It is true to say that William Mundy at 95 years of age continues to be an inspiration within the beekeeping world. He first became involved with honeybees when he joined his local Dartford branch in 1936 and has been a solid member ever since. He was born in Dartford and grew up there, eventually marrying and settling down with two children.
His role in the RAF during World War Two was unfortunately cut short by his capture by the Japanese Imperial Army in Java, he was then transferred to Ambon to work on constructing an airstrip on a coral surface and finally being taken, because of severe deprivation, to the Changi Po Camp. During his time
here as a prisoner of war, he kept his faith in the healing and nutritious properties of honey. William nurtured and housed local honeybees for nine months whilst there under severe conditions and he even managed to give lectures to fellow inmates about bees and beekeeping.
William continues to educate new cohorts of potential beekeepers through his annual Instruction Class for Beginners at the Dartford Branch. It is this extraordinary service to education and his accomplished method of reaching out to a wide range of people that has endeared him to so many people within his local community and to the wider beekeeping world.
William has also served on the Kent Bee Keepers Association for over sixty five years, he held the office of President to the KBKA on two occasions and worked tirelessly to promote the highest standards in beekeeping as its Chairman for fourteen years. During this time he also served for a term on the
British Bee Keeping Association Council.
His dedication to bee keeping and the natural world was never better expressed than when William’s other posts as a member of the National Honey Show, later President, Vice Chairman and Chairman for sixteen years brought him close to the public. He re-introduced the Blue Ribbon Award, which he continues to hand make himself.
William’s eighty year span of steadfast loyalty to bee keeping and his ability to reassure beginners, give advice to improvers and offer wisdom to those who seem to know it all, as well as making the best mead imaginable, should be celebrated now as a truly extraordinary life long friend to bees and beekeepers alike.