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

This year's annual dinner was a great success, with everyone enjoying the excellent meal in the pleasant dining room of the Arrow Mill Hotel. There was ample liquid refreshment for those who wished to partake, the service was efficient and friendly and Denis Woodham's after dinner speech with his Norfolk accent was certainly different from what we are used to! Thank you to Margaret and Denis for a most enjoyable evening.
Terry Hitchman

The discovery of small hive beetle (SHB) larvae in illegal imports of queens from the USA to Portugal has certainly worried thinking European beekeepers. The further revelation that hundreds of queens from the same source have been distributed to beekeepers in France is at least as worrying. Recently, I read that Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV) was found in British Columbia in 1995; a subsequent survey of the USA found the virus in seven states and in all corners of the country - from Florida to California, Maine and Washington.

Unbelievably, it is still legal to import queens under licence from the USA - or any of 54 other countries for that matter, regardless of the fact that they have serious diseases that we certainly do not want - provided that:

• AFB, SHB and Tropilaelaps mites are notifiable throughout the country
• The bees come from an area that is not affected by the notifiable diseases and
• They have been inspected and certified as being free from disease

Think about it - I suggest that those responsible for these policies have not!
Peter Edwards

Fred Hale Sr., documented as the world's oldest man, died recently in his sleep at The Nottingham in suburban Syracuse, while trying to recover from a bout of pneumonia, just twelve days before his 114th birthday. Some facts about his life:

• He retired from his job as a railway postal worker fifty years ago.
• He enjoyed gardening, canning fruits and vegetables and making home-made apple sauce.
• Apparently he had a routine and he rarely broke it because anyone else was around.
• He ate three full meals a day - at the same time each day.
• He didn't need a lot to be happy.
• At 95, he flew to Japan to visit a grandson who was in the Navy. While en-route back to the United States, he stopped in Hawaii and even gave boogie-boarding a try.
• At 103, he was still living on his own and shovelling the snow off his rooftop.
• Fred lived in his native Maine until he was 109, when he moved to the Syracuse area to be near his son, Fred Jr., now 82.
• On March 5, 2004, Guinness World Records acknowledged him as the oldest living man when Joan Riudavets Moll, of Spain, passed away at age 114.
• Fred was also a Guinness record-holder for the oldest driver. At 108, he still found slow drivers annoying and gave up driving.
• At 100, he still had his own teeth.
• He ate at least a teaspoonful of honey and bee pollen every day - washed down with the occasional breakfast nip of whiskey, the Guinness Book of Records says - but never smoked and only rarely drank alcohol.

So why am I telling you all this about Fred Hale? Well, Fred was a beekeeper. It was the bees that he credited with his longevity. He would often say it was the bee pollen and honey he ate every day - and the occasional nip of whiskey in the morning - that kept him going. He was still tending his own bees at the age of 107.

The world's oldest living man is now Hermann Dornemann, of Germany, age 111. I wonder if he keeps bees...
Peter Edwards

This was necessary as queen excluders were not then available. It also meant that the hive did not have to be opened when adding a super. This was placed over the bars of the box below, with their closed gaps, which could then be opened as required by moving the sliders externally. The problems of dealing with different sized frames, the tendency for the slides to be propolised, and the high cost of manufacture meant a steady decline in its use by the late 1800's. This was further hastened by the introduction of mechanical extractors, which greatly encouraged the use of hives such as the Langstroth with their standardised frame sizes. Despite this, Stewarton hives were in use in Scotland up to the 1950's. Since designs for octagonal hives have been found dating back to the 17th century, including one by Christopher Wren, they have in fact been around a lot longer than our present hive models. This was a well-presented and entertaining talk, greatly aided by being able to see and handle an actual hive.
Mike Osborne

I have written frequently about the use of washing soda solution to clean and sterilise gloves, hive-tools and smoker when handling bees, but its almost miraculous ability to dissolve wax, propolis and grease makes it useful to the beekeeper in many other ways, e.g.:

• Cleaning porter escapes - it is infinitely better than the old recommendation to use methylated spirits.
• Cleaning up the floor after extracting - a hot solution will even remove propolis.
• Cleaning the kitchen sink and taps - grease and wax just vanish.
• Keeping drains clear - a hot solution will remove grease and any traces of beeswax.
• Removing wax and propolis from clothes or tablecloths. Do not use a hot iron and paper (it never did work very well!) just soak overnight in the solution and the wax will be completely removed without damaging the material.
• Removing propolis from carpets. Rub the carpet gently with a cloth soaked in the solution; rinse well.
• Cleaning oil from drives. I would not suggest the use of washing soda on tarmac, but for block paving or concrete, just tip washing soda crystals in a pile on the oil stains and dampen them with a little warm water. Wash off next day - or wait until the rain does the job for you.

Did you know that oxalic acid crystals, used for varroa control, remove iron and rust stains from many materials, e.g. clothes, kitchen sinks or stone, almost instantly? Just tip on a few crystals, dampen them and watch the stain vanish.

Thymol crystals can be used to kill aphids on houseplants - just put the plant in a large polythene bag with a teaspoonful of crystals in the bottom, seal it and leave for a few hours.

Let me know if you find any other uses and I will print them.
Peter Edwards

It seems that my article about bird boxes (December 2004) was very timely. Apparently, there has been a large increase in the blue tit population and this has resulted in a housing shortage! There is still time to help them if you act quickly - and the boxes are very cheap.
Peter Edwards

I will be exchanging surplus wax for foundation at Stoneleigh this year and will therefore be able to supply foundation at well below the normal prices that you might expect to pay. If you wish to take advantage then contact me now; I must have orders by 1 April at the latest.
Peter Edwards

In my report on the quiz, I wrote that Celia Davis had prepared the questions. In fact, this was a joint effort by Celia and Bernard Diaper. My apologies to Bernard.
Peter Edwards