New LBKA chairman Max Clifford presented Mr Parker, 70, of Lincoln Road with a £200 cheque and a thank you card at Lincoln University on Wednesday night.

This is his second accolade this year as he was awarded a Certificate of Merit for beekeeping at the Lincolnshire Show in June.

"I don't know whether the money will go on a holiday or will be going towards beekeeping. I wouldn't mind a new hive," said Mr Parker, who is always a 'busy bee' as chairman of the Horncastle Beekeepers.

He holds the fort for the most successful club in the county, with the highest membership, and certainly deserves a holiday for his commitment over the years.

This particular award was for his work as the vice chairman and chairman of the LBKA from 2000 until his retirement in January this year.

LBKA secretary Celia Smith said to Mr Parker of the gift he received: "It is given to you as a reflection of the esteem in which you are held within the association and as a thank you for all your hard work during your times as chair."

Mr Parker said he has no intention of retiring as chairman of the Horncastle Beekeepers' branch for at least another two years.

Every March, he holds beginner courses for new members in the Horncastle area and there are already more than 20 names on the list for next year.

"Anybody from 8 to 80 can join. It's not hard at all and after a year's experience everything else falls into place," he said.

There are currently 65 members.

It has been 'a good year' for bees, according to Mr Parker, with plenty of honey to go around.

"The bees travel the equivalent of twice around the world in order to make enough honey for one jar," he pointed out.

It has been a tough year for bees generally with a mystery virus killing them off across the UK.

Fortunately the Lincolnshire bees were unaffected.

Mr Parker said there are 54,000 to 60,000 bees in each hive which all work together to produce the honey.

* If you would require further information please contact Fred Parker on 01507 523107.