Bradford Observer – Thursday 28 July 1949

Miner “Held Up” By 20,000 Bees

When George Shepherd (59), miner, of Wright Crescent, Wombwell, returned from his work at Houghton Main Colliery yesterday, he found his way barred by “squatters.”

A swarm of bees, estimated at that number, had settled on the gatepost of his Council house. Eventually, he entered his house through a neighbour’s garden, to find that Mrs. Shepherd, with visitors from York, had taken fright and gone.

The bees were got into a temporary hive by Mr. Tom Bestwick, engineer to the Dearne Valley Water Board, who is a beekeeper.