Michael (Mike) Goodman was born on Christmas Eve 1930 in Stoke Newington. His father was a maths master, and moved the family late 1939 to Swansea, but did not like it there. Luckily he was offered a job in Exmouth, which he took.  Mike was enrolled at the local grammar school where his father was teaching, a year earlier than he should have done. His interest in Forces postal items started when he acquired a tobacco fund post card off the school notice board !  He left school in 1948 and joined the RAF where he was trained as a radar operator, reaching the rank of AC1. On leaving the RAF he worked as a rep for Williams of Hounslow, then Expanded Rubber. This allowed him to travel around the country in his company car and visit the local stamp dealers. During the late 1950’s he applied to join one of the large stamp companies, but the money was less than he was already earning and there was no car. By this time he was dealing in his spare time. After he met his future wife in 1962 he agreed with her that he would start dealing full time, but he only had five years to make a success of it. But knowing Mike it was no surprise that he only took two years to make his mark.

Many members would have known of Mike Goodman as a postal history dealer at Stampex and stamp fairs, but perhaps many were not aware that he was also a collector, with fine collections covering many aspects of British postmarks, including those of the British Army in the First World War.  Alistair first met Mike in the late 1950s when they both joined the newly formed British Postmark Society. Mike joined the Forces Postal History Society in 1964 (Alistair was already a member by then).

The reduction of Mike’s stall holding at stamp fairs in recent years meant that he became a regular at the FPHS meetings (often having been on buying visits to fairs in the morning!). He had a tremendous knowledge of most aspects of British postmarks, and much else besides, and took great pleasure in seeing displays and learning of the historical background provided by speakers. He was also a frequent contributor to members’ display afternoons. When the Royal Philatelic Society London opened its membership to dealers a few years ago Mike was among the first to join and greatly appreciated the opportunity to see and learn from the wonderful displays arranged by that Society. He was also very supportive of the London Postal History Group as well as the British Postmark Society.

Mike was always ready to help many writers on British postmarks by allowing access to his collections and so acknowledgements to him appear in many books.

Mike was a good man in nature as well as name, and will be missed. He passed away at Northwick Park Hospital on Saturday 12th June 2010.

Peter Burrows and Alistair Kennedy

(photo Bill Travers)

John's 2005 display British Army Post Office at War at the Living Museum.

Born 10th July 1939 and died 17th July 2008, aged 69 years.

There will be few collectors of military mails who have not heard of John Daynes.

The world of military postal history is very much the poorer on the passing of John who died on 17 July 2008, after a long fight against cancer.

Whilst his postal history interests were diverse - from airmails, POW, Korea and Suez to forces cancellations 1939 to the present day - he will probably be best remembered for his definitive study of WWII censor marks, which the FPHS published in 1984. It has been the study consulted by military postal historians the world over for all these years. I am pleased to say that I persuaded him to start a revision of the book two years ago and he was working on it right up to a few weeks prior to his death.

John had collected forces postal history for many years; indeed he became a member of our society in 1958 and since then his contribution to the hobby and to the FPHS has been invaluable. Always one to encourage others, he was generous with his time and assistance to others' studies as and when they made enquiries of him.

It was in January 1958 that John first made contact with the Society. He wrote to John Smith, our then chairman, enquiring about QEII GB stamps used abroad. The reply contained and invitation and application form to join the society. At that time he had a particular interest in the Suez Crisis of 1956 but waited in vain over the years for the information he sought. This was another of his recent projects and we hope to be able to publish his study before long.

Although he was interested in forces mail from all countries his expertise was centred on British forces from 1939 to the present. As many will appreciate the subject is vast, covering not only forces actually in the UK but British forces worldwide and the various means by which their mail was sent home. Postal markings, cachets, envelope types, especially the airletters, privilege rates, the airgraph and Christmas concessions, to name but a few, and of course censor markings. Army, Royal Air Force, and the Royal Navy were all of interest, as were the Empire markings from around the world.

Gibraltar and Malta were also 'favourites' of John's. He made visits to both countries for military anniversaries. The study circles for these two territories were only two of the many societies of which John had been a member at one time or another.

