Ted Hooper MBE NDB 1918 – 2010
Published Mar 26, 2010
A Tribute to Ted
Ted was born in Colyton, Devon over 90 years ago. When Ted grew up he did not wish to work in his father’s joinery and decorating business and he and Joy went to Fred’s beekeeping classes, and thereafter spent most of his lifetime working with bees and instructing others in the art of beekeeping. He was in the evacuation from Dunquerke being a member of an artillery division and was later sent to Italy when the counter offensive started in World War II. He started keeping bees as a hobby but later obtained employment for five years with Rowse Honey Farms in Hampshire working more than 500 hives and perfecting his knowledge of bees and beekeeping. At that time he was living in the village of Sherborne St. John, Hampshire. He also had connections with Manley, Paddy Padmore in Norfolk and John Furzey.
He saw an advertisement for a position as a professional lecturer in Apiculture at Writtle Agricultural College in Essex in 1962 and was successful in gaining this position. He moved to Essex with his wife Joy and two daughters in 1962 and immediately started to pass on his knowledge to others. Initially, he took up residence at the rectory in East Hanningfield where the Rev. Ost was the incumbent. The Reverend was also a beekeeper.
From 1962 until his retirement in 1984 he lectured at Writtle and in all of the ten divisions of the Essex Beekeepers Association, as he was the County Beekeeping Instructor for the same period. Ted set up the beekeeping unit at Writtle. His apiary and workshop was situated away from the main college campus, and at the far end of Cow Watering lane. He was President of the Essex Beekeepers’ Association from 1983 until 1999. He was also President of the British Beekeepers Association for 1991 and from 1982 until 1989 he was chairman of the BBKA Education Board. In 1989 he was chairman of the BBKA executive committee.
Having passed the many British Beekeepers Association examinations, he then successfully passed the examination of the National Diploma of Beekeeping. Later in life he became the chairman of the National Diploma of Beekeeping committee and chairman of the BBKA examination board for over 15 years.
While at Writtle he used to run hive-making classes even though he was allergic to sawdust from the cedar wood from which they are made. Also, he taught us how to make many accessories including the Rowse feeder whereby a full gallon of thick syrup could be fed in late summer to ensure production of many young bees to take the colonies through the winter. The advantage of the Rowse feeder is that once the liquid feed is down the bees can get under the final barrier to clean out the whole feeder. The Rowse feeder was a modification of the Miller feeder that could never be fully emptied by the bees and hence was removed wet and sticky from the hive. The topics taught ranged from microscopy to disease identification and good husbandry techniques.
In 1976 his book “A Guide to Bees and Honey” was published and it became the “Bible” of many beekeepers throughout Britain and the world. It has been translated into over twelve languages and has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. It has been republished many times in both hard-back and now as a soft-backed book. Ted was a very popular lecturer in Britain and abroad, being able to explain beekeeping procedures in a way that everyone could understand. He was an excellent handler of honeybees and taught us how to read the combs, in order to know what was happening in the hive.
In 1985 in conjunction with Roger Morse, Professor of Apiculture at Cornell University in the USA, Ted co-authored the “Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Beekeeping” that was published by Alpha Books of Sherborne, Dorset, England.
Then in 1988 in conjunction with Mike Taylor of Writtle College, Ted co-authored a book called ”The Beekeepers Garden”, which was also published by Alpha Books. Another book for beginners has been written but not yet published.
Those of us who received tuition from Ted owe a lot to his know-how and through him many beekeepers, especially in Essex, have gained their considerable knowledge that is already being passed on to others. His book, “ Guide to Bees and Honey,” is being updated to include techniques to include varroasis and its control … a phenomenon not experienced by Ted before he retired.
He had a life long interest in growing cacti and in the behaviour of many insects. He could identify most plants by both their common and Latin names. And could certainly name those useful to honeybees.
He was awarded his MBE in recognition of his services to beekeeping.
He will be sorely missed and our condolences and good wishes go to his wife Joy and their two daughters, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I am indebted to many beekeepers for their help in producing this tribute.
Geoff Mills, Hon. Life Member, Essex Beekeepers Association
Mourners
The cremation is at Chelmsford crematorium 2 p.m. Wednesday 31 March 2010. Flowers only from the family but donations to the charity RSPB.
There will be a broadcast on Good Friday 2 April 2010 on BBC Radio 4 at 16:00 hrs in the programme "The Last Word".
Article Photographs
The first black/white picture has been taken from Mike Taylors book Bee-keepers Garden and was taken by Tony Birks-Hay, and the second of Ted, Clive and David was taken by David Blackwood.