Caroline Drummond - an inspirational leader and speaker
A great farming advocate, Caroline Drummond, has died aged 58, after a short illness.
As chief executive of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming” she had been a formidable and driving force in the transformation of the agricultural industry in the past three decades.
She spoke to members of Stalham Farmers’ Club, alongside David Jones, of the Morley Agricultural Foundation, in November 2015.
She delighted (and also challenged) her audience with a summary of the challenges facing the industry. Awarded the MBE in 2009, she had joined the fledgling organisation, LEAF, in 1991 from Shuttleworth (Agricultural) College, where she had been an agronomy lecturer and forklift truck driver instructor.
Under her enthusiastic leadership, LEAF became a major force and launched a series of high profile initiatives to promote the industry including Open Farm Sunday.
Despite coming from a non-farming background, she went to Seale Hayne Agricultural College. Later, a Nuffield scholar, she was a founding member of the European Initiative for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and chaired the 2005 Oxford Farming Conference Council.
When she joined LEAF, then chaired by Norfolk farmer and broadcaster David Richardson, it was for an initial three-year project. In the following years, LEAF became the driving force in sustainable farming. He told Anna Hill of BBC Radio 4’s Farming programme (Wednesday, May 25) of her massive contribution to the industry.
In her 2015 talk to Stalham Farmers, before heading home to Cornwall, where her husband Phil ran a dairy farm, she highlighted the core values of sustainability – through demonstration farms and our LEAF innovation centres.
Other initiatives included the LEAF sustainability farming review – and some of our management tools such as soils and water.
In her opening address, she said that the charity, launched at the Royal Show in 1991, now had a total annual income of about £1m and 14 staff, including many part-timers. The core aims and objectives had not really changed over the years but the launch of Open Farm Sunday in 2006 had really raised the charity’s profile.
“Our vision is very much that the world is farming, eating and living sustainably. Our mission is to inspire and enable people to do that through prosperous agriculture, through good environment and community engagement. Those are the core values of sustainability,” she said. And it was exciting too that Defra has named 2016 as British Food and Farming Year – also coinciding with LEAF’s silver jubilee.
It had also developed its “Marque” of quality assurance over the past 15 years. “About 25pc of UK fruit and vegetables is now LEAF Marque accredited,” she added.
In the 10th Open Farm Sunday event, it attracted 291,000 visitors to 389 farms, involving 10,000 helpers. Amazingly, 25pc of visitors had never been on a farm before. And in terms of attendance, 18pc of OFS events had less than 100 visitors, 19pc over 1,000 and 21pc over 3,000 visitors.
“We’ve now extended OFS to include Open Farm Schools Day. The whole of June is now Open Farm Schools’ Day,” she said.
Farmers have a great story to tell. “We’ve got modern technology, we use it wisely, we use it safely, and we’re highly professional as an industry,” said added.
Entry added: 25 May 2022 |
Bob Clabon, who is also chairman of East Norfolk NFU branch, has kindly invited fellow members and Stalham members to tour the family's farm on Tuesday, June 7 - arrive 5.30pm for 6pm departure.
Please reply to the NFU office - email to northwalsham@nfumutual.co.uk or telephone the NFU Group Office 01692 402929 with names of those wishing to attend, no later than 1st June.
The farm walk will be taking place on Tuesday 7th June, please arrive at 5:30pm for a strict 6pm departure.
Meeting at: Rookery Farm, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 0RF.
Directions: Take the B1145 out of North Walsham sign posted towards Mundesley.
Look for a left hand turning just past the Quaker Meeting House and before a bridge.
NFU Directional signs will be in place.
Entry added: 19 May 2022 |
Supreme champion barley grower - Champion beet grower Alan Beck won Norfolk’s top malting barley title to add to the family’s haul of silverware at Stalham Farmers’ Club’s annual dinner.
His sample of Flagon malting barley was judged top of the crops in the annual competition against friendly rivals, Holt & District Farmers’ Club.
Bob King, commercial director of the Crisp Malting Group, had cast his eye over another Flagon sample grown by Ed Jones, of Harold Jones Farms, Little Witchingham, which had won Holt’s barley championship.
It was the first time that Mr Beck, of Brunstead, and his son, Geoffrey, had won the club’s barley trophy, which was first presented in 1937.
The Beck family, which has farmed at Brunstead since 1919, also won the Cantley Cup for highest overall yield in the latest beet campaign. C N Beck & Sons produced 1.5 tonnes per hectare more than the club’s retiring president Thomas Love, of Walcott Farms. The club’s new chairman, William Sands, of HBS Farms, finished a very close third, also with a yield of more than 100 tonnes per hectare.
In the competition for best beet crop, Robert Cook, of Ingham, retained the trophy for the third year in a row. The Beck family was runner-up and Tim Papworth, of LF Papworth, of Felmingham, was third.
Former Norfolk NFU chairman Thomas Love won the club’s potato cup with a crop of Innovator grown at Brunstead.
Former North Norfolk MP Sir Norman Lamb, who was the guest speaker and proposed the toast to Agriculture and Stalham Farmers’ Club, presented the potato trophy to Mr Love’s son William.
There was success too – for the club’s new president, George Gay, who finished third in the barley competition with a sample of Laureate. He won the supreme inter-club barley trophy three years ago with a sample of the same variety.
Last year, the result was a tie because Edward de Feyter entered the same sample for Stalham as his father Graham had for Holt.
The annual dinner, which was the first to be held since 2019 when the then North Norfolk MP Sir Norman had been invited to address the club, was attended by more than 70 members and guests at North Walsham Rugby Club, Scottow. The club also welcomed as guests, Holt’s chairman, Pat Cubitt and the president, Richard Brooks.
