New Permanent Cancellation

 Permanent Pictorial Postmark

Kallanai (The Grand Anicut)

On August 15, 2025 a Permanent Pictorial Postmark of Kallanai (The Grand Anicut), a timeless marvel of Chola's Engineering, water management, and heritage was inaugurated at Thogur S.O. - 613102, in Thanjavur District, by Smt. T. Nirmala Devi, PMG, Central Region, Trichy.

An ancient dam, built by the Chola king Karikala in the 2nd century CE. It's one of the oldest water-diversion or water-regulator structures in the world still in use. The dam is situated on the Kaveri River, about 15 kilometers from Tiruchirappalli and 45 kilometers from Thanjavur. The purpose of the Kallanai was to divert the waters of the Kaveri across the fertile delta region for irrigation via canals and to its northern delta branch Kollidam/Coleroon. The area irrigated by the ancient irrigation network is about 69,000 acres (28,000 ha). By the early 20th century, the irrigated area had been increased to about one million acres (400,000 ha). 

A special letter box was also kept at Thanjavur H.O. few days ahead of the event to enable public who wish to get the inaugural day PPC to drop the letters in the box., which was then carried to Thogur S.O. to get them cancelled.

Adequate stamps and postal stationery were made available at the Thogur S.O., and the staffs at counter and the staff applying PPC were helpful. Though a public holiday, special arrangement was made to send the articles by registered / speed post. Due to public holiday and well-spread information, philatelists and postcrossers were present at the event from Trichy, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Cheyyar, Chennai, Bangalore. 

- Kasinath R., Tanjore

New Stamps from Greenland

Sports in Greenland

Date of Issue : 22 January 2018

Greenland Post issued 3 different sets stamps on 22 January 2018 featuring Sports, Europa and Environment themes.

The Environment in Greenland

Date of Issue : 22 January 2018

The design with the icebergs is called Fatamorgana and is a comment about the massive inland ice thaw. This is the result of climate change and brings with it the risk that icebergs will no longer be seen in nature at some point in the future. The same is happening to the polar bear, who swims in the open sea, as there is not enough ice for it to live on.

Europa 2018 - Bridges

Date of Issue : 22 January 2018

Beautiful Bridges of Australia on new stamps..

Date of Issue : 15 March 2016

While bridges have been a feature of civilisation for millennia, the development of materials, technologies and engineering knowledge has led to radical shifts in design and construction. Here are new stamps by Australia Post featuring three wonderful bridges of Australia. The most beautiful part of this issue is its Gutter strip which is a wonderful collectible item. 

In Australia, the first bridge constructed after European settlement was Richmond Bridge, in Tasmania, the stone structure built with convict labour between 1823 and 1825. This stamp issue focuses not on Australia’s early bridges, but on three bridges from the 20th century.

The five-lane Tasman Bridge depicted on the first stamp, crosses the Derwent River in Hobart, linking the CBD with suburbs in the east. It was completed in 1964 to replace the old Hobart Bridge.

Calamity struck the prestressed concrete-girder bridge in 1975, when a bulk ore carrier delivering cargo to a company in Risdon collided with the bridge’s pylons. A large section of the bridge collapsed onto the vessel, killing seven crew and five motorists. The bridge was rebuilt by 1977.

Gladesville Bridge that is shown on the second stamp extends across the Parramatta River west of central Sydney, linking the suburbs of Huntleys Point and Drummoyne. It is one of a complex of three bridges, the other two being Fig Tree and Tarban Creek Bridges.

 Gutter strip

The Story Bridge that appeared on the third stamp is one of Brisbane’s most notable landmarks, the striking bridge built in the late 1930s and opened in 1940. It was designed by John Bradfield, who also designed Australia’s most famous bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge.

 Stamp Booklet

New special covers

 

To commemorate Narayan Seva Sansthan for doing more than 2,50,000 free of cost operations of by birth disabled and Polio affected children, a special cover was released on 31st July 2015 at the function organized at Narayan Seva Sansthan campus, Badi Gram, Udaipur. Special Cover was released by Shri N. D. Prajapati, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices and was presented to the co-founder Padma Shri Kailash Manav and Shrimati Kamla Devi Agrawal. The special cover depicts first Polio Hospital established by Narayan Seva Sansthan and the cancellation depicts logo of NSS.

