Malaya Study Group : Frank Laycock Tribute

Frank Laycock

Frank Laycock died peacefully without pain in a Marie Curie Hospice on Friday 8th of January 2011. He formed fine collections of Canada and Falkland Islands to gold medal standard before he joined the Group in 1994. His interest in Malaya stemmed from the fact that he won the Military Cross during the ‘Malayan Emergency’ whilst doing his National Service there. Indeed he told us some amusing stories when he gave us a fine display of Johore at the Y.W.C.A. some years ago. Frank formed a fine general collection of Malaya but he whittled that down to specialise in the stamps and postal history of Johore and Perak. The Johore was his stronger collection which boasted a fine lot of State and Straits Settlements combination covers. He was due to show these at the Group’s 50th Anniversary display to the Royal Philatelic Society but had to withdraw because of his health. These collections were sold by auction in September, ironically shortly before that display so a few of his items did appear! Frank was a jovial effervescent character who had led a full life. He will be much missed and our condolences to his wife Pat and their family.

A.F.N.