I like to think that John had a particular fondness for the Forces Postal History Society. He was a regular at our London monthly meetings and missed very few until his illness prevented him travelling too far. Over the years he played a very active part in the society. From 1964 up to 2008 he was a Committee member; between 1975 and 2004 he was Librarian. From Vice-President 1982-1988 be became President 1988-1991. From Auction Manager 1997-2001 to London Meetings Organiser 2001-2007 and Newsletter Editor 2003-2004. Other 'activities' included helping print the Newsletter and other society publications non the large FPHS photocopier housed in his garage over many years.

The Society Newsletter (now 'Journal') received many articles from John. He was also the author (or joint author) of several books, most published by the society. 'The Forces Postal History of the Falkland Islands & Task Force'; 'Wartime Postal Stationery', both in the 1980s and, more recently a jointly authored publication on 'West Indian Printings & Military Air Mail Letter cards, Air Letters & Honour Envelopes'.

On a visit to a philatelic event in Livorno, Italy, in 1996, where he represented the FPHS, he was presented with a large silver plate - the 'Pierluigi Montanelli Plate'. On his return to the UK John gave the plate to the society to be presented as an award for a member competition. He helped draft the rules for the competition and the plate - known as 'The John Daynes' Plate' - is 'fought over' each year. I have the privilege of being the current holder of the trophy. The society honoured John's work by an Honorary Life Membership in 2004.

One of John's achievements over the years was his good relationship with the forces postal authorities at Mill Hill. This rapport resulted in useful information which would otherwise have been 'undiscovered'. He formed a close working relationship with the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, one of which he was proud and which led to his assisting them in cataloguing and organising their archives relating to the Forces Postal Services.

His keen interest in modern forces postmarks and other postal aspects - the self inking datestamps (SIDs), Horizon labels, forces airletters ('Blueys') and, latterly, the 'e-bluey', had enabled many hitherto unknown facts to be recorded. These are the postal history of the future of course. Many a letter was written to a commanding officer of an overseas unit requesting envelopes to be returned in order to get examples of current cancellations and cachets. Often John produced 'special overprinted blueys' specifically for that operation or unit and sent a bundle to an officer 'for the use of your men' - 'oh, and would you post a couple back to me?!

So that was John the postal historian. What of John the man?

He was born in Birmingham in July 1939 and is survived by his married twin sister. He never married. Following education in grammar schools in Coventry and Ilminster, he went into public service. Still in his 20s he moved to Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, becoming a Public Health Inspector and Surveyor, a post he retained up to his retirement.

During this period he was a founder secretary of a local Round Table, and then chairman. A few years later he became a member of Rotary and served as president. His work with both charitable organisations enabled him to channel both his Christian faith and his deep concern for people in need. During the memorial service held in Burnham-on-Crouch the FPHS was represented by four members who were astonished to learn of the time and effort that John had spent with the Round Table and Rotary over the years he lived there. In addition, he was active in a number of other charities supporting overseas projects. How he had the time to combine his charitable work with his postal history researches is hard to fathom. John was awarded the highest honour that Rotary can award - a 'Paul Harris Fellowship' - in the 1990s and a second in 2006.

As his illness took its grip on him John made the decision to move from Essex to Seaton, in Devon, where his twin sister Ann lived with her husband. The move took place in August 2007 to a flat a few hundred yards from the seafront. Regrettably, his illness and increasing frailty prevented him from taking full advantage of his location but the size of the flat enabled him to continue his postal history studies and to write the books he had been working on.

Two years ago the majority of his forces postal history collection was sold by Cavendish. He had retained some because, as he told me, he really did not know how he would feel after it had all gone. He was pleased, however, to find that it was the joy of collecting that had sustained him over the years and not the joy of just having the collection. That discovered, he then went ahead and offered for sale the remainder of his covers and cards, again via Cavendish Auctions.

At least we thought the 'remainder' had been sold. It was not until two of us went to the flat a few weeks following the sad news of John's death that we were astounded (yes, I think that is the right word) to discover what was left. That is another story indeed!

