Royal Mail's third set of price increases since Spring 2020 - 1 January 2021

Many collectors have said that the release of stamps for Star Trek would mean the end of their collecting.  And for those who haven't already decided, Royal Mail's announcement today of new rates from 1 January 2021 will probably spell the end of buying new issues, with the basic set of 10 x 1st class stamps increasing from £7.60 to £8.50.

 

Press Release 1 December 2020

We understand that many companies and households are finding it hard in the current economic environment. As a result, we have considered any pricing changes very carefully and in doing so have sought to minimise any impact on our customers.

From 1 January, 2021 the price of a 1st Class stamp will increase by 9p to 85p and the price of a 2nd Class stamp will increase by 1p to 66p. These changes are necessary to help ensure the sustainability of the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service.

The Universal Service Obligation, which requires Royal Mail to be able to deliver to 31 million home and business addresses across the UK, comes with high fixed costs. During the coronavirus pandemic, letter volumes saw a 28% fall. The reduction in letter volumes has had a significant impact on the finances of the Universal Service which lost £180 million in the first half of the year. This demonstrates the need for change in the Universal Service. We are working tirelessly to deliver the most comprehensive service we can in difficult circumstances as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact our operation.

The health and safety of our colleagues and our customers remains our number one priority. This means we have faced significant, additional costs related to COVID-19 (£85 million for the first six months) such as protective equipment, elevated absences, overtime and agency staff as well as the impact of necessary social distancing measures.

Royal Mail has taken a decision not to call upon the Government’s furlough scheme (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) throughout the pandemic. Royal Mail’s stamp prices are among the best value in Europe compared to other postal operators. Royal Mail research shows that the European average price for 1st Class letters (0-100g) is £1.21.

Nick Landon Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail said: “Like other companies, 2020 has been a challenging year for Royal Mail. Our people have worked tirelessly to keep the UK connected throughout the pandemic and associated restrictions. These price increases will help us continue to deliver and sustain the Universal Service in challenging circumstances.”

 

UK Inland Postage Rates from 1 January 2020

The headline increase of 1st class stamps is bound to cause a furore in some quarters, whilst the 1p increase in 2nd class will satisfy most social users of the mails, sending greetings cards.  

But for collectors the increase across international rates will impact on many more stamp issues.  It is possible that Stamps & Collectibles will be asked to make a contribution and increase the cost of some products, such as stamp cards and blank first day envelopes, as well as the premium on presentation packs and prestige stamp books.   It will also mean some more inventiveness in the Post and Go area as rates are combined.  (See below)

Airmail letter rates are simplified to a minimum of £1.70 which covers up to 20g Worldwide, and Europe up to 100g.  100g rates for Zones 1, 2 & 3 are standardised at £2.55 - which means the Post and Go imprint for these can revert to Zones 1-3.  However, this means that the existing £1.45 and £1.70 rates are now covered by £1.70 and the £2.50 and £2.55 rates are now covered by £2.55, leaving two gaps in the set of 6.  News about changes as we get it.

UPDATE: It is very rare that multiples of any stamp work for another rate, but it has been pointed out to me that 2 x 1st class = £1.70, and 3 x 1st class = £2.55.

NEW DEFINITIVES 

Unlike in the summer and autumn, this time Royal Mail will issue new stamps for the airmail rates.  It is to be hoped that these new stamps will suffice and that there will be no change in March.  There will be three Machin definitives and £1.70 country definitives:

New £1.70, £3.25 and £4.20 Machin definitives 23 December 2020

New £1.70 country definitives 23 December 2020

The new  £1.70 stamps cover the 100g letter rate for Europe, and the Worldwide rate up to 20g.

The £3.25 is for European and the £4.20 is for Worldwide Large Letters to 100g.

Colours are announced as £1.70 - Marine Turquoise, £3.25 - Aqua Green, and £4.20 Plum Purple.

The usual first day covers and facilities will be provided.

The £2.55 Garnet Red stamp first issued on 21 March 2017 will also be reprinted but as it is not a new issue* it will not be on Royal Mail first day covers. [Thanks to Robert for the comment that "The £2.55 from 2017 was printed by De La Rue, the new printing will be by Walsall." ] 

However being reprinted it will obviously have a new year code of either M20L or M21L* (the illustration above shows M21L).  Collectors interested in having first day covers with either this stamp alone, or added to the three on the Royal Mail cover are invited to contact us in the usual way as soon as possible.  (Please do not order via a comment on this post.)

* We have received information from Royal Mail Edinburgh indicating that all four new stamps has been printed with the M20L code (as they should be).  We would expect that before March is out we may well see the first reprints with M21L code, as the £1.70 at least will be more widely used as it replaced what was previously served by the £1.45 rate.

UPDATE 11 December
Thanks to CB & IM for reporting that the (non-visible change) £2.55 is being distributed by Royal Mail on standing order, but not until the first commemorative issue on 14 January 2021.  So that is likely to count as the first day of availability, there being no official first day of issue for this stamp.  If that is confirmed by my contacts at Edinburgh then the first day covers for this 'set' will have to be dual-dated.  

UPDATE 16 December  We have now received supplies of the new stamps and confirm that despite the fact that they were printed in 2020, and will first go on sale in 2020, they are coded M21L, except for the £2.55 which is coded M20L and we suspect some post offices may delay its sale. 

PICTURES OF ACTUAL STAMPS

Sheet of 25 x £2.55 Machin definitives coded M20L printed 01/10/20

Sheet of 25 x £1.70 Machin definitives coded M21L printed 01/10/20

Sheet of 25 x £3.75 Machin definitives coded M21L printed 01/10/20

Sheet of 25 x £4.20 Machin definitives coded M21L printed 01/10/20

Grid Positions show that One primary sheet of 8 sheets of 25 was used for England, and another primary sheet was used for the other countries.  Of these the Scotland stamp was printed in the first two columns, Northern Ireland in column 3 and Wales column 4.

Grid positions on sheets of £1.70 country definitive stamps.

Sorry for the not as good as usual quality of these images, I'll try to do a different picture for the £2.55 in different light - today the light is very indifferent!

 

What isn't obvious from the picture of the England stamp above is a curious flaw on the stamp adjacent to the printing date.  This may be a foreign body on the magenta plate - or something else.  Suggestions welcome!

Magenta 'hairs' on England £1.70 stamp.

POST AND GO

With the top four valued stamps now combined into two, Royal Mail will use the two spaces created for the Europe and Worldwide Large Letter stamps, increasing the total cost from the current £11.64 to a massive £13.84.  Fortunately if they ever issue any more pictorial series they will almost certainly be in packs of 6 x 1st.

UPDATE 2 December - An illustrated example of the Post and Go effects and write up by Brian is on his Postage Labels UK blog.  (Currently heading the list of 'other blogs' on the right of the page on web view.)

We have been told that The Postal Museum will be open on 1 January (unless further Covid restrictions are imposed) and so their Post and Go stamps will be available on the first day that the new rates are applicable.  It is likely that (with the same caveat) some independent franchised branches and some ex-Crown offices in WHSmith shops will also be open so collectors wanting first day covers on the first operational date for ordinary NCR SSK stamps could get them if they are lucky enough to live in the right area!

UPDATE 17 December - Press release from the Postal Museum.

On Friday 1 January 2021, The Postal Museum will reopen both Post & Go machines with stamps 1st and 2nd class Machins.

Both kiosks will be located at The Postal Museum’s Welcome Space and no admission ticket will be required to access the services. You will not be able to access any other areas of the building on this day. Additional safety measures have been introduced such as a hand sanitizer station, a one-in-one-out access and information on how to scan the NHS Test and Trace QR code located near the machines. The machines will vend the Machin stamps of all values with no new overprint but will have the new 2021 price updates and year code. These stamps will not be available to purchase online and nor will we be able to offer delivery to anyone who cannot attend on the day. Both Post & Go machines are available at The Postal Museum from 10am until 4pm on Friday 1 January only

And as expected following the 19 December announcement by the Prime Minister that London is now in Tier 4, the Postal Museum will not open on 1 January.

 

More analysis later, but meanwhile you can download the new rate leaflet here.

 

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"The Post Office exclusivity with Royal Mail could soon end"

According to Tamebay, which credits The Times, "negotiations are under way with Royal Mail and the Post Office exclusivity is top of the agenda to open the door and allow couriers ... to have packages handled by the Post Office."

