Aylsham wins Food & Farming Challenge
More than sixty students at Aylsham High School have worked together to scoop the
prestigious 'Food and Farming Challenge' award. The competition, organised by the
educational charity Norfolk Education Industry and Commerce Group (NEICG) requires an
employer or local organisation to set a Norfolk secondary school a challenge which brings
together local produce, business and farming.
The High School's challenge was set by Slow Food Aylsham and came in two parts: firstly,
students were asked to design a logo which could be used to represent and promote the
town's annual Food Festival while the second element required the school to organise an
event within the Festival where the logo could be launched.
Slow Food Aylsham is part of the Slow Food movement which has 80,000 members in 90
countries. It was established in 1986 as an antidote to the fast food culture and promotes
the diverse heritage of regional food and drink, seeking to protect it from globalisation.
Jill Willis, head of the food and catering faculty at Aylsham High School, accepted
the challenge on behalf of the students and two teams were set up, the first to design the
logo and the second to decide on a launch event. An ambitious programme, involving Kate
Wilde from Engage with Business and local chefs, including Mark Sayer from Coltishall's
Norfolk Mead restaurant, came up with a logo which impressed Slow Food so much that it
will be used over three years. The launch took place at a glittering dinner, devised,
produced and served by students where 64 guests enjoyed a lavish meal, made from local
ingredients.
Entering the Food and Farming Challenge competition was the next step where ten students,
representing those who helped with the dinner and logo, were required to plan and design a
display for the Schools marquee at the Royal Norfolk Show and to give a presentation about
their project to a panel of judges appointed by NEICG. Awards were presented on the
evening of 23 June at Easton College. Commenting on winning the top award, Jill Willis
said, "I am very proud of the students who have put an enormous amount of effort into
the project, not just in school hours but in their own free time as well."
THE LANGHAM STREET FAYRE-better than ever?
Saturday 26th JULY sees the Street in Langham closed to traffic again for this years'
Street Fayre. AN exciting blend of stalls and street entertainment-a mixture of fete
and fayre in the great English tradition, the fun starts at 10am and goes well into the
evening at The Bluebell House. Stalls, tombolas, competitions; face painters, bouncy
castles and puppets; stilt walkers, Neil Storey, the escapologist, freeing himself from a
Mail Bag, and music from Jazzy Jake and Matthews Norfolk Brass; seafood, Hog Roast and
coffee-Just some of this glorious mix.
Huge fun for all ages entry free, parking £1. The Saturday evening the week before
the Fayre, 19th July, Chloe of the Midnight Storytellers and the Savoir Faire jazz trio
will perform in the church, a racy blend of music, stories, romance, energy and humour.
Bingo (Monday 21st July) and the Quiz Wednesday 23rd) are also in the run-up week. |
FIGHTING FITS THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE- IN AID OF
EPILEPSY RESEARCH UK
On Saturday 21st June at 3:40pm, 8 climbers John Mezzetti, Keith Wisdom,
Barry Foulser, Jeremy Boreham, Matt Copeman, Sharon Jones, Samantha Hicks, Jenny Armstrong
and 2 drivers Alan Lamb and Sharon Grant started on their 3 peaks challenge at the base of
Ben Nevis.
The 3 peaks – Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales) have
all to be climbed in a 24 hour period. These three mountains plus over 470 miles of
driving inbetween is a huge task. Starting in glorious sunny weather at Ben Nevis
everything was looking good, the team were in high spirits and climbing well. After a
great climb that only took 5 hours 15 min’s the team made the arduous journey to
Scafell Pike in England.
Unfortunately the weather had changed to high winds and torrential rain and with
starting the ascent in the dark at 3am this was a very tough peak to climb.Undaunted by
the conditions an awesome time of 4 hours was achieved. The team quickly stripped
out of their soaking wet clothes and headed off for Snowdon. Arriving with less than
fours hours to complete the final peak it was a big ask as not only did the team now have
to battle tiredness and personal demons but also gale force winds reaching speeds of 80-90
mph winds on the way to the summit.
With only 1 hour 20 minutes left for the descent it was figured that the team were pushing
their luck to finish in the allotted time of 24 hours. An executive decision was
made resulting in a much steeper descent being taken however time was still of the essence
so we decided to run the last ¾ mile, crossing the line in 23 hours 55 minutes and 32
seconds.
Challenge achieved, emotions out of control, however job done.
The challenge was attempted for charity with all monies going to the Ellen Mezzetti
Memorial Fund, Epilepsy Research UK.
On the 7th June as part of the build up to the challenge we held a sponsored training
session outside Morrison’s of Cromer and kind donations from staff and customers
helped raise nearly £730.00. This money along with the money collected from the main
challenge will total well over our original £5,000.00 target.
Matt Copeman has also completed the coast to coast ride of 140 miles with an amazing
cycling time of less than 9 hours. A huge thank-you to all involved and to all who
supported and sponsored us.
A massive thanks to the Poppyland Partnership whose minibus was a godsend. (See
attached photo before we commenced Ben Nevis). The web address remains open until
September www.justgiving.com/fightingfitsthreepeakschallenge.
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