Curatorial events 2008

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The BPMA’s 2008 events programme is now well underway. Several of the events on this year’s programme are being led by the Curatorial Team. This article explores some of the past events and highlights those that are upcoming.


St George’s Day debate

Image of Rebecca Thomlinson promoting Ralph Allen as the greatest Englishman in postal historyThe St. George’s Day debate was new for this year. The event was as much for a bit of fun and to provoke debate as anything else. The idea behind it was that, in recognition of St. George’s Day, the three members of the Curatorial team: Chris Taft, Julian Stray and Rebecca Thomlinson would each select one Englishman of the Post Office to champion as ‘the greatest Englishman in postal history’.

The audience who came along to the lunchtime debate held were then invited to vote for the winner. Chris Taft championed John Wornham Penfold the architect and surveyor, who designed the pillar box that was to bear his name. Rebecca Thomlinson put the case for Ralph Allen who developed the cross-post system and led major reforms of the postal system. Julian Stray presented Charles Wheeler who developed and built up the Post Office’s own vehicle fleet at a time when motorised transport was still a new idea.

The audience ultimately voted Ralph Allen as the ‘greatest Englishman in postal history.’

Walking tour

Image of telephone kiosks in Spittalfields MarketLast year’s most popular event was the guided walking tours of GPO London, these are being repeated for 2008 on three dates. The tour covers over 4 miles and takes in the Curatorial Events heartland of what was formally GPO London looking at some of the familiar, and not so familiar, sites on the streets of London.

The first walking tour took place on 17 May and the remaining two will happen on 17 June and 14 September 2008.

Discover sessions

Image of a drawing and a photograph of Penfold letterboxesThe programme of Discover sessions for the year is kicking off with an in-depth look at the Penfold pillar box. Taking place at the Museum Store, Debden, this important and much loved object will be looked at in the context of other letter boxes. Presentations throughout the day will highlight some of the material in The Royal Mail Archive that can help understand the development of the Penfold.


Any readers with suggestions for topics for future Discover sessions are strongly encouraged to get in touch. 

Full details of all of our events are available in the What's On section.

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