Meet the Committee

Treasurer

Jonathan Lee

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I started with my first hive of bees in the early 1970s whilst still at school, where I was fortunate to have an inspirational Biology teacher. My career as an Electronics Engineer took me away from home for long periods of time, so my involvement with bees has been spasmodic over the years. I grew up in south Bucks and have lived in the locality ever since – initially joining the now defunct Denham Beekeepers society. Now retired, I have returned to the beekeeping fold and started tackling the BBKA Modules and also joined the Bucks Microscopy Group. During my career I spent a long time as a Senior Programme Manger running multi-million pound defence contracts. I am trying to bring the logic and expertise I gained during that period to assist the running of the club as your Treasurer.

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Membership & Membership Programme Secretary

Helen Cave

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I live in Amersham. I’m the membership and programme secretary and I’ve been on the committee since 2013.  I’ve kept bees since doing the Beginners in 2011. My colonies have always been in out apiaries. I’m working my way slowly through the modules. I feel there is always something new to learn about bees, and yes, I do get a real buzz when something works well. I’m married, three grown up lads and two gorgeous little granddaughters. Outside of bees, I have an allotment, play bridge and go jogging with my husband.

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Honey Show

Nick Grey

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I am Bucks born and bred and have been keeping bees for over 30 years. I have a large number of books on the subject which none of the bees have read. This is my second stint on the committee; first time as Show Secretary, then Chairman and now Show secretary again. I do believe beekeeping should be fun - trying something new can be very rewarding as long as you remember to embrace the failures along with your successes.

WEBMASTER

Mike Knapp

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I live in Chalfont St Peter but my bees are at my bee-partners house in Chorleywood. We began beekeeping in 2016; we’re learning and highly indebted to our mentor for encouragement and assistance. I work full time as a director of an IT company in Little Chalfont, servicing utility and facilities companies. I have many hobbies and unfinished projects, mainly linked to motorcycles and tools barely justified for maintaining motorcycles. I plan to retire in a few years, and hope to be able to spend more time with the bees once I leave work. I love travelling and find having a bee partner invaluable, as although we enjoy working and planning together for our miniature apiary, when one of us is busy we can still inspect and look after the hives.

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BEGINNER'S APIARY

Jim Liness

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I’m a country boy at heart, growing up in the foothills of the Sidlaw Hills just north of Dundee. My grandfather kept bees but they were a mystery to me then and I wasn’t allowed near them. I didn’t get around to keeping bees until 2014 when I was given a Polystyrene Langstroth Hive. Now all my colonies are in Polystyrene Langstroths and located in my garden. I help run the Beginners Course and most Wednesday and Saturday mornings I can be found at the club’s Beginners' Apiary, fixing, mending or demonstrating some aspect of beekeeping. I enjoy making changes or trying a new process, and love the way that Beekeeping helps you to stay in touch with natural world around you.

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TRADING OFFICER

Mike Walters

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I was born and raised in Harrow and have been keeping bees for several years having 10 hives in two locations. I took over from Bill as trading officer and enjoy the interaction with the club members. I don’t particularly like honey, but I love watching the bees work and find them fascinating and love to talk about them to anyone silly enough to ask. I enjoy experimenting with different types of hives and equipment, most of which I build myself. Passing on what little knowledge I have to new beekeepers is something I find highly rewarding and teaching is something I think this club does so well. I also enjoy motorbike riding, scuba diving, sailing, woodworking and woodturning. I run a gardening firm employing about 15 staff so I don't have much spare time, especially during the summer.

EVENTS

Dorothie Jones

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I have been interested in nature since iI was a child. I studied botany and zoology at university and I think I always wanted to be David Attenborough! However, as so happens, life took a different turn and I spent most of my working life in medical research and later in science education.  When I retired in 2015, I signed up for the beginners course and the rest as they is history. I keep bees in my garden and my husband now describes himself as a "bee-widower!"  I think we are extremely lucky to have such an active and supportive club here in the Chalfonts. I continue to learn so much from the club and it's members. My goal is to become a better beekeeper. We'll see how that goes!

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WEBSITE PUBLISHER

Varsha Kirkby

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I have been very lucky to have lived in so many amazing places around the world from Africa, to the Far East and Australasia, including many years in Tokyo. One thing I have learnt from my travels is what we all have in common is the love of outdoors and natural surroundings. I studied Computer science and Maths at University and started working as a programmer and progressed through the years as a Technology consultant. After returning back to UK from our travels, we settled in Chalfont St Giles. I decided to work in secondary schools, teaching Computing and Japanese and ended up heading the network department in the school. I retired in 2016, and decided to join my husband who also retired at the same time, to learn about bee keeping. I signed up for beginners course at the Club and learnt fundamentals of bee keeping. Years on, with three other friends formed a cooperative are  proud owners of  3/4 hives. Apart from beekeeping, I volunteer at the local community library and still do some consultancy work at the School.