JBKA Council Members

Beekeeping must be in my blood as both my father and a grandmother kept bees. I started beekeeping and joined the JBKA in 2002 after taking over a property that had a number of hives on. Most were dead, after the beekeeper (who had been stung badly) lost confidence and just didn’t want to care for them. However three hives had signs of life. With a little help from a mentor, hive tool in one hand, beekeeping book in the other, I slowly started to learn the craft. Now I try to keep 6 colonies, a mixture of WBC and Nationals. In 2004 I was press-ganged onto Council for a 5 year stint, then again in 2020. I recently did a three year period as a swarm coordinator, and since 2022 I have run the Introduction to Beekeeping Course. I am also the Asian hornet Coordinator for the Government of Jersey.

My bee keeping life started in Africa when I had some very aggressive bees take up home in the roof of my house. Despite many stings later, I continued to be fascinated by them. On returning to Jersey, the chance to explore the hobby further came in 2013 when a swarm took up residence in an owl box. My journey into the craft of bee keeping was further cemented when I met and was mentored by the late Ian Steven. His words that grabbed me were ‘I have been bee keeping for 70 years and I am still learning’ – we can all attest to that!  

I was fortunate to be President of the Association during its Centenary celebrations which saw the opening of our bee field and other important events that captured the public’s interest.  I enjoy the conversations at Council meetings and particularly of progressing the craft for members (and indeed my own skills). I have now returned to Council and am responsible for education which is so important being responsible for up to 500,000 lives in my ten hives.

Moving ahead, I would like to see greater participation in the Association from members that is coupled with the development of our skills. Bees increasingly face many threats, and the only one we can control is what we do as beekeepers, so let’s do what we can!   

I joined the JBKA in 2019 after moving to an old farm house in St. Martin. I'd been interested in keeping bees for some time, and so having a potential space to keep a few hives, I enrolled on the Introduction to Beekeeping Course. I bought a nuc with a colony that spring, and have continued learning with my bees every season since! 

Being a keen new-bee, I was asked to join the Committee in February 2020, and then became Vice President in February 2022, which I continue in.

My weekends are often spent pottering in my garden with my young family, making note of the various pollinators visiting us, growing a few veggies, and trying to make it an attractive mini-ecosystem for us to enjoy (in addition to looking after my bees of course). I have a passion for wildlife and the environment and believe that we all have a responsibility to do what we can in our own sphere of influence. Sustainability is complicated but fascinating and critical, and I'm fortunate to work in the construction industry where I can be part of the solution for a more sustainable future. Alongside my beekeeping, I also have an interest in regenerative & micro-farming, something that (if I can find a few more hours in the day), I'd like to develop on my little strip of field.

I joined the JBKA in 2021 as a prospective beekeeper after having  a hive gifted to my wife as a birthday present from my daughter.   Obtained a swarm via JBKA in July 2022 and fortunately they survived winter and thrived  during 2023.  Intention is to split  the hive this year and move forward from there.  Joined the council in 2023 to take an active interest and role in future development of the Association.

I have been a practicing Top Bar Hive beekeeper now coming into my sixth year and moving over to a more mainstream form of beekeeping in 2021 using National Polly Hives ( Bob Hogge introduced me to my first Nuc Polly hive ( which was very successful!) 

Tim Du Feu kindly set up a mentored group which Alethea and myself both benefited from in 2022 and along with much needed help and support from Kingsley Pallot, Bob Hogge & Ken. It’s been a learning curve entering into the world of bee husbandry knowing  that there are so many lives in each colony that you are responsible for. 

Having spent time at the Bee Field engaging in conversation about bees and learning about whats not in the book! ……..it was here I was encouraged into sitting my first Assessment with BBKA by Tony our new President. With support from our education committee member I passed the bee health Assessment and contributed to the award of a BBKA prize . 

I have also been supporting the Asian Hornet team in tracking nests advised by Alistair as this has become an essential part of beekeeping.

