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EXPONET is a permanent, international, non-competitive philatelic exhibition. It is intended as a public display of high quality exhibits of all philatelic areas and time periods. The aim of the organizers of EXPONET is to provide a permanent presentation of high quality exhibits so as to facilitate on-line study for visitors

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NEWS UPDATE – 10^th February 2010

Inter Society Cup

Please note that the Inter society Cup

needs entries by the 20^th March.

2010 Programme

I am very pleased to announce that the 2010 Programme for another of our member societies

has now been loaded on to the Federation Website.

Please click on the link below to view:

St Helens & District

Judging Seminar March 2010

20 March 2010 at St Mary’s Methodist Church Hall, Wilmslow Road, Handforth, SK9 3LG. 10AM TO 16.30 apx.

The fee for the day which will include tea and biscuits and our usual lavish buffet lunch will be £12 per head

The seminar will be led by John Sussex and Colin Hoffman;

Bookings to Adrian Jones or Alan Randall Jones asap

Adrian	Jones	3a Westhaughton Road	ADLINGTON		PR7 4EU	01257 480442
Alan Randall	Jones	61 Cloverley	Brooklands Road	Sale	M33 3QE	0161 962 5180

alan@philatelix.orangehome.co.uk

This will be a very useful event for:

1. Existing accredited judges as an updater

2. Collectors who would like to be an accredited judge in the future

3. Collectors who just want clues as the way to get best success for

their entries in competitions at all levels of competition.

NEWS UPDATE – 13^th January 2010

ABPS Exhibitions Committee Update December 2009

Please click on the link below to see the latest update:

ABPS_Exhibitions_Bulletin_200911.pdf

Liverpool and Merseyside Philatelic Society

Their webpage has been updated with their latest details and meetings

http://lps.merseyworld.com

Stampex Spring 2010 Update

Please click on the link below to see the latest update:

Spring_Stampex_2010_Final.pdf

Visiting the Festival of Stamps?

Want to help promote the hobby to young collectors?

If you are visiting the Festival of Stamps in London in May, and are able to spare an hour or two in a good cause, then Stamp Active Network are urgently looking for volunteers to man their stand at the exhibition.

The main focus of activities for children will be on Saturday 15th May but we need people to look after the stand from 8th – 14th May, particularly on the 8th, 9th and 14th when more children are likely to visit.

It will mainly involve giving out leaflets and goodie bags to any visiting children, and receiving any donations of material for our use in promoting youth philately.

No CRB clearance is necessary.

Our small band of regular volunteers desperately need extra assistance to cover the whole period of the exhibition.

If you feel you can be of any assistance and would like more information, please contact Dave Armitage by e-mail at davearmitage@btopenworld.com or phone 01279 503625.

Judging Update Seminar 20^th March 2010

This seminar is intended to bring our accredited Federation Judges up to speed with the latest in the rules for competitive philately.

We also invite anyone who thinks that they might like to become Federation and Society level judges; a most interesting occupation and it does not take up too much time.

We also invite the curious who just want to know how it is done and how decisions are arrived at. Whatever your interest, your time will not be wasted if you come along and join us.

The Seminar will be led by John Sussex. RDP. FRPSL and Colin Hoffman FRPSL; Colin is also a member of the N.W.Fed Committee and a National Judge.

The event is to be held in the Church Hall of St. Mary's Methodist Church, Handforth (Post Code for Satnav and Google maps: SK9 3LG [next door to the 'Pinewood Hotel'] .

Because of the increase in the charges for hire of the room and facilities, the price per head will be £12 and not £10 as previously stated.

This price will include morning and afternoon tea and biscuits and also a good buffet lunch.

We hope and expect that all our Federation Accredited Judges will attend this event to bring themselves up to date with the latest revisions of rules.

To reserve your place, contact Alan Randall Jones on e-mail < a.r.jones007@btinternet.com> or tel; 0161-962-5180.

Spring Competitions 2010.

As has already been announced, it has been decided to lighten the load at the Annual Convention and to hold the 'Intersociety Rose Bowl' and the 'John Crowther 3 Discipline Inter Society' compettions in the Spring, to coincide with our AGM.

We would appreciate having the entries in by the 20th March so as to give adequate time for judging.

