At the AGM on the Saturday 16th March 2024, we voted in two new members of the committee, and we said goodbye to Phil Smith (Treasurer) and Chris Parker (Chair)
Phil Smith after 7 years of carefully, diligently shepherding the Meridian Beekeepers Association finances Phil has decided to resign from the role as MBA Treasurer. On behalf of all the membership and its committee, I would like to extend our thanks to Phil for applying his time and effort to the role over these last 7 years. Whether beekeeping or MBA finances, I am sure I am not the only one to have benefited from Phil’s wise advice and dry wit.
Looking after the MBA finances has only been a small part of his work with the MBA over the years. If there are frames to boil, apiary grounds to be cleared, hedges to be trimmed, conferences to attend, events to be supported, or even swarms to be collected; in my experience Phil will be found efficiently getting through the work in good humour.
Perhaps the best illustration of these other skills Phil applies himself to, and the spirit in which they were, and are taken on, is the MBA BBQ. Whilst the summer weather last year meant a postponement, those attending the eventual BBQ during a timely September rainstorm, will have marvelled at Phil and Denise’s ability to calmly BBQ everybody’s food perfectly, armed only with spatulas and brollies!
Many thanks for looking after the finances Phil, and many thanks for all the help you continue to provide the MBA besides.”
Chris Parker (Chair)
Phil Smith Thank you. We are financially a small organisation. I’m never quite sure why it need be complicated- but somehow it often is- so thank you for keeping the money in good order. All organisations need to rely on good accounting, so thank you for doing ours.
Louise Evans (Education Secretary)
Phil Smith – Meridian’s Treasurer
Chris Parker Meridian Chair leaves us after serving as Meridian’s Chair for past two year, being new to the association and new to Beekeeping Chris stepped up to assist the Committee by filling the post of Chair when John Hammond stepped down in 2022, this was meant to be just for a year, but Chris continued for an extra year. And we are grateful for that.
Chris brought calm to the meetings and the voice of reason, when on occasions our passion about the club and beekeeping gets the better of us. Chris doesn’t leave Meridian but continues in the association as one of the apiary managers at Swanmore working alongside Lisa Rooke. He had previously help out at the apiary with Howard Towl who sadly passed last year.
Richard Skinner (Hon. Secretary)
Thank you for stepping up as Chair. You have been a good listener, fair, measured and ensured that things we’ve agreed as a committee have been done. Thank you too for helping at Swanmore Apiary- I literally couldn’t have managed without you.
Louise Evans (Education Secretary)
Welcome Eileen Mansell as the new Chair, Sue Bailey as our new Treasurer and Simon Fitzjohn as the new Webmaster to the association. We hope you find being on the committee as enjoyable as we find it.
Meridian Beekeepers’ Association 