To Breckland and back - an expedition to the Stanford training area
A joint expedition to the heart of Breckland by members of Stalham Farmers’ Club and East Norfolk NFU branch was blessed with glorious weather – and sunshine.
A total of 29 members and guests started the visit with a buffet lunch at the Angel, Larling, which is well-known for good food and real ale. The landlord, Andrew Stammers, was as welcoming as ever and the lunch was generous indeed.
Then, it was off by a car convoy of some sorts down the A11 to John and Melinda’s Croxton Park, near Thetford. After a minor (and unintended) diversion via the vegetable washing plant, the party arrived to be greeted by Mr and Mrs Raker’s son, Henry, and James Paterson, who had driven straight to the correct rendevous.
Henry welcomed the group and then gave a brief introduction to the various enterprises. On this very light and (normally) dry part of Norfolk, he said that a total of 650mm had been logged since January 1, including 165mm in the past fortnight.
But he was delighted that the sun was shining.
Cropping including 90ha of carrots and 115ha of potatoes plus a further 100ha of onions. The carrots, grown for processing, were drilled from mid-December and were grown under cover for lifting from June 14.
He then led the party on a walking tour to look at carrots, the traditional Scots pine shelter belts, onions and rye, grown for Ryvita. He explained that they concentrated on growing field-scale vegetables while a neighbour, Gerald Groucher, grew the cereals. It was a successful specialism, he said.
Members were impressed by the farm’s solar array, which produced power for the washing plant and also the two onion stores, which had total capacity of about 2,500 tonnes.
Henry also described the rapidly-expanding Salix enterprise, which grows plant material for riverbed and tidal estuary restoration. And, Salix had grown plant material for 26km of riverbank for the 2012 London Olympics.
After returning to CRoxton Park, the party was served tea and delicious chocolate brownies and cake by his mother and father. Melinda has even bought a new large tea pot specially for the visitors.
A vote of thanks was given by James Paterson, who presented John and Henry with a Stalham club silk tie and bottles of wine.
Then the party moved to West Tofts for the final leg of the Breckland study tour. Lt Col Tony Powell met the 33-strong group. He described the remarkable history of the training area, which had been compulsory evacuated in June 1942 and that more than 700 residents had been given just three weeks’ notice to leave their homes. It was also probably the best evening of this year’s summer tour programme, he said.A luxury coach from D & H Harrod, of Downham Market, took the party to St Mary’s Church, West Tofts, and then across the northern part of the 22,000-acre (or some 33 sq miles) training area. There was an opportunity to inspect at close quarters the Afghan village and compound and then the Iraqi settlement.Members were impressed that 13,500 ewes – the largest lowland hefted flock – were run in two flocks alongside a busy training programme. And the party drove past members of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglians, who were also training on what’s now known as Dean’s Avenue – much to the delight of Stalham’s chairman, Jonathan Deane!The final stop was at Frog Hill – the scene for the opening and final sequences of the BBC’s Dad’s Army episodes. And what a glorious finale for a special visit – looking across miles of open Breckland countryside as it would have been more than 70 years ago. The only sign of change – a view of the wind turbines at North Pickenham in the far distance.Back at West Tofts, Paul Corfield thanked Col Powell for spending the evening as our guide. He was presented with a club tie as was the coach driver, Adam.A donation of £175 was made to charities including Help the Heroes.
Entry added: 15 Jul 2016 |
Breckland bonus points
Join our Breckland outing on Thursday, July 14 - and get 6 BASIS points as a bonus! The club's visit to John & Melinda Raker's farm and then a tour of the Stanford training area has been awarded CPD points. The £15 cost includes a light lunch at the Angel, Larling, then the farm visit and tea followed by the special tour of the training area by luxury coach from West Tofts. This is a joint event with East Norfolk NFU and must be booked in advance. NUmbers are limited. Contact the secretary, Michael Pollitt (01603 486997) or email - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com Entry added: 07 Jul 2016 |
A list of our Wonderful Sponsors is now available on the 175th Year page. Thank you to those benefactors. Entry added: 06 Jul 2016 |
PARTY CELEBRATIONS – What an evening. Were you there? See the 174 photographs in the photogallery of the 175th anniversary evening at How Hill Farm – click on 175th year celebrations on the left. Entry added: 04 Jul 2016 |
A garden gem in the heart of Broadland was a sunshine setting for a summer party to mark the 175th anniversary year of the country's oldest farming club.
And almost 300 members and guests of Stalham Farmers' Club raised more than £5,000 as auctioneer Simon Evans sold lots to raise funds for four local good causes.
A long-standing member, Peter Boardman, the son of a former secretary, invited the club to hold a summer drinks party at How Hill Farm, near Ludham, and to tour his garden in the heart of Broadland. And to make the June evening, the sun emerged from the clouds too.
A former secretary for 23 years, Nigel Wright, chairman during the club's 150th anniversary in 1995, proposed three cheers for Stalham Farmers' Club. He was delighted that the club continues to prosper and invited members and guests to send their best wishes for a speedy recovery to the president and one of his closest friends, William Donald, who was on the mend in hospital. The president's wife, Jenny, was invited to select the winning ticket, which was won by Casey Parker.
Mr Wright thanked the hard-working organising team led by chairman Jonathan Deane, and his small committee, who were raised funds for charities including the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Big C, the Norfolk-based mental health awareness campaign, the YANA (You Are Not Alone) Project and Thornage Hall.
