BEE calm and soldier on

Are bees nature’s healers? Emma Caulton asks John Geden, soldier and detective turned beekeeper

- Emma Caulton

You can’t see the wounds, but they’re there.

With a smile, John Geden welcomes me into his family home on Hayling Island where he lives with his wife Jo and their two daughters. This quiet out of the way spot is in striking contrast to John’s life in the army and police, with its tales of adventure and derringdo. You wouldn’t guess that this seemingly cheerful man struggles with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And you might not notice his limp; from a paragliding accident with the Territorial Army back in 1995 when he fell 120ft – incurring a life-changing injury.

But I’m here to talk bees. As John, soldier and detective turned beekeeper, recently launched WiSP, a natural balm using propolis (a resinous mixture considered to have medicinal qualities) from his hives. It quickly becomes apparent that bees play a significant role regarding John’s own health.

He explains: “I owe a lot to bees. I’ve been through some low times and the best thing is putting on my beekeeping suit and sticking my head into 20 beehives. All the negative thoughts pass.”

Those negative thoughts are the result of 32 years in the army and police. He served in Northern Ireland before being selected for Sandhurst (“I was considered to be officer material”), followed by becoming a commissioned officer with the Royal Military Police and latterly commanding the Royal Military Police airborne unit in Aldershot.

Following a decade in the army he resigned his commission in 1992 after marrying Jo. It was around this time that he started keeping bees as a hobby.