Great Britain Covers

A First Day Cover for the British Sports stamps issued on 10th October 1980. This particular cover was issued for the Amateur Athletic Association who were celebrating their 100th anniversary. Signed by Sebastian Coe, a very successful track and field athlete achieving various world records. He also won two Olympic Gold medals for the 1500m in 1980 and 1984. He served as an Member of Parliament and has held high office in several sporting associations. He is now Lord Coe.

Recently acquired cover a little bit special due to the signatures of 5 x Police Officers who have received the Gerorge Cross due to the circumstances as detailed below.
Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Produced by Buckingham Covers

Limited to 100 signed covers

5 signatures of Police Officers who have received the George Cross

James Wallace BEATON - In March 1973, Beaton was transferred to the Royal Protection Squad A Division, and from 14 November served as a personnel protection officer to Princess Anne. . On 20 March 1974 the princess and her husband Captain Mark Phillips were returning to Buckingham Palace  from a royal engagement. Their car was stopped in the Mall by another vehicle driven into its path. The car was driven by Ian Ball, who was later declared to be mentally ill; Ball jumped out of his vehicle and tried to force the Princess from her car. He shot the royal chauffeur, Alex Callender, and a passing journalist, Brian McConnell, who tried to assist. Inspector Beaton was shot three times, including serious wounds in the chest and abdomen, and a gunshot wound to his hand, sustained when he tried to block Ball's weapon with his own body, after his own gun had jammed. Beaton also sustained injuries to his pelvis while trying to disarm Ball.

Anthony John GLEDHILL - On 25 August 1966 Gledhill was serving as a constable in the Metropolitan Police at the time. His partner, Constable Terry McFall, was awarded the George Medal for the same action. They were on patrol when they were ordered to chase a car driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Fifteen shots were fired at their police car during the ensuing chase. The criminals' car crashed into a lorry and they attacked the police officers, who were trying to arrest them. Both police officers were injured in the confrontation but managed to subdue the men until assistance arrived.

Michael PRATT - Constable, Victoria Police Force. Melbourne Australia -  On the morning of 4th June 1976 three masked men entered a bank and carried out an armed robbery. 
Constable Pratt, who was off-duty and unarmed, was driving past the bank in his private car and saw the men entering the bank ; he noticed that each man was masked and carrying a firearm and realised that they were about to commit an armed robbery. He immediately turned his car, switched up the lights and, sounding his horn, mounted the kerb and blocked the bank entrance. He instructed a passer-by to call for police assistance.

The raiders were taken by surprise, but one of them threatened the Constable with a gun and signaled to him to remove the car, whereupon the officer refused, removed the ignition key, and armed himself with the handle of a car jack. The men then attempted to leave the bank by kicking in the lower section of the glass door and climbing over the bonnet of the car. As the first man straddled the front of the car Constable Pratt grabbed him firmly and during the violent struggle which ensued the robber was knocked unconscious. By this time a second gunman had left the bank and climbed over the car, aimed his weapon and threatened to shoot the officer at close range ; the man had his arms extended at shoulder height and pointed a revolver directly at Constable Pratt. The first man had by now recovered consciousness and was getting to his feet, so the officer grabbed him again and the man called to the gunman to shoot the Constable. A shot was then fired and Constable Pratt who was in the process of trying to protect his back and at the same time retain his hold on his captive, was seriously wounded.

Henry STEVENS - 
Around 8.00 pm, on 29 March 1958, a local criminal named Ronald Easterbrook, who was armed with a gun, whilst  burgling a house in Bickley, London. Police had been alerted to the burglary and dispatched PC Henry Stevens along with two other colleagues to investigate. Stevens went round to the rear of the property and spotted Easterbrook climbing over a wooden fence. Stevens identified himself as a police officer but when Easterbrook ran, Stevens gave chase along St. Georges Road, Bickley. As Stevens was gaining on Easterbrook, Easterbrook turned and pointed the gun at Stevens before saying "Stop, or you'll get this". Ignoring the warning, Stevens continued the chase and Easterbrook opened fire, shooting Stevens in the face

The .22 calibre bullet ricocheted off Stevens' teeth before embedding itself in his tongue. Despite having been shot, Stevens managed to grab hold of Easterbrook and force him up against some iron railings at the side of a railway bridge. During the struggle, the constable managed to twist the gun from Easterbrook's hand, but Easterbrook managed to pull free. Stevens managed to grab the back of Easterbrook's overcoat. Easterbrook who was still running with the constable being dragged behind, suddenly slipped off his overcoat and jacket causing Stevens to fall to the ground. Easterbrook then escaped over the railway bridge.The coat and jacket were later used to help identify Easterbrook. The officer, PC Henry Stevens was also able to identify Easterbrook from photographs shown to him whilst he was in hospital.[

The case was heard at the Old Bailey and on 13 May 1958. Ronald Easterbrook was initially charged with attempted murder but was acquitted due to lack of evidence that he actually intended to kill PC Stevens. Easterbrook was instead convicted of the lesser charge of GBH and intent to Resist arrest. He was sentenced to 10 years.

