Champagne moment at RABI garden open afternoon -
A champagne toast was a highlight of RABI’s garden open afternoon in Norwich when newly-weds, chartered surveyor Rachael Hipperson and club member Jonathan Pye, arrived to help on Sunday.Sally Mitchell, county secretary, and husband, John produced two bottles of champagne for the 16-strong group of volunteers to drink the health of the happy couple at the Bishop of Norwich’s garden.Rachael’s godfather, Peter “Spin” Seaman proposed the toast which followed their wedding three days earlier. Jonathan, who farms near Cawston, then helped along with a strong contingent of Stalham members, on the gates. Committee member John Purling and wife Ena, David Faulkner and secretary Michael Pollitt were among the many helpers.
The hard-working committee produced enough for tea for hundreds of visitors and Carolyn Gay made some topical cup cakes, decorated in Norwich City colours too. Clearly a good omen for the following day’s big match as it turned out.The RABI committee also appreciated the very tasty strawberries from Place UK, of Tunstead, provided by Tim Place.The predicted rain duly arrived to dampen the attendance as the gates opened at 1pm. Then, a depressing heavy drizzle from 3pm ensured a soggy conclusion to the afternoon. A modest amount of about £500 was made as about 100 visitors toured the four-acre garden.Tickets are now on sale through NFU group secretaries for RABI’s 30th annual cocktail party on Monday, June 22 at the Norfolk showground.
Entry added: 28 May 2015 |
Farm visit and hog roast supper.
This is a joint event, meet at 5.45pm for 6pm prompt start at Hall Farm, Wickmere, with East Norfolk NFU branch. Members and guests will be most welcome. Members of North Walsham and Acle YFC will also be welcome.
Please let the secretary know if you like to attend in order to help our host plan the evening and arrange enough transport – by Friday, July 3, please.
A hog roast supper will be provided – hence numbers are needed
Entry added: 19 May 2015 |
Wednesday, June 17.
Garden visit to a special North Norfolk Garden on Wednesday, June 17, 6pm start, drinks and an optional guided tour followed by supper at the award-winning Walpole Arms, Itteringham.
Roger Last is inviting members to tour his five-acre garden at Mill House, Corpusty, which has been lovingly created over the past half century.
Then, members can enjoy supper and a two-course meal for £32 per head.
Or join the garden tour and drinks, £10 per head.
Numbers strictly limited – and must be booked in advance with payment, please.
RSVP is a must!
Supper: This must be booked in advance–
Meal choices:
Main- Braised short rib of beef, chive mash potato, aromatic carrots and braised red cabbage.
Whole chargrilled sea bass, roast tomatoes, turned potato and Parisian courgette
Pudding- Sharrington strawberry Eton Mess
Vanilla crème brûlée with Mrs Sizeland's raspberries and homemade shortbread.
Please let the secretary know by Friday, June 12 if you’d like to join the party. And your meal choices, please.
Drinks, garden tour and supper, £32 per head.
Email, or telephone 01603 486997.
Payment – Stalham Farmers’ Club, 60, Chamberlin Road, Norwich NR3 3LY or direct to bank – Barclays 20 99 21. Account 408 27886.
Entry added: 19 May 2015 |
Are you up for the big farming business challenge?
Norfolk’s county farm business competition has been dominated by two entrants in the 33-year history of the supreme championship.
And many other members of Stalham Farmers’ Club have also been successful in the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association’s Norfolk county farm business competition.
The current champions, LF Papworth, of Lodge Farm, Felmingham, have won the supreme title on a total of eight occasions since it was first awarded in 1981. In that year, LF Papworth stood reserve to KE Gill Farms.
But the other leading contender, Sir John White’s Salle Farms Co has won a total of six supreme championships. His estate manager, Poul Hovesen took the title for the first time in 1992 and retained the trophy the following year and in fact, became the sixth champion in 2013.
At the launch in 1979, there were then three classes with the category for the largest farm of more than 600 acres and a special award for more than 1,000 acres. Another for the best farm under 250 acres was won by Malcolm Alexander.
The categories were not changed until 1993 when the large farm class was set at 1,200 acres and the smaller class acreage was increased to 600 acres. While a livestock award has been part of the competition for many years, other changes were introduced as a conservation prize was introduced in 2003, for diversification in 2007 and a special category for best Norfolk County Council tenanted farm in 2011.