Sir Norman highlighted the growing concerns and lengthy delays in access to mental health treatment and counselling for young people, especially for a record number of teenagers and children. Since he had launched Norfolk’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, more than £350,000 had been raised and initial grants of some £75,000 had just been made to help local groups.
Will Sands, chairman, thanked Sir Norman for speaking and presenting the awards. He was given a Stalham tie and a copy of Alec Douet’s book, “Breaking New Ground,”, a history of Norfolk Agriculture 1914 to 1984.
Entry added: 07 Apr 2022 |
2021 Competition results
Potato Cup: 1 Walcott Farms; 2 LF Papworth; 3 Robin Baines.
Sugar beet – whole crop: 1 Robert Cook; 2 CN Beck & Sons; 3 LF Papworth. Cantley Cup: 1 CN Beck & Sons; 2 Walcott Farms; 3 HBS Farms.
Two-acre – The competition was not judged in 2020 or 2021, partly because of Covid 19 lockdown issues. The trophy was presented to Will Sands, of HBS Farm, which won the award in 2019.
Supreme inter-club barley champion – CN Beck & Sons; reserve, Ed Jones, of Harold Jones Farms, Little Witchingham.
Barley: 1 CN Beck & Sons (Flagon); 2 Milligen McLeod (Maris Otter); 3 Mautby Farms (Laureate). Wheat: 1 Milligen McLeod (Gleam); 2 and 3 LF Papworth (Skyscraper).
Entry added: 07 Apr 2022 |
Special award - A special presentation of the E H Wenn President’s Cup was made by the retiring chairman Chris Borrett to Thomas Love in recognition of his many years of support for the club.
He had stood at last month’s annual meeting after completing his three-year term as president.
The trophy was last awarded in 2018 having been re-represented to the club by Jennifer Grier.
Other winners have included the late Frank Read in 2012, Ken Leggett, Tim Papworth, potato judge Denis Walsh in 2015 and Stuart Marsh in 2018.
Entry added: 07 Apr 2022 |
New honorary vice-presidents – Retiring chairman Chris Borrett told about 70 members and guests at the annual dinner that three new honorary vice-presidents had been elected at the recent annual meeting. His announcement that Christopher Deane, Thomas Love and Tim Papworth had been appointed was warmly applauded.
All three had given generously of their time to support the club over many years. They join the current honorary vice-presidents, Jonathan Deane, Ken Leggett MBE and Michael Pollitt.
Entry added: 07 Apr 2022 |
MARCH MEETING at VERA’s COFFEE SHOP
Wednesday, March 16 at Vera’s Coffee Shop, Wayford Bridge. Please note change of location to A G Meale’s for this meeting.
Meet from 6pm for supper at 6.30pm (£20 per head). Meeting to start at 7.30pm.
After the brief annual meeting, Nik Chapman, CBE, will outline “Practical Solutions for Food Poverty.” As the head of the Thetford-based Charles Burrell Community Centre, Mr Chapman, who spent more than 30 years in the Army, will highlight the real misery and problems facing an increasing number of households.
All welcome – members are encouraged to bring partners to the meeting.
If you’d like to join the retiring chairman, Chris Borrett, at supper, let the secretary know.
The menu - Chicken breast wrapped in bacon in a BBQ sauce served with skin-on fries, home-made coleslaw & dressed mixed salad.
Steamed chocolate pudding served warm with chocolate sauce, cream or ice cream. Tea or filter coffee £20 per person.
Booking for supper by 10am on Monday, March 14 to the secretary – Michael Pollitt on 01603 486997 – or email michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com
All bookings will be acknowledged. Entry added: 23 Feb 2022 |
ANNUAL DINNER – Wednesday, April 6 at Scottow
For the first time in three years, Stalham Farmers' Club holds its annual dinner and presentation of trophies on Wednesday, April 6.
Awards will be presented by guest speaker, former North Norfolk MP Sir Norman Lamb , who will propose the toast to Agriculture and Stalham Farmers’ Club.
The highly-respected former health minister has launched an initiative to support mental wellbeing and resilience of children and young people in Norfolk.
Numbers for the dinner will be limited to about 100, which must be booked in advance.
Tickets for the three-course meal will be £40 per head at North Walsham Rugby Club, Scottow. First come, first served!
Once your booking is accepted, payment will required. Details will be provided. Payment to the club’s bank account is probably easiest. Otherwise, cheques, also in advance. All bookings will be acknowledged.
If there are dietary issues, again please inform the secretary. The starter will be salmon with pork the main course with Norfolk potatoes, followed by dessert, cheese & biscuits and coffee. Assemble from 6.45pm – to sit down at 7.30pm.
Details – contact the secretary Michael Pollitt - 01603 486997 or email bookings – michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com Entry added: 23 Feb 2022 |
A fascinating insight into farming in New Zealand was presented by Tom Harrison, of Trimingham, at the February meeting. He told about 40 members and guests of his experiences working on South Island's Canterbury Plain, growing seed potatoes and specialist seed crops. After three years in New Zealand, he had returned to the family farm last year and was making a number of changes including growing some new crops like radish.
Full report of February's meeting - see minutes and reports on the left.
Entry added: 10 Feb 2022 |
Next meeting
Wednesday, March 16 - Vera's Coffee Shop (AG Meale's Wayford Bridge). Annual meeting,7.30pm. Supper beforehand.
Maj-Gen Nik Chapman: Food poverty in Norfolk - Possible solutions.
Entry added: 10 Feb 2022 |