the wiltshire beekeepers...

The Wiltshire Beekeepers’ Bulletin Source Date Detail

The Wiltshire Beekeepers’ Bulletin Editor: The Rev D L. Bryce Salisbury

No. 27 Sept 1943

This issue concentrated on reminding beekeepers about preparations for “good wintering.” There was also an issue about unity among Beekeeping Assocs. The aim was to find a democratic and financially sound way to form a central organisation. The late Dr Lord of Kent was quoted as saying that: “Beekeepers seem to expect five shillings worth of organisation for sixpence”! Subscription to the Wiltshire beekeepers’ Assoc. was 3 shillings. Insurance against “brood disease” was 1/6d for six hives with 3d for each extra hive. However, the importance of vigilance was stressed as it was extremely difficult to buy replacement bees in the post war period. Beekeepers were also urged to use the Wiltshire Honey label to help boost post war sales. Labels were offered at the pre-war price of 1/3d per 100. The Ministry of Food announced that beekeepers qualified for supplies of sugar not exceeding 10 lbs per colony for over-winter supplementing. A reduced allowance of 5lbs per colony would be available from Feb to May for spring feeding.

Back cover addressed to Mr G H Woodford

WBB Editor: Thomas W. Hobday The Schoolhouse Wootton Bassett

No. 40 Nov/Dec 1945

A Council meeting was held on !5 Sept. at Devizes. 36 delegates attended inc. representatives from Swindon. Subscription 5/- plus brood disease insurance. A cheque for £15.5s was presented to The Rev. D L Bryce for his services to Wiltshire Beekeepers. Swindon hosted lectures on Friday evenings in October and November at Clarence Street School on Advanced Beekeeping. Attendees could apply for petrol allowance to attend the lectures. The magazine featured a thank you message from Rear-Admiral G E Creasy for beekeepers throughout the country for their generous gifts of honey to submariner crews. However it was felt that so much was being sacrificed at home that further acceptance of honey was no longer justified. A Ministry of Food Press Notice announced that beekeepers could claim an allowance of 10lbs of sugar in the autumn and a further 5lbs in February 1946 “if the supply position permits.” “Instructor in Beekeeping”, Mr H Teal wrote an article for those contemplating starting up beekeeping. *Newspaper cutting about major bkpg counties & total honey prod in 1945/6* - found in above magazine

The Southern Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations 20th Year of issue

1946 Year Book

Entry for Swindon and District Beekeepers’ Association

President: J. F. C. Masters, Esq. Chairman: B. S. Smith Vice Chairman: A. E. Fisher

Hon. Secretary: E. G. Gooding, 205 Kingshill Road, Swindon Hon. Treasurer: Dr R. B. Hick, 92 Kent Road, Swindon Hon. Microscopist: L. Darke, 20 Walcot Road, Swindon

Delegates to Wilts B.K.A.:

Mrs G. Gough, Dr R. B. Hick, D. Hoare, O. Kembrey and Sergt.S. J. Young

Committee: Mrs G. Gough, Mrs S. Lovegrove, Messrs. W. G. Drew, L. V. Parker, D. Hoare, O. Kembrey, M. Gardner, H. E. Fisher, H. J. Osborn, C. Gardner, E. C. B. Smith, and Sergt. S. J. Young

ANNUAL REPORT 1945 The 1945 season has been, on the whole, a satisfactory one for this district. Though our membership has decreased by eight, our activities have been well maintained. The Annual General Meeting was held on April 19th, fifty members being present, and officers were elected as above. Two Courses of Instruction have been held, and these were well attended. One member took and passed the Preliminary Exam., and nine members sat for the Intermediate Exam. We have to congratulate Sergt. S. J. Young in passing in both sections of the exam., and four other candidates in passing one section. Mr Darke carried out a number of inspections for Brood Disease, but found only one case in the Swindon Town Area. This is a good improvement on last year, and we hope to have a clean bill this year.