Narayan Seva Sansthan (NSS) is an NGO established in 1985 by Dr. Kailash Agrawal ‘Manav’ to treat patients suffering from polio, cerebral palsy and serve the orthopedically handicapped and disabled. Aim of this NGO is to provide education and vocational training to the disabled and mentally retarded people with proper facilities to develop their potential to the fullest so that they can be self-reliant and independent. This organization also works closely with hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, mentally retarded children, handicapped and individuals. Poor, needy and physically challenged persons are being operated “free of cost” at “Narayan Sewa Sansthan”. Thereafter, they are imparted with vocational training, so as to enable them to earn their livelihood on their own.

 

Courtesy - Indian Philately Digest

 

Release of Special Covers on Godavari Pushkaralu at Rajahmundry – 13th, 15th and 16th July 2015

On 13th July 2015 a special cover was released on the occasion of Godavari Pushkaralu Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle, Shri B.V. Sudhakar depicting Havelock and Arch bridges of Rajahmundry and State Government Pushkaram logo. My Stamp on Godavari Pushkaram was also presented by Shri Sudhakar to Shri Chandrababu Naidu on the occasion.

Rajahmundry is a place of great historical importance. It was known as Rajamahendravaram, being a capital of the Hindu kingdoms of the Deccan and a place of many revolutions and battles and many poets and scholars wrote their epics here. River Godavari is the prime attraction of Rajahmundry with two bridges over the river that are said to be the longest.

The Old Godavari Bridge or the Havelock Bridge was built in 1900 by Sir Arthur Cotton, now decommissioned; this bridge has 56 spans and is 2.754 km long. It was constructed with stone masonry and steel girders and certainly a marvel of British engineering. The Godavari Arch Bridge was later constructed as a replacement for the Havelock Bridge.

It is a bowstring-girder bridge and one of the longest span prestressed concrete arch bridges in Asia. The Indian Railways who built this bridge have stated that "It is perhaps for the first time anywhere in the world that a bowstring arch girder using concrete has been constructed for such a long span of 97.55 metres, for the Railway loading." It is one of the recognised symbols of Rajahmundry.

Havelock – Arch Bridges

 

Date of release : 13 July 2015  - Rajamandry

Koti Lingala Revu ghat

Date of release : 15 July 2015 – Rajamundry

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest , Sreejesh Krishnan, Trivandrum

New stamps on Bridge

 

 

Malaysia Post has issued its special stamp depicting the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu Adzam Shah Bridge. The issue consists of two stamps that were put into circulation on the 31^st of December.

The Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or Penang Second Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge in Penang, Malaysia. It connects Bandar Cassia (Batu Kawan) in Seberang Perai on mainland Peninsular Malaysia with Batu Maung on Penang Island.

It is the second bridge to link the island to the mainland after the first Penang Bridge. The total length of the bridge is 24 km (15 mi) with length over water at 16.9 km (10.5 mi), making it the longest bridge in Malaysia and the longest in Southeast Asia.

Construction actually started in November 2008. To reduce the cost of construction, its design was then modified to resemble the first cable stayed Penang Bridge. The bridge has been built with a large loan from the People’s Republic of China to continue and maintain the economic relationship between China and Malaysia. The bridge was officially opened on 1 March 2014 and was named after the fourteen Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah.

Club News

Rajpex-2015, Rajasthan State Level Philatelic Exhibition at Jaipur from 24th to 27th January 2015

Rajpex-2015, 14th Rajasthan State Level Philatelic Exhibition will be organized by Rajasthan Postal Circle at Mahaveer Public School, Vardhman Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur from 24th to 27th January 2015.
For more information visit

http://rajpex2015.blogspot.in/

Prospectus and Entry Form of Rajpex-2015 can be downloaded from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2JvHObXjqc2RDI5aE16RFFJYm8/view

 

Special Cover on 50 Years of Academic Excellence of Lokmanya Tilak Medical College, Sion - 29th November 2014

 

Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital is one of the premier medical institutions of India and proudly recognized nationally and internationally. It was started in 1947 with 10 beds initially, which has now grown into multi-specialty hospital with more than 1,400 beds. On 30th November 1964 Lokmanya Tilak Medical College was established with the first batch of 60 students.

Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital is the first major referral hospital and caters to all trauma and disasters from both major highways. It was the first Trauma Service in the country and possibly in Asia, which has been on a constant ‘state of alert’ for disasters. This hospital is a nodal center amongst the medical services of the Disaster management plan in the civic context. It has many firsts to its credit like human milk bank, skin bank and first emergency coronary stenting.

