[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks the 100^th Anniversary of Its Commemorative Stamps Programme with a Set of New Stamps

Issue Date: 16 April

• The first commemorative stamp was issued on 23 April 1924
• Each of the 10 stamps features three images of previously issued commemorative stamps
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/100years and by telephone on 03457 641641. The stamps go on general sale on 16 April.

Royal Mail have revealed images of 10 new stamps to mark the centenary of British commemorative stamps.

For 100 years, commemorative stamps, also known as Special Stamps, have helped to mark and celebrate some of the most significant events in the United Kingdom’s history and national life.

Each of the 10 stamps includes a selection of three images of previously issued commemorative stamps – including the very first, released in 1924. That year, on 23 April, the first UK special stamp was issued to commemorate the opening of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park in London.

Collectors Sheet

Commemorative stamps are works of art in miniature. Much of the artwork that goes into their design begins at a much larger scale. It is part of the stamp designers’ task to ensure that it can be successfully reduced to the small size of a postage stamp. Over the past century, talented artists and designers have been commissioned to commemorate and celebrate important anniversaries and events.

The themes and topics covered range from the tiniest of insects to the far reaches of outer space. Over the past century, popular subjects have included literature, film and television, music, transport, the natural world, influential people and royalty.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “British commemorative stamps have mirrored the changes in society and culture at large for the past century. They celebrate the best of the UK, our people and our national character. Everyone will have their own favourites, but this set shows the diversity of the stamps programme and how design and subject matter have evolved in a century.”

Themes
In the early days, there were few commemorative issues. Those that were released were generally focused on Royalty. The Silver Jubilee of King George V got a commemorative stamp in 1935. In 1936, work began on stamps to mark the coronation of King Edward VIII the following year, but he abdicated that December and therefore no Coronation stamps were ever released. The coronation of his brother, King George VI, was marked with a stamp. It remains one of only three coronation issues, the others being for the coronations of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

The modern commemorative stamp programme was devised in 1965 by the then Postmaster General, Tony Benn, who worked with designer David Gentleman to overhaul stamp design. The stamp of Sir Winston Churchill, issued in July of that year, was designed by Gentleman and was the first British stamp to feature a non-Royal contemporary individual. With its bold modernist approach and no text, it set the scene for the future.

Over the years, some incredible designers and artists have contributed their work, including Quentin Blake, David Hockney, Paula Rego, Grayson Perry and Yinka Shonibare.

The world of music has been well represented over the years, with classical pieces, such as Sea Pictures by Edward Elgar, balanced with more contemporary artists, including David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd and Queen. Popular culture has been celebrated with major film franchises, such as Harry Potter, popular comedy series Blackadder’s 40th anniversary in 2023, Coronation Street (60th anniversary), The Clangers (50 years of children’s TV), and Dr Who (50th anniversary).

Celebrating diversity is a theme that runs through Royal Mail’s stamp issues, with individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life depicted. Amongst the many stamps issued to celebrate the diversity of the UK was a set in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in the UK.

Also, in 2018 a stamp honoured Sophia Duleep Singh, a prominent suffragette campaigner of Sikh heritage and in 2022, a set of stamps was released to mark the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Gay Pride rally that took place in 1972.

The natural world has been a major theme from the very earliest days of commemorative stamps. The British countryside, flora and fauna – including the tiniest of insects – have made appearances. Commemorative stamps have helped to celebrate the wonder of the natural world and highlight significant environmental issues, such as endangered species and pollution. It has not been just the existing natural world to feature; dinosaurs, for example, have appeared more than once, including on an innovative set of stamps in 2013, where the image of the dinosaur breaks out from the edge of the frame.

Stamp-by-Stamp:
1st Class: British Empire Exhibition, Postal Union Congress, Silver Jubilee

1st Class: Royal Silver Wedding, Centenary of First Adhesive Postage Stamps, Peace and Reconstruction1st Class: Tercentenary of ‘General Letter Office’, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Festival of Britain

1st Class: Landscapes, Investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales, National Nature Week

1st Class: Philympia 70 Stamp Exhibition, British Wildlife, British Achievement in Chemistry

1st Class: Flowers, Halley’s Comet, Transport and Communications

1st Class: Robert Burns: The Immortal Memory, Millennium, Architects of the Air

1st Class: The Weather, Lest We Forget, Sounds of Britain

1st Class: Landmark Buildings, Jane Austen, Queen

1st Class: Platinum Jubilee, Brilliant Bugs, Windrush: 75 Years

Philatelic products include framed stamps, collectors sheet, framed collectors sheet, and postcards. The top price is £67.50 for a 50-stamp “full sheet” (Europa or Silver Jubilee)

