. . . news R A B I SUMMER 2014 THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION

Floods - we’re making a difference Page 3 Annual meeting Pages 4-5

SUPPORTING FARMING FAMILIES WWW.RABI.ORG.UK From the chairman The summer show season is well underway, with R.A.B.I. committees attending agricultural shows around the country. We’ve had a damp start and In this edition it’s a credit to all our supporters that they continue to man our stands come rain or shine to help raise awareness of our work and funds. I write this in the first week in June - national volunteers’ week – not long after our annual meeting in May which provided an opportunity for trustees to show their appreciation of the work National news volunteers undertake on the charity’s behalf. Our Vice President Lord Plumb presented prizes to 13 individuals and committees for a range of Pages 3 - 9 achievements, from the committee which made the most progress in 2013 (Derbyshire), to the committee which raised the most money (Kent), and the committee which arranged the most successful off-farm event (Cumbria). Congratulations to all our award winners and thank you again to our committee members, corporate Feature - Beaufort House supporters, individual fundraisers, trustees and members of staff whose work enables us to reach and Pages 10 - 11 support people in the farming community in need. Our speakers at the meeting showed why our work is as important today as when we were founded 154 years ago. We were honoured to hear from NFU President and former R.A.B.I. trustee Meurig Raymond who spoke about the strong ties between R.A.B.I. and the NFU. We also heard from Somerset farmer James Winslade, who described Regional news movingly the difficulties that even the best- managed farm business can come up against, in Pages 12 - 19 his case the floods earlier this year. Welfare officer Suzie Paton spoke about the help we have already Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution given and will continue to give for months to come. We are a welfare charity which helps farming people in This is a bumper newsletter, with 20 pages of news financial difficulty. Every year we support around 2,000 about what is happening in the charity. There is individuals and families and give more than £2 million in grants. much to celebrate, with more and more people We also offer practical help and always work in confidence, wanting to support our work to help us make a with compassion and discretion. positive difference to those who need help. Registered office: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford OX2 0QH It was a source of great pride to the trustees and Freephone helpline: 0300 303 7373 staff that several people at the annual meeting General enquiries: 01865 724931 said that what they most appreciated about their Fax: 01865 202025 Email: [email protected] involvement with R.A.B.I. was that they feel part of Website: www.rabi.org.uk a family with a common cause. Whether you are Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabicharity a supporter or a beneficiary, there can be no finer Facebook: www.facebook.com/royalagriculturalbenevolentinstitution compliment, and long may it continue. Registered charity number 208858 Patron Her Majesty The Queen President His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester

R.A.B.I. News is published quarterly by R.A.B.I. and edited by Philippa Spackman, telephone 01865 811581, email [email protected] Cover image of members of the Derbyshire committee at Tissington Hall by Ruth Downing, Rural Pictures.

2 Nati nal news The floods: together we’re making a difference Farmers are still counting the cost humbling and shows the difference of the winter’s floods, butthanks to we can make with our supporters’ public generosity, R.A.B.I. has been help. “If it hadn’t been for R.A.B.I., I able to help many families deal with wouldn’t be here today,” he said. the crisis. To everyone who has helped us make It was the wettest winter in England a difference by making a donation since 1766, with more than 15 inches and/or arranging an event to help us of rain falling in three months. This led give additional support in this year’s to unprecedented water levels in floods, thank you. Somerset, and flooding in other parts We received donations from the of the country, including Cumbria North east regional manager Sally Prince of Wales’ Countryside Fund, and Kent, along the rivers Severn and Conner is pictured at the Northern NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, and Thames, and in East Anglia. Farmer Awards, where she was many agricultural societies and In Somerset, livestock are now back presented with a cheque for £500 auction marts, as well as NFU and YFC on most farms after being evacuated, groups, businesses, local councils. “By May this year we had given churches, newspapers, charitable but it will be months before houses £70,000 in grants to 19 families in are habitable, fields are cleared and trusts and individual donors. Other Somerset alone. This equates to a people arranged fundraising events, cropped, and livelihoods recover. total of 76 people in the county who Help will therefore be needed for a some of which you can read about on have received funds from R.A.B.I., the pages 12-19. long time, not least in the autumn majority solely because of flooding.” when farmers have little to sell and incomes are reduced even further. The better news is the tremendous response from members of the public Chief executive Paul Burrows said: “It and farming organisations across the has been a hectic time for R.A.B.I. and country who spontaneously raised the other organisations involved in the funds to help us respond to the crisis. relief effort. Because we work in confidence, people “We had staff temporarily based in who give to R.A.B.I. may never know Sedgemoor Livestock Market to give how grateful the people we help are. any help they could, financial or One farmer we supported in last year’s otherwise. We said from the beginning snows was interviewed again for BBC East Midlands regional manager Milly that the impact of the flooding would Radio 4’s World at One programme to Wastie is pictured above with Nick generate calls for assistance long after see how he was doing one year on. the crisis had supposedly abated, and Hansen, chairman of the surveyors we were right. What Christopher Dean said was RECAP group, who donated £2,000

Mary Berry is the surprise ingredient at R.A.B.I.’s annual meeting Guests at R.A.B.I.’s annual meeting at The Manor in Oxford in May were thrilled to see cookery star Mary Berry, who was dining at the hotel and popped in to see her friend R.A.B.I. trustee Carol Rymer. Carol (second from right) is pictured here with Mary Berry, chairman Chris Riddle (left) and chief executive Paul Burrows Turn to pages 4 and 5 for a full report of the meeting.

HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 3 Annual meeting NFU president praises ‘strong links’ with R.A.B.I. challenges and opportunities facing about the impact of the floods on his farming and the importance of R.A.B.I.’s and neighbouring farms earlier this year. work. Regional welfare officer Suzie Paton spoke about one particularly busy day at He said: “R.A.B.I. and the NFU have Sedgemoor Livestock Market - the focus long histories which are as relevant today as when they were founded for the relief effort - when she helped 11 more than 100 years ago…. I’m very families, many in despair. proud of the strong links between us.” She said: “Most of all, I listened, because Mr Raymond added: “In 2007 when everyone needs to tell their story. I saw we negotiated the last round of the the distress, frustration and anger. The Common Agricultural Policy the value of difference I was able to make wasn’t food produced in the UK was £16 billion the paperwork, grants or advice. It Around 200 supporters, regional a year, whereas it is now £25 billion. But was being able to put a reassuring arm committee members, trustees and the headlines mask variations in sectors, around the shoulder and give a simple staff attended R.A.B.I.’s annual for example the 40% fall in the profitability message - we can help.” meeting at The Manor in Oxford on 14 of dairy farming since 2011/12. As a May. R.A.B.I.’s annual awards to supporters result, R.A.B.I.’s work will still be needed and committee members for their Guest speaker was NFU President and for many years to come.” achievements in 2013 were presented former R.A.B.I. trustee Meurig Raymond The meeting also heard from Somerset at the annual meeting by R.A.B.I. Vice (pictured above) who spoke about the farmer James Winslade, who spoke President Lord Plumb.

Award winners for 2013 Photographs by Kevin Milner www.kevinmilnercountryside.co.uk

The Dennis Brown Shield (organisation, most money and/or awareness) - committee, helped by his wife Mary. company or non-YFC club which Gloucestershire committee. raised the most money) - Barclays. Nigel and Janet Rome - for their The Bryn Davies Bowl (individual, support over many years, including The Beaufort Shield (committee which organisation, company or club in raising funds at lambing days at their raised the most money by their own Wales which made the greatest farm. efforts) - Kent committee. contribution) - Carmarthenshire committee. Andrew Baxter - for helping to raise The Sam Taylor Cup (off-farm event nearly £100,000 during 13 years service which raised the most money and/ The R.A.B.I. YFC Cup (club which gave as treasurer of the Worcestershire or awareness) - Pat Turnbull and the the most support)- Netherseal YFC. committee. Cumbria committee. Trustee Awards (special recognition): Peter Davies - for many years of raising The R.A.B.I. Cup (most progressive Henry Read - for loyal service as a funds and awareness of R.A.B.I. within county committee) - Derbyshire member of the Buckinghamshire the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW). committee. committee for 50 years. Veronica Sutton - for dedication to The Hunter Farm Challenge Cup Derek Lamplough - for organising an R.A.B.I. and being a vital member of (on-farm event which raised the annual golf day for the East Yorkshire the Leicestershire committee.

