November, GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEEKEEPERS BULLETIN … · GBKA 2013 Auction Report . 491 Lots entered. 414 Sold. 83 Actual buyers. Total of £8,654 taken. Surplus of £928.75. after costs.

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A Buzzing hello to all Bee-keepers,

This year seems to be a very strange year with the weather again. Bees are flying in November be-cause it is warm. Just make sure that you keep an eye on the winter feed levels.

Most beekeeping jobs should be finished by now and time to get the honey bottled ready for eating. I do hope everyone man-

aged to take a better crop this year.

Finally, I would like to

thank all those who

have contributed to

this Bulletin. Please

keep those reports etc

buzzing in, in good

time. Please let’s hear

from some new bee-

keepers.

Just to say an early

Merry Christmas to you

all and a good and hon-

ey filled new Year. Ed.

Editoral

We welcome David Kennedy and thank him for taking on the Web-site and also Gill Paterson for be-coming the Delegate for Chelten-ham & Gloucestershire. Any changes to the website will be considered by David. Also, do take just 5 minutes of your time to complete and return our Bee Keeping survey, deadline date is 9 December 2013. Vacancies remain for the following county positions: Secretary, Year Book and Bulletin Editor. Remem-ber that individuals do not have to be a beekeeper to take on these positions. Eleven members have confirmed their wish to attend the two day General Husbandry workshop to be held at the Stroud branch ven-ue, the date and final arrange-ments have yet to be confirmed. In addition, and for those wishing to learn about improving their own stock of bees, BIBBA are holding

their conference from 26 - 28 Septem-ber 2014, further information has been forwarded to all branch secretaries. The 2014 Auction will be held on 10th May and will no longer be subjected to inclement weather as next year will be under cover at the Cotswold Riding School for the Disabled in the grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse. Once again sponsorship of £300 has been promised from Agri Nova and further details will become available from Ber-nie Danvers. The Three Counties Show is sched-uled for 13 - 15 June 2014. Following a meeting in October Mike Hunt will pro-vide further confirmation on a number of issues. At our county meeting Roger Houdley, our county Spray Liaison Officer, gave an early warning that we should be prepared for 2015 when spraying will be achieved primarily by contractors, who may not abide by the law. County has decided to take proactive action by

writing to the contractors re-minding them of the law. Nominations are invited from branches for the Tom Swaine Trophy. Deadline date 30th January 2014. Forms along with an explanation are availa-ble on our website and finally, do please let me know if you have 50 years membership with the BBKA. Marie Toman County Secretary

County Notes

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEEKEEPERS BULLETIN November, December 2013

January 2014

NUMBER 234

A very warm welcome to all our new beekeepers, especially to Jaroslaw Beta, Chris Harris, Katarzyna Koszykowska-Beta, Charlotte Powell, Simon Smith, Sarah Standbrook, Michael Sumner, Gareth Thomas, Sue Trevaskis, Margaret Wallace and Kevin Weller of the Chel-tenham and Gloucester Branch, and Ed Behan, Wendy Blair, Rosalind Coombes, Tim David, Petula Davis, David Gar-diner, Lucille Gardiner, Walter Jukes, Judith Pritchard and Eddie Tottle of the Stroud Branch. I do hope your stay with the GBKA will be a long and happy one. Welcome to you all.

OBITURY

Peter Williams

1934—2014

While working at Smith Industries

and selling my honey around the

factory, I first met Peter. This was

1992 about two years before we

shared an apiary and he became my

apprentice and he became a bee-

keeper, long before the branch

training apiary.

Peter was from the beginning ex-

tremely enthusiastic about his bee-

keeping and wanting to take it to a

higher level. After a couple of years

he moved his bees home and then

studied for his BBKA microscopy

exam and passed. He offered his

services to our branch to check for

nosema and studied pollen and

gave us many talks over the years.

In the year 2000 when we launched

our training apiary, Peter became

one of the tutors which he did until

he had to give up, to look after his ill

wife Barbara.

Peter will be very much missed, for

his generosity and cheerful ap-

proach to beginners.

Michael Hunt

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Page 2 BULLETIN NUMBER 234

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PASSED THEIR BEEKEEPING EXAMS THIS YEAR

Congratulations and thanks to all candidates who attended the BBKA Basic Assessments at their Branch apiaries

or apiaries within GBKA..

32 passes, 1 junior pass and 2 applicants who were unable to attend. List is as follows:-

Cheltenham and Gloucester Branch :- Michael Bishop, Nigel Cound, David Galpin, John Galpin, Deborah Harding,

Gillian Paterson, Mary Paterson, Ray Paterson, Paul Rabbich, Jean Reeve, Stacey Thorne, Fiona Wheeler.

Cirencester Branch :- William Mead.

