The Falkland Islands comprise two large and some 700 smaller islands covering an area nearly the size of Wales and situated about 400 miles off the east coast of South America and 8,000 miles from the UK at an equivalent latitude to London.  They were discovered by the British Sea captain, John Davis, in his ship ‘Desire’ in 1592 and the first recorded landing took place in 1690 by a British party lead by Captain Strong.  The first British settlement was established in 1766 but the present permanent, prosperous, settlement commenced on 3rd January 1833.

The present residential population numbers just over 2,200 of whom about 1,600 live in Stanley, the Capital, and the remainder in scattered farm settlements known as ‘Camp’.  There is also a substantial military presence, a consequence of the ill-fated Argentine incursion of 1982.

Closely associated with The Falkland Islands are the island of South Georgia and the British Antarctic Territory, formerly dependencies of the Falkland Islands.

Mail is known from the Falklands from the earlier part of the 19th century and postage stamps were first issued in 1878.  From the first issue through to the present day the stamps have been internationally recognised for their design and production qualities.

On a rotated geographical basis, or by general consensus, a weekend meeting takes place annually during which an Annual General Meeting is held.  Meetings are also held on a regular basis and occasional meetings have been held in other countries, including USA, Australia, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and the Falkland Islands. 

A quarterly journal, the ‘Upland Goose’, is distributed to all members and to leading philatelic libraries.  The publication has been awarded silver medals at international exhibitions.  The ‘Sales and Wants’ of members are published with the journal without charge.

Two auctions of members’ material are held each year, one a postal auction and the other live at the weekend gathering.  Other material surplus to members’ requirements is available through a popular circulating packet, limited because of insurance constraints to subscribers within the UK.

The group is in the forefront of specialist philatelic societies and has belonged to the national Association of British Philatelic societies since its inception and actively participates in its activities.  The Group is also an elected specialist society to the ABPS Council.  To commemorate its Silver Jubilee in 1995, the Group was honoured by the Royal Philatelic Society of London by an invitation to display material of the Falkland Islands.  The display of 52 frames took place in January 1995 and was outstandingly successful.  In August 1975 the Group provided the display in Gibbons gallery, a then popular and regular event, and it was attended by a long-serving former Governor of the Colony.  A further display was given at Gibbons in June 1983 to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the continued British Settlement of the Islands.

Membership records are held on computer and unless you express a contrary wish your name and address will be included.  The records are used for the preparation of labels for the dispatch of mail to members and for preparation of the annual list of members, which is distributed each year.  The records are not available to non-members.