Outstanding speaker - More than a dozen members of North Walsham YFC enjoyed supper as guests of the club at the Norfolk Mead, Coltishall, at the January meeting. The evening’s speaker, Suffolk farmer and businessman, William Kendall, spoke to more than 80 members about his career as a serial entrepreneur having helped to launch the New Covent Garden Soup Company and later Green & Blacks Chocolate. Sarah Ellero also thanked Stalham Farmers’ Club for the generous hospitality and hoped that further closer links would be established over the coming years. Louis Baugh, president of Norfolk YFC and a Stalham member, said: “Judging by the numbers attending and the sincere vote of thanks to the club from the Young Farmers it is obviously appreciated and has become a valuable part of their club programme.”
See - Letter of thanks
A fuller report will appear on the club’s website.
Entry added: 14 Jan 2016 |
Come to supper on Wednesday, January 13 and join our young farmer guests from North Walsham and Acle YFCs.
Our speaker, William Kendall, currently in the Northern Shan region of Burma /Myanmar close to the border with China , will be speaking on the theme “Inspiring Businesses.”
All are welcome to join supper with our guests at the Norfolk Mead, Coltishall, from 6pm. Supper, £20, includes a welcome drink, and will be served at 6.15pm – Pan-seared cod, olive oil mash, kale and pea puree, followed by sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, ice cream.
Please let the secretary, Michael Pollitt, know by SUNDAY EVENING at the very latest if you’d like to join supper.
William Kendall, formerly of the chocolate brand Green & Blacks and the New Covent Garden Soup Company, runs a south Suffolk organic enterprise. He also farms with his cousin, Sir Peter Kendall, former NFU president, in Bedfordshire, and is a trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, the Duke of Westminster’s family farming interests. Mr Kendall, who takes up the historic role as High Sheriff of Suffolk, is also a director of Wheatsheaf Investments, investing internationally in “future of food” businesses.
And, he’s a director of another enterprise selling more than £1bn pa of meals to leading supermarket retailers – sourcing food from the country’s farmers and growers.
The meeting will start at 7.30pm.
Entry added: 05 Jan 2016 |
A funeral service was being held today, Thursday, December 31, for a keen supporter of Stalham Farmers' Club, Cecil Callow, at St Margaret's Church, Witton, at 11am. Over many years, he was a frequent winner in club competitions including the milling wheat trophy in 2003 and again in 2005 as well as the Cantley Cup for best overall beet crop in 1998 and 2002. Mr Callow, who died aged 83, was the club's chairman in 1982, and also enjoyed success with barley samples over the years too. Donations to St Margaret's Church.
Entry added: 31 Dec 2015 |
Charity's thanks to Stalham Farmers' Club. A donation of £500 to the RABI's emergency fund following the flooding in Cumbria will help "the charity's work assisting farming families." Again, thank you for your continued support, Paul Burrows, chief executive, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
See the Letter of thanks in the Newletters section on the left.
Entry added: 30 Dec 2015 |
Two loyal supporters of Stalham Farmers’ Club, Gavin Paterson and his sister Marion Ritchie, were remembered by members and guests at the latest meeting.
Mr Paterson, who was 85, was a long-standing member and his sister, Marion, was the widow of former club president, David Ritchie.
Luke Paterson, chairman, asked members to stand in their memory following their deaths last week.Gavin's obituary can be found under the meet the club section.
Entry added: 11 Dec 2015 |
Intrepid tour operator in yak drama - Specialist tour operator Rob Ferguson survived a high-altitude encounter with four yaks on a rope ladder in Nepal. And he was rescued from an 80ft deep crevasse in Nepal but most of his holiday adventures have been much more mundane. See the latest meeting report for details of his fascinating holiday enterprise. Entry added: 10 Dec 2015 |
Flood appeal help -
One of the country’s oldest farmers’ clubs, Stalham, has donated £500 to help an industry appeal for flood victims.
Members and guests of Stalham Farmers’ Club were urged by chairman Luke Paterson to help fellow farmers in Cumbria and Lancashire by dipping into their pockets.
About 40 members attended the latest meeting at the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall, in the club's 175th anniversary year.
Farming’s charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, has already received many requests for help, said Norfolk’s county secretary Sally Mitchell. She welcomed the prompt action and the donation by the Stalham club.
“We’ve got staff on the ground who are able to help and so any donations to the flood appeal will obviously be much appreciated,” she added.
Earlier specialist tour operator and farmer’s son, Rob Ferguson, of Happisburgh, who also arranges holidays to Africa and also Nepal, had talked to members about his business.
Holt & District Farmers’ Club also had a collection for those hit by the Cumbrian floods. A total of £465 was raised for the Addington fund, which can provide fodder and other help for the farming and rural community.
Entry added: 10 Dec 2015 |
Exotic holiday and sunshine destinations at the Norfolk Mead on Wednesday, December 9.
Our guest speaker and award-winning tour operator Rob Ferguson will be giving a photographic show of some more unusual potential holiday destinations. Bring a guest and enjoy the illustrated talk on Wednesday, December 9, starting at 7.30pm.
He is about to publish his first book on Nepal. He runs www.realafrica.co.uk
Supper - And if you would like to join the supper beforehand, please let the secretary know by Sunday evening, please. Supper will be served at 6.15pm prompt.
As I have to let the hotel know the final number for supper at 10am on Monday, it is not possible to cater for late bookings.
Supper - Individual Steak and Ale Pie, mustard mash, seasonal vegetables and chocolate torte, fruit compote, pistachio ice cream. £20, includes a welcome drink.
Parking – It would be greatly appreciated by the hotel if members could park in the overflow car park. And, final, final call for wheat/ barley samples – please. Bring them to the Norfolk Mead.
Entry added: 01 Dec 2015 |
Rare invitation - An opportunity to tour one of the most remarkable natural areas of Norfolk - about 20,000 acres of the Stanford military training area - has been offered to club members and guests on Thursday, July 14, 2016. This tour is one of only nine to take place next summer because of the high level of active training activity and members will be escorted by executive officer, Col Tony Powell, who is responsible for the training area.
The club will hire a coach for the three-hour visit, which will start at 5.30pm at West Tofts, near Thetford. Make a note in your diary for this special invitation and further details will be announced in the new year.
The training area was established in 1942 when tenant farmers and villagers had to leave the land,their homes and churches after the military took over this large area of Breckland. Entry added: 25 Nov 2015 |
Celebrate British Food and Farming Year in 2016. LEAF's chief executive Caroline Drummond urges members to get behind Defra's latest initiative in what will also be the charity's silver jubilee.
And a new gavel is presented to the club in memory of the late president, David Ritchie, and members remember the "Father of the Club," Dr Ronnie Gibbs.
Full report in the meetings' section.
Entry added: 16 Nov 2015 |