Christmas Post

2023 Collection
The Scouts Christmas card collection and delivery service is running again this year.
The delivery
The delivery area covers:
- Kesgrave, Rushmere, Ipswich Borough and Martlesham (i.e. all postcodes IP1 to IP5) together with;
- Felixstowe, The Trimleys and Kirton
- and some of the surrounding villages including Claydon, Barham, Gt Blakenham, Westerfield, Witnesham, Henley, Tuddenham and Old Martlesham.
Postboxes
Postboxes will be available from 25 November at many collection points across the area, with local ones including:- Little Luxuries, Penzance Road,
- House of Hair, Edmonton Road,
- 2nd Stop Charity Shop, Tesco Unit
- Kesgrave Library,
- Orwell Vets, Hartree Way,
- Kiln Farm Nursery, Main Road,
- Kesgrave Scout Hall,
- 7 Quantock Close.
The cost per card will be 35p and the closing date is Monday 11 December.
All profits are shared between the scout groups, taking part in the ratio of the number of cards collected and delivered. Further information at: www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk.
History
Since 1995 the 1st Kesgrave Scout Group have been delivering Christmas Cards in the Kesgrave area. In 2000 we joined the Ipswich wide service and now deliver around 11% of the cards collected, which in 2021 was 68,454 in total. The service now covers:
- All of the following Post Code Areas: IP1, IP2, IP3, IP4
- IP5 including Kesgrave, Rushmere and Martlesham
- Ipswich Borough and Pinewood area
- Claydon
- Barham
- Bramford
- Great Blakenham
- Westerfield
- Witnesham
- Henley
- Tuddenham
- Felixstowe
- Trimley St Mary/ Trimley St Martin
- Kirton
- Falkenham
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to deliver to Grundisburgh, Culpho, Playford, Gt. & Lt. Bealings.
We also use a cancellation on all cards collected or delivered in Kesgrave and have created a stamp for cards delivered in Kesgrave. Theoretically only one stamp per house delivered to is used but in practice the scouts often forget this and put stamps on randomly! Details of these cancellations, stamps and how many we delivered can be found below.
For those interested in Scout and Guide Charity Christmas Posts in Great Britain there is a web site devoted to it, created by John Crabbe. It can be found here.
The official Ipswich Scout Post website can be found at: www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk.
Cards Delivered
Xmas card deliveries in Kesgrave
Year | Delivered | Stamps Printed (Approx) |
2022 | 7,721 | 3200 |
2021 | 8,041 | 3000 |
2020 | 0 | 0 (Covid) |
2019 | 9,919 | 3000 |
2018 | 10,435 | 3000 |
2017 | 10,376 | 3000 |
2016 | 10,926 | 3000 |
2015 | 11,141 | 3000 |
2014 | 11,730 | 3000 |
2013 | 11,974 | 3000 |
2012 | 12,381 | 3000 |
2011 | 9,370 | 3000 |
2010 | 8,814 | 3000 |
2009 | 9,621 | 3000 |
2008 | 7,700 | 2250 |
2007 | 7,448 | 2250 |
2006 | 7,700 | 2250 |
2005 | 6,670 | 1500 |
2005 | 6,670 | 1500 |
2004 | 6,460 | 1500 |
2003 | 5,500 | 1250 |
2002 | 4,390 | 1250 |
2001 | 3,590 | 1000 |
2000 | 3,360 | 1000 |
1999 | 950 | 250 |
1998 | 776 | 200 |
1997 | 490 | 100 |
1996 | 493 | No stamp just cancellation |
1995 | 254 | No stamp just cancellation |
Xmas Stamps and Cancellations
Below are the stamps used from 1997 onwards and the cancellations used from 1995 onwards. The cancellations are shown at the end. The purple cancellation was used from 1995-1999 and the blue one from 2000 onwards.

















































Cancellations


