The President's Cup Competition shall consist of an entry of 9 sheets on any subject matter covered by the aims of the Society (i.e. the pos

This was an excellent first meeting of 2026 - we had 12 members present of whom ten showed and we had three sessions.  Prior to the start of the meeting our President, Geoff Hanney FRPSL, presented Nick Harris with his certificate for winning the President’s Cup competition at our October meeting.   Peter Wood FRPSL  showed material from the Irish Contingent to the UN Forces in Cyprus.  The United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established 1964 to prevent a recurrence

This has become our annual Banstead all-day meeting with new acquisitions and queries - and a chat over tea/coffee, biscuits and mince pies with members displays as well!  We had a total of 14 members and 1 guest present, with Frank Schofield and his daughter having a table with books on the Royal Navy for sale and Phil Kaye selling postal history covers.  Peter High also had a small number of publications for sale.   First to display was our President, Geoff Hanney , with la

FPHS Committee member Chris Grimshaw shows a further section of his research material into the British Postal System in Constantinople December 1918 to September 1923. Set out as a day by study showing the development of mail following the British Occupation of Constantinople. Chris is looking for FPHS members and other philatelists to support his research and gives his contact details. This in-depth study provides excellent reference regarding the British military and local

Another excellent short display provided by Peter Stockton, on this occasion introducing the postal history of the French Battleship Richelieu. Initially, Peter explains the ships history from its launch in 1939 to being commissioned in 1940 and then immediately becoming the focus of Royal Navy attacks both in Operation Catapult and the Battle of Dakar. Shown are a range of covers, cards and illustrations of the ship, with various postal markings, cachets and covers used both

Society member Malcolm Cole once again provides members an interesting display, on this occasion Ambulance Trains in WW1, another of his well-researched collecting interests. Malcolm introduces the types of ambulance trains and explains in detail both use and the design features, all required to transport injured troops both from the front line, between field and stationary hospitals and also during repatriation.

The Union of South Africa Contingent to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II consisted of 159 Union Defence Force members (24 Navy, 77 Army, and 38 Air Force) and 20 South African police. This display by JIm Findlay shows some examples of mail and ephemera associated with some of these people.

To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) day, Richard gave an eighteen frame display of FEPOW (Far East Prisoners of War) philatelic and related material to an audience of 11 members and 4 guests (which included his wife, son and daughter).   The display was dedicated to Richard’s (Great) Uncle Joe (Berry) who was captured at the fall of Singapore, worked on the Burma-Siam Railway and was transferred on a ‘Hellship’ to Japan to provide slave labour there

Sadly we only had 8 members attend our meeting at the Union Jack Club on 12th July but 7 of those had something to show - the following is a listing of those who provided a summary of their displays:   Geoff Hanney   s howed a couple of modern advertising cards from Max digitisation company with a military theme. Also a number of sheets with hand drawn pictures used for birthday cards, events etc, from a soldier on the Salonica front; an Invoice for military belts from a Norf

Another of the many short displays provided for society members by Malcolm Cole. On this occasion Malcolm starts with ‘Never tempt providence’ a brief history of a WW1 cigarette parcel reply card and its sender Sgt Tanner serving with 277 Bde RFA in France. Malcolm goes on to show postcards from ‘Life in the trenches’ with some light-hearted cards and on the more serious side the benefits of wearing a good helmet in the trenches.

FPHS member Nick Colley presents the story of two naval airmen during WW2, Sub. Lt (A). H.P. Dawson, RN and Commander Charles Lamb, DSO,...

This significant research is presented as a display by FPHS member Chris Grimshaw. The display focusses on the opening and...

Another in the many presentations provided by FPHS member Jamie Smith. This display gives a further insight into some of the ‘posted...

Another in the many presentations provided by FPHS member Jamie Smith . This display starts with the United Kingdom and Jamie shows a...

Staying with the Royal Navy theme FPHS member Nick Colley gives another display, on this occasion 10 pages of covers from mainly Tribal...

In a few pages, this display by FPHS member Peter Harvey shows a cover from WW2 posted by Argentine volunteer Pilot Office George Bonner....

From Italy, FPHS member Martino Laurenzi gives a colourful display introducing the Istituto Italo- Britannico and the support given to...

A display given by FPHS member Peter Webb showing rare examples of the Special Postcards produced for the use of relatives of natives of...

An updated (2025) display from FPHS member Jean Wang presents an outstanding display in a social philately exhibit illustrating the use of cigarette and tobacco fund cards in WW1 used by both British and Canadian troops. Starting by introducing the funds, Jean explains their purpose and how they were used and acknowledged by both donors and those in receipt of the parcels sent to troops fighting on the front line.

Introduced with the background into the importance of Iceland to the Allies in WW2, FPHS Member Jim Etherington shows a display of 10...