Carl WALKER - On 23 August 1971, when Walker was aPolice Constable  he was one of several officers who pursued a gang of five armed robbers who had attacked a jeweler's shop in Blackpool. When the gang split up, Walker and his colleague and superintendent Gerry Richardson  chased one of the raiders down a dead-end alleyway. 'Fat' Fred Sewell shot Walker in the groin then Richardson twice in the stomach. Richardson died of his injuries later that day, and was also later awarded the George Cross, posthumously.

Coming soon from the British Forces Philatelic Service
80th Anniversary of Operation Pedestal 
From 1940 to 1942 the Axis forces besieged the island of Malta with air and naval forces. During this time supplies were delivered by the British to the Island by convoy to enable it to resist the siege. Operation Pedestal (Il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija – ‘Santa Maria Convoy’ in Maltese) was mounted in August in 1942 and was carrying much needed fuel. More than 500 Merchant and Royal Navy sailors and airmen were killed and only five of the 14 merchant ships reached Grand Harbour.
To mark the 80th anniversary of this heroic feat British Forces Philatelic Service (BFPS), in association with the George Cross Islands Association (GCIA) will be publishing a commemorative cover to be released on the 15th of August 2022 (date of arrival into Grand Harbour, Malta).
The cover bears an image of the atmospheric painting ‘The Gallant Ohio’ by Robert Taylor. A 1st class stamp will be cancelled by the bespoke BFPS handstamp numbered 3241.
A standard unsigned version will cost £8 each whilst a numbered limited edition of 80 signed by the Honourable Tim Lewin (Son of the Late Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin and organiser of the London Maltese Siege Memorial) will cost £16 each. The signed version cover will bear a first class stamp carrying an image of a Hurricane fighter plane. All covers include an information insert and will be presented in a protective cellophane sleeve
Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Some of the GB Special Event Postmarks on 28 July 2022 for the Commonwealth Games

At least he got that cover Registered Express, surprised that the previous big cove was not Registered,………certainly enough postage for a trip round the moon!

Another style cover for the first special postmark 22 May 1966

Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Coming Soon

September 22 sees the Postal & Courier Service (PCS) Reserve element of the British Military being disbanded.  The loss of these Reserves is a poignant event and especially so as 2022 marks 140 years of continuous service from 1882, when the Army Post Office Corps was formed.

To mark this historic occasion, 162 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps has commissioned this special commemorative cover for issue on the 24 September 2022 to coincide with a parade and flag-lowering ceremony at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks Grantham.  The event will celebrate 140 years of continuous TA/Reserve service and will incorporate a flag-lowering ceremony to signify for the removal of the PCS trade from the Reserves and a disbandment parade for 883 PC Sqn. The Reserve element of the PC trade will be removed from the ORBAT by May 2023; 883 PC Sqn will be disbanded and 871 PC Sqn will re-role as a transport squadron under 151 Regt RLC. PCS will continue to have a presence in the Regular Army and British Forces Post Office.

The design of the cover symbolises the history of the PCS by featuring the cap badges of the three Regiments and Corps that it was part of during its 140 years’ existence.  The 1st Class stamp has been cancelled by a bespoke BFPS special handstamp numbered 3242 produced for the occasion.

Special Announcement: This cover also marks the end of the design and production of Forces covers by the British Forces Philatelic Service (BFPS). Effectively this is the last one to come off of our production line and signals the end of a 10 year period of Forces covers issues from us. Further details will be forthcoming at a later date.

As the handstamp says ” END of an ERA” for us too.
Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Yesterday's - 1st September 2022 new GB Stamp Issue, The Transformers and The Dinobots.
Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Indeed Joan cursus …..with Arthurian legends at least the topic was identifiably British and the style was elegant. Sadly we are getting tacky and garish offerings this year with none of which I can identify!

A Dickens by Candlelight Gala Gift
Signed by Gerald Charles Dickens
150th Anniversary 1993 A Christmas Carol
Matte Backed but not framed.
12 inches wide by 9 inches long.

Buckingham Palace

Another Royal Mail/Royal Mint First Day Cover. This time depicting Buckingham Palace from 1700 to 2014. Special red Buckingham Palace first day cancel for 15th April 2014.

Recent GB Special Event  Postmark commemorating 25 years since the death of Princess Diana
Postmark sponsored by  Internet Stamps Ltd, Warren House, Shearway Road, Folkestone (Buckingham Covers)
31 August 2022 - 25 Years Princess Diana Althorp Northampton 
Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk