Challenges for rural policing. Widespread domestic abuse was a huge issue for policing in Norfolk, said the county’s crime commissioner. Lorne Green, who was elected almost two years ago, told the 176th annual dinner of Stalham Farmers’ Club about the scale of domestic abuse across the county.
He shocked the 115 members and guests at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall, as he reported that between 40 and 50 complaints were being made each day or more than 5,800 last year. And the growing number of sexual abuse cases was also alarming too, he added.
Mr Green said that rural policing was one of his major challenges and that he had set up a task force to review progress in tackling crimes including illegal hare coursing. He also defended his decision to replace about 150 police and community support officers from the end of this month with 123 dedicated officers and staff, which would help to give the chief constable a county-wide resource to meet the modern policing challenge. By using and investing in technology to give police officers the tools to tackle the new types of crime, it would provide better protection for communities and society, he said. His robust defence of his strategy clearly impressed his audience.
Entry added: 16 Mar 2018 |
RIP Frank Read.
One of the longest serving secretaries to Stalham Farmers' Club, Frank Read, has died age 83 at home on Monday afternoon.
When he retired as secretary after serving for almost a quarter of a century in 2011, he was elected a life vice-president.
Frank, who succeeded Nigel Wright as secretary in 1987, was only the fourth to hold the post since 1948. And when the late Roger Beck retired as treasurer, he took on responsibility for both roles. One of the highlights of his secretarial year was organising the club's annual dinner - and tonight, Wednesday, March 14, his contribution will be remembered by members and guests with a minute's silence.
He was also manager of the farmers' co-operative Blofield Farmers for many years.
He leaves a widow Audrey and a daughter. Funeral arrangements to be announced.
Entry added: 14 Mar 2018 |
Congratulations to champions Holt. And a splendid evening took place involving the 50-strong contingent of bowlers and ten-pin players from Stalham and Holt at Rossi's, of North Walsham, on Friday, February 23.
When the scores were counted, and then re-checked, the 10 members of Holt Farmers' Club had triumphed in the ten-pin - the first such success for years. The margin of victory was tight too - just 34 points split the two teams, Holt scoring 2041 over the two legs to Stalham's 2007. The top score award went to Ben Plumb, of Holt, with 295 and the runner-up was Peter Perry-Warnes on 249. Charlie Lockhart, last year's winner, headed the Stalham list with 220 and Rebecca Hill was second highest with 208 - three ahead of husband Sam.
In the bowls, Stalham's form improved - and the five teams scored a total of 49 against a superior performance from Holt, with 85 points across the five rinks. Jonathan Deane, Stalham's retiring chairman thanked the organisers, Stuart Ross and Michael Pollitt, and said that the club would rise to the challenge next year. And Jimmy Fowell, president of Holt, said that it was a remarkable performance to win all three titles on one evening - and was probably historic in the competition's two decades.
The party enjoyed a three-course supper, which was much appreciated with thanks to Chris Carr, Bruce Rossi and his team of staff. Entry added: 25 Feb 2018 |
Trophies at stake.
A fun evening of competition against our friends from Holt & District Farmers' Club takes place on Friday, February 23 at Rossi's, North Walsham. We need to field two 18-strong teams - at both 10-pin and bowls. We gather at 4pm and start at 4.30pm prompt followed by a three-course supper. Cost £20. Players of any or indeed limited availability are just as welcome to take part. It would greatly assist the secretary if you'd like to play, so please let me know. And if you have a friend, then bring them. As of writing, we have 8/18 bowlers and 9/18 Ten-pinners. Telephone me on 01603 486997 or reply to michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com
Entry added: 16 Feb 2018 |
Challenge for farmers and growers
A massive decline of insect pollinators over the past seven decades could be reversed by active and practical management, a leading researcher told Norfolk farmers.
Dr Lynn Dicks, of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, addressed the 176th annual meeting of Stalham Farmers’ Club at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall, and highlighted the dramatic decline in pollinator populations since 1950.
However, she argued that farmers could rise to the challenge and help to reverse this decline by good, active management and providing more species-rich food sources for insects. One six-year survey of an arable enterprise in southern England had seen pollinator increases despite taking eight per cent of the farmed land out of production – and maintaining overall yields.
