The March 2016 issue of The Canadian Aerophilatelist – the quarterly journal of the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society (CAS) – named respected aerophilatelist Basil Burrell as the recipient of the 2016 Editor’s Award for “his many contributions to aerophilately and The Canadian Aerophilatelist.”
Journal editor Chris Hargreaves said while researching Laurentide Air Service, Ltd., he came across an article written by Burrell for the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS) Air Mail Study Group newsletter in December 1993.
“I started reflecting on the fact that throughout the 23 years between these two events, Bas has been a great supporter of aerophilately and the Canadian Aerophilatelic Society,” said Hargreaves. “He edited the BNAPS Air Mail Study Group newsletter until 2004, during which time he encouraged research on a wide variety of topics.”
What’s more, Burrell was also secretary/treasurer for the Air Mail Study Group and produced an index for the group’s newsletter, all of which can be viewed in The Horace W. Harrison Online Library at bnaps.org.
“Since 2004, Bas has contributed to articles in The Canadian Aerophilatelist on many different topics, from errors in the Semi-Official stamps of Commercial Airways, to the development of ‘flying cars,’” said Hargreaves. “He has also found Canadian Post Office announcements for many First Flights from 1928 to 1939, and provided copies of them to the CAS Reference Library.”
Even prior to 1993, Burrell was an active aerophilatelist.
“He was Secretary of the Aerophilatelic Federation of the Americas, and co-ordinated input from the AFA members for The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland.”