NEWS
Special anniversary programme – Two Norfolk farmers including a keen member of Stalham Farmers’ Club were among the stars of a special BBC Radio 4 programme on Saturday morning at 6.30pm. Anna Hill, one of the presenters of Radio 4’s Farming Today, marked her 30th anniversary with highlights from the past three decades. This included interviewing Broadland farmer Richard Hirst, of Ormesby, about growing peas – one of Anna’s favourite crops. Potatoes were included with a brief clip from Kit Papworth, although now better known for his NFU Sugar expertise.
Anna, who joined Farming Today in 1995, after training in local radio and becoming part of the BBC’s continuity team. Norwich-based Anna won one a Radio “Oscar” with the 2001 Sony Gold Award for her On Your Farm”
programme covering the terrible flooding in Wrexham in north Wales.
Another key to her success – investing in a pair of insulated wellies.
Good luck with your next 30 years. Go to BBC Sounds, Radio 4, Farming Week, Saturday, December 27, 6.30am. Happy New Year to all our members.
[30/12/25]
Christmas greetings- Carole Jacques, headteacher at Earlham Nursery School, sent this message to Stalham's members for the total donations amounting to £830, including match funding from Aviva. "Thank you. It is fantastic and well make a huge difference to what we can offer our members! Please thank all of your members for their very generous donations, once we have decided how we will spend the money I will let you know so you can pass this onto your members.
Wishing a very happy Christmas."
[15/12/25]
Club’s generous donations -Three speakers outlined possible options for conservation strategies in the Broads at Stalham’s December meeting. Andrea Kelly, environment policy adviser with the Broads Authority, Henry Parkinson, of the Langley Abbey environment project and Evan Burdett, of Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, were thanked by Sally Lomax. It was also confirmed that the club has helped to provide £830 in donations to Earlham Nursery School. Full meeting report, see Minutes and Reports on the left. [12/12/25]
Brunstead sign back after seven years. It was a night raid in late July
2018 when thieves unscrewed the distinctive metal sign, featuring a drag rake, a horse and farmworker smoking a pipe, from the private drive to Hall Farm, and St Peter’s Church. It was returned to Alan Beck by Andy Whitmell, of Grimsby, who bought it at a sale for £80 in September last year. Almost half the 65-strong community turned out to watch the sign’s return. Full story – See Newsletters and notes tab on the left. [08/12/25]
Let’s hear the music – It was 75 years ago that composer Ernest John
(EJ) Moeran died on December 1 in Ireland. Born in 1894, he had strong links with east Norfolk and after serving in the Norfolk Regiment as a motorcycle despatch rider during the First World War, he revived his composition skills. In September 1921, while at Bacton, he published the piano piece Stalham River. In the same year, he heard Catfield farmworker Harry Cox singing at the Windmill, Sutton. He was so impressed that he included several songs into the Folk-Song Journal, 1923.
Jack was the second son of the Rev Joseph William Moeran, who had become vicar of Salhouse with Wroxham in 1905. His grandfather, Thomas Warner Moeran was the incumbent at Bacton for almost 40 years from 1873 to 1912, when he retired aged 90. [08/12/25]