Friends of the BPMA

Friends of the BPMA Day at the Museum Store

Friends of the BPMA participate in the London Mayor's Show 2010

Open Day, 2009

Stampex, 2010

Lord Mayor's Show, 2010

Post Office in Pictures, 2011

Originally founded in 1985 as the Association of the Friends of the National Postal Museum (NPM) having the support from the Friends is important to the work that we do.

When the NPM closed its public galleries in 1998, the Friends continued to support the Heritage unit of Royal Mail Group, and now support the BPMA today. In 2010 they celebrated 25 years of loyalty to British postal heritage and continue to grow in number.

Funds from membership fees and their own fundraising campaigns go towards exciting projects - such as the conservation of a postal vehicle and Travelling Post Office, conservation and preservation, the purchase of new publications for the Search Room library, or activities for schools - which would otherwise be impossible.

Not all support is financial and perhaps even more importantly, the Friends work as ambassadors for the BPMA, helping to raise awareness of our work and services and volunteer to work on projects. Such volunteering opportunities might involve giving a talk, helping with mailings and providing assistance at events.

Friends benefits

Receive the exclusive journal Cross Post, which is published in full colour twice a year and contains features on all aspects of postal history and research;
Receive the BPMA Newsletter three times a year, plus events guide;
15% discount on BPMA shop products;
Opportunities to volunteer and see behind the scenes at the BPMA;
Priority booking for BPMA events;
15% discount on tickets to BPMA paid events;
Opportunities to have your own postal or philatelic research published in Cross Post;
Special Friends outings and events.

How to Join

New Members

Prospective new members are invited to download and print off the application form (PDF, 88KB) and send it, with payment, to:

Avice Harms
Membership Secretary
Friends of the BPMA
c/o The British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House
Phoenix Place
London WC1X 0DL

Currently membership costs per year are:

UK - £20
UK (people aged 65 years or older) - £15
Overseas - £25

Payment can be made by cheque made payable to "Friends of BPMA" (overseas members can make payment in sterling or by sterling cheque drawn on a British bank). A donation to BPMA can be added to your subscription. The subscription year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

We regret that subscription payments from prospective new members cannot be made by PayPal at this time.

Renewal Subscription Payments and Donations

The Friends now offers the use of PayPal that existing members may use to renew subscriptions and make donations towards the Friends' current fundraising campaign.

What is PayPal?

If you are unfamiliar with PayPal, then why not go to the What is PayPal? webpage. PayPal really is the fast and easy way to pay, especially for those living overseas, as you can charge the payment to your debit or credit card.

Renewal subscriptions

Please choose below the type of subscription payment that you wish to make by clicking on the appropriate link, which will take you to the secure PayPal site.

Standard UK subscription - £21*
UK rate for those over 65 years old - £16*
UK rate for those over 65 to include a £5 donation to BPMA - £21*
Overseas rate - £26*
* Prices include a £1 handling charge to help offset the cost of FBPMA providing the PayPal facility.

Fundraising donations

You will be aware that BPMA is working towards an exciting new museum complex and its Friends are collecting donations that will help pay for a secure £5,000 cabinet that will hold the priceless sheet of 1840 Penny Black stamps.

If you wish to contribute, then please click here to donate. This will take you to the secure PayPal site from where you may enter whatever amount you wish. Your support and generosity is much appreciated.

If you have problems using PayPal, then please contact friends@postalheritage.org.uk.

Events

The Friends are welcomed to BPMA events and activities, some arranged specifically for them, and they also arrange their own activities and trips.

FRIENDS EVENTS 2013

Events and visits for 2013 are in the process of being finalised by the Trustees of the Friends and will be updated as soon as possible.

Already agreed are:

Visit to Walsall Security Printing, West Midlands - Late 2013.
Overseas visit to Cartor Security Printers, La Loupe, France - 2013/14.
AGM of the Friends - December 2013.

Understandably it is necessary to restrict applications for attendance to most events to Friends only as demand is always high and it is seen as an important benefit of membership, but you can always be part of one of these events by completing a Friends application form. Sometimes the event is over-subscribed, in which case you will be added to a stand-by list.