UBKA Officials
Chairperson.
John Witchell |
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John’s interest in bees grew out of his membership of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group (NIBG), which reports to the Minister
of the Environment on the province’s progress towards halting the loss of its biodiversity. He alerted the group to the plight of
the honey bee and subsequently decided that he would ‘put his money where his mouth was’ and become a bee keeper.
He completed the preliminary course in 2009, before acquiring his first bees. He now holds an Intermediate Certificate.
He started with two second hand WBC hives, but now also has Nationals.
John is a Rural Chartered Surveyor and past chairman of the RICS NI. He is responsible for the management of several farms and
estates across Northern Ireland, covering several thousand acres of countryside. He is also chairman of Conservation Volunteers (CVNI).
He is particularly interested in what he can do for bees, rather than what they can do for him, and sees his election to chairman of
UBKA as the ultimate opportunity to help beekeepers and their bees to play their part in rescuing our biodiversity.
email John Witchell
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Vice Chairperson.
Susie Turner |
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Susie is passionate about bees and beekeeping and has been fascinated by the pursuit since she was a small girl. She thoroughly
enjoys the wide diversity of people and activity that the hobby of beekeeping brings.
She has been a beekeeper for 8 years and maintains 6 hives, using a mixture of British National and Langstroth equipment.
One of her many ambitions has been achieved this year; to have bee's gentle enough to handle without gloves!
Susie is a Intermediate Certificate holder and is currently studying for her Senior Certificate exam. She currently enjoys
helping tutor her first Preliminary Certificate class with her local Association, and believes that education and effective
communication are critical to all beekeepers.
She assists the UBKA by transferring skills and competencies from her work place as a Veterinary Territory Manager for a
nutrition company. She also has a keen interest in Kenya Beekeeping through Gift International activities and recently
enjoyed a visit to help set up beekeeping projects in Kenya with a group of beekeepers from the Randalstown Association (RDBKA).
She looks forward to her second year as Vice Chairperson, supporting her fellow officers and serving beekeepers of our
affiliated Associations through her work on the Executive.
This year will also be her fourth and final year as
UBKA Conference Manager,
and is proud, as part of such a strong team, to
have built the conference into one of the best in the UK and Ireland.
email Susie
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President.
David Wright |
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Introduced to beekeeping as a teenager but not taken seriously until moving to Lisbane, Comber, Co Down in the 1970’s.
Retired from the Department of Agriculture in 1996 as Livestock and Meat specialist and advisor, led to study at Greenmount in 1997
for the FIBKA Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate and a better understanding of the science and practice of successful beekeeping.
Appointed Secretary to the UBKA Leader 11 Co Ltd in 1998 to help Associations invest EU funds in their apiary and associated teaching
resources provided proof of the benefits of active membership of a local Association, of UBKA and the wider beekeeping community in
achieving the “highest standards in beekeeping”
A founder member and past Chairman of Killinchy BKA, undertook the role of UBKA Secretary in 2006, was appointed Chairman in 2009
and President in 2011.
Currently acting as Convener of the UBKA Education Sub Committee, UBKA representative on the DARD Strategy Implementation Group,
chairing the Competency Sub Group,A member of the FIBKA Education Board and the BBKA Delivering Education Group.
Together with Mervyn Eddie, represents UBKA on CONBA , Confederation of the National Beekeeping Associations of United Kingdom and Ireland. .
email David
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Vice President.
Dave Atherton |
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Dave started beekeeping in 1994 following early retirement from a career in quality assurance in synthetic fibre
production. He keeps about 4 hives, and is content to give away any honey to family, friends and neighbours.
He is a member of Roe Valley BKA, where he is currently Honey Show Manager and Assistant Apiary Manager.
Dave also delivers the FIBKA Preliminary Course.
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Secretary.
Dr. Mervyn Eddie |
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Dr. Mervyn Eddie was originally a nutritionist by profession and subsequently worked all over the world with
Unilever as a Senior Manager. His beekeeping, which commenced in his teens resumed in 2001 on his retirement
back home to N. Ireland. Since then he has been awarded his Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate by FIBKA and
is preparing for his Senior Certificate. He has held the position of Chairman of Dromore Beekeepers’ Association
and President of UBKA. He was the instigator of the Ulster Bee Improvement Group (UBIG) and is a member of Galtee
Bee Breeding Group. He is currently a Committee member of BIBBA, a Trustee of the International Bee Research
Association and Chairman of the Council of National Beekeeping Associations of UK & Ireland. His beekeeping is
based on the latest scientific evidence of best apiculture practice while conserving the genetic legacy of the
native Irish honey bee.
3b Old Road, Ballinderry Upper, County Antrim, BT28 2NJ, Tel: 028 9265 2580
email Mervyn
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Treasurer.
Matt Porter |
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Matthew is a member of East Antrim Beekeepers’ Association near Larne and is a Sales Manager in the Electrical Installation Equipment
distribution market.
Treasurer of the Ulster Beekeepers Association, he is also a member of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club and the Northern Ireland
Fungus Group he enjoys all things that make up the flora and fauna here along with the stunning scenery that is on our doorsteps.
Sea angling, digital photography and DIY all compete for his spare time.
He got hooked on beekeeping after tasting some fresh honeycomb in a guest house in Wicklow; three courses at Greenmount
later and a hive or two in the garden, he is a keen hobbyist beekeeper.
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Auditor.
Gail Orr |
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PR/Media Manager.
Michael Palframan |
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He first started keeping bees in 1974 when living in a remote location not far from Midleton in Co Cork. He can no longer remember
what the motivation was, though he is sure the place and setting had a lot to do with it – it just seemed the right thing to do.
As a result he met Mick Woulfe (Life Vice-President of FIBKA) and his family and they remain firm friends. Mick was his mentor then
and he still gives him a call to this day to help sort out a bee problem or two. He had to give up beekeeping when he lived in England
but returned to it here in Ireland in 2007.
His interests are in the promotion and conservation of the native black or dark European Honey bee and as a consequence of this,
queen rearing and bee breeding. He is interested in beekeeping education and in developing public awareness of beekeeping and bee
health issues. Although he had no prior experience of the job, his role in UBKA as Public Relations Officer has provided him with
opportunities to give expression to some of that interest.
email Michael
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UBKA Representative to the National Honey Show.
John Hill |
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John became smitten with bees and beekeeping eight years ago after being dragged "kicking and screaming" to a beekeeping seminar.
He is a member of Randalstown and District Beekeeping Association and serves on the UBKA Executive as chair of the Bee Health
Sub-committee. He has passed FIBKA’s Intermediate Practical and Scientific course and will continue to study for the Senior level.
As a practising veterinary surgeon, he is very interested in the science of bee diseases and in the measures used to counter them
both now and in the future.
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UBKA Representative to the National Honey Show.
Norman Walsh |
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