E. G. Gooding, Hon. Secretary BALANCE SHEET Receipts Expenditure £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance, Dec 31st 9 15 31/2 Capitation Fees 5 11 0 Contributions 15 9 0 B.D.I. Premiums 9 6 0 B.D.I. Premiums 9 6 0 Third Party Insurance 18 9 Examination Fees 9 16 6 Hire of Rooms 2 3 6 Examination fees 9 16 6 Stationery 4 81/2 Postage and Poundage 3 11 51/2 Telephone Call 4 Testimonial – Rev. Bryce 1 1 0 Minute Book 5 6 Gratuities – Caretaker 5 0 Balance December 31st, 1945 11 3 01/2 ________________ _________________ £44 6 91/2 £44 6 91/2


No. 41 Jan/Feb 1946

The general secretary (Mr Teal) announced that the annual subscription rate should be raised from 2s 6d to 6s 3d, quoting financial experts a stating that goods and services bought before the war for 8s 4d would now cost £1. He also urged all members to continue to encourage more new beekeepers and strive to increase the production of honey for this “our Island” during post war difficulties. Illustrated lectures on elementary beekeeping were held on Friday evenings at The Clarence Street School. A letter was published from the Red Cross Agricultural Fund, thanking the Association for its part in the rural community’s raising of over £8.000,000 for the Duke of Gloucester’s Appeal as part of £53,000,000 collected for the War Organisation of the Red Cross and St John. Enclosed with the letter was a personal certificate of thanks from H R H. The Duke of Gloucester. Mr Teal wrote that it was now easier to start beekeeping because prices for equipment and materials for making hives were coming down, and because some of those who had bought hives during the war were finding it wasn’t “so simple” as they had thought! With a hive ready for bees and basic equipment, costing about £7 10s, and a supply of bees costing £2 - £4, one could start beekeeping for about £10. If you were making hives, you could obtain a pound’s worth of timber without a permit, and plans were supplied by Messrs. “Beeprints”, Luton Road, Harpenden, Herts. He finished with the advice his father gave - “measure twice, cut once, my boy: it saves timber and heartache.”


No. 42 Mar/April 1946

This edition was only 8 pages instead of 16 – because the Assoc. had to fund printing itself as the Wiltshire War Agricultural Executive Committee was no longer able to print it. The agenda for the AGM on March 23rd included a lecture by Mr Bassindale, lecturer in Entomology at Bristol University, on ”Bees other than honey bees”. A beekeeping quiz was also planned with a combined team from Trowbridge and Warminster challenging a team from Swindon and Salisbury. A petrol allowance was available to attend this meeting. A cash discount of 10% was offered on production of membership receipt from the following beekeeping suppliers: J Barter, Hunts Farm Apiaries, Cherhill, Calne Messrs. Binfields, Pottern Wick, Devizes. H Jeffery, 3 Newport St, Swindon Messrs Sainsbury’s, Trowbridge H J Shewry, Woodlands, Coldharbour, Marlborough 5lbs sugar per colony was available if applied for by 31st may.


No. 43 May/June 1946

For the first time this issue carried advertisements to raise income to produce a fatter Bulletin.

Mr Ilingworth recommended using camphor to treat Braule Coeca – a small insect which lives mainly on queens. The 1945 Season Questionnaire revealed that the average no of stocks held was 3.5 and some exceptional crops were recorded including more than 150 lbs from a Devizes hive and an average of 67lbs in Swindon. The average price for honey was 2/6s. The survey concluded that in Wiltshire, “honey production resolves itself into substituting sugar for honey and profiting by the difference in price.” Mr Teal continued to advise new beekeepers - this time about obtaining bees themselves. Attention was drawn to the fact that schools could be admitted to the association as corporate members. A further dealer giving 10% discount was added to the list: Bussell, Pike and Wheeler, New Road Chippenham. The programme for the Wiltshire Field Day on June 29th was published. Members had been invited to see the methods and equipment of Mr A. W. Gale, Britains largest Bee Farmer. 2.45pm Meet promptly at the Woodbridge Inn between Pewsey and Upavon, to be taken to the remote North Newnton Apiary. This apiary is for commercial honey production and members will see a “gang” in action. 3.45pm Visit to the queen rearing apiary, near Marlborough 4.30pm Tea at Mr Gales home, Church Farm. Mildenhall. 5.30pm Visit to Mr Gales London Road premises – a modern extraction and processing plant. Petrol allowances were again available for this visit.

John Woolford’s account by bicycle!* *The issue featured an advert for Taylors of Welwyn – see Jean Tuck’s account*.


