Alan Sirett @
19.30
12th April Beer & KLM
East Indies by Roger Swindells @ 19.30
14th April Convention
Saturday at Cambridge @ 10.00
26th April AGM & Members
Show Letter K & L @ 19.30