Hon. Newsletter Editor:
Peter Edwards
E-mail: beekeepers@stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Looking back on the past year, I think the association can be satisfied with its achievements.  The long-awaited booklet finally appeared, the bee improvement group started its work, the association apiary produced a useful amount of honey, and all the other events and services continued to give us good value for our subscriptions.  Of course, all these activities involve a considerable amount of effort, and on behalf of all the membership I would like to thank the rest of the committee members for their hard work.  At the risk of embarrassing him, I must single out our newsletter editor for special thanks.  Peter’s communication skills are evident in our first-rate newsletter and website, and his expertise and practical abilities underpin most of our activities.

I hope that all readers will have a joyful Christmas and a successful new year.
Denis Keyte

INTRODUCTORY BEEKEEPING COURSE

Martyn Cracknell is again running his very successful course at the Countryside Centre in Worcester.  It consists of eight weekly sessions on Wednesday evenings, flowed by two Saturday sessions in his apiary.  The cost is £70.  Further details from me or direct from Martyn (01386 462 385) or http://beekeepingcourse.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk.
Peter Edwards

AGM

The AGM was attended by just twelve members - about par for the course.  After pausing to remember our three colleagues who died during the year, the meeting proceeded with few surprises.

Mike gave a comprehensive report of the Association’s activities during the year, which all agreed had been a good one (see below for full report).

Will reported another successful year financially; in fact, with all the Association honey now sold for more than the nominal £1 per lb used for the accounts, it seems that the year has been even better than we thought.  David was thanked for all his hard work in extracting the crop.

The proposals to change the rules generated some debate and Rule 4 was changed so that the Chairman is now elected at the AGM; however, it was agreed to defer changing Rule 3(a) regarding the election of a President and Vice-Presidents as there was some doubt about what members really wanted to happen.

Unsurprisingly, the committee was then re-elected, with Terry as Chairman.

As promised, Denis brought along some copies of the booklet about the Association that he had printed, and very good they looked too - with 32 pages of text and colour photographs giving an excellent account of the Association’s history over the past seventy years.  I am sure that it is a great relief to Denis that this project has been completed and he was congratulated for his work - and persistence - in bringing it to such a successful conclusion.
Peter Edwards

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Last year I started my report with the sad news of Mike Help’s death, and during this past year we have lost three more well-known members, Ron French, Anne Tunbridge and most recently John Cook.  I won’t dwell on the major contributions that they have made to the association, as this has been covered in the newsletter.  Suffice to say that they are all sorely missed by the rest of us.

Denis Keyte took over as President from Mike Helps and we are grateful that he has remained an active member of the committee, including acting as publicity officer and taking on the task of producing the brochure about the Association’s history and activities.  Denis, along with David and Kevin attended all 5 meetings of the committee, whose main tasks are to arrange future events, keep an eye on finances, and as far as possible ensure that members’ needs are met.  This last item is difficult because of the limited feedback that is received, and thanks must go to Peter Edwards for his excellent work with the website and newsletter, since these are the only contact with the majority of members.  On average 14 people attended meetings out of a membership of over 50, with the greatest number, 19, attending the talk by BIBBA (Bee Improvement & Bee Breeders Association).  Other meetings were on the effects of modern agriculture and skep making.  12 members attended the Honey Show, compared with 22 last year, with the number of entries down to 73 from 85, although the number of newer members entering and wining was encouraging.  Our three regular annual events, the dinner at the Arrow Mill, Alcester, the summer walk and supper, this year at Wootton Wawen, and the skittles match against Shipston, were again well attended.  Stands promoting the Association and beekeeping in general were at the Wellesbourne Rural Show and Snitterfield Fête in July.  Note that the gazebo, posters, observation hive, etc. can be borrowed by members for such events.

Most members seem to have obtained a reasonable honey crop this year despite a poor start due to bad weather affecting the rape yield.  Those that went to the heather obtained an average result, certainly down on last year.  It was disappointing that the electric extractor, obtained with Lottery funds, was not in demand, a smaller hand operated unit being preferred.  New hives, frames etc. also obtained with Lottery money are being brought into use at the Association’s apiary, which has now 6 active hives.  It again produced sufficient honey to make a significant contribution to the Association funds.  Thanks must go to Brian as Apiary Manager, and David for his help with the extraction.  Whilst attendance at the monthly apiary meetings was small, this did enable everyone to get involved in what was going on.