Dean Forest Branch:- Corinna Arnold, A. J. Blamey, Guy Cooper, Raymond Daunter, Alice Hogge, Naomi Lindsay, John

Myatt, Andrew White, Christopher White.

Newent Branch:- Alan Marfell, Terry Ball, Barbara Capener, Hilary Lyon, Gill. Moseley, Brian Wilkins.

South Glos. Branch :- Marcus Hart, Judith Harford and one junior - Joe Stott.

Stroud Branch:- Kevin Lea, Keith Smeaton, Christopher Wilkes.

The Assessors for the 2013 season were Val. and Jim Vivian- Griffiths, Mike Hunt, Brian Durk and Roger Eldridge.

They did a very good job and made the best of what started out as a difficult season. The Branch organisers and Trainers are

also to be thanked for their efforts as the results show.

Three candidates attempted the Advanced Husbandry this year. I received two certificates for the successful

candidates and I was pleased to present the certificates to Val. Vivian- Griffiths and Jim Vivian- Griffiths.

The November Module Exams. are due to be taken on Sat. 9th November`13. GBKA have 11 candidates taking Modules 2, 3,

5, 7.

Three candidates are taking the Microscopy exam. later this year.

Many Thanks, Bernie Danvers. Hon. Exam. Sec. for GBKA..

Berkeley Show

If you have never been to Berkeley Show on the August Bank Holiday, I strongly recommend it to you. The site is lovely with the Castle over looking the show ground and Berkeley Pill running round much of the area. South Glos BKA has had a pitch there since the late 70’s or early 80’s. At first just honey and related products were sold. Later, as now, we have had a mesh walled open topped tent or enclosure with two hives in. Open hive demonstrations were held every hour evoking much interest.

The first shows, as said earlier were staffed by Don Streatfield, Chris Oliver and myself. Since then we have expanded our range of activities greatly, under the chairmanship of Hugh Lewis and Janet Dowling and have had big attendances includ-ing our then M.P. John (later Lord) Cope.

A good venue, an excellent day brought in receipts to members of about £1500.

Peter Grudgings

Dear Members of the G.B.K.A.,

You should have all now paid up your subscription for the year 2013/2014

If you have not paid up by the beginning of December, your hive insurance will cancel and also your subscrip-tion to having the Bulletin, Year Book and BBKA News. Do you realise that you will not be insured against public liability if you do not pay your subs. If you pay on time your Branch Treasurer will have time to get your subs sent off to the County Treasurer and me. I then have to let BBKA know that you are staying on as a member. PLEASE PAY NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO OR PLEASE LET YOUR MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY/TREASURER KNOW YOU DO NOT WANT TO KEEP BEES ANYMORE.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE

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Inside Story Headline

Page 3 BULLETIN NUMBER 234

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GBKA 2013 Auction Report

491 Lots entered.

414 Sold.

83 Actual buyers.

Total of £8,654 taken.

Surplus of £928.75. after costs.

Organising the Auction is reasonable straight-forward, the real test is what happens on the day.

Association members appearing on the day to help, will be being harnessed to a task for the first time in

many cases, making a success of their disciplines in a positive and cheerful manner, and this makes the day.

I give my sincere and humble thanks to you all. The site at Hempsted is exposed to the weather which can be a problem, but it has all the amenities we need .

The Lots were variable, as usual, the bee lots were very good considering the Winter losses experienced by many bee-keepers.

The Auction itself ran smoothly , any problems I believe were soon sorted out. Our Treasurer, Ian Caldwell, certainly has every-

thing under control producing up-date info. supported with interesting graphs.

Auction 2014 is already booked, the Auction Committee have now found an alterative site.

Please see the Advert with this Bulletin

Bernie Danvers. Auction Manager.

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Stroudbeekeepers Junior Buzzclub Awards On Friday the 19th July Stroudbeekeepers Buzzclub members were awarded Certificates of Excellence by Roger Eldridge the President of the Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association. Photo 1 Roger Eldridge presenting the Little Bees their certificates: from the left India Aznal-Bowker, Freya Winkley, Daisy Koos Ella Winkley

Photo 2 Roger, Peter and from the left Oskar Langley-Walker, James Tiley and Emily Doherty of the St Dominics Buzzclub

Photo 3 Roger and Peter and from the left Matilda Mathews, Olivia Guest, Luna Aznal- Bowker, Frankie Birch, Amory Falconer and Nathan Solle Throughout the spring and summer children from ages 5 to 12 have met at the Apiary in Woodchester. The sessions were led by Pat Brown and Peter Lead of Stroud Beekeepers and children have been learning about honey bees and how to Bee kind and to take care of the world of the honey bee. On Friday they talked to Roger, telling him all they knew, answered questions, and looked into a hive of bees. The younger ones gave a little play enacting worker and drone bees, a queen bee and swarming. The children were then each presented with a Certificate of Excellence. The Buzzclub is open to children from the ages of 5 to 12. They are all wear protective clothing when necessary and meet on Friday afternoons from 2.00 to 6.00 in 3 classes, divided according to their age. If your child is interested in joining please email [email protected]

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HONEY AND OATMEAL BUNS

4 oz. White flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

2 ½ oz. Margarine

4 oz. Fine oatmeal

1 teaspoon ground ginger

I egg

3 dessertspoons honey

milk (if needed)

Sift the flour, baking powder and ginger together, rub in the mar-garine and stir in the oatmeal. Beat the egg, stir in the liquid hon-ey and add this slowly to the dry ingredients, mixing well with a fork. If too stiff, add a little milk. Divide into rough piles (as for rock buns) and bake in a moderate oven.

