Stroud Philatelic Society THE first meeting to be held in 2010 was programmed for January 6 as an open to all members display. It had to be cancelled at the eleventh hour due to more than a few inches of snow around the Cotswolds. This display will now be amalgamated with a future evening on May 6.

The second meeting of the month went ahead after the thaw on January 20 with a Philatelic Quiz complied and hosted by last year’s winner, Mike Parker. He set forty very testing philatelic posers to members who treated the evening with equal measure of seriousness and good humour. At its conclusion the winner was adjudged to be John Loraine with a total of 20 points. His prize was a bottle of claret, with runner up Tim Kestin being awarded a Philatelic reference book. In accordance with the club's unwritten rules, John now faces the task of compiling next year's quiz.

The society will meet next at St Joseph's Hall, Stonehouse on February 3 at 7.30pm, when two members will host the evening. Ted Smith's subject will be Between The Wars, followed by A Trip Down Under presented by John Armitage. New members are always welcome and can contact club secretary John Loraine on 01453 757178 for more details.