"Currently, the Post Office can’t even handle all Royal Mail services – Tracked 24 and 48 can be purchased online at Royal Mail Click and Drop but unlike most other Royal Mail services you can’t even drop Tracked 24 and 48 parcels at the Post Office – their Horizon system can’t even scan them and if you try to dump them at the Post Office you’ll be told to drop them at your local Royal Mail delivery office. Cross fingers a new deal with Royal Mail would sort out anomalies like this.

"Royal Mail need the Post Office and it’s inconceivable that they wouldn’t want them still selling stamps, but they’re unlikely to welcome your local Post Master saying “Yes, you can send your parcel via Royal Mail or Parcelforce, but you could save money by sending via [insert names of various courier companies here]”.

Royal Mail would still pick up the less profitable letter type post, but if the Post Office could sell services with a range of couriers and, dare I say, alternative postal carriers using Royal Mail downstream services for final mile delivery, the national postal service could see their business ebbing away in communities across the country."

Points to ponder. 

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Mobile Post Office update.

I've shown a number of Mobile Post Office datestamp impressions over the last few months, each accompanied by some detail of locations served - not always accurate, I admitted.

Thanks to Alastair N who has provided what he hopes is a complete list of Mobile Post Offices and the current locations served.  It's too long to quote here - there are over 60 different services, and one in the Lake District appears to serve over 40 locations.  Quite how that can happen in a normal week I don't know; maybe there is more than one van but in other instances two-van branches are shown as two separate entries.

This post summarises the Mobiles that I have already mentioned.  The original posts have also been updated.

 

MORTON (Bourne, Lincolnshire) 

Castle Bytham, Grantham; Buckminster, Grantham; South Witham, Grantham (2 stops); Colsterworth, Grantham; Corby Glen, Grantham; Wymondham (LE14), Melton Mowbray.

GREAT MASSINGHAM (King's Lynn, Norfolk)

Thornham, Hunstanton; Hillington, King's Lynn; Harpley, King's Lynn; Field Dalling, Holt; Langham, Holt; Brancaster Staithe, King's Lynn; West Newton, King's Lynn; Bircham, King's Lynn; Sedgeford, Hunstanton; East Rudham, King's Lynn; Ingoldisthorpe, King's Lynn; Snettisham, King's Lynn; Weasenham St Peter, King's Lynn; Helhoughton, Fakenham.

RIPON (North Yorkshire)

North Stainley, Ripon; Borrowby Lower, Borrowby Upper, Kirkby Malzeard, Kirby Wiske,  Baldersby, Thirsk; Kirklington, Bedale; Nether Silton, Thirsk; Kepwick, Thirsk; Cundall, York; Melmerby, Ripon; Wath, Ripon; Hampsthwaite, Harrogate; Lofthouse, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate;  Staveley, Knaresborough; Masham, Ripon; Glasshouses, Harrogate; Ripley,Harrogate; Grewelthorpe; Bishop Monkton, Harrogate; Helperby, York.

UPWELL (Wisbech, Cambridgeshire)

Northwold, Thetford; Fincham Kings Lynn; Gooderstone, Kings Lynn; Narborough, Kings Lynn; Stow Bridge, Kings Lynn; Oxborough, Kings Lynn; Welney, Wisbech; Nordelph, Downham Market; Wereham, Kings Lynn; Christchurch, Wisbech; Beachamwell, Swaffham; Southery, Downham Market; St Johns Fen; Marham, Kings Lynn; Walton Highway, Wisbech; Magdalen, Kings Lynn;

LINTON (Swadlincote, Derbyshire)

Walton-on-Trent, Swadlincote; Blackfordby, Swadlincote; Sheepy Magna, Atherstone; Bitteswell, Lutterworth; Abbots Bromley, Rugeley; Uttoxeter; Whitacre Heath, Coleshill; Whittington, Lichfield; Fillongley, Coventry; Hammerwich, Burntwood; Mapleton, Ashbourne; Hulland Ward, Ashbourne; Turnditch, Belper; Acton Trussell, Stafford; Branston, Burton-On-Trent.