This first year we are willing to accept either original material or photo-copies but we must emphasise that INSURANCE OF THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER AND NOT THE N.W.FEDERATION.

We would also like to see the 'Rose Bowl Comp' presented as a 16 sheet entry and would appreciate it the local societies could alter their rules to suit. This would bring it into line with national rules and ensure a level playing field for all.

Ideally we would wish to see all societies in the Federation enter both comps. and not just the few regulars - why not have 'go' this year and see what happens?

Using photo-copies for judging and display is proving to be a popular move and also means that the owner can keep track of his valuable material all the time.

Any queries to either: Alan Randall Jones. a.r.jones007@btinternet.com or Tel: 0161-962-5180 or to Adrian Jones, Tel: 01257-480442.

BFPO Closure Plans‏

Please be advised that the MOD has instructed the closure of some Forces Post Office’s (FPO’s) that provided support to the UK elements of NATO HQ’s as a manpower cost saving together with the savings made due to the cost of the contracts for the movement of mail. These savings have to be realised by 30 Sep 2010 and as a consequence the closures will unfortunately have to be made before or around this date.

The following BFPO locations will be effected:-

Ø SHAPE BFPO 26

Ø Brunssum BFPO 28

Ø Ramstein BFPO 109

Ø Stavanger BFPO 50

Ø Karup BFPO 150

Ø Rome BFPO 65

Ø Milan BFPO 61

Ø Lisbon BFPO 6

Ø Valencia BFPO 62

Ø Norfolk VA BFPO 63

It is with regret that the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has been instructed to take this course of action and please understand that this is not a decision made by us but one that we have to adhere to. For further information regarding these closures please contact the Defence Media Centre at MOD Whitehall.

BFPO Enquiries

BFPO HQ

BFPO 777

Civ: 08457 69 79 78

Mil: 94676 3450

Fax: 0208 589 3291

E-mail: DesBFPO-Enquiries@mod.uk

NEWS UPDATE – 26^th November 2009

Trafford Society have produced another excellent newsletter:

PDF Version Word version

Disbandment of the British Forces Postal System

Just how low can this Government go? Stick it to the Military because they are not unionised?

Dear All

Want to save the BFPO System?

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO/sign

Please click on and sign the above petition. Though we all understand that defence cuts are to be made, this is an area which affects the families in particular. The BFPO system is the mechanism whereby post is received by our serving soldiers, sailors and airmen and their families abroad at a postal address recognised as being part of this country, no matter where in the world they are serving, even in war zones.

Amongst other things the loss of the BFPO service will disenfranchise them if they are postal voters; some credit card providers will not send cards abroad (M&S for example) whereas they will to a BFPO address; it may affect their ability to let their house whilst posted abroad, or away from home; it may take away their tax advantages such as being able to have an ISA whilst posted abroad. It will affect Open University students who have a BFPO address as they will be charged higher fees; it will potentially effect children of serving soldiers when they go to University, as they may not be eligible for student loans/fees to be paid, and will be charged higher fees as they live abroad. They will also be charged different rates for subscriptions etc as they will now have to come via local mail, and not the UK mail.

Thanks for supporting our servicemen and women together with their families in this way and please forward this email to as many of your friends as you can.

North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies Convention

The North Western Federation Convention was held on Saturday 24th Oct at a new venue, The Thornleigh Salesian College, Sharples Park, Bolton, in conjunction with the Bolton Stamp Fair.

On behalf of the North Western Federation I would once more express our very sincere appreciation to the Bolton Society for allowing the Federation to hold the Convention at this very pleasant venue, with excellent parking and catering facilities, and to all the members at Bolton who welcomed us so warmly.

At the Annual Convention the North West Federation Awards are presented together with the competition results and cups.

At our meeting here in Macclesfield this evening I have been requested to ensure the presentations to those unable to be present at Bolton are made and in common with our established practice acknowledge the success of our members who represented our own Society this year, as well those of our visitors.

As this evening we are joined by our friends from the Insurance and Banking Society, it is appropriate that I ask our Chairman Mr. Fred Mountford and the National President of the Insurance & Banking Society, Mr Alan Randall Jones to make the presentations. Alan is a Past Chairman & President of the NWF and a very active member of the Federation today, as well as being a Life member of the Bolton P.S.

