Twickenham and Thames Valley Beekeepers are most grateful to our many sponsors, volunteers and neighbourhood supporters.

The generous financial assistance of our sponsors enables our Association to progress and extend our charitable mission which since 1919 has been:
"to educate the general public in bee-keeping".
Our sponsors are now enabling our mission to continue into the 21st century. With bees and the natural environment under pressure on many fronts, it is felt that the work of the Twickenham and Thames Valley Bee-keepers is of particular relevance today and for the future.
Thank you, everyone.

The Redevelopment of the Apiary

Founded in 1919 after the Great War, our Association has grown steadily over the years. The freehold of the site was acquired in 1953. The Golden Jubilee of this important occasion was marked by celebrations in 2003.

Over the last 50 years we have built premises as and when the need arose and when the funds became available. With the advent of potential de-regulation of some diseases and with the possible importation of further pests from overseas, it is essential that we have the necessary modern facilities for the teaching of all aspects of beekeeping and the diagnosis of bee diseases.

The current rebuilding programme began in 1982 when Mrs. Margaret English took over as the Association's Hon. Treasurer. Over the next twenty years Margaret built up a sizeable rebuilding fund and an emergency fund.

It wasn't until 1999 when Mr. Robert Warren became President that any serious maintenance and rebuilding was contemplated. Bob organised the replacement of the windows of the Miller Hall and toilets. He then made the site more secure by having the side and rear boundaries replaced with 2 metre high metal security fencing and hedge planting. Bob had also organised the replacement of the chain link fencing to the front boundary, when there came the offer of a Civic Pride Award from the Council of the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames. The new front wall and gates were completed at the end of 2004.

In 2003 the rebuilding fund was much increased due the generosity of George Tinker's son and daughter-in-law. Mr. George Tinker was the Hon. Membership Secretary and Swarm Collection Co-ordinator for many years.

Late in 2003, Peter O'Donnell and Colin White put their heads together and Peter came up with an outline proposal for the maintenance and development of the Apiary buildings. One of the main reasons for our application is to allow those with disabilities and special needs access to beekeeping. The proposed design will open up the educational courses and practical management in the skills of beekeeping to all.

The regulations of the European Union and the Food Safety Act for the production and labelling of honey made the necessity for a modern Honey Preparation Room more urgent. The requirements for a larger classroom and a modern laboratory became pressing.

Our Committee sought Full Planning Permission for the refurbishment and rebuilding of the Apiary buildings with full accessibility for all. The Planning Permission for the design of our Architects, the O'Donnell Coward Partnership, was granted in 2004.

In the mean time the Association made applications to Local Charities for grant assistance for this work. The Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity was most generous and awarded us a grant at the end of 2004.

Conditional passing of the Building Plans under the Building Regulations Approval was granted in the Spring of 2005. Following this critical step, further grants were forthcoming. The City Bridge Trust (formally named The Bridge House Trust) made a substantial grant and their grants assessor, Mr.John Merivale, kindly consented to open the Honey Show.

Other valuable grants made in 2005 were from the Barnes Workhouse Trust, The Gosling Foundation, The Mercers' Company and from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

Clare Thomas, Chief Grants Officer of the Bridge House Trust, explains why the grant was awarded:

'With the number of diseases currently hitting bee communities, it has never been more important to recognise their vital role in biodiversity. The teaching of bee-keeping is crucial to ensure that bee-keepers have the knowledge and skills to ensure the future health of our bees, who play such an important role, as was recognised by Albert Einstein in his famous quote:

"If the bee becomes extinct, man would only survive a few years beyond it"'

The Phase 1 work, the reroofing and refurbishment of the Miller Hall, began at the beginning of June and the work was completed in September 2005.

In October 2005, the Association tested the market for the construction of The New Buildings. Inflation and market force factors had taken its toll on the budget; instead of the 1999 estimate of £150,000 for the whole development, we were now looking at £250,000 at 2006 prices. The Buildings Committee decided to press ahead with the much needed Honey Preparation Room and Morton Laboratory. This work was commenced at the end of May 2006 and completed by September, in time for the Honey Show. The Rose Foundation had promised a grant for all work in 2006 and duly made it's donation on practical completion.

Meanwhile, our Committee Member, Ben Taylor, hanging basket winner at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, had been busy raising funds from the Middlesex Masons for the splendid new Library shelf units in the Miller Hall. These were completed in time for the Honey Show in 2006.

The 2006 Honey Show was opened by the Reverend Derek Winterburn from the Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity, the first charity to make a substantial grant to the Association for its rebuilding plans.

We currently have sufficient funds to cover 25% of the cost of the final phase: the New Buildings. This Phase was designed to accommodate disabled and unisex toilets, equipment storage and the Equipment Scheme facility and a small classroom. A slight change of plan will now create a Discovery Centre for all local schools and colleges, doubling as a larger classroom for the additional classes that are now in demand. The planned small classroom will now accommodate the Equipment Scheme. Equipment and honey jar storage remains as planned. Applications are being made to seek funds for this last important phases of the rebuilding work.

The cost of building works seems to rise day by day, and with the Olympic Games work beginning to have an impact, it is difficult to keep up - but, with your help, we will try!