STANTON (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)

Walsham le Willows, Bury St Edmunds; Ixworth, Bury St Edmunds; Thorndon, Eye; Norton, Bury St Edmunds; Great Finborough, Stowmarket; Stowupland, Stowmarket; Hopton, Diss; Botesdale, Diss; Yaxley, Eye.

MARKETHILL (County Armagh)*

Jerrettspass, Newry; Cladymore; Lisnadill; Craigavon.

HEMINGFORD GREY (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)

Over, Cambridge (2 stops); Holme, Peterborough; Little Paxton, St Neots; Cambourne; Marshland St James, Wisbech.

* Thanks also to GF of Northern Ireland who provided details of Markethill.

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Changes to Import VAT regulations from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021 the United Kingdom government will introduce a new model for the VAT

treatment of goods arriving into Great Britain from outside of the UK. This will ensure that goods from EU and non-EU countries are treated in the same way and that UK businesses are not disadvantaged by competition from VAT free imports.  

From the Gov.uk website (http://tiny.cc/qgv4tz):

For imports of goods from outside the UK in consignments not exceeding £135 in value (which aligns with the threshold for customs duty liability), we will be moving the point at which VAT is collected from the point of importation to the point of sale. This will mean that UK supply VAT, rather than import VAT, will be due on these consignments.

The new arrangements will also involve the abolition of Low Value Consignment Relief, which relieves import VAT on consignments of goods valued at £15 or less.

Online marketplaces (OMPs), where they are involved in facilitating the sale, will be responsible for collecting and accounting for the VAT.

For goods sent from overseas and sold directly to UK consumers without OMP involvement, the overseas seller will be required to register and account for the VAT to HMRC.

 

This appears to imply that if you are in the UK and you buy from a non-UK seller on eBay or Delcampe they, as Online Market Places, will add VAT to the agreed price (and carriage).  However, the devil is in the detail, as a blanket system will not work, and it is difficult to see how any (OMP) could possibly establish systems in the next six weeks.

Sales by non-business sellers to non-business buyers will not be included, and there is some question as to whether (for example) ebay and Delcampe are OMPs for these purposes, reading the detail of 'What an OMP is'.

But it does mean that business sellers, ie dealers, outside the UK will have to register with HM Revenue & Customs and account for and remit UK VAT.  Which means that if you buy low value stamps (ie under the current de minimis levels) consigned through the post, the dealer will charge VAT.  But he will also need to know what rate to charge at, and set up appropriate systems and paperwork, AND know which addresses are counted as Great Britain - and probably Northern Ireland in time although this paper does not cover Northern Ireland. 

We (in the UK) all know that the standard rate is 20% and the rate on books (eg catalogues) is zero - but stamps are NOT 20%, see my 2019 post.

I'm sure this will be debated widely, although there is little time for the philatelic magazines to pick up the story, and get advice.  It will be interesting to see what eBay and Delcampe decide - and how easy it is to contact them to tell them they haven't quite got it right!  Their lawyers will be working on it now, I'm sure!

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Great Britain Stamp Issue programmes 2021 and 2022

We are expecting that, even with the first stamp issue of 2021 coming in mid-January, we don't expect Royal Mail to make any announcement about the year until after Christmas.

This post was going to be about an almost certain stamp issue for 2022 but a comment was proposed on the Star Trek post - because there wasn't anywhere relevant to post this thought.

So, Martin, here is your comment

I'm sensing a set of Prince Charles stamps are destined for 2021, just getting a feeling the Queen is going to step down.  I know this is a bit random posting this in here, but there isn't anywhere else I can type this, as we do not know what is upon us on the stamp schedule for 2021.

 

I think it has been established, over the years, that for all the musings of her citizens, Queen Elizabeth II made a promise to the nation as princess in 1947, on her 21st birthday, that she would serve us to the end of her days:

"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

 

And with the announcement today (reported here on the BBC) that "The Queen, 94, hopes as many people as possible across the UK will have the opportunity to join the celebrations of her Platinum anniversary", I think we can assume that there will be at least one special stamp in 2022, and possibly yet another new colour for the Machin definitive - though I can't quite think what colour that would be.

And another issue for 2022 will be for the (postponed from 2020) London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition.

The 2021 programme will be posted on the blog as soon as we are able.  But your suggestions here are welcome.

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Early release of Star Trek stamps

As we all know the Star Trek stamps will be issued on Friday of this week.  But somebody in the Birmingham area has already used one!

