RPG Annual Convention
RPG 2026 Annual Convention (Sat. 20 June)
Advance Notice
The Railway Philatelic Group 2026 Annual Convention will be held at the Danum Gallery Library & Museum in central Doncaster on 20th June. The Museum also houses a number of heritage railway items.
Make a note of the date and watch this page for further details.
Past Annual Conventions
CLICK HERE to read about the RPG Annual Convention 2017
CLICK HERE to read about the RPG Annual Convention 2019
About RPG Conventions Generally
The RPG Annual Convention (plus AGM) is usually held in late Spring / early Summer each year. It is open to RPG members, but visitors are also welcome. The Convention format normally alternates from year to year. One year it will be a one-day event, and the next year it will be a weekend event, with the venues being chosen from different regions around the country.
Members give talks and displays on various topics of RPG interest, with plenty of friendly discussion and chat – you always learn something new! There are also display competitions in various classes (see below), with some rather grand trophies to be won! There is also often a Swap Shop. It is always enjoyable, so why not come along and see?
Displays
In the months before the Convention, members submit offers to the Convention Coordinator to present railway philatelic displays on topics of their own choosing. There is not usually a set theme and the variety of presentations offered is often one of the attractions of the event. The displays take the conventional multi-page form and ‘tell a story’ about the main topic through philatelic items and a connecting narrative. A data projector and laptop computer are normally available for the use of anyone presenting a talk who wants to use a computer-based series of images (such as a PowerPoint display) to support his/her paper-based presentation.
CLICK HERE to view some displays presented at previous Annual Conventions
Logistics
Attendance at Conventions is usually FREE to RPG members, but we need to know in advance how many people are coming and so ask people to register in advance with the Convention Coordinator.
Mid-morning and afternoon tea and coffee is normally provided for delegates, as well as a buffet style lunch on the Saturday. Attendees will arrange their own accommodation and any evening meals. However, the Convention Coordinator is usually able to advise on the choices available locally, and frequently a specific hotel is chosen as a recommended base so that members can socialise outside the Convention programme.
Competitions
The RPG will run Competitions annually, subject to there being sufficient entries. Each event has its own magnificent trophy – which the winner will keep for a year (and have his/her name engraved alongside some of the great RPG names of the past!). The competitions run may vary from year to year – here are some of the Competitions which may be run:
Railway Postal History – including TPOs, RSOs, Station marks etc (Doncaster Cup)
Railway Stamps – Parcel, Newspaper, Letter (old-style & modern) (Turner Jackson Cup)
Railway Thematics (Malin Cup)
Open Postal Competition (nine A4 pages or equivalent)
Any railway philatelic subject (Ewen Trophy)
CLICK HERE to view the RPG COMPETITION RULES
CLICK HERE to view GUIDELINES for PREPARING ENTRIES
CLICK HERE to view the JUDGING CRITERIA for COMPETITIONS
Non-Philatelic Programme
Members often attend Conventions with their partners, and Convention venues are selected so that there is usually a wide range of attractions within easy reach that may be visited by the partners of attendees while formal activities are taking place. Partners are also most welcome at any dinners or other social events within the programme (and, of course, at any of the Convention events should they wish to attend!).