Were you a Busy Bee?

02/05/2007

 Coronation Street star William Roache MBE, (Ken Barlow) is inviting animal lovers to join him on a stroll down memory lane and recall their childhood days as "Busy Bees".

The popular kids club of veterinary charity, PDSA, numbered 200,000 willing children during its heyday in the 1950s. Busy Bees collected everything from blankets to milk bottle tops to help save sick and injured animals.

To mark the charity’s 90th anniversary in November 2007, PDSA will publish a commemorative edition of the Busy Bees Newsletter, guest edited by William Roache - himself a former Busy Bee.

The Busy Bees Club was set up in 1934 by PDSA founder, Maria Dickin CBE, who was the club’s first “Queen Bee”. After her death, her friend, the world-famous children’s author, Enid Blyton, took on the mantle, and became a regular contributor to the Busy Bees Newsletter.

The Newsletter was packed with helpful tips on how to look after pets and wildlife, along with wonderful stories about animals’ adventures by Enid Blyton, fun competitions and a round up on what fundraising activities the Busy Bees had been up to.

Busy Bees buzzed around tirelessly collecting vouchers off cereal boxes and crisp packets, saving their pocket money, and taking part in special sponsored events raising hundreds of pounds for the treatment of sick and injured pets.

“I have very happy memories of being a Busy Bee and wore my badge with pride,” recalls William. “Busy Bees instilled in me a respect and love of animals and joining the club was something I still cherish to this day.”

Thousands of children learned how to look after their horses, dogs, cats and rabbits. Promoting pet health care remains an integral part of PDSA’s mission today, and it continues to do so through the new children’s club, the Pet Protectors.

PDSA is asking other former Busy Bees to get in touch to ensure that they can receive a free copy of the commemorative 2007 Busy Bees Newsletter. If they can help uncover lost memories of Busy Bees, all the better.

So, if you have any old copies of the Busy Bees Newsletter, photos from past fundraising events or letters from Enid Blyton thanking you for a donation, or if you carried out lots of unusual fundraising activities in aid of pets in need of vets, then PDSA wants to hear from you.

You can get in touch either via email busybees@pdsa.org.uk, or to Gill Hubbard, Busy Bees, PDSA Head Office, Whitechapel Way, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire TF2 9PQ.


Mature Times would also love to hear your memories. email editorial@maturetimes.co.uk