BRITISH PHILATELIC TRUST

A new focus

The British Philatelic Trust has been reviewing its role over recent months to ensure it is fulfilling its obligations.

Established in 1981, the Trust is a registered charity, and thus has to ensure it adheres to its stated objectives, namely promotion of ‘the study, research and dissemination of knowledge’ in the philatelic arena.

One of the first key moves that the Trust undertook was to purchase the freehold of a property in the Smithfield area of London. Called ‘The British Philatelic Centre’, the building provides facilities for societies to hold meetings, the lighting and display frames offering the perfect setting for showing material to best effect. There is also a smaller room ideal for committee meetings.

The Centre houses the offices and library of the National Philatelic Society. The library is virtually unrivalled, certainly in the realms of the philatelic journals from around the world it holds, and can be made available to those attending meetings at the Centre.

At one time the staging of national competitions in the UK was a fairly random process, with the national exhibitions, Stampex and the former British Philatelic Exhibition, taking on the responsibility. However, with the requirement for national qualification to exhibit internationally, a more formal system was needed. Following the demise of the British Philatelic Federation, the fledgling Association of British Philatelic Societies felt unable to assume this role, and so the national competitions have been staged under the aegis of the British Philatelic Trust at Autumn Stampex. Now that the ABPS is ten years old, it feels able to take on more of the mantle of being the UK’s national philatelic body, and so in future will be responsible for the staging of the national competitions.

Recently the Trust has been working closely with the University of the Third Age (U3A) and has been involved in the production of a booklet that inspires study of local postal history and postal services. It is hoped that this will prove to be the start of a greater co-operation with U3A, stimulating those who have reached retirement.

Another publication nearing completion is one that seeks to show the benefits of philately to those who are at present sceptical. Over the years the Trust has supported the publication of a wide range of philatelic books.

The Trust supported an exhibition at the Octagon Gallery of The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge from January 26 to April 23, 2006. Called ‘Art for Mailing: Wildlife Stamp Designs by Ian Loe’, the exhibition included sketches and artwork for over 500 stamp designs Ian Loe has produced over the past 25 years. The exhibition was also supported by the British Library Philatelic Collections and the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau.

Alongside Royal Mail and the Philatelic Traders’ Society, it has supported the Rowland Hill Awards over the past few years, rewarding innovation and initiative within the philatelic community.

Recent years have not been easy for the BPT which relies on its investments. Lower interest rates, and the decline in the value of equities at the start of this decade, have meant that the Trust has had to examine all that its undertakes very carefully. However, it can now look ahead in a positive way, and welcomes ideas for future activities that fall within the remit of its objectives.