Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


Brian Penfold
Bees Inside
While I was an operational Governor Grade based at Woodhill Prison I approached my Governor at that time, Ed Willetts, with an idea that I had thought about for a while. In my spare time I attended an evening course to learn how to keep bees and I eventually set up a colony of bees and even managed to produce some honey in my first year.

I spoke to Ed about the possibility of setting up a hive inside the establishment with intention of eventually training up a few longer-term prisoners to manage the colony themselves. Ed agreed to try this, and I then linked in with the Buckinghamshire branch of beekeepers who very kindly agreed to help and together we put together a new colony of bees (a hive) and along with the Gardens manager we setup a site in the establishment campus area.

As Woodhill is in the High Security Estate all goods (and personnel) had to be searched and/ or x-rayed. 
The bees came in through the vehicle lock and into the goods in search area to be x -rayed with the search staff not quite sure how to deal with this but after some assurance it was all set up. All went well until a few bees made a bid for freedom and then it was a ‘don’t panic Mr. Mainwaring’ moment, but we managed to finish the process and the bees were in.

The photo shows me doing my daily checks on the bees and I was able to produce a batch of honey that I sold in the establishment and the proceeds went to an officer who was badly burnt in a BBQ accident at his home.

I always believed that there were other ways to make life more interesting for both staff and prisoners during my time in the service, and this was just one example of that.

BRIAN PENFOLD