It's a while since we reported an early release error.  The date isn't clear but logically it can only be 02/11/2020, from the Birmingham Mail Centre.  This one is now on eBay; only a piece sadly, but good for a collection.

Star Trek stamp to be issued 13/11/2020 used on 02/11/2020 at Birmingham Mail Centre

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Special Handstamp Centres - back to extensions

I mentioned on the Christmas Stamps post that Royal Mail had delays with the latest Postmark Bulletin (and there were some delays with the stamps at some post office branches.

Royal Mail have added this statement to the Special Handstamps webpage:

Due to the ongoing and uncertain situation with regards to the Coronavirus Pandemic and the inherent restrictions on individuals’ movements, we have again taken the decision to extend the postmarking timescales for upcoming issues until further notice. This will apply to both First Day Covers bought directly from Royal Mail as well as covers submitted from Post Office branches for cancellation at a Special Handstamp Centre.  The extension will apply for all for new issues from Star Trek (13th November) onwards until further notice.

In the past collectors have experienced a reluctance by some Post Office branches to sell First Day Covers after the day of issue.  I would suggest you persist, pointing out that Royal Mail have extended all deadlines so there is no reason why blank fdcs should not be sold.

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Christmas 2020 - Stained Glass Madonna & Child from around the UK - 3 November 2020

The media coverage of Royal Mail's 2020 Christmas stamps - delayed until the stamps were actually issued - was less than they might have hoped, probably in view of the latest developments and pronouncements by the UK Government on the Void-19 pandemic.  But as the stamps are now issued, we can now record their designs and subjects here.

The stamps in detail

2nd class –Adoration of the Magi (detail) from St Andrew’s Church, East Lexham Norfolk

1st class –Virgin and Child (detail) from St Andrew’s Church, Coln Rogers, Gloucestershire

£1.45 –Virgin and Child (detail) from the Church of St James, Hollowell, Northamptonshire

£1.70 –Virgin and Child (detail) from All Saints’ Church, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire

£2.50 –The Holy Family (detail) from St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire

£2.55 –Virgin and Child (detail) from Christ Church, Coalville, Leicestershire 

 

 

The stamps are also issued in an ordinarily gummed Miniature Sheet. 

Technical details and acknowledgements
The stamps were printed by International Security Printers in gravure in self-adhesive sheets, of 50* stamps per sheet.  Perforation: 14.5 x 15. (*it is normal for Christmas stamps to be printed in the same format as definitives, ie without a central gutter.)

Miniature sheet size: 179mm x 74mm. Stamp sizes standard 24mm(w) x 28mm(h), Large Letter 34mm(w) x 28mm(h).  The sheet is probably printed in litho on paper with water-activated gum, although this has not been stated by Royal Mail.

Acknowledgements: 2nd class St Andrew’s Church, East Lexham © Peter J Hatcher/Alamy Stock Photo; 1st class St Andrew’s Church, Coln Rogers © Colin Underhill/Alamy Stock Photo; £1.45 the Church of St James, Hollowell © Alastair Carew Cox/Bridgeman Images; £1.70 All Saints’ Church, Otley © Alastair Carew Cox Bridgeman Images; £2.50 St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe © Alastair CarewCox/Bridgeman Images; £2.55 Christ Church, Coalville © Colin Underhill/Alamy Stock Photo.

Other products include retail booklets of 12 x 1st and 12 x 2nd class stamps, printed in gravure...

... and the usual unnecessary litho-printed self-adhesive Generic Sheet - continued because Royal Mail think that customers want them, even though the original justification was to provide collectors with a cheap alternative to the relatively expensive customised Smilers stamps - a service which is no longer available and so for which there is no need for a cheaper(!) alternative.  As usual there is only one set of stamps per sheet but there may well be provision for these in some pre-printed albums and associated catalogues.

Other products: First day covers (2), stamp cards, presentation pack.

Special Postmarks: we understand that the November Postmark Bulletin has not yet arrived at Tallents House for distribution to subscribers.  Special handstamps for this issue can be seen on Royal Mail's website here.

Distribution problems:  several people have reported problems with obtaining some or all of the stamps from PO branches on the day of issue.

