The BeeHolder, July 2010

The following is a message from Our President, Master Beekeeper, Jim Crundwell.

Herbie Parker was a jobbing gardener, that is he worked for people with large gardens too big to manage, but not large enough to warrant a full-time gardener. As such Herbie worked for our neighbour one day a week. Importantly to me he was a beekeeper. As I had started beekeeping with a beginner’s outfit from Taylors and had no contact with another beekeeper, Herbie was a godsend, he corrected my mistakes and misconceptions. I thought he was a terrific beekeeper, later I realise that he was wrong about some things, but he got lots of honey. Because he was self employed he was in a position to collect stray swarms and was never short of bees.

I did have a book “Beekeeping” by Joseph Tinsley which was alright as far as it went, but one of its shortcomings was advice on the use of the smoker. “If the bees get irritable or out of hand, they can be controlled by (the) application of a little more smoke” According to Ada Rowse with who I worked later, Joe did not always practice what he preached. She had been a student at West Scotland College of Agriculture where he was Lecturer in Beekeeping.

It is very difficult to learn practical beekeeping without seeing it done by a competent person. That is why apiary meetings are so valuable. Every beekeeper needs a Herbie Parker. If you have a few years experience, please consider becoming a mentor to someone near you who may be floundering. At least make contact and exchange ‘phone numbers. Offer the loan of equipment such as honey extractor. Herbie lent me his for my first crop, 9lbs about which he was rather dismissive but to me it was a triumph.

Jim Crundwell