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Teaching Apiary Opening May 2010

Teaching Apiary Opening May 2010

Last Updated (Tuesday, 18 May 2010 20:23) Written by Administrator Tuesday, 18 May 2010 18:16

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The Official Opening of our new Teaching Apiary took place on 16th May 2010

We thank our honoured guests:

Cllr  Alf Doran BSc (Hons), Mayor of Sefton

Cllr Gill Cuthbertson, MBA BA (Hons) Mayoress of Sefton

Guests:

Mr John Pugh MP

Mr Martin Smith, President BBKA

 

The opening took place on a sunny Sunday afternoon with over 100 members and guests attending from the Southport and Formby, Liverpool and Ormskirk Beekeeping branches.

We were pleased to welcome our Honoured Guests along with Mr John Pugh MP and Mr Martin Smith, President BBKA. Representatives from Waitrose Ltd. also attended who are currently supporting our fund raising efforts for the new Teaching Apiary as part of their Community Matters Scheme.

Mr John Turner, Chairman of the Southport and Formby Beekeeping Association welcomed our guests to the opening. Mr Martin Smith continued the speeches by explaining the importance of  teaching of the basics of beekeeping and the continued tuition of new beekeepers. Mr Smith also presented to the Branch the new "Course-in-a-box" BBKA Teaching Manual for courses for new beekeepers.

The Mayor and Mayoress gratefully received gifts of local honey and the newly created Branch recipe book "The Beekeepers' Picnic", presented by Phillipa Turner.

The Mayor and Mayoress were invited to open the Teaching Apiary by the traditional ribbon cutting, held by two of our junior members Cameron Dawbarn and Guy Matthews.

After the formal opening our Honoured Guests and Guests mingled and chatted with Branch members and guests and all had a splendid afternoon with tea, homemade scones, jam and cream. The Merchant Taylors School for Boys jazz quintent played favourite melodies to enhance the atmosphere and enjoyment of the afternoon.

The enthusiasm of the Mayor, Mayoress and our local MP could not be contained and we were pleased to provide some "hands-on" experience of beekeeping. They were invited to join Mr Smith  to don veils and safety equipment and join Mr Turner in opening one of his hives to give some first hand experience.

We would like to thank our Honoured Guests and guests for their time, interest and enthusiastic support.