Surprise raptor seen - Birders have been excited by the surprise appearance of a black-winged kite at Hickling. This raptor is more usually found in sub-Saharan Africa and India but was first seen in Britain in mid-Wales and then in East Anglia in July 2023. The latest sighting over the weekend was at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's reserve at Hickling, which prompted the presenter, Tom McKinney of BBC Radio 3's Breakfast programme to play a song from what he described as the "village" of Stalham. At 8.45am on Tuesday, September 9, listeners could hear Ernest John Moeran's Stalham River. If you missed it, go to BBC Sounds Entry added: 09 Sep 2025 |
Winter season provisional programme update Tuesday, October 21 - A visit to Norfolk Fire & Rescue Station at Carrow is planned for Tuesday, October 21, starting at 6.30pm. It was 15 years ago that the Norwich, Bethel Street, fire station was closed and a new £3.4m centre was established on the southern edge of the city. It is also the base for many of the fire service's rescue operations. Further details to follow.
Numbers will be limited but if you'd like to attend, please let the secretary know - 07852 718342 or email michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com For the rest of the programme please see What'sOn (Diary) tab on the left.
Entry added: 05 Sep 2025 |
Cathedral memorial service - There was hardly an empty seat in the nave at Norwich Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving for the life of a longstanding club member David Douglas Moar, MBE, on Thursday, September 4. A total of 550 attended the service, which included the eulogy by his sister Davina Simons, who said that her brother had co-founded the charity in 1980 with a fund-raising event at Claxton village hall. In a tribute by Karen Vincent, chief executive of the Big C Cancer Charity.
it has now raised more than £46m and about £3m a year. His son, James, also read one of the lessons while the other was given by the Lord-Liuetenant of Norfolk, the Lady Dannatt. The club was well represented by about 40 memembers including the president, George Gay. A collection was taken for the Big C.
Entry added: 05 Sep 2025 |
Remarkable career - farmer, broadcaster and journalist David Richardson -Norfolk farmer David Richardson, OBE, who died aged 87 on August 18, was one of the subjects featured on BBC Radio 4's obituary progrmme, Last Word. The club's secretary Michael Pollitt, who was the agricultural editor of the Eastern Daily Press until 2014, was asked by the BBC's programme presenter John Wilson to recall some of the highlights. If you missed the broadcast on Last Friday's Last Word, it can be heard on BBC Sounds - go to Last Word, August 29, 2025. An obituary is also on the RNAA's website. Entry added: 01 Sep 2025 |
Memorial service - A diary note, a memorial service will be held at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday, September 4 (2pm) to remember a long-standing club member, David Moar, who was a co-founder of the Big C Cancer Charity. It has raised more than £46m in the past five decades.
Entry added: 01 Sep 2025 |
Rising to the floral challenge - It could almost be a case of "wedding blues" because of the prolonged spell of hot, dry weather, as the BBC reports. But Louisa Butcher, of Brunstead Blooms, near Stalham, has risen to the challenge of providing top quality, fresh flowers for the wedding season.
As members may recall, Louisa invited members into her flower garden as part of the club's annual farm walk with husband, William (Barney) Sands in 2023.
The full story is on the BBC's website - go to England, then Norfolk and look for "Norfolk florists need to get clever over challenging weather."
Entry added: 29 Aug 2025 |
TV star role - potato cup and grain entries.
Stand by your sets . . . . . the secrets of mustard growing will be featured on Tuesday’s night’s Channel 5 programme – Coastal Adventures.
Helen Skelton, who presents a new coastal adventures show with Jules Hudson and JB Gill find out about mustard growing from former club chairman Will Sands. The programme, Sea Creatures, Surfboard and Spicy Secrets will be broadcast at 8pm.
The team visited in April and as members will recall, the club enjoyed a fascinating visit two years ago to the farm. Will, a relative newcomer to growing mustard for Colman’s was enthusiastic about prospects for the crop.
And two other reminders – grain competition and entries for the potato cup.
Potato Cup entries
Judging for the Potato Cup is planned for early next month, so entries would be much appreciated. Please send details to the secretary – michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997 or text to
07852 718342.
An indication of field size, crop and intended market plus most importantly, the location would be helpful. All entries will be acknowledged.
Grain samples
Please can you reserve some samples for the club’s two grain competitions – the barley and wheat cup. The response last year was somewhat limited, so please put some samples aside.
If you miss the live transmission on Tuesday, July 22 (8pm), then use this link - https://www.channel5.com/show/coastal-adventures-with-helen-jules-jb/season-1/sea-creatures-surfboards
Entry added: 21 Jul 2025 |
Double congratulations to Stalham members Broadland farmer Richard Hirst won the second annual Norfolk Rural Business Award as the best farming champion. The award was presented to Richard, who then had leave immediately with his wife Katrina to receive a second award from the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association's president, Poul Hovesen. He was the latest recipient of the Timothy Colman Award, presented to an indivudal making an outstanding contribution to promoting education about food, farming and the countryside.
Emily Norton, another member and RNAA trustee, introduced the second annual awards, sponsored and organised by Norfolk County Council.
In the best farming champion category, he had launched the highly successful Hirsty's Family Fun Park and transformed the fortunes of the family's farm at Ormesby as well as playing a leading role in the agricultural industry with leadership of Norfolk NFU and also a former head steward at the Royal Norfolk Show.
The runner-up in the category was Michael Balls, who will host club members on a tour of the Colman family's Crown Point estate on Wednesday evening.
Neal Sands, who has been running Sands Agricultural Machinery for more than 50 years, was runner-up in the Norfolk's Unsung Hero category.
Entry added: 27 Jun 2025 |
The late David Moar
It is with great sadness that the death of a long-standing member of Stalham Farmers' Club, David Moar, MBE is reported. David, who was 74, had such a zest for life and was co-founder of the Big C charity, which has raised more than £45m since 1980 or about £3m a year. A full obituary can be seen on the left under past club members. Entry added: 28 May 2025 |
Three members receive RNAA awards -
Three Stalham members were recognised at 2025 annual meeting of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. Richard Hirst, of Ormesby, was awarded the Timothy Colman prize for his outstanding contribution to food, farming and the countryside. To his regret, his wife Katrina, was unable to be present at the Norfolk Events Centre because she had been severely injured by a horse. Retiring head steward of the education section, Louis Baugh, of Neatishead, was elected an honorary vice-president, and assistant head steward, Robin Baines, of Hoveton, was made a Fellow. The secretary, Michael Pollitt, proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring president, the Lady Dannatt, who spoke at the club’s annual dinner in March. He said that members of the Gurney family had served as presidents of the association since 1853, then again in 1910, and 1948. Lord Dannatt had the same role in 2008. Full story - available in minutes and reports on the left. Entry added: 17 Apr 2025 |