4 NATIONAL NEWS Floods: ‘it feels like a bereavement’ Somerset farmer James Winslade told guests at the The response was magnificent and the fodder operation will annual meeting that he had intended to wear a suit. continue for many months to come. Pam was temporarily He explained: “Since the floods we’ve been living in based at the market in an office lent by Agritec for several temporary accommodation and I went back to the weeks, helping to co-ordinate offers of feed with requests for farmhouse to get my suit, but then my wife reminded me help. That work is now being handled by staff seconded from that the shoes to go with it had been washed away.” partner oganisations who also helped with the relief effort and are now working on the recovery phase. Around 840 acres of Mr Winslade’s farm were under up to 18 feet of water in February and March and his livestock James’s livestock have since returned to his farm, but it and family were evacuated, as were his elderly and will be months before he and his family can return to their disabled father, and mother. farmhouse. Though he has been able to salvage some silage, most has been lost and he remains dependent He said: “When we left the water was up to my armpits. on donated and bought-in fodder. “It will be at least two I put out a post on Facebook and people responded years before we return to normal,” he said. magnificently, offering to accommodate the livestock on eight farms. But like all the other farmers, we also lost our Mr Winslade’s financial fodder. So I put out a message on Twitter about the crisis losses already amount we were in. I never imagined that that single tweet would to hundreds of mobilise the largest movement of fodder the UK had seen.” thousands of pounds, but the emotional As a result Sedgemoor Market became the base for impact of the floods is donations of fodder from farmers across the UK, even equally significant. France, and Mr Winslade became the focus of international media attention. He said: “The day after the tweet I “My mother says it feels was at the market at 7am, by which time I had 68 like a bereavement,” he answerphone messages and then a further 108 calls. It said. was overwhelming. Fortunately I could hand the phone over to Pam Wills, R.A.B.I.’s south west regional manager, James Winslade to help.”

Its future is assured because the has the positive effect of inspiring Vote of thanks organisation constantly adapts to someone else to support us. Trustee Pat Davies gave the vote of support the current environment. But though it’s a vital part of the rural The current buzz-word is resilience, yet thanks to supporters at the annual the rural community has always been meeting. This is an abridged version of community, because it’s been around a long time, it can go unnoticed. resilient and people draw strength her speech. from that - never more so than in In 1860 funding for R.A.B.I.’s work came the response from farmers to their from wealthy benefactors. Nowadays colleagues struggling in Somerset. the organisation depends on people like you who provide the enthusiasm I am proud to be part of that and groundwork which is the basis of community and honoured to thank everything we do. you - our volunteers, committee members, donors, charitable trusts and Our supporters are incredible. From corporate contributors – for everything 50p given for a raffle ticket, to legacies you do for R.A.B.I.. and trust donations, every penny is vital and helps us reach and support those in need. Oak trees are a symbol of strength Annual Review and endurance and a vital part of We really do appreciate your work. To download a copy of R.A.B.I.’s our countryside. Perhaps the most Its value is not just measured in the 2013 Annual Review and 2013 important part of the tree is its root amount of money raised. Rural Report and Financial Statement system which anchors and feeds communities are an excellent example please see the website www. the tree, without which it would not of self-help - we enjoy getting together rabi.org.uk/news_events/annual- survive. and are happy to pay for that social reviews-and-reports life and let charities benefit. Like that oak, R.A.B.I. has been To request printed copies please around a long time. Still relevant and To many people our supporters are ring 01865 724931 or write to us at performing the task for which it was the face of R.A.B.I. - the eyes, ears Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford set up, its strength lies in the work of and voice of the charity, whose work OX2 0QH. diverse groups and individuals drawn remains confidential. You may never together by good leadership. know when a kind word, deed or story

WEBSITE WWW.RABI.ORG.UK 5 Meet the chairman Thumbs up if you like us Committee members and guests met R.A.B.I. chairman Chris Riddle on We would like to invite you to follow regional farm visits in East Yorkshire and our new-look Facebook and Twitter Oxfordshire in March. pages – the best place for breaking The northern meeting was held at Guy R.A.B.I. news! and Claire Poskitt’s farm at Goole, and Many of our activities are listed on the south central meeting at Model social media and it's a great way to Farm, Ditchley Park, courtesy of Dr keep up with our work and the events Catherine Wills and the trustees of the we get involved with. You can also find Ditchley Foundation. useful links to other articles of interest. Not only did guests learn more about R.A.B.I.’s work from trustees and staff, But we don’t just want these pages the meetings also offered insights into to be about us, we’d like to chat to very different farming enterprises. you too, and if you ever have any You can find us on Twitter at MH Poskitt is a family-owned business questions about events, or the charity @rabicharity and on Facebook specialising in growing root vegetables in general, please message us and at Royal Agricultural Benevolent for leading supermarkets. All products we’ll see what we can do. Institution. See you there! are washed, packed and distributed from one site. The business can control all aspects of production in a process which allows produce to be taken from New members of staff the field and put in to microwaveable Three new members of staff have joined R.A.B.I.. Pat bags in just 20 minutes. Dobson replaces Kate Woodhead as south east regional The Ditchley Park Estate’s Model Farm welfare officer - good luck to Kate for the future! - and is known for its high environmental Milly Withers and Tim Bierley have taken on new roles as and conservation value. With 1,300 communications officer and development co-ordinator. hectares of woodland and arable Pat (top right) is a trained nurse who has worked for CAB land, 172 hectares is also down to organic grassland for rearing sheep and Age UK and has most recently been working as a and livestock, including a small herd Mental Health Act commissioner for the Care Quality of White Park cattle. The mansion was Commission. used by Winston Churchill as a country Milly (centre right) joins us from Taff Housing Association residence and is now run by a trust to in Cardiff. She has specific responsibility for regional and promote international relations. social media and will also be involved in developing our new R.A.B.I. development manager Suzy website later this year. Deeley said: “The visits were very Tim (bottom right) is a graduate of York University where different but equally impressive and he read Politics and Philosophy. He loves writing, is a informative. We are very grateful to the keen linguist, and also enjoys cricket. His role will involve Poskitts and the Ditchley Foundation for supporting regional managers, and corporate relationships. allowing us to visit.”

New sheriff in town Daisy quizzes Pointless questionmaster Congratulations to Peter Addington, former R.A.B.I. regional welfare officer for central southern England, who has been appointed HIgh Sheriff of Wiltshire. Peter’s family have farmed in the county for 45 years, and he is also a former NFU county chairman. The High Sheriff is The Queen’s representative in the county for matters of law and order and the judiciary. It is the oldest secular office in England and Wales after the Crown.

