. R A B I newsSUMMER 2017 THE MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION Supporting farming families www.rabi.org.uk Riders in the sky! Page 23 Awards for fundraisers Pages 4-5 Farm Safety Week: Wyn’s story page 10 From page 2 From the chairman April 4 A meeting of the Brecon & Radnor committee in 157th AGM is A while ago, one of our supporters asked me what I did as Builth Wells – on the Royal Welsh Showground – chairman of R.A.B.I.From In this column, the I thought chairman it might be a good under the chairmanship of Elaine Stephens. idea to detail some of the things I’ve been involved with during the past three months. April 5 held in Oxford I returned to Builth to discuss preparations for the February 21-22 Urdd National Eisteddfod which will be held on the Two days at the NFU Conference in Birmingham. It was a great showground in 2018. There’s nothing like planning opportunity to catch up with lots of supporters and spread the ahead. word about the work of R.A.B.I. The NFU supported us as their Facing charity of choice for the collection at their conference dinner so April 6 I’d like to express a huge thank you to them. A visit to London to meet with Troy Investments, who look after part of R.A.B.I’s investments, a vital part of up to the February 26 the charity’s financial portfolio. R.A.B.I’s Cheshire committee kindly invited me to their Sunday future lunch in Northwich and it was a splendid event. However, as a April 14 result of the dismal performance of the Welsh rugby side against Attended a dinner in remembrance of Chris Hunt Page 7 the Scots the day before – and a great deal of shouting at the in Aberaeron. The men did all the cooking and FULL HOUSE: At R.A.B.I’s 157th AGM. TV – my voice was a croak at best. I have promised to attend a waited on tables, while the ladies relaxed and Chairman Malcolm Thomas Charles Smith, CEO of the future event in full voice. enjoyed themselves. A lovely evening in memory of told guests at the annual Farming Community Network. a wonderful lady. general meeting and The speaker was Sarah March 1-2 conference that the need for Dunning OBE, whose farming Set off for Oxford for the regular meeting of the charity’s April 18 -21 help is ‘constant’ and R.A.B.I’s family launched the fundraising & development team who were all in good heart. On A full week! Firstly, there was another six-hour drive work is ‘more important than highly-acclaimed Tebay Great the second day I met with our auditors, Martin & Company, to across to Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk to R.A.B.I’s ever’. Services and Gloucester discuss the year end audit. residential care home, Manson House. The welfare Speaking to more than motorway service stations. department held a meeting and it is always great 200 supporters and guests Sarah, who was awarded the British March 13-15 to catch up with our team of welfare officers, who in Oxfordshire on May 17, OBE in 2014 for services to the A six-hour car trip to Beverley in Yorkshire, but it was worth it. do such sterling work in dealing with both existing Malcolm announced that the food and drink industry, said: Beef We are fortunate to have the Bishop Burton College principal, and potential beneficiaries. Then, it was a drive up charity had paid out grants of “People don’t buy what you Jeanette Dawson, as one of our R.A.B.I trustees and she kindly to Norfolk to take part in a R.A.B.I quiz organised £2.1 million last year to 1,375 sell, they buy why you sell it.” Week invited the council to the college for one of our regular meetings. by the Norfolk committee, with Jenny Youngs individuals and families. At the AGM, Joshua Hosier We were also able to fit in a grants committee meeting and a in control. The next day we held our ‘meet the Of this, around £450k went and Chris D’Olley were ‘meet the chairman’ in the north east. The latter gives grass-roots chairman’ East Anglia event at the Salle Estate, to working people and/or re-elected to serve second Page 11 supporters and volunteers an opportunity to discuss and raise courtesy of Sir John White. It was a truly inspiring visit. dependants. terms as trustees, but Pat issues with trustees and senior staff. The college looked after us “Those figures clearly Davies stepped down after extremely well and we were given a guided tour of the extensive May 3 demonstrate the pressures four years. Former chairman campus. I was thoroughly impressed, not just with the wide range In London to meet with Rathbones Bros PLC, who many farmers are under,” he Chris Riddle also became a of courses, qualifications and facilities on offer, but also the very handle charity investments, at their new offices in said. vice-president. Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution obvious respect that students and staff alike displayed, both to Finsbury Circus. London was as hectic as ever. “There is a lot of hardship Pat Davies said: “I’ve met each other and to us as visitors. I commented that if I was 18 We are a welfare charity that helps farming and many difficulties in our some inspirational people, again I would be very keen to enrol. Jeanette stopped me in May 9-11 rural areas. This year, we’ve climbed Snowdon and people in financial difficulty. In 2016 we gave out my tracks to confirm there are many opportunities for the more Oxford again for a meeting with R.A.B.I’s senior grants of £2 million to 1,357 individuals / families. already given out more than made mashed potatoes in mature student – ouch! management team. We are fortunate to have such £637k. Calls to the charity are Warwickshire. It’s been a We also offer practical help and always work in committed and talented staff. The following day running at the same level as humbling and very rewarding confidence, with compassion and discretion. March 19 there was a grants committee meeting, looking at 2016, despite the fact that experience.” I had a much shorter journey to Steve and Joyce James’ Sunday the latest applications for help and support – always we’ve not had the flooding Lord Plumb paid tribute to Registered office: Shaw House, 27 West Way, Oxford a sobering experience. OX2 0QH lunch in Llawhaden, Pembrokeshire. It was another superb event problems we had last year R.A.B.I by saying: “Keep up Registered charity number: 208858 (despite one of the cookers proving awkward) and everything in the north. That, to me, the good work and keep ran like clockwork, as you’d expect with Joyce in charge! Steve May 15-18 shows the work of R.A.B.I is helping those in real need. Helpline: 0808 281 9490 spent the day holding his side and regaling us with the story of the And so to AGM week, always a very busy time in growing.” R.A.B.I may be needed even General enquiries: 01865 724931 cow that had cracked a couple of his ribs. ‘Man up’ seemed to the charity’s calendar. On the Monday there was The guests at the conference more in the future than in the Fax: 01865 202025 be the general response! a meeting of our health and safety committee to included Lord Plumb, former past.” Email: [email protected] (general queries) ensure that everything we do complies with the raft president of the NFU, John [email protected] (welfare enquiries) March 24 of legislation that exists. Kinnaird, RSABI chairman, More from the AGM, pages Patron: Her Majesty The Queen • A meeting with John Mercer, director of NFU Cymru, to run On the Tuesday there was a meeting of the R.A.B.I Nina Clancy, RSABI CEO and 4-6 President: His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester through our regular page in the NFU magazine as well as possible Council, which covers every aspect of the charity’s future events. performance. The conference and AGM was held R.A.B.I News is published quarterly by R.A.B.I and edited on Wednesday at Oxford’s Weston Manor and we by Rob Harris. Telephone 01865 811600 or email Continued opposite, page 3 were very pleased to have Sarah Dunning as a [email protected] guest speaker. Sarah runs the Westmorland Family business that encompasses the Tebay Services COVER IMAGE: A rider clings on during the Admington on the M6 and also Gloucester Services on the GUEST fun ride, also see page 23. Photos courtesy of Cordelia M5. It was an extremely interesting address and if SPEAKER: Noble www.noblephotos.co.uk Malcolm you have called into either of these sites you will Sarah Thomas, know first-hand the quality of the products and Dunning. R.A.B.I services on offer. The conference also provides an FOLLOW US: opportunity to catch up with so many supporters, Website: www.rabi.org.uk chairman volunteers and friends. Finally, on the Thursday, I attended a meeting of Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabicharity the regional managers, who do such a great job of Facebook: www.facebook.com/ fundraising and raising awareness of the charity’s rabicharity1 work.