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 also have made the necessity for a modern Honey Preparation Room more urgent. The requirements for a larger classroom and a modern laboratory are 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 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.
The Rose Foundation has promised a grant for work commenced in 2006.

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.

We currently have sufficient funds to act as seed corn for Phase 2: the New Buildings and Phase2A: the fitting out of the Morton Laboratory and the Hamilton Honey Preparation Room. Applications are still being sought to fund the balance of this work.

The cost of building works seems to rise day by day so that it is difficult to keep up - but, with your help, we will try!