Thematica 2008, at London’s Carisbrooke Hall on June 28 and 29, provided its usual mix of dealers and exhibits to satisfy all thematic collectors.

The exhibits are mainly competitive, but aimed to appeal to all ages. Particularly well supported was the Barclays Cup youth competition, kindly sponsored by Rushstamps (Retail) Ltd, with no fewer than 47 entries. Winner in the up to 8 years old group was Niamh O’Flaherty with ‘N.E.W.S. from Scotland’. In the 9 to 12 years old age group the winner was Hazel Scourfield with ‘Girls World Magazine’.

One of the delights of Thematica is that the visitors choose the winner of the John Fosbery Thematic Trophy. This year the votes went to David Alford’s entry of ‘Let me introduce myself, my name in Cocos’.

The other competitive entries are assessed using national thematic philately judging standards. The winner of the British Thematic Association Trophy was John Leathes with ‘QARL’ (Quick All Round Look), while the Inter-Federation award, the Friends of Thematica Healey and Wise Salver was won by Wessex, with an entry from Gary Green of ‘Bee Keeping and the life of the Honey-Bee’.

The awards were presented by stamp designer Jeffery Matthews, and Eric Friedman of Rushstamps.

Other displays were provided by the National Philatelic Society, London and Provincial Stamp Club, British Thematic Association, Scout and Guide Stamps Club, Ship Stamp Society, and Guild of St Gabriel.

For the seventh year every visitor to Thematica was given a free souvenir sheet designed by Jeffery Matthews: this year, on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the Regionals stamps, the sheet focused on Jeffery’s work on the 1971 decimal currency versions of these stamps.