Now in 2024 I have become a committee member and looking forward to supporting the JBKA in the future. 

We hopefully look forward to seeing you at a JBKA future event. 

I joined the JBKA in 2001 after spending a season helping a local beekeeper and
being fascinated by the bees and their hives. I started off using WBC hives for a few
years, moving onto Smith Hives with deep brood boxes. I try to keep below 10
colonies! It wasn't long before I was asked to help on council, voted on in 2003 until 2010 with a year as Vice President (2007/2008). The association rejoined the BBKA in 2012 and I became membership secretary in 2013. I served a three year term as President from 2020 until 2023.

I have been a beekeeper since 2001 actively attending JBKA apiary meetings from but only getting my first hives bees , a WBC, from Maurice Gautier in 2003 I joined the Council in 2012 as a vice president in 2012 and took over from Bob Tompkins as President in 2013 retiring in 2017, the JBKA’s centenary year.

In 2016 I bought a field in St Saviour with the aim of giving the JBKA a permanent base for their activities. The Bee Field was officially opened by the BBKA President John Hendrie and I have managed it since then for the JBKA with aim of encouraging pollinators of all sorts by providing an orchard, ponds, wildflower strips and brambles. The Bee Field’s primary function is educational both for beekeepers and more widely for the people of Jersey with the encouragement of school visits and more casual drop ins. There are also ongoing  pollinator research projects with Bristol University and other projects to do with Vespa velutina (Asian Hornet} recognition using the facilities that the Bee Field has to offer.

As a former trustee of the BBKA 2021-22 I realise the value of education and training both to beekeepers and more widely and manage the Bee Field with that in mind.

I joined the JBKA in 2019, fulfilling a childhood desire to become a beekeeper. My first colony was a swarm, donated by Bob Hogge, which I placed in a WBC hive in my garden in St Peter where it remains to this day. I am also a registered swarm collector and as a keen member I was invited to join council towards the end of my first season. My fascination with the honey bee drives me to assist with school visits to the bee field where both staff and children are introduced to the craft of beekeeping, a very rewarding pursuit which has become a significant focus for me.

I am the JBKA Honorary Treasurer, which I volunteered my services for in 2019.
I got hooked on the craft around the mid 1980’s when I was introduced to it by my
then future father in-law, who originated from Brittany and who’s father had kept
bees in France in the old traditional method. Having always been fascinated in the
natural world I was honoured to be asked to help with the various activities involved
with keeping bees, after getting my first book, ‘Guide to Bees and Honey’ by Ted
Hooper, I have never looked back.
I keep my bees in the east of St Lawrence in WBC hives.

I joined the JBKA in 2006 ,served three terms on council including the one at the moment and the last four years running the association apiary at the elm’s.

I started using 14x12 national hives but have now changed to standard deep nationals and have around 40 colonies at the moment in st Ouen

Alethea grew up around beekeeping as her late father, Ian Steven, kept bees for over 70 years and at one point over 50 hives. Alethea started beekeeping in spring 2021, by taking over the management of her father’s hives. Due to the large number of hives for a novice, 7 hives, Alethea joined the JBKA to get as much help and information about this wonderful hobby. She also joined an invaluable mentoring group headed by Tim du Feu. The first few years she describes as a baptism of fire! Alethea believes she learns something new from every JBKA social event and encourages the social side of sharing information. She joined the committee in 2022. She lives in St Saviour and her 13 hives keep her on her toes. She is a garden designer and gardener at Leaf and Bee Gardens, with a focus on pollinator friendly planting. 

My mother started beekeeping and asked me to move a hive, I was duly stung over 20 times!  Since then after moving to Jersey I have BEEn involved since 2017, almost had a leg amputated due to bee stings and my hives are feisty.  Managing to hold onto 4 hives (mixed Langstroth and national), albeit due to incapacity I rely on others to help, Secretary since 2019 and keen to go on (and on) if given the chance.