About
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History of Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association
Presidents 1927-Present
Current Committee Members
Edinburgh Presidents 1983-2006
EMBA Minute book 1937-1954
Willie Smith of Innerleithen and George Smith of Edinburgh
A Centenary Dinner 1994
EMBA’s Contribution to Scottish Beekeeping
EMBA and the Royal Highland Show
EMBA and the Moir Library
EMBA Summer visits
EMBA Honey Show
The EMBA Website
Acknowledgements
EMBA Apiary
History
The Association dates from 1928, when two older associations, the Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association and the Edinburgh and District Beekeepers’ Association, merged.
The Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association was founded in 1894. Within three years, it had 46 Members and its finances showed a healthy balance of £10.4s (£10.20p).
The first annual exhibition, at Juniper Green, had an impressive 98 exhibits weighing in at 690 lbs, and the County Council agreed to renew its grant to fund lectures by the President, Rev. J. W. Blake of Temple.
Succeeding honey shows were held at Bonnyrigg in 1898 and, in 1899, at the Waverly Market, in Edinburgh, in conjunction with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show.
By 1928, however, its fortunes were at low ebb. It had no funds, no secretary and, owing to the latter’s death, not even a list of its Members. It turned to a neighbouring association for help.
Edinburgh and District Beekeepers’ Association dates from just after the First World War, being founded at a meeting of beekeepers and persons interested in bees in Edinburgh on Saturday, December 14th 1918.
After the election of a President, Secretary and Treasurer, the annual
subscription was fixed at 2/6d (12.5p), it was agreed that the word District should not be interpreted too narrowly.
After the two associations merged, the new association, now known as the Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association (EMBA), gradually increased in size.
In 1929, there were 54 paid Members, 3 honorary and 2 life members. By 1957, the total had risen to 171, although this included 25 from West Linton who, until 1961, were affiliated to EMBA rather than the SBA. On separation, the Committee sent its best wishes for their future.
By 1992, EMBA had 124 members, 4 life members and 6 honorary life members. At the beginning of 2012, there were 103 members.
The programme of activities has varied over the years but has included lectures, demonstrations, films, honey shows, social evenings, President’s nights and Members’ nights and apiary visits in the summer.
(Based on an article by Una Robertson, in the Scottish Beekeeper in 1992)
Current Committee
President – Alistair Merrill, Vice President – Clive Long, Secretary – Sarah Price, Apiary Manager – Not Appointed, Treasurer – Stephen Readman.
Committee Members – Clare Kerr, Alan Riach, Fiona Dagge-Bell, John Gall, Stuart Henderson, Blair Henderson, Katy Lavery.
Co-opted Members - Karen Stephenson, Maggie Mowbray, Carrie Gooch.
EMBA Presidents and Vice Presidents 1927 -Present
| Year | President | Vice President |
|---|---|---|
| 1927–1936 | James Nesbit | J Gibb, Mrs JEP Robertson |
| 1936–1937 | Mrs JEP Robertson (Acting President) | Unknown |
| 1937–1942 | Aikman Blair | Miss Rollo |
| 1942–1945 | Miss Rollo | Thomas Jack |
| 1946–1947 | Thomas Jack | Dr J Irvine Carswell |
| 1947–1948 | Dr J Irvine Carswell | James Waterston |
| 1949–1950 | JM Waterston | Allan Smith |
| 1951 | Dr J Irvine Carswell | K Fraser |
| 1952–1954 | John McHardy | Allan Smith, James Cunningham |
| 1955–1957 | James Cunningham | John Bowden |
| 1958–1959 | John Bowden | Allan Campbell, Revd. Leckie |
| 1960–1964 | Revd. Leckie | Donald Fraser, AET Howell |
| 1965 | AET Howell | RB Veitch |
| 1966 | Unknown | RB Veitch |
| 1967 | Unknown | Peter Young |
| 1968–1969 | RB Veitch | Unknown |
| 1970 | Peter Young | Unknown |
| 1973 | WB Weir | Unknown |
| 1976 | J Cain | ? Ian Will |
| 1979–1982 | Ian Will | ? Iain Steven |
| 1983–1985 | Iain Steven | ? Andrew Richards |
| 1986–1988 | Andrew Richards | Una Robertson |
| 1989–1991 | Una Robertson | Neil Thomson |
| 1992–1994 | Neil Thomson | Tom McGravie |
| 1995–1997 | Tom McGravie | David Armour |
| 1998–2000 | David Armour | Alan Riach |
| 2001–2003 | Alan Riach | Robert Crawford |
| 2004–2006 | Robert Crawford | Nigel Hurst |
| 2007–2009 | Nigel Hurst | Kate Acherley, David Wright |
| 2010–2012 | David Wright | Maureen Cameron, Marion Hurst |
| 2013–2015 | Marion Hurst | Saskia Gavin |
| 2016–2018 | Saskia Gavin | Mark Barnett |
| 2019–2022 | Mark Barnett | Margaret Forrest |
| 2023–2025 | Stephen Readman | Fiona Dagge-Bell |
| 2025–Present | Alistair Merrill | Clive Long |
A photograph of some of those who have been President of EMBA between 1983 and 2006, taken at a President’s night in 2006.
