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Nominations for 2009 are requested word file pdf file. For more information, please contact Susan Oliver, 46 Woodville Road, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7QN.

Congress Medal

The award for long term service is the Congress Medal. This prestigious award is presented to just one person each year at the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, together with a distinctive lapel pin. It is in recognition of dedication to the hobby over many years. The award is not for philatelic excellence, but for voluntary endeavours particularly at national level.

Congress Medal 2008 – Robert Johnson

Nominated by the Society of Postal Historians

Robert Johnson started collecting stamps aged six and changed from stamps to postal history in 1958. He belongs to many Societies including Bristol PS, the Society of Postal Historians, the Postal History Society and he is also a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London. He has done much work in the many areas of the philatelic field, both in a local and national capacity.

Robert’s professional background is that of a solicitor and notary (now retired) and he has therefore been of much use in the philatelic world when legal advice has been needed and requested. His help was sought by Stamp Show 2000, the Stuart Rossiter Trust, where he was responsible for the formation and running of it, and he advised the late Stuart Rossiter on the establishment of a charitable trust and its function.

Robert chaired the 1996 Philatelic Congress of Great Britain staged in Bristol, and in 1999 he gave the Kay Goodman lecture at the Congress in Salisbury and he also gave a major display at the Congress held in Paisley. Robert is currently Secretary of the Civil Censorship Study Group and the Cape Editor of the Cape and Natal Society Journal.

ABPS Award of Merit

Those who play a major part in the hobby on a more local and regional basis can receive the Award of Merit. Taking the form of a framed certificate, this again recognises voluntary effort. Candidates must be members of an organisation affiliated to the ABPS. Not more than 15 (fifteen) awards are made each year.

"Outstanding service" in each case includes work to advance philately at the level appropriate to the particular award, such as Congress or the ABPS, a convention or exhibition and with the activities of an Association/Federation or affiliated society, carried out on a voluntary basis over a notable period of time. Excluded from consideration are philatelic research and studies, the formation of collections, journalistic work or the reading of papers.

Unsuccessful candidates will remain so nominated for four years, during which time they will be considered at the annual meeting of the Awards Committee. Although nominations lapse after four years, they may be renewed, with any appropriate updating, on the specified form.

The Awards of Merit (in alphabetical order) awarded by the ABPS Awards Committee in 2008:

The ABPS offers its congratulations to all these hard working people and wishes them well in their future endeavours.

The Association of British Philatelic Societies sponsors a number of awards through which it is possible to reward services to philately.