This week 60 years ago: Barnsbury man ‘destroys’ 60,000 bees
Islington Gazette: November 22, 1957 - Credit: Archant
A beekeeper had to deal with 60,000 bees which had settled on top of a Canonbury house.
Harold Woodhead, of Barnsbury Square, was asked by a builder to dislodge the bees in St Paul’s Road.
Looking back at the summer incident at a town hall art exhibition, Mr Woodhead told how he climbed 60ft on a ladder. He saw how the swarm had been making its way up to a cavity wall through a small gap in the brickwork.
Perhaps wisely, he told the builder that he dare not tackle 60,000 bees without scaffolding.
After this was erected, a veiled Mr Woodhead removed the bricks and was peppered with stings.
You may also want to watch:
He fixed up a honey bait to catch them, but after wet weather the bees had returned to the cavity wall.
Mr Woodhead’s solution was simple. “I destroyed them,” he said. “I realised there was nothing more I could do. Three days later I went back and scooped up the dead bees.”
Most Read
- 1 Hackney and Islington see another rise in Covid-19 cases
- 2 Taylor Cox 'wanted to play pro football until he was stabbed two years ago'
- 3 Police search for man who exposed himself on Islington 393 bus
- 4 Arsenal offers behind scenes tour of Emirates Stadium at Covid jab pop-up
- 5 Letters: Fighting to keep Wray Crescent Park available to all
- 6 Highbury woman repairs clothes outside H&M in stand against fast fashion
- 7 Arsenal pub Tollington Arms listed 'to prevent it being turned into flats'
- 8 Disruptions to your journey by car and train around Islington and Hackney
- 9 Largest beer garden in North London being built for Euro 2020
- 10 Campaign groups link up for Hackney Town Hall anti-road closure demo