From left, Iain Steven (1983-85), Tom McGravie (1995-97), Andrew Richards (1986-88), (sitting), Robert Crawford (2004-06), Una Robertson (1989-91), Alan Riach (2001-03)
EMBA Presidents 1983 - 2006
The EMBA minute book from 1927-37 is with the NLS, but not listed among the Moir Rare Books.
The EMBA minute book for 1937-1954 includes records of meetings held during the war years 1939-1945. After completion, it was put away for safekeeping, and its whereabouts were unknown for decades until it appeared in a lawyer’s office in Kirkcaldy in 2008 and was identified and returned to EMBA, via the Treasurer at the time, Maureen Cameron. It is presently with Una Robertson.
Image: Letter from James Thomson and Son concerning the EMBA minute book 1937-1954 3) The EMBA minute Book from 1954-65 is in the Moir Library.
EMBA Minute Books
This photograph, taken in 1962 at Innerleithen, shows Willie Smith on the left, wearing a cap and George Smith on the right, with a veil pushed up on top of his head. Willie Smith was a noted beekeeper from Innerleithen. He introduced the hive, which became known as the Smith and was a much sought-after speaker at Local Associations. George Smith (no relation) was the Beekeeping Adviser at the East of Scotland College of Agriculture at the Bush near Edinburgh and was a President of EMBA and of the SBA. Note the deep roofs on the hives and the smoker with an unusual curved end.
Willie Smith & George Smith of Innerleithen
A dinner to mark the Centenary of the foundation of Midlothian Beekeepers’ Association Standing in back row from L Tom McGravie, Allister Guy, Alan Bennell, Bob Marks, John Chalmers, Gwynneth Chalmers, Alex Halkett, Ian Will, Hugh McLean, Iain Steven Alan Riach Sitting from L Michelle Proud, Joyce Marks, Mary McLean, Bill Mackenzie (President of the SBA) Una Robertson, Neil Thomson
Centenary Dinner 1994
EMBA members have made many contributions to the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association, with six members having been President: John Moir (1917), Mrs JEP Robertson (1927), James Cunningham (1952-54), George Smith (1976-78), Iain Steven (1991-94) and Una Robertson (2003-06). EMBA members have held many other posts as officers and as conveners or members of standing committees.
In addition, several members of EMBA, or its antecedent associations, have written books on beekeeping. The first Secretary of Edinburgh and District Beekeepers’ Association, Mr A. C. Williams, wrote The Story of the Hive, published in 1928 and Andrew Richards’s book Beekeeping for Beginners, published in 1991, provided a well-illustrated, easy-to-follow guide which is still of practical value.
EMBA’s Contribution to Scottish Beekeeping
The Moir Library in Edinburgh owes its origin to John W Moir, an outstanding personality who was an empire builder, a beekeeper and a bibliophile. After a life spent in Africa seeking to follow David Livingstone’s footsteps, combating the slave traffic by opening up trade, he returned to his native Scotland. In 1912, he began collecting bee books, and by 1916, he had 167 volumes. He presented his books to the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association on the understanding that he would remain Honorary Librarian and house the library in his home in Edinburgh.
The collection of books grew rapidly and by October 1933, comprised some 1270 items. In 1939, with 1799 books and pamphlets and 439 volumes of periodicals, the library was transferred to the care of the Public Libraries and housed in the Central Reference Department. In 1991, the main lending collection was transferred to the Fountainbridge Library. A collection of rare books remained in the Central Library and in November 2002, 233 volumes of these, the earliest dating from 1525, were deposited on long-term loan in the National Library of Scotland (NLS) as the Rare Books Collection of the Moir Library.
Most of the books in the collection at Fountainbridge are freely available to members of the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association and members are provided with a card which enables them to borrow directly from the library. There are now over 4000 items, which cover a huge range of beekeeping topics. EMBA members from John Moir himself onwards have played key roles in looking after and administering the Moir Library. The SBA has a Library Committee and its conveners over the last thirty years or so, Iain Will, Tom McGravie and Una Robertson, have all been EMBA members.
(Based on an article by Una Robertson)
EMBA & The Moir Library
Images: Two views of shelves in the Moir Library in the Fountainbridge Library in Edinburgh, to give an idea of the number of books.
Depositing the Moir Library's rare books with the NLS in 2002
EMBA Members Tom McGravie on the left, Una Robertson second from right. The Orthodox priest is Archimandrite John Maitland Moir, John Moir’s grandson
Held in Edinburgh in 1822. For many years, the RHS was held in various places across Scotland before settling in 1960 at Ingliston.
George Smith, East of Scotland Beekeeping Advisor, based at Bush House and one-time EMBA President, was responsible, with the help of EMBA members, for providing a beekeeping presence at the RHS. This included a display of honey and wax, an observation hive and a small retail stall. Two stewards were provided, along with a small table, to help with advertising and recruiting SBA members and to provide valuable advice and assistance to visiting beekeepers. Mr & Mrs Fairley and Mr & Mrs McLean provided almost non-stop support during the shows, with Mary McLean providing wonderful honey fudge! The beekeeping appliance dealer, Steele and Brodie, were often in the next tent.
