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Administration of
Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association
The Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association (BIBBA) is a UK charity (Reg No. 273827)
administered by a committee of trustees. The following list of trustees and their appointed
posts is for the year 2008 as elected at the AGM.
An asterisk * indicates Non voting status as either a non elected
representative of another body or a co-opted member.
Office of President
Terrence E. Clare
Email... president@bibba.com
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Terry was first introduced to bees at 6 years old when he bought his first bee
book. Commenced beekeeping in 1969/70 after attending a beginners' course run by Ken
Beevor. Subsequently spent a year at Hadlow College, which included a period
at the famous Kirkheim Bee Institute in Germany. This resulted in a radical change in his
beekeeping methods which has been reinforced by extensive travel in
European countries. Is about to complete the BBKA's Senior Certificate. Is still a bee
farmer and is down-sizing on his 100 colonies, sells honey, hive
products, bee equipment and clothing, produces and sells queens and is the Convenor for a
breeding group. Writes articles, lectures,
runs workshops and courses in UK and Ireland. Was a former office holder in his local
Association, Conference Convenor for the National Honey Show and is a team member of
the BBKA's Spring Convention. BIBBA's representative on CONBA and the DEFRA National Bee
meetings. Places great in importance on the native bee, bee improvement, breeding
techniques, improved husbandry and education.
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Office of Secretary
Brian Dennis
Email... secretary@bibba.com
Brian also holds the post of Membership Secretary.
Brian's Postal Address
Email... membership-secretary@bibba.com
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I started beekeeping in 1976, along with a friend, as an antidote to the stress of teaching.
My friend lost interest and mine increased to total involvement, obtaining the BBKA
Intermediate Certificate along the way.
I have taken on most roles in Northamptonshire Beekeepers Association being Chairman 3
times and also President.
On joining BIBBA I became a member of the Committee, taking over the job of Membership
Secretary from Albert Knight.
I served on the BBKA Executive Committee for six years and was involved with Education.
After a break of several years, I was again elected on to the Executive. I am at
present Secretary of the Education & Husbandry Committee, Secretary of the Standing
Orders Committee, and Chairman of the Royal Show committee.
When not attending meetings, I attempt to manage & improve about 20 colonies of bees
located in 3 apiaries. My two main preoccupations are gardening & beekeeping!
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Office of Treasurer
Tom Robinson
Email... treasurer@bibba.com
Treasurer's Postal Address
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Tom has been keeping bees since about 1984 and during the last 20 of those years he has
been raising queens and selectively breeding bees. Tom generally runs about 100 colonies
in the York area. York is at the centre of a fertile plain where Oil seed rape, borage
and heather are all in reach. Tom has been on the committee of BIBBA for 12 years and for
the last 5 years has been treasurer.
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Chairman
Dinah Sweet
Email... chairman@bibba.com
Dinah is also our Conference Secretary.
Email... conference-secretary@bibba.com
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Dinah Sweet started her beekeeping with husband John, 34 years ago in Hampshire/Surrey
borders joining both county associations. Members of BIBBA in late 70's and Bee-farmers in
the 80's. Living in Caerphilly (on the north side of a mountain) for last 20 years with
break for 5 years in Caribbean, where due to living in very residential area and
'africanised' bees, stopped beekeeping temporarily. Now looking after Cardiff Beekeepers'
Association's teaching apiary and hives of my own. Beekeeping qualifications: Senior BBKA
Certificate, UK Certificate in Apiculture, Diploma in Apiculture (Cardiff University) with
distinction for dissertation on 'pollen examination in Hampshire honeys', Honey Judge
(WBKA).
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Vice Chairman
Richard Jackman
Email... vice-chairman@bibba.com
Richard holds a second post of Merchandising Manager
Email... merchandising@bibba.com
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Richard Jackman lives at the Berrow in Worcestershire, there have been bees there since
before he was born. In 1992 he realised that 'backyard' beekeepers would be decimated as a
result of the varroa invasion. Quite quickly his colony numbers grew to 60 and in 2007
he was persuaded to install another 20 colonies at a nearby national trust estate. He is
an avid instrumental inseminator, but often find difficulty setting enough time aside for
it. His wife gave him notice to quit the (her) kitchen in 2006 and he now has a barn
converted (almost finished) as an extraction/bottling and insemination 'shed'.