Sky lantern danger A new T-shirt has been launched to raise awareness of the danger of sky lanterns to people, property, livestock and the environment. Costing £6.75 R.A.B.I. mascot Daisy the cow (Jake Churchill) met Alexander Armstrong, presenter each, 50p from each T-shirt sold will of the BBC’s television quiz Pointless at the Witney Festival of Food and Drink in come to R.A.B.I.. To buy one contact Oxfordshire in May, where R.A.B.I. had a stand. The festival is organised by Elpie @sunkfarmer on Twitter. Lewis (left) who is married to R.A.B.I. trustee Jeremy (second left)

6 NATIONAL NEWS Rise in grants for basic needs What R.A.B.I. R.A.B.I. gave out £2.2 million in grants to 1,618 farming families or individuals in means to me 2013 and around a quarter of the cases we helped were people of working age. In addition we helped hundreds of people in other ways, for example referring them to other agencies or organisations for specialist help and advice, or helping them to claim state benefits worth a total of £235,000. Of the £600,000 in grants we gave to farmers of working age, more than two- thirds (£440,000) was spent on food and basic household needs such as heating. Between January and the end of March this year, we gave out £575,000 in nearly 3,000 grants to 1,071 beneficiaries. New enquiries and referrals continue to come in at around four every working day. Hotspots for calls have been Somerset, Devon, Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Powys. Chief executive Paul Burrows said: “R.A.B.I. has traditionally helped people who have retired from the industry as a result of age, illness or disability, but we are seeing an increasing number of people of working age contact us for help. Andy Hope is running the British 10k in London on 13 July in memory of his “Agriculture offers substantial opportunities for farmers in England and Wales, but late mum, Joan Evelyn Hope. there are many factors over which they have no control, for example extreme weather and animal disease. Any business can also come up against unforeseen Born in 1920, Mum was the first in a problems, for example illness, accident or family breakdown. Such things put family of 13. Brought up in the main by her grandparents, she spent some pressure on farming families and can lead to financial difficulty.” of her holidays with her uncle’s family The farmers of working age who have contacted R.A.B.I. for help so far this year at Gosfield Farm in Essex, where he have done so for a variety of reasons. Among them have been: worked as a herdsman. It was here • a farmworker in rent arrears because he had little work over the winter she met Tom, my dad, the farmer’s son. A love was born that would last • farmers who experienced bad weather last year which resulted in reduced for over 40 years. yields and therefore reduced income this year Dad’s untimely death meant mum • a tenant farmer whose landlord has increased his rent, who is now being had to move away from farming but pressured to leave the farm she retained a link by getting a job as a part-time care assistant and • farmers who are going through divorces, whose businesses are tied up in legal relief cook at Manson House, R.A.B.I.’s proceedings / financial settlements residential home in Bury St Edmunds. Mum worked well into her 70s and in • a farmer badly injured in an accident who needs help on the farm while he 1994, on retirement, moved into a flat recovers, for whom we have paid for temporary labour in the grounds. I sometimes think she • a farmer suffering from a rare medical condition for whom we have provided only moved in to keep a close eye on an emergency relief grant everyone to ensure standards were maintained! • a farmer who has had emergency surgery for whom we have bought heating She relished her time there and would oil and paid for a relief farm worker often visit the residents in the main If you know someone in need, please encourage them to call our helpline on house with a word of comfort and 0300 303 7373 and ask for help. slice of cake. She was also known to hold court with other residents on a Saturday morning in the garden room over a glass of sherry. In short she was Dramatic rescue by Helicopter Heroes content. The amazing story of a farmworker who rescued by Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Earlier this year Mum was taken into was trapped trying to clear a blockage After several weeks in hospital he is now hospital. When it became clear how ill in a potato harvester was told in a recovering at home. she was, she was desperate to go home new series of Helicopter Heroes on BBC and Carole Smith and her team did With his permission, R.A.B.I. is proud to television in April. everything possible to see her wish was say we have been helping him, for granted. On 16 February she passed Darren Taylor, who was faced with example by paying for a farmworker to peacefully away. losing an arm and both legs, was help on the farm while he recovers. Manson House had been Mum’s He suffered life-changing injuries and home for 20 years and the staff and it will be a long road to recovery, but residents were her second family. The Darren is determined to learn to walk work of R.A.B.I. in supporting people again with the help of prostheses and like Mum is second to none. to get back to work. To sponsor Andy please visit www. Good luck Darren from everyone at justgiving.com/Andy-Hope2 If you R.A.B.I.. We wish you well. would also like to take part in the British 10k, we still have a few places Helicopter Heroes - members of available. Telephone 01865 811593 / Yorkshire Air Ambulance email [email protected]

WEBSITE WWW.RABI.ORG.UK 7 Great British Beef Week

Pictured at a House of Commons ‘Beefies’ an online hit reception are (left to right) Robert Our campaign inviting people to join Bower R.A.B.I. Nottinghamshire in the social media craze for ‘selfies’ committee chairman, Charles by taking ‘beefies’ to mark Great Sercombe NFU Livestock Board British Beef Week proved a big hit, as chairman, Angela Sargent R.A.B.I. the pictures below show. Derbyshire committee chairman, and We received coverage in Farmers Minette Batters Ladies in Beef co- Guardian and Farmers Weekly, had a founder and NFU deputy president mention on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show, and received a tweet from BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox! Campaign goes from strength to strength An amazing £35,000 was raised for R.A.B.I. Among the events which took place from April’s Great British Beef Week. across the country were: Organised by the group Ladies in Beef, • A St George’s Day Lunch at Kingston this is the second year R.A.B.I. has been Maurward College in Dorset which the charity to benefit from fundraising raised around £2,000. in the awareness campaign. • Fundraising at Shrewsbury market Highlight of the week, which began on which raised £780. St George’s Day 23 April, was a House • A rib of beef raffle at the North of Commons reception sponsored by Cotswold point to point which raised Nottinghamshire MP Mark Spencer £450. and arranged by NFU East and West • A car boot sale at Cheerbrook Farm Midlands. Secretary of State for the Shop in Cheshire which raised £550. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs • A rib of beef raffle at Berkeley point Owen Paterson visited the event. to point which raised £500. Among the issues raised by Ladies • A Sunday lunch at Stradbroke in in Beef co-founders Minette Batters Suffolk which raised £2,500. and Jilly Greed in media interviews • A farming talk and beef supper at during the campaign was the need to Eathorpe in Warwickshire which raised recognise the importance of Britain’s £1,083. suckler beef herds and the high quality • A British beef evening with guest beef they produce. speaker NFU Vice President Guy Smith, “In the wake of the horsemeat scandal at Coldharbour Farm in Kent which and heightened awareness of the raised £10,000. importance of label of origin, there’s • A bucket collection at Dingley point to never been a better time for the point in Leicestershire which raised £540. industry to work together to promote • A lunch at Spains Hall in Essex which fully traceable Red Tractor assured raised £2,250. British beef,” said Minette, who is also • An auction of beef at Colchester deputy president of the NFU. livestock market which raised £300. • A dinner at Trethorne in Cornwall R.A.B.I. fundraising for the week was which raised around £500. kick-started by a £10,000 donation by • A beer and BBQ evening at Heygates beef group ABP, the sale of a steer at Feed Mill in Northamptonshire which market by Minette Batters which raised raised £840, where members of Newport £1,000, and a collection of £920 from Pagnell YFC are pictured below NFU council members. R.A.B.I. chief executive Paul Burrows said: “We are very grateful to Ladies in Beef and to all the sponsors and supporters who have raised so much money. “It’s wonderful to see people coming together to celebrate the best of British farming and at the same time raise funds to support farming families in difficulty.” 8 NATIONAL NEWS Corporate supporters fundraising 75th anniversary celebrations raise £10,000 for R.A.B.I. Wisbech-based crop production specialists Hutchinsons celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2013 by raising £30,000 for good causes, including R.A.B.I.. Chairman of the family business David Hutchinson presented a cheque for £10,115 to R.A.B.I. trustees at a meeting at our residential home, Manson House, in Bury St Edmunds in April. The company has presented similar cheques to the British Heart Foundation and Macmillan. The money was raised by a series of fundraising events held around the country last year, including cycle rides, hikes and runs, and ending with a dinner dance in London. Campaign goes from strength to strength Other events included cake baking, a family ramble, 10-pin bowling, and a cricket match. Chief executive Paul Burrows said: “To raise so much money in one year is a fantastic achievement and we are David Hutchinson (second right) is pictured presenting a cheque extremely grateful to Hutchinsons’ directors and staff for to R.A.B.I. chief executive Paul Burrows (centre)and (left to making such a generous donation to R.A.B.I..” right) trustees Carol Rymer, Stephen Miles and Pat Stanley

