The Adorable Custom of ‘Telling The Bees’

The bee friend, a painting by Hans Thoma (1839–1924)

There was a time when almost every rural British family who kept bees followed a strange tradition. Whenever there was a death in the family, someone had to go out to the hives and tell the bees of the terrible loss that had befallen the family.

 

Failing to do so often resulted in further loss such as the bees leaving the hive, or not producing enough honey or even dying. Traditionally, the bees were kept abreast of not only deaths but all important family matters including births, marriages, and long absence due to journeys. If the bees were not told, all sorts of calamities were thought to happen. This peculiar custom is known as “telling the bees”.

Royal Windsor Horse Show History

 

 

Royal Windsor Horse Show first started in 1943 to help raise funds for the war effort. It has continued to run every year since and is now the only show in the UK to host international competitions in Showjumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance.

In 1943 Count Robert Orssich and Mr Geoffrey Cross were inspired by the ‘Wings for Victory’ campaign and set about organising a Horse and Dog Show in Windsor to raise money for the war effort.

The first show was simply called the Windsor Horse and Dog Show. It took place on Wednesday 26^th May 1943 and helped the Royal Borough raise £391,197 – enough