The Christmas meeting was held in December - just - on the first day of the month at 17 Charterhouse Street, London. The morning was dedicated to a wide ranging display of early air mail from South and Central American countries by the well-known expert, Dr Richard Saundry, who is also the Editor of the B Ae F quarterly publication, Air Mail News. A stimulating commentary accompanied the exhibit and there was much for all to enjoy given the degree of variety of material he showed.

After a splendid lunch, once again organised by Peter Little, the London Region Organiser, the rest of the day was devoted to members’ 16 sheet displays of which no fewer than 12 were given. These included: PanAm and Subsidiary Company air crashes in the same geographical area as the morning’s show, (Ken Sanford); British South American Airways and other post-war services, (John West); “Avion Directo” and “Hasta” markings, (Ian McQueen); Glider Post, (Rolf Scharning); Seychelles air mails, (Keith Fitton); Cobham Survey and IAL First Flights, (Lawrence Kimpton);  Portugal pre-war air mails, (Tom Poynton); Kingsford Smith & Ulm flights, (Martin Smith); Switzerland/George Smith covers, (Michael Crux); Early 1941 Transpacific air mails, (Joe Roberts); Malayan crash mail, (Peter Lister);  China air mails, (Brian Asquith).

The Chairman, Brian Asquith, thanked all the exhibitors for their entertaining displays and wishes all a safe return journey home, especially those who had travelled from Cornwall and Wales for the meeting.

The South Coast Group next meet on January 19 (Foreign Air Mails from Chile; contact: 01403 732 375) and the London Group on February 2 at 107 Charterhouse Street.