David also spent a lot of time producing nuclei at the apiary for passing on to beginners, rather than giving them swarms, thus helping to improve the standard of local bees.  This was also the object of the Bee Improvement Group formed at the beginning of the year, in which several members interested in promoting the wider use of the British black bee in our area held a number of separate meetings.

As the accounts show, Will Spencer has again kept the Association’s finances in good shape and despite the small increase in subscription for the coming year, it remains one of the lowest in the country.  In general a satisfactory year, but as already mentioned, the committee would be happier to have more feedback from members.
Mike Osborne

BEES IN CORNWALL

We managed to get a few days away in October and, after visiting family and friends in Plymouth, stayed near St. Ives and in Boscastle.  The idea was to take a break from beekeeping, but it was not long before the bees made an appearance!  The weather was glorious and we walked a couple of sections of the coastal path.

Near Carbis Bay, Sue noticed some bumblebees on the ground and closer inspection revealed a queen and drone mating; I think that they were the Common Carder bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum).  Of course, I wanted to get a photograph but this was difficult in the long grass.  Fortunately, the queen grasped a twig that I offered and I was then able to lift them up and take a number of close-ups.  After a few minutes the drone disengaged and they both flew off.  In 2004 I counted myself very lucky indeed to see B. lapidarius mating on 2 July and had never expected to see this again – and certainly not on 12 October when I would have expected the queen to have been in hibernation; perhaps this is another effect of global warming, as I have seen a number of B. terrestris workers around Stratford during November this year.

Travelling up from St. Ives to Boscastle via the coastal road we came across the Porteath Bee Centre at St. Minver.  Unfortunately, the owners, Heather Jago and Eddie Old, were away on holiday, but we were shown around by Heather’s daughter.  If you are in the area then the centre is well worth a visit: there is a well stocked shop, Beehive Tearoom and an excellent beekeeping display upstairs with well-stocked observation hives.  The bees were taking maximum advantage of the fine autumn weather and appeared to be working ivy.  The website is: http://www.porteathbeecentre.co.uk/
Peter Edwards

ASSOCIATION BOOKLET

Booklets are now on sale at £2.50 each at Association meetings or by post from Denis Keyte at Sunnybank, Wootton Wawen, Henley-in-Arden, B95 6BH.  Please make cheques payable to him, or postage stamps - e.g. 8 @ 23p plus 2 @ 32p - would be acceptable.
Peter Edwards

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Both Denis and Mike have been very kind in their comments above - but the running of our Association is a team effort.  I personally have had a very enjoyable year: Sue has worked with me to increase our stocks, evaluate colonies and raise nearly 90 queens from A.m.m. stock; the Bee Improvement Group has taken its first tentative steps towards improving our bees and I have managed to fill the newsletter each month!

However, we should remember that others have contributed a great deal, e.g. managing the Association apiary, providing nucs and assistance for beginners, producing a crop of honey worth in the region of £10 per member – not to mention keeping our finances in order!  Of course, this is the way that it should be, with no single person dominating the Association; that is why we need more members, especially new ones, to take an active part in running the Association’s affairs - and for this, beekeeping experience may not always be important.
Peter Edwards

CHRISTMAS PRESENT PROBLEMS SOLVED

Bees for Development provide support to encourage beekeeping in developing countries.  Visit www.beesfordevelopment.org on-line or telephone 01600 713648 for ideas for presents that will help poor and potential beekeepers, from providing information or a hive of bees to establishing a beekeeping co-operative.
Mike Osborne

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

A recent new member, Sara Hawkins has decided to leave us for the present as she has been unable to find the time to start keeping bees; we hope that she will return at a later date.  Jacquie Snelson has also left, but we are very pleased to welcome Jon Segar from Cookhill and to wish him ‘full supers’!
Peter Edwards