County Chairman - Michael Forster (01452) 331573

County Secretary - Marie Toman (01291) 620345

County Treasurer - Ian Caldwell (01684) 566200

County Bulletin Editor - Annie Ellis (01242) 571175

Examination Secretary - Bernie Danvers (01594) 825063

GBKA Spray Liaison Officer – Roger Houldey (01452) 700271

GBKA BBKA Delegate – Neil Hadley (01684) 297463

GBKA Librarians - Alan & Carol Hardacre (01452) 610370

GBKA Trailer Bookings- Hugh Lewis (01453) 811969

DEAN FOREST

Secretary – Graham Carter (01594) 861002

Indoor meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7.15pm for 7.30pm at Staunton Village Hall, near Coleford.

Thursday 6th December – Indoor Meeting

Christmas Social

Thursday 16th January – Indoor Meeting

‘Pollen Identification’, by Dinah Sweet

Thursday 6th February – Indoor Meeting

‘Identifying Brood Diseases’, by Jim Vivian-Griffiths

NEWENT

Secretary – Julie Baker (01452) 424229

Indoor meetings are held in the 6th Form Library Room in the Newent Com-munity School/Leisure Centre, Watery Lane, Newent, on the last Thursday of the month, at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Thursday 30th January – Indoor Meeting

Quiz

Thursday 28th February – Indoor Meeting

‘A Bee and Invertebrate Microscopy Taster Evening – Where Science meets Art’, by Cath Hodsman

Back Page Story Headline

BRANCH DIARY DATES Any GBKA Member may attend any of

the other Branch Meetings in the County.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

CHELTENHAM & GLOUCESTER

Secretary – Deborah Harding (01242) 696434

Indoor meetings are held in Ucking-ton and Elmstone Hardwicke Village Hall, Uckington, at 7.15 pm for 7.30pm.

Friday 14th December - Indoor Meeting

Christmas Social with Bring and Share Supper and Branch Honey Show

Friday 10th January – Indoor Meeting

‘Bees For Development’, by Janet Lowore

Friday 14th February – Indoor Meeting

‘Queen Rearing’, by Dave Maslen

CIRENCESTER AND DISTRICT

Secretary – Patsy Ward (01285) 643892

Indoor meetings are held in The Rural Skills Centre, Coates, at 7.00pm.

Thursday 5th December – Indoor Meeting

Natter and Noggin

NORTH COTSWOLD Secretary - Julia Edwards (01608) 659396

Indoor meetings are held in Adlestrop Vil-lage Hall, Adlestrop, on a Thursday of the month at 7.30pm

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Secretary – Richard Dalrymple-Smith (01454) 260278

Indoor meetings are held in Alveston Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm. unless stated.

Tuesday 21st January – Indoor Meeting

‘Asian Hornets and anything topical’, by Jeff Bee

Tuesday 15th February - Indoor Meeting

‘Keeping Bees, the Humorous side,’ by Dave Maslen

STROUD

Secretary – Peter Lead (01453) 832383

Indoor meetings are held at St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School, St Mary’s Hill, Inchbrook, Stroud, GL5 5HP at 7.30pm un-less stated.

Programme see their website

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE BEEKEEPERS

ASSOCIATION

AUCTION Saturday 10th May 2014

Held at the Cotswold Riding for the Disabled indoor school,

Prestbury Park Racecourse, Cheltenham, GL50 4SH

(If you want to have a look at the place go to www.cotswoldrda.org.uk)

Auction of equipment - 12 noon

Auction of Bees 3pm

Live bees (Inspected on the Day)

Live bees to be entered by 10.00am

Lots taken from 8.00am to 11am on the Day

NO wet comb

Refreshments available

All lots must be removed by 6pm

General Enquiries: Rolf Ellis (01242) 571175

Lot Enquiries: Bernie Danvers (01594) 825063

Please let Bernie know a week before the Auction that you will be

bringing live bees to sell

See the GBKA website for further information

www.gbka.org.uk.

If you want to sell a lot of items there is a sellers form to download and print off

the website (you will need to fill in two copies and bring them with you)

With thanks to the Cotswold RDA Group and Agri-Nova

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