Telford stamp club to explore 1951 Festival of Britain

Telford Stamp and Card Club will begin its autumn programme with a look back at one of post-war Britain’s most memorable exhibitions.

The club will welcome a guest speaker for a special philatelic display on the 1951 Festival of Britain, held in London from May to September that year.

The event was the first major exhibition of its kind following the end of the Second World War and came 100 years after the Great Exhibition of 1851.

The Festival of Britain was intended to lift the nation’s morale while showcasing Britain’s recovery and achievements in science, technology, architecture and the arts.

Among its most memorable features were the Skylon, a tall needle-like structure which appeared to stand unsupported, and the Festival Hall, which remains in use today.

The guest speaker has made a special study of the Festival and will illustrate the talk with photographs and stamps from the period.

The event will take place at Belmont Hall, Wellington, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Monday, September 14.

Anyone is welcome to attend and admission is free, although there will be a small charge for a drink during the interval.