This listing provides constructive help to organisers of beekeeping events in the U.K.
and Ireland to contact suitable lecturers as it gives the location of the individual lecturers,
their preparedness to travel and a small amount of biographical informatioon about the lecturer.
Lecturers Details...
Tom Robinson
Tom lives in Yorkshire and is prepared to travel any distance although if accommodation
is required that will need to be provided.
Tel No... 01904 626 170 Email... mautomrobee@talktalk.net
About Tom Robinson
I have been involved for the past 20 years in running about 100 colonies. My main interest
during this time is the selection and rearing of queen bees.
Honey is of course what brings most cash in and as my son now does most of the beekeeping
and extraction, I also bottle and distribute the products.
Norman Walsh
Norman is situated in County Down, Northern Ireland. He will travel any distance.
Tel No... 028 9268 2578 Email... norman@walsh43.plus.com
About Norman Walsh
I have been beekeeping since 1954 and have lectured at Stoneleigh, Gormanston and have been
the Scottish Tour Lecturer. I have lectured and demonstrated in the Isle of Man and have
delivered the FIBKA Preliminary course and most of the Intermediate. I regularly lecture
to associations in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland and am a honey judge.
I hold my lecturer's certificate from the Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations and,
given sufficient notice would tackle most beekeeping subjects.
Alan Jones
Alan is from County Down N.I. and will travel if required
Tel No... (028) 9187 8633 Email... alan14jones@talktalk.net
About Alan Jones
I have been a beekeeper for 20 years and at present run about 18 hives and 6 nucs. I am past
Chairman of Belfast and District Beekeepers Association. I have been a member of BIBBA for a
number of years as Northern Ireland Delegate. At the AGM 2008 I was elected to the Central
Committee. I am also the Morphometry Technician for Project Discovery. I am also a member of
the Ulster Bee Improvement Group and the Galtee Bee Breeders Group where we promote the native
dark honeybee.
Enid Brown
Enid lives in Kinrosshire and is only prepared to travel up to fifty miles.
Tel No... 01592 840 582 Mobile... 07763 809 367 Email... honeybees@onetel.com
About Enid Brown
I presently hold the position of Advertising, Publicity and Shows Convener for The Scottish
Beekeepers' Association and also a member of both Fife Beekeepers and Dunfermline and West
Fife Beekeepers' Associations. I have been keeping bees since 1993 and normally run about 70
colonies. Rearing Queens is an important part of beekeeping and I do support BIBBA with their
policy on the native bee, A. m. mellifera I have always reared my own Queens and would
encourage others to do likewise.
David Allen
David lives in Yorkshire and prefers to travel up to 50 miles miles radius from Doncaster for evening talks, Daytime events no restrictions.
Tel No... 01302 885 813 Email... david.siada@talktalk.net
About David Allen
My lectures/demonstrations are:-
"Improving what you have" is self-explanatory.
"Bee space and brace comb". Practical on the correct assembly of the National hive
and the contents therein
Dave Cushman
Dave originates from Leicestershire and will travel any distance, however owing to disability he may
require assistance to off-load and set up equipment.
Only contactable by Email dave.cushman@lineone.net
About Dave Cushman
Passionately interested in all aspects of honey bees, but only kept bees for about 37 years,
mostly concentrating on breeding and selection although I also conducted about 12,000 hours of
beekeeping research.
Owner and proprietor of the now defunct bee equipment manufacturing company 'Apex Enterprises',
but since retirement have suffered ill health and I no longer breed the native bees that are
my main interest. Since becoming disabled I have turned to the design, production and hosting
of beekeeping websites in order to maintain contact with bees and beekeeping matters. I am
currently embarking on several University courses to learn more about morphometric methods and
hopefully update some of Ruttners's data to match the latest standards of information gathering.
I am a member of GBBG and an instrumental insemination enthusiast.
I tend to lecture on technicalities that are not covered in run of the mill beekeeping, things
like drone rearing, foundation cell size, nest integrity, native bees, the various aspects
of instrumental insemination, microscopic methods, morphometric methods.
Roger Patterson
Roger Lives in the County of Sussex and will travel any distance.
Tel No... 01403 790 637 where messages can be left
Mobile... 07976 306 492 but DON'T leave messages
Email... r.patterson@pattersonpressings.co.uk
About Roger Patterson
He started keeping bees in 1963, soon after the hard 1962/3 winter, and at one stage kept 130
colonies. He is a practical beekeeper, concentrating on the basics and keeping things simple.
He has always been heavily involved with his local and county BKA's, and manages the local
BKA apiary where there are usually 20-25 colonies for instruction. He has been a demonstrator
for well over 35 years, and believes beekeeping should be fun.
For business reasons Roger had a break of about 15 years without bees of his own, but kept
involved with his local BKA, and on his return he noticed a problem with queen performance.
He has highlighted this and written on the subject in the bee press.
He is currently a member of BBKA Executive, BDI Vice President, and BIBBA Committee Member,
as well as his involvement with his local BKA.
Roger designed his local BKA website www.wgbka.org.uk
Jo Widdicombe
Jo lives in Cornwall and limits his travelling for lecture purpose to 50 miles.
Tel No... 01752 822 335 Email... jowid@idnet.com
About Jo Widdicombe
Member of BIBBA approx. 20 years. Run classes in beekeeping for beginners. Can explain
beekeeping to non-beekeeping audiences. Interested in bee improvement and bee breeding programmes.
Jim Ryan
Jim lives in Tipperary and is prepared to travel.
Tel No... 0504-22228
Mobile Phone... 087-9718494
Email... jimbee1@eircom.net
About Jim Ryan
I have been keeping bees since 1983 (having previous experience as a child) and currently
have about 30 colonies. I qualified as a lecturer in Ireland in 1989 and have lectured to
Associations all over Ireland, and also in Scotland and England. I am currently Editor
of An Beachaire (The Irish Beekeeper) and am also F.I.B.K.A. Archivist. I am particularly
interested in Queen rearing, the History of Beekeeping and value added hive products.
