ABOUT 40 people attended the March 5 meeting.

Trevor Buckell and his son Mark presented a beautiful display from Ascension Island, with many flaws shown.

The island was used for leaving mail, and permanent occupation dated from 1815, the first stamps being issued in 1922.

There were 20 displays given by members and guests, including: covers of two small Belgian airlines, 1933 to 1941; Charles Lucan envelope cheque and letter; UK to Prince Edward Island, both pre-stamp and stamped, with rates; the under-researched subject of Moroccan Spanish POA, 1912 to 1955; ships and covers to and from Australia including a Schomberg clipper wreck cover; and GB army officials and their use.

There were also postcards, stamps and cigarette cards of anti-aircraft; First World War propaganda; and the theme of coffee houses, with coffee reaching England by Levant merchants in 1650, there being 500 houses in Queen Anne’s reign.

There were postcards of King Frederick VIII of Denmark and his visit to the Faeroes; Napoleon’s invasion of Russia; the 1831 cholera outbreak and the cure of salt and sugar; First World War letters from an office in a Sihk regiment; postal stationery of British East Africa; and specimens of 1950s to 2003 Christmas seals.