RUGBY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
By Maurice West - 2021
There was a branch of the Warwickshire Beekeepers Association in Rugby at the turn of the 19th-20th century. According to archive material at Rugby Town Hall it must have been quite a thriving Association with an excess of over 100 members. This was the situation until there was a falling out between the Rugby Branch and the Warwickshire County Association. I have no idea what the problems were about as it was before my time, but there was still correspondence between the two groups; this was organised by a Mr Mullin, a county man, who acted as a link between the county and Rugby.
This was the situation until the late 1950’s when Tony Malin resurrected the Rugby Branch. (Tony Malin is still an honorary member of the Branch and is our oldest member at 96 years old).
A Rugby directory of 1962 gives The Rugby and District Beekeepers Association among the list of societies in Rugby at that time; and gives the Chairman as Mr S A Couling, the Hon Secretary as Mr R Avery and the Hon Treasurer as Mr E H Porter. It then gives all the names of the committee, referring to each one by title as Mr, Mrs. or Miss. How formal we were in those days. A number of the names would mean something to long standing members of Warwickshire, such as people like Peter Spencer. It then states the advantages of being a member of the association, with insurance, foul brood diseases and facilities for taking exams. It is interesting to note the number of associations in Rugby at the time, with most of them now no longer in existence.
Rugby Beekeepers’ come between the Dr Barnardo’s Helpers League and The Rugby Leprosy Relief Association. From the time of Tony Malin’s resurrection of the Branch it is now still flourishing. At one point during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the membership was very small, but it managed to keep afloat, and is now (2021) a very go-ahead branch, running beginners courses; and attending various fêtes and garden parties in the district.
Over the years Rugby has been active with County events, and has provided the county with many Chairman over the years, including Bruce Roberts and Maurice West, and no doubt many others in the early years. It has always taken an active part in the Warwickshire Honey Show, providing stewards and volunteers as well as entries into the show.
Rugby has an annual honey show of it’s own which is well supported, and usually has a guest speaker to listen to whilst the judging is taking place, this is followed by refreshments before the prize giving and awards are handed out, usually by the judge, who gives comments on the standard of the exhibits. The judges comments are usually good and very often the comments like ‘this is good enough for the National Show’ are very encouraging. The honey show has a number of awards for various classes which are as follows.
LIGHT HONEY CUP This is awarded for the best exhibit in the light honey class. This cup is of solid silver and is a valuable cup owned by Rugby.
TOWNSEND MEMORIAL CUP This is awarded for the exhibitor who gains most points overall in the show. The cup was presented to the branch by Mr A. E. Townsend who owned and ran a florist shop in Regent Street in Rugby. The shop also stocked beekeeping supplies from the manufacturers of the day.
RUNNER UP CUP This is given to the exhibitor who has the second highest number of points.
JEAN MALIN PLATE This is given to the exhibitor who takes first place in the honey cake class. The plate was presented to the branch by Tony Malin in memory of his wife in 1979. She was a great supporter of Tony in the branch, and was a great cook.
JOHN THREADER VASE This award is given to the novice (a person who has never won a first prize in the show) at Rugby. This award can only be gained once by any member, and thereafter they have to enter with the more experienced exhibitors. It is an award to encourage beginners to enter the show. It was given to the branch by Peggy Threader as a tribute to John in 2010. For many years John and Peggy organised the Rugby branch honey show. John was also an excellent producer of beeswax figures which won many awards.