The focus of the competition, which was originally awarded for the best farm, started to reflect changes in the industry more than 20 years ago when it became the Norfolk County Farm Business Competition.
There have been six entrants, which have won twice and seven other supreme champions. A full list of all winners from 1979, which includes many Stalham members, can be seen on the aylsham agricultural show association’s website.
Entry added: 18 May 2015 |
Can you help farming’s charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, by spending an afternoon in Norwich?
On Sunday, May 24, the Bishop of Norwich’s four-acre garden in the heart of the city opens with proceeds to RABI. As members will recall, the Rt Rev Graham James was a speaker at our 2013 dinner.
Sally Mitchell, county secretary to RABI, needs to recruit a team of at least 20 to help with general duties on the afternoon, when it is open to visitors from 1pm to 5pm.
Several members have agreed to help including John Purling and your secretary Michael Pollitt. Tim Place, of Place UK, who is also a member, is donating strawberries for teas.
And offers of home-made cakes would also be most welcome. Help is needed with the gates, serving teas etc - from earlier in the day.
One charity, which has already opened, raised about £2,500. And if you can publicise the afternoon as well – tremendous.
Contact Sally Mitchell for more details – 01692 670521.
Entry added: 12 May 2015 |
President's praise for Clan Trust
Club president William Donald responded on behalf of the guests at the annual Clan Trust dinner at Kimberley Hall, near Wymondham.
He praised the trustee body for the sterling work of the trust, which was founded by the late Rob Alston almost half a century ago.
In keeping with the tradition at the annual dinner, the trustees and members stood to toast absent friends and the founder at 9pm.
The guests included the committee of YANA (Your Are Not Alone), which has been supported by the Clan Trust since its launch almost eight years ago, said the chairman, James Alston. He thanked Melinda Raker, of Croxton, who had the driving force from the start and helped to raise the profile of YANA’s campaign on mental health awareness in the wider farming and agricultural community.
He also thanked (Stalham member) Emily Page, who had raised funds for YANA with her Sahara trek last year and also gained invaluable publicity for YANA. The volume of visitors to its website have more than doubled year on year, he added.
A number of the guests were also members of the Stalham Club including trustees Tim Papworth and Alison Ritchie, as well as Greg Smith and his wife Rebecca, Ken and Pat Leggett, Michael and CJ Pollitt.
Entry added: 27 Apr 2015 |
Award-winning Norfolk farm business, LF Papworth, was making headlines on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today. Kit Papworth told Norwich-based presenter Anna Hill about the bees in oilseed rape crops and also about the additional costs of growing a crop without the ability to use proven seed protection products. To hear the latest on the BBC - go to Listen Again - for the next 30 days. It was broadcast on Thursday, April 23 - St George's Day. Entry added: 27 Apr 2015 |
QUIZ RAISES FUNDS FOR RABI
A fun general knowledge quiz for farming’s charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, bought 15 teams together from across the county.
Stalham finished in the top half of the table at East Tuddenham village hall with a respectable total of 139 although the overall winners from Dereham managed to score 161 in the eight rounds of questions and the picture quiz. Organiser Jenny Youngs and husband William’s six-strong team, the Brampton Film Club were runners-up with 159. In third place was the team, Chalkie’s Charlies, skippered by Sir John White, of Salle, chairman of Norfolk RABI committee.
A number of members from Stalham, including vice-chairman, Jonathan Deane, and George Gay, Tim Place and John Mitchell, and committee members John Purling and Ken Leggett and the secretary, Michael Pollitt, also competed in other teams on Wednesday, April 22.
The light ploughman’s supper, which was served by a team including Mrs Youngs and RABI secretary, Sally Mitchell, was much appreciated. Although it is not known exactly how much was raised, Stalham was also a sponsor.
Entry added: 23 Apr 2015 |
North Walsham Young Farmer Dan Laddiman is looking for grazing for his expanding flock of Texel X sheep. If you have any grazing that might be of interest to him then please contact him on 07776412754 or Danladdiman@yahoo.com Entry added: 23 Apr 2015 |
TRUSTEE PRAISED
After nine years as a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Louis Baugh, of Neatishead Hall, was thanked by the chairman, Sir Nicholas Bacon.
Mr Baugh, who was club chairman in 1997, has been succeeded on the trustee body of the RNAA by Ches Broom, of Easton & Otley College.
Entry added: 20 Apr 2015 |