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/100years and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 10 stamps in the set is priced at £14.40. The stamps go on general sale on 16 April.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Stunning New Special Stamps from Royal Mail Chart the Age Of The Dinosaurs

Issue date: 12 March

• The main set of stamps feature dynamic illustrations of different species of dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus and Diplodocus
• An additional four stamps, presented in a separate miniature sheet, pay tribute to Mary Anning, one of the greatest fossil hunters of the 19th century
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/dinosaurs and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed images of eight new, stunning stamps that include dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles from the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras.

The new designs, by Exeter based, digital concept illustrator, Joshua Dunlop, combine scientific accuracy, provided by the Natural History Museum’s palaeontology department, with artistic brilliance in a captivating homage to the wonders of palaeontology, and include:

• Tyrannosaurus
• Triceratops
• Coloborhynchus
• Iguanodon
• Stegosaurus
• Diplodocus
• Megalosaurus
• Cryptoclidus

An additional sheet of four stamps recognises the contribution of palaeontologist Mary Anning. She was one of the first professional fossil hunters and her discoveries on the Dorset coast, near her home in Lyme Regis, paved the way for modern palaeontology and contributed to our understanding of prehistoric life on Earth.

Royal Mail worked in collaboration with experts at the Natural History Museum, consulting with scientists specialising in various areas of palaeontology.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “We were thrilled to feature incredible dinosaurs from the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex to graceful Diplodocus as well as other fascinating prehistoric reptiles in their natural habitats. It is fitting in the week of International Women’s Day that we pay tribute to Mary Anning with four images of some of the fossils she discovered. She was one of the greatest fossil hunters of the 19th century, making a major contribution to our understanding of the majestic creatures that roamed the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago.”

Maxine Lister, Head of Licensing at the Natural History Museum, said: “We were thrilled when Royal Mail approached us to collaborate on these brilliant sets of stamps. It’s perfect timing too, as we have just celebrated the 200th anniversary since the naming of the first dinosaur: the Megalosaurus, which features as part of this collection. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet and we hope these stunning designs inspire everyone to discover a bit more about our natural world, whether that be the creatures that lived here before us, or the pioneering figures who shaped our understanding of them today.”

Age of the Dinosaurs
The Mesozoic Era, or the ‘Age of the Dinosaurs’ as it is commonly known, lasted from 252 to 66 million years ago and comprises, in order from oldest to youngest, the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. During most of this time, from the Late Triassic onwards, a group of reptiles known as dinosaurs dominated the land. Other non-dinosaur reptiles also thrived during this period, including marine reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, as well as the flying pterosaurs.

Fossilised remains help us to unearth the secrets of these incredible creatures, and one of the greatest fossil hunters of the 19th century was Mary Anning. Anning lived during a time when it was fashionable for wealthy Georgians to visit seaside towns to acquire fossils to add to their cabinets of curiosities. It was also when palaeontology was becoming recognised as a branch of the natural sciences. Anning spent her life unearthing ‘curios’ from the fossil-rich cliffs near her home in Lyme Regis, Dorset, to sell to tourists and scientific collectors alike, and made many important discoveries. A fascination with prehistoric life continues today. Palaeontologists study all fossilised past life, including corals, fishes, mammals and plants, in addition to prehistoric reptiles. Fossils can help us not only to learn about the lives of these species, but to understand what the Earth was like in the past.

Stamp By Stamp:
Tyrannosaurus was a fierce predator that belonged to a group of dinosaurs known as theropods. One of the largest meat-eating animals ever to live on land, Tyrannosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period between 68 and 66 million years ago. The first known specimen was discovered in 1900 in Wyoming, USA.

Triceratops was one of the biggest horned dinosaurs. It lived around 68 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period, alongside the likes of Tyrannosaurus. Triceratops weighed about 5 tonnes and measured up to 9m in length – its head alone was about as long as a person. It had a curved, bony frill jutting out over its neck and a hard beak at the end of its nose. The word Triceratops means ‘three-horned face’ – a reference to its impressive horns, which may have been used in defence against large meat eaters.

