Colin Headley John White, a President of The Twickenham & Thames Valley Bee-keepers’ Association, was born on 12th June 1934 and died a few days short of his 77th birthday on 9th June 2011, having lived with cancer for five and a half years.
Colin White is remembered by Twickenham and Thames Valley Bee-keepers as a “generous, charming man”, “an utter gentleman”, one who “played a totally straight bat” a “man of action” and a “hero” who would offer a helping hand in difficult situations. Yet Colin was a modest hero, polite and gently spoken; Committee Members recall his quiet leadership in difficult situations, a person who smiled, calmly got things done and looked to the future with optimism.
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| Colin Headley John White |
Colin White was born in Kent, but spent his childhood in Bicester, Oxfordshire, where he delighted in winning a 1st prize for crayon drawing in primary school. Much later, Colin’s ability in producing fine bee products for show, led to his name being engraved on most of the Association’s Prize Cups and to receiving the Accolade of the National Honey Show Blue Ribbon, for the Best Exhibit in Show 2004, with his mead. Colin’s persistence and dedication to perfecting the art of mead making are personal characteristics that were evident in many areas of his life.
During his professional career, Colin White developed huge financial expertise as a Chartered Surveyor, specialising in quantity surveying. He worked on large scale, major projects including the Lloyds building in the City of London.
A family holiday in Wales set Colin on the road to becoming a highly competant bee-keeper. He watched a lady tending her bees near the Pembrokeshire coast path, and was hooked. At the end of the holiday, she offered him some bees to take home in the family car, but sensibly this was declined and Colin waited for retirement to take up practical bee-keeping and to join the Twickenham Bee-keepers, keeping bees in nearby Hampton.
Colin’s home for 40 years was near Hampton Court Palace, a house with Tudor origins overlooking Bushy Park. This brought an interest in history to the fore, always a lover of research and learning, he delved into the history of the house. In the mid 1990s historic buildings in Bushy Park which had fallen into disrepair were given up by the Admiralty. The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks formed The Bushy Park Water Gardens Trust to fund a restoration master plan for the gardens. Colin quickly became actively involved in this exciting project and with the Heritage Lottery Fund bid. Colin White served the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks as auditor for many years and his research skills brought together a unique collection of ancient maps of Bushy Park. A booklet entitled “The Water Gardens - How they were Saved”, by Kathy and Colin White was published by the Friends early in 2011.
At the turn of the century, Twickenham Museum inherited a property at The Embankment, Twickenham. This enabled the Trustees to set up a permanent home for the Museum and Colin White was called in to act as Financial Advisor. Once again Colin became involved in securing a Lottery Fund bid, this time for Twickenham Museum’s Opening Exhibition.
In 1999 Colin White published “Eighty Years of Beekeeping, A History of the Twickenham & Thames Valley Bee-keepers’ Association 1919-1999”. A book he found “enjoyable and intriguing” to write. This was an important work because he “brought back from the brink of oblivion the events and personalities involved in the foundation and development of one of the most successful of associations of beekeepers in the country” (Forward by Peter Foote)
A highlight of Colin’s beekeeping career was the presentation of a jar of Twickenham honey to Her Majesty the Queen at the Golden Jubilee Picnic in Bushy Park in 2002. Colin always had a sense of occasion and a liking for events. His President’s Evenings in the Miller Hall were much appreciated by Members. In 2003 a BBC1 Film crew ably guided by Colin spent several days filming at the Apiary and in 2007 he accepted the Media Trust “Better Communications Award” of behalf of the Association. At the Opening of the new Apiary buildings on the Association’s Open Day, 6th June 2009, Colin booked a brass band, adding a memorable flourish to the event.
Colin White’s skills were invaluable when it came to the task of redeveloping the Apiary, a task which spanned six years from 2003 to 2009; Colin pointed out that the project started back in 1982 with the financial foresight of Hon. Treasurer Margaret English and important maintenance work under President Bob Warren. (“The Redevelopment of the Apiary” by Colin White, Buzz, 2006) The forethought in the new building design took in functionality, security and aesthetics. His vision and project management were matched by success in raising the necessary funds from a range of generous benefactors; he was a first class Public Relations Officer for the Association. Without the grant monies secured by Colin White’s fundraising the new building at Twickenham could not have taken place.
Even while busy with the Apiary redevelopment and other projects, it was characteristic of Colin’s kindness that he still found time to help others. A letter printed in the Association’s journal, Buzz, in 2007 records how he helped a Member having difficulty with the authorities at her allotment apiary after a complaint over a bee sting. Colin was a “hero”, “who sat through a three hour meeting and let them know about the incredible importance of our honey bees”.
When the British Bee-keepers’Association started campaigning for the honey bee, Colin was active in guiding the new BBKA Press Officer, on many occasions arranging for media visits and interviews at the Apiary. This was key in starting to create the media interest in bees which has resulted in the national resurgence of bee-keeping.
Throughout all fundraising endeavours, Colin’s objective was to enhance the ability of the Association to meet it’s charitable aim “to educate the general public in bee-keeping”, to extend educational courses and practical management in the skills of bee-keeping to all, including those with special needs and disabilities. This ethos of selfless, voluntary effort is exemplified by a plaque, commissioned by Colin, on the Apiary gate : “Sic nos non nobis mellificamus apis” which means “So we the bees make honey, but not for ourselves.” Now, the honey bee no doubt believes she makes the honey for herself, but Colin White was fully aware of his tasks being for the benefit of others; he once told a Committee Member, with a twinkle in the eye but without elaboration, “I have a deadline!” Twickenham & Thames Valley Bee-keepers thank him.
Colin enjoyed life and his bees, but above all else, he loved his family and friends. He leaves Kathy, his wife of 50 years, three sons and a daughter. In memorium there are Hawthorn trees for Bushy Park and a sponsored seat at the Rose Theatre in Kingston which is inscribed: “Colin White, a gentle man and beekeeper”
Marion Malcher, 8th August 2011
