NEWS
Loneliness of the long-distance runner – Charlie Lockhart set himself a challenge to run 100 miles in a month to raise funds for Cancer Research. And his just-giving page is still open for further donations if any member would like to support this worthy initiative. Charlie, who started as one of British Sugar’s agricultural managers in May, would admit that he is possibly a somewhat reluctant runner but he achieved his goal and has raised almost £600 for the charity. As many will know, his father, John, who was club chairman in 2005, and is living near Belvoir Castle between Nottingham and Grantham, was treated for cancer last year. Charlie, who lives near Oulton Broad, found the discipline of a daily run a challenge at first but soon got into the swing of it. Now, he looks after beet contracts from Lowestoft to Stalham, he intends to join the club.
http://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/charless-giving-page-234 [11/10/24]
Welcome to the 2024 winter season of Stalham Farmers’ Club.
We meet at Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU for supper with the chairman Jon Pye.
All members are invited to supper and welcome the evening’s speaker from 6pm, with the meal served about 6.30pm. The meetings starts about 7.30pm.
If you’d like to come to supper, please let the secretary know by 10am on the Monday (two days before) because meals have to be booked. All requests will be acknowledged.
Members are most welcome to bring a guest or partner – the more the merrier. YFC members and potential club members will be most welcome too.
And in January, we welcome members of North Walsham YFC to supper as our guests
[04/10/24]
STALHAM'S WINTER PROGRAMME
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Wednesday, November 13
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
All the King’s Horses - Capt Emma Lane-Ley, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Wednesday, December 11
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
Perils at Sea and the Happisburgh Light, Geoff Turner.
2025
Wednesday, January 15
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting.
Mighty oaks from acorns, Adam Curtis, countryside manager with the National Trust.
Wednesday, February 12.
Wroxham Barns, 6.30pm supper, 7.30pm meeting and AGM Sampling air for diseases, Darren Heavens, of the Earlham Institute.
Wednesday, March 19
Annual dinner and presentation of trophies and prizes.
Salhouse Lodge, 7pm for 7.30pm. Speaker TBC.
[04/10/24]
FOWL PLAY ONLINE -
Early-morning risers may have heard the club's secretary Michael Pollitt interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today programme about the challenges of registering on Defra's poultry register. He told the presenter Anna Hill that he had spent a total of 17 hours over two days trying to complete the on-line application for five birds (two hens and three bantams) on his north Norwich allotment ahead of the official deadline for registration on October 1. Defra's website was unable to cope with the surge in applications for poultry keepers with less than
50 birds, who have to register to avoid a £2,500 fine or even possible imprisonment! The online application process required a code from Defra to provide further details but it was only valid for 30 minutes. When the first code arrived seven hours later, it was out of time and thus invalid. In all, 11 codes were sent over two days with the last arriving at 11pm, making it impossible to register. Fortunately, a helpful member of Defra's Cardiff-based Animal and Plant Health Agency offered to send a four-page email to start the registration process. It was somewhat frustrating. And late on Thursday,, Defra's website
stated: "Our online service is currently unavailable due to technical issues." To hear more, go to BBC Sounds (Farming Today, Friday, October 4, 5.45am).
[04/10/24]
Potato Cup entries, please -
After the deluge, maybe a ray of warmth and sunshine will finally be a boost to root crops. Entries for Stalham Farmers' Club's crop competitions will be welcomed. The Potato Cup, now freshly engraved with the names of the last three year's winners, is the first to be judged.
Robin Baines has agreed to cast his eye over the entries and it is planned to walk crops in the first week of August.
Please send details of the size of the field/ variety and access to the secretary - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com at your earliest convenience.
All entries will be acknowledged amd there is no fee for entering.
Fields should be at least 10 acres. Incidentally, the Potato Cup was first awarded in 1970.
Any questions, please contact the secretary, Michael Pollitt on 01603 486997. Please keep samples from cereal crops for the club's two grain competitions. The club's sugar beet competitions will be judged later in the season.
[17/07/24]