The recipient of the First Award cannot be with us this evening. Godfrey Mellor. Godfrey has been invited to join the Roll of Distinguished North Western Philatelists. This is a very small Group indeed of which Alan and John Crowther, both having made a major contribution to North Western Philately over a period of time, and nobody has followed this more than Godfrey both as Chairman and President of the Federation, for his work with many Societies and in speaking throughout the region and beyond.

The Macclesfield & Prestbury Philatelic Society congratulates Godfrey on this major award, he is the first member of our Society to receive this and it is truly deserved. I hope we can re-present this award to Godfrey here in Macclesfield early in the New Year.

Our Society would like to send our Congratulations to Chris and Tom Moore who have visited us on many occasions who have also been asked to join this roll of honour. Mr Cyril Kitching is the fourth recipient, a world authority on Pitcairn Island philately.

To mark the 60th Anniversary of the Federation in 2008 a new award was introduced this being the “Certificate of Recognition” to be awarded to members of local Societies who do outstanding work in a quiet way at local Society level. Last year Fred Mountford our Chairman received such deserved recognition.

This year on the recommendation of our Society the Federation has award a Certificate of Recognition to Alan Dinnis our Treasurer who joined our Committee in 1994 and has fulfilled various roles for the Society but mainly as Treasurer since 2004 and also keeping up our APBS link on the web site. I should add that Alan did an enormous amount for the Isle of Wight Philatelic Society, particularly as Membership Secretary & Vice President. Thank you Alan for all you have done over a long time and long may it continues. It was certainly our gain when you moved north.

COMPETITIONS

The 2009 competitions were of the highest standards and Judges from Yorkshire have congratulated the Federation and all participants on the quality, diversity, and knowledge of the exhibits. This year these were judged and displayed as photocopies and this proved extremely effective and was well received by all parties. It is hoped this will encourage greater participation in future, especially as it reduces any security factors, and enabled all exhibits to be displayed during the day.

ROSE BOWL. Inter Society 9 sheet Competition.

Winner Mr. Paul Wreglesworth of Macclesfield & Prestbury. Congratulations Paul on an outstanding exhibit of early New Zealand which scored a remarkable 91 points.

JOHN CROWTHER Inter Society 3 Disciplines 16 sheets.

Well done our team coming Second behind Stockport P.S. Philip Longbottom, David Ripley and Giovanni Palazzo all doing particularly well, with Philip gaining 90 marks.

Arthur Saxon Trophy. (Traditional Philately)

David Ripley 4th Place.

REVENUES: MORCAMBE TROPHY. (32 sheet Competition)

Giovanni Palazzo 3rd Place.

Thematic Trophy.

Winner. Peter Kirk. Giraffes. Just shows it is worth sticking your neck out and having a go.

As mentioned previously the Insurance & Banking P.S. are with us this evening, and I have awards for their society. Indeed the Insurance and Banking have run us very close in all the competitions. Congratulations!.

Rose Bowl. 3rd Place. Peter Kirk

Rose Bowl 4th Place John Crowther for Marple Society.

John Crowther Competition. 3rd Place. Certificates were awarded by John Crowther.

Mike Griffith

Brian Fielding

Peter Kirk.

Finally this year a postcard competition was initiated and proved very popular. The winner was Mr. Alan Randall Jones on Manchester Parks. Congratulations Alan I do not have the certificate or cup, but I hope that this can be presented to you at an Insurance & Banking event shortly.

John Crowther took 4th spot.

As they say that completes the awards for tonight but the Inter Society trophies are to be held in future in April at the AGM at Sale.

NEWS UPDATE – 18^th October 2009

FEDERATION COMPETITIONS : ALTERATIONS FROM OCTOBER 2009.

As from the 2009 Convention, there will be important alterations in the COMPETITION RULES;

• INTER-SOCIETY COMP. (The 'John Crowther Trophy') The basic requirements remains the same but the competition will be held in the SPRING instead of the Autumn. That means that there will a judging for 2009 in October 2009 and a judging for 2010 in Spring 2010, probably March/April.

