In 1945, Cameric Cigarette Card Club literature mentions the “newly formed Lancashire Branch”.
At that time it had nine members.
In “Cameric Notes and News Magazine”, Volume 4, new series, no 6, dated December 1949, when they appeared on the back cover within one of the Christmas Greeting advertisement boxes, which reads “Greetings to … YORKSHIRE and LANCASHIRE Members from C. Webster“.
Their next mention is in Volume 6, new series, no 6 dated December 1951, when they appeared on the back cover in a similar advertisement, which reads “The Lancashire, Yorkshire, Reading and Bournemouth Branches join with their London Camericans in wishing their President – Mr Blows, a Merry and well earned Christmas” . We are not certain if this means the others were added in the interim, or Mr. Webster was only in contact with the two Northern Branches.
Fast forward five years and the “Cameric Notes and News” Volume 10, New Series, May 1956 tells us a meeting of Lancashire Branch would be held on Saturday June 9, 1956. They were to meet at 3.15 pm, at a private home in Chislehurst Avenue in Blackpool. The Secretary at that time was Cyril Marsden, who lived near Bolton. The Branch were also stated to be regular exhibitors at the annual Blackpool Hobbies Exhibition. An early President was Frank Easson, with Wills specialist (and later operator of the Society Book Round) Norman Pendlebury of Horwich listed as secretary.
Now when the decision was taken to merge the Cameric and the Cartophilic, there was a bit of a dilemma. And in fact I believed that at this time, the Lancashire Branch of the Cameric Club became the North West Branch of the Cartophilic Society. That was an easy mistake to make, for Cyril Marsden was heavily involved with both. However, in the first ever edition of "Cartophilic Notes and News", Volume 1, Number 1, dated January/February 1965, on page 19, you will find the following announcement :
- BRANCHES. Members who were not previously members of the Cameric Club are, of course, now entitled to attend any Branch Meeting of the Cameric and are assured a very hearty welcome. If you live anywhere near London, Leeds, Manchester or Birmingham, do go along and introduce yourself. You will find them a friendly crowd. Spend an enjoyable evening and acquire a few cards for your collection."
The branches given here were slightly confusing, for it referred to their meeting places not their proper names, so what they called "Manchester" was actually still the Lancashire Branch.
Then, at the back of the book, just inside the back cover, is published a list of dates for each of those four branches, which reads, in our case :
- LANCASHIRE BRANCH.
Secretary : Mr. C. Marsden, Egerton, Bolton, Lancs
MEETING DATES.
Saturday, 6th Feb.
Saturday, 6th Mar.
Saturday, 11th April *
Saturday, 8th May.
Saturday, 12th June.
All at 3 p.m. at College of Adult Education, Manchester, except * at Blackpool
They stayed as Lancashire Branch for some time, and also at the College of Adult Education, at least until 1968, though they also met at members` homes in Crosby Road, Bolton, and Townfield Avenue, Farndon
It was not until the November/December 1970 edition of "Cartophilic Notes and News" (Vol.3 No.36) that they turn up under the name of North West Branch, with a new Secretary, Norman Pendlebury.