Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
Of the North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies
Held at the Larkhill Centre on 11 October 2025
Present:
G. Clarke (Lytham and Preston); B. Evans (Burnley); T. Harley (Morecambe); C. Griffiths (Trafford); C. Hawley (Trafford and Poynton); P. Kirk (Macclesfield); J. Kirk (Macclesfield); S. Parkin (Stockport); D. Rothery (Kendal); D. Sigee (Trafford).
Apologies: G. Naden (Macclesfield)
1. Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting held at Barton Village Hall on 14/09/24, which had previously been circulated on-line, agreed and published on the Federation website, were noted. There were no matters arising.
2. Officers Reports
Chair
The Chair (Clive Griffiths) reported that he had requested reports from the secretaries of constituent societies and that he had received replies from some eight societies. All but one reported that numbers, though lower than previously, were generally stable and in one or two cases showed a slight increase. The one exception was Rochdale where numbers had fallen drastically, and it was reported that the future of the society would be determined in December. Most societies were in a good financial situation.
There was discussion as to what either the Federation or individual societies could do to recruit new members. It was noted that some societies had undertaken promotional activities, but that these had not resulted in any increase recruitment, while others had changed the pattern of their meetings, something that did more to keep existing numbers rather than attract new ones (eg a change to afternoon meetings which usually excluded anyone not retired).
It was agreed that having a web presence was vital and any society that did not already have one was encouraged to develop one as soon as possible.
The Chair invited anyone with ideas for promoting philately in the North West as a whole or at local level to contact him and suggested that, as appropriate, the Federation might consider some degree of financial support.
In his role as Webmaster, Clive reported that the email circulation list of Bulletins etc. appeared to be working effectively.
Treasurer
The Treasurer (Peter Kirk) reported that Federation funds were healthy. There had been a slight decline in the balance due to the renewal costs for website hosting and expenditure on Paul Gaywood lectures, but currently the balance in the Federation accounts stood at £8581.68p. Income from subscriptions from local societies was considerably down.
The Treasurer was thanked for his work.
The Treasurer also reported in his role as Packet Superintendent that the wind-down of the Packet circulation was now almost complete. One packet remained in circulation, but all other unsold material had been returned to vendors. There had been some £4000 in sales during this process which in due course would result in a commission to the Federation in the region of £300.
Peter was warmly thanked for his efforts both in running the Packet for so long, and for the efficient way in which he had overseen the process of bringing it to an end and returning items to vendors.
3. Speakers’ List
Dave Rothery reported that currently there were 35 speakers on the Federation’s list.
He and the Chair had discussed moving the list to the ABPS website. To this end the Chair had contacted ABPS to ensure that their website contained only one entry for the Federation (instead of three, as had been the case previously). This had been done, but at the same time all information regarding speakers in the North West had been lost. Dave undertook to liaise further with ABPS with a view to moving our list to the ABPS website, which would allow for wider dissemination of the information.
Dave was thanked for his work on maintaining the list.
4. Competitions
The Competitions Organiser (Dave Rothery) reported that this year the Rose Bowl Competition had seen only three entries, but that the Single Page Competition had seen an increase in the number of entries to 14. The Autumn Competitions (1 and 2 frame) had attracted only five entries in total.
Dave was thanked for his work in organising the competitions, liaising with the judges and up-loading material to the competitions section of the website.
After discussion it was agreed that for next year:
(1) there would be only ONE competition in the Spring; the Single Page Competition;
(2) that for the Autumn Competition a new format would be trialled whereby entries would be invited for a single competition comprising either 9 sheets, 12 sheets, 16 sheets or 32 sheets. (Where there was more than one entry comprising 32 sheets, the entry scoring most points would qualify for the award of the Morecambe Trophy.)
It was further agreed that with help from Stephen Parkin advice on the submission of entries would be offered through one of the regular Bulletins circulated by the Chair as Webmaster.
Dave Rothery undertook to ascertain whether the current judging arrangements could continue, or whether new arrangements would have to be set up.
5. Paul Gaywood Lecture
The Chair reported that the 2025 Paul Gaywood Lecture has taken place successfully at a meeting of the City of Preston PS. It had been well attended, was given by Peter McCann and had included material from Preston’s own archive that had been partly written up by Paul himself.
The 2026 Lecture will be held on Saturday 7 March hosted by Macclesfield and Prestbury PS as part of their 60th Anniversary Weekend.
The Chair reported that he was investigating the possibility of staging the 2027 Lecture in conjunction with another ‘Philatelic Event’, but that discussions were at an early stage.
6. Elections
No officers or committee members were up for election this year. The post of Secretary remains vacant, but for the present it was agreed that this role could be covered by the Chair with support, as necessary, from the other officers and committee members.
AOB
The Chair reported that he had received two approaches recently, both relating to the Junior Rose Bowl Competition. A former winner who had come across his winning entry from 1972 had contacted him to enquire whether the competition was still taking place and to share the memory of his pleasure in being awarded the trophy. Shortly after, someone else who had been clearing his father’s effects, had contacted him saying that he had found the actual Trophy. Arrangements have been made for this to be returned to the Chair.
This led to a discussion on the whereabouts of various items relating to the history of the Federation. The Chair undertook to contact past officers to see if they still had any material.
It was also suggested that a display of the Federation Trophies might take place in conjunction with a future Paul Gaywood Lecture.
There being no other business the Chair thanked those who had attended, and the meeting concluded at 1.05pm