2026 is an important year for phillumenists. It marks 200 years since the invention of the Friction Match by John Walker in Stockton-on-Tees. It is hard to over-state the importance that John Walker's invention made to society at large but also to us collectors.
The Society intends to celebrate this life-changing invention in two ways :
- A physical exhibition, at Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees
- A members' meeting with Auction
- An on-line exhibition on our web site
- A 50-lot On-line Auction
Although 2026 is two years away, we have already started planning these celebrations and will publish more details once they become available.
We have already created a new web site dedicated to John Walker, which will expand as we approach 2026 and will act as a lasting legacy to John Walker.
If you have information about John Walker that you would like to share with us, or you would like to help with the 2026 celebrations in any way, we would be pleased to hear from you johnwalker2026@phillumeny.com