A keen beekeeper was laid to rest yesterday - by dozens of mourners in sting-proof suits.
About a hundred people gave a guard of honour at apiarist Billy Chambers' funeral at St Columba’s long Tower Church in Derry.
The 64-year-old's fellow beekeepers lined up in full protective gear to pay tribute to a man known for being generous with his expertise.
Social distancing still limits the number of people who can gather at a graveside or church service.
In a statement, Derry and District Beekeeping Association said Billy was a mentor whose enthusiasm would be missed.
One of the groups' founding members, he carried on teaching beekeeping right up to lockdown.
They said: "Billy had some recent health issues but he remained positive and stayed active as a teacher and mentor.
"Billy believed in the mentoring style of beekeeping and he practiced it to a fault, being prepared to travel any distance to sort out a beginner in difficulty with their bees."
The group said many members owed their passion for beekeeping to the late honey farmer.
"He would talk about bees to anyone who got into his taxi and he got no greater pleasure than when he would recruit a "newbee" to take up beekeeping."
Funeral director Sean Carr said Billy's family "very much appreciated" the gesture.
He said the honey farmer was a "quiet and gentle man".
He added: "I thought it was a lovely wee tribute."
