Welcome to Terry Simister our new Editor, only the fourth since the club was formed in 1957.  He follows Wilfred Nodder 1957-1967, Howard Fears 1967-1975 and Peter Duck 1975-2007.  The job of the Editor is to edit material sent to him for publication.  Therefore it is essential that more articles are sent to Terry for publication. If you have never seen your name in print, now is the time to make a start!  I have appealed for a new Treasurer many times, but still we do not have a volunteer.  Surely one of our members would consider taking on this small duty, as our club cannot run without this important position filled.

Another year brings a new size Bulletin, the fourth since our inception 50 years ago.  As mentioned in a previous bulletin, in the UK, the Post Office no longer charges just for weight but for size which has increased our postal cost by nearly 70% per issue.  Unfortunately we can no longer bear the extra cost, so this is the reason for the change.

In my last Chairman's Notes, I mentioned the two booklet panes of Victoria Cross stamps (which included the Jack Cornwell stamp with their value omitted), that Grosvenor Auctions had for sale in their November sale.  I was surprised that they sold with one making £6800 and the other £7000 plus of course the added 15% buyers premium. (approximately Euro 9500 and 9800, US$ 13,600 and £14,000).  Errors in the U.K. stamps rarely happen these days due to the advanced printing technology, and to date I have not heard of any in the stamps produced for the centenary of Scouting last year.

Having had a reason to read through the 1920 programme and souvenir book for the first World Jamboree, I was surprised to read so much about Stamp Collecting which was one of the main activities.  You will recall that most of the events took place indoors at the Olympia stadium in London.  On page nine we are informed that "The collection of postage stamps of Great Britain kindly lent by Mr L.O.Trivett, The Boy Scout Deputy Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, is the finest collection of English Stamps in the world.  Here cart be seen one of only two known copies of the artist's proof of the Penny Black, but this is only one of many beautiful rare specimens.  The boys are encouraged to collect stamps, as apart from their financial value, it is an excellent means of teaching history and geography".  In the souvenir book there is one and a half pages on stamp collecting and on another page the names of the winners of the best collection of stamps.  This included Scout F. Godden of the 28th Beckenham Troop, who later in life became famous for his Godden Stamp Albums.

As one who watches Scout items on eBay, I was interested to see that a registered cover from the 1947 World Jamboree come up for sale recently. Although it is thought that up to 550 covers could have been sent registered, It is surprising how scarce they are. The one sold had the Jamboree de la Paix rubber cachet on a registration label numbered 166 and was dated 10th August 1947.  It is known that a cover sent on 19th August was number 554 so it would have been expected that more than 10-15 are recorded.  The cover sold in December to one of our SGSC members for US$1337 (about £670, Euro 900) had 33 bids.

Details are beginning to arrive about the Euro-Scout 2008 stamp exhibition in Switzerland.  It is being held at Benken SO, Switzerland from Friday July 25 until Sunday July 27 2008. Benken, which is a small village and it would appear to be about 30-40 miles (50-65km) away from Zurich Airport There will be a ladies programme on the Saturday.  More information in the next Bulletin.  As mentioned before, we are holding Euro-Scout in the UK during 2010.

Our next meeting will be during the Philatex Stamp show at the Royal Horticultural Society, Lawrence Hall, Greycoat Street, Westminster, London and we have been allocated a room from 10.30-12.30 when displays will be given by members of the committee.  This is an open meeting and you are welcome to bring a friend.