Norfolk Broads: How Hill study centre appoints new chairman

Richard Batson has been appointed chairman of the How Hill Trust, in Ludham, which provides educational courses about the local wildlife and environmental issues.

Mr Batson, 68, who took over from long-standing predecessor Nick Price, said: “I feel proud to be leading the board as we develop more plans to build on our success."

A retired journalist from Southrepps, he has been a board member at the trust, which took over the running of the centre in 1984 when the county council was looking to sell it off, since 2019.

Other members of the How Hill board (left to right) Nicola Hems, Keith Bacon, Mike Flett, Tim Jickells, and Andrew Scull. (Image: How Hill Trust)

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He worked for the Eastern Daily Press for 40 years, and was based in North Norfolk, where he was community editor at Cromer, from 1992 until his retirement in 2015 after which he spent a few years in public relations and now does freelance work.

“How Hill is such a fabulous place and means so many things to so many people," he said. 

"But all of them hopefully leave having savoured the natural beauty of this special place, and having learned a bit more about the Broads, its flowers, creatures, people, and pressures."

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Mr Batson said the pandemic made things tough for the charity, but they are confident the centre is now well placed to grow visitor numbers – particularly adult courses which are a vital income source outside of school time.

He thanked predecessor Mr Price for his 18 years as chairman which steered the centre through some difficult times setting it on a firm foundation for the future.

New deputy chairman is Andrew Scull, who is chairman of Wherry Yacht Charter Trust, which has a close link with How Hill, through its historic vessels which are regular summer visitors to host talks, tours and sailings.