FIFTY years ago in the spring of 1971, long before the advent of mobile phones, emails and texts, the country’s communications were threatened with chaos when postal staff voted for a national strike.
Unable to agree a pay deal with the Post Office, members of the Union of Post Office Workers downed envelopes, parcels and everything else and walked out, bringing the bulk of the UK’s postal services to a complete halt.
Fortunately in south Worcestershire a band of rather unlikely heroes stepped up. Stamp collectors are not necessarily known for sterling deeds, but back in 71 the members of the recently formed Evesham and District Philatelic and Postcard Society – handily shortened to Evesham Stamp Club – became legends.
With the strike due to start on January 20, they got together and decided to set up their own postal service so that local citizens and businesses wouldn’t suffer too much.
Andrew Watton, a committee member, explained: “We obtained written permission for the service from Worcester PO and then resolved to set up our own post office in the home of our secretary Ricky Hyde at 23, Mill Street, Evesham, where Ricky’s wife Rose volunteered to help organise its operations.
“An amateur printing machine was set up and Ricky produced proofs of a 6d design of stamp. An imperforate square of white paper with adhesive backing and red lettering, was agreed and a first run of 120 sheets of 4 x 6d stamps was printed.
“Following this a small printing run of 6d and 2s stamps were printed, which were for sale at face value, however demand soon meant reprints were needed. Additional printings to cover 1s and 4s stamps were printed.
Susan Barnard and Ricky Hale franking outgoing mail
“A special sheet for Broadway Strike Post label in sheets of 10 was printed in bi-colour. The whole process of delivery and collection was run by Susan Barnard who worked in Bridge Street, Evesham, but lived in Broadway. A handbill/flyer advertising the service was produced and club members delivered these by hand to letter boxes Evesham and on January 22 we went into action.
“The initial intention was to service Evesham and the surrounding villages only, but contact with Parker Post (an independent national service) in Worcester, which already had routes to a wider area, including London, resulted in us connecting with this service too.”
Club chairman Alan Ward takes a bundle of letters to Worcester
On the first day of business – 22 January, 1971 – they had 50 letters, a very encouraging start to ESC’s “beat the strike” idea. These were cancelled with a blue or black date stamp and, as most were for local delivery, they were hand delivered by members, although a small number were for destinations farther afield, such as Birmingham and London.
These prompted a review of charges, since distance involved cost, so stamps to the value of 4s for Birmingham and 7s for London were added.
Interest quickly came from philatelists seeking “first day covers” and these were prepared with 6d stamp and posted with prominent stamping “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE / Evesham / 22 JANUARY 1971” on the cover.
An amended handbill was sent out covering the revised delivery service to locations like Malvern, Stratford, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Hereford, Birmingham and London, as well as the associated charges.
Examples of Evesham Stamp Club issues
Unfortunately Decimalisation Day came in during the strike, causing an overhaul of the system. A special “DECIMAL DAY/ Evesham / 15 February 1971” stamp design was devised and used on that day only. This was accompanied by printings of new decimal issue stamps in 2½p, 5p, 10p and 20p values for use thereafter. At the conclusion of the strike on March 8 the operation at Mill Street stopped and all undelivered mail was sent to Evesham Post Office for franking and delivery.
Andrew added: “At the outset the main objective was to provide a postal service for Evesham and its surrounding villages and this was undoubtedly achieved.
The total number of items of mail handled was more than 3,000 and the total printings of stamps was over 14,000 in the six weeks of operation. Secondly, but no less important, was to promote the Evesham Stamp Club and stimulate interest in its activities and perhaps gain a few new members, which was also considered a success.”
More good news, if you have any of those special issue stamps from spring 1971 tucked away anywhere, they could be worth from £5 to £10 each.
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