Page 4 - BWISC 60th Anniversary Display at RPSL, November 2014
P. 4
INTRODUCTION
In March 1960 the British West Indies Study Circle gave its first display to the Royal Philatelic Society. This
remains the only occasion on which the Circle has shown in these august surroundings. Looking back on it
now, one marvels at how a society less than six years old could have pushed its way onto the meeting agenda,
but when one reads the list of RPS luminaries who showed on that occasion (including John (later Sir John)
Marriott, Bobby Messenger, Bill Townsend and Victor Toeg, headed by their President Gilbert Collett), one
should not be surprised.
The challenge for the Circle now is to live up to the quality shown on that previous occasion. Direct comparisons
are of course not possible, but while the names in the cast list may be less familiar the range of material is
certainly broader. Fashions have changed with far more emphasis on what Robson Lowe called the humanity
of postal history, and the advances in our knowledge about routes, rates and markings has been dramatic.
The revival of interest in postal stationery and revenues is also evident in today’s programme. Another area
where significant progress is notable is in the range of archival material, notably that originating from the
De La Rue release of the late 1970s. However, we have tried to show a few stamps for the traditionalists and
many of the great rarities of BWI philately are on show today just as they were in 1960.
The degree of research revealed in this display also considerably exceeds that of 1960, except perhaps in
the area of plating the early stamps. The Circle has been at the forefront of philatelic research, originally in
the postal history handbooks by the late Len Britnor, supported by 60 years of learned articles in its
award-winning quarterly Bulletin. More recently, under the inspired leadership of publications supremo
Peter Ford, there has been a flood of handbooks and Study Papers, possibly unrivalled in volume and quality
by any other society except for the RPS itself. In the last four years alone these have numbered no less than
ten.
Many of today’s pages could not have been presented in 1960 because the material was simply not in the
private collector’s domain. Some may be familiar because half a dozen of the Circle’s members contributing
today have already had the privilege of solo displays (I expect others will be invited to display once their
snippets have been put on view). However, an attempt has been made to present a balanced offering, so that
even the smallest BWI territory has a frame to itself.
Over thirty members of the Circle have had their arms twisted to contribute to this display. A dozen of these
come from overseas and have either brought their pages or had them carried over by hand. The organisation
has been intense and credit is due to Peter Fernbank in particular for coordinating this and making sure
“all is right on the night” (fingers crossed). Peter Ford, our prodigious publications officer has used his skills
on getting this brochure into print and of course I must thank our members far and wide who have responded
so positively to the invitation to participate in the display.
Our thanks to the Royal for the invitation and I hope its members will not be disappointed.
Charles Freeland, FRPSL
President, BWISC
November 2014
In March 1960 the British West Indies Study Circle gave its first display to the Royal Philatelic Society. This
remains the only occasion on which the Circle has shown in these august surroundings. Looking back on it
now, one marvels at how a society less than six years old could have pushed its way onto the meeting agenda,
but when one reads the list of RPS luminaries who showed on that occasion (including John (later Sir John)
Marriott, Bobby Messenger, Bill Townsend and Victor Toeg, headed by their President Gilbert Collett), one
should not be surprised.
The challenge for the Circle now is to live up to the quality shown on that previous occasion. Direct comparisons
are of course not possible, but while the names in the cast list may be less familiar the range of material is
certainly broader. Fashions have changed with far more emphasis on what Robson Lowe called the humanity
of postal history, and the advances in our knowledge about routes, rates and markings has been dramatic.
The revival of interest in postal stationery and revenues is also evident in today’s programme. Another area
where significant progress is notable is in the range of archival material, notably that originating from the
De La Rue release of the late 1970s. However, we have tried to show a few stamps for the traditionalists and
many of the great rarities of BWI philately are on show today just as they were in 1960.
The degree of research revealed in this display also considerably exceeds that of 1960, except perhaps in
the area of plating the early stamps. The Circle has been at the forefront of philatelic research, originally in
the postal history handbooks by the late Len Britnor, supported by 60 years of learned articles in its
award-winning quarterly Bulletin. More recently, under the inspired leadership of publications supremo
Peter Ford, there has been a flood of handbooks and Study Papers, possibly unrivalled in volume and quality
by any other society except for the RPS itself. In the last four years alone these have numbered no less than
ten.
Many of today’s pages could not have been presented in 1960 because the material was simply not in the
private collector’s domain. Some may be familiar because half a dozen of the Circle’s members contributing
today have already had the privilege of solo displays (I expect others will be invited to display once their
snippets have been put on view). However, an attempt has been made to present a balanced offering, so that
even the smallest BWI territory has a frame to itself.
Over thirty members of the Circle have had their arms twisted to contribute to this display. A dozen of these
come from overseas and have either brought their pages or had them carried over by hand. The organisation
has been intense and credit is due to Peter Fernbank in particular for coordinating this and making sure
“all is right on the night” (fingers crossed). Peter Ford, our prodigious publications officer has used his skills
on getting this brochure into print and of course I must thank our members far and wide who have responded
so positively to the invitation to participate in the display.
Our thanks to the Royal for the invitation and I hope its members will not be disappointed.
Charles Freeland, FRPSL
President, BWISC
November 2014