Artist Lauren Terry is raising Nice weather for ducks money to help R.A.B.I. support Thank you to.... flood-hit farmers by selling prints of her work. Insurers Cornish Mutual who agreed to give 20p to R.A.B.I. for every proxy Known for her paintings of vote cast at their AGM in March. cows, the latest is called ‘Nice Weather for Ducks’ and features Equipment manufacturers Agco three cows wearing raincoats who offered R.A.B.I. a free stand and wellies. at their NEC show in Birmingham and donated nine children’s pedal Prints cost £40 each, of which tractors for our summer raffle prizes. £20 from every sale will be donated to R.A.B.I.. Lauren is Marks & Spencer in Somerset who also selling the image as a pack are collecting for R.A.B.I. in their of four greetings cards. They are Taunton store to support people on sale for £4, with £2.50 going affected by flooding. to R.A.B.I.. Staffordshire R.A.B.I. treasurer Joan For more information visit Bennett who works for Barclays and Lauren’s website gave the £500 donation she was www.laurenscows.com awarded for winning the bank’s Citizenship Award to R.A.B.I.. Farmers Guardian’s booze-free February reaps rewards Around £2,700 was raised by Farmers’ Guardian’s pledge to a ‘booze-free’ February to mark the newspaper’s 170th anniversary, raising funds for R.A.B.I. and our sister organisation in Scotland RSABI. R.A.B.I. chairman Chris Riddle, trustee Nicki Quayle and members of staff Kris Band, Sally Conner, Linda Peters and Philippa Spackman joined in the campaign, as did Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive Steve Hughson and assistant chief executive Aled Jones. Thank you to everyone who took part and who sponsored the participants. Pictured are Royal Welsh Agricultural Society chief executive Steve Hughson (left) and assistant chief executive Aled Jones, who together raised £250, with R.A.B.I. regional manager for Wales Linda Jones

HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 9

JulyBeaufort 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of R.A.B.I.’s acquisition of Beaufort House House in Somerset. One of two residential homes we run (the other is Manson House in Suffolk), it is named after our former president, the Duke of Beaufort. Philippa Spackman spent a day there.

Beaufort House is not a business, it’s a home. That’s the view Beaufort House has 33 residents in the main building and of manager Sue Luck, who with her team has made the 12 ‘self-caring’ tenants in the adjacent Beaufort Court flats. Burnham-on-Sea residential home a standard bearer for The majority of people come from farming, but if a place elderly care. is available and there is no-one on the waiting list from a farming background, it may be offered to someone else. Sue joined Beaufort’s 37 staff, some of whom have worked at Beaufort for more than 20 years, in 1997. She explained One of the major changes Sue has seen is the rise in the what makes the home special: “We are all passionate about average age of residents. She explained: “When I joined, making Beaufort the best place possible for our residents. most were in their 70s or 80s, whereas now the average age What matters most is seeing their happiness, the length of is 92. It’s a completely different job from what it used to be. time people stay with us, and the fact that we get so many The major difference is obviously in residents’ mobility and compliments. We want it to feel like a family home.” dependence. When I came many were still driving and able to get out and about themselves. We continue to The home’s finances are carefully managed and, thanks to a encourage people to lead active lives, but today we are recent major refurbishment programme and a waiting list for far more involved with personal care than we used to be. places, it is in every sense an asset to the charity. “We are not a nursing home, and we don’t accept new The refurbishment was led by Peter Mason, who joined residents who have nursing needs, but we try to keep the staff around the same time as Sue. Sue explained: existing residents with us for as long as possible. Normally “Every resident’s room has been refurbished, including the it is only dementia needs that make us unable to keep bathrooms, and we have a new kitchen, staff-room, and new people. We also pride ourselves in our end of life care. We furnishings, so we have a light, airy and cheery environment. are well-supported by doctors and district nurses and work “We have also done extra things like installing pressure-sensitive really hard not to have people admitted to hospital. Beaufort mats by residents’ beds. These trigger an alarm if someone trips is our residents’ home - it’s where they want to be.” getting up in the night, so that our night staff can immediately Looking around Beaufort House, it is clear why that is – it go to them. Residents have also all been issued with pendant feels more like a genteel country house hotel than a call bells to make them feel that bit safer. care home. There’s an atmosphere of calm and care. “In addition we have recently built a garage for mobility Bedrooms are comfortable, all en-suite, with views to the scooters, with electric points and remote controlled electric carefully tended gardens, and inside there are several doors to make it easy for residents to drive in and out and sitting rooms where residents can read or simply chat. charge their scooters. A hairdresser visits weekly. There are activities with which “It’s thanks to having Peter full-time that we have been able people can get involved if they wish. Holy Communion to do this cost-effectively and can continue to upgrade the is held once a month, there are also regular classes, for building, for example we recently opened another guest example in art, flower arranging and music, as well as room. We are also the only home I know with a full-time gardener exercise classes such as Tai Chi, bingo for entertainment, who makes sure the outside environment is just as attractive.” and minibus trips for shopping and visits.

10 FEATURE “Beaufort House is not a business .... it’s a home”

What residents say Most people have breakfast in their own rooms and come Betty Board was no stranger Beaufort Housedown to lunch and supper, having a drink in the bar if they to Beaufort when she moved wish. All meals are prepared on site, food is sourced locally, in, having worked there as a menus are varied, and special diets are catered for. secretary in the 1940s when it was Gardenhurst School. Her husband Beaufort House is a truly special place. As one person was resident with her until he died wrote in a recent visitor satisfaction report: “Thank you to earlier this year. all the staff for making it such a special home for residents and relatives alike.” Betty said: “I was pleased we could be together. We couldn’t be anywhere better. Now I’m fortunate I can still walk and get out and about. I can really recommend Beaufort, there is so much to do. You don’t have to, but I join in everything – I keep busy to stop putting on too much weight with the lovely food!”

Peggy Willcocks also lost her husband last year and moved to Beaufort after visiting with her daughter. Peggy explained: “My daughter had come to visit someone else but I liked it so much, that when we got home I asked if I could live here. I was so pleased there was a place available. I had an interview and I was here. “I was finding it difficult living on my own after my husband died and I wasn’t eating properly, so I knew it was the right thing. I could also bring some of my things with me to make it feel homely.”

Sybill Rich used to live on a farm near Burnham-on-Sea and now has a room overlooking Beaufort House garden. Her room is filled with mementoes and photographs of her former life, including her horses, the people she taught to ride, and her beloved Labrador. Sybill said: “I didn’t want to leave my bungalow - it’s a wrench to leave your life behind and I miss Pictured clockwise from the left, Beaufort House in spring being able to drive and to hunt. and from the front; Yatton Lodge of Agriculture present But I realise I couldn’t really look a gift of new wheelchairs to manager Sue Luck (centre) after myself much longer. The staff and residents Eileen Hutchings, Grace Parish, Philip Cole are very kind and caring. I feel and Nora Dyer; and hairdresser Louise Griffiths, who has been visiting Beaufort House for 20 years and married in May, fortunate to be here.” popped in to show residents her dress on her big day.

