NEWS
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]
Thanks for club’s donation – Head teacher Carole Jacques, who spoke to members at last month’s meeting, has thanked Stalham Farmers’ Club for a donation worth £500 to the Earlham Community Shop. The donation included match-funding by Aviva. Carole, who runs the Earlham Nursery School, highlighted the challenges faced by children and parents on one of Norwich’s long-established estates. [08/12/25]
Two speakers start winter season - Two speakers with fascinating presentations kicked off the club’s winter season. Almost 50 members including a large number of guests were at Wroxham Barns. Carole Jacques, headteacher of Earlham Nursery School, gave a 15-minute summary of the challenge to educate children on a severely economically disadvantaged estate in Norwich. Then Sir William Cubitt described the fate of the 2,000 men from Norfolk serving in the Far East taken prisoner by the Japanese Imperial Army. It was a harrowing account but fortunately, his father, Lt Tom Cubitt, of the 5th Battn, Royal Norfolk Regiment, survived. More than 630 Royal Norfolks did not and died in captivity. Full story – See Minutes and report (Left) [14/11/25]