Our annual meeting on 27 April was a mixed event of Association matters, a celebration of Barbara Cruden’s contributions to our Association, and two talks about honey, honey, honey.

David presented Barbara with the Association quaich as a thank-you from all of us for all her generous contributions to the Association.

In our February newsletter John Cooper, a previous ADBKA Chair, wrote:

An Appreciation of Committee Member, Barbara Cruden.

After a long stint of membership, Barbara has decided to step down from ADBKA’s committee.  Not only has Barbara served actively on our committee, but over a period approaching three decades has contributed significantly to ADBKA’s work in numerous ways.

First and foremost she has been our long-standing honey show convener, and not only organised the show year after year with her trademark professional efficiency, but also, on the day of the show opened her home and provided lunchtime hospitality for the honey judge and the show stewards.

In a similar way, on numerous occasions, Barbara has provided accommodation and hospitality for visiting guest speakers.  Beyond that Barbara has made her home available to provide facilities for ADBKA members to sit SBA exams, and in recent years has also hosted some ADBKA committee meetings.

For several years Barbara served as Treasurer for the SBA, and thereby made a significant contribution to beekeeping at a national level as well as here in the north east.

In short, with her business skills and her generous spirit Barbara provides a first class example of the sort of voluntary commitment without which ADBKA could not flourish.

Barbara, a big thank you to you from ADBKA for all your good work.

Hugh Donohoe (last year’s recipient of the quaich) then gave a talk about honey shows from a honey judge’s perspective, followed by an animated talk by Jock with tips on how to prepare for the shows, and catch the judge’s attention.