Interests

Genealogy
Soon after I retired an accident left me with a badly broken arm. Being able to do very little while the break healed and finding that I couldn't even work on my stamp collection I looked for something I could do. Turning to my computer I started work recording my family history. This quickly turned into a one-name study which has its own website at Mead-Family.Net. I joined a couple of family history societies and soon found myself giving talks to other members. This has grown into an extensive list of lectures which you will find listed elsewhere on this website.

Philately
I started collecting stamps as a small child. My father would bring stamps home from work and give them to me. Many of these still form the basis of my collections. I was fascinated by the far flung territories that issued these brightly coloured bits of paper depicting the local culture, architecture,  geography and history. In time the collections have become more serious and far more extensive. I joined my local stamp club in 1980 and a number of other philatelic societies since. In  2009 I was elected a fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society London.

Sport
I have always enjoyed playing sports. A succession of injuries resulted in my switching from one sport to another until I ended up playing bowls with some success. After my last injury I had to give up bowls too, but I still find time to enjoy watching sport either in person or on TV and have been a member of Surrey CCC for over 40 years. Despite my Surrey membership I still support Essex CCC.