Mr Koh Seow Chuan, President of the Association of Singapore Philatelists and Board Director of the Federation De Internationale Philatelie (FIP), made history for Singapore and the philatelic community here by being the first local collector to be elected to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists. Instituted at the Philatelic Congress of Great Britain in 1920, election to the Roll is rare and regarded worldwide as the highest philatelic honour. His Majesty King George V and 39 other prominent philatelists of that time were the first to sign the distinguished Roll. Over the last 70 years, 236 more have been elected.
The citation described Mr Koh's election as reflecting the "continuing progress of organised philately in the Far East" and paid tribute to his "many years' devotion to philately in his own country which began when he founded the Anglo-Chinese School Stamp Club in 1954." Currently a member of the Panel of Stamp Advisers which recommends stamp themes and stamp designs for approval by the Board of Directors of the Singapore Post Private Limited, Mr Koh has been an accredited FIP juror since 1984. He has made a number of classic collections and a special study of the Japanese handstamps on the stamps of the Straits Settlements. Several of these collections have been displayed at international exhibitions and received awards up to Large Gold.
And what is Mr Koh's vision for philately in Singapore? "I would like to see Singapore on the world map of philately. Our stamps should project us as a true global city which offers the best of East and West. Singapore '95, our very own first world stamp exhibition, will showcase Singapore. All that Singapore stands for and strives for should be reflected through the exhibition. The exhibition should leave people feeling good that they have come to Singapore and experienced friendship and understanding - which is what stamp collecting is all about."
Congratulations, Mr Koh. You can count on the collectors in Singapore to make Singapore '95 a special event that will also catapult our little island to the international arena of philately.
