RPG Annual Convention
RPG 2026 Annual Convention (Sat. 20 June)
RPG AGM & CONVENTION 2026
The 2026 RPG Convention and Annual General Meeting will be held at the Danum Museum in Doncaster (postcode: DN1 3BZ) from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday, 20th June, 2026:
The programme of displays will be confined to that Saturday, but it is anticipated that many participants will wish to socialise on the Friday evening, and perhaps explore attractions in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on the Sunday.
CONVENTION VENUE
The Danum is on the corner of Waterdale and Chequer Road, about half a mile (10 minutes walk) from Doncaster rail and bus stations (see the website dglam.org.uk). The RPG Convention will be held in the Flying Scotsman Room on the 2nd floor (lift available). There are several car parks nearby, but these fill quickly, and some are unsuitable for all-day parking. Doncaster has strong railway connections, and also has good rail links with London, the Midlands, the South West, the North East, and Scotland.
PROVISIONAL CONVENTION SCHEDULE
10:00 Room available (Tea/Coffee will be available during the day)
……….10:00 – 10:15 Registration
……….10:15 – 10:25 Opening Remarks
……….10:25 – 11:00 Display 1
……….11:00 – 11:35 Display 2
11:35 – 11:50 Comfort break
……….11:50 – 12:25 Display 3
……….12:25 – 13:00 Display 4
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch … with Standing displays and/or time to visit Danum Gallery
……….14:00 – 14:20 RPG AGM
……….14:20 – 14:55 Display 5
……….14:55 – 15:30 Display 6
……….15:30 – 15:45 Closing Review
16:00 Room vacated
The full Convention programme will be sent to those who have registered during May 2026 (see Registration next), and it will also be printed in the June Newsletter and posted on the RPG’s website and Facebook pages.
(It has been suggested that any attendees who are considering contributing to the RPG Display at the Royal in 2027 might bring along their material for a ‘standing display’ – to be viewed during the lunch interval.)
REGISTRATION
If you are intending to join us please pre-register by entering the following details on the Contact Us page on the RPG web site as soon as possible (the link for the Contact Us page is at the bottom of each page on the web site) … and at the latest by the end of May, so that catering and other arrangements can be made:
- your full name
- your email address
- (in the Subject box): Convention Registration
- (in the large text box below):
– your telephone number (preferably a mobile number)
– your Postal Address
– any dietary requirements you may have
… then click on I’m not a robot
… then click on Send
REFRESHMENTS
Tea and coffee will be available to participants in the room during the day (no charge). The RPG will also provide a buffet style lunch for registered attendees. (Although an evening meal has not been arranged, it should be easy for those who wish to make a group booking on the day.)
ACCOMMODATION
There is a good choice of hotels in Doncaster to meet most requirements. However, it is suggested that the Premier Inn Doncaster (Lakeside) might be a good place for members to book in to … it is located to the east of the city in a pleasant neighbourhood, easily accessible by car from the M18, and offers free parking (which many of the hotels near the centre do not!). It is about 6 minutes to the Danum by car, or a 30 minute brisk walk – but there are also buses from outside the hotel. (Note that there other events taking place in the city that weekend, so it is a good idea to book accommodation as early as possible.)
LEISURE
The Danum Gallery includes a fascinating Railway Heritage Centre which displays a railwayana collection and two main-line steam locomotives from the National Collection:
There should be time to view these during the lunch break on Saturday. On Sunday, although no group excursions are being arranged, it would be easy to visit York (for the National Railway Museum), Leeds or Sheffield, or to travel to the coast at Cleethorpes.
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
CLICK HERE to read about the RPG Annual Convention 2017
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!).