John Daynes will be remembered in Burnham-on-Crouch for his good works and by his many postal history friends throughout the world and especially the members of the Forces Postal History Society of which he was such a good ambassador and for so many years. Many of us, and I include myself, are proud to have known John and to have experienced his friendship. There must be many collectors of military postal history who will be able to display items 'ex-Daynes'.

The sympathy of the society and membership goes to Ann, John's twin sister, and her husband Ron, with their thanks for allowing us to salvage John's 'remainders'.

Peter High, October 2008

Gerald Sattin took an interest in Indian postal history from an early age, building up a major collection of Campaign Mails of India to 1909. This was sold in order to concentrate on Soldiers' Privilege Rates of the British Empire to 1898. Later this was reduced in scope to cover Asia and Africa. His research on postal, military and biographic aspects of every cover was detailed and meticulous. He was internationally renowned for these collections, and rightly received many high awards at International exhibitions.

Gerald gave a display of Indian campaign mails to FPHS in 1971, and joined the Society in 1980, giving another display the same year. In recent years he occasionally attended meetings when the subject particularly interested him, contributing displays when relevant. He last attended a Society meeting on 11th June 2005 when the subject was "Sudan".

Gerald died on 10th November 2007, and is survived by his wife Mona and 3 sons plus grandchildren.

Alistair Kennedy

Ernest William Philip Leppard, FRPSL will be remembered as a keen, enthusiastic and knowledgeable New Zealand collector who was a valued and respected member of the Forces Postal History Society for many years and served as its Secretary (1996-2000) and Treasurer (2000-2002) until ill health forced him to retire. A cremation service at Leatherhead was held on Thursday 17 January 2008 and the Society was represented by Peter High, Michael Dobbs, Eddie Weeks and Bernard Atkinson (some were representing other societies as well).

1926-2007: an appreciation

Ernie Leppard died on the last day of 2007 after six months in hospital. Although unwell for several years he never complained and always made light of his troubles but the last time we met, some 4 months before his death, he was complaining for the very good reason that he found it impossible to be an active collector of New Zealand philately from his bed in the ward. Ernie had two hobbies - to both of which he devoted truly immense amounts of enthusiasm - the history of the Sherwood Rangers (his own regiment) in World War II and the philately of New Zealand. The first was clearly born of his distinguished wartime service as a tank radio operator but the second was unexpected since he never visited New Zealand nor had any family connections there. However the former did, I believe, give birth to the latter to the great fortune of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain.

The story he told me was that on arriving in Berlin in l945, (having had several of his tanks destroyed on the way from Normandy) as a non-smoker he traded his accumulation of cigarettes for a new Zealand stamp collection, which turned out to be almost valueless as all the stamps were stuck down. From this highly inauspicious beginning Ernie built up one of the worlds most diverse and broad-ranging collection of New Zealand stamps which he delighted in sharing with members. I do not recall even one meeting in the last ten years when Ernie was not only present but had something of real interest to display together with pertinent comments.

Not surprisingly the postal history of New Zealand's armed forces was a particular enthusiasm stretching from the Boer War to Korea. He had other areas of specialisation including notably the Penny Universal issue but the remarkable thing was his, 'strength across the board' as the experts would say. From an early date he was anxious to acquire artists essays, die proofs, plate proofs, and varieties as well the more usual items. He wanted to tell the story of each issue as fully as possible so he helped found the Waterlow Study Circle (with Cross-Rudkin) to learn more about the First Pictorial Issue. He was inquisitive and imaginative in his research and never failed to share it with others through publication. A quick glance at the Index to the first 50 years of the Kiwi will reveal how prolific he was - and as many editors will confirm, writing was not his forte. It was his deep commitment to collaborative action that propelled him to write, participate and serve the N.Z. Society of G.B.

It is as impossible to exaggerate his contribution to the Society over many years as it is difficult to describe it, mainly because he never sought recognition preferring to work behind the scene with inspired suggestions and genuine support of his fellow officers. His response to being awarded an ABPS medal and being invited to be President was "bloody heck". He was a cautious treasurer who has left the Society financially sound and he has placed in the Society archives digital copies of his First Pictorial and Penny Universal collections along with colour copies of his amazing accumulation of essays and proofs connected to the 1949 and 1952 Royal Visits that never were. It was he who got the RPSL to invite us to display around the time of our 50th Anniversary and it was he who promoted the idea of regional groupings. Indeed his influence was felt on every issue of substance and consequently he will genuinely be missed in the management of the affairs of the Society he was so obviously devoted to. Probably more important is our loss of his wonderful participation in meetings. He set a superb standard in all aspects of his interest in New Zealand philately from which we have all benefited immensely. Ernie thank you so much - we miss you.

