Rotherham
South Yorkshire, England

Operated by Scout Groups in the Rotherham area. Closed in 2000. Other charities were also associated with this post (e.g. The Samaritans, The Sea Cadet Corps Unit 287). In 1993 set up an official exchange with Mexborough & Conisbrough Scouts. In 1995 expanded into parts of Barnsley via the posts operated by Thurnscoe, Bolton-on-Dearne and Goldthorpe.

The Rotherham Scout Districts are part of the Scout County of South Yorkshire.

15th Rotherham

A forerunner service to the full district-wide operation was organised by the 15th Rotherham Scout Group in 1981, serving the Kimberworth area only. It was a small scale operation with only seven days planning. Collection boxes were set up in six shops and the public were asked to place their card and 5p in the box. Over 700 cards were delivered. They were cancelled with the cachet shown below.

Cachets

1981

Type C1.

Rotherham District

1982

Type 1, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Eastwood Press, Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted about 9½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1983

Types 2 and 3, 26x38mm, 1982 issue overprinted by Eastwood Press, Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted about 9½. Some sheets were overprinted upside down. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1984

Type 4, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Eastwood Press, Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted about 9½. As 1982 issue but with considerably coarser perforation.

1985

Type 5, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted mixture of about 5 horizontally and 9½ vertically.

1986

Type 6, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted about 9½.

1987

Type 7, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted mixture of about 5 horizontally and 9½ vertically.

1988

Type 8, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted mixture of about 5 horizontally and 9½ vertically.

1989

Type 9, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted mixture of about 5 horizontally and 9½ vertically.

1990

Type 10, 26x38mm, designed by I. Jordan (Scout leader) and printed by Horner Bros., Rotherham in sheets of 30 (5 rows of 6) rouletted mixture of about 5 horizontally and 9½ vertically.

1991

Types 11 and 12, 25x35mm/35x25mm, designed by David Wain (40th Rotherham) & Richard Pease (32nd Rotherham) respectively. Printed by Brokers, Classic Business Firms in sheets of ? rouletted about 9.

The red ink ran dry and a few examples of missing (or almost missing) red can be found as shown on the right.

1992

Types 13 and 14, 25x30mm/30x25mm, designed by Adam Ridge & Denise Tompkin and printed by POC Print Ltd. in sheets of 60 (6 rows of 10) rouletted about 7½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1993

Type 15, 40x30mm, designed by Joseph Brown and printed by Dunkan Walker in sheets of POC Print Ltd. rouletted about 5. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1994

Types 16 to 18, 52x37mm, designed by Geraldine Outhwaite and printed by POC Print Ltd. in sheets of 25 (5 rows of 5) rouletted about 7½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1995

Types 19 to 21, 30x40mm, designed by Mrs. Marion Nicklin of Whiston and printed by POC Print Ltd. in sheets of ? rouletted about 7½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes. 1p from every stamp sold was donated to Rotherham Community Transport's "Shopmobility" scheme.p>

1996

Types 22 to 25, 30x40mm, designed by ? and printed by ? in sheets of 36 (9 rows of 4) rouletted about 7½. A red & blue colour shift affected some sheets as can be seen in the lower illustration. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1997

Types 26 to 28, 40x30mm, designed by ? and printed by ? in sheets of 42 (7 rows of 6) rouletted about 7½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

1998

Types 29 to 31, 40x30mm, designed by ? and printed by ? in sheets of 42 (7 rows of 6) rouletted about 7½. First day covers were produced on special locally designed envelopes. An undated souvenir cover was also produced on plain white envelopes.

1999

Types 32 to 34, 40x30mm, designed by Reynard Brothers (39th Rotherham) "Santa", Danny Smith (25th Rotherham) "Snowman" & Christopher Clark (25th Rotherham) "Crackers". Printed by ? in sheets of 42 (7 rows of 6) rouletted about 7½. A first day cover was produced on special locally designed envelopes.

Cancellations

Types P1 to P4, these were used in various colours for many years (especially but not exclusively the first 10 years) and showed a progressive decline in the clarity of the cancel.

Types P5 to P8, these were used in various colours for many years (mainly in the last 9 years).

Types P9 to P10, these were used by participating groups in 1996 & 1982 respectively. Mainly used as cachets alongside normal postmarks.

Types C1 to C11, these were used by delivering groups.

Type C12, applied by the Post Office to cards put in red letter boxes.

Statistics

Year	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Start	.	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25
Printed	None	160,000	.	.	150,000	150,000	150,000	150,000	.	.
Carried	700+	40,000	.	55,000	50,000	.	80,000	90,000	130,000	130,000
Year	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Start	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	Nov 25	None
Printed	200,000	210,000	250,000	200,000	200,000	200,000	.	.	.	None
Carried	132,083	117,320	118,333	99,086	101,495	.	.	.	.	None