Coloborhynchus was a type of pterosaur, a group of extinct flying reptiles that lived alongside the dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era. Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to achieve flight over 220 million years ago and included the largest flying creatures of all time. Coloborhynchus lived during the Early Cretaceous period and was one of the earliest pterosaurs to be discovered.

Iguanodon was a large ornithopod that lived during the Early Cretaceous period between 125 and 110 million years ago. Reaching a length of about 10m, it was a very large dinosaur – longer than both Triceratops and Stegosaurus – and a herbivore that probably ate around 30kg of plants every day. It is thought that Iguanodon probably walked on both two and four legs. It was one of the most successful dinosaurs, with remains having been found in many parts of Europe. Iguanodon had a large thumb spike, which was probably used to fend off predators. It also had a very long finger that it used to gather food.

Stegosaurus belongs to a group of dinosaurs known as stegosaurs, which are defined by the bony armour plates or spines that extend along the back in two parallel rows. Despite being one of the most recognisable dinosaurs, we know relatively little about it, as remains of Stegosaurus are rare.

One of the longest dinosaurs ever to have existed, Diplodocuswas a long-necked prehistoric creature belonging to a group of dinosaurs called sauropods. It lived 150 million years ago at the end of the Jurassic Period. Reaching up to 27m in length, Diplodocus was a giant, weighing around 20 tonnes – as much as three male African elephants. It may have used its long neck to reach the tops of tall trees and its comb-like teeth to rake leaves into its mouth.

Megalosaurus was one of three species (along with Iguanodonand Hylaeosaurus) that led palaeontologist and anatomist Sir Richard Owen to coin the term ‘Dinosauria’ back in 1842, when he realised that all three creatures shared common characteristics and were their own distinct group of reptiles. His paper sparked a fascination with dinosaurs that continues today. It was William Buckland, a clergyman and palaeontologist, who, in 1824, named the creature Megalosaurus, which means ‘great lizard’. This was the first scientific description ever produced of what became known as a dinosaur. Megalosaurus was a large theropod that roamed what is now England during the Middle Jurassic period between 170 and 155 million years ago. Growing up to 9m long, it was one of the largest predators of the Middle Jurassic.

Cryptoclidus was a type of plesiosaur – a group of extinct marine reptiles that existed from the Middle Triassic to the Late Cretaceous periods. Some species reached 15m in length, although most were between 3m and 5m long. Plesiosaurs have been described as looking like a ‘snake threaded through a turtle’. Their limbs were large, well-developed paddles and it is thought that Cryptoclidus flapped these up and down in a similar way to a turtle. Plesiosaurs would have been found across the world, including in what is now Argentina, USA, Australia, France, Germany, China and Morocco. Many fossils have been found of Cryptoclidus, particularly from the Oxford Clay Formation in the UK, making it one of the best understood of all plesiosaurs.

On the souvenir sheet:

One of the 19th century’s greatest fossil hunters, Mary Anning made a series of incredible discoveries that helped the scientific community to better understand the remarkable creatures that inhabited Earth’s ancient seas and skies.

Ichthyosaurus Communis 201–198 Ma, Lyme Regis, Dorset — A complete fossilised juvenile skeleton of the marine reptile with coprolite remains inside the rib cage. Purchased from Mary Anning c.1835.

Dapedium Politum 199–190 Ma, Lyme Regis, Dorset —
A near-complete Jurassic fish fossil, showing scale patterning and delicate fin structures. Collected by Mary Anning c.1829.

Plesiosaurus Macrocephalus 201–198 Ma, Lyme Regis, Dorset —
A near-complete fossilised juvenile skeleton of the marine reptile lacking parts of the tail. Collected by Mary Anning in 1830.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/dinosaurs and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £18.90 (about US$24.04 currently). The stamps go on general sale on 12 March.

Here are some other products and their prices:The set of 8 stamps is £13.00 (US$16.54)The souvenir sheet is £5.00 (US$6.36)TThe official first day cover, with either the Tallents House (shown) or Lyme Regis postmarks, is £16.25 (US$20.67).The miniature sheet FDC, with either postmark, is £6.65 (US$8.46)A “coin cover” is £17.50 (US$22.26), but the silver coin cover is £71.00 (US$90.32)

A set of 12 postcards is £5.85 (US$7.44), the press sheet of 12 of the souvenir sheet is £60.00 (US$76.32) and there are full- and half-sheets of the Megalosaurus, Stegosaurus, Coloborhynchus and Tyrannosaurus stamps.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Marks the 30^th Anniversary of the Spice Girls with a Set of Special Stamps

Issue date: 11 January

• The Spice Girls are one of the most successful British bands in history – selling over 100 million records worldwide and scoring nine UK number one singles
• This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a female music group
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to order now at www.royalmail.com/spicegirls and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail have announced it is issuing a set of 15 Special Stamps to celebrate one of the world’s most successful pop groups of all time, the Spice Girls. With more than 100 million global record sales across three decades, and nine UK number one singles, they are one of the most successful British bands in music history.