Derek Diamond
New Zealand Society of Great Britain

Ken Sandford, career philatelist and collector died suddenly after a long illness on 30th January 2007.

Ken was a dedicated philatelist having spent more than forty years within the trade. His formative years were spent working for Joe Urch in Bristol, in 1975 he moved to Knutsford in Cheshire and in partnership formed Sandafayre Ltd. (This name was chosen from company names available at the time because of the play on his name). In 1990 he joined with Simon Carson to form Philangles in Warrington and spent a further sixteen years working with stamps and postal history.

With a phenomenal knowledge of British postage stamps especially Queen Victoria line engraved (he could plate a penny black just by looking at it!), British postal history (having formed an outstanding collection of the postal history of Weston Super Mare) and military postal history of WWII. Philately here has seen the loss of a true professional and highly knowledgeable individual whom will be missed by many.

He leaves his partner Margaret, two sons (Dean and David), his work colleagues and many friends in the stamp world. A dear friend to myself personally.

Simon Carson PTS

Keith Fitton spent much of the last 10 years of his life working for philately, trying to put back into it some of the value and interest he had enjoyed while working abroad earlier in his career. At the time of his death, he was a member of Council of the Association of British Philatelic Societies sitting also on the Executive Committee, a Vice-President of the Forces Postal History Society, Chairman of the British Aerophilatelic Federation, Honorary Secretary (and past Chairman) of the Indian Ocean Study Circle, a Fellow and the Curator of the Society of Postal Historians and a Fellow and the Honorary Secretary of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL). It was during his time as an officer of the RPSL that it voted to permit professionals once again to be members while several other modernising influences were also introduced.

A prolific writer of articles for the journals of these societies, Fitton researched and published several handbooks on different aspects of Seychelles postal history and stamps, which remain the definitive works. He was the Commissioner General for The Stamp Show 2000 in London and had served as the UK National Commissioner at several world exhibitions abroad, winning medals for his own exhibits of Seychelles air mails on which he was an acknowledged authority. He was also a UK national judge.

Born in 1936, Keith spent most of the war years at a boarding school in Sussex entering the City of London School in 1944 where he remained until 1954 studying classical languages and representing the school at boxing and fencing. In 1954, he was runner-up in the Public Schools Fencing Championships at Sabre.

During National Service he was commissioned into the 1st Royal Tank Regiment seeing service as a Troop Leader in the Canal Zone in 1955-56 and was in the last armoured squadron to leave the zone before the Suez war. He had a narrow escape from an untimely death when, as a passenger in an AOP Auster about to take off, he was summoned to take over as Orderly Officer. A fellow officer took his place but the Auster crashed soon after take-off, sadly killing both on board.

Going up to St Johns College, Oxford, in 1956, he gained a 2nd class honours degree in Jurisprudence, was elected President of the OU Law Society and won a double blue for boxing before becoming Captain in 1958 -59, the year in which he also was awarded a half-blue for fencing.

He joined the Shell International Petroleum Company later that year on the oil marketing side and spent much of the next 30 years living and working in the Far East, Africa, South America and Europe before moving to the chemical side. There, he managed Shell's Additives business and in 1990, Shell Additives was the first business unit based in Shell Centre to earn the quality accreditation "ISO 9002". Later, he took charge of Public Affairs for the Shell International Chemical Company. He was a Fellow of the Energy Institute and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management.

He retired from Shell in 1993 and was appointed, literally overnight, Director (CEO) of the Centre for International Briefing at Farnham Castle in Surrey where his wide international experience enabled him to help many company executives, diplomats and aid workers to learn to adapt before going abroad to live and work overseas.

