Although spring appears to be very slow this year in the next few weeks there will be a flurry of honey bee swarms.

There is a swarm collection service provided by the Mid Bucks Bee Keepers Association in conjunction with the British Bee Keepers Association.

If contacted by the public reporting a swarm of bees we will do our best to collect it if possible and provide advice and guidance to people.

Last year we dealt with over 300 calls from the general public and commercial organisations.

Our members attended over 120 honey bee swarms.

This is probably a good sign of the health of the pollinator population in our area.

The mild wet winter and this cold spring have not been good for honey bees in particular so every swarm will be important to us as beekeepers.

Contact
MBBKA Swarm Hotline 07770 370132 or BBKA British Bee Keepers Association website http:www.bbka.org.uk

Advice on swarms as a downloadable pdf available here
swarm collection 2016

Brian Bush
(MBBKA & BBKA swarm officer)

The inauguration of the new commemorative walk with lectern and map and took place on the Nob on Easter Sunday. Over 70 villagers, friends and relatives attended the opening ceremony led by Joan Waples and then walked the walk in brilliant sunshine before retiring to the Biggs Pavilion. It was indeed a fitting tribute to our sadly missed friend.
Your memory will live on.
Thanks to all those who provided the ample refreshments along with sandwiches, snacks and cakes.

Yet again a triumph from the Cublington panto crew. A wonderful marriage of Enid Blyton and Robert Louis Stevenson saw The Famous Five, rather unusually, go to Treasure Island. Jane Alexander exuded calm confidence as Julian with Ally Lovatt very professional in the role of Dick. Chris Gibby’s bunches, as Anne, will surely set a new fashion for 2016. Out with the hipster beards and in with bunches! We enjoyed Di Grace’s tom-boyish portrayal of George. Was there a subliminal message in the dungarees? Emma Gurney’s Timmy the dog set a record for the Cublington panto of being completely word perfect. Careful, you’ll do Kim the Prompt out of job. Oh, hang on… Aunt Bessie (surely Aunt Fanny? Ed.) was superbly portrayed by Jan Antosiewicz, channelling his inner Miriam Margoyles and was snatched away by the dastardly pirate chief John Law, channelling his inner Keith Richards, ably assisted by First Mate (newcomer Jennie Chappell) and Roger the Cabin Boy (Chloe Wilson in fine voice).

The action moved from Aunt Bessie’s cottage to a sun kissed Caribbean where we met Creuset the Cannibal – Chris Brandon wearing a flesh coloured, figure-hugging body stocking and a few palm fronds to hide his blushes. At least, I hope he was wearing a flesh-coloured body stocking, otherwise the mind boggles at the near miss we all had, especially the unfortunates in the front two rows. Some things can never be unseen… There was music, with Evelyn the height of professionalism on the piano. Chloe too, sang beautifully. The others… Well, at one point John Law asked the audience to join in if they knew the words. We will if you know the tune, came the reply. Many thanks to all those who made this production possible , such a cherished part of the fabric of Cublington life.

Thanks too, to the writers, the producers, the directors, the ticket sellers, scene shifters, doormen and make up artists, sound technicians, the best boy and the grip (what is that? I’ve always wanted to know). We appreciate all of your efforts, the long dark nights of the soul as you stumble to rehearsals without even the possibility of a pint in the Unicorn afterwards as you’re doing dry January, and the arguments over who gets to wear those dungarees this time.

We loved it all.

See you next year.

An exhibition by Martyn Gates
This unique social commentary of the village of Cublington features not only people living in the village, but also events that have taken place, buildings and the surrounding landscape.

The exhibition is from Monday, February 22, till Friday, March 4, at Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury.

The ceremony to open the Waples Walk will take place on Easter Sunday, 27th March at 2pm. Villagers are asked to congregate on the Nob for the unveiling of the lectern showing a map of the walk, followed by the walk, for those who want to of course, (approximately 2 miles), followed by refreshments in the Biggs Pavilion.