Tribute to Robin Gibb CBE

Posted on April 10, 2013 by iomstampsnews

Robin Gibb Stamps and Sheets

Tribute to Robin Gibb CBE

The wonderfully colourful, fascinating and showbiz life of singer and songwriter Robin Gibb CBE is celebrated through a new set of stamps reflecting on this legendary Manxman and coincides with the posthumous release of Robin’s album ‘50 St Catherine’s Drive’ later this year.

Described as one of the best white soul voices ever, Robin Gibb is one of the Isle of Man’s most famous citizens. Although worldly known as a member of the Bee Gees along with his two brothers, Robin also carved an impressive solo career. Starting with Robin’s Reign in 1970, Robin created a distinctive body of work separate from the usually more famous Bee Gees recordings.

In the early 1980s, when the Bee Gees took a well-earned hiatus from group activity, Robin pursued his solo work with three more albums (How Old Are You?, Secret Agent and Walls Have Eyes). Award-winning director and producer David Leaf provides the accompanying text to this issue and describes Robin’s last piece of music – The Titanic Requiem, which was composed and created by Robin and his son Robin John. He says on hearing an advance copy of this monumental work he thought “if this was to be Robin’s last musical effort, it was one worthy of his legend.”

Spirit of Love - Tribute to Robin Gibb CBE

Robin will be remembered as a songwriter, a singer, an artist, a man whose slender physique was underscored by his immense determination, personal strength, courage and spirit of love. Robin’s voice was so unlike anything else that graced the radio, timeless and yet somehow, decade after decade, in tune with the times so that he made anything he sang simultaneously sound contemporary classic, epic and now, sadly mythic.

Throughout their career, nobody could figure out where the Bee Gees were from. Some fans were certain they were Australian. Others would say England. When asked, Robin never hesitated, he would answer sweetly and proudly that he was from the Isle of Man.

50 St Catherine’s Drive – Tribute to Robin Gib CBE

Robin’s last solo record, recorded in 2008/9 and due for release later this year, 50 St Catherine’s Drive was given that name by Robin to commemorate his first home on the Isle.

Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about Robin Gibb – 50 St Catherine’s Drive collection of stamps and products and to pre-order.

60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign

Posted on April 10, 2013 by iomstampsnews

Coronation of HM Queen Miniature Sheet

60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign

Marking her 60 years as Queen, Isle of Man Post Office is delighted to present this miniature sheet of one stamp to compliment the set of stamps recently issued.

Heralded as the dawn of a new Elizabeth era, the Queen’s Coronation was held on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London. Representatives of the peers, the Commons and all the great public interests in Britain, the Prime Ministers and leading citizens of the other Commonwealth countries and representatives of foreign states were present.

Television in the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign

For the first time, television coverage played a major role in bringing the royal spectacle into people’s homes. Over twenty million gathered some million television sets and the neighbours came in as well. Now it was possible to witness the actual crowning ceremony and the ritual anointment with holy oil and royal occasions have been broadcast ever since.

To mark the coronation, a vast range of weird and wonderful commemorative souvenirs were produced from mugs, decorated tins, jigsaw puzzles, embroidered tea towels, pictorial toilet soaps, aluminium tea pots to hair pin sets. But no historic occasion in history would be the same if we didn’t have such mementoes which when we look at them, take us back to that special time and bring the memories alive once again.

Significant changes in the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign

Throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II there have been some very significant changes with developments in technology bringing huge advances in science, medicine and computer and digital capabilities coming to fruition. There’s also been the introduction of package holidays through jet travel and the self-service supermarket offering frozen foods to microwave ready meals. Meanwhile, royal souvenirs continue to flourish with royal weddings and with silver, golden and diamond jubilees.

This miniature sheet compliments the set of stamps in this collection of the 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation issued in February – the perfect collectable for any fan of the Royal Family. Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more.

Isle of Man Constabulary to feature on stamp issue

Posted on January 16, 2013 by iomstampsnews

IoM Constabulary

A set of stamps have been unveiled which will mark the 150th anniversary of the Isle of Man Constabulary in 2013.

Recently Inspector Derek Flint and members of the Isle of Man Constabulary gathered for a photo presentation of the new stamps with Lucy Webster-Thompson of Isle of Man Post Office. The stamp issue illustrates the history of the Island’s police force from its formation in 1863, how much it has changed with each stamp featuring the modern day constabulary along with an image from a time gone by.

Isle of Man Constabulary protects the safety and livelihood of the residents of the Isle of Man on a daily basis and works to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life all island residents enjoy. During its existence there have been many milestones most notably a pay increase for all ranks implemented in 1947 along with the establishment of an Island Police Federation, the Island’s first police dog in the 1960s, the appointment of the first ever police woman in 1967 to the force increasing in size in the eighties and nineties.