Retiring again at the end of 1996, he was elected Chairman of the Board of ECHO, a not-for-profit registered charity, which provided hospital equipment, consumable supplies and medicines to hospitals in Africa and elsewhere at low cost. His ill health, and that of his wife, caused him to resign in 2001.

He first suffered from cancer, of the colon, in 1998 and, six months after being given the all-clear, was diagnosed in 2004 with cancer of the pancreas. After a very successful operation, secondary cancer set in and this led to his death on February 5th 2006. He married in 1968 Gabrielle (Gay) Frances Daily of New Zealand, who survives him, together with their son and daughter, Paul and Christine.

Frank broke with the family tradition of ship building to become a very successful Chemical Engineer by way of Christ's Hospital, Birkbeck and later Imperial College. His war service with the RAF as an Armaments Officer demanded repetitive lecturing. Finding this boring he volunteered for Bomb Disposal, surviving with just one 'mishap'! Post-war his career became the design and fine-tuning of chemical plants, latterly for Shell when he and his family lived in the Netherlands from 1952-1981.

A cousin who gave Frank a box of old envelopes is blamed by the family for alerting him to the delights of postal history. His chosen area of research, WWI Military Censorship, had daunted many enthusiasts and must have been harder when conducted from the Netherlands. However the Peace Palace in The Hague proved an excellent source of information particularly regarding medical units while here, the Imperial War Museum and Public Records Office proved helpful long-term resources. He was also fed copious information by our membership. The sheer size of the project exercised Frank considerably in the choice of recording format and in the final stages involved 'double elephant' size sheets of paper clipped to a drawing board.

In 1981 Frank retired to Crowborough in Sussex where he was welcomed into the local philatelic society and also at Heathfield. He contributed a great deal to both societies and to members appreciation of their own material - 'I may be able to help you a little with that cover..'. In 1984 his magnum opus, 'The Field Censor Systems of the Armies of the British Empire 1914-1918: Unit Allocations' was published by the Forces Postal History Society.

At a personal level, Frank was one of those erudite men who, flatteringly, conversed as if the other party was equally knowledgeable. Frank and the late John Firebrace were inveterate students of military postal history and were lucky to have found each other. They spoke the same language and it was a joy to hear them converse or evaluate a 'find' at Stampex. Frank was very ready to share his knowledge and penned stimulating articles for our Newsletter, two of which inspired me to write up hitherto neglected facets of WWI material. He also maintained a lively and lengthy (!) correspondence.

Frank died on Tuesday 13th December 2005. We remember a kind, modest and generous man; an exemplary member and postal historian who contributed greatly to our enjoyment and knowledge. The Society was represented at the service in Tunbridge Wells on 22nd December 2005 alongside a goodly number of local Philatelic Society members. Our sympathies go to his widow, Dilys and the family.

Martin Lynes

David Cornelius died on Friday 2nd September 2005, aged 71, and his funeral was held on Monday 12 September at Bournemouth Crematorium. David was born at Plymouth on 16 November 1934; after leaving school in 1952 he joined the Royal Air Force and served in a variety of postings both in the UK and overseas until he took early retirement in 1977 having reached the rank of Warrant Officer. Between 1977 and 1991 he worked for Robson Lowe (Christies) in Bournemouth, leaving when that office closed at the end of 1991. Thereafter he worked for Christies as a consultant on a part-time basis and also undertook voluntary work until 1995.

David was a member of long standing (his membership number being 295) and will be remembered for organising annual meetings at the offices of Robson Lowe in Bournemouth many years ago, enjoyed by both local members and a strong London contingent. David will also be remembered for his interest in British Forces mail generally, but particularly for a series of articles he wrote for the Newsletter in 1973/74 & 1976 concerning British Forces in Norway during WW2. This culminated in the publication of "British FPOs in Scandinavia 1940-47" in 1981 written by David and published in Denmark by Posthistorisk Forlag. Our records show that he last visited the Society in June 1994 for a display and talk by John Firebrace.

Our sympathy and condolences go to his wife Sandy and family.

M.D.