A special cover was released to mark 50 Years of Academic Excellence of Lokmanya Tilak Medical College on 29th November 2014 at Mumbai. (Special Cover approval no. MH/30/2014). The cover depicts the Hospital and college buildings and the College logo and the special cancellation depicts the team work logo of the hospital.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

Bridges of Spain..

 

 

BRIDGES OF SPAIN 2013.-Puente del Pilar. Saragossa

Date of Issue : 25 September 2013

The series bridges Spain continues to issue two blocks leaves dedicated to Puente Romano in Mérida (Badajoz), and Puente del Pilar in Zaragoza.

The Puente del Pilar , also known as Iron Bridge crosses over the river Ebro in the city of Zaragoza. It was built in the late nineteenth century by the Spanish engineering company The Machinist Terrestrialand Maritime, specializing in the manufacture of metal bridges in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was one of the first bridges were fixed in Zaragoza, as to construction existed only fixed structure the Stone Bridge, the fifteenth century. In 1991 he undertook a remodeling directed by the engineer Roads Javier Manterola, which side panels added two arc-shaped for the passage of vehicles, reserving the central platform for pedestrians. He noticed, too, the metal structure is painted in the colors chosen by popular vote, blue and white.

In the plasma sheet block, first, the bridge on the background of the city and the Basilica Our Señora del Pilar. 

BRIDGES OF SPAIN 2013.- Puente Romano de Mérida. Badajoz

Date of Issue : 25 September 2013

The series bridges Spain continues to issue two blocks leaves dedicated toPuente Romano in Mérida (Badajoz), and Puente del Pilar in Zaragoza.

The Puente Romano Merida city stands on the Guadiana River as part of the archaeological site of the ancient Augusta Emerita, as it was called in ancient times the city. It was built in the first century to facilitate communications with Baeticaand access to the city, after the settlement of the Roman legions in the town. It has a length of792 meters, With 60 arches, and is considered the longest bridge of antiquity. It is built with a concrete core, made from materials of the river, covered with granite padded armchairs. Originally divided into three distinct sections. The place chosen to raise the bridge was made taking into account the lower flow in that part of the river and that the channel was divided into two arms with a middle island, which served to support the bridge. Over two thousand years of history and of flooding and flooding of the river, there have been several restorations, but the bridge still has its original construction in the section closest to the city, called the Shrine.   

In the souvenir sheet reproduces an overview of the Puente Romano with its many arches.

Source : Espana Post

Bridges…

 

 

A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. There are many different designs that all serve unique purposes and apply to different situations. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed, the material used to make it and the funds available to build it.

The first bridges were made by nature itself — as simple as a log fallen across a stream or stones in the river. The first bridges made by humans were probably spans of cut wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and cross beam arrangement. Some early Americans used trees or bamboo poles to cross small caverns or wells to get from one place to another. A common form of lashing sticks, logs, and deciduous branches together involved the use of long reeds or other harvested fibers woven together to form a connective rope capable of binding and holding together the materials used in early bridges.

Bridges can be categorized in several different ways. Common categories include the type of structural elements used, by what they carry, whether they are fixed or movable, and by the materials used.

Bridges of Spain

The Bridges of Spain 2013 issue by Spanish Correos is made up of two stamps depicting a modern suspension bridge, Puente de Sancho el Mayor (Navarra), and another of Roman origin, the Puente de Puentecillas (Palencia).

The Bridge of Sancho el Mayor, in Navarra, crosses the river Ebro and is part of the A-15 highway. It was built in 1978 by civil engineers Javier Manterola and Leonardo Fernandez Toyano and as a cable-stayed bridge. It has a total length of 204 meters, a width of 29 m and a main light span of 142 m, to which are added two side openings on the left bank of the river. It was built with precast keystones using the “cantilever” technique (the bridge is constructed in outward projections that are added on). This suspension bridge is supported on a single pier located on the axis of the road with 35 pairs of twin cables. At the time it was built it was one of the most innovative bridges in design and materials.

A typical cable-stayed bridge is a continuous girder with one or two towers erected above piers in the middle of the span. From these piers, cables are attached diagonally to the girder to provide additional support. Engineering wise they stand in between counter steel bridges and suspension bridges. This type of bridge began to be built in the late 19th century and its use was widespread after World War II, thanks to the technical development of the construction materials and the structural empowerment via computers.

