The Latest News on GB stamps from Norvic Philatelics

Showing posts with label british forces post. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 September 2022

End of British Forces Philatelic Service - fundraisers for the forces

Media Release 01 September 2022

Permanent Closure of BFPS

It is 10 years since BFPS was formed to take over and operate the then dormant Forces Philatelic Bureau to reinstate the production of commemorative covers and special handstamps to mark military events and anniversaries. After careful consideration the two volunteer directors of BFPS, Graham Meacher and Darrell Drury, have decided it is time to retire and have made the decision to dissolve BFPS CIC at the end of the current financial year.

During its decade of operation, BFPS has collaborated with many organisations, both civilian and military, to produce philatelic covers to commemorate over 100 anniversaries and special events. In addition, we have produced First Day Covers, Smilers® and specials. We have also issued a large number of bespoke ‘British Forces Postal Service’ special handstamps, each uniquely numbered and very popular with philatelists.

Apart from resurrecting the Forces Philatelic Bureau, the other main aim of BFPS has been to fundraise for Service charities and in this we have been successful with tens of thousands of pounds having been donated to both the charities related to the covers produced or other worthy charities such as SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

We are very proud of what we have achieved and we would like to thank our friends and family, who have supported us and helped make BFPS a success. We would also like to thank our customers and regular subscribers for the tremendous support shown by purchasing our covers.

===============

Although not announced in the media release, the disbandment of the Postal & Courier Service (PCS) Reserve element of the British Military being this month with the END of an ERA slogan on the postmark serves also to mark the end of the BFPS.

There will be one final cover coinciding with the issue of Royal Mail's Royal Marines stamps.

After this, according to a statement on the BFPS website, they will hold a closing down sale and the online shop will cease trading by the end of November. Any stock remaining on hand will be donated to good causes.

The shop has 188 Commemorative covers, and 53 sets of British Army Service postcards. There are also Smilers Sheets and Post and Go stamps, and other souvenirs.

BFPS fundraises for Service charities through philately and is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee.Registered No 417647. Registered address: British Forces Philatelic Service, The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, Leven, Fife KY9 1AX

BFPS is officially licensed by the MOD and is a not-for-profit company run by volunteer veterans.

I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing Graham and Darrell all the best for a long and happy retirement. I suspect, like many of us still working, they could have stopped years ago but they can be proud of the work that they have done, the covers produced, and the funds that they have raised.

Link to our post which reported the establishment of the BFPS CIC in 2013.

Monday, 7 October 2019

Centenary of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund - Fundraising cover by BFBS

Media Release 03 October 2019

Centenary of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

2019 sees the centenary of The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF). It is the Royal Air Force's leading welfare charity, providing financial, practical and emotional support to serving and former members of the RAF – regardless of rank – as well as their partners and dependents.

Lord Trenchard founded the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund in 1919, one year after the formation of the Royal Air Force. It was originally known as the Royal Air Force Memorial Fund as one of their charitable objects was to raise a memorial to airmen who died in the First World War. The Royal Air Force Memorial was completed in 1923 and the charity's name changed to the Benevolent Fund in June 1933.

BFPS, in collaboration with the RAFBF, has produced a commemorative cover to mark this historic occasion to be issued on the 23^rd October 2019.

The image on the cover represents the cross section of people that the RAFBF supports. A unique special handstamp numbered BFPS 3224, with the Centenary logo silhouetted in the centre, will be used to cancel the 1st class stamp "Hurricane MK 1".

Three versions will be issued:

standard unsigned version costing £7.50.
‘flown’ version – flown on a mission in 'Tiger' Puma HC2 Aircraft No XW224 by 230 Squadron, RAF Benson, costing £10.
numbered limited edition signed by Air Vice-Marshall The Honourable David Murray CVO OBE, Controller of the RAFBF, costing £15.

Profits will be donated to the RAFBF.

These covers will have an A4 information insert and will be presented in a protective cellophane sleeve making a superb memento of the Fund’s centenary.

These covers can be ordered from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk) or by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS, The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, LEVEN, KY9 1AX.

Monday, 27 February 2017

Post and Go M011 gets its logo

As predicted Post and Go Machine M011 at Ministry of Defence Abbey Wood Bristol has had the software updated today. (See also here.)

~~A limited number of strips and single 1st class stamps will be available in our webshop when we actually have the stock.~~
Singles and Collectors Sets are now available in our webshop. As with the earlier version without the logo, the Machin stamps are coded MA13.

Monday, 6 February 2017

Unannounced new Post and Go BFPO Installation

Thanks to Trevor we can report that a further BFPO Post and Go machine has been installed.

M011 is now located at the Ministry of Defence offices at Abbey Wood, Bristol.