Gerald Davis died on 16 June 2005 aged 89 years. Although at the time of his death Gerald was not a member of the Society, he had only just ceased membership at the beginning of the 2005/06 season due to ill health and the sale of his military collection. It is therefore right and fitting that we record his passing in these pages as many of us will have had fond memories of him; he had written articles and gave displays during his early years with the Society and we last met him during our 50th Anniversary year when he attended our Anniversary "All-day" meeting and lunch at the Union Jack Club in September 2002.

Gerald will be remembered in the Society for his love of and knowledge on all aspects of "Burma". However, his knowledge was far wider than that. Born on 10 October 1916 Gerald learnt about the hobby from an early age, helping out his father in the stamp shop that he ran in Baker Street during the school holidays. He trained as a draughtsman and architect, but like a lot of other young men found himself in the Army at the beginning of WW2. After Dunkirk he was posted to India with 14th Army, which in due course was sent to liberate Burma. It was his philatelic exploits in Burma during this period that he built up an impressive collection of stamps of the occupation. After the war he returned to architecture in which he qualified and built up an architectural practice.

Gerald was elected a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society, London (FRPSL) in 1972, in 1975 he won the Tilleard Medal, and he also received the Rowland Hill Award for Journalistic Excellence for 2001. We do not have the exact date Gerald joined the Society, but with a membership number of 0268 it would have been during our early years. Amongst other societies Gerald was a fellow and member of the Society of Postal Historians, the India Study Circle and Kingston Philatelic Society.

Our sympathy goes to his wife Angela and family.

M.D.

It was a short while after the September 'live' auction at our all-day meeting we heard that Ben had been taken into hospital although we had no indication as to the reason or to which one. It was early November that our Secretary received a call from Ben's brother David to say that Ben had a brain tumour the prognosis of which was bad - it was incurable and he was not expected to live beyond a few months. We were therefore surprised to find that he was at home in early January 2005, but later learnt that having been told there was no cure he had discharged himself and returned home to be in familiar surroundings. It was with great sadness that we heard that Ben died on Sunday 27th February.

Benjamin Ferguson, to give him his full name, was born in Edinburgh on 3rd May 1927. He was the eldest of three (his sister Ella was born in 1929 and brother David was born in 1934). Ben and Ella were raised by an aunt and David by a foster mother when their parents died tragically within three months in 1939. Ben's interest in things military was shown in his early pre-teen years when during these hard times he cut and coloured armies of paper soldiers. At Larbert Central School he was awarded the "Dux" medal for his scholastic achievements.

Ben's working life began at the age of 15 in the office of Carron Ironworks in Falkirk. The company was famed in the 19th century for cannons - Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, was equipped with the famous "Carronade" naval gun (also known as the "Smasher") - and in the 20th century for making Britain's famous red telephone boxes and post boxes. But after a few months he moved and found employment in the General Post Office (GPO) at Falkirk. Towards the end of the Second World War found Ben in the in the Army serving with the Royal Engineers (Postal Section). His service with the Army Postal Service took in such places as Algeria (where he arrived on 4 May 1946 and closed the last British APO there - APO S.401 with datestamp FPO 601 at HQ Army Troops North Africa on 8 October 1946); then Italy, Austria, Trieste and Pola in 1947 (this latter location with 13th Infantry Brigade FPO with datestamp FPO 748) before moving with the Brigade to BAOR from where he was demobilised. In his early twenties at the end of his military service in 1948 he returned first to Falkirk then to Edinburgh Post Office. He later moved to GPO Headquarters in London and it was in London that he met and married Cynthia in 1957; they had no children. They stayed for a year or two in Ebury Street, Victoria, London SW, before moving to the suburbs of Wimbledon. In 1969 Ben joined the Civil Service and worked at the Home Office (latterly in the Prison Service administration) for some 18 years where he reached the grade of Senior Executive Officer by the time he retired.