This is the first time Royal Mail has dedicated an entire stamp issue to a female pop group and they become only the sixth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue – following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, The Rolling Stones in 2022 and Iron Maiden in 2023.

In partnership with Bravado, Universal Music Group’s brand management and merchandise division, Royal Mail worked closely with the band to carefully curate and select images that celebrated the incredible legacy of the Spice Girls.

The main set of 10 stamps features iconic images of group and individual live performances from 1997 to 2012:

• Spice Girls performing at the BRIT Awards, 1997
• Melanie Chisholm performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1998
• Spice Girls performing during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
• Geri Halliwell performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997
• Spice Girls performing in San Jose, California, 2007
• Emma Bunton performing at Wembley, London, 1998
• Spice Girls performing in Istanbul, 1997
• Victoria Beckham performing during The Return of the Spice Girls Tour at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 2008
• Spice Girls performing in Dublin, 1998
• Melanie Brown performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997

Completing the set are a further five stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, featuring individual images of the girls from the iconic Spice World photoshoot. The image was chosen as it worked perfectly to feature each of the Spice Girls individually on their own stamp, but also within a group shot.

Formed in 1994, the Spice Girls are the biggest female group of all time, with worldwide record sales in excess of 100 million. Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria – aka Baby, Ginger, Scary, Sporty and Posh Spice – spearheaded their own rise to chart dominance at a time when girl groups were not considered to be commercially viable. Their infectious pop sound and bold ‘Girl Power!’ philosophy changed the face of music and inspired a generation of artists and fans.

Spicemania swept the globe in 1996 with the release of the group’s debut single, ‘Wannabe’. Their influence reached into every corner of modern life. They became a lasting symbol of the ‘Cool Britannia’ era, owing in no small part to the iconic Union Jack dress worn by Geri for the group’s performance at the 1997 BRIT Awards.

The Spice Girls were awarded two Ivor Novello Awards, three BRITS – one of these a special BRIT Award in recognition of their global achievement – three American Music Awards and four global MTV Awards.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “The Spice Girls have been a force to be reckoned with since they formed as a group in 1994. We are proud to celebrate the most successful female music group ever seen, not only for their music but their enduring influence over so many aspects of our lives.” [The item shown here is called a “definitive pane FDC with the alternative postmark,” but is not offered on the website.]

The Spice Girls, said: “We are so excited to be celebrated by Royal Mail, alongside some of the most iconic and influential music legends. When we formed the Spice Girls we couldn’t have dreamt that 30 years later we would be the first female group to be dedicated an entire stamp collection, that’s Girl Power!”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to order at www.royalmail.com/spicegirls and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all 15 stamps in the set is priced at £19.65. The stamps went on general sale on 11 January.

[VSC: The gold stamps set, which comes with the certificate shown in the foreground of this photo, is £149.99. A platinum miniature sheet is £199.99.]

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Legacy of the Vikings in Britain Celebrated with a Set of Eight Special Stamps from Royal Mail

• Issue date: 20 February 2024
• The stamps also mark the 40th anniversary of the JORVIK Viking Centre opening in York
• Featuring striking images, the stamps showcase Viking artefacts and locations of significance from around the UK
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/vikingbritain and by telephone on 03457 641641

Royal Mail has revealed images of eight new stamps that celebrate the history, impact and legacy of Vikings in Britain and mark 40 years since the JORVIK Viking Centre opened in York.

Featuring striking images, the stamps showcase Viking artefacts and locations of significance from around the UK, and include:

• an iron, silver and copper sword
• a silver penny minted in York
• Silver penannular brooch, Penrith, Cumbria
• Lindisfarne Priory in Northumberland
• Norse settlement remains in Jarlshof, Shetland
• an antler comb and case from Coppergate, York
• Gilded bronze brooch, Pitney, Somerset
• a Hogback gravestone from Govan Old, Glasgow

The Coppergate Dig that began in May 1976, led directly to the creation on the excavation site of the JORVIK Viking Centre, to showcase the finds and recreate the urban landscape of Viking Age York – including its sounds and smells – all based on detailed research.

