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

Despite only 13 people attending the annual honey show at Stratford College on 15th October, 73 entries were received altogether.

As usual David Lishman, our judge, provided us with useful tips as he went along. Despite a close challenge from Malcolm Taylor, a visitor from the Warwickshire Association, Will Spencer won the Challenge Cup for the best overall performance in the honey and wax classes. He also won the 'best in show' Certificate of Merit for his candles, and the Waldron Trophy, awarded to the best 2 jar entry by a Stratford member, for his heather honey. The cookery prize went to Margaret Woodhams for her honey cake to the standard recipe, whilst Denis Keyte won the first prize for a cake to any recipe.
Mike Osborne

Small Hive Beetle larvae have been found in illegal imports of queens to Portugal from the United States. The authorities have apparently taken swift action to destroy everything, including the beekeeper's colonies - let us hope that it is successful.
Peter Edwards

Have you paid your subs yet? Probably not, as only 17 members have so far paid their subs which were due on 1 October. We work very hard to keep subs low (one of the lowest in the country) and it is disappointing when we have to spend Association money sending out replacement renewal forms or telephoning members to ask them to pay. The money could be better spent elsewhere. Bee Craft members in particular, should note that we have to supply numbers to Bee craft by the end of November due to Christmas print deadlines, so anyone who has not paid by then will not receive the January issue.
Peter Edwards

We also saw pictures of the surrounding country, complete with 'live' background sound recordings, and were able to appreciate the enthusiasm of the area's beekeepers. At the end we got to taste samples of honey from the rubber trees and examine a small hive used for Apis cerana, brought back by Peter. A really entertaining evening.
Mike Osborne

http://www.insectpix.net/ - what it says!

http://beeginners.info/ - Graham Law has revised his excellent site.

With the swarming season just a memory now, I thought the following cautionary tale might brighten up these miserable, dark evenings. I am certainly glad that Mr Snyder is not on our swarm list!

Bee-Burning Effort Results In Arson Arrest
Saturday, August 16, 2003
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Two young girls were circling the row of burned-out apartments yesterday, searching for what may have been the last unaccounted-for survivor of a fire that caused nearly $300,000 in damages. "Come here, Nicky," one girl cooed, standing at the rear of the building and beckoning her pet cat, which slowly made its way up the embankment. "Are you hungry?" As the girls searched, dejected residents, workmen, gawkers and fire recovery crews scurried around trying to salvage what was left of the 24-unit apartment building. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, which was reported some time after 10pm Thursday at the Hyland Hills apartments on Oakville Road in Banksville.

Thomas G. Snyder of Coraopolis, who had been visiting a friend in the complex at the time of the fire, was awaiting arraignment yesterday on charges that he set the blaze. Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Capt. Francis "Kip" Deleonibus, who heads the city's arson investigations squad, said that Snyder, 30, had been trying to use fire to destroy a beehive in the rafters above the rear deck of his friend's third-story apartment at 185 Oakville Road. Snyder ignited hair spray from an aerosol can and aimed it at the nest that he believed was concealed in a hole in the wall of the outside deck, Deleonibus said. "Then the guy just walked away!" said Brian Cernicky, 25, who, with his roommate Brent Huber, moved into the complex about three months ago. "I lost everything. What's in my trunk is all I've got," said Cernicky, formerly of Lower Burrell. He said that he had recently purchased eight new suits to wear at his job at Federated Investors.

The Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Red Cross has put up Cernicky and other residents in local hotels for a few days. After that, Cernicky said, "I'll have to live with relatives. It's the first time in my life that I don't have a home."

Deleonibus said firefighters had little chance of saving the building because the fire is believed to have begun smoldering around 5pm, five hours before anyone noticed the flames. By then, the fire had spread through the entire roof of the structure. Apartments below the top level suffered heavy damage from smoke and water. Some damage was caused by burning embers from the roof dropping into the belongings on the top floor. Shane Tanouye, 29, who lives with his fiancee, Jessica Wilmouth, 26, two floors below the fire's origin, said that he reported the smell of smoke to maintenance workers at about 6:30pm But, Tanouye said, they were unable to find the source of the odor. Later that evening, Tanouye said that he was sleeping when a neighbor came banging on his door to report the fire. "The only thing I was worried about was getting our stuff out, but we couldn't," Tanouye said. He saved some personal files, laptop computers and their dog, Ernie, a Jack Russell terrier.

Deleonibus said that Snyder's girlfriend reported at the scene that he had tried to exterminate the bees with fire. Under questioning at the scene, Snyder told investigators what he had done.
Peter Edwards

Following the protracted disturbance caused by the move of the swarm's home to its new location, I decided that the bees deserved some peace and quiet. No need to inspect for swarms! Over the following weeks of June I watched the bees working hard collecting pollen in varying colours. They also visited my birdbath for water, indicating that little nectar was being collected. Early in July they stopped visiting the birdbath, indicating an increase in the nectar supply.

One warm sunny afternoon in mid July I decided to carry out an inspection. A quick puff of smoke at the entrance and off came the supers - no surprise no honey. Another puff of smoke and off came the queen excluder. On with the canvas covers. Bees very quiet. Examination of the combs revealed that all the old stores had been eaten. Nine of the combs consisted of 80/90% brood with a narrow rim of new nectar/honey. There should be plenty of young bees to see them through the winter. The middle comb contained a small surprise. Two small egg-less supersedure queen cells. Although I had not seen the queen, she was obviously fit and well as many of the cells contained freshly laid eggs. What mechanism prompts the queen to lay eggs in these supersedure cells? It's clearly not lack of brood as there was hardly room for any more. There was little drone brood, although there were a few drones in the hive. By the time you read this, the old queen may well be dead or she may co-exist with her daughter for a short while.

During my examination not a single bee had flown at me or attempted to sting me. I think these are the most docile bees I have handled in 45 years of beekeeping. What effect is the succession going to have on the bees' temperament? Currently I have Des. Bees, with Des. Queen, in Des. Res., in Des Location. Perfection!
Geoff Bywaters

One of our ex-members has some equipment for sale (no bees).
WBC: 7 lifts, 5 supers, 2 brood, 1 QX, 1 crown board, 1 roof, 1 floor.
Extractor: Taylor's 4 frame tangential, hand-operated, stainless steel drum, plastic-coated cage (needs some re-coating).
Various items of clothing, smokers etc.
Reasonable offers invited - contact me for further details.
Peter Edwards.

ANNUAL DINNER.

The committee has decided to change the venue for the annual dinner. This year's dinner will be at the Arrow Mill Hotel on Friday 28th January 2005, 7.15pm for 7.30pm, with a choice of menu as set out below. The cost will be £22.50 per person. To book your place at this popular event please telephone the Arrow Mill 01789 762419.

Home Made Vegetable Soup
or
Oak Smoked Salmon
or
Chilled Melon

Chargrilled then Pot Roasted Rump Steak with Red Wine & Root Vegetables
or
Supreme of Chicken with a sauce of Smoked Cheese & Chopped York Ham
or
Delice of Salmon with Chive Butter Sauce
or
Vegetarian Option

Apple Flan with Butter Toffee Ice Cream
or
Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce
or
Black Cherry Pancakes