Ben joined the Forces Postal History Society in 1983 (member 762). A regular attendee at our London meetings Ben joined in debates, sought out information and provided advice. A quiet and unassuming individual he often talked about accumulations of covers he had obtained but rarely displayed material from his own collection. He did, however, on one occasion show items that related to his own service in the Royal Engineers (Postal Section). Ben was an avid collector, particularly forces and censored material and his enthusiasm for the hobby lasted until his death. Ben became involved in the running of the Society and took over as Editor of our Newsletter following the decision of the late Alan Brown to step down at the end of 1991. He was only our fourth editor since the Society was founded in 1952 and held this position for nearly 11 years until poor eyesight forced him to relinquish the post at the end of 2002. His editorship spanned some 44 Newsletters from Issue 211 (Spring 1992) to Issue 254 (Winter 2002). However, Ben continued to organise the live auctions, something he started at our AGM in April 2000 (and later extended to include a live auction at our "All-day" London meeting in September of each year). He reasoned that a live auction would attract more members to our AGM ! He ran these until September 2004 when he acknowledged that he needed help and decided to relinquish the role. At our April 2003 AGM Ben was elected as a Vice-President of the Society in recognition of his valued support over the years.

As well as being a member of the FPHS, Ben also belonged to a number of other societies including his local Wimbledon & District Philatelic Society, The Postal Stationery Society and the Civil Censorship Study Group,. He was unique within the CCSG in that he was their only Honorary Member, made in recognition of his generous donation of censored covers to the Group. Ben was also a member of The Society for Army Historical Research, the Army Post Association and the Society of Friends of the National Army Museum and was a frequent visitor to the Museum.

Ben's funeral was held on Tuesday 15th March 2005 at Putney Vale Crematorium. Attended by his brother David and his wife, together with their children there was also a small gathering of his philatelic friends from the Forces Postal History Society (Michael Dobbs [President], John Daynes, Peter High, Alistair Kennedy and Eddie Weeks); the Wimbledon and District Philatelic Society (Barbara Priddy [Secretary], Jim Dobbie, Ray Downing and Mike Warwick - the latter two also being members of the FPHS) and the Civil Censorship Study Group (Chris Miller [Secretary]).

Before his death Ben had expressed a wish to donate his collections to the various societies of which he held membership - some of which he did before he died and the family have tried to execute his wishes on the remainder.

Michael Dobbs

All Saints Church, New Haw, Surrey was filled to capacity on the 17th July as the large congregation paid their last respects to our much respected member and Treasurer, Lieutenant Commander William Walter Dennis, MBE, RN.

Bill, as he was fondly known, had been a member of the FPHS for some 15 years and during his time as Treasurer did much to secure the financial stability of the Society for the long term, the first ever to take the future seriously into consideration. His collecting interests reflected the sailor and his knowledge of affairs nautical, the Austro - Hungarian Navy and steamship lines were a favourite subject alongside the Royal Navy with a special interest in Jutland.

Bill enlisted as an apprentice ERA (Engineer) for the four year course in 1940 and his first ship in 1944 was the cruiser HMS Royalty, in which he served in the Atlantic and northern waters, moving to the Mediterranean in support of the Allied landing in the south of France. With the end of hostilities in Europe he served in the Far East. He was commissioned Lieutenant 'E' in 1951 and served at sea in a variety of ships from aircraft carriers to frigates and took part in the Korean War. For two years he held a senior post as Engineer in Hong Kong where his family joined him, and his services were much in demand in other establishments in the UK on his return.

It was fitting that the mourners, which included the committee and members of the FPHS, awaited the arrival of the coffin to the strains of the organ playing favourite music which included the Blue Danube by Strauss. The coffin was draped with the White Ensign and bore a wreath, his sword and decorations, which gave a brave splash of colour from the sunlight which filled the church.

Our sympathy goes out to Bill's wife Christine and children John, Mandy and Gillian.

K.T.

Bill Garrard, who died in February 2000, aged 77, was an early member of the Forces Postal History Society, joining within 18 months of the formation. He was a long serving and hard working Secretary, from 1960 to 1976. This period included the Society's 21st anniversary in 1973, when Bill put a lot of work into organising the celebration held on board HMS Belfast. Also in that year the FPHS published its first book - Brigadier Virk's Indian Army POs 1939-47 - and Bill was deeply involved in this by receiving information from Brig Virk, checking, collating, indexing and preparing for production.

He was President in 1981/82, and in that same year temporarily took on the job of Treasurer following the death of Reg Kingston.