No. 44 July/ August 1946 *delivered by post 1d stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The General Secretary announced that the Ministry of Agriculture would make available to beekeepers the cortex fitting of the civilian gas mask, for the administration of oil of wintergreen for the treatment of Acarine disease, at the ridiculous cost of 1p each! He berated members for their lack of response as alternative means of their disposal would soon have to be found. He also reminded new members that there was an attractive Association honey label in blue and white for 1s 3d per 100. The incidence of Foul Brood was reduced – 10%of apiaries visited and 5% of colonies examined, compared with 15% and 7% in 1944. Experiments were being conducted on the new treatment Sulphonamide for the treatment of American Foul Brood. *No separate notes or news for Swindon branch to date*


No. 45 Sept/Oct 1946 *delivered by post 1d stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The Editor praised modern single walled hives and scorned W.B. C. hives as anachronistic, and Mr Teal berated members who didn’t bother to read notices, especially about insurance and compensation for foul brood. Bath honey show was to be held in the Pump Room, Bath on 27th & 28th Sept, with a class for Wiltshire Beekeepers only – an opportunity to win £2 10s for an entry fee of 1s 6d! Beekeeping statistics for 1944/45 showed that in Wiltshire there were 1968 beekeepers with 11,313 colonies. The output of honey was 212 tons, with the approximate value of £59,393. There was a

suspicion that not all beekeepers were declaring their yields – sometimes on the grounds that they were so meagre as to be “not worth recording” Of course these beekeepers had been given substantial amounts of sugar for their bees! The Ministry of Food policy of sugar for bees was again in place for 1946/47. Found in this issue, detailing feeding device:

T.Lynn & Sons, Andover was added to the list of suppliers giving discount.


No. 46 Nov/Dec 1946 *delivered by post 1d stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The Editor comments that although this has not been a good honey season some credit should be given to the bees for their part in producing a bumper fruit harvest. The edition is also larger because of increased revenue through advertising. At the Bath Show, Wilts won the quiz! Some comments on the season in the questionnaire: “This year’s honey was unusually dark and thin” “The bees were more bad tempered than usual” “Could say a lot but it would be unprintable!” This is the first edition that carries a branch notice from Swindon: It publicised a series of six lectures on Beekeeping by Mr Teal at the Clarence Street school starting on Friday 8th November – subjects to be decided by the members. There would also be a lecture at Euclid Street School on Saturday 7th December with lantern slides.

The Southern Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations 21st year of issue

1947 Year Book


No. 47 Jan/Feb *delivered by hand to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The editor drew readers’ attention to a notice in this issue from the Swindon Association about treatment of foul brood and acarine. By a systematic attack, foul brood had been reduced from 26% to ½%, and now there was a plan to tackle acarine. This disease, only detectable by microscopical examination of samples, was thought to be present in 1 out of 6 hives countywide. Swindon had arranged for 1 out of every 5 known beekeepers in the district to collect 20 bees from a number of hives and send them to the Honourary Microscopist, Mr L. Darke, at 20 Walcot Road, Swindon. The results would be notified to beekeepers and published in a later edition. The notice ends: “Swindon has won high praise for its wonderful co-operation in the attack of A.F.B. and there is no reason why we cannot do the same in the attack on acarine and be the first in the field once more.”

The magazine also told members that the terms from approved dealers had been revised – members would now only get 5% discount for cash purchases. The editor again stressed the importance of members supporting the suppliers who advertised in the magazine – their revenue helped enormously with printing costs. Mr Teal was planning a further series of lectures on advanced beekeeping on Friday evenings at Clarence Street School.


No. 48**** Mar/April 1947 *delivered by post 1d stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The editor comments on the unusually severe winter and also urges all members to look out for news in the forthcoming Yearbook of new publications and innovations which were to be expected after the War years. An article asked that beekeepers observe whether their bees were visiting trees for pollen and send in reports to the B.B.K.A. Research Committee. The issue also carried a flyer about Acarine Disease, instructing all beekeepers to follow an annual chemical treatment programme. The Chief Executive Officer of the Wiltshire War Agricultural Executive Committee announced that, following the Foul Brood Diseases of Bees Order of 1942, there had been an overall decrease in the incidence of the disease. However, the Wiltshire Association would instigate a more intensive programme of examination of all stocks, based on the details of all beekeepers who had applied for sugar for feeding bees, supplied by the Ministry of Food. The notice also appealed for more volunteer Appointed Officers to assist with the inspections – “Any beekeeper who feels he has the necessary experience, the tact and time available for this work, can be trained in disease recognition and I shall be glad to hear from any such beekeepers,”