Inspector Derek Flint, Media Officer, Isle of Man Constabulary said: “We feel immensely privileged to serve the Isle of Man and play our part in keeping it safe. To have our 150th anniversary commemorated in a stamp issue that will be seen the world over and enjoyed by collectors and recipients of mail alike, is in itself something to celebrate. We hope that the images from yesteryear, contrasted with the ones from more recent times, will illustrate how far we have come and how the finest traditions of the Island’s Constabulary remain at the forefront of what we do.”

Dot Tilbury, General Manager of Isle of Man Stamps & Coins, said: “The history of the Isle of Man Constabulary is fascinating, the force has evolved and changed so much not just in its size but advancements in technology have really changed the way it can operate, in terms of communication for example. 2013 will not only be their 150th anniversary but there will be another major significance – the appointment of Gary Roberts as the first Manx Chief Constable, a real completion to the force’s history to date.”

Please visit our website at www.iomstamps.com to find out more about the Isle of Man Constabulary 150th Anniversary collection of stamps and products and to pre-order.

Christmas Foreign Currency Winner

Posted on January 10, 2013 by iomstampsnews

Gillian Cleasby of Colby was the lucky winner of the Christmas competition to win £500 worth of foreign currency. Mrs Cleasby chose to receive her prize in Euros and is pictured with Edwina Dugdale, Manager of Regent Street Post Office (left) and Marty Quine, General Manager Retail Network (right).

Mrs Cleasby said: “It was disbelief when I was told I had won. I’m never usually so lucky. I’m thrilled and we will be treating ourselves.”

First stamp issue of 2013

Posted on January 8, 2013 by iomstampsnews

Lewis Chessmen Stamps

Isle of Man Post Office is pleased to present this beautiful set of stamps, in collaboration with Manx National Heritage, to mark another return to the Island of the manuscript of the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles and the loan of six magnificent Lewis Chessmen showcased in the flagship exhibition ‘The Forgotten Kingdom?’ in an outstanding display at the Manx Museum.

The Chronicles are the earliest written accounts of the Island and document many of the most significant events of the medieval age. The Manx nation is fortunate enough to be able to witness the temporary return of these legendry, medieval manuscripts and the loan of a selection of the wonderful Lewis Chessmen in an outstanding display at the Manx Museum. The chronicles were written by monks at Rushen Abbey and have been in the collections of the British Library for over two hundred years.

Dot Tilbury, General Manager Isle of Man Stamps & Coins said: “When we heard the Lewis Chessmen and more significantly the Chronicles of Man were coming to the Island, we relished the opportunity to feature them in our stamp programme for 2013 and the results are stunning. The stamps will be officially launched on 11th January next year. The Chronicles teach us about early life in the Isle of Man, a time when the Island was the seat of power in a dominant sea kingdom that reached from the Irish Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean.”

The earliest and most important manuscript from the Isle of Man is The Chronicles of Kings of Man and the Isles, which is on loan from the British Library. The Lewis Chessmen were discovered on the west cost of the Isle of Lewis and were made around 1200AD probably in the city of Trondheim in Norway. Most of them are carved from pieces of Walrus tusk, though three are made from the tooth of a sperm whale. Six pieces from the iconic collection of the Lewis Chessmen on loan from the British Museum will illustrate the stories told in the exhibition and of course feature on the forthcoming new stamps.

The exhibition is at the Manx Museum – admission is free and is open from 10am –5pm Monday to Saturday until it comes to a close in March.

The stamps are available to pre-order now. To view them please click here or alternatively visit www.iomstamps.com

New Comp Winner

Posted on December 23, 2012 by iomstampsnews

Barbara Doyle won our competition to win a year’s joint members to the Friends of Manx National Heritage. She is pictured with Dot Tilbury and Marty Quine of Isle of Man Post Office receiving her gift.

Isle of Man Stamps & Coins – London 2012 Olympic Games Collectables

Posted on December 12, 2012 by iomstampsnews

Our London 2012 Olympic Games Paul Smith Designed Merchandise. Please click the image to see our product video.

To order please click here:

http://www.iompostoffice.com/stamps/Issue.aspx?productid=1003&categoryid=211

Isle of Man Stamps & Coins – Mark Cavendish – The Manx Missile Collection

Posted on December 11, 2012 by iomstampsnews

Dot Tilbury, General Manager, Isle of Man Stamps. Please Click the image to see video.

Isle of Man Stamps & Coins have created a number of product video’s promoting a number of items. The first is a set of stamps and other merchandise to mark the sporting achievements of Manxman and world cycling star Mark Cavendish MBE. This includes a souvenir sheet with augmented reality – the £1.05 stamps and special label come to life and you can watch Cavendish winning the World Championship in Copenhagen.

To order click here

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GREATER ACCESS TO POSTAL SERVICES

Posted on November 30, 2012 by iomstampsnews

A further five highly popular self-service Pay and Post kiosks are being introduced into the local community, in a bid to give customers greater access and choice of location for transacting their postal business.

