The late Hugh Crane. A full obituary of the club's honorary vice-president can be read - see left, under Past Members. Entry added: 20 Mar 2020 |
The late Hugh Crane - One of the club's oldest members, Hugh Crane, who was an honorary vice-president, has died peacefully aged 95. A former chairman in 1984, he was a commanding presence at club meetings for decades and built up a major farming enterprise, now headed by his middle son, Nicholas, at Upton, near Acle. He will be sadly missed for his near-encyclopaedic knowledge of the agricultural industry.
A great supporter of the club's farming competitions, Hugh Crane Farms won the Potato Cup seven times - between 1989 and 2007 including retaining the trophy in 2002. A double winner of the Wheat Trophy in 1994 and 1995, he also excelled at sugar beet - winning the Cantley Cup for best overall performance by a member in 2006. His business also was a three-time winner of the whole crop beet trophy.
A chance diversification into a new business, which started in 1982, has grown into a major national operation, Hugh Crane Cleaning Equipment, led by his oldest son, Philip. After gaining the K.E.W. steam cleaning agency for Norfolk and part of Suffolk from the Danish manufacturers, the family business, which also involves his youngest son Robert, started making its own design of heavy-duty Commando cleaners.
Our thoughts are with his family. Funeral arrangements to be announced. Entry added: 12 Mar 2020 |
Annual dinner postponed - At a committee meeting on Wednesday evening, it was unanimously decided to postpone the club's annual dinner and presentation of prizes from Thursday, March 19. It is hoped to hold the 2020 dinner in the autumn, possibly in October.
Given the rising concerns about the impact of the C-Virus, your officers and committee felt that it would be prudent to postpone. Our apologies for the inconvenience to all members and the club's guests for this decision. The secretary Michael Pollitt has informed all members, who had booked tickets for the dinner.
Watch the club's website for future diary dates including the farm walks on June 4 in north Norfolk and on July 8, jointly with the East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union. Entry added: 11 Mar 2020 |
Star role for former chairman - Former club chairman Emma Ralph has been invited to address the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November. Emma, chairman in 2007, spoke at the club’s 178th annual meeting. As the first woman to take the chair at the club since it was founded in 1841, she spent a dozen years at buying group Loddon Farmers, now Anglia Farmers, before becoming managing director in October 2018 of Europe’s largest specialist adjuvant and crop specialist company, InterAgro. Members elected Chris Borrett, of grain merchants Adams & Howling as chairman in sucession to Broadland farmer Henry Alston. Will Sands, of HBS Farms, becomes vice-chairman. Entry added: 20 Feb 2020 |
Congratulations – Stalham’s lack of support in the bowls gave a walk-over to Holt & District Farmers’ Club. Joint organiser Stuart Ross presented the trophy to Matt Skinner on behalf of the successful bowlers at Rossi’s Leisure, North Walsham, on Friday night. Stalham's trio, Ken Leggett, Mike Mansfield and the secretary, Michael Pollitt, did manage to get points on the board.
In the 10-pin, Stalham’s John Lockhart stormed to victory with a first round score of 182, adding 101 in the second leg. Holt’s top two, Alistair Wagg and Roger Buxton were joint runners-up on 245. Henry Alston, chairman, thanked the staff at Rossi’s for a great evening and everyone for taking part. Sadly, Stalham fielded a total of just eight against Holt’s 28 players.
Entry added: 08 Feb 2020 |
Fancy a new club challenge - With the end of the shooting season, Stalham’s chairman Henry Alston is looking ahead to this Friday’s annual bowls/10-pin competition. Holt will be fielding two teams of almost 30, so please step up to the plate in either bowls or 10-pin.
It takes place at Rossi’s on Friday, February 7 (4pm for 4.3pm prompt start) and a three-course supper would be greatly appreciated. Skill is not absolutely necessary. The whole evening costs £25.
Please let the secretary know and if you’d like to bring a friend/ colleague or partner, so much the merrier.
Entry added: 03 Feb 2020 |
Summer farm walk diary date - Stalham Farmers' Club and members of East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers' Union have been invited to visit B&C Farming by Tony Bambridge on Wednesday, July 8. His daughter, Sophie and members of the farm staff will welcome visitors to Wood Farm, Marsham, at 5.30pm for 6pm. More details soon. Entry added: 03 Feb 2020 |
Fancy a new club challenge - With the end of the shooting season, Stalham’s chairman Henry Alston is looking ahead to this Friday’s annual bowls/10-pin competition. Holt will be fielding two teams of almost 30, so please step up to the plate in either bowls or 10-pin.
It takes place at Rossi’s on Friday, February 7 (4pm for 4.3pm prompt start) and a three-course supper would be greatly appreciated. Skill is not absolutely necessary. The whole evening costs £25.
Please let the secretary know and if you’d like to bring a friend/ colleague or partner, so much the merrier.
Entry added: 03 Feb 2020 |
The meeting notes for 15th January 2020 are now under Minutes and Reports on the left. Entry added: 17 Jan 2020 |
Double helping of potatoes! - Extra potatoes were on the menu for Stalham Farmers' Club's opening 2020 meeting. A total of 34 members and guests joined the chairman Henry Alston and speaker William Love for supper. The venison casserole with 28 portions served, with additional potatoes, was the most popular choice at Vera's Coffee Shop. Then, it was turn of Mr Love to sing for his supper as he told the 60-strong gathering of a week-long tour to the north-west of the United States looking at potatoes. One state, Washington, the second-largest growing region in the USA, produces about 5.2m tonnes of potatoes - at a fraction of the cost in Britain. But they have an scale, chemicals and crop protection products denied to UK growers, he said. A new member, Tim Kitson, was successfully proposed by Tim Papworth. Further report in Meetings, see left. Entry added: 16 Jan 2020 |