UPDATE 9 November

Because of new lockdown restrictions in various parts of the UK Special Handstamp Centre deadlines have once again been extended indefinitely.  This applied to Christmas, Star Wars and probably early 2021 issues.

UPDATE 10 November. The following detail is taken from a Royal Mail press release, via the (US) Virtual Stamp Club website because Royal Mail have not put the information on their own.

2nd Class stamp Adoration of the Magi
Location: East window of St Andrew’s Church, East Lexham, Norfolk. This is an Anglican church, dedicated to Saint Andrew and is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk. It is thought to date from circa 900AD and said to be one of the oldest in England.

The Window: Mid-19th century stained glass, believed to have been made by Clayton & Bell in c.1859 – the designs adopted the gothic style of the 15th century in keeping with the perpendicular east window. The east window depicts scenes relating to Christ’s birth and death. The upper tier shows Christ carrying the Cross, The Crucifixion and Christ being taken down from the cross. The lower tier shows events related to Christ’s birth – the annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, and the presentation of Christ in the temple.

1st Class stamp Virgin and Child
Location: St Andrew’s Church, Coln Rogers, Gloucestershire. This is an Anglican parish church and is dedicated to Saint Andrew. It is often described as being rather unique, as it has a Saxon nave and chancel which have survived almost intact. It dates to the mid-11th century.

The Window: The three main lights of the east window of the church, dated c.1865 and made by the studio of Heaton, Butler and Bayne, focus on nativity scenes (including the Shepherds, Mary and Joseph with the Christ child and the three Magi). In the central light (from which this is a detail) Mary cradles the new-born Christ child.

£1.45 stamp Virgin and Child
Location: Church of St James, Hollowell, Northamptonshire. The Church of St James was built in 1841 in the gothic style, and is known for its beautiful stained-glass windows in the eastern apse of the chancel, and the rose window above the west door.

The Window: Chancel apse, south east window designed by Henry Holiday (1839-27) and made by J Powell & Sons, 1863. This is one of three lancet windows in the apse of the chancel. Each lancet window features a single narrative panel contained within a quatrefoil set against a background of decorative painted foliate grisaille (in the manner of the 13th century, decorated style). The north-eastern window depicts the Baptism of Christ, the central the Crucifixion, and the south-eastern (as pictured) shows the Virgin Mary and Christ child within the stable. The brightly coloured pieces of flashed ruby glass, and turquoise, blue, pink and purple tones demonstrates the wide variety and high-quality of the glass made at Powell’s glassworks.

£1.70 stamp Virgin and Child
Location: All Saints Church, Otley, West Yorkshire. The first church building on the site was Anglo Saxon but only the foundations from this early church remain. A Norman church was built over them in the 11th century and this forms the present-day chancel. It was enlarged in about 1240. Further additions and modifications took place during later centuries, Including the installation of a number of stained-glass windows by various makers in the Victorian period.

Window: This window is from a two-tier three light window in the South Transept of the church. The lower tier main lights show the Nativity with the Crucifixion in the upper tier above. It was manufactured by Clayton & Bell and installed in 1862. This image is the central scene of the Nativity. In the centre Mary is seated and holds the infant Jesus on her knee.

£2.50 stamp Detail of the Holy Family
Location: St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire. St Columba’s is the parish church of Topcliffe, near Thirskand the present building dates from the 13th century and was largely rebuilt by railway architect George T Andrews in 1885.

The Window: This well-known window is one of two windows located on the south side of the chancel of the church. The window is divided into three lights, showing three scenes in the life of Mary which also relate to the birth of Christ. On the left is the Annunciation, in the centre panel are Mary and her cousin and the panel on the right shows the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and Jesus. This detail is from the scene of the Holy Family. It was designed by Michael Halliday and manufactured by Lavers & Barraud c.1860.

£2.55 stamp Virgin and Child
Location: Christ Church, Coalville, Leicestershire. The church was built between 1836 and 1838, with a west tower, large nave, transepts, chancel and vestry added later in 1936.

The Window: Whilst most of the glass is Victorian there are also three modern windows, which include the North chancel lancet window of the Nativity. The scene focuses on the virgin and child, with the ox and donkey watching over them (c. 1976). Harry Harvey (1922-2011) worked during the latter part of the twentieth-century producing stained-glass in a distinctive modern style. He died in 2011.

