Joanne, our Communities officer, and Angela, our Learning Officer, develop fixations on the most peculiar things. A few week ago it was donkeys but now they’ve been cruelly cast aside in favour of bees. Manchester adopted the worker bee as one of its symbols over 150 years ago and our buzzing friends have been popping up all over the place ever since. A particular favourite this week is “Binnie Bee”.
Binnie was the symbol of the “I Don’t Drop Litter Supporters’ Club” which was aimed at making children in the city aware of the problems caused by littering. The club launched in 1981 and local DJ Mike Sweeney gave his support, he must only have been a child himself (desperate attempt to get publicity from Mr Sweeney). Apparently children who joined the club received a badge and membership card. Do you remember Binnie Bee? Were you a member of the club? We live in hope of someone still having a badge – let us know if you have one!
You may have seen apparently crazed ladies taking photographs around Manchester this week. We apologise, that would probably have been our colleagues collecting pictures of bee symbols from various buildings. Here are some favourites, let us know if you’ve spotted where they are.
If you’re out and about in Manchester this weekend and come across a bee, let us know.