Images provide so far show session 0007 session was on 2 February (last Friday) so it is quite possible that this was the first day of live operation. Both Machin and Union Flag stamps are available but it isn't possible to see the year code from the images.

UPDATE 7 February
I'm indebted to JG for providing a photo of later output from M011 - session 013 rather than session 007 above which shows a much better receipt, with a graphic logo. DES = Defence Equipment and Support.

And Anonymous tells us that the Machin is MA13 and the flag is undated.

Any customers who require examples of either, or just the 1st class, please let me know and I will try to help.

UPDATE 27 FEBRUARY: Original stamps are now available on our webshop. From today both types of stamps have the MoD DES logo - see here.

As we can see from the picture, this is one of the really slim machines.

Monday, 9 May 2016

Post and Go stamps update - May 2016

I've been too busy to track Post and Go news via eBay, which is where most of the new discoveries end up, so my thanks to the readers who sent these snippets.

Machine M001 - BFPO

An unannounced change has been made to M001 based at the BFPO in RAF Northolt, possibly yesterday. A logo has been added, but without any inscription. This strip was spotted offered by 'loopy.lad' on eBay, item number 152083539206.

UPDATE 16 May. This particular strip (face value £3.30) sold for £127, with 8 bidders. If the seller has regular access to the machine then clearly he can replicate this almost at will for as long as the demand is there - and when demand drops to zero, he can use is stamps for postage!

The image is of a statue which shows a soldier of the Great War (1914-18) reading a letter.

The original statue by sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-1934) stands on Platform 1 at Paddington Station, London. The statue was simply called Soldier Reading a Letter and was erected as a memorial to the men and women of the Great Western Railway Company who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

A replica, named "Letter from Home" , was at Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill, previous HQ of the Defence Postal and Courier Services. It was unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit on 16 July 1982. It is now outside the BFPS HQ at RAF Northolt, and is affectionately known as "The Flasher".

Battle of Jutland inscription on Royal Navy Museum machines
Royal Mail's Post and Go website reports that machines at all Royal Navy sites will carry a ‘Battle of Jutland’ inscription from 31 May 2016 until 30 June 2016.

Scottish Congress 2016
John Embrey reports that the inscription problem which affected the Euro 20g/World 10g on tariff change (and described here) affected the stamps produced from machine B001 for the Scottish Congress. As this took place over two weeks after the tariff change problems were solved elsewhere, they really should not have recurred at Perth, and suggests that Royal Mail still haven't really got a handle on preventing Pand G errors. If anybody has an an image I will be pleased to add it.

UPDATE: several people have sent images (thank you all) - there is more to this story than meets the eye, so for the time being, here are two pictures of the error

Jersey Post
Jersey's Broad Street JE02 machine will commemorate the 100th Muratti Vase, an annual football competition played between Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey. The inscription 100^th Muratti Vase will be added to the Jersey Crest stamps from 14 May until 14 June 2016. At the same time the Jersey flag stamp will be replaced with the Protected Species. These will not have the football inscription.

At World Stamp Show NY-16, taking place from 28 May to 4 June in New York, Jersey's JE01 machine will dispense Jersey Flag and Crest stamps with an additional inscription. The Crest stamps will also feature the exhibition logo - the Statue of Liberty.

Friday, 11 September 2015

September Stamp and Postmark News Update

Once again I have snippets of news from various sources so thank you to all who have sent me information and images. In most cases a larger view can be seen by clicking on the image.

Rugby World Cup Slogan Postmark

There has been no announcement about this, but I would be very surprised if there was no slogan

postmark for this most prestigious event. So with the stamps being issued next Friday 18 September, it is worth looking out for Royal Mail press releases and reading the small print which may well tell you that there is a postmark. If there is one I would expect it to be in use from 16th on 2nd class mail and 17th on 1st class which will be delivered on 18th.

However, with the stamps being mainly black, positioning on a first day cover will need to be considered very carefully!

Guernsey Post and Go - Envoy House

Chris has provided an image of the British Union Flag stamps and receipt from Guernsey Post's first public-access machine on the island, at Envoy House. (Click to see it larger). I think we can all be grateful that this practice has not been established in the UK by Post Office Ltd, and that Royal Mail abandoned a similar exercise for the machines in it's Enquiry Offices.

Stamps on Postboxes

Back in July Royal Mail started affixing pictorial and descriptive plaques to 50 postboxes as reported here. Everything went quiet for a while, but Bob has noticed this one at Tenby in Prembrokeshire.

Strangely the one with the Lifeboat plaque it is opposite a Victorian box, and while Bob understands that it makes sense to put it on the newer box (the Victorian one might be 'listed') he has no explanation for having two boxes in such close proximity. Collections from the Victorian one are 9am weekdays, 7am Saturdays, while the other is 5pm/12 noon!

