Sam’s Community Apiary: Where Part of Our Story Began

The commemorative plaque that has been placed at St Mary Magdalene Church (Sign made by Jamie McBride of Project Apis CIC and the wooden plaque made by the Mens Shed of St Mary Magdalene)

Our first community apiary at St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston has always been an important place for Project Apis CIC.

Now it carries a name that means a great deal to us.

Together with St Mary Magdalene Church, we have renamed the apiary Sam’s Community Apiary, in memory of our friend and director, Samuel “Sam” Jinks, who sadly passed away in September.

For me personally, there couldn't be a more fitting place to remember him.

Where I really got to know Sam

St Mary Magdalene was where I first spent real time with Sam.

It was there that we talked about the idea of starting Project Apis CIC and what we wanted it to become. Sam shared his time, help and expertise as we worked through those early stages and began turning an idea into something real.

Eventually, I asked him to become a director of the CIC he had already helped us to build.

So when we talked with St Mary Magdalene Church about how we could remember Sam, renaming our first community apiary felt right.

This wasn't just one of our apiary sites. It was a place connected to Sam, to his own involvement in the local community, to our friendship, and to the beginnings of Project Apis CIC.

Sam’s Community Apiary

From now on, our apiary at St Mary Magdalene Church will be known as Sam’s Community Apiary.

The name is simple, and that's exactly how we wanted it.

The apiary will continue doing what it was created to do: bringing people together and giving people the opportunity to experience beekeeping without needing to own a hive, buy equipment or have previous experience.

People will continue to meet there, learn together, open hives, make mistakes, gain confidence, share knowledge and hopefully welcome many more people into beekeeping.

And Sam's name will be there with them.

There's something particularly meaningful to me about knowing that conversations at this place helped Project Apis CIC begin, and that the same place will now carry Sam's name into its future.

More than a director

Sam was one of our directors, but describing him only by his title doesn't really tell the story.

He helped when Project Apis CIC was still something we were talking about. He gave us his expertise and helped us build it. Then he agreed to put his name alongside ours and become a director of what he'd helped create.

More importantly, he was our friend.

We are grateful to St Mary Magdalene Church, where Sam was such an active member of the community, for working with us to make this tribute possible.

Our community apiary journey started here.

Part of Project Apis CIC's story started here.

And part of my friendship with Sam started here too.

It feels right that this place should now be called Sam’s Community Apiary.

We miss him, and we're proud that his name will remain part of something he helped to build.

Sam’s Community Apiary
St Mary Magdalene Church, Gorleston

In memory of Samuel “Sam” Jinks.

Nature. Connection. Community.