Alan Middleton (UK)

Exhibit : Mystery labels

I joined the BML&BS in 1969 and attend most of the London meetings. My son Mark and grandson Padraig followed suit and joined the society in 2021.

My main interests these days are mainly old pre-1946 labels printed in English from all countries for sale in the UK.  Also collect worldwide themes ‘WW1 & WW2 Propaganda’ and Royalty’ labels. I also think it is my duty to collect old labels and bookmatch covers from the area where I live in Teesside, North East England to preserve them as a record for future generations. Too much history of local businesses has been lost forever and we should do our bit to redress the balance in our match collections.

I particularly enjoy researching British factories and importers 1918-1939 as the labels are still reasonably priced and, most importantly, obtainable!

Many of my articles have been published in the Society magazine, and more recently in 2020 have updated my book in colour of the ‘North of England Match Co. West Hartlepool’.

I am currently part of the group of our Society collectors researching John Walker for the 200th Anniversary Exhibition of his invention of the friction match to be held in Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees in 2026.

Click here to return to the Exhibition Catalogue.