About Hampshire Beekeepers Association

I took up beekeeping a few years after retiring from a senior manager post at the University of Southampton. Now in my tenth year, I keep between six and ten hives in two apiaries. I’ve greatly enjoyed this fascinating hobby.

I became Chair of HBA five years ago to help the county association re-establish itself after a challenging time. Our aim is to complement and support our fourteen area associations.

I am performing the role of Acting Hon. Secretary for Hampshire whilst serving as the Hon. Secretary of Meridian. I joined HBA as a trustee in 2022, during that time I have created a communication strategy which includes social media, quarterly newsletters, Instagram and have organised a bee health day and assisted in organising two honey shows and conventions.

I’ve also promoted ideas like sharing the zoom account which has proven very successful and I’m currently developing a new website.

Going forward I want to continue the progress of improvements that we have been making, finding more ways to help share resources, reduce costs, and improve services and events for all HBA Members.

I am a full-time carer for my 90 year old father  and I manage 4 hives here in Hampshire. I have passed my basic with credits and my bee health certificate and I currently studying more module exams.

As Treasurer for Winchester Beekeepers Association, I joined as Treasurer for Hampshire Beekeepers Association in 2023 when I was elected at the Annual General Meeting.

I am not a beekeeper but have an interest in protecting our pollinators.

I began beekeeping in 2007 and started with a very full brood box in August.

I passed the Basic in 2009 and have since passed all the modules. I am a trustee of HBA and HBA’s Education Co-ordinator.

I was secretary of Meon Valley beekeepers for many years and am actively involved in many of their activities. I enjoy teaching new beekeepers and together with a very good team at Meon Valley, have been doing so for the past ten years.

I am a recently retired IT consultant specialising in network and application performance monitoring. The job required me to travel around the world visiting customers and resolving their IT performance issues.  The real joy was spending time in warmer countries during our cold winters.

I am married to Claire, and in June 2024 we will be celebrating our Ruby anniversary. We are blessed with two wonderful daughters, one of whom now lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The other lives locally.

I along with my wife Claire started beekeeping in 2018, learning our newfound hobby with the Fleet Beekeepers Association.  We have gradually built our apiary up to 5 colonies at the end of 2023. During 2024 we will be increasing the size of the apiary to 20 colonies, a significant expansion. Who knows what 2025 will bring?

I am an active member of the FBKA and am now serving my 3rd year on their management committee. I’m also a long-time member of the Fleet Lions Club (CIO). Lions Clubs International is the largest global service charity organisation with 1.4 million members. We run local fundraising events such as Beerfest and Fireworks Fiesta. Every single penny of the money raised goes to local needy causes.

Starting with a beginner’s course at Meridian Beekeeping, I have been keeping bees for over 7 years, passing Basic Assessment some 3 years ago. I have between 6 & 8 colonies, mentor some new beekeepers and look after the 4-6 colonies now at Sparsholt College since a group of us reestablished their apiary. I am on the committee of Winchester & District BKA responsible for managing winter talks and summer apiary meetings. I am a trustee of HBA responsible for the Annual Honey Show and Autumn Convention held at Sparsholt College. I enjoy diverse bee-related activities on top of selling honey, including beelining, collecting swarms and filming inside hives. I am keen to develop my queen rearing skills.

Like many of us I began beekeeping on a whim 8 yrs ago. I quickly discovered this interest is dangerously addictive needing increasing input each year.

Keeping bees is not a solitary endeavour and through your local, regional and of course national associations strong friendships develop based on your shared interest.

I am working my way through the BBKA modules and also passed the Microscopy section last year. As a trustee of the HBK I represent the interests of all beekeepers in Hampshire.

As well as my own, I now also run the South West Hampshire apiary and believe that teaching others and developing your own knowledge base is the key to rewarding beekeeping.

I started beekeeping back in 2000, after joining Southampton beekeepers. I volunteered for the committee shortly afterwards and it wasn’t long before I took the role of treasurer in 2008.

I have never had more than five hives and I’m starting to wind down and assist my daughter and grandson who are beginning to take the reins over from me.

I have enjoyed participating at shows and other events and will continue to do so.

I retired to the New Forest after 34 years as an Army GP to enjoy my bees; 20-30 colonies in 5 apiaries, and further my beekeeping education.

I joined Fleet BKA in 2013, moving home & transporting bees frequently, joining different BKA and introducing many neighbours to my bees. 

I am now the education, swarm and AH lead for Avon BKA and completed modules 3,5,6,7 & General Husbandry with NF&DBKA. If elected to HBA I would like to make education more accessible and fun, facilitated at county level.

I would like to encourage inclusive participation in honey shows, having entered for the first time this year, winning prizes at NF, NF&DBKA and National Honey Shows. My interest is beekeeping and good health, providing beekeeping experience days for the Chelsea Pensioners and veterans from The Not Forgotten Association

Alan began beekeeping in the Loire Valley in France, where he lived and worked for 23 years. His apiary there was the target of heavy predation by Asian Hornets.
He moved to England in 2020 and now manages 20 colonies and breeds queens in 3 apiaries in Hampshire.

He serves as Hampshire Beekeepers Association Asian Hornet Coordinator and is the author of the Hampshire AH Contingency Plan and Fit2Fight- A Practical Guide to Managing the Asian Hornet published by Northern Bee Books Ltd.

Alan writes regular blogs and articles, and gives talks around the country on Beekeeping, Pollinators, the Asian Hornet, the Wines of the Loire Valley, and the 1982 Falklands War.

In addition to beekeeping and taking the BBKA Modules, Alan serves as Vice Chair of
a local charity and enjoys running, cycling, swimming, Pilates, cooking and bread making.

He is blissfully married to the disability advocate, public speaker, author and blind baker Penny Melville-Brown OBE.

I have been keeping bees since 2018 and am a committee member of Basingstoke BKA. 

I am also part of Bees Abroad Business Team and an organizer of the Charles Butler 400^th Anniversary celebrations in August 2023. 

I trained as a Plant Scientist, was a horticultural extension worker for 16 years and have my own business growing wildflowers and sedum trays for green roofs. 

I am now semi-retired living near Basingstoke.