• INTER-SOCIETY ROSE BOWL. This will be judged as the above and in future years will also be a SPRING competition. To bring this competition into line with other competitions and other Federations, we would like to see the National Standard of 16 sheets adopted: this will make for a more interesting and meaningful competition and is in fact easier to prepare 16 sheets than the present 9 sheets. This being the case, we expect to see 16 sheet entries in 2010.

• POST CARD COMPETITION. We have eliminated the old 'Ladies Trophy' and in its stead have introduced a new postcard competition, in two parts, (a) 16 sheet 'Novices' and (b) 32 sheet 'Standard'. The rules for these comps may be had from either A.Randall Jones or A.HJones.

• As the entrants to these competitions will not be exhibited at the Annual Convention, they will be available to any society who wishes to display them either at their meeting place or possibly at a library or some such place. This will be possible because it is intended that for future competitions, colour photo-copies of the exhibits will be judged. This will mean thai there will be no need for the expense of transporting and erecting the current frames. It will also mean that valuable philatelic material is not at risk and should therefore cut down on the insurance premiums. It will also cut down on the cost of posting heavy album sheets when h comes to judging.

• The N.W.Federation is currently in process of purchasing a commercial colour copier and after installation, the Fed will be in a position to quote for copying at competitive rates. It is of course permitted to do your own copying on your own machine if you so wish.

• The photo-copies would be on 'A4' paper of a suitable weight and if lost stolen or destroyed, there would be no great loss involved. A problem may arise if an exhibit requires to show many small colour variations of an issue, because of the limitations of colour copying, but this is not likely to occur very often.

• A survey was taken at the recent Thematics Workshop' and this showed 100% in favour of this method being adopted. Adrian Jones and I recently judged the 'Inter Society Comp’ for the Midlands Federation and found that it was no harder or more difficult to judge, in fact we thought that it speeded the job up!

• Please let us have your thoughts about any of the above - for or against!!

Alan Randall Jones. 0161-962-5180. a.r.jones007@btinternet.com

Adrian H.Jones 01257-480442

NEWS UPDATE – 13^th September 2009

2010 Festival of Stamps - Partner Newsletter September 2009

Please click here for the next issue of the newsletter:

2010 Partner Newsletter September 09.pdf

High standard at the Youth Championships

The entries in the 2009 British Youth Stamp Championships, sponsored by Stanley Gibbons, have been on display at Autumn Stampex, and reveal that there are young collectors who take their hobby very seriously and are creating some exciting exhibits.

This year’s competition was judged by Christine Earle, Brian Sole and Richard West. The results are as follows.

Main trophies

The Melville Cup for the overall best entry:

Jacqs Scourfield - A Childhood in Stamps.

The Strand Trophy for the best entry in Class A (19 to 21 years old):

Simon Moorcroft - Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat.

The Stanley Gibbons Trophy for the best entry in Class C (14 to 16 years old):

Samantha Lewtas - Sport for All.

The Benham Trophy for the best entry in Class D (12 and 13 years old):

Jacqs Scourfield - A Childhood in Stamps.

The Giliam Birchnall Trophy for the best entry in Class E (under 12 years old):

Jessica Tee - Classical Composers.

The ADPS Trophy for the most promising entry:

Jack Roberts - The Story of Powered Flight.

The individual medals achieved were:

Class A (19 to 21 years old)

Bertie Brown - All the World’s a Stage - Silver-bronze

Simon Moorcroft - Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat - Small silver

Class C (14 to 16 years old)

Samantha Lewtas - Sport for All - Small silver

James Ribbon - Ocean Wildlife - Silver-bronze

Jack Roberts - The Story of Powered Flight - Silver-bronze

Class D (12 and 13 years old)

Hazel Scourfield - Regional Definitives - Bronze

Jacqs Scourfield - A Childhood in Stamps - Small silver

Class E (under 12 years old)

Jessica Tee - Classical Composers - Bronze

The organisers wish to thanks The Royal Philatelic Society London for hosting the judging, and the ABPS and the PTS for allowing the entries to be shown at Autumn Stampex, and above all to Stanley Gibbons Ltd who sponsor the annual British Youth Stamp Championships.

The next national competition for young collectors will be the Stamp Active Competition, the entries for which will be shown at Spring Stampex 2010. Entry forms need to be submitted before the end of this year: details from Jean Wood, 6 Beech Grove, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE26 3PJ (jeanmwood@blueyonder.co.uk).

