JBKA Council Members

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.

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!   

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.

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 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 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 Poly Hives ( Bob Hogge introduced me to my first Nuc Polly hive - which was very successful!) 

In 2022 I joined a mentored group which was hugely beneficial. It’s been a massive 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 what's not in the book! ……..it was here I was encouraged into sitting my first Assessment with the BBKA. With support from our education committee member I passed the Bee Health assessment and contributed to the award of a BBKA prize . 

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I have also been supporting the Asian Hornet team in tracking nests. Unfortunately, in Jersey, control of Asian hornets has become an essential part of beekeeping.

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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 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

I have been a beekeeper since 2001 actively attending JBKA apiary meetings but only getting my first hive of 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.