New Issues
Royal Mail announce new Andy Murray Stamps
Just 11 days after Andy Murray raised the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Trophy at the all England Club, Royal Mail has announced that it is issuing a set of 4 stamps to celebrate the first British Wimbledon Champion in 77 years.
Royal Mail’s new Andy Murray Stamps – issued on 8 August
Andy Murray Stamps: An Impossible Issue?
A few years ago, this would have seemed an impossible issue for Royal Mail. Firstly, living people (other than the Royal Family) were simply banned from British stamps. Secondly, the Royal Mail of old would not have been nimble enough to deal with the complexities of such an issue in a short period of time.
But much has changed. In 2003 Royal Mail rushed through a Rugby World Cup Winners Miniature Sheet and two years later an Ashes Victory Miniature Sheet (could we see another this year?). But these, they argued did not feature individual players but instead celebrated the whole team’s achievement.
All Change for the Olympics
But everything changed for the Olympics as Royal Mail issued 63 Olympic and Paralympic Gold Medal Winner Stamps, taking the nation by storm. The result was the the greatest interest in stamps for 20 odd years and a final death knell in the living person taboo.
Andy Murray – the most celebrated living person on stamps
Andy Murray has already featured on British Stamps
Of course, Andy Murray featured amongst those stamps – so with his 4 new stamps announced today, he holds a new title, alongside Wimbledon Champion. He is now the most celebrated non-Royal on British stamps.
So well done Andy and well done Royal Mail – we need you there to capture the mood of the nation.
Re-living the Dambusters’ Raid – exactly 70 years ago today
Just 495 Dambusters Anniversary Silver Coin Covers will be flown on board one of two surviving Lancaster bombers as part of tonight’s 70th anniversary memorial
16th May 2013 – the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters’ Raid – the exact moment when, on 16th May 1943, 617 Squadron set off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire under Wing Commander Guy Gibson to destroy the dams of Germany’s Ruhr Valley with their ‘bouncing bombs’.
As part of the official Battle of Britain Memorial, 495 specially designed Dambusters’ covers will be flown on board one of just two surviving Lancaster Bombers over Derbyshire’s Derwent Reservoir, part of Derwent Dam – an area used by the pilots for training.
RAF-approved
An Officially Approved Royal Air Force Commemoration, each cover features an original Dambusters’ stamp, postmarked with an exclusive cancellation dated 17th May, and an official 70th Anniversary Dambusters Coin struck in Solid 925/1000 Silver to the highest proof finish, its reverse enhanced with selective 24-Carat Gold-Plating.
Just 495 available
Due to the cover’s uniqueness and the fact that tonight’s flight will never be repeated, no more covers will ever be available once all 495 have been sold. The anniversary flight details on the reverse of each cover confirm it has been part of this historic Dambusters’ re-enactment.
Commemorate the Battle of Britain by securing one of these commemoratives – click here.
Do you agree with Royal Mail’s 11-man squad?
Most of us will recognise a few, if not all, of these famous faces. This line-up is Royal Mail’s ultimate ‘dream team,’ eleven greatest ever football players, chosen to feature on their new set of stamps – on sale now – marking the FA’s 150th anniversary.
If you haven’t guessed all eleven, here’s the full line-up:
(Back row, from left to right):
Jimmy Greaves, John Charles, Gordon Banks, George Best and John Barnes
(Front row):
Kevin Keegan, Denis Law, Bobby Moore, Bryan Robson, David MacKay and Bobby Charlton
Now you know who they all are, do you agree with Royal Mail’s selection?
There are a number of obvious choices that few would contest. Bobby Moore, for example, the only World Cup winning captain or Gordon Banks, regarded by many as the greatest goal keeper ever to play for England.
Now I’m no expert on the beautiful game but I’m surprised Paul Gascoigne isn’t included on this list. The same possibly goes for Peter Shilton.
Royal Mail themselves admit not everyone may agree with their choices but that they chose 11 men “whose key senior career was within the years 1963-1990s” or, those “who have a cult following and widespread agreement of genius on the pitch” such as the late George Best.
The naturally gifted George Best
Of course if the team had included present day players, it would have looked different again. But whatever your views on the chosen team, there’s no doubt they would have made a formidable line-up.
So who would you liked to have seen in the line-up? Let me know below …