WEBSITE WWW.RABI.ORG.UK 11 Regi nal News

R.A.B.I. has 52 county committees in England and Wales which work at local level to raise awareness of our work, as well as funds. We are very grateful for their support and the help we receive from other groups such as the YFC, NFU and FUW, in addition to the many companies and individuals who also support us. Here are some stories which offer a snapshot of their activities in the spring. For more stories and photographs see www.rabi.org.uk

It may have taken place on April Fool’s Day, but a fundraising dinner at Oxford’s Christ Church College raised the very Oxford dinner success serious sum of £24,000 for R.A.B.I.. Around 300 guests attended the bi-annual black-tie dinner in the college’s main hall, following Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral and drinks in the quadrangle. After dinner there was a fundraising auction and a speech from farmer, writer, broadcaster and chairman of the Countryside Restoration Trust, Robin Page. The evening was arranged by the Oxfordshire committee and sponsored by Henmans Freeth solicitors and Bidwells. Regional manager Jenni Thompson said: “We are so grateful to everyone who sponsored and supported the evening by donating prizes and auction lots, as well as by buying tickets. “The amazing sum raised is testament to the efforts of our county committee and a strong reflection of the importance of our work to the agricultural community. The money will make a huge difference to what we can achieve both locally Guests enjoying dinner in Christ Church College, Oxford and nationally to help farming families in financial difficulty.”

Spring Shindig for Somerset Delilah on St David’s Day May bank holiday saw hundreds of Guest speaker was Andrew Ward The Brecon & Radnor committee people take part in a ‘Spring Shindig’ who used social media and the held an evening of song and food to at Kelso in the Scottish Borders, raising twitter name @wheat_daddy to celebrate St David’s Day at the FUW an amazing £24,000 for R.A.B.I. and help co-ordinate his ‘Forage Aid’ Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground the Addington Fund to help farmers campaign to deliver donations of in March. hit by flooding in Somerset. animal feed to farmers in need. Guests were served traditional Welsh Toasting their Spring Cawl followed by apple pie. The Shindig success Talgarth Community Choir entertained with a variety of Welsh hymns, the are organisers (left recitation of works by Dylan Thomas, to right) Kirsty Barr, and a rousing version of “Delilah”! Ailsa Tweedie, Susan Thomson, Regional manager for Wales Linda Jane Fenwick, Jill Jones said: “It was a splendid evening and many thanks to the FUW for McGregor, Tania allowing us to use their pavilion. We Conway and Lucy were treated to a lovely meal and then Armstrong, who are sat back and listened to the choir. pictured with guest speaker Andrew “Thank you to all who made the Ward evening a success and a true celebration of our patron saint, raising more than £400.”

12 REGIONAL NEWS Eyes down for flood-hit farmers Curry night A charity bingo evening at Maisemore A curry night at Burpham Village in Gloucestershire in March attracted Hall in West Sussex raised more 100 guests and raised £1,000 for than £1,000 for R.A.B.I.. farming families affected by flooding Held with the Countryside in Somerset and elsewhere. Alliance Foundation, 90 people Regional manager Jenni Thompson enjoyed pheasant curry, kindly said: “The evening was a wonderful supplied by Arundel Estate example of how the farming Farms. community supports fellow farmers Guest speaker was auctioneer in hard times. Thank you to everyone and farmer Richard Wood. who supported us, especially Green Farm Seeds who sponsored the event and paid for the vital bingo machine!” Eyes down (left to right) bingo caller Anthony Wilkes, Mark Davies from Green Mole Valley Farm Seeds, and Gloucestershire committee member Mary Wathen and R.A.B.I.’s East and West Midlands chairman David Hewlett committees are looking forward to working with Mole Valley’s Fauld store which has chosen us as its charity for fundraising this Carmarthanshire supporters out in force year. The NFU ladies’ group in Carmarthen presented R.A.B.I. regional manager for Wales Linda Jones with a cheque Clay shoot for £1,000 when she visited them to talk Thanks to the support of ADAS, about our work. The money was raised B&B tractors and Bowring throughout 2013 by holding a raffle transport, the Nottinghamshire committee raised £750 from and charging for tea and coffee at a clay shoot at Whaley Farm group meetings. held by kind permission of Ian Linda Jones (right) and R.A.B.I. Longden. Carmarthanshire chairman Gwynne The top gun was won by Henry Williams are pictured receiving a Helliwell with 42 clays from a 50- cheque from Marlene Blakeman, NFU bird day. Ladies Carmarthen chairman The committee has also received a donation of £75 from Carmarthen Admington horse ride Farm & Country Holiday Group raised A charity horse ride at during Alltyfyrddin’s Open Farm Admington in Warwickshire in Sunday event. May raised more than £900 for R.A.B.I.. The nine-mile cross Rosemary Jones and Carol Thomas are country course was organised pictured (left and centre) presenting a by Sue and Tony Cooke. cheque to Gwynne Williams ‘Flog It’ star helps Staffordshire to raise cash The Staffordshire committee’s annual dinner in March attracted 400 guests and raised the amazing sum of £8,600, including £3,000 of match-funding from Barclays agriculture team. Held at the county showground, guest speaker was Philip Serrell, antiques expert, auctioneer, and one of the presenters of BBC Television’s ‘Flog It’ and ‘Antiques Road Trip’ programmes. Regional manager Kate Jones said: “It was a brilliant evening and thanks to everyone who helped to make it such a success and supported it, not least Barclays.”

Members of the Staffordshire committee with (front second left) antiques expert Philip Serrell and regional manager Kate Jones (centre)

HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 13 Agricultural finance brokerage Roses on the menu Rural Finance gift company Rural Finance celebrated the opening of their Wrexham Red roses and chocolates were premises by donating £500 to R.A.B.I.. the side order of the day when 86 guests sat down to a Valentine’s Day The building was opened by Owen breakfast at the Black Sheep Brewery Paterson MP (left), Secretary of State in Masham in February. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who presented a cheque with Guest speaker was Professor Dianna Rural Finance director Rex Tattersall Bowles and the event, organised by to Linda Jones, R.A.B.I.’s regional the North Yorkshire committee, raised manager for Wales. £700 for R.A.B.I.. Linda said: “Sincere thanks to Rural Finance for their generous donation. It is very much appreciated as the severe weather of the past two years has put Farmyard clear-out increasing pressure on the farming Devon committee vice chairman community and R.A.B.I.’s services.” Philip Wrayford once again rallied local farmers into having a ‘spring clear-out’ to get rid of tools and other implements they considered Raceday is just the ticket redundant or junk. A race day at Wincanton Racecourse in March was just the ticket, when race- The lots were put into a collective goers turned out in force to support R.A.B.I.. machinery sale at Buckfastleigh by kind permission of Rendells Auctioneers In addition to a fun day’s racing, 90 supporters enjoyed lunch overlooking the and raised £2,000. track as well as receiving expert betting advice from jockey Brendon Powell. £4,000 was raised from the day, thanks not least to Barclays agriculture division which provided £1,000 of match-funding and premier league football tickets for the auction. Champagne breakfast Regional manager Pam Wills said: “This is the third year we have hosted an A champagne breakfast for 80 people event at Wincanton, and year-on-year it raises an increasing amount of at Betchworth Village Hall in Surrey money. With the recent floods affecting many farmers locally, it is heartening raised £1,087 for R.A.B.I.. Regional to know that there is such support to help them through difficult times.” manager Sally Field said: “Thanks to Tim and Vicky Kenny, the Surrey committee helpers, and everyone who supported the event.” Get ready for summer Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to start thinking about cream teas. John Machin R.A.B.I.’s annual Cream Tea Campaign takes place every year. All you have to R.A.B.I.’s Meirionnydd committee has do to take part is to choose a date to received a £1,000 donation in memory suit yourself, hold a cream tea for family, of John Machin from Melton Mowbray friends or colleagues and ask people to in Leicestershire. Mr Machin had been make a donation to support R.A.B.I.. a regular buyer at Dolgellau Farmers Marts since the early 1970s, as well Fundraising packs are available which as a keen supporter of Welsh cattle include recipes, quiz ideas, invitations, producers and R.A.B.I.. posters and registration forms.

