Congress Medal

     Jon Aitchison

The Association of British Philatelic Societies is delighted to announce that this year’s recipient of the prestigious Congress Medal is Jon Aitchison, FRPSL.

Jon is the Chairman and principal organiser of EuroPhilEx Birmingham 2025 International Exhibition. He gained experience of organising an International Exhibition as he was on the Organising Committee of EuroPhilEx London 2015.

In fact, Jon’s work for International Exhibitions has resulted in his being the UK Commissioner at numerous exhibitions in different countries since 2015, often involving more than one a year. In addition, he is in charge of international commissioner appointments.

Being involved, at a high level, in conjunction with philatelic exhibitions and congresses has been one of Jon Aitchinson’s main contributions to organised philately. He has organised displays by members of the Royal Philatelic Society London at various events as a Council member of that Society. He has also been active for ABPS on the Exhibitions and International Committee. One of his main contributions being his drive to get various new classes adopted at national exhibitions as British national classes. Since 2016 Jon has been Keeper of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and all that position entails.

Jon Aitchison has served on the committees of several specialist societies holding positions of President, Vice Chairman, Librarian or Auctioneer. His collecting interest are various, of which the Channel Islands is his principal interest. In the late 1980s to early 1990s he was Advisor to the Landmark Trust and Lundy Island on philatelic matters and stamp issues. He has authored and published ten books on various subjects in connection with the Channel Islands as well as being a prolific contributor of articles for philatelic publications.

Looking at Jon’s Philatelic Curriculum Vitae, he has been heavily involved in voluntary service for British philately since 2016. Considering his own admission that being principal organiser for EuroPhilEx has required two and a half year fulltime work it would have been understandable if he had stepped down from his demanding other philatelic positions.  Not Jon, he has continued in the positions of Keeper of the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and his work on the ABPS Exhibitions and International Committee.

In June this year he will be off to Liberec, Czech Republic, as Commissioner for a European Stamp Exhibition.

Jon Aitchison was nominated by the Channel Islands Specialist Society and the Egypt Study Circle, Egyptian philately being another of his specialised collections. He has contributed to the Egypt Study Circle as President and meetings secretary for over six years.

Jon Aitchison’s outstanding voluntary service to British philately at national and international level makes him a worthy recipient of the Congress Medal for 2025.

Yvonne Wheatley, Chairman ABPS Awards Committee