National Survey and Crop Report

Notes from the Swindon branch announced that plans for an Association Apiary were going ahead. A site had been chosen in the old quarries, (near the Town Gardens), thanks to Mr Bassett. Offers of help to clear and prepare the site were to go to Mr Andrews. A STOP PRESS message from Burt & Son, Gloucester that the Board of Trade had announced that “special licenses for the import of books of a technical nature are no longer needed, so we are now free to accept orders for anything available.”

WBB Editor: Thomas W. Hobday The Schoolhouse Wootton Bassett Phone: Wootton Bassett 54

No. 49 May/June 1947 *delivered by post 1d stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

Mr Teal recounted that many stocks had died out during the harsh winter. He reminded beekeepers that their brood disease insurance would not cover such losses and appealed for any surplus bees to make good stocks. He also announced that the Association would take part in this year’s Southern Federation Field Day at Stourhead near Mere on June 21st. The issue featured 11/2 pages of notes for the novice written by Major Raymond Addington of Calne and Dist. Beekeepers’ Assoc. He stressed the importance of spending time at the open hive observing bee behaviour. “It is not sufficient to read about them, attend lectures and meetings and chatter about them.” There is a wonderful photograph of his home designed and built wheelbarrow for moving hives. P10

There was also a “Know your honey bee” article about bees’ legs! The magazine publicised a new Beekeepers’ magazine from America priced 8s 3d per annual subscription – “well produced of the chatty type with several well-known American contributors.” A Ministry of Food press notice announced that from may 1st, beekeepers could apply for the usual supplies of sugar, not exceeding 5lbs per mating nucleus, and solely for the large scale purpose of rearing queens to help re-stock hives. Binfields of Potterne, Devizes advertised that “We are the Builders of Homes Fit for bees to live in.”


No. 50 July/Aug 1947 *delivered by hand to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The Editor noted that this was a small issue, because the revenue from advertising was insufficient, and asked whether members would be willing to pay a higher subscription. A competition was announced to find the most suitable design for a printing block for a new heading for the front page of the Bulletin. The project was funded from a £5 donation made by Dr Matthews and a prize of £1 1s 0d was offered. The design was to feature Wiltshire and/or beekeeping and the closing date was to be September 30th.

Phone: Wootton Bassett 54

The magazine also featured more Notes for the Novice, an article about beekeeping in Arabia, and the Swindon and District Acarine Survey, written by L. Darke, Honoray Microscopist to the Swindon B.K.A. P7

In1934, the first locally-recorded dissections of bees found Acarine in an infested stock in Swindon. The “Frow” treatment resulted in a complete cure. The Hon. Microscopist was appointed in 1937 and local examinations became available to members. Locally, the disease was always about, but in fewer than one in five hives. By 1945, the local service had been extended to all beekeepers in N. Wilts. However, the disease was only being found in colonies where beekeepers noticed something wrong, and took the trouble to send in samples. Plans were therefore made for a more accurate survey. Random samples were taken from a proportion of all bees in the area, based on the sugar lists from the local Food Offices. The survey was on-going. George Parsons, Hon. Secretary noted that accompanying the Bulletin was a schedule for the Show at the Red House Community Centre, Purton on August 2nd, to be opened by Lord Oaksey. Swindon and District Branch were to sponsor a Special Class for members, with a special prize of an oak biscuit barrel, given by Mr C H Strange of Purton.


No. 51 Sept/Oct 1947 *delivered by hand to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham*

The General Secretary urged members to build up goodwill for our WILTSHIRE HONEY after a very good year, by using the Association labels. These were printed in blue with the words “Pure Wiltshire Honey”, ready gummed and still at the pre-war price of 1s 3d per 100 post free! The Bath Honey Show was to be on September 26th & 27th and a comprehensive lecture list was published, to be held in the larger venue of the Pump Room Parlour. The magazine also featured an article about Beehouses, Know your Honeybee 3rd pair of legs, and more Notes for the Novice, by Mr Teal. The questionnaire would be circulated soon, so that members could record honey yields for the season. Winter lectures would be given by Mr Teal on Fridays at 7.30pm at The College, Swindon. The evening class rate of 2/- per head would be charged.


