Giotto in 1986 flyby of Halley's Comet

Giotto was a spacecraft mission in 1986 to flyby and study Halley's Comet.  The primary subcontractor was British Aerospace based in Filton, Bristol.  A number of different special event cancellations were used, on 18th February, 13th March and 14th March 1986.

A few more Bristol Special Event cancels from 1978-1985

Here are a few more event cancels starting with one for Lewis's Department Store (not John Lewis) in 1978

As part of the celebrations of the two hundred year anniversary of the first Mail Coache in 1784, Interlink had a special cancel in 1984.

The Red Maids' School in Westbury on Trym commemorated their 350 year anniversary in 1984.

    

 In June 1985 there was a special Event cancel commemorating the Plimsoll Line ....

... and also GWR celebrated 150 years in 1985.

 

Some Bristol Special Event Cancellations from 1973-1976

Here are a few Bristol special event cancellations, starting with one celebrating W.G. Grace used in 1973.

The cancel below was used in 1974 for a Fire Brigade Open Day.

The Methodist Conference in Bristol in 1974 also had a special cancel - it was at this conference that women first became Methodist presbyters.

HMS Bristol was awarded the freedom of the city of Bristol in 1974 ...

.... and Bristol City had a special cancel in 1976 when they were promoted to Division 1 after a gap of 65 years.

 

Bristol Special Event Cancels (2)

There were more Special Event cancels used in the 1930s, starting with "CONFERENCE HALL / BRISTOL" which was used for the British association for the Advancement of Science's meeting in September 1930.

In May 1931 the Bath & West & Southern Counties Show was at Bristol and used the "SHOW GROUND / BRISTOL" cancel.

The 63rd Trades Union Congress was in Bristol in September 1931, with the "CONGRESS HALL / BRISTOL" cancel in use.

In July 1935 a "CENTRAL HALL / BRISTOL" cancel was in use, I think for the Methodist Church Conference - unfortunately I do not have an example.

In June-July 1936 the Royal Show was again in Bristol, with a "ROYAL SHOW / BRISTOL" cancel in use.

Bristol Special Event Cancels (1)

Bristol had a number of early Special Event cancels, the earliest being for The Industrial and Fine Arts Exhibition in 1893.

The Royal Show was held at Bristol in 1913 as illustrated in the postcards below.  There were two Skeleton cancels in use, known used on 5th July 1913, but I don't have a copy of either.

 

In 1914 an International Exhibition was held in Bristol, with a special double circle cancel used.  The Exhibition got into financial difficulties and then closed in August 1914 because of the outbreak of World War I.

Here is another postcard which illustrates the International Pavilion.