What are you looking at ?

Thoughts on The Invisible Hobby

Some weeks ago I suggested that, if she could be persuaded, Maria Sharapova would be a tremendous representative who would certainly attract newcomers to our hobby. My second choice from among the ‘celebrity’ stamp collectors would be Nicholas Sarkozy provided, of course, that he is accompanied by the lithe and lovely Carla Bruni. Unfortunately it is likely that the couple are a little busy with their new baby and, oh yes, the Euro Crisis.

Sights can be lowered though and the term ‘celebrity’ now casts a wide net. Alongside we see former (and now sadly departed) P.T.S. chairman Ron Shelley accompanied some years ago at Stampex by Olympic Javelin Gold Medal winner Fatima Whitbread. Ron looks quite at ease in her presence, not thrown at all (thank you for your restraint, Ms Whitbread). Fatima is currently competing among the snakes and cockroaches in the “I’m a Celebrity .. Get Me Out of Here!” reality contest but might nowadays actually prefer a desk and a pair of tweezers.

We are very much looking forward to “The People’s Post” a new radio series on the Royal Mail that starts on Radio 4 on December 5th, and which I am sure will be excellent. There will be just one thing missing – the pictures.

We are a visual hobby and the attitude that the TV industry has shown to the hobby of Stamp Collecting has been truly shocking. Do we really have less to offer to the viewing public than fishing or ‘ice road truckers’? Any statistical analysis of leisure pursuits in this country would indicate a substantial ready audience. Furthermore, stamps and letters are more or less screen shaped ! At the time of the 1990 anniversary (150 years since the arrival of the Penny Black, lest ye forget) the BBC rose to the occasion by repeating a ten year old programme rather than creating something new. It is always hilarious to see Colin Such in flares but this was still very much an opportunity wasted.

A TV "History of the Post" would be an excellent step forward. Such a series could begin from the earliest forms of written communication and might include some historical re-enactment. There are plenty of interesting tales and historical personalities available. Even postal officials through the ages have included such diverse characters as Benjamin Franklin, Anthony Trollope and Tony Benn ! Also required would be a sexy postal historian to walk slowly and moodily toward the camera. Are there any sexy postal historians out there ? You know who you are.

The current lack of media exposure is doing us a lot of harm. I even get asked "Do people still collect stamps ?" as though philatelists had become extinct, or at best driven underground. A triumphant appearance on the screens would validate our previous efforts and be immensely empowering in the face of an increasingly diverse leisure industry.

At the moment, though, we would accept any form of show, even a celebrity led panel game such as a "What’s That Stamp ?’, in which the unsuccessful team is dumped in slime at the end of the programme .

Maybe when Fatima has finished in Australia …

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Since last week’s appearance of the three-legged duck we have had our eyes open for any further dark portents for 2012. To our alarm, on Wednesday in the office the face of Robson Lowe was discovered on a ginger biscuit.

Chris Lawrence acted swiftly to deal with the situation however by eating the offending item. To be on the safe side he then ate all the biscuits in the office.

He is our hero of the week.

JG