A service of thanksgiving for the life of Frank Read, who has died 84, and was secretary to the club for almost a quarter of a century, will be held on Thursday, April 5, 1pm at Blofield church. For full obituary - see club officers, left. Entry added: 23 Mar 2018 |
Thanks for great honour. Stewart Marsh wrote after being awarded the E H Wenn President's Cup. "I am still over whelmed. I regard it as such an honour and privilege to receive this award and totally, as far as I am concerned, out of the blue. I couldn't have believed that I would have been considered for such an honour in a thousand years."
He received two certificates at the March 2018 annual dinner, one for runner-up in the barley and another for second place in the wheat cup for Milligen McLeod Farming. "I was stunned, amazed and totally surprised when my name was announced as the winner of the President's Cup. To have such recognition by the farming community means more to me than I am able to express," he added.
In his 27-year managerial career with the late George Milligen and later his nephew John McLeod, he won a total of 17 trophies, including eight barley, five times with wheat, sugar beet and also the inter-club malting barley supreme championship.
Entry added: 20 Mar 2018 |
Frank Read - service of thanksgiving
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Frank Read will be held on Thursday, April 5, 1pm, at the church of St Andrew and St Peter, Blofield. This follows an earlier family cremation service. Family flowers only but donations for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
Entry added: 17 Mar 2018 |
Support for Spring Fling. The club presented a cheque for £300 to Greg Smith, chief executive of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, to support the long-running Spring Fling event. This was started in 2000 and now attracts around 5,000 children and their parents to the one-day event at the Norfolk showground. And the next Spring Fling takes place on Tuesday, April 10.
Entry added: 16 Mar 2018 |
Trophy winners - see club report. Entry added: 16 Mar 2018 |
Outstanding award. An outstanding member was presented with one of the club’s top awards, the E H Wenn President’s Trophy.
At the 2018 annual dinner, retiring chairman Jonathan Deane told the 115 members and guests that it had been decided to awarded the trophy from time to time to mark an outstanding contribution to the club.
He said the latest winner had been a great supporter of the club’s competitions for more than a quarter of a century. And Stewart Marsh, who managed the late George Milligen’s farm at Easton Ruston since 1992, had won 17 club trophies over the years. And in more recent years, he had continued his run of success with Mr Milligen’s nephew, John McLeod.
This had included a total of 13 successes in the grain competition, with eight barley and five wheat championships, two in the best two-acre and two championships in the whole beet crop. In addition, he produced the first winning sample for the new inter-club supreme barley championship against Holt & District Farmers’ Club.
And in the 2017 awards Mr Marsh was runner-up in both the wheat and barley sections.
In presenting the trophy, he wished Mr Marsh a long and happy retirement.
The EH Wenn Trophy was re-presented by Jennifer Grier and has since been won by the late Frank Read in 2012, Ken Leggett, Tim Papworth and in 2015, potato judge Denis Walsh. Entry added: 16 Mar 2018 |
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 |