Our condolences and thanks to the For more information contact Hayley Machin family. Paintin on 01865 811593 or email her at [email protected]

Leicestershire lunch Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge success Lunch in Leicestershire for members Wyn Hinds, Lloyds agricultural of Carmarthenshire’s Chamber of business manager for Mid and South Agriculture resulted in a donation of Wales completed the Yorkshire Three £600 to R.A.B.I.. Peaks Challenge to raise funds for The chamber organised visits to farms R.A.B.I.. in England and Wales, stopping at Wyn (pictured right centre) presented Melton Mowbray where the Stafford Gwynne Williams, chairman of the family prepared a complimentary Carmarthenshire committee, and feast and asked members to make a Rosemary Jones, vice-chairman, with donation to a charity of the chamber’s a cheque for £240.50. choice. 14 REGIONAL NEWS Derbyshire is on a roll Having a great time Members of the Derbyshire committee members of Buxton YFC and an have again struck gold after auction. winning the R.A.B.I. Cup for the most Derbyshire chairman Angela Sargent progressive committee at R.A.B.I.’s annual meeting in May, then raising said: “We have become a very strong £7,500 at their first subsequent event. committee and love to organise fun events that help to raise vital funds.” Held at Tissington Hall near Ashbourne by kind permission of Sir Richard Members of the committee are and Lady FitzHerbert, the evening pictured at Tissington Hall on the included entertainment from cover of this edition of R.A.B.I. News.

Cheshire committee’s trip to Stokesay Court in Shropshire raised Top that for summer raffle prize £450. Thanks to Miranda Shufflebotham and Margaret Lawson for organising the event. Miranda is pictured above with Audrey and Alan Forster.

Comedy drama Cwmni’r Cudyll Coch delighted the audience at Bancyfelin village hall in February with their performance of two short Welsh language comedy plays. Huw Williams, president of the evening, gave a purposeful speech and a very generous donation. A raffle was also held and more than £700 was raised for the Dick Twinney (right) presents the painting to R.A.B.I. chairman Chris Riddle Carmarthenshire committee, which provided refreshments. Cornwall-based artist Dick Twinney has again generously presented R.A.B.I. with an original painting as a prize for this year’s South West Summer Raffle. Called ‘Moorland Meadow - The Newcomer’, it depicts a newly born Belted Galloway Calf with its mother. Big Breakfast trio The second prize in the raffle is a child’s tractor kindly donated by Agco, and Almost 200 people enjoyed a leisurely the third prize is a luxury hamper. Priced at £1, tickets for the raffle, which will Big Breakfast at Rowberry’s Nursery, be drawn on 15 September, will be on sale at R.A.B.I. stands at shows and Chaddersley Corbett in March. events throughout the summer. The event raised funds for three Prints of the painting are also available from Dick Twinney’s website www. charities, with R.A.B.I.’s Worcestershire theartofdicktwinney.com Priced £50, plus £5 postage and packing, a £25 committee receiving £335. donation will also come to R.A.B.I. from each print sold. Many thanks to all the businesses who donated food, and all the volunteers who helped prepare, serve and wash Paul Kelly of Kelly’s Turkeys was up. Essex talks turkey guest speaker at R.A.B.I.’s Essex committee lunch in May which was attended by 150 guests. Stuart and Carol Bosworth of Bonus cheque Willingale generously gave up their Hall Farm Shop in Alsager Cheshire marquee for the afternoon and Strutt played host to a farmhouse breakfast & Parker sponsored the drinks. for 26 diners which raised more than £250 for R.A.B.I.. Regional manager Bob Archibald said: “We’re still calculating funds There was an additional bonus raised but thanks to all who when Cheshire committee chairman attended.” Norman Lawson was presented with a cheque for £500 from Richard Barnett Guests are pictured (left) enjoying of Howard Worth Accountants in the puds at the Essex lunch. Northwich.

WEBSITE WWW.RABI.ORG.UK 15 Bloodhounds at the Isle of Wight May Ball Farmhouse breakfast R.A.B.I. trustee Pat Davies attended A farmhouse breakfast at and was also presented with a Winkworth Farm near Malmesbury cheque for £1,100 by Asa Wingate in Wiltshire raised £400 for R.A.B.I., and Jill Broomfield from the Isle of thanks to Melanie and Jeremy Wight Farmers’ Bloodhounds. Newman who provided the Pat said: “We were made very venue, Philip Gilder of Manor welcome by lovely people and the Events who arranged catering, story of the Bloodhounds’ origins is and local food suppliers. wonderful. “Jill and her husband Roger, who is joint master with Asa, started the Livestock & Longshaw (Left to right) Pat and Jim Davies group after he went to the mainland Thanks to members of High Peak and R.A.B.I. Isle of Wight committee and came back, out of the blue, with Livestock Society who donated chairman Ann Kennerley a pack of bloodhounds! £840 to R.A.B.I. in March and to A May Ball at Ryde Castle Hotel “The pack has become very popular the organisers of the Longshaw was organised and sponsored by on the island, and they now ask riders Sheepdog trials in Derbyshire who the Isle of Wight NFU Mutual and to make a £2 donation to R.A.B.I. every donated £100 following their 2013 Scats Country Store to raise funds for time they hunt. To raise more than £1,000 event. R.A.B.I. and the Royal Isle of Wight so far is an incredible achievement for Agricultural Society. which we’re very grateful.” Ploughing match A vintage ploughing match near All things watercress on the menu Market Bosworth attracted the A three-course watercress-inspired The business is smaller today but a attention of the TV cameras whilst supper was the focus of attention wide range of watercress products has raising £1,000 for R.A.B.I.. when 100 people sat down to dine at evolved, some of which were enjoyed More than 70 ploughmen Kingfisher Farm Shop in Surrey in May to by guests on the night. These included participated in the event which mark 160 years since watercress was first watercress wine and watercress was arranged by Richard Hewitt planted on site at Abinger Hammer. canapés, as well as watercress scones with watercress butter, and watercress for the Leicestershire committee. Host Barrie Arminson told the Surrey paté. committee’s guests about the history of watercress on the farm. As for the meal? Watercress soup with a watercress bread roll, followed by The ½ acre site was first developed by pork and watercress sausages and Beard shave Richard and John Coe in the 1850s and mash, with watercress ice cream and Thanks to farmer John Coleman it went on to produce hundreds of tons strawberries for dessert. from Burton Fleming in North of watercress per year. Most of the Yorkshire who shaved off his beard produce was destined for the London Together with a raffle the evening raised and raised £840 for R.A.B.I.. markets, where it was taken by train. £650 for R.A.B.I.. High Sheriffs’ race night a galloping success A Race Night organised by the High Sheriffs of Leicestershire and Rutland, Richard Clowes and Commodore Miles Williamson-Noble, was a galloping success, with £30,000 raised for six local charities, including R.A.B.I., which will receive £5,000 each. The evening at Leicestershire Racecourse attracted 150 guests and included dinner and wine. It was sponsored by a number of businesses including Joules and Pukka Pies Ltd. Commodore Miles Williamson-Noble said: “We are delighted at the response to this event. All the charities selected are worthy causes, but to raise this amazing amount is testament to the generosity of the business community and individuals from both counties.” R.A.B.I.’s East Midlands regional manager Milly Wastie said: “I am grateful to the High Sheriffs for their support in raising such a significant amount of money for local worthy causes. The event raised the profile of R.A.B.I. to a new audience and The High Sheriffs of Leicestershire and Rutland, Richard the funds raised will support farming families who are in need Clowes and Commodore Miles Williamson-Noble, are with practical and financial support.” pictured at Leicestershire Racecourse 16 REGIONAL NEWS Memoirs of a rural solicitor A Lancashire solicitor has marked his retirement by writing his memoirs which he is selling to raise money for R.A.B.I.. A Farmer’s Lad is the story of Geoff Tomlinson from Preston, who recently retired as a rural solicitor after working in agricultural law for 36 years, most recently with Napthens. The book has taken two years to write, but Geoff says he has thoroughly enjoyed the process. He explained: “I wanted to give something back to the industry that has shaped my career and the obvious choice was to do something to raise money for R.A.B.I..” The book is illustrated with line drawings by Geoff’s son Daniel Clement and costs £10.00. To find out more and order a copy contact www.zaccmedia.com Geoff Tomlinson is pictured (right) with R.A.B.I. chairman Chris Riddle