Thanks to Lloyd A. de Vries for posting this information

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November Postmark News

This is where all November slogans will be recorded and illustrated, as well as other postmarks of interest.  There aren't any slogans yet, so the first item is about a mobile/outreach service.

Slogans

Thanks to MC for the November re-use of the default Action for Children slogan from North & West Yorkshire on 05/11/2020.  UPDATE 10 November: My thanks to BM for a picture of the other layout from Exeter Mail Centre 02-11-2020.

Royal Mail - supporting youth mental health with - Action for Children, default slogan postmark, North & West Yorkshire

Royal Mail - supporting youth mental health with - Action for Children, default slogan postmark Exeter

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UPDATE 10 November.  Thanks to BM also for a great example of this year's Remembrance slogan; the sender couldn't have guessed that his Dad's Army stamp would get such an appropriate postmark. This example is from Peterborough Mail Centre 09-11-2020

Lest We Forget
Armistice Day
11 November 2020

Lest We Forget Armistice Day slogan from Peterborough Mail Centre 09-11-2020

 

 

Our own mail today included this alternative layout from Chester & N Wales mail centre 09/11/2020

 

Lest We Forget Armistice Day slogan from Chester & N Wales Mail Centre 09-11-2020

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UPDATE 28 November.

Royal Mail's Christmas campaign has started not with the usual exhortation to post early, or listing the last posting dates, but with one which mirrors their social media and television campaigning for people to 'Shop Early, Send Early', which seems eminently sensible despite the optimism of their published last posting dates.

Shop Early,
Send Early this
Christmas
send.royalmail.com

 

Shop Early, Send Early this Christmas slogan postmarks.

My thanks to MC for sending this example from North West Midlands 27/11/2020, and to RW for the Croydon Mail Centre 27-11-2020 example. This campaign should continue into December and these postmarks will be copied to the December blogpost.

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Other postmarks

Our peregrinating contributor JB of Lincoln has ventured south into Suffolk for his latest posting, which also presents a bit of a puzzle.  This postmark of STANTON OUTREACH SERVICES appears to be dated 27 09 20 - but it only arrived in our PO box last week. Unfortunately the ink-jet slogan machine postmark from Norwich puts the date firmly on the stamp and it is illegible!  I think the date was probably wrongly set.

Update 6 November: My thanks to PA who reminds me that the month is always in letters on these, so it must be OC for OCtober, wich makes a lot of sense!

Stanton Outreach Services A self-inking datestamp

As usual, it is difficult to get precise details of mobile/outreach services on the web, but according to a Suffolk News report in March 2019:

A mobile post office, which will serve nine village communities started this week.

The new service, which is serving Rickinghall, Yaxley, Walsham-le-Willows, Gislingham, Thorndon, Great Finborough, Norton, Ixworth and Hopton started yesterday (March 7 2019)

Outreach services are normally provided by a postmaster in surrounding villages using portable equipment provided to and taken out from the base branch to community facilities like village halls or public houses.  Unlike mobiles where the services are provided from the back of a vehicle when there are no community facilities, with Outreach the equipment (and stock) is carried in a private vehicle. 

However, according to the earlier report on the Post Office Views consultation website:

We are pleased to let you know that we will be restoring Post Office services to the communities of Rickinghall, Yaxley and Walsham Le Willows with the introduction of a Mobile service which will start week commencing 28 January 2019.  

The Mobile Service is a travelling Post Office aboard a specifically designed vehicle that brings Post Office services and retail products to communities without relying on fixed premises that has formed part of our operational network for some years now. 

We are therefore pleased to inform you that the postmaster from Stanton Post Office is willing to offer services to the above locations. The establishment of Mobile services presents the best possible solution to restore Post Office services to these communities. 

According to the East Anglian Daily Times the Stanton Mobile/Outreach also provided a service to Sicklesmere when that village shop and post office was engulfed by a flash flood.**

 

UPDATE 9 November:  My thanks to PA for the following information on Outreach and Mobile:

The Mobile Post Offices (i.e Vans with the PO installed within, which park at Village Hall or Pub Car Parks, laybys etc.) should have a datestamp “XXX Mobile” Hosted Outreaches (i.e the equipment is taken to and used inside a Village Hall, Pub etc.) should have a datestamp “XXX Outreach {Service(s)}”.

