Beekeepers looking for a role model could go further do no better than the extraordinary life of Dr. Eva Crane, the British beekeeper who founded the International Bee Research Association and was for 35 years its Director.

Eva (Widdowson) Crane was “a towering figure in the world of apiculture,” as Richard Jones described her in The Guardian. Other tributes published on her death at 95 years of age, in September 2007, described her as “one of the most prominent ‘bee persons’ of the 20th century” and “responsible for turning the study of bees into a scientific subject.”

A brilliant student, Eva Widdowson was one of only two women to study mathematics at King’s College, London, completing her her degree in two years and going on to a Master’s degree in quantum mechanics. She received her PhD in 1938 and moved on to teach Physics at Sheffield University.

The beekeeping world might never have known Dr. Crane — who was clearly destined to a world-changing career in nuclear physics — except for her marriage to James Alfred Crane, RNVR.

One of their wedding presents was a hive of bees.

It was 1942, with a war on and sugar in short supply. The point of the thoughtful gift was to provide the newlyweds with a sweet supply of honey. But ever the curious scientist, Eva Crane immediately subscribed to Bee World magazine (for which she would later act as Editor) and set out to learn all she could about the fascinating insects.

Her life-long inquiries led her to travel to over 60 countries, establish and to publish over 180 publicatons, including two seminal books: Bees and Beekeeping – Science, Practice and World Resources (Heinemann 1991) and The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting (Duckworth 1999).

Eva Crane’s life was devoted to “building the IBRA into a world centre of expertise on beekeeping,” and she received many honours for her work — including an Honorary Doctorate from Ohio State University in recognition of her contribution to the science of beekeeping. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1986.

See also:

• Radio interview with Eva Crane (BBC Radio 4 “Women’s Hour,” 2 August 2001)
• Interview with Eva Crane (Bees for Development Journal #24, 1992)
• World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting Limited preview (Google Books)
• Obituary: Dr Eva Crane 1912 – 2007 (British Beekeepers’ Association)