There was keen bidding for the lots and North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb boosted the fund-raising initiative by a total of £1,800. He had offered to invite constituents to join him for tea on the terrace at the House of Commons, which made £600. But, two other under-bidders were so keen that he extended the invitation. . . twice to raise £1,800.
Photographer Lee Blanchflower took a gallery of photographs of the fun at the drinks party.
Entry added: 04 Jul 2016 |
President's delight - The club's good wishes to the president, William Donald, were conveyed by the secretary the afternoon after the highly successful 175th anniversary year party. A former secretary and club chairman, Nigel Wright, who addressed members and guests, called for three cheers for the club and to send best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr Donald, who was moved to Beech ward of the Norwich Community Hospital, Bowthorpe Road, about 10 days ago. Mr Donald was also amazed that so much had been raised at the auction and thanked the organising team for such a successful celebration.
Auction triumph - A total of £5,430 was raised at the club's 175th anniversary summer drinks party at How Hill Farm, Ludham, on Friday evening by guest auctioneer Simon Evans. As the sunshine emerged from the clouds, it seemed to have raised the spirits of the 275-strong gathering and encouraged some lively bidding.
More follows and a photogallery from the party will appear on the website. Watch this space, please.
Stalham success – Club chairman Jonathan Deane roared at the top of his voice to announce the club’s success at the revived clay pigeon shoot. He told the company at the club’s 175th anniversary summer drinks party that Stalham had beaten Holt. A dozen guns, led by William Love, took on about three dozen members of Holt & District Farmers’ Club at the Mid-Norfolk Shooting School, Deighton Hills. Clearly the return to Taverham after an absence of some years seemed to have done the trick. Charlie Lockhart was top gun with a score of 40 out of a maximum 50. And Stalham took the trophy for the overall highest score. The competition was keen and the various stands were much more challenging than in previous years. A good meal afterwards ended what was agreed to be a good evening of competition. Entry added: 18 Jun 2016 |
Exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic person is required for the post of Activities Support Officer for the Norfolk Young Farmers in a small busy office, based at Easton & Otley College, Norwich. Please see the advert in the News, Letters and Notes tap on the left. Entry added: 14 Jun 2016 |
The Stalham Farmer's 175th Anniversary Party is Sold Out.
Tickets for the 175th Anniversary Party at How Hill Farm on Friday 17th June are now sold out.
Unfortunately no further tickets are available.
For those with tickets we look forward to seeing you at 7.00pm on Friday
The post code for your sat nav's is How Hill Farm, Ludham, NR29 5PG
Please bring your ticket with you for entry
The dress code is smart casual.
We are pleased to announce that we have received 3 more lots for the fund raising auction during the evening...
• A dog grooming Voucher kindly given by EastonOtley College
• Two pairs of his and hers hand-made wellies kindly given by Gumleaf
• A socket set kindly given by Spaldings
Any enquiries please contact Jonathan Deane on 07881912337 or email jmdeane@outlook.com
Entry added: 14 Jun 2016 |
Discover a “secret” in Breckland on Thursday, July 14.
A rare opportunity to tour the 22,000-acre training area at Stanford will be the final stop of a visit to a special part of Norfolk.
A farm visit is being organised by Stalham Farmers’ Club and the East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers’ Union to the intensive vegetable growing business of John & Melinda Raker’s Croxton Park, near Thetford. Their sons, Edward and Henry, will be our hosts for the afternoon programme.
The farm grows carrots, onions, potatoes and rye and also supplied willow to the 2012 London Olympics through their involvement with Salix. After tea at Croxton, members will drive to West Tofts for the visit to the Stanford training area at 5.30pm. There members will board a 57-seater luxury coach for the escorted tour of the training area. The “battle area” was cleared in mid-summer 1942 and about 700 villagers were compulsorily evicted from farms and five villagers for military training for the invasion of Europe. It also has England’s largest lowland hefted flock of sheep too!
As a coach has to be hired for the Stanta visit, there will be a £15 per head charge – which must be booked in advance. And because this is a joint visit with East Norfolk branch of the National Farmers’ Union, early application is advised – numbers are obviously limited. See payments details below.
The visit will start with a buffet lunch at the Angel, Larling, and the £15 cost includes lunch and the coach. Partners/ guests are welcome. Please, note, the farm visit will be on foot – with vehicle support for more senior members.
Programme
Lunch 12.30pm, Angel, Larling, onwards.
Farm visit 2.30pm, tea, 4.30pm.
Stanta tour at 5.30pm, ends about 8.30pm.
Early application to the secretary, Michael Pollitt, please, or ring me on 01603 486997 or the NFU’s office.
Cheques (£15 per head), payable Stalham Farmers’ Club, 60 Chamberlin Road, Norwich NR3 3LY or to the bank, Barclays 20 99 21. Account: 408 27886. Entry added: 08 Jun 2016 |
Stalham's 175th anniversary party. Ticket sales have now topped the 200 mark. Don't leave it too late because tickets are limited. Contact Jonathan Deane for tickets, cost £25 or the secretary, Michael Pollitt. It takes places at How Hill Farm, Ludham, on Friday, June 17, from 7pm. Entry added: 03 Jun 2016 |