British Forces Post Office marks Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain RAF Northolt has commissioned BFPS to produce the third commemorative cover in a set of three. This will be issued on the 15th September 2015.

This splendid cover bears images by Flt Lt James Payne RAF, of a Royal Flying Corps B.E.2 Bi-plane, a Spitfire fighter and a BAe 146 aircraft. In the background is shown the Polish Memorial situated near RAF Northolt. This issue will include a limited edition of 200 flown covers, some of which will be signed by the Station Commander and Officer Commanding 32 (The Royal) Squadron.

The covers can be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). These will cost just £6 (UK/BFPO p&p free) for the unsigned version, £8 for the flown only and £12 for the signed versions.

Royal Mail to sell first day covers unaddressed for 3 months

"Royal Mail intends to extend the sale period of First Day Covers from one day to 3 months, initially as a trial with effect from the Long To Reign Over US issue in September. The FDCs sold after issue date will of course be pre-prepared non personalised FDCs.

"Due to the very short sales period Royal Mail has never promoted its FDCs or Cover collecting within its promotional materials or Press activity. Only ‘First’ which goes to Regular Order FDC collectors includes any reference to FDCs.

"We would like to promote the concept of Cover collecting much more widely. This development will allow us to offer finished FDCs in Post Offices and ensure they are on display in cabinets. Retailing a finished product will take FDCs more mainstream and is expected to attract souvenir and impulse buyers."

The first of these is available on the Royal Mail website. The price, as with all serviced FDCs, includes VAT. It is described as the Long To Reign Over Us Stamp Sheet Souvenir.

That's fine, but in the write-up a distinction is draw: "unlike the First Day Cover, it does not feature personalised address details". Quite what it is (a souvenir) if it is not a First Day Cover, and how they are hoping to promote FDC collecting if they describe this new product as something else, I'm not quite sure. Marketing people again, I expect.

Another new Machin definitive.

Not many left to be discovered now, although some of the booklets are difficult to find supplies of.

The 2nd class Large booklets with year code MA15 have been found, but so far only one pack of 25.

This is Norvic 2933.5 and will be added to our next Checklist which will be made available very soon. Thanks to MD for the image, even though you can't supply me with any stock!

Thursday, 4 June 2015

Three Waterloo 200 covers from British Forces Philatelic Service

On 18 June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo saw the defeat of Napoleon’s French

Army by the Seventh Coalition commanded by The Duke of Wellington. This great battle put an end to the Napoleonic Wars with France and was a defining moment in European history.

To mark the 200ᵗʰ Anniversary of this epic clash BFPS, in partnership with the Waterloo 200 Committee, Headquarters The Royal Logistic Corps and Headquarters the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, is producing a set of three special commemorative covers to be released on the 18ᵗʰ June 2015.

These beautifully crafted covers depict various battle scenes and use images taken from painting by notable artists. The scenes shown include the ‘Battle of Waterloo’, ‘The Defence of Hougoumont Farm’ and ‘The Charge of The Scots Greys’.

The covers bear postage stamps cancelled by the unique BFPS handstamps specially designed for each occasion. Two of the stamps used are from the special Waterloo 200 set issued by Royal Mail on 18 June.

The covers are available to order on a strictly first-come-first-served basis from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). Costing just £6 for the unsigned versions and £12 for the signed versions (UK/BFPO p&p free).

They are also available to order by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.

Friday, 22 May 2015

The Gurkhas: 200 years service - BFPS commemorative cover

2015 marks the bicentennial of loyal Gurkha service to the British Crown. For the past 200 years, Gurkhas have served with British forces in every major conflict, most notably in the two World Wars where they suffered over 40,000 casualties, gaining renown for their courage and loyalty. Indeed, Gurkha soldiers have accumulated 13 Victoria Crosses for their acts of supreme valour.

To commemorate this long and faithful partnership BFPS has produced a special commemorative cover to be released on the 9ᵗʰ June 2015.

This beautifully designed cover uses images that show the Gurkhas in both their infantry and ceremonial roles. A 1^st class postage stamp also bearing the image of a Gurkha soldier (Rifleman Kulbir Thapa VC) will be cancelled by a handstamp specially designed for this occasion.

This will be a numbered limited edition of just 200 covers. They will cost £10 each and £6 of this will be donated to the Gurkha Welfare Trust to help them with their vital relief work in Nepal. If all 200 are sold we will be able to donate £1200 to this extremely worthwhile cause.

The covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop) from the 9ᵗʰ June 2015. However they are available now to order on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. See the BFPS website for details (www.bfps.org.uk).

The covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

VE Day and Trooping the Colour Covers from BFPS

The British Forces Postal Service has announced two new commemorative covers.

VE Day Cover re-issued for 70^th Anniversary

Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day as it was known, was the public holiday celebrated on the 8^th May 1945 to mark the end of WWII in Europe. To commemorate the 50ᵗʰ anniversary of VE Day the British Forces Post Office produced an official commemorative cover, which was issued on 8ᵗʰ May1995 and sold at the celebrations in London.

To celebrate the 70ᵗʰ anniversary the Forces Philatelic Bureau has created some double-dated some covers from the 8ᵗʰ May 1995 issue and produced a unique collectors’ item that covers 20 years of national commemorations for this very significant historical event.

The covers are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). They will cost just £6 (UK/BFPO p&p free).

Welsh Guards ‘Trooping The Colour’ in their Centenary Year

1915 saw the raising of the Welsh Guards by order of King George V. A few days after the Battalion mounted its first King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. Later that year they found themselves in France ready to do battle. A century on and celebrating their 100 years the Welsh Guards have once again the honour to parade before the country’s reigning monarch as part of the Queen’s Birthday Parade and Trooping The Colour.

To mark both of these historic occasions BFPS, in partnership with the Welsh Guards, is producing a special commemorative cover to be released on the 13 June 2015.

The cover carries superb past and present images of the Battalion on ceremonial and combat duties. Signed limited editions will be available to buy. A Welsh regional definitive stamp will be franked by the unique BFPS numbered special handstamp, the centre of which shows a silhouette of a leek, the emblem of the Welsh Guards.

The covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop).They will cost just £6 for the unsigned version and £12 for the signed version (UK/BFPO p&p free).

They are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis.

Both covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

New BFPS Cover: RAF Leuchars transfers to the Army

RAF Leuchars in Fife, Scotland will be formally handed over to the British Army on the 31ˢᵗ

March 2015. The base will be re-named “Leuchars Station” and will become home to a variety of military units. In recognition of this historic occasion the Forces Philatelic Bureau will be publishing a special commemorative cover.

The cover carries a stunning aerial photograph of Leuchars taken by Drew Dudgeon superimposed with the Station crest and the cap badges of the four main military units that will occupy the site. This issue will include a limited edition of the cover signed by the RAF Station Commander, Wg Cdr Neville Clayton, and the incoming Commanding Officer of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Lt Col Ben Cattermole MBE. All versions will bear the unique BFPS 3183 special handstamp.

Lt Col Graham Meacher, Managing Director of the British Forces Philatelic Service, said “It is fitting that BFPS should commemorate this handover by issuing a special cover. Leuchars has played a major role within the Armed Forces in general and the local area in particular and will continue to do so with this change of use.”

The covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). They will cost just £6 for the unsigned version and £12 for the signed version (UK/BFPO postage and packing free). They are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. The covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, Fife, KY9 1AX Scotland.

Thursday, 26 February 2015

BFPS Marks Centenary of RAF Northolt with special cover

RAF Northolt - 100 years of Aviation History

One hundred years of service (95 as a military flying station), means that RAF Northolt, based in South Ruislip is a reflection of aviation history. Northolt pre-dates the establishment of the Royal Air Force by almost three years, having opened in May 1915. It has the longest history of continuous use of any RAF airfield. More recently it has become a multipurpose Tri-service base serving the growing needs of a modern Armed Forces.

To mark this historic centenary the British Forces Philatelic Bureau, in conjunction RAF Northolt, has produced a special commemorative cover that will be released on the 3ʳᵈ March 2015. The cover image uses the spoke from the station badge to depict the various units and activities that are now part of the base. This issue will include a limited edition of 500 flown covers, some of which will be signed by the Station Commander and Officer Commanding Operations Wing.

Most of the covers have been reserved for RAF Northolt, however BFPS has secured a limited quantity for sale to its customers. The covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). These will cost just £6 (UK/BFPO postfree) for the unsigned version, £8 for the flown only and £12 for the signed versions. They are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. The covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS, The Old Post Office, Links Place, Elie, Fife, KY9 1AX, United Kingdom.

Friday, 10 October 2014

Special Covers from British Forces Postal Service Philatelic Bureau

The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has had responsibility for all aspects of military mail, including philatelic matters, since its formation in 1882. The British Forces Philatelic Service (BFPS) fundraises for Service charities through philately and is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. BFPS was specially set-up to ensure that the Forces Philatelic Bureau survives and thrives.

This summer the Bureau has produced a number of first day and commemorative covers which can be bought from it's website. Each cover has as a full colour design and a special informative insert often A4 size. Signed covers are often available, at a small premium. All are limited editions.

Trooping the Colour