Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
3rd September 2022
Bad Beekeepers Club
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting with Bill Turnbull several years ago.
The BBC Breakfast presenter and author of the Bad Beekeeper’s Club, Bill Turnbull was in his 11th season as a ‘bad beekeeper’ and told me, “I started keeping bees 10 years ago after a swarm turned up at the bottom of my garden. I called the Police, who called a beekeeper who just came along and collected the swarm in a cardboard box. I was so inspired and wanted to see if I had that Zen-like ability to do the same.
“There’s only one thing better than collecting a swarm and that’s when one re-houses itself. I have a bait hive on top of my garage roof and have had two swarms use it this year. The second swarm weren’t even my bees, which is even better!”
Enjoying time spent outdoors, Bill described himself as being ‘better with husbandry than horticulture,’ and explained, “I’m really not a gardener. We have a half acre plot and I mow the lawn with great reluctance, my wife does all the rest. My father always said I couldn’t tell a cabbage from a rose and he’s right.”
As we chatted about the highs – and lows – of beekeeping, the obvious topic of bee stings came up.
“I’ve been stung more times than I can remember,” he laughed, “though over the years I am actually being stung less. I don’t inspect the bees quite so often now, although recently I did do something quite stupid even by my standards. When returning from holiday I thought I’d just take the roof off one of the hives to see what was going on – without a beekeeping suit or hat – and a bee flew straight up and stung me on the nose. It wasn’t pretty and the swelling made it a bit awkward for my TV work – the make up artist wasn’t impressed.”
Ever the pragmatist he added, “I wouldn’t not want to get stung, it would make bee keeping too easy and then everyone would be doing it.”
The well-liked presenter was always bemused at the success of his book, (re-titled Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper’ in America) which proved far more popular than he imagined. It lead to several book tours and numerous signings – mainly for beekeepers. Bill always thought it ironic as it wasn’t’ written for experienced beekeepers but more of an apology to the bees.
I can highly recommend the book – it’s an entertaining read, whether you are a (bad) beekeeper or not – but I always loved listening to him actually talk about his bees.
“I find bees amazing creatures, intricate and beautiful. Each hive is a little City, with its own issues and problems. Every time you open the hive, you have a series of questions to ask; it’s like solving a puzzle every time. I find it clears my mind of other things.”
Bill was a Patron for Bees for Development, an independent organisation which is based in Monmouth. He once ran the London Marathon, dressed as a bee keeper, to raise money for them and vowed it was the last marathon he would ever run – in a bee keeping suit or otherwise.
I was actually training to run the London Marathon myself when I met Bill and despite his ‘challenging’ experience, I asked if he had any advice for me.
“Yes,” he said without hesitating, “Start off slow. And get slower.”
Get It Done
If you are lucky, sometime during your life you will meet someone who makes a ‘real difference’. If you are super-lucky, you will be able to spend quality time with that person and absorb their wisdom and expertise.
I have been that lucky. For several years I ran and trained with Adrian Woods. He and his wife Sharon are well known and well respected in the trail running world and, amongst other things, Adrian was also a very effective fitness coach. As our sessions progressed he became more and more insistent that I should be teaching fitness and helping him out with his own clients. Despite my reservations, he gently nudged me onto a path that I would have otherwise ‘run past’.
As well as being remarkably instrumental in my journey from fitness enthusiast to fitness professional, he has also been the spark and leading light in the fitness lives of so many others. From cardiac rehab, nutritional advice, and coaching and cajoling individuals to turn up and train at the most unsociable hour, and in the most dire weather conditions, to setting up numerous running clubs and groups, his enthusiasm and expertise is legendary.
In spite of his numerous running accolades and fitness achievements, both here and abroad, Ade was probably most proud of his role as a family man; a wonderful family which, of course, included his beloved sheepdogs.
Ade left us earlier this week. Far too quickly and much too soon.
I know I will speak, or write, for many when I say that I am so very proud to have been a friend and to have benefitted from his endless wisdom, hilarious stories and his often-unconventional but always memorable training techniques.
His training motto was ‘Get It Done’ and he inspired many to put on their ‘daps’ and do just that.
RIP Ade. Run in Peace.
Mind Body and Soil
September is National Organic Month – although obviously I think that the other 11 should be too. Simply switching to organic foods, will not only hugely reduce any pesticides, chemicals, growth boosters, and antibiotics going into your body, but will also strengthen your immune system. And if that’s not relevant right now, I don’t’ know what is!
Visit www.soilassociation.org for more details, a free nature action pack and to be able to join the ‘Soil Hub’ – a social media group for organic enthusiasts, budding gardeners and local community heroes to swap ideas.
As Wendell Berry said, “The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.”
Brilliant as ever! I would have loved to meet Bill Turnbull. To me he has always been a presenter par excellance. Not opinionated as all the present ones are. Stay safe and well.