For many years, the Steven sisters looked after the SBA show stand for Bob Brown, the SBA Publicity Convener. The show material could be comfortably carried in a suitcase. Ian Will took over responsibility for the Honey Tent when George Smith retired and he was followed by Bob Marks. When Steele and Brodie closed, beekeeping dealer Bob Simpson from Cupar stepped in, sharing a marquee with EMBA until he retired. In 2002, a larger marquee was provided and the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association (SBA) took the opportunity to widen beekeeping education.
EMBA members continue to provide active support and stewards for the show, and the links forged by the EMBA and RHS are still evident. The SBA stall, once carried in a suitcase, now needs a 5 cwt van. Instead of two stewards a day, there are more than twenty. The RHS remains a showcase for Scottish honey and Scottish beekeepers, and EMBA can be very proud of the contributions of its members.
(Abridged from an article by Iain Steven)
EMBA & The Royal Highland Show (RHS)
Two images of the RHS 1999 SBA Honey tent
The top image shows EMBA members Iain Steven on the left, Bob Marks on the right and Joyce Marks and Mary McLean in the centre
The bottom image shows from the left, Joyce Marks, Hugh McLean, Mary McLean and Allan Drain
EMBA Summer Visits
Each year, EMBA has a programme of summer visits to other apiaries. The visits give members the chance to widen their experience of beekeeping practice and equipment, as well as offering them the opportunity to discuss beekeeping matters with others.
The photographs which follow show a selection of visits from the 1930s onwards.
Note the variety of hat and collar styles!
We think the lady in the centre with the black hat may be Mrs JEP Robertson, the lady on her right, with no hat, may be Miss Rollo, the gentleman on her left, with no hat, may be Mr Aikman Blair.
EMBA on a summer visit in 1933.
Sitting on L, Mary McLean, 3rd from L, Eleanor McGravie
Standing 4th from L Hugh Mclean, on his L Neil Thomson, Alex Halkett (with stick), on his L, John Chalmers, Jimmy Herd, Alan Riach, George Duncan, Robert Crawford, George Smith, Una Robertson, Michelle Proud, Allan Drain, Elizabeth Duncan
Visit to George Duncan’s Apiary, Dalmeny 1993.
1980s or early 1990s.
Jim Ballantyne nearest the camera, facing him is Andrew Richards.
In the background Jimmy Herd and Allan Drain.
Heather Honey picnic in Glen Cotha, Broughton.
EMBA visit to Dunfermline and West Fife Beekeepers’ Association apiary at Crossford, Fife.
June 2012. This is an excellent apiary, well set out and ideal for teaching and a memorable afternoon was had under the guidance of John Durkacz.
EMBA Honey Show
The EMBA honey show has been held for many years. Judges usually come from other Associations and the standard of entries is regularly very high. There is an Association cup, A Wax Quaich, a Novice cup and a cup for Baking, which was instituted in memory of Mary McLean. The EMBA Creativity Cup was introduced in 2025 and the EMBA Winners Book was introduced in 2024.
Early 1990s.
Hugh McLean judges an entry in the dark honey class, while Neil Thomson demonstrates two wax blocks.
2009
Charlie Irwin assesses the entries in the cut comb classes at the EMBA Honey Show
2024
Gino Jabbar, judging the Set Honey category.
Karen Stevenson Stewards.
2024
EMBA Honey Show Trophies & Winners Book* (introduced in 2024*)
2025
Dave and Bron Wright judging the EMBA Honey Show in 2025. Karen Stevenson is Stewarding. EMBA honey shows are unique in that they are openly judged; this allows the judges to offer feedback and advice on presentation and selection of winning entries.
The Creativity Cup was introduced in 2025.
EMBA Website
The EMBA website was set up initially in 2007 by Iain Dewar. In addition to providing information about EMBA activities and facilitating communication between members, the website provides a broad spectrum of information about bees and beekeeping to the wider beekeeping community and to the general public nationally and internationally. It is easy to use and attractive to view, and the Association has much to thank Iain for. Matthew Richardson then took over from Iain, and we thank him for his willingness to join in and wish him success in the future. The website was redesigned by Maggie Mowbray in 2024 and again in 2026.
Much of the information on this page has come from Una Robertson, Iain Steven and Tom McGravie. A great deal of help from Alan Riach, Dianne Barry and Kate Charlesworth is also gratefully acknowledged.
Historical photos (About page) are courtesy of Tom McGravie, Alan Cameron, Bron and David Wright. All other website images are courtesy of Maggie Mowbray with contributions from Peter Shaw.
EMBA Apiary
The Association Apiary was set up in 2009. Regular inspections are carried out by a core of members drawn from the EMBA committee and other members. The apiary is also used for practical classes for beginners. It acts as a sentinel apiary for SASA for the detection of exotic pests, such as Tropilaelaps and Small Hive Beetle, because of its relative proximity to Leith Docks and Edinburgh Airport.
In 2026, the apiary was required to relocate to an alternative site.
You can find out more of the history of the EMBA Apiary and view our gallery using the link below.