Over the river Carrion in the city of Palencia stands the historic Puente de Puentecillas, the oldest bridge in town. Its original layout dates back to Roman times and it has undergone many changes since the 11th century, the most important of which took place in the 16th century when the current outline of the bridge was set and the remains of the Roman bridge disappeared. It stands in the city center close to the Cathedral and other monuments and has become a popular walking area with plenty of green spaces.

At the entrance of the bridge is the famous Bolo de la Paciencia, where washerwomen leaned their baskets of clothes while chatting. For years it has been a town’s meeting place.

Bridges bring together…

 

Date of Issue : 3 June 2013

Liechtenstein Post issued a set of stamps featuring 4 different types of  bridges. It is a beautiful set for those collecting on bridges and tourism.

It is not yet 150 years since Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the two countries separated by the Rhine as border-marking river, were first brought together by shared bridges.

Before that people and goods were conveyed between the Liechtenstein and Swiss banks of the Rhine by ferries, five of which were still operating at the beginning of the 19th century. Only after physical structures controlling the course of the Rhine had been put in place was it possible in 1867-68 to build the first wooden bridges, at that time still uncovered, between Bendern and Haag and between Schaan and Buchs. The first part of the “Bridges bring together” series illustrates in greater detail two of these bridges, which have since been a characterizing feature of the Rhine valley.

The “Old Rhine bridge” (face value CHF 0.85) between Vaduz and Sevelen (“Vaduz-Sevelen”, face value CHF 1.00), which used to be the main link between Vaduz and neighbouring Switzerland, was built in 1870-1871. After it had had to be raised twice in the following years, in 1900-1901 it was re-built on the piers of its predecessor. Since the mid 1970s the Old Rhine bridge has been accessible only to non-motorized traffic.

The last major renovation was completed in 2010. The “Railway bridge” (face value CHF 1.40) between “Schaan-Buchs” (face value CHF 1.90), which later became a subsection of the famous “Orient Express”, was first crossed in 1872 by a train drawn by a steam locomotive belonging to the “Vorarlberg Railway”. In the devastating flood disaster of 1927 the section of the bridge on the Liechtenstein side plunged into the water. In 1934-35 the present-day 190-metre-long steel bridge was erected on the river pier of the collapsed bridge. The stamps’ face designs are based on photographs by Bruno Kopfli from Eschen.

: Liechtenstein Post

Football Heroes…

 

Hi !

Here is a beautiful set of stamps with a Miniature sheet  from Royal mail featuring Football Heroes. The stamps are just wonderful and the set is a nice collectible item for sport lovers especially those who collect stamps on Soccer. The stamps were released on 9th May 2013.

 

Royal Mail celebrates the 150th anniversary of the establishing of the rules of Association Football, with the release of a set of stamps entitled “Football Heroes”. The launch also coincides with the 150th anniversary year of the Football Association and the 140th anniversary year of the Scottish Football Association.

The 11 1st Class stamps will feature individual footballers from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The eleven players selected were chosen for their outstanding record on the pitch and representation of their home countries. All are in the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.

New stamps from San Marino

Date of Issue : 7 June 2013

40th  Anniversary of the European Patent Convention (EPC) 

On the 17^th of October 2013 the European Patent Office will celebrate the 40^th  Anniversary of the European Patent Convention (EPC) in Munich.  A special philatelic issue will be presented on the occasion of this event. The 0,85€ value depicts a devising human mind, the motto “40 YEARS 1973-2013 -INNOVATION MATTERS” and the logo of the Organisation with a fingerprint.

 

Juventus Italian Champion 2012-2013

AASFN celebrates the Juventus Football Club winner team of the Italian Soccer Championship 2012 – 2013 with a philatelic issue. The stamp depicts the exultance of the players of the team led by Antonio Conte

New stamps on Bridges

The Spanish Correos issued two stamps within the series “Bridges of Spain”. This time, the issue is dedicated to the Bridge of Besalu (Gerona) and the Los Santos Bridge over Ria de Ribadeo.

The Bridge of Besalu (Girona) is one of the most characteristic bridges of the medieval period. It is located in the medieval village of the same name in the province of Gerona. It began to be built in the 11th century to save the river Fluvia¡ and establish communications between the town and the land on the other side of the river.

