Mike Roberts (left) with Steven Harrsion after receiving his medal
The 2022 Congress Medal has been awarded to Michael J Roberts of Huddersfield. Mike’s philatelic life can be traced back to his fourth birthday when he started collecting. He joined Huddersfield Philatelic Society aged eight and four years later was Junior Representative on that society’s committee. Sixty years later he remains a member having fulfilled a number of committee positions in the intervening years.
Mike has proved there is enthusiasm for local societies. As a firm believer in daytime meetings, he proposed establishing West Riding Stamp Club, acting as contact for many years. Interestingly, the Club does not, by choice, have elected officers. Similarly, in 2014 he established Cockermouth Stamp Club with Mike Mapleton. This has grown to twenty local members, plus many more joining its Zoom events. Through Mike’s enterprise in organising two auctions a year, now with 500+ lots per sale, both clubs have raised their profile within the wider philatelic and local communities.
Not content with just being a member of various specialist societies he has held office in the West African Study Circle and the Sarawak Specialist’ Society and is currently the secretary of Cumbria Postal History Society. He founded the Pakistan Study Circle in 2000 with three other members since when he has been active on the committee. At the same time, he has served on the Council of the Royal Philatelic Society London and is currently a Regional Representative and has been the former Secretary, President and Chairman of the Society for Postal Historians.
From grass root societies to International Exhibitions Mike is very active in all categories of philately. He was a member of the Organising Committee for the London Internationals held in 2010 and 2015 and is a member of the Core Team for London 2020/2022, with responsibility for staffing.
As a keen numismatist he has encouraged links between stamp collectors and coin collectors, giving philatelic displays to the latter and lecturers on various numismatic topics to the former.
Mike has been a keen supporter of ABPS and a Friend since its inception.
For upwards of twenty years Mike has provided advice, usually on a pro bono basis, to executors and family members regarding the disposal of philatelic material.
Mike Roberts was nominated by Cockermouth Stamp Club and the Society of Postal Historians and is a worthy recipient of the ABPS Congress Medal for 2022.