The British Association of Numismatic Societies, the national organisation founded in 1953 which represents numismatic societies throughout the United Kingdom, recently held its 2009 AGM in London.

At the meeting the organisation’s existing officers were re-elected unopposed. The Treasurer once again reported a healthy increase in income over expenditure, translating into a modest increase in the Society’s overall assets. Following a continuing root and branch review of the status of BANS membership, begun in 2008, several societies have been disaffiliated for non-payment of dues and the result is that, regrettably, BANS is now represented by only one society in Scotland. On the plus side, reports received from elsewhere across the country reflect a positive feeling that numismatics continues to flourish at a local level. Stephen Skellern, one of the Yorkshire Numismatic Society’s organising team from the 2009 BANS Congress, reported on a very successful event.

The 2010 BANS Congress, organised by the Cambridgeshire Numismatic Society, is being held from April 9th-11th at the Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, located to the north-west of the city centre. The College is easily accessible from the M11 motorway, while Cambridge is served by frequent non-stop trains from London King’s Cross. The all-inclusive cost of £190 includes accomodation, meals and the Congress Dinner. A full programme of excellent speakers has already been arranged, including Edward Besly, Mark Blackburn, Roger Bland, Ian d’Alton, Catherine Eagleton, James Morton and Martin Allen. Further details are available from the organiser, Dr Martin Allen, Department of Coins and Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB, telephone 01223 332915, email mra25@cam.ac.uk.

In 2011 the BANS Congress will be held in Southport, while 2012 will see Congress return to Bournemouth for the first time in 20 years.

The informal BANS Autumn Weekend, staged very successfully this year at the Cripps halls of residence within the University of Nottingham campus, was a fitting end to the tenure of the event by Joe Bispham, who first took up the organisational reins from the late Frank Snow in 1989 and who has run most of the Weekends since then. For his services to BANS Joe was presented with a gift at an informal lunch prior to the AGM. The Cripps halls will also be the venue for the 2010 Autumn Weekend, provisionally scheduled for September 3rd-5th, which will be organised by Megan Gooch. Further details will be posted on the BANS website, www.coinclubs.org.uk, in due course.

Secretaries and team leaders of BANS-affiliated societies are urged to send details of their activities and programmes to the BANS Secretary, Phyllis Stoddart, phyllis.stoddart@manchester.ac.uk, for inclusion on the BANS website. BANS can also provide a link to individual Society websites.

About BANS
The British Association of Numismatic Societies is the national organisation which represents numismatic societies throughout the United Kingdom. It exists to promote the study of numismatics by bringing these societies and their members together to share and increase their interest and expertise in coins, tokens, medals of all types and paper currency.