NEWS
Congratulations to a new show president. Aylsham Agricultural Show Association has elected club member Jane Ritchie, of Horning, as president at the annual meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025. At the Town Hall, retiring president, Nigel Savory, proposed the long-serving head horse steward, Jane, supported by her husband, George, as his successor.
In addition, a former speaker to the club, Susie Emmett, of Oxborough, near Swaffham, was elected deputy president for 2026. Members may recall that Susie spoke to the club in November 2014. A former World Service broadcaster, she had by then visited 77 countries for her various reports. The AASA also awarded £22,000 to 56 local community groups, charities and local bodies. The one-day show made a surplus of about
£40,000 but legal charges and setting aside an insurance fund for show cancellation accounted for almost £13,000.
[15/01/25]
Bats and trees on club menu
Happy new year. Our guest speaker at the club's opening meeting on Wednesday, January 15 will be Adam Curtis, now of The Tree Council. He briefed members and guests at last summer's farm walk at Blickling on his role with the National Trust as countryside manager. He'll talk about trees, naturally, and also bats and possible grant help for planting too. We welcome members of North Walsham YFC as our guests to supper at Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU, meet from 6pm, served at 6.30pm. All members and guests are welcome to join the chairman, Jonathan Pye for a beef casserole supper with roast vegetables and dessert. It costs £21 but places must be booked in advance by 5pm, Monday, January 13 to the secretary, Michael Pollitt. Either email - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or text 07852 718342 or telephone 01603 486997. All bookings will be acknowledged. Payment to the club's bank, by card on the night or by cash. The meeting will start about 7.30pm.
[06/01/25]
Royal patronage continues – HRH the Princess Royal will remain as Happisburgh’s patron for a further three years, it was confirmed at the December meeting. Geoff Turner, and his wife, Jenny, of the Friends of the Happisburgh Lighthouse, said that Princess Anne had agreed a few days ago to continuen as patron. She visited the lighthouse last year - the country’s only independent one - and climbed the 112 steps to the top. Happisburgh was helped by Sandtex, makers of smooth masonry paints, which provided material when it was last re-painted in 2017. Full meeting report – See the minutes and reports tab on the left. [13/12/24]
Lost coat? If anyone has mislaid a woman's Toggi black coat after a recent club meeting at Wroxham Barns, please contact the secretary. The size 18 coat contained a couple of clues which might help the owner to reclaim it. In one pocket, there is a wristband for the Horseracing Museum at Newmarket (Palace Hotel) and secondly, there's the remains of a car park ticket issued by the National Trust at Blickling earlier this spring. So, who is a horse-lover who visited Blickling? Contact the secretary Michael Pollitt 07852 718342. [13/12/24]
The late Colin Ross. A good supporter of the club for many years and a colourful character in Norfolk's farming community, Colin James Ross, has died. A funeral service will be held at St Andrew's Church, Little Snoring, on Tuesday, December 17 at 11am. He died on Tuesday, November 26. A notice in the Eastern Daily Press adds the following details to a "wonderful and much loved husband, dad and grandad." Family flowers only, but donations may be given for Help for Heroes at the service or sent c/o Fakenham & District Funeral Services Ltd., Weasenham Manor,
PE32 2TF. Tel. (01328) 838838. Our thoughts are with his family.
[08/12/24]