VISITORS from Evesham Philatelic Society entertained at the November meeting of the Hereford and Mid Wales Philatelic Society.

John Allison showed his collection of French Red Cross stamps from the earliest First World War issues though to the Red Cross 150th anniversary in 2013.

In the second part of the evening, Keith Barker provided a complete contrast, with mail sent during the 1971 British postal strike.

At that time the Royal Mail had a monopoly, so when postal workers went on strike it made life very difficult.

The monopoly was therefore suspended for the duration of the strike.

A wide range of officially licensed and unlicensed private posts operated during the strike to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of official postal services, and Mr Barker showed a range of local examples.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 5 when the president , Frank Bennett will be showing Postcards of Old Hereford at 7.30pm in St Martin's Parish Hall, Ross Road, Hereford. Visitors and new members are always made welcome.