ONE of the UK's leading stamp collectors will be giving a free lecture and displaying his award-winning collection in Cockermouth.

Richard Stock, president of the Royal Philatelic Society London, will be visiting Cockermouth Stamp Club and giving a talk, The Postal History of Queen Victoria’s African Wars.

Mike Roberts said: "As well as appealing to stamp collectors and postal historians, anyone with an interest in history should find this talk to be of great interest.

"Richard is a very knowledgeable and entertaining speaker."

His collection features original correspondence from the Sudanese Campaign, The Zulu Wars and the Second Boer War, including letters from General Gordon, Lord Kitchener, Lord Roberts and most of the other principal participants.

The collection has been awarded gold medals in national and international exhibitions.

The lecture and display will take place at the Friends’ Meeting House, Kirkgate, at 11.30am on Thursday, June 27. Refreshments will be available.