Three British young collectors (Bertie Brown, Simon Moorcroft and Jacqs Scourfield) are entering the youth class at the international stamp exhibition, London 2010, to be held at the Business Design Centre on 8 to 15 May 2010. London 2010 is part of the Festival of Stamps.

The next British Youth Stamp Championships will be held in the autumn of 2010, with entries shown at Autumn Stampex 2010: details from Jean Wood again, with entries forms required before the end of July 2010.

NEWS UPDATE – 30^th August 2009

ABPS Congress News

Please see the following kind message received from John Baron, ABPS Chairman

“First and foremost thank you for keeping me informed of events in the North West.”

“As you may already be aware the Congress held in Manchester was a resounding success and I have sent congratulations to Paul Gaywood thanking him for the work that he and the Federation had undertaken in making the event an enjoyable experience and a credit to the North Western Federation. I would be grateful if you could convey the ABPS appreciation to all members of the Federation and you may wish to enclose the letter that I sent to Paul yesterday”

Regards to all

John Baron

Please click here to read letter:

ABPS Letter to Paul Gaywood.pdf

NEW SEMINAR

A judging seminar to up-date existing rules, to give would-be judges a taste of what is expected and to give those interested some ideas of how judging is done. Same venue as above but on 20th March 2010. The leading speakers will be John Sussex RDP and Colin Hoffman FRPSL. The price will be as above and more details nearer the time.

2009/10 Programmes

I am very pleased to announce that the 2009/10 Programmes for two more of our member societies have now been loaded on to the Federation Website.

More will be added when received, I still have more to add so I do apologise if yours is not on yet!.

Please click on the links below to view:

Crewe & District

Morecambe & District

THE UK’S FASTEST GROWING STAMP CLUB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without any doubt, this title belongs to KIDSTAMPS, the postal club for children run by Stamp Active Network. Within the last two years membership has rocketed as more and more children, all over the country, find pleasure in collecting. In January last year we enrolled our 300th member. By November we reached 500, June this year saw us pass 700 and by the time you read this we will be over the 800 mark.

WHO SAYS THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT INTERESTED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What we need now however is YOUR support to keep this interest going. Each Christmas we send the members packs of Christmas stamps, FDCs, PHQ cards, or anything similar – and we desperately need to replenish our stocks within the next few months --- so PLEASE check your boxes, drawers, stock albums, or where ever else you hoard your spare material – collectors AND dealers – and send whatever you can to – KIDSTAMPS , 46 Moorfield Road, Rothwell, Northants, NN14 6AT - and help to keep the hobby alive and kicking for the future.

NEWS UPDATE – 31^st July 2009

RAILWAY THEMATIC COLLECTORS

Do you have a collection of stamps, covers etc that is railway related? If so, would you like to take part in an event to show material to the general public visiting the new Crewe Heritage Centre next year? If you want further details, then contact either Paul Gaywood on gaywood@talktalk.net or Alan Randall Jones on a.r.jones007@btinternet.com

JUDGING UPDATE SEMINAR

The N.W.Fed. will holding a seminar to give 'Federation Accredited Judges' a chance to apply the amendments, additions and changes to the National / International Rules. If you are someone who thinks that they might like to become a judge or if you want to know more about how judgment is arrived at, then you are welcome to come along too. The speakers will be John Sussex. RDP, FRPSL and Colin Hoffman. FRPSL. We hope that all our 14 accredited judges will attend this meeting so as to keep their high standards up-to-date. Once again this meeting will be at the S.Manchester Society meeting place, i.e. St Mary’s Methodist Church Hall, Handforth, Wilmslow. and as before the inclusive cost will be £10 including tea and biscuits, and a good buffet lunch. More details will be posted nearer the date. Please let Alan Randall Jones know your intentions ASAP.

2009/10 Programmes

I am very pleased to announce that the 2009/10 Programmes for three more of our member societies have now been loaded on to the Federation Website.

More will be added when received, I still have more to add so I do apologise if yours is not on yet!.

Please click on the links below to view:

Bolton

Marple & District

Stockport & East Cheshire

Previously loaded:

Wallasey

Poynton

Ellesmere Port

Aberconwy

Blackpool & Flyde

Burnley & District