2005 Convention

The World's largest!

The National Cigarette Card Convention

Spa complex

The annual convention will take place at the Spa Centre, Scarborough on the 29th and 30th of April, 2005. Opening times:

Friday 29th April 12:00 - 18:00
Saturday 30th April 09:30 - 16:00

A million cards on show. Leading International Traders. Free valuations. Public welcome.

Entrance is free for members, £2 per day for non-members.

The CSGB's 63nd Annual General Meeting will take place on the Saturday afternoon at 14:30. This is an admirable opportunity for members to put forward matters which they think should be brought to the attention of the Council.

How to get there:

A Guide to Scarborough

The thought occurs that anybody wishing the make a 'long weekend' of it when they visit Scarborough for the Convention next April may need a bit of local knowledge to assist them, especially if they have never been to that area before.
Blackpool has long been acknowledged as the 'King' of the seaside resorts, but around the same time that this accolade was given, but not as well known, Scarborough was named the' Queen' of seaside resorts. There is no Tower, and no Pleasure Beach to speak of, there are all the usual Amusement Arcades along the front on South Bay, but the North Bay and Marine Drive are virtually undeveloped at sea level until one gets to the northern end and there we have Peasholm Park, complete with boating lake etc.
Separating the two bays, on a high headland is the castle, well worth a visit for the views alone, as is Oliver's Mount, inland behind the Spa, if there is no motor sport you can drive to the top.
Scarborough is built on cliffs, so one of the attractions are the Cliff Railways at various points along the front, there being one either side of the Spa, it does save a walk when you are tired.
Further afield a drive up the coast will take you past Fylingdales Early Warning Station on your left, not as spectacular these days since the three big Radomes have gone to be replaced by one (?) smaller unit. On the way north, on the right there is Robin Hoods Bay and many other places of interest before you arrive at Whitby, the home of Captain Cook. The best route in is the northerly one with parking near the railway
station, from there one can walk down the length of the natural harbour and along the pier, cross the harbour bridge and explore the other side, and even climb the three hundred steps up to the Abbey if you have the energy. To replenish the inner person, if you like fish and chips, visit the 'Dolphin', on the north side of the harbour opposite the fish quay they are the best that I know.
Further inland, from Whitby, there are the North Yorkshire Moors and 'Heartbeat' country around Grosmont and Goathland, (or Aidensfield in the series), be prepared, the hills on the roads around here are 1 in 5, or 20%. The best way to Grosmont is to go to Pickering and catch the train, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, often steam hauled, up through Newton Dale, mentioned by Alan Tichmarsh, last October, on TV in 'British Isles: A Natural History', as a glacier run followed by a very large river to form the landscape we see today.
On the way home, if you are heading south or west, don't forget to have a break in York, home to the Minster (naturally), National Railway Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre, the Shambles, Castle Museum and many other attractions, including Betty's Cafe in Parliament Street, a bit expensive maybe, but well worth it. If you feel like some serious exercise, with no shops, you can always go for a walk round the walls.
The trouble is you won't have time to see everything in a few hours so you will have to return for a week or so. But then, who said life was easy!

Click here to see pictures of previous conventions.