Roger Emmett memorial dinner Thank you! A charity dinner in Buckinghamshire in Thank you to members of north March raised more than £2,500 to help west Leicestershire NFU ladies’ farming families in need. group who presented a cheque for £530 to the Leicestershire Held at St Katherine’s in Parmoor, the R.A.B.I. committee after agreeing dinner was arranged by Jane and Tom to disband the group and disperse Nixey. The idea for the event came from their remaining funds to charity. the late Roger Emmett, a local farmer and former chairman of High Wycombe Members, who will in future Council. meet informally rather than as a structured group, said that as R.A.B.I. regional manager Jenni many of them were farmers’ wives Thompson, who spoke at the dinner and strong supporters of R.A.B.I., with R.A.B.I. deputy chairman William it was easy to decide who should Cumber, said: “Our charity was close to benefit from the donation. Roger Emmett’s heart and we are very grateful that Jane and Tom Nixey went Thank you also to members of the ahead and arranged the dinner in his Grafton Hunt who raised £1,240 honour.” for R.A.B.I., thanks to a collection arranged by Claire Bonner at Tom Nixey (left) and Bob Jennings a Wakefield Lodge meet near (right) help to serve local roast Pottersbury. lamb to their table of guests Devil’s kitchen cooks up a winning recipe for NFU

NFU North East raised £883 for R.A.B.I. by taking part in a Devil’s Kitchen event with Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors at the Holiday Inn in York. The two teams had to prepare, cook and serve a three- course meal to 50 guests each. Guests then had to score the food and service and donate the amount they thought the meal was worth. Regional manager Sally Conner collected a cheque for the sum raised when she went to talk to members in February. She said: “The NFU won – obviously! I’d like to congratulate and thank everyone who took part and supported the event.” North east regional manager Sally Conner with NFU regional director Richard Pearson and the Devil’s Kitchen team WEBSITE WWW.RABI.ORG.UK 17 YFC and college supporters Students dig deep Where there’s muck there’s brass

YFC members across England and Wales have continued to support the industry by raising thousands of pounds for R.A.B.I. in 2014. Callington YFC donated £1,000 to R.A.B.I. after making us their charity of the year in 2013 and carrying out a series of fundraising activities, including touring the local area with four tractors and trailers selling dung. Tadcaster and Wetherby YFC also raised £400 from their annual ‘muck chuck’ in February. Netherseal Young Farmers Club scooped the YFC Cup in R.A.B.I.’s annual awards in May in recognition of its efforts and contributions to the charity in 2013. Former chair Gemma Hiatt received the award for the club which gave the most support to R.A.B.I. in 2013 from R.A.B.I. vice president Lord Plumb. A team from the Edgcott and Winslow YFC completed a 200-mile cycle ride R.A.B.I. regional manager Kate to the national annual meeting in Blackpool on 7 May in just 21 hours and 40 Jones (left) receives a cheque minutes - two hours ahead of schedule - raising £432 for R.A.B.I.. from Harper Adams University agri- Meanwhile, a test-run for the entertainment in Blackpool saw more than100 food marketing and business studies members from Cumbria YFC putting on a performance at Ullswater Community student Catherine Bletcher (right), after College in aid of those affected by the Somerset floods. Nearly 280 tickets were students raised an impressive £1,700 sold and with the help of a raffle, tuck shop and donations, £2,500 was raised. for R.A.B.I.. Ceredigion YFC’s Welsh Hymn Singing Festival hosted by Ceredigion YFC Queen The funds were collected by the Mererid Davies and Young Farmer, Arwel Jenkins, in April at Aberduar Chapel, RAG (raise and give) team, which raised £1,400, and the agriculture Llanybydder raised £400 for R.A.B.I.. and business course dinner organising committee, which raised £300 at a dinner. Former RAG treasurer and rural enterprise and land management student 19-year-old Ella Darby said: “RAG is such an important part of Harper Adams and the student body is always so generous and keen to get involved with fundraising events. “I am really pleased that we have been able to support such a worthwhile charity and one that could potentially provide assistance for any Harper Adams student in future, in times of need.”

Tree planting gift Thank you to students from Moulton College in Northamptonshire who were given £100 following a tree Clockwise from top left, Ceredigion YFC Hymn Singing Festival donation, Gemma planting exercise at Watford Lodge Hiatt from Netherseal YFC receiving the R.A.B.I. YFC Cup from Lord Plumb, and Farm, arranged by kind permission of members of Cumbria YFC performing in Ullswater the Frost family, which they donated to R.A.B.I.. Lambing success Hadlow College students ran a stand at this year’s Lambing Weekend and raised more than £700 for R.A.B.I.. They are pictured (right) presenting a cheque to R.A.B.I.’s Kent committee chairman and former student Charles Tassell. Charles is also a former chairman of the college’s Cantagrians’ Association and currently works with the college’s business advisory council.

18 REGIONAL NEWS Individual supporters A poetic walk into that good night in Norfolk Cambridgeshire lawyer William Barr has completed a non- stop 98-mile walk to raise more than £4,000 for R.A.B.I. to mark his retirement at the end of a 43-year career. Mr Barr, originally from Wisbech and a specialist in land tenure at Mills & Reeve, said: “My work has been centred on farmers and owners of farmland so I wanted to mark my retirement with a fundraising event for R.A.B.I., in particular to help farmers affected by flooding this winter.” Mr Barr started out from King’s Lynn at 7am on Friday 25 April and finished in Great Yarmouth at 11.30am the following day, having walked all through the night. One unusual donation came with the condition that the poetry-loving lawyer recited Welsh verse at some point along the route. As a result, as the light faded at the end of the first day, the people of Lenwade heard Mr Barr’s rendition of Dylan Thomas’s‘Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night’. William Barr on his epic walk to raise funds for R.A.B.I. Thank you to everyone for going the extra mile for R.A.B.I. Charlie Whyte and a team from taking part in the Etape Eyri Snowdonia Reaseheath College in Cheshire who Sportive in June. completed the ‘Benidorm or Bust’ Ian Farrant from Worcestershire who is challenge in May, a 1,500 mile rally gearing up for June’s ‘ultra marathon’ from Blackpool to Benidorm in a car The Wall. costing not more than £500. James Prewett from Gloucestershire who is Katie Whitnall and The Hollow Bottom undertaking a Wales Coast to Coast cycle team from Gloucestershire, who ran challenge in July. the Edinburgh Marathon in May, raising £1,369. Steve Ross and Sam Blacker from Tockwith Agricultural Show who are Robert Gribble from E. Sussex who walking 192 miles Coast to Coast from Well done to.... set out to run 40 miles in 40 days and Cumbria to North Yorkshire in August. Spinal injury survivors and Drayton ended up running 102, raising £130. Caroline Wilson from Cleveland who Farming Club members, Tamsin Turner Gary Murfitt, Paul Yaxley and Terry and John Richardson (pictured above), is taking part in the Great North Run in Dean who raised £695 from a 50-mile September. who walked coast to coast from St. cycle challenge in Cambridegshire. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in Sally Anne Oultram from Bedfordshire Yorkshire in just 10 days in May, raising Good luck to.... who has enlisted for the Swanbourne more than £385. Simran Sandhu from Derbyshire who is Endeavour Challenge in October. running the Ramathon half marathon Michael Hutchings from Wiltshire, who in June. Victoria Hart from Carmarthenshire who completed the Neolithic Marathon in is running the Cardiff half marathon in May and has raised more than £870. Wil Hughes from Caernarfonshire who is October.

