A former president of Stalham Farmers' Club, William Donald, died peacefully earlier today, Sunday, August 19. One of the youngest ever chairman to serve Norfolk National Farmers' Union, he was also a former chairman of the country's leading potato marketing co-operative, Anglian Produce. Our thoughts are with his widow and family. A full tribute will follow. Entry added: 19 Aug 2018 |
Unique village sign taken - A unique hand-made village sign has been stolen from the heart of a tiny community in east Norfolk. The distinctive Brunstead sign has stood by the main road from Stalham to Walcott for about 30 years. Stalham Farmers' Club member Alan Beck, who made the metal sign with Patrick Ames, of Home Farm, Brunstead, said that it had been taken between early Friday night and early Saturday morning. July 28. “It is such a well-known feature and I can’t believe that someone would take it for its scrap value,” said Mr Beck. His family has farmed at Brunstead Hall, next to St Peter’s medieval church, since 1919. “The sign features a man sitting on a horse-drawn drag rake because it was the name of the former Brunstead village pub,” said Mr Beck, of Orchard Farm. "We’ve informed the police and if anyone saw anything and can help to track it down, we’d be really grateful,” he said. Entry added: 30 Jul 2018 |
Memorable farm walk and visit - A tour of the Strumpshaw Hall estate's farming operations, steam museum, and RSPB reserve was greatly enjoyed by an 80-strong party, organised by club chairman Henry Alston. It was a joint event with East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union and included a walking tour of the RSPB's Strumpshaw reserve. For many highlights included the chance to ride around the park on the museum's light railway, hearing the Art Deco cinema organ or riding on one of the world's five surviving fairground rides, the Ark, which can achieve speeds of more than 30mph! It was a memorable evening. Full story - see the photo Gallery on the left. Entry added: 20 Jul 2018 |
Congratulations – A top Norfolk Farm Machinery Club trophy has been won by Geoffrey Beck, of Brumstead, near Stalham, with a design to remove tractor wheelings, in front of a subsoiler. He was presented with the Peter Bullimore Memorial Trophy by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s president, Ben Turner on the first day of the show on Wednesday, June 27. The late Mr Bullimore, who farmed at East Ruston , was also a long-standing member of Stalham Farmers’ Club. And Geoffey, of CN Beck & Sons, also wins £75 as well as the distinctive trophy.
Geoffrey is pictured with wife Mandy holding the Peter Bullimore Trophy. Photograph: Chris Thomas, of Normac. Entry added: 05 Jul 2018 |
Prestige prize - On a glorious summer's morning, one of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association's most prestigious awards was presented to Jim Papworth. The Timothy Colman Prize was presented by the president, Ben Turner to Mr Papworth in recognition of his decades of dedication and service to agricultural and rural communities in East Anglia. The annual award, which was actually announced at the association's annual meeting in April, was formally presented on the president's lawn to Mr Papworth, who has been actively involved in the family's farming enterprises for about 60 years. See the new Club Members section on the Left! Entry added: 30 Jun 2018 |
Marking Humphry Repton's bicentenary - Norfolk and Norwich was the focus of a special programme on BBC Radio 4, which was broadcast on Saturday, June 30, at 6.08am. Buried at Aylsham in 1818, Repton was the first "landscape gardener" and was known to have planned at least 23 of his 400 major projects in Norfolk. And the programme started at Catton Park, his first commission, on the northern edge of Norwich. Sadly, the presenter didn't talk to a former Stalham chairman, Ken Leggett, who was instrumental in the launch of the project to restore, maintain and enhance Catton Park, from the early years of his century. But the programme did visit Sheringham Park - his last commission - and North Repps but not Honing, where club members visited several years ago by invitation of Sir William Cubitt. And the programme can be heard on the BBC for the next 30 days. Entry added: 30 Jun 2018 |
Presidential bouquet – Retired county secretary to farming’s charity, Sally Mitchell, was presented with a lovely floral arrangement by RNAA president Ben Turner. It marked more her fundraising efforts for more than 30 years as secretary to the Norfolk committee of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. Members and guests at the official luncheon on the final day of the show applauded Sally, who said that she was “gobsmacked.” Entry added: 29 Jun 2018 |
Charity boost – At a national celebration to mark 50 years’ of potato growing by McCain in York, the club’s webmaster decided on an impromptu charity fund-raiser for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Tim Papworth, who was wearing his distinctive designed waistcoat, featuring potatoes naturally, offered it to the highest bidder. It made £1,300 for the charity. And as the event, which involved the 400 McCain growers from across the country producing about 15pc of the country’s potatoes, was staged at the National Railway Museum, Tim duly arrived by train – setting off from North Walsham, via Norwich, and Peterborough. Entry added: 29 Jun 2018 |
Top guns lead the charge - A respectable field of 21 members will be competing against friends and rivals, Holt & District Farmers' Club, on Thursday evening (June 21). Led by Broadland farmer and chairman Henry Alston, the club would like to wrest a trophy from Holt's cluttered trophy cabinet. At present, Holt holds every single trophy. Shooting starts at 5pm. Last-minutes entries may still be made to the secretary michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997. Entry added: 19 Jun 2018 |
Charity's Million Pound Success
Almost £1,000,000 has been raised for farming’s charity in Norfolk since 1986, said the retiring RABI county secretary.
Sally Mitchell thanked 250-strong supporters at the latest Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution’s summer cocktail party at the Norfolk showground.
A total of £947,043.11 had been raised – including £161,000 from the last 33 cocktail parties, she said.
The annual eve-of-show cocktail parties, brainchild of former NFU county chairman David Ritchie in 1985, had gone from strength to strength with the support of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association.
Mrs Mitchell, who started fund-raising for RABI at the Acle NFU dinner dance in 1982, was joint deputy chairman of farming’s charity between 1996 and 2004.
Read the full story and see the photos of Sally with her award in the Photo gallery on the left. Entry added: 19 Jun 2018 |