Given that pollinators boosted total annual farm production by an estimated £630m, there was a clear need to provide the right range and variety of habitat for pollinating insects throughout the year, she said.
FULL REPORT – Meetings and minutes, see lefthand column.
Entry added: 15 Feb 2018 |
New president and chairman
A former Norfolk farmers' leader was elected president at the club's 176th annual meeting on Wednesday, February 14. Thomas Love, of Walcott Farms, who is a past chairman of Norfolk National Farmers' Union, will serve a three-year term - and follows a long tradition of family membership of the club going back four or five generations. He succeeds William Donald, of Witton, near North Walsham, who was elected in 2014 and was made an honorary life vice-president.
A new chairman will also take over after the club's annual dinner next month. Henry Alston, of Billockby Hall Farms, thanked the retiring chairman, Jonathan Deane, for his tremendous efforts over the past two years including leading the club's 175th anniversary celebrations in 2016. He was elected an honorary vice-president. And Chris Borrett, of grain merchants Adams & Howling, was elected vice-chairman.
Entry added: 15 Feb 2018 |
Mark St Valentine's with a difference! Our February gathering, Wednesday, February 14, is also the annual meeting (7.30pm) at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall NR12 7DN when our current chairman Jonathan Deane has announced his intention to stand down.
All members are most welcome to join the chairman and speaker for supper and a drink before the meeting from about 6pm. Our theme - "Meeting farming's pesticides challenges" - is topical given the concerns/ legal restrictions about crop protection products - emerging from Defra and also from Europe.
Please let me know if you'd like to support the chairman by Monday, February 12, 9.30am, at the latest. Supper costs £20, including a welcome drink.
Dr Lynn Dicks, of the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences, will discuss how farmers must adapt their approach to using many-long familiar pesticides. She will outline how practical commercial approaches can benefit and the broader environment - and the bottom line. She has worked with organisers managing the environment including government, the charitable sector and the food and farming industry. Her work is focused on inspect pollinator conservation.
Let the secretary know by Monday, February 10 by 9.30am at the latest - email michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or 01603 486997.
Entry added: 04 Feb 2018 |
Up for a sporting challenge?
Bowls and ten-pin
This takes place on Friday, February 23 at Rossi's, North Walsham, against Holt Farmers' Club and we need to find two teams, each of 18 players, for bowls and 10-pin. We gather at 4pm for a 4.30pm prompt start. It includes play and a three-course supper - for an inclusive £20 - the price has been pegged for four years! To date, I've four bowlers (another 14 needed) and nine 10-pinners (nine more needed). It would greatly assist if players could let me know - email michaelbpollitt@btinternet or telephone 01603 486997. Entry added: 04 Feb 2018 |
And bookings for the annual dinner.
Annual dinner and presentation of awards and trophies - Wednesday, March 14 - 7pm for 7.30pm.
We welcome our speaker on Wednesday, March 14 Norfolk's police and crime commissioner Lorne Green, who was elected almost two years ago, to present the awards and trophies at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall.
Tickets cost £40 per head - and payment, in advance please, may be cheque - payable to Stalham Farmers' Club, The secretary Michael Pollitt, 60 Chamberlin Road, Norwich NR3 3LY or direct to our bankers. All bookings will be acknowledged and must be made by Monday, March 12 (9.30am) at the absolute latest, please.
Finally - trophy winners from last year's dinner must arrange for cups to be returned to the secretary - at the next meeting for the engraving of the 2017 winners to take place. Entry added: 04 Feb 2018 |
Lively presentation - Guest speaker Emily Norton, who returned to the family's farm at Frettenham in 2007, spoke of her plans for her 2018 Nuffield scholarship including visits to South Korea and Japan later this year. Fresh from taking part in a debate at the Oxford Farming Conference last Thursday, she spoke with great confidence and optimism about the future challenges for the farming industry to feed the nation. Farmers, she said, had to listen to their customers and respond with a positive message. She provoked plenty of lively questions from across the floor and was thanked by solicitor Sarah Ellero for a bright and stimulating start to the year. She was presented with a copy of Alec Douet's definitive history of Norfolk Agriculture from 1914 to 1984 by the chairman. See club report for more details. Entry added: 11 Jan 2018 |