Article for Gloucestershire Beekeepers’ Association Bulletin

The North Cotswold Branch 40 years on

Plus ca change?

When Secretary of the North Cotswold Branch of GBKA, I enjoyed reading the old records held in the files – correspondence, minute books, invoices etc. Our records only go back as far as 1963 when the Branch appears to have been significantly enhanced by the election of Miss Edna York of Blockley as our Secretary. Indeed, on election, Miss York notes her dismay, that “There is no minute book, either lost or never in existence – as there has not been a Committee before”….. “I have commenced one and written up the minutes of the AGM”.

What is striking in this first year of substantive North Cotswold records is how the issues of major concern or interest forty years ago remain those of major concern and interest now.

In a letter to Miss York, the Treasurer of GBKA, Mrs Radley describes 1963 as “a shocking year for the bees, so very disappointing”. She describes how she had given away four hives to new beekeepers in what sounds like a sixties version of the “freebees scheme”.

In 2003 we have 19 members in the Branch. In 1963 there were 16. Miss York writes “We are endeavouring to pull the Branch up by collecting new members and holding more meetings”. The Branch certainly succeeded in the latter with two talks from the County Beekeeping Instructor Mr. H.Ashworth of Gloucestershire Farm Institute, Hartpury in 1963 but almost monthly meetings during 1964 and a winter fortnightly “Educational Programme” to prepare members for the BBKA Preliminary Certificate.

It is of interest personally that one member in 1963 was Dr. Haine, known to all Blockley residents right up to his death in 2000 as “Dr. Frank”. It was Dr. Frank’s hives, perched under an apple tree just above Donkey Lane in Blockley that first excited my interest in bees. My first lesson with Dr Frank was the sterilising of hive equipment through the burning of a pyramid of sulphur.

There were two issues of major concern to the Secretary of the North Cotwold Branch in 1963. The first relates to subscriptions. Miss York requested clarification of rates for Junior Members, specifically Richard Potter of Briar Hill Farm “the boy from Broad Campden”. Richard still lives by the church in Broad Campden, keeps bees and provides sound advice for the “new boys” in the area. Mr. Robinson, the County Secretary advises Miss York that the Junior Subscription rate (Under-21s) is 10/-. She also seeks guidance on Associate Members: “I have in mind people without bees who would like to attend meetings as a matter of interest i.e. friends, wives”. She is advised that this is entirely a Branch matter but that several Branches have this category and charge 5/-.

The second issues, comprising the majority of the existing correspondence relates to Miss York seeking clarification about “Branch Rules” and “Association Rules”. She writes to Mr. Robinson: “At some time I presume there were rules for the Branch but where they are, no-one knows. The Committee suggested I write to you to know whether you happen to have copies of rules of any of the other Branches so that we may have the benefit of other Branches systems”.

Mr. Robinson replied that whilst Branches “do not appear to have any special rules apart from the rules of the Association”, individual branches did adopt their own practices. For example “at Cheltenham it was felt that a frequent change of Chairman and Committee would spread interest among members and prevent the old gang being perpetually re-elected”. Consequently the Chairman holds office for one year only, the Vice-Chairman for that year automatically becomes the Chairman the following year and, of a Committee of six, the two longest serving members automatically retire each year and are not eligible for re-election that year.

In planning for their December Committee Meeting, Miss York decides that : “Another item for the Agenda is to make some few rules for future guidance”.

So attention in 1963 centred on recruiting new members, revitalising the programme of events, subscriptions and the relationship between the branch and county organisation. Plus ca change?

Jeremy Voaden

Chair, North Cotswold Branch

5 June 2003