Kettering Philatellic Society paid us a visit on March 17th, with Terry Hughes treating us to examples of 'missile mail' and US submarines.  Gordon Tredigido completed the evening with the curious tale of the suspected murderess Madeleine Smith of Glasgow - eventually cleared of charges against her by an Edinburgh jury, relying in part on evidence of post marks!

On March 31st, Dr. Ken Flint showed us his extensive collection of Canadian material including postal history and covers showing mail from the Old crow settlement in the Yukon (which was in Canada but used USA postal systems until told not to), and many examples of covers and postcards from the 'dead letter' post office - which could not be delivered for various reasons including underpayment and insufficient postage.

April 14th saw our latest auction meeting - well attended thank you and with most lots sold!

To a change from the original programme, Peter Thomas stepped in on 28th March to delight us with his collection featuring Herm Island and Lundy - both fascinating subjects and very well told with stories and materials.  We learned about Puffins and Doubles, the three lighthouses of Lundy, the tenants of Herm and the suspected forced labourers who built parts of the Lundy estate.  Lundy was then gifted to the National Trust after being known for a while as the 'Kindom of Heaven' after the Heaven family benefactors.  We also discovered the tourist attraction of HMS Montague (1906).  Herm was briefly occupied by the German Army during WW2 but evacuated after their anti-aircraft guns shot down a friendly flyer.  It also briefly boasted a pigeon post, whilst Lundy's 'donkey mail' faltered when the donkey ran away every time it saw the mail boat approaching.