When it opened, the Centre made a global impact. It showed that the Viking world was based on more than violence, and told a complex story of settlement, manufacture and trade.

Opening in 1984, JORVIK welcomed 900,000 people during its first year of operation. Over the intervening decades, and after three updates, the Centre has entertained and interacted with over 20 million visitors, including many children.

In addition to the team at the JORVIK Viking Centre, Royal Mail also worked closely with Dr Gareth Williams, curator at the British Museum and Thomas Williams, author of Viking Britain and Viking London, and previously also a curator at the British Museum.

Viking Britain:
The Vikings were seaborne adventurers of Scandinavian origin whose activities in the British Isles from the end of the 8th century onwards changed the languages, economy, society and political geography of these islands forever.

Early raids targeted Christian monasteries and coastal communities but, by the mid-9th century, these incursions had evolved into large-scale invasions that tore up the traditional patchwork of small independent kingdoms.

The waves of migration, settlement and conquest that followed transformed Britain; by the early 11th century, kings and earls of Danish and Norwegian heritage ruled the whole of England and large parts of Scotland and dominated the Irish Sea. And while ultimately the sounding horns of the Viking Age fell silent, the echoes still remain.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “If anyone was to ask ‘what did the Vikings ever do for us?’ the answer is that they transformed Britain and left an enduring influence on the languages, economy, society and political geography of the UK forever. Their impact was enormous and cannot be overlooked. We hope these stamps will inspire people to explore this fascinating period in Britain’s history further.”

David Jennings, Chief Executive of York Archaeology, the charity that operates JORVIK Viking Centre, commented: “The finds at Coppergate fundamentally changed our understanding of how the Vikings lived in England, and JORVIK Viking Centre put York’s Norse heritage on the international map. After over 40 years, and with over 20 million visitors passing through our doors, it is a real honour to be featured on these stamps and be part of this unique celebration of Viking culture.”

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to pre-order now at www.royalmail.com/vikingbritain and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £13.80. The stamps go on general sale on 20 February.

Philatelic Products:

Stamp Set: £12.90
Presentation Pack: £13.80
First Day Cover [below]: £16.15
Stamp Souvenir: £16.15
First Day Envelope: £0.30
Postcards: £3.60
Framed Stamps: £34.99
Medal Cover [right]— Replica Viking Coin from York: £19.99
Full Sheet 60 x 1st Class Stamps: £75.00
Half Sheet 30 x 1st Class Stamps: £37.50
Full Sheet 60 x £1.00 Stamps: £60.00
Half Sheet 30 x £1.00 Stamps: £30.00
Full Sheet 60 x £2.00 Stamps: £120.00
Half Sheet 30 x £2.00 Stamps: £60.00
Full Sheet 60 x £2.20 Stamps: £132.00
Half Sheet 30 x £2.20 Stamps: £66.00

Technical details:

Acknowledgements: Iron, silver and copper sword, Silver penny, Silver penannular brooch and Gilded bronze brooch © The Trustees of the British Museum; Lindisfarne Priory © AJM681/Alamy Stock Photo. Featured with kind permission of English Heritage; Norse settlement remains © Chris Griffiths/Getty Images; Antler comb and case © York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research Limited; Hogback gravestone © Alan McAteer. Featured with kind permission of Govan Old; Vintage paper texture © Javarman/Alamy Stock Photo; ‘Time of Viking Invasions’ map, from History of England by George Macaulay Trevelyan. Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd, London, 1926 © The Print Collector/Alamy Stock Photo; Antique map of Shetland and Orkney Islands © ilbusca/Getty Images

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
New Stamps Celebrate a National Obsession:
Royal Mail Reveal Stamps Dedicated to Weather Forecasting

Issue Date: 1 February 2024

• Eight stamps mark the 170th anniversary of the Met Office and depict the history, science and future of Weather Forecasting
• The subjects covered include the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, establishment of the iconic Shipping Forecast in 1924, and Barbara Edwards, the first British female TV weather presenter
• The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to order now at www.royalmail.com/weatherforecasting and by telephone on 03457 641641

It’s a national obsession the British are known for around the world – our fascination with the weather – and today, Royal Mail reveal images that pay tribute to the perennial conversation starter. A set of eight Special Stamps celebrate the 170th anniversary of the Met Office and the history, science and future of Weather Forecasting.