Rowing gets extreme in Celtic Challenge Shropshire farmer Tim Downes (left) raised £900 for R.A.B.I. by taking part in the world’s longest rowing race, the “Celtic Challenge”. Tim took part in the overnight race from Arklow in Ireland across the Irish Sea to Abersytwyth in Wales in May with two teams from Shropshire Adventurers Rowing Club. His team came back in fourth place out of 20, rowing in teams of four with a cox (12 in a team) for more than 18 hours, changing every two hours. “I had the help of a great team at home too,” said Tim. “My wife Louise managed calving before she set off to see us arrive back!”

HELPLINE 0300 303 7373 19 Regional contacts Diary Dates EAST - BOB ARCHIBALD Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Events organised by or for R.A.B.I. and events where R.A.B.I. will have a Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, presence. For more information contact the regional manager (right). Cambridgeshire Mobile: 07739 297374 June August Tel: 01366 385388 15 Etape Eryri Snowdonia Cycle Sportive 2 Blakesley Show, Northants Email: bob.archibald@rabi. org.uk 16 Norfolk Cocktail Party, Norfolk Showground 2 Tenbury Show 17-18 Cheshire Show 2 Oswestry Show NORTH EAST – SALLY CONNER 18-19 Lincolnshire Show 3 Tockwith Show, N Yorkshire North Yorkshire, County Durham, 18 Charity Shoot, Brockton, Much Wenlock 3 Werrington Country Fair, Cornwall Northumberland, East Yorkshire 19 Wilts R.A.B.I. Farm Walk & Open Gardens 8 Lampeter Show Mobile: 07818 093506 20 Glos. R.A.B.I. Farm Walk, Hartpury College 9 Ellingham Agricultural Show, Hampshire Tel: 01964 541400 20 Cothi Bridge Concert, Carmarthen 9 Halifax Show Email: [email protected] 20 Duck Race/Rasus Hwyaid, Llanuwchllyn 10 Cream Tea, Lower Dicker, E Sussex 20 Surrey Gala Evening, Leigh, Surrey 10 Cream Tea, Wren Hall, Wroxall 21 Cothi Bridge Whist Drive, Carmarthen 14 Okehampton Show, Okehampton, Devon SOUTH EAST – SALLY FIELD 21 Snowdon Charity Challenge 16 Minsterley Show, Shropshire Hampshire, IOW, Berkshire, 21 Shropshire YFC Rally, Oswestry - TBC 17 Mid-Somerset Show, Shepton Mallet Surrey, Sussex, Kent 21or 27 Summer Wine & Music, County Durham - TBC 19-21 Pembrokeshire County Show Mobile: 07799 798441 22 Summer Luncheon, Northumberland 20 Gillingham and Shaftesbury County Show Tel: 01903 882741 23 Golf Day, Driffield, E Yorkshire 21 Melplash Show, Dorset Email: [email protected] 25 Savills Farm Walk, Lullington 21 Chagford Show, Newton Abbot, Devon 25-26 Royal Norfolk Show 21 Denbigh & Flint Show 26 Private Tour of Heathfield Park, E Sussex 24 Gateridge Suffolks Open Day, Brackley WEST MIDLANDS - KATE JONES 26 Northants R.A.B.I. Guided tour of Stanford Hall 25 Glendale Show, Wooler, Northumberland Staffordshire, Shropshire, 26 Midsummer Garden Tour, Merseyside 27 Hampshire FWC R.A.B.I. Lunch, Hants West Midlands, Warwickshire, 27 R.A.B.I./FCN Panel Discussion with Daventry MP 27 Merioneth County Show/Sioe Sir Meirion (Bala) Worcestershire, Herefordshire 28 Dance to ‘The Old Gits’, Meonstoke, Hants 28 Bucks County Show Mobile: 07876 492839 28 Isle of Wight Show, IOW 28 Monmouthshire Show Tel: 01743 892892 28 NSA South Sheep, Nr Lewes, E Sussex 30 Llanfair Caereinion Show Email: [email protected] 28-29 E Wales & Borders Vintage Club & Pandy Show 30 Prengwyn Show 29 Blaston Show, nr Market Harborough NORTH WEST - GEORGINA LAMB September July Cumbria, Lancashire, South 1 Maiden Castle Sheepdog Trials, Dorset & West Yorkshire, Merseyside, 2 Picnic & Pimms on the Lawn, Merstone, IOW 4 Sworders Country House Preview Evening Cheshire 2 Ladies that Lunch club, Cockermouth 6 Turnditch and Windley Show, Derbyshire Mobile: 07917 114250 2 Warwks & Worcs Charity Shoot, Bidford on Avon 6 Alresford Show, Hants Email: georgina.lamb@rabi. 2/3 Livestock, NEC org.uk 6 Moreton in Marsh Show, Gloucestershire 4 Leicestershire Show Dinner, Melton Mowbray Mkt 6 Kingsbridge Show, Devon 8-10 Great Yorkshire Show 6 Llandysul Show 10 Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture BBQ SOUTH CENTRAL – JENNI THOMPSON 6/7 Harvesting the Old Fashioned Way, W Sussex Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, 11 Masquerade Ball, Heatherglen, Cumbria 6/7 Dorset Show, Dorchester Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, 11 Ceredigion Committee 25th Anniversary Concert 7 Ashby YFC Ploughing Match Mobile: 07919 478518 12-13 Great Eccleston Show 7 Lancashire Sunday Lunch, Garstang Tel: 01460 240950 13 British 10k London Run Email: jenni.thompson@rabi. 7 WOLF Run, (car parking) TBC 13 Hampshire Cycle Ride, New Forest, Hants org.uk 11 Westmorland Show 13 Ashby Show, Leicestershire 11 Great Cornish Quiz, Trethorne & Fraddon 13 NFU Chairman’s Lunch, Shrewsbury 13 Romsey Show, Hants 16 Driffield Show, E Yorkshire EAST MIDLANDS – MILLY WASTIE 13 Penistone Show 23 Cream Tea, Upham, Hampshire Lincolnshire, Rutland, 13 Usk Show Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, 20 English Shuffleboard & Cream Tea, W Sussex 14 Essex Horse Ride Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, 21-24 Royal Welsh Show 16 Peter Wilson Fine Arts Preview Evening, Cheshire Mobile: 07525 323450 23 Cream Tea, Lower Preshaw Farm, Hants 17 UK Dairy, TBC Tel: 01788 823739 24 Launceston Show Email: [email protected] 18 Thame Show and Oxford County Fair 26 Mid Devon Show 20 West Grinstead Ploughing Match, W Sussex 26 Penrith Show 20 IOW Ploughing Match 26 Coffee Morning, Guild Hall, Cardigan SOUTH WEST - PAM WILLS 20 Harvest Supper, Carmarthenshire 27 Bucks R.A.B.I. Cream Tea, Creslow Manor Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, 20 Pembs Committee Cocktail Bar, Ally yr Afon 27 Totnes Show Somerset 21 Event at Casterne Hall, Derbyshire Mobile: 07825 336224 30 Nantwich Show 23 Go Karting, Daventry, Northants Tel: 01749 838682 30 Yealmpton Show 24 Cheshire Ploughing Match Emails: [email protected] 30 NSA, Malvern 27 Gransden Show 30 Cardigan Show 27 Petworth Ploughing Match, W Sussex 31 Forde Abbey Summer Fair, Chard, Somerset 27 FFF&B Ploughing Match WALES - LINDA JONES 29-31 New Forest Show, Brockenhurst, Hants 27 BBO Diocese Harvest Festival, Oxfordshire Mobile: 07557 363016 27 Harvest Supper/Swper Cynhaeaf Sir Feirionnydd Tel: 01559 364850 27 Square Dancing, Llwyncelyn Email: [email protected] 28 West Sussex YFC 70th Anniversary Celebration 28 Leicestershire R.A.B.I. Harvest Festival

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