Otterhampton is situated a few miles west of Bridgwater in Somerset. It was quite remote in Anderson’s time, with a population of little more than two hundred.

Anderson was an ardent beekeeper, keen to practise and promote the craft among cottagers and encourage modern, humane and more efficient methods. In 1882 Charles Tite was pressing for a beekeepers’ association to be formed in Somerset. Anderson rose to the challenge and in 1883 the Association was instituted, Anderson being Secretary, Treasurer and the main driving force.

Anderson demonstrated beekeeping techniques at all the agricultural shows and fairs within reach, using a tent built to his specifications by Messrs John Waddon and Son, rope and sacking manufacturers, of Bridgwater. This enabled him to take live bees to shows, and by dint of his demonstrations he greatly encouraged the exhibition of honey throughout Somerset.

In 1886 Anderson published The Beekeepers Alphabet, explaining beekeeping appliances and terms of those days. Its pictorial form was aimed towards children and less literate cottagers, while the more learned had the added advantage of being able to read the accompanying text.

The Association which he worked so hard to build collapsed early in 1888 from "want of funds and energy among the members", when the annual general meeting held at Bath was attended by Anderson and only one other member. No business was transacted and he resigned his post. He continued his beekeeping activities for many more years and died in 1898 aged 59, while still the incumbent at Otterhampton.