No. 52 Nov/Dec 1947 *delivered by post 1p stamp to Mr Stewart Affleck, 8 Deansway Chippenham

The editor commented on the Indian summer of this year and felt sure that, with adequate ventilation and protection against mice, bee colonies should winter well. He wrote that although he had had a good year, but not exceptional, the forthcoming crop reports should show a bumper year! The issue carried the announcement of the death of W. G. Jones, B.Sc, Hon. Secretary of the Devizes Association. He was a Bee Expert, and, despite physical disability, he was much loved and admired. A fellow Wiltshire beekeeper said “ I liked Jones, he had such a keen intellect and was a man of such independent thought and speech.” His obituary ended thus – “Our great attachment to our late secretary grew out of profound respect and gratitude. We are left to mourn and very sad, but in the long dull struggle that lies before us, the brightness of W. Griffith Jones will long remain and surely help.” The Gen Sec urged members to promptly return their B.D.I. Form and Questionnaire, requiring info about the number of stocks held by members and how much honey they produce. There were more questions this time, but he felt sure the Council would not ask them unless they considered it necessary. The information would stand the Association in good stead when asking for support from any government agency, and enable the County to give help where it was needed. The Bath Show was a success, although the number of entries from Wilts was very poor – only eleven! However, Mrs S. Barter won the Bishop Silver Cup for Wilts for the best display of honey and wax! (Quality if not quantity!) The results of the Front Page Heading Competition were published. The winning design was by Mr W.G. Bridger of Swindon. Mr Bridger was not a beekeeper, but a keen artist and friend of member, Mr H. J. Osborn. There was some discussion about the terms “Bulletin” and “Gazette” as to whether “Journal” would better describe the accounts of activities of the Assoc. This debate was postponed until discussions had taken place with Hampshire Assoc. as they had proposed joining with Wilts to produce a shared publication. Winning entry P9

An intriguing article about a hundred foot long concrete bee house was written by Roland G. Morris, of Cornwall. It was mainly used for bee breeding and queen rearing and was heating by electricity! He was entirely convinced of its success and was planning to build second house. He had wintered a hundred stocks with only three losses and these were due to SNAILS blocking the entrances! Mr Raymond Addington wrote an article about observing the behaviour of bees at the entrance to the hive, and Know Your Honeybee featured Wings. “A swarm of bees in July isn’t worth a fly” – Mr Addlington also debunked this old saying with an account of a swarm taken by him from an apple tree on the 9 July. The swarm produced a new stock, 17 B. S. frames fully drawn and about 37 lbs of honey! Some fly! The Wilts B.K.A. Council Meeting discussed some important points about the Bulletin. It was agreed that an additional 6d of the increased subscription fee would go to local Associations so that no extra funding would be available for the production of the Bulletin. The publication was increasing in size, 18 pages compared with 11 pages the previous year, and costs had risen from £44 to £78. This cost had been more than covered by advertising income of £85. Notes For Novices gave new beekeepers info about all the jobs they could do in winter – just when you were going to put your feet up! A letter from Mr G.W.B.Hext of Marlborough college questioned a detail in a previous Know Your Honeybee article. The Editor responded by firmly asserting his confidence in the reliability of his sources! Subscription 5s; Minimum Insurance 1s; Total Minimum 6s Beekeepers were still subsidised by a Council approved discount of 5% from dealers: Mssrs Binfields, Potterne Wick, Devizes H. Jeffrey, 3 Newport St, Swindon Mssrs Sainsbury, Trowbridge Mssrs Bussel, Pike and Wheeler,Chippenham E. Hatchett, Winterslow, Salisbury The AGM featured a talk by Lieut.-Col. G.R. Gayre M.A., D.Sc.

about the history and character of mead, and a talk by Mr H.F.Liddell about “The purification of wax”. A note about Tea stated – “Owing to the present rationing of bread and cake rationing, ONLY CUPS OF TEA will be provided and you are welcome to bring what ever you like to eat with you”! Funds for petrol to attend the meeting were available upon application. The back page featured a small ad for Paradichlorobenzene (P.D.P.) for wax and clothes moth 3s per half pound from MR Lovegrove, beekeeper, of Leamington Grove, Swindon

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