Additional kiosks will be housed in Shoprite stores in Ramsey, Port Erin and Derby Road in Peel as well as the Sea Terminal, Station Garage, Castletown and the new Customer Services Centre at Postal Headquarters which opens on December 3. This expansion continues Isle of Man Post Office’s strategy to increase the availability of postal services beyond that of the normal Post Office retail network opening hours.

Marty Quine, General Manager Retail Network, Isle of Man Post Office said: “The locations we have chosen reflect the areas where we felt there was a need for additional outlets for postal services. I believe these will be convenient to customers who struggle to find the time to visit a post office during the normal working hours to buy stamps, post parcels and pay bills. Each of the new kiosk sites have early morning and late night opening hours, giving customers flexibility in the time they choose to transact their postal business.”

Meanwhile the Pay & Post kiosk which was installed in the Crosby Hotel in March last year has seen very little customer usage and is not proving commercially viable in this venue. Therefore the kiosk has been withdrawn from the Crosby Hotel and placed in one of the above locations.

Geoff Corkish MBE MHK, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: “We appreciate the withdrawal of the kiosk will be disappointing news to the small number of customers in the Crosby area who did find the postal kiosk convenient and we apologise for any inconvenience it will cause. However, we have to relocate the kiosk in order that it is more cost-effective in terms of revenue for the business. We have consulted with the Member for Middle Howard Quayle MHK and Marown Commissioners explaining our reasons for this move and appreciate their understanding; however the kiosk in this location was heavily underutilised.”

The kiosks enable customers to weigh, stamp and pay for packages to be posted quickly and efficiently, using a simple touch screen device. As well as the postal capabilities, customers can also pay their electricity, gas, phone bills and government rates through the machines.

Marty Quine said: “We are always keen to receive any feedback from customers about their experience of using the kiosks and an exit poll will be conducted at all the new locations and existing ones, in order to gauge customer feedback about the kiosks, how easy they are to use, their overall experience and whether they would use them again. Customers will also have the opportunity to add any further comments in order that we can continue to improve the standard of service we deliver. All participants who take part in the exit poll no later than December 31 will be entered into our prize draw to win an Isle of Man Post Office Yearbook 2012.”

Pay & Post kiosks were first introduced into the Island in August 2010 in Regent Street Post Office, following a response to customers’ desires to have self-service weighing positions, reduced queuing times and provide quick and simple service to purchase stamps, weigh and pay for letters and parcels and pay utility bills. Following their introduction, kiosks were also placed in Shoprite, Victoria Road, Douglas and the Wessex Garage, Alexander Drive, Douglas. The kiosks have been an overwhelming success with customers praising the out of hours access to postal services and their simplicity to use.

Isle of Man Post Office has continued its relationship with Integrex, one of the UK’s foremost providers of electronic and IT solutions to the retail sectors and the Escher Group, a leading provider of distributed messaging and data management solutions and services to introduce these additional kiosks.

POST OFFICE HELPS HERITAGE TRUST TO REBUILD HISTORY

Posted on November 26, 2012 by iomstampsnews

A project to help bring back to life mail vans that traditionally transported mail between Douglas and Ramsey on the Manx Electric Railway (MER) is well underway, thanks to funding from the Isle of Man Post Office Sponsorship Committee.

For some seventy years, until 1975, the MER carried bagged mail between Douglas and Ramsey in special four wheeled rail vans. A unique feature of the service was that the MER conductors were also enrolled as postmen to collect mail from post boxes, located at a number of the small stations and halts along the line.

The Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust have reached agreement with Isle of Man Transport to restore two of the mail vans which are no longer used by the MER and are now undertaking a three-year project to revamp the railway yard, located next to the Laxey Manx Electric Railway Station. For the past 20 years, the yard has been used to display a number of the Trust’s agricultural items but will now be refurbished with an exhibition commemorating the MER’s mail service.

Andrew Scarffe, of the Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust said: “We are very pleased indeed that Isle of Man Post Office has agreed to be the main sponsor of this project. The Post Office had close connections with the Manx Electric Railway shortly after the line was opened and it is very fitting indeed that this connection has once again been made. Their sponsorship has given us the confidence that the restoration project can now be completed within the next three years, as we had originally hoped.”

Other work will include the construction of a replica line side post box, the restoration of a typical line side shelter and an exhibition of associated items in the area of the adjacent goods shed, which is currently under the control of the Trust.

Geoff Corkish MBE MHK, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: “We are pleased to be involved with this project which is very much linked to the history of the Post Office. This is a superb restoration and once the overall project is completed it will create a fabulous open-air style museum for residents and visitors of the village where the history of the MER’s involvement with postal services in years gone by will be illustrated.”

The Laxey and Lonan Heritage are seeking suitable illustrations of the MER mail service and any other artefacts to use at the exhibition. The Trust would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have any photographs of MER conductors emptying the line side mail boxes. Please contact Andrew Scarffe on 307563 or thescarffes@manx.net.