CHESHIRE BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

Apes curamus et nos curant (We look after bees and they look after us)
Founded 1899
Registered Charity No. 227494
We've been buzzing over 100 years 1899-2013

Obituary - Bob Parsonage

Bob was born on 4th September 1934, the son of Annie and Harold who had a small-holding between Waverton and Christleton. Bob was later to be a well-known figure as he delivered groceries for his parents. The family eventually moved to a greengrocery shop at Vicar’s Cross, near Chester. In 1949 Bob left school and worked full-time at his parents’ small-holding and nursery.

During his National Service, Bob joined the Military Police, and came into contact with civilian police officers as part of his duties. After de-mob, he again worked for his father at the nursery, but one day a police superintendant came to buy some tomato plants and got into conversation with Bob about joining the police. Bob was obviously keen, and on the 19th August 1959 he became Constable 106 of the Cheshire Police. He married Enid in 1960. After 2 1/2 years on the beat at Hyde, he transferred to Sandiway, where he used a cycle to cover his beat, and got into the habit of talking to the signal man at Cuddington Railway Station about beekeeping.

In 1962 a daughter, Debra, was born, followed three years later by her brother, Jonathan. In the meantime, Bob had passed the Advanced Police Driving Course, and started work on the M6 Motorway, based at Knutsford. In 1970, he appeared on television, demonstrating the police Range Rover on the children’s TV programme “Magpie”, and in the same year the family moved to 2 Hawthorne Drive in Sandbach Heath. Bob ran a youth group at the chapel, and later at St John’s School. When a swarm of bees arrived in the garden and a local beekeeper came to collect it, Bob started thinking about beekeeping again, and he took up the craft soon afterwards.

On retirement from the police in 1984, Bob went back to his roots, with a small-holding at Malkins Bank where he grew fruit and vegetables, and kept hens, pigs, and of course bees.

Bob was Vice-Chairman of the CBKA, and has served twice as Chairman of the South Cheshire Branch. There is little doubt that the Branch owes its survival and its present healthy state to Bob’s energy and enthusiasm (and bossiness!). He was often frustrated that others did not seem to share his enthusiasm or show as much energy as he did, but mostly he enjoyed the camaraderie of the craft, and was immensely generous in his help to those starting out in beekeeping. In 2000 he took over the Education Sub-Committee, a role involving the organisation of the Annual Convention and Honey Show. Bob was a mainstay at the Cheshire Show among many others. He also enjoyed passing on his beekeeping knowledge through talks and demonstrations.

As the vicar said at his funeral: “Bob was a hard working man, who was happiest when helping others.”

A personal note—by Sydney Hollinshead

I first knew Bob as a motorway policeman, who called for a coffee on many occasions. I already had bees, and bees hit the right note with Bob as he was a country lad at heart.

He acquired some of his own, but then suffered an allergic reaction when he was badly stung, and had to give up. Some time later, over another coffee, I informed Bob that a fellow beekeeper in Smallwood had the same problem, but had overcome it through treatment. With no more ado, Bob found out which pills were needed, got some, and got himself back into beekeeping—and the rest is history.

Over the 35 years since then Bob has helped many to become beekeepers: he has been more than generous with his time and knowledge of bees and the showing of hive-products. Bob became a member of CBKA in 1975, and has been a supporter of all four Cheshire Branches and of the County Association, as well as of the North Staffs, Manchester, and Derbyshire Associations. He has given talks to countless different groups of people.

In Bob I have lost a loyal, supportive friend and confidant, a good debating partner for beekeeping topics, and a travelling companion to many parts of England and Wales in the service of beekeeping.

Sydney Hollinshead

©2007 Cheshire Beekeepers' Association

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