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

ASSOCIATION BOOKLET

After many long hours of work, Denis Keyte has transformed what was to have been our ‘Millennium Record’ into an excellent booklet entitled ‘Stratford-upon-Avon & District Beekeepers’ Association 1936-2006’.  Denis is printing copies for sale at the AGM at the special price of only £2 each and they will be available afterwards at £2.50.  We are also indebted to Ginny Crow for her professional help with the final layout.
Peter Edwards

JARS – URGENT

I have nearly run out of jars so will be ordering in the next week or so.  If you need jars and want to take advantage of the low prices that I am able to get, then it is essential that you ring me by the 7 November at the latest – I do not expect to order again for at least six months.  As I have a large stock of screw lids, I will be ordering screw top jars this time, but intend to move to twist-off as soon as my current stock is used.
Peter Edwards

HONEY SHOW RESULTS 

Thirteen members attended the Association's Annual Honey Show on 13 October, in which there were 75 entries.  Will Spencer again won the challenge Cup for the best overall performance in the honey classes.  His two jars of creamed honey were judged best in show, so that he also won the Waldron Trophy and BBKA Certificate of Merit.  The judge, Bernard Diaper, from Sutton Coldfield, did his usual efficient job and passed on several valuable tips which will be reproduced in a future newsletter.  He had a particular problem with the exhibit of general beekeeping interest in trying to differentiate between an obscure beekeeping aid, the frame from a top-bar hive, some sort of cuddly toy and a copy of the Association's new brochure.  New member Ginny Crow did well to obtain a first in both the classes for clear honey and for novices, and the judge was full of praise for the cake produced by Mary Hitchman, which won the cookery prize.  The recipe for this is given below.  As usual, it was a most interesting evening with a high standard of exhibits.
Mike Osborne

MARY HITCHMAN’s PRIZE-WINNING HONEY FRUIT CAKE

4oz. butter/margarine
2 eggs
6oz. honey
6oz. self-raising flour
4oz.mixed fruit
2oz. cherries
Milk as required

Cream the fat and honey and beat in the eggs.  Fold in the flour and fruit, adding milk if necessary.  Bake in moderate oven for 1½ - 1¾hrs.

HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SUBSCRIPTION?

I am pleased to be able to report that more than half of our members paid their subscription within 3 weeks of receiving their renewal forms – perhaps a record?  Now we need the rest of you to do the same.  If you take Bee Craft this is particularly urgent, as we have to pay Bee Craft before the end of November in order to get the discounted price – so if you do not pay your subs on time, our Hon. Treasurer will have to stop your  Bee Craft.
Peter Edwards

SKITTLES

Our annual skittles match and supper with the Shipston Beekeepers is always a very popular event and in danger of being oversubscribed (odd that beekeepers support non-beekeeping events so well!).  The Lygon Arms can cope with a maximum of 30 people from Stratford, so it is a case of first-come, first-served.  Please book your places with me as soon as possible!
Peter Edwards

DO YOU HAVE EMAIL?

A majority of our members now receive their newsletter and other material by email or read it on the website (this is the best option as there are often photographs added to the web version).  This saves the Association money for printing and postage – and helps save the planet.  If you would like to receive material electronically please let me know your email address.  Note that we never give these addresses to any other organisation.
Peter Edwards

JOHN COOK

It is with great sadness that I have to report that John Cook, our most senior member, died recently at the age of 96.  John started keeping bees and also joined the Association in 1975 and, by the time that I joined the Association in 1980, he was a very active member of the committee, taking on various roles including Newsletter Editor, Librarian, Rape Site Organiser, Spray Warning Liaison Officer, Swarms Officer - and doing much of the training of new, and not so new, members.  He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Association in recognition of his work for us.

His military career as a Major in the Cavalry, during which he saw service (and beekeeping) in India, gave him great confidence in lecturing and I remember many beekeeping meetings that started with a lecture on his front lawn in Hampton Lucy, after which we made our way down across the fields to his apiary in a small copse for the practical work.  A very patient man, John was in his element when demonstrating his beloved bees to a group of beginners.

Despite being well into his seventies, he took on the job of Swarms Officer and single-handedly not only collected all the swarms, but also delivered and hived them for members who wanted them.  Although he was very fit and active, this was clearly too much work for one man and we eventually asked members to indicate on their subscription renewal form whether they were willing to help; forty-two said ‘yes’!

I can only recall one item from his newsletter articles.  Following an incident when he forgot to tuck in his veil he wrote, somewhat ruefully, that in common with high explosives, there were certain rules for handling bees that one ignored at one’s peril.  Apparently he had lifted off a super which caught under his veil - filling it with bees; he suffered around 40 stings to the face and neck and was laid low for three days!

John had considerable influence on my early days with the Association as he supplied my first two hives in early 1981.  He was selling them for someone and looked after them in his garden through the winter; although I was keen to get my hands on them, he would not let me have them until early April when he was sure that they had overwintered successfully.

Following the tragic death of his wife, Chris, also an ex-army Major, John’s eyesight began to deteriorate and he eventually had to give up his bees.  Later he moved to sheltered accommodation in Wellesbourne.  However, we always kept him in touch with events in the Association via a large print version of the newsletter.
Peter Edwards