Honey fair a success with short supply

CALLINGTON, England, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Organizers of the only honey fair in England say this year's event was a great success despite poor weather that drastically cut honey production.

The fair went forward Wednesday in Callington in Cornwall, as it has every October since 1976. The tradition dates back to 1267 but went through a hiatus in the 20th century.

"The fair's been very good this year but it's been terrible for the bees," John Trevithick, who revived the fair, told the Western Morning News. "It's been absolutely atrocious."

This year's fair included a competition for town criers, suggested by Dennis Cook, the Callington town crier. While competitors came from as far away as Gloucestershire, the winner was Robert Tremain from nearby Launceston.

David Jones said even if the quantity of honey was down this year the quality of entries in competitions remained high. Beekeepers say there were few flowers because of a cold, wet summer, leading to fewer bees and less honey.

Conwy in Wales holds the only other remaining honey fair in Britain.