Programme

Annual Congress Report 2013

Seventeen members with many spouses gathered at Market Harborough for the 2013 Netherlands Philatelic Circle Congress and we had a splendid time with many interesting displays.

The displays started with Philip Longbottom giving his review of the early Registration mail of the Netherlands charting the development of handstamps through to the etiquettes of pink, purple and orange and finally to the standard UPU in 1907. There followed a section of brief displays from the following members: Simon McArthur, Lyel Swingler, John Henley, David Cletheroe, Mike Griffiths, John Hill, Julian van Beveren and Len van der Berg. Simon and Lyel were displaying at their first Congress.

In the afternoon there was a Congress auction with some keen bidding. Julian van Beveren gave a splendid look at early Dutch Indies air mail material in his display called "I Can See a Speck", a reference to a letter written by a lady on seeing the Vickers Vimy plane arriving in 1919 on its way to Australia. Alan Bartlett showed a selection of postal material from one company in the Indies and later Indonesia. The company was called Maclaine, Watson and Co. An early letter to Addison of Appleby in 1790 went per overland mail, relating to a large load of spices. This was followed by a selection of material relating to Hollandia in the Netherlands New Guinea. Located on the northern shore of the island settlements with similar names occupied various sites such as Hollandia Binnen over a period of time which included the Japanese invasion and subsequent Liberation by American forces in late 1944.

A point of interest at the Dinner, Peter Hardie as President proposed the toast of the Two Queens for the last time in view of the fact that after 120 years a King, Willem-Alexander, has been inaugurated to the throne in the Netherlands.

On the Sunday, April 14, Les Jobbins gave us a display of Netherlands International Parcel Cards. He started with lists of dates when various countries took part in the service with 17 countries participating in 1880 various improvements were introduced with Cash on Delivery etc., Express, Urgent, Air Mail and Urgent Air mail appearing at different times. The service ended in 1970. Rosemary Dellar brought some more information forward as to 'Who was T.M. Prentice?' Her curiosity had been aroused as she came across the Addressee on several FDCs. The answer will appear in an one of the Netherlands Philatelist magazine.

The Konijnenburg image of Queen Wilhelmina in 1940 was the subject of John Jackson's display. There was much of interest in the issue because shortly after its appearance neutral Netherlands were thrust into the war and examples of interrupted mail and changing rates were much in evidence. A thematic display of Dutch football by Paul McGowan included items from the KNVB and covers in the World Cups.

Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14

Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough

The Committee are looking forward to another enjoyable Congress and especially hope to see members who have not attended before or who have had a break for a number of years.

The Circle this year returns to an old favourite, the Three Swans Hotel in the delightful market town of Market Harborough, where we had a number of very successful Congresses in the 1980s and 1990s.

Access is very easy, being close to the motorway network and parking at the hotel is good. Market Harborough is also easily accessible by rail, being on the mainline between London St Pancras and Sheffield with two trains every hour.

For those who have not stayed at this hotel before, it has its origins as a 16th century coaching inn. Since we last visited the number of rooms has been increased and it now also has a dedicated Conference Centre, part of which we will be using. More information is available at www.bw-threeswanshotel.co.uk

The full board charge for members and guests is £125.00 per person sharing a room or £160.00 for a single room, from dinner on Friday until lunch on Sunday, including tea and coffee. Saturday lunch is not included and bar snacks will be available if required. If any members wish to extend their stay for a further night on Sunday, the bed and breakfast rate will be £45.00 per room. Please also advise of any special dietary or access needs.

Annual Congress 2012

Friday April 12 to Sunday April 14

This year the Netherlands Philatelic Circle returned to Scotland where it started over 60 years ago. The venue, the New Lanark Mill Hotel, is located on the banks of the River Clyde in a World Heritage Site.

Congress was a great success this year, with attendance up from last year. 22 members and spouses attended for the weekend and 13 of them displayed a wide range of material including airmails, shipping, rocket mail, Dorus Rijkers, banking, WWII, Dutch East Indies, Bontkraag, kinderzegels and Rotterdam postal history.

The visitors from the South enjoyed the event too, and the spouses were content to visit the various parts of the World Heritage site and the town of Lanark. The close proximity of all that meant that their stay was considered relatively relaxing, with no long journeys to stately homes, etc.

The Book of Signatories of the Isa Stuart Award was signed by Alan Bartlett. Alan has been a stalwart of the Committee for many years. He has attended every Congress since 1999. He was Vice President and Public Relations Officer from 2005 to 2008, and President and Public Relations Officer from 2008 to 2011. He has produced 19 articles for the "Netherlands Philatelist".

After the dinner Julie Longbottom (wife of Philip) gave a display of some of her artwork including paintings and ceramics.

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Annual Congress 2011

Friday 8 April till Sunday 10 April 2011

Sixteen members and spouses met in Morley, Derbyshire, on the weekend of 8th to 10th April 2011 for the Annual Congress of the Netherlands Philatelic Circle. The weekend was notable for the extremely fine, sunny weather which we all enjoyed at the venue which looked out over the rolling Derbyshire countryside. Peter Hardie was installed as President and received the chain of office from the outgoing President, Alan Bartlett.

On the philatelic side nine different displayers showed a wide variety of items from the early years' material, airmails and the Dutch East Indies, which were all hugely enjoyed. They even had a gentle competition to spot the years in different catalogue pages.

The philatelic widows and widowers were able to roam around the immediate countryside with a number of them visiting the Crich Tramway Village.

The dinner was most enjoyable and was followed by a talk by Nick Wraith, retired managing director of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, on the development of postal services in Great Britain with an explanation of how letter carriers turned into postmen with the introduction of the parcel service in 1883.

At the Dinner, Les Jobbins announced that the Isa Stuart Award was to be given this year to Paul McGowan for his work as Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Editorial Contact in recent years.

One of the highlights on the Sunday was a comprehensive display of World War Two Undercover Mail by Tony Sibley. After Lunch the members dispersed and were looking forward to next year's Congress which is planned to be held at New Lanark. Many of the early Congress meetings from the late nineteen forties to the mid sixties were held in the Glasgow area.

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Annual Congress 2010

Friday 23 April till Sunday 25 April 2010

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Annual Congress 2009

Friday 20 March till Sunday 22 March 2009

The venue was the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, Charlecote, near Stratford-upon-Avon