Oxford Philatelic Society

60 YEARS OF THE OXFORD PHILATELIC SOCIETY – 1949 - 2009.

For those not familiar with the birth of OPS – a birth no doubt similar to most clubs conceived by like minds – I am grateful to Gib Stephens, OPS’s personal wet nurse, continually nurturing new and old members to better understand the philatelic world and providing the background notes for the following synopsis of OPS’s history.

On March 3, 1949, 4 stamp collectors gathered at the Woodstock Y.M.C.A. to form what was initially called the Woodstock Stamp Club  - within the year to be renamed the Oxford Philatelic Society, to pacify members attending from the county. The first president was Tony Keller.

Meetings were held twice a month in the homes of members until 1951 when membership surged to 20. Libraries, Y’s, church basements, in Woodstock and Ingersoll were used as meeting rooms, as long as the rent was free, or a donation was acceptable. Arrangements were the most favourable when the contact person was a sympathetic stamp collector.

By 1968, OPS had 21 members, four of them becoming stamp dealers – John Kitchen, Ron Cuthbert, John Gruszka, and Norm Goodger.

Meeting places continued to change to include school cafeterias, the third story stockroom of the Woodstock Post Office, and the Knight’s of Columbus Hall, as meetings settled in Woodstock.

In 2007, with a membership of 60 plus, we have upgraded our meeting place to a Pool Hall with a spittoon. Before you wonder about our depravity – our meeting room houses two covered pool tables, good for spreading out material, in the South Gate Senior Centre and the spittoon is a thematic touch by our auctioneer and ticket seller who has winning tickets drawn from his thoroughly cleansed brass bowl.

At present, OPS boasts of one honourable member, Alan Hanks, and two life members, John Gruszka and Gib Stephens.

The first OPEX Stamp Exhibition was held, May of 1951, in the home of Mrs.Wolsteholm in Ingersoll. The show consisted of 12 picture frames of various sizes, each displaying a separate exhibit. Since that time OPS’s Annual Stamp Exhibition has had a variety of venues. In 1981, OPS hosted the first all Ontario Topical Show. OTEX is now a part of every OXPEX show.  

Since 1994 the John Knox Christian School on Juliana Drive in Woodstock has been the home to OTEX/OXPEX every March., with approximately 150 uniform frames per show. Every show since 1966 features an exhibition cover, commemorating a notable resident or special event of Oxford County, past and present.