On the 9th of October, after a two-year hiatus, Aberdeen and District Beekeepers Association’s annual honey show came back with a bang. Having had to cancel last year’s show due to Covid restrictions, it was great to see our members gather again in a celebration of beekeeping and the products of the hive, after what has been for many of us a bumper season.
The enthusiasm for displaying the results of our bees’ and our own hard work was apparent in a tally of more than 200 individual entries across all of the classes in the show. As well as a rich array of honeys, we had wax products, mead, handicrafts, artistic exhibits, photographs, shop displays and baking. The challenge of judging all of this fell to Alan Riach, one of Scotland’s top honey judges. We were extremely lucky to have Alan perform this duty, especially given that he travelled from Bathgate to be with us.
The judging completed, the doors opened to a great turnout from ADBKA members, including many who hadn’t entered the competition this year but who were keen to see what it was all about. Everyone enjoyed seeing the range and high quality of the entries.
Refreshments were provided by Margaret McGregor and Moira Macaulay and Jock McGregor was on hand running a beekeeping equipment stand. A hardworking team of volunteers set up the hall on the Friday afternoon, received entries on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and dismantled the whole affair later that afternoon. The entire event was organised and managed by Alison Goss, our esteemed Honey Show Convener. We are grateful to all of them for their hard work and devotion.
Look out for the list of 2021 trophy winners, which will be published in our November newsletter. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this selection of photographs.
[Photos by Ian Mackley and Olga Macaulay]