British Aerophilatelic Federation

The main display of the day, Croydon Airport, was given by Martin Smith and covered the history of the airport with its aircraft, pilots and air mail services by ImperialAirways and others from  1915 until 1960 when it closed; then followed lunch (thank you - Susan Ellis).  During the afternoon session there were eight more displays: first, Neville Watterson showed mail to/from Teheran during WW II subjected to Anglo-Soviet-Persian censorship. Peter Lister displayed mail flown by the RAF during the rail strike of June 1955 and Christmas airgraphs, then came Bill Legg with his ANA Christmas flight mail of 1931/32 between Australia and UK and return; John Hammonds showed cachets and labels from French air shows between 1920 and 1939, John Crowe displayed “Hodgkinsons Hobby” - a series of covers featuring the 1929 3d air stamp  from Australia, Keith Hanman showed his 1934 Rhodesia/Nyasaland air mails and guest David Worrallo from Kingston  gave his “Hawker” air mail display. Brian Asquith put up his Turkish Air Fund stamps, on and off cover, issued over a period of years  and, in conclusion, wished all a safe journey home, a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
 
 

In the National class, Barry Smith - a first time exhibitor - entered 4 frames of South African air mails from the earliest of days to the crash of the Comet jet airliner. He was awarded a Vermeil medal.
Well known Central Africa collector, and Member of Council, Keith Hanman entered another 4 frame exhibit - this time Rhodesia & Nyasaland air mails for the years of 1934 - 1936. This, too, received a Vermeil medal. The third entry in this class - also a first time entrant with 4 frames - was Martyn Cusworth who displayed the Condor-LATI air service to South America. There were many unusual items in his display and he, also, was awarded a Vermeil medal.

In the International Class, Brian Hyner had entered  the First Commercial Airship Service 1932; Europe to South America. This won a Large Silver medal. Reg Patchett showed his well known collection of Crash and Interrupted mail of Europe. This has been seen at many shows both here and abroad and this time he was awarded a Large Vermeil, the first time for this collection, although he has earlier received a Large Vermeil for his collection of USA crash mail. This year, Derrick Pillage had expanded this 5 frame display from last year of USA Transcontinental Flights from 1918 - 1924 to a full 8 frames. As in the previous year, this exhibit earned a Gold medal and, additionally, the Aerophilatelic Class Award - also for the second year in succession.

We would like to congratulate all these entrants and hope that they - and others- will continue to enter Stampex in future years.
For the next FIP International Show - Bangkok 2003 -  there are more UK applicants for entry in the aerophilatelic class than in any other class, apart from Postal History, and this indicates that competitive aerophilately is alive and well in the UK!

During the meeting, Richard Saundry and Keith Fitton had been judging the four entries for the Air Mail Trophy and the three for the Wotherspoon Cup respectively.

When the AGM ended. Richard announced that the winner of the Air Mail Trophy was John Jeffrey with his “KLM Pioneer Years of Amsterdam - Batavia, 1924 - 1930”, closely followed by the “Transatlantic Air Mails, 1939 - 1944” and “The American Connection”. The winner of the Wotherspoon Cup was Bill Trower with another Atlantic display “Flightpath Atlantic” with “Ethiopian Air Mails 1929 - 1936” and “the International Air Line” in joint 2nd place.

Lunch followed, again - well organised by Peter Little - with a display of 1930s Central Africa Air Mails by Keith Hanman  in the early afternoon. John Hammond then held the auction of over 400 lots with strong bidding in the room and on the book. A fitting conclusion to the 2002 AGM.