Featuring beautiful composite images, the stamps showcase advances in weather forecasting over the last two centuries, including the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, establishment of the iconic Shipping Forecast in 1924, forecasting’s critical role in military operations such as D-Day and Barbara Edwards, the first British female TV weather presenter.

The set of stamps illustrates the following developments in forecasting:

• Luke Howard, pioneer meteorologist, who classified clouds in 1803
• Storm barometer of Robert FitzRoy, who founded what is now the Met Office, in 1854
• Terra Nova Expedition, which studied extreme weather in 1910–12
• Marine buoys, which collect data for the Shipping Forecast, which was first broadcast via morse code in 1925 and first heard on the BBC in 1925.
• Weather observers during the Second World War, who were vital to the success of the D-Day invasion in 1944, among other military operations
• Radar and computers, which improved forecasting accuracy from the 1950s onwards
• Barbara Edwards, who became the first British female TV weather presenter in 1974
• Supercomputers and satellites, which help track the Earth’s weather today

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy said: “The British love to talk about the weather. It is a national obsession. Whether we are fishermen heading out to sea, farmers planning the harvest, or staycationers worried about losing our tent to the winds, people of all ages want to know whether it will be sunny or wet, hot or cold. These stamps celebrate the people and the science behind the weather forecast.”

Professor Penny Endersby CBE, Chief Executive of the Met Office said: “The Met Office has a proud position in UK history. As an island nation we are often at the mercy of the weather and our role is to help people stay safe and thrive in every corner of the UK and beyond. As these beautiful stamps demonstrate, the Met Office has constantly evolved from our roots at the pioneering edge of weather forecasting through to technical innovations of the modern era.”

Claire Martin, niece of Barbara Edwards and former Canadian weather presenter, said: “I was always slightly in awe of my Aunty Barbara growing up. With her feet firmly planted in science, she proudly worked on-air, defiantly refusing to “dumb down” the weather information being delivered. She was a consummate professional and an unassuming trailblazer for women in the UK in the field of Broadcast Meteorology. She paved the way for me to follow a very similar career path in Canada! It is so thrilling, so rewarding to see her honoured with a Royal Mail stamp”.

Royal Mail worked closely with the Met Office on the stamp issue and their archive is the source of many of the images used for the collection. Royal Mail also worked with writer and historian Peter Moore. Moore is the author of several non-fiction books, including the critically acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller, The Weather Experiment (2015), which tells the story of how a pioneering group of thinkers – artists, scientists, adventurers and mathematicians – sought to invent a standardised way of predicting the weather.

Weather Forecasting:
Two centuries ago, people had little understanding of weather. They gleaned clues from nature when they could, but mostly they considered the skies to be a chaotic space beyond human control. Things began to change in the early 19th century. In 1803, Luke Howard, a London pharmacist, published a booklet outlining his system for naming clouds. Soon after, Naval Officer Francis Beaufort invented a wind scale. Theories about storms followed, and a new department of government, which would eventually be called the Met Office, was established in 1854. The figure appointed to lead it was a Royal Navy officer and surveyor named Robert FitzRoy. Within a decade, FitzRoy was using the electric telegraph to issue storm warnings and forecasts. A new era had begun.

While FitzRoy’s original forecasts were soon curtailed, they returned later in the Victorian era and became a familiar part of British life. By the 20th century, weather science had gone global, with observations playing an important part in the Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica, and with the iconic Shipping Forecast being broadcast to mariners from 1924. During the Second World War, forecasting played a critical role, shaping plans for military operations such as D-Day. For all its importance, much of this wartime work was done with processes and charts that would have been familiar to an earlier generation of meteorologists, but once peace came, the Met Office underwent a technological revolution.

Throughout the later 20th century, weather reports were increasingly produced by powerful computers, which were fed global data from many sources, including radar and satellites. The forecasts were refined into television bulletins and presented by much-loved figures such as Barbara Edwards, Michael Fish and Ian McCaskill. The developments have continued into our times.

The stamps, and a range of collectible products, are available to order at www.royalmail.com/weatherforecasting and by telephone on 03457 641 641. A Presentation Pack (below) including all eight stamps in the set is priced at £13.30. The stamps go on general sale on 1 February.Official FDC with Exeter postmark:Also available with the Tallents House postmark and without the stamps, postmark or address.