However, there are exceptions, Stanton Mobile uses Stanton Outreach – it is quite possible that they had run an outreach service in the past, but I don’t know whether that was the case.

- Scotby Mobile used a Scotby datestamp for me, but that could have simply been a case of the wrong datestamp

- When Cam took over the Mobile from Royal Wootton Bassett he had the old SID, but was told he shouldn’t use it and so he used one of his Cam datestamps. Eventually he did receive a new SID last year – Cam Mobile Van.

- Cliff Lane, Ipswich Outreach was using a Cliff Lane Mobile datestamp, but that was because they had previously run a mobile.

- Collingham Outreach uses Collingham H.O.S.

Two recently introduced Outreaches use Hurstpierpoint Hosted and Rodmill Hosted. 

Of the locations you mention for Stanton Mobile, Norton and Rickinghall appear to have ceased.

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Update 16 November  This is the self-inking-datestamp (SID) for Mattishall Outreach Services (Norfolk) used in 2012.  The SID is no longer in use, having self-destructed well before it wore out; the old single-ring datestamp on Outreach services while the double-ring datestamp is used in the branch.

Mattishall Outreach Services SID 2012 (left) & Older Mattishall/Dereham Norfolk single ring datestamp.

Outreach services started in the early 2000's - I have an example from 2009 - as branches were closing due to retirement or the closure programme.  Villages served have been Bawdeswell, Bintree, Foulsham, Gressenhall, Elsing, Lyng, and others. 

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It seems that the contributor who I have desrcibed as 'wandering' may in fact be staying at home.  The latest mobile postmark to arrive, last week, is from Markethill.  The only branch that I can find with this name is in County Armagh, and this is borne out by the Northern Ireland Mail Centre slogan added to this letter.

Markethill Co. Armagh mobile postmark  3 November 2020.

It isn't easy to find out which locations are served by this mobile, no response has been received from the branch.  A look at the Post Office Branch Finder webpage shows the following nearby: Cladymore, Lisnadill, Scarva, Ballyward, and Katesbridge. **

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My apologies to JB who sends these covers, for not reporting on one which I received in September, for HEMINGFORD GREY MOBILE SERVICE in Cambridgeshire  I first saw this one on a first day cover for the 2009 Postboxes stamp issue, although none of the postboxes on the MS or Smilers Sheet was in the village.  The Huntingdon Post reported that the mobile was going to serve the village of Holme in June 2009. Other villages served are reported on various webpages as Over, Cambourne, but there may be others. **

The post office was also at one time hosted by the church with the vicar as postmaster, but as a recent report shows that the mobile will be at Hemingford Grey Stores while they are refurbished, that arrangement seems to have ended.  

Hemingford Grey Mobile Service postmark 23 September 2020

**UPDATE 18 November. We now have accurate information on the services these mobiles provide, except Mattishall which is an Outreach.

STANTON (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)

Walsham le Willows, Bury St Edmunds; Ixworth, Bury St Edmunds; Thorndon, Eye; Norton, Bury St Edmunds; Great Finborough, Stowmarket; Stowupland, Stowmarket; Hopton, Diss; Botesdale, Diss; Yaxley, Eye.

MARKETHILL (County Armagh)

Jerrettspass, Newry; Cladymore; Lisnadill; Craigavon.

HEMINGFORD GREY (Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)

Over, Cambridge (2 stops); Holme, Peterborough; Little Paxton, St Neots; Cambourne; Marshland St James, Wisbech.

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UPDATE 24 November - YATTON OUTREACH (2)

Hiding in the spam folder was news of another outreach from JF, so sorry that this is late also.

Yatton 2 Outreach date stamp, 4 November 2020

JF visited the Claverham Post Office, which is hosted in the village hall three mornings per week.  The Postmistress was very helpful and gave me an impression of the date stamp above.  She said that Yatton also covers the village of Cleeve with, presumably, a different date stamp (1)? as they are open on two of the same mornings.

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Whilst there is plenty of information on the web, particularly in local newspapers, about branch closures, there is no consolidated report on mobile and outreach services and who the provider is.

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More news as we receive it - from you!

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