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SPEAKERS FOR
2008
Chris Barber MBE
Gwent’s Chief Countryside Warden for 20 years,
an enthusiastic walker, mountaineer and caver, a superb
photographer, historian, author of 25 books, Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society. . . we could go on, but you’re probably
getting the picture. Whenever Chris Barber gives a talk
locally, the room is always packed, and that says it all. We
are very pleased he has agreed to give an introduction to the superb
countryside on Abergavenny’s doorstep.
 Professor Dewey Caron
Dewey is Professor
of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware,
having studied honey bees as a student under Dr Roger Morse.
He has written five books and hundreds of articles on bees and other
insects, and has long involvement in international development work
in Panama and Bolivia. His research has focused on bee
mites/pests, pollination and queen replacement/swarming.
 Trish Hayward
Trish, the long-suffering wife of a beekeeper,
has a special interest in early cookery. She was prompted to
research the use of honey in early recipes for a new show class
requiring three dishes made with honey. She reasoned (rightly
as it turned out) that the only way she could compete with expert
cooks was by producing something radical. She has been trying
out recipes on her husband ever since.
 Ken Key
Ken has kept bees for some 18 years and is an active
member of Gwent BKA. He has been a leading member of the
Abergavenny Local History Society for even longer and edits its
annual newsletter. He knows the historic town intimately and
regularly conducts tours. He directed an amateur excavation in
Abergavenny in the 1960’s which established the alignment of the
Roman town and prompted professional archaeologists to investigate
further.
Professor
Paul Morgan
Paul is Professor of Immunology at
Cardiff University’s School of Medicine and leads a team which has
gained international recognition for its research into the body’s
innate immune system. He has published over 250 scientific
papers and reviews, but don’t panic – he is well use to speaking to
lay audiences too.
Gill Sentinella
Gill wanted to display the dances of bees as an art form when she embarked on this film.
Produced in 2005, Dancing with Bees is a well established introductory film for prospective
beekeepers. She shows how addictive filming bees becomes in ‘Only fools and honeybees.
Dr
Amanda Tonks
Amanda is a lecturer at the Cardiff
University’s School of Medicine, where she has established a
research group looking at inflammatory responses. She has
worked with Rose Cooper, and has been looking specifically at how
manuka and other honeys stimulate immune cells.
 John Verran
John started beekeeping by accident 40 years ago
when a swarm landed in his mother's garden. Following hasty
advice and the loan of a 'nuc' box, he collected the swarm and was
hooked, at one stage running 50 colonies. After being made
redundant he became a seasonal bee inspector in Wales for nine
years, passing all 8 beekeeping examination modules during this
time. He was then promoted to Regional Bee Inspector in 2003.
 Alison Willott
Alison is a person of many talents. She is a
classicist by training, a professional singer and active in
politics, having stood as a parliamentary candidate three
times. However, she is also a horticulturalist, and after
created a garden that is open to the public under the NGS, Alison is
interested in everything that grows and lives in it. She is an
executive of the Gwent Wildlife Trust as well as being a member of
several societies concerned with the natural world, gardening and
the countryside. But above all else Alison is an orator.
Whilst we hope it won’t happen, if unforeseen circumstances arise
it may be necessary to change a speaker.
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