KAVS for the National Honey Show.
On Saturday in the sunny surroundings of the Reigate Beekeepers’ Association Apiary near Dorking, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey – Michael More-Molyneux CVO – presented the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) to the volunteers of The National Honey Show.
The KAVS is the highest honour awarded to local voluntary groups in the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE. The KAVS was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee (then known as a QAVS). The Awards are awarded for life and are announced on the King’s birthday each year, the 14th November.
The National Honey Show is unique. The Show is staged annually over a 3-day period at the end of October and provides education in beekeeping and environmental issues. The Show provides a gold standard by which beekeepers can compare their produce with others. Visitors to the Show can buy honey and products of the hive from beekeepers and producers, as well as learn about becoming a beekeeper.
The Show is entirely organised by local unpaid volunteers and has been run successfully every year since 1923, except for a few years during World War II. Every year there is growing demand for entries from all over the world as beekeepers recognise the kudos of winning a class at the Honey Show. Yet, the organising group and whole team of volunteers for the days of the Show just see themselves as a group of local beekeepers.
The National Honey Show is truly exceptional, and it is the combination of a passionate and highly skilled 100% volunteer core team with dedicated local volunteers delivering the Show, that make it so. The KAVS is very well deserved.
