AT A recent society meeting, Martin Lloyd gave a talk about passports called Without Let or Hindrance.

It turns out the first mention of a passport was in the Bible.

As time went on, travel between countries increased and a King's Licence was used in medieval times, followed by Letters of Introduction.

These continued as a single sheet of paper, through Victorian times and in continental countries until the First World War.

Eventuallly produced in a wallet, they became the book form we know today.

The only passport to bear one individual's name was the Nansen Passeport, issued by the League of Nations between the wars.

Today important ones are issued to Queen's Messengers and Diplomats.

The only person in the UK not to need a passport is the Queen.