The Bridge of Los Santos over Ria de Ribadeo links the towns of Ribadeo (Lugo) and Castropol (Asturias) and is a highlight of civil engineering. It was built over the vast Ribadeo estuary between 1983 and 1987. The bridge is 600 meters long.

The issue is a one stamp souvenir sheet featuring an aerial view of the estuary and the town of Ribadeo. In the stamp is depicted the modern bridge of Los Santos and the town of Ribadeo.

Jacques Chaban-Delmas Bridge, Bordeaux

The French Post issued a postage stamp featuring Jacques Chaban-Delmas Vertical-lift Bridge. It is EUROPE’S largest lift bridge,  opened in Bordeaux on 17 March 2013, with the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas spanning the River Garonne.The central lift span is 117m long and can be lifted vertically up to 53m to let tall ships pass underneath. One of the first ships to pass under it was the historic three-masted schooner Belem.

President Hollande inaugurated the €160 million bridge, which connects the Bastide district near the city’s wharves with Bacalan. He named it after the late Jacques Chaban-Delmas, who was mayor of Bordeaux for 48 years.

The bridge is 575m long with the central lift span weighing around 2,600 tonnes. Its width varies from 32 to 45m and it will be used by cars, trams, cyclists and pedestrians. It can handle 43,000 vehicles a day and will reduce traffic congestion in Bordeaux.

The construction of the project lasted three and a half years and employed about 900 people, the construction needed 43,000 m3 of concrete and 6,500 tons of structural steel.

The Jacques Chaban-Delmas vertical-lift bridge, creation of architect Thomas Lavigne, is one of the largest in Europe, with a length of 433 m and a height of 77 m. It can lift its central span with a pulley system in just 11 minutes.

Jacques Chaban-Delmas was a major figure of the Resistance, Mayor of Bordeaux, Prime Minister of Georges Pompidou and former President of the National Assembly. He died in 2000 at the age of 85.

Club News

 

 RPSL representative for India

 

Royal Philatelic Society London has appointed Mr Markand Dave of Nadiad as RPSL Representative for India. Those who wish to take membership of RPSL may  contact him at email :  MARKAND7@YAHOO.COM or visit WWW.RPSL.ORG.UK  for more details.

Stamp exhibitions

Chandigarh

 

Solan : SOLPEX 2013

District level stamp exhibition SOLPEX 2013 concluded today in Solan, Himachal Pradesh . . It was organized in B.L.Central Public School.  Around 24 frames were exhibited. Mr Satya Pal Thakur won first prize in the Senior Category whereas Bhumika Sharma was awarded first prize in Youth Group.

Famous landmarks of Britain on stamps..

 

 

Date of Issue : 13 October 2011

 

Royal mail issued a set o12 stamps on 13th October 2011, featuring famous landmarks of Britain.They are some of Britain's most beloved landmarks, drawing tourists from around the world. The Royal Mail's Special Stamps A to Z programme initially feature landmarks from A to L, starting alphabetically with the Angel of the North in Gateshead, and Carrick-a-Rede in Northern Ireland, the Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland and Harlech Castle in Wales, among others. The second series, covering letters M to Z, will be issued in April 2012. The detail of the each stamp is given below :

 

 

 

1st Class – Angel of the North

The Angel of the North is a contemporary steel sculpture designed by Antony Gormley, which is located just outside Gateshead. Standing 20 metres (66 ft) tall, with wings measuring 54 metres (177 ft) across, the wings are angled 3.5º forward to create "a sense of embrace". It stands on a hill on the southern edge of Low Fell, overlooking the A1 and A167 roads into Tyneside and the East Coast Main Line rail route, south of the site of Team Colliery.

1st Class – Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire. It was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 158m (518 ft 9 inches). The Tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. The tower can be seen from most places within a 30-mile (48 km) radius including Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Chorley and Southport. It is a Grade 1 listed building.

1st Class – Carrick-a-Rede

The rope suspension bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, near Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland was originally built by salmon fishermen.The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island and is owned and maintained by the National Trust, it spans twenty metres and is thirty metres above the rocks below. Today the bridge is a year round tourist attraction, with 247,000 visitors in 2009.

1st Class – Downing Street

Probably the most famous front door in the world 10 Downing Street is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister. The town house, from which the modern building gets its name, was one of several built by Sir George Downing between 1682 and 1684. In 1732, George II offered the property to Sir Robert Walpole who accepted on the condition that they were a gift to the office of First Lord of the Treasury rather than to him personally.