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Minutes Secretary
Brian Milward
Email... none at present
Brian's Postal Address
Brian is BIBBA Show Secretary as well
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Brian Arthur Milward was born in Cardiff in 1937, he obtained his B Sc degree in 1959 and
became a school teacher, then in 1983 he retired from Teaching and took up beekeeping
along with allotment gardening. Brian joined Warwickshire BKA and served as Warwick and
Leamington branch secretary from 1989 until 2002, Brian was also editor of
"Warwickshire Beekeeper" between 1988 and 2001. He did a stint as Warwickshire County
Chairman in 1999 and has gained BBKA Intermediate (1997) and Advanced (2001) Certificates,
in Ireland he gained FIBKA Bee-master in 1999 and passed the Lectureship in 2002. Brian
spent the years 2000 to 2004 as Office Assistant at BBKA-HQ.
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Bee Improvement Editor
Phillip Denwood *
With help from T. Clare in chasing up authors of articles
Email... magazine-editor@bibba.com
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Advertising and Publicity
Roger Patterson * in combination with Dave
Cushman
Email... publicity@bibba.com
Roger is also Website Editor
Email... web-editor@bibba.com
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Roger Patterson is a practical beekeeper who has kept bees since 1963. This was directly
after the harsh 1962/3 winter when a large number of bees and queens were imported. He
quickly realised these imports were not well suited to our climate, and a chance meeting
with Beowulf Cooper resulted in him joining VBBA in 1965. At one stage he ran 130
colonies, but has now reduced and concentrates on teaching the practical aspects of
beekeeping.
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Groups Secretary
Jo Widdicombe * (co-opted)
Email... groups@bibba.com
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Born in Newtown, Powys. Grew up in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire before moving back to
Wales and then to Cornwall where he has lived for over 30 years. Worked in agriculture
(organic vegetable production and dairy) before returning to studies. Graduated from
Plymouth Polytechnic with B.Sc.(Hons) Environmental Science. Has been running own business
(shop selling greengrocery, wholefoods, flowers, plants etc.) with his wife since 1980.
Beekeeper for over 25 years and currently running about 50 hives. Member of BIBBA for over
20 years. Was Secretary of Cornwall BKA for 9 years and Chairman of Southwest Group of Bee
Farmers Association for 2 years.
He believes that progress in bee breeding in Britain and Ireland is only likely to come
from determined groups of beekeepers working together. Hence, wants to communicate with
Groups, find out what they have been doing and their plans for the future. Groups can
learn from each others successes and failures.
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Sales Secretary
John Hendrie * (co-opted)
Email... sales@bibba.com
John has a secondary role to understudy the Treasurer with a view to taking over that post
in future.
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John Hendrie has been involved with bees and beekeeping almost all his life, having been
stung at the age of two by one of his father's colonies. Since graduating from university
in 1971, he has held many offices in local beekeeping associations, including branch
secretary (12 years) and treasurer of Kent BKA (8 years), He was appointed to the exam
board of the BBKA in 1991, is a vice chairman of the National Honey show and a director of
Bee Craft magazine. John is heavily involved in various aspects of the BBKA.
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Archivist
Janet Hinchley
Janet's Postal Address
Janet has no Email at present
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No Photo available
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Conservation Officer
Dorian Pritchard
Email... conservation@bibba.com
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Dorian lives in rural Northumberland beside Hadrian's Wall. For most of his professional
life he has been a Lecturer in Human Genetics at the University Of Newcastle Medical
School and has written a couple of textbooks in genetics. He spends much of his time
writing books and articles as well as lecturing, including teaching a beginners' course in
beekeeping. Married for nearly 40 years, having two grown-up children, He enjoys natural
history, walking, working in the woods, house improvement and painting in watercolours. He
has kept bees for nearly 30 years and as a geneticist is convinced of the good sense of
the BIBBA principle of using only the predominant local strain of bee. He is active in the
North Pennines Bee Breeding Group. Dorian is president of SICAMM and for around 10 years convened the
North of England Beekeepers' Convention. He supplies a few local shops with honey.
