Peter Donovan started working at Buckfast Abbey in 1939 when he was only 12 years old. Peter worked with Brother Adam during his teenage years and then returned to Buckfast in 1972 and remained there until 2004. He is said to be the person who knew Brother Adam the best. Peter kept bees with a passion until he passed away in 2013. Today I am speaking with his son, John Donovan, who, as a child, spent time at Buckfast with his father and Brother Adam. John lives in Buckfast to this day.

2:57 - Peter’s early life

10:25 - Peter’s Military service 

14:10 - Keeping bees while on service 

16:50 - Returning to Buckfast

17:26 - Brother Adam and Peter, a funny military story

22:08 - John’s memories of Brother Adam’s mating station

27:50 - Brother Adam’s trips looking for bees

28:40 - John remembers the Buckfast bee

32:00 - The honey yields and extraction room

35:50 - Ordering honey from Buckfast

39:50 - Peter loved teaching people about bees

42:30 - Peter’s book about beekeeping

46:10 - John’s collection of Buckfast photos 

47:20 - How Brother Adam maintained his hive boxes

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Podcast proudly brought to you by 

Brent Nixon at Nixon Queen Bees (Ballarat VIC, Australia)

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