1st Class – Edinburgh Castle

Dominating the skyline of Edinburgh, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock, There has been a royal castle here since the reign of David I in the 12th century. The site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. As one of the most important fortresses in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle has been involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions. From the later 17th century, the castle became a military base, with a large garrison. Its importance as a historic monument was recognised from the 19th century, and various restoration programmes have been carried out since.

1st Class – Forth Railway Bridge

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge over the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, to the east of the Forth Road Bridge, and 14 kilometres (9 miles) west of central Edinburgh. It was opened on 4 March 1890. It is often called the Forth Rail Bridge or Forth Railway Bridge to distinguish it from the Forth Road Bridge although it has been called the "Forth Bridge" since its construction and had for over seventy years the sole claim to this name.

1st Class – Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust and has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument . Tor is a local word of Celtic origin meaning 'rock outcropping' or 'hill'. The Tor has a striking location in the middle of a plain called the Summerland Meadows, part of the Somerset Levels. The plain is reclaimed fenland out of which the Tor once rose like an island, but now, with the surrounding flats, is a peninsula washed on three sides by the River Brue. The remains of Glastonbury Lake Village nearby were identified in 1892, showing that there was an Iron Age settlement about 300–200 BC on what was an easily defended island in the fens. The spot seems to have been called Ynys yr Afalon (meaning "The Isle of Avalon") by the Ancient Britons, and it is believed by some to be the Avalon of Arthurian legend.

1st Class – Harlech Castle

Harlech Castle, located in Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales, is a concentric castle, constructed atop a cliff close to the Irish Sea. Architecturally, it is particularly notable for its massive gatehouse. Built by Edward I during his conquest of Wales, the castle was subject to several assaults and sieges during its period of active use as a fortification. The castle served as the de facto capital of an independent Wales between 1404 and 1409 when it was held by Owain Glyndwr. The later seven-year siege of the castle, during the Wars of the Roses, has been memorialised in the famous song "Men of Harlech".

1st Class – Ironbridge

Iron bridge is a village on the River Severn, at the heart of the Iron bridge Gorge, in Shropshire. It lies in the civil parish of The Gorge, in the borough of Telford and Wrekin. Iron bridge developed beside, and takes its name from, the famous Iron Bridge, a 30 metre (100 ft) cast iron bridge that was built across the river there in 1779. The bridge was the first cast iron arch bridge in the world.

1st Class – Jodrell Bank

For over 50 years the giant Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank has been a familiar feature of the Cheshire landscape and an internationally renowned landmark in the world of astronomy. Since the summer of 1957 it has been quietly probing the depths of space, a symbol of our wish to understand the universe in which we live. Even now, it remains one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world, spending most of its time investigating cosmic phenomena which were undreamed of when it was conceived.

1st Class – Kursaal

The Kursaal went into decline in the 1970s, when more people took holidays abroad. The land was sold off for building development, and in 1973 the Kursaal amusement park was closed down and in the 1986 the building finally closed. Following many years of dereliction the Kursaal building was reopened in 1998 after a multi-million pound redevelopment and restoration, It is now a listed building, forming part of the Kursaal conservation area.

1st Class – Lindisfarne Priory

Lindisfarne is a tidal island off England’s north-east coast. It is also known as Holy Island. The monastery of Lindisfarne was founded by Irish born Saint Aidan, who had been sent from Iona to Northumbria at the request of King Oswald ca. AD 635. It became the base for Christian evangelising in the North of England and also sent a successful mission to Mercia. The priory was abandoned in the late ninth century because of persistent Viking raids.

 

: Royal Mail

 

Club News

New Book on history of Royal Mail

On 3rd November, Penguin Books will publish Masters of the Post - the first complete history of the Royal Mail.

Masters Of The Post -  Duncan Campbell-Smith

Based on the Royal Mail's comprehensive archives, Masters of the Post brings to life the great personalities and stories from its history over 500 years - from Rowland Hill, who imposed the penny post and set Victorian expansion on its way, to Tony Benn who championed modernization in the 1960s, from the postal engineers who built the first programmable computer for the wartime code-breakers of Bletchley Park to the security boffs who failed to prevent the Great Train Robbery. It concludes with today's debate over privatization and the future of the Royal Mail, which the book shows to be a long theme in its history.