His interest in RAF postal history developed after 15 years service in the RAF. He undertook considerable research, resulting in several books, including a revision of John Smith's pioneering History of the RAF Postal Service (adding much new information and identifying the allocation of Rafposts in India to Base Post Office control). Another work was the study, with Nick Colley, of RAF censorship.

I first met Bill in the mid 1950's when I first joined a stamp club. Bill noted and encouraged my interest in postmarks and persuaded me to join the FPHS, for which I am eternally grateful.

ALK

Alan J. Brown was one of the leading lights of the Forces Postal History Society for some 40 years, having held the position of both President and Vice-President during some of those years.

He would seek out the unusual for his collection that was amassed over 50 years. He was deeply involved with the FPHS having been editor of the FPHS Newsletter from 1961-1991, and auctioneer from 1962 until his death on August 7th, 1996. Alan will be sadly missed by his philatelic and other friends.

He worked part-time as the book manager at Vera Trinder Ltd. in London where many philatelists met him.

It is with deepest regret that we have to infom you of the death of our President and one of the earliest members Alan J. Brown at the age of 80. Alan was with us in the early days when we used to meet at the Imperial War Museum, in the 1960s. He was always one of our most enthusiastic members and a mine of information. With interest in WWI and WWII particularly in the campaigns of India and Africa, he was always willing to share his knowledge with others.

Alan served our Society well thoughout his membership with many articles for the Newsletter, the Editorship of the Newsletter up to the Autumn edition of 1991 when reluctantly he had to give it up. For a long time he has ran the Society Auction as well as being Editor and was still our Auctioneer when he died at home on 6th August 1996 in his sleep.

I co-operated closely with Alan for nearly 20 years on drawings and illustrations and inserting electronic stencil cut-outs onto the typed was stencils which Alan would pass to me, at last this tedious business was eliminated at a stroke by the Society's new photocopier, though I missed our long and regular relationship.

Alan was wholly invovled in books and printing and came from a family who published hard backed childrens books and paper backs in the 1930/50s, retiring when the business was sold. He then took charge of the Collectors book department at Vera Trinder's establishment for which he was ideally suited and remained there until he was struck down by an uncommon lung complaint. The last year or so, for most of the time, he was confined to his home at Wimbledon. This all followed the worrying long illness at home of his wife Kat and her later death. Life treated Alan harshly over the last years of his life, though never once did I hear him complain.

We have lost a good friend who will be sadly missed and our sympathy goes out to his family in their sorrow.

George Crabb

The ALAN J. BROWN Collection of the Postal History of
Worldwide 20th Century Military Campaigns
was auctioned on December 6th, 1996 by
Cavendish Philatelic Auctions.

It is with regret that we announce the death, on 6th March 1988, of John A Smith, founder member, founder and only Chairman and a past President.

John Anthony Smith, the Society's Founder Chairman, died aged 66 at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow on 6th March 1988. He was born on 8th August 1922 and was educated at Aldeburgh Lodge, Suffolk and St Edwards, Oxford. He joined the BBC on leaving school in 1941 and worked in London and Evesham. John served with HM Forces from 1942-47, being a Captain in the Royal Artillery. After service with 3 Division in Normandy he joined Radio SEAC in Ceylon. He rejoined the BBC in 1947, spending much of the next 30 years as a producer at Bush House with Radio News and Current Affairs. He also spent some time with the German and East European Services.

When the Forces Postal History Society was founded in 1952 John was already acknowledged as the expert in modern FPOs and contributed articles to "Stamp Collecting Weekly". In 1957 he published the standard reference work on the RAFPOST, which so far has not been improved upon. He became the Founder Chairman of the FPHS at the inaugural meeting on 18th October 1952, a position he held with distinction for over 30 years. John later became President of the Society and was an Honorary Life Member.

A kindly man, John was always ready to give help and advice to newcomers to Forces Postal History and there must be many members of the Society who, like me, received encouragement and were introduced to the Society through his efforts. The fact that the Society is so strong today is due in no small part to the dedicated band of Postal Historians who founded the Society, amongst whom John was a leading light.

John leaves a widow, Cora, to who we send our deepest sympathies at her great loss.

J.A.D.