NORTH BY NORTH-EAST: A TOUR OF STAMP AND POSTCARD CLUBS IN THE NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND
Leaving the philatelic hotspot of Edinburgh naturally caused me to experience some philatelic anxiety, but I hoped I would find activity centred around my new home of Montrose to help make up for it. In fact, the north-east of Scotland is just as busy for the stamp and postcard collector, although not as efficiently arranged. Stamp and postcard club evenings and fairs are plentiful enough that I have to pick and choose, particularly as getting to some requires a considerable effort on my part as I tend to go by bike and public transport.
I’ll start my tour of the north-east in Aberdeen, which also allows me to start with the biggest and busiest of the local clubs.
Aberdeen Philatelic Society: This is one of the most lively and active clubs in Scotland, possibly because it has a large, well-off population that is relatively isolated from the rest of Scotland. The average attendance is close to 40, and the twice-yearly room auction attracts even more collectors. What’s more, the atmosphere is lively and the club has a decent number of younger and female members. Meetings are held on alternate Thursdays at 7:30pm at the Rubislaw Church Centre, Fountainhall Road, Queens Cross, Aberdeen. The first half of the season started on 25 September and the second half begins on 8 January, so you can work out the meeting dates. Informal day meetings are held on alternate Fridays 10am to noon starting from 5 September.
Aberdeen also has two fairs: A Saturday event in Queen's Cross Parish Church Hall, Albyn Place, run by Cornucopia Collectors several times a year (which I attend as a dealer); and a weekday event run by Northern Fairs.
Arbroath and District Stamp and Postcard Club: This is a small society but with an amazing attendance record. It has about 15 members, but that is also the average attendance because just about every member attends every meeting. Meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm, temporarily at Knox’s Church Hall this autumn and then in 2009 at the upper meeting room of Arbroath Public Library while the usual venue, St Andrew’s Church Hall, is being renovated. This club also has a well-supported auction.
Dundee and District Philatelic Society: This is a fairly small club, particularly for the size of Dundee, but meetings are still highly worthwhile. They are held on Thursdays at 7:30pm at the Art Society’s Rooms, 17 Roseangle. The meetings do move around depending on availability of the room, with sometimes a one-week gap and sometimes a three-week one, so do check on dates before setting out for a meeting. The society has also started informal daytime meetings at 10am on the first Friday of each month at the same venue.
A new fair venue in the area is proving successful: St Aidans Church Halls, Brook Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2EH, near Dundee. The dates for 2009 (Saturdays) are 10 January, 28 March, 11 July and 24 October. I also take tables at this fair.
The Postcard Club of Tayside: One of a handful of postcard clubs in Scotland, this society provides a broad church of attractions, not always strictly related to cards. Local history figures prominently in the syllabus with, for example, a walking tour of Old Dundee this year. Meetings are on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm, but with some extra events, at the Glasite Hall, St Andrew’s Church, 6 King Street, Dundee.
If you’re going to be in the north-east and would like further details about club meetings or fairs, please feel free to get in touch.
I’ll start my tour of the north-east in Aberdeen, which also allows me to start with the biggest and busiest of the local clubs.
Aberdeen Philatelic Society: This is one of the most lively and active clubs in Scotland, possibly because it has a large, well-off population that is relatively isolated from the rest of Scotland. The average attendance is close to 40, and the twice-yearly room auction attracts even more collectors. What’s more, the atmosphere is lively and the club has a decent number of younger and female members. Meetings are held on alternate Thursdays at 7:30pm at the Rubislaw Church Centre, Fountainhall Road, Queens Cross, Aberdeen. The first half of the season started on 25 September and the second half begins on 8 January, so you can work out the meeting dates. Informal day meetings are held on alternate Fridays 10am to noon starting from 5 September.
Aberdeen also has two fairs: A Saturday event in Queen's Cross Parish Church Hall, Albyn Place, run by Cornucopia Collectors several times a year (which I attend as a dealer); and a weekday event run by Northern Fairs.
Arbroath and District Stamp and Postcard Club: This is a small society but with an amazing attendance record. It has about 15 members, but that is also the average attendance because just about every member attends every meeting. Meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm, temporarily at Knox’s Church Hall this autumn and then in 2009 at the upper meeting room of Arbroath Public Library while the usual venue, St Andrew’s Church Hall, is being renovated. This club also has a well-supported auction.
Dundee and District Philatelic Society: This is a fairly small club, particularly for the size of Dundee, but meetings are still highly worthwhile. They are held on Thursdays at 7:30pm at the Art Society’s Rooms, 17 Roseangle. The meetings do move around depending on availability of the room, with sometimes a one-week gap and sometimes a three-week one, so do check on dates before setting out for a meeting. The society has also started informal daytime meetings at 10am on the first Friday of each month at the same venue.
A new fair venue in the area is proving successful: St Aidans Church Halls, Brook Street, Broughty Ferry DD5 2EH, near Dundee. The dates for 2009 (Saturdays) are 10 January, 28 March, 11 July and 24 October. I also take tables at this fair.
The Postcard Club of Tayside: One of a handful of postcard clubs in Scotland, this society provides a broad church of attractions, not always strictly related to cards. Local history figures prominently in the syllabus with, for example, a walking tour of Old Dundee this year. Meetings are on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm, but with some extra events, at the Glasite Hall, St Andrew’s Church, 6 King Street, Dundee.
If you’re going to be in the north-east and would like further details about club meetings or fairs, please feel free to get in touch.
posted by Chad Neighbor at
31.10.08
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home