NEWS
Annual dinner success - What a great occasion. Almost 120 members and guests of Stalham Farmers’ Club attended the annual dinner at the Salhouse Lodge. The guest speaker Hugh Pym, who is the BBC’s health editor, spoke of the challenges facing the NHS and also revealed that he supports Scotland’s rugby team. Wisely, he made just brief reference to England’s 31-20 defeat at Murrayfield in last month’s Calcutta Cup. He was loudly applauded for his speech and then presented the club’s awards and trophies. Speech report - see under the minutes and reports tab on the left. [28/03/26]
Stalham’s triumph - Stalham regained the inter-club malting barley championship with a sample of Maris Otter, grown by Milligen McLeod Contracting, while William Love, of Walcott Farms, was presented with the Cantley Cup for best performance in the latest beet campaign. Martin Jensen, chairman of Holt & District Farmers’ Club received the reserve champion prize card on behalf of Andrew Ross, of Houghton St Giles, who had entered a sample of Buccaneer. [28/03/26]
Dinner memories – Almost 100 photographs of members and guests were taken by Simon Finlay at the Salhouse Lodge. All the prize winners are also pictured. See the Photo Gallery on the left [28/03/26]
Farming's challenge - Jonathan Pye, who stood down at the end of his two-year term as chairman, highlighted the importance of the club as the agricultural industry faces major challnges. IIn his thoughtful analysis, he suggested that the role of the country's oldest farmers'
club has become even more vital. He also briefly summarised the club's activities in the past year and passed the David Ritchie's chairman's gavel to his successor, Jason Cantrill. [28/03/26]
Fond farewell to Fran Baugh – St Michael & All Angels Church, Barton Turf, was packed as around 400 mourners attended a service of thanksgiving for the life of popular club member Fran Baugh, on Thursday, February 26. It was an uplifting service, led by the Rev Ben Bradshaw, with a reflection given by the Rev Neville Khambatta. The family and friends theme included personal memories by her husband Louis, Alison Ritchie and Jayne Thornalley. Two of Fran’s Godchildren, Russell Corfield and Helen Baines also contributed. Donations were invited in Fran’s memory to The Big C or for Bob, the gardener, who will run the Brighton Marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Go to JustGiving website, “Bob Cutter.” A brief service of committal had been held earlier in the day with interment on the family’s Neatishead Hall farm. [28/02/26]