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Website Compiler
Dave Cushman
Website technical matters and fault reporting
Email... website-technician@bibba.com
Dave is also working with Roger Patterson on
Advertising and Publicity
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Dave has been interested in honey bees since being 4 years of age, but only kept bees for
about 37 years, mostly concentrating on breeding and selection although he also conducted
about 12,000 hours of beekeeping research, Dave was the proprietor of
the bee equipment manufacturing company 'Apex Enterprises', but since retirement has
suffered ill health and no longer breeds the native bees that are his passion. Since
becoming disabled Dave has turned to the design, production and hosting of beekeeping
websites in order to maintain contact with bees and beekeeping matters. BIBBA has always
been a part of Dave's beekeeping life as he was a friend of Beowulf Cooper, who regularly
visited the beekeeping equipment factory. Dave is also a member of GBBG.
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Project Discovery
Mervyn Eddie
Email... meddie@bibba.com
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Having studied agriculture, Mervyn Eddie's career background was firstly in animal
nutrition and then in general management, but is now retired. He is a hobbyist beekeeper
with a keen interest both in Bee Improvement in a general sense and in Conservation of
Apis mellifera mellifera. Mervyn is currently Chairman of the Ulster Beekeepers'
Association to which 9 local general beekeeping associations are affiliated and is a
founder member of the Ulster Bee Improvement Group which is dedicated to the propagation
and reintroduction of Native Irish bees within Northern Ireland. He is an ordinary member
of the Galtee Bee Breeding Group
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Alan Jones
Email... ajones@bibba.com
Alan is responsible for Morphometry within project discovery
Postal address for samples Discovery Samples
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I live in Comber on the shores of Strangford Lough, about 10 miles south of Belfast. I have
been keeping bees for 20 years and run about 20 hives. I migrate a few of my hives to the
Mourne Mountains every year in the hope of harvesting Bell Heather honey which I sell at a
premium price compared to Floral honey. I sell honey and spread the doctrine of beekeeping
at Craft Fairs, Retirement Meetings, Women's Institutes and in fact any group who will
listen to me. I also belong to a breeding group trying to propagate native queens to
combat the importation of queens.
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Ray Dowson
Email... rdowson@bibba.com
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On retiring from his job in 1991 as a Computer Engineer and Service Manager Ray took up
beekeeping. After a low key start, experienced major problems with imported queens and
crosses, decided that a more consistent approach was required. On reading Beowulf Cooper's
`Honeybees of The British Isles' was convinced that the solution was to have 'native bees'.
Started rearing his own queens in 2003 and is now helping and encouraging local beekeepers
to rear queens using 'native' stock. He is currently Chairman of the Ormskirk &
Croston Beekeepers and Treasurer of the Lancashire & North West BKA.
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Enid Brown
Email... ebrown@bibba.com
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My name is Enid Brown and I have lived in Scotlandwell for 14 years. This is a small
village in Kinross-shire. My Grandfather and Father kept bees and I took up beekeeping
the year I moved into the village. I started with 5 hives but, on retirement from the
Police, have gradually increased to around 70. Enid is Advertising, Publicity and Shows
Convener for the Scottish Beekeepers' Association and during the summer months this keeps
me very busy organising the Royal Highland Show, Scottish National Honey Show as well as
taking the publicity stand to various agricultural shows. Locally I am President of Fife
Beekeepers' and vice-President of Dunfermline and West Fife Beekeepers' Associations and,
for the past 6 years have run a joint beginners class for both associations. I have always
been interested in breeding my own queens and demonstrating my method
of queen rearing to other beekeepers.
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Please Note ! Email addresses shown in black text are not active.
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