After winning the Miss Avey Award for the highest mark in the practical assessment in 2015, head beekeeper James Curtis has won another prestigious honour already in
2016. Last night James was presented at the Chelmsford Beekeepers divisional AGM with the Miss Avey award. The award is specific to the Chelmsford Division and is for ‘the progress and/or achievement in the craft of beekeeping, for example, in the fields of showing, examinations, public relations, work for the Division, or any other relevant activity.’

Miss Edith E. Avey BEM NDB CLM was born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk in 1904 and lived near Good Easter, in the village of Mashbury; a few miles west of Chelmsford. She never wore any protection against being stung and always wore a skirt; ladies trousers were unknown in those days. By Ted Hooper’s standards she was a ‘let alone’ beekeeper and did not examine colonies on a systematic basis. She was probably the last beekeeper in the County to demonstrate drumming of bees between skeps.

She retired from Disease Officer duties about 1981 (when she was age 77) and later received her BEM for services to the craft of beekeeping.

Miss Avey was always interested in helping beginners and, to perpetuate her memory, the CBKA Committee decided to ask members for an annual nomination for the award of a nucleus hive, suitably inscribed, complete with a young queen funded by the Division.