First the good news!  I am delighted to say that Royal Mail will be issuing a set of stamps to commemorate the centenary of the Scouting in July 2007.  Recently I received a letter from the Russell Hawkins, the Stamp Products Manager of Royal Mail to say that this had been agreed and that First Day Covers, Postcards and Presentation Packs will also be available for purchase.  He writes "Our design team are considering possible approaches for this stamp issue.  The Stamp Advisory Committee, an independent body of designers, philatelic experts and other eminent public representatives with whose help we decide and develop the designs, consider these potential design approaches.  Once the Stamp Advisory Committee has agreed the approach, we shall ultimately seek the approval of the designs by Her Majesty the Queen".  I did write back to him saying that I hope our Scout headquarters are consulted so any historic events are correct.  Thank you to all who wrote to Royal Mail supporting the issue of Scout stamps in 2007.

Plans are at an advance stage for the EuroScout 2006 Philatelic exhibition at Alcalá de Henares, Spain from 2-5 November.  Full information on the exhibition website www.clubfilscoutguia.org/euroscout2006.htm  To reach the details, press the language icon, which will bring you into the programme and the application form.  There will be 400 frames with each one holding 16 sheets in four rows of four pages in a size not more than A4 (210 x 297m).  Each exhibitor can have a maximum of eight frames and all collectors who wish to participate will have to send the provisional reservation forms in before May 31st 2006.  If you are not on the web, please will UK members who are interested in taking part, contact me and I will post you full details.  Entrance is free and there will be an official reception by the City Council for those attending.  There will also be a guided visit to this World Heritage City, and during the weekend there will be a chance to buy and exchange stamps etc.  This will be a non-competitive show and all displays must be of Scout Guide interest.  It would be appreciated if those members from the U.K. who are likely to attend, could let me know.  We may then be able to arrange flights and transport from Madrid airport to Alcalá de Henares.

I note in the April 2006 issue of Stamp Magazine that "The winner of the third annual Scout & Guide Christmas Post Stamp Competition, for stamps issued for Christmas 2005 was the 1st Holmer Green Scout Group, for a design featuring two snowmen wearing Scout scarves".

2007 World Jamboree.  The International Badgers Club have very kindly offered the SGSC up to six panels for inclusion in their marquee display area at the World Jamboree being held at Hylands Park, Chelmsford from 28th July – 8th August 2007.  The size of the panels are 4ft x 6ft and we would be able to dis- play philatelic material of interest to both Scouts and the general public, and also be able to distribute advertising literature concerning our club.  They have very kindly also offered the SGSC up to four places for our members to be part of the Badgers Club International Service Team.  They would have to be at Hylands Park two or three days before the Jamboree and two or three days afterwards, to help with the setting up and taking down of the Badgers Club and our display.  Whoever is chosen would have to be part of a team and they would be expected to join in helping the Badgers Club members.  They will have to pay the IST fee, currently no more than £800 (which included all meals), but I understand that there is a possibility that this could come down.  They would also have to belong to a National Scout Organisation and this includes the U.K. Scout Fellowship.  In a number of overseas countries member- ship of the International Scout & Guide Fellowship is not accepted as membership of a National Scout Organisation or WOSM.  Overseas members must be a member of their own National Scout Organisation.  Applications from both U. K. and overseas members are most welcome and should be sent to our secretary Graham Osborne by 5th June 2006.  The application form is now available on the SGSC website www.sgsc.org.uk  Any member who applies to be a member of the team needs to be physically fit and able to adapt to the heavy demands that are likely to be made upon them.  It may be possible to allow a few U.K. day workers to cover a number of Visitors Days, if this is what you want to do, then please complete the application form.

Congratulations must go to Hubert Schnabl, a member of the Austrian Scout Stamp Club, for his design of their Tsunami stamp.  The stamps and covers were on sale at EuroJam and with his sales elsewhere, he was able to send the Scout Association of Sri Lanka, the sum of €5500 (£3795, US$6640).