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 |
HONORARY POST
A former head steward at the Royal Norfolk Show, Broadland farmer and club member Richard Hirst, of Ormesby, was elected an honorary vice-president at the RNAA’s annual meeting. After stewarding for several years, he became head steward of private driving in 2002 and stood down last year. Another member and former honorary show veterinary officer, Roger Clarke, was made an honorary vice-president at the annual meeting last year.
Entry added: 20 Apr 2015 |
Stalham has entered a team for the inter-county quiz on Wednesday, April 22 at East Tuddenham but there are a couple of places in the six-strong team to be filled. Please contact the secretary if you'd like to join the fun. A total of 19 teams have already entered, boosting the funds for farming's charity, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. It starts at 7.15pm prompt and includes a light supper. Entry added: 17 Apr 2015 |
CONGRATULATIONS TO PRIZE WINNER
A former chairman and the club’s potato champion, Robin Baines, has been awarded the Timothy Colman Prize, it was announced at the Norfolk showground.
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s annual award, which is presented for an outstanding contribution to food, farming and countryside education, was made in the presence of the retiring president, the Earl of Wessex.
Sir Nicholas Bacon, chairman of council, said that Mr Baines was a “worthy winner” who had shown “infectious enthusiasm” for taking as many as 20 parties of schoolchildren around farms for many years. The parties included many children from the city and even from Birmingham over the years.
Mr Baines, of Hoveton, who was Stalham’s chairman in 1996, will be formally presented with his award by the newly-elected show president, Robert Carter at the Royal Norfolk Show in July.
Sir Nicholas also said that show steward Mr Baines had played an important role raising almost £16,000 to send a “Tractor for Faith” to Zambia with fellow members of Wroxham Bure Valley Rotary Club two years ago. The 55hp John Deere tractor has helped to clear scrub and land for an orphanage, which trains agricultural students.
Mr Baines, who starts his farming career in his native Worcestershire, is now farming about 5,000 acres in Norfolk having started as a tenant with about 175 acres. He joined Wroxham Home Farms in 1983, where he also starting taking groups around the farm, and then became farms manager until 1996. He had been supported by the Gurney family at Heggatt Hall and also at Whitehouse Farm, Sprowston, in welcoming school and other group to learn about the production of food over the years.
He was also presented to Prince Edward.
Entry added: 17 Apr 2015 |
Club's donation helps to meet charity's increasing demands. Walking With the Wounded, which was sent more than £1,500 the club's dinner, reports calls for assistance averaging 30 per week and the trend is upward, writes trustee Harriet Parker.
Her letter of thanks can be seen on the left in the Newsletters section.
Entry added: 01 Apr 2015 |