Down hill and up dale a year of challenges - Royal Agricultural ...

Spring 2011
The newsletter from the Royal Agricultural
Benevolent Institution
news
Down hill and up dale
a year of challenges
see page 15
RABI welcomes
new president
see page 3
The royal agricultural charity providing financial support to the farming community past, present and future

Royal Agricultural
Benevolent Institution
With compassion and discretion we provide
welfare advice, care and financial provision
to those in the farming community suffering
need, hardship or distress.
Through our volunteers and supporters we
raise the funds to maintain and develop a cost
effective service capable of meeting their
welfare and well-being needs.
Index
News from Shaw House 3
Dorchester Abbey service 4
Welfare 5
Helping people in 2010
News from the homes
Farmhouse breakfast week 6
Around the country
Regional reports 8
Fundraising 10
Donations 12
Shows 14
Challenges 2011 15
News and events 16
Dates for your diary
COVER PICTURE: Mike Buckby on Mount
Kilimanjaro, completing the first RABI
challenge of 2011 - see page 15
Insert - Lord Plumb, HRH The Duke of
Gloucester and Julian Sayers at the
House of Lords - see page 3
RABI, Shaw House, 27 West Way
Oxford, OX2 0QH
tel: 01865 724931
fax: 01865 202025
e-mail: info@rabi.org.uk
website: www.rabi.org.uk
confidential helpline 01865 727888
R.A.B.I News is edited by Nicholas Bond
who can be contacted at the above or
tel: 01789 721311 (home/office)
e-mail: nicholas.bond@farming.me.uk
RABI operates throughout England and Wales
A sister charity, RSABI, operates in Scotland
Registered charity no. 208858
As celebrations
close thoughts
turn to the future
I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on
the success of our 150th Anniversary year and to
look to the future as we prepare for the next
decade and beyond. Last year’s celebrations could
not have been more successful in terms of raising
the Charity’s profile which will doubtless pay
dividends for many years to come. This was due to
the sterling work of our county committees,
regional officers, the FMC team at Shaw House
and our many supporters. We owe a debt of
gratitude to the sponsors who provided much
valued support for our events and through their
organisations also helped to raise awareness of the
work we undertake.
Our first national event was the wonderful
Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey
where over 1,300 people came from far and wide
to give thanks for the work of the RABI over the
past 150 years. From then on my feet hardly touched the ground until I left the
magnificent surroundings of Christ Church College dining hall, well known to all Harry
Potter fans, in mid December after the Oxfordshire celebration dinner attended by over
300 guests.
The numerous activities which took place throughout England and Wales were simply
amazing from the Cathedral services to sporting challenges, cream teas, dances and a day
at the races. I was privileged to attend many of these functions and to meet organisers,
supporters and beneficiaries alike. The fundraising was equally impressive with over
£1million raised during the year for which I can only say a massive thank you to all
concerned. However, the demand for our support from within the farming community
continues and therefore we need to maintain this momentum during 2011 and beyond.
In addition to our annual fundraising and the dividend income from our investments
we are dependent upon the generosity of those who leave legacies to the Charity each
year. We often have no idea why a benefactor chooses RABI but making sure as many
people as possible understand the wide range of support we offer to our beneficiaries can
only help. To this end I have prepared brief notes for myself under five headings which
give clear examples of our work which I am very happy to share with others as often one
only has a few minutes in which to explain what we do.
Looking to the future the trustees together with the senior staff team have spent time
away at the Royal Agricultural College to review the strategy for the next ten years. The
outcome of our deliberations will be discussed with the county committees over the
coming months as I intend to visit all of them, either in groups or individually, during the
course of 2011. Their input together with our other members of staff will be an
important part of the review process.
We need to build upon our strengths, ensure the Charity is both proactive as well as
reacting to requests for support and explore ways of working with other charities. As a
result of the 150th Anniversary celebrations we have been approached by a number of
organisations who wish to work more closely with us which is very encouraging. These
include commercial concerns, the farming media and individuals so watch this space for
exciting news in future editions.
Julian Sayers
Chairman
www.rabi.org.uk 2

News from Shaw House
RABI welcomes its
new president
HRH The Duke of Gloucester has succeeded
Lord Plumb, who formally stepped down as
president of RABI at a reception in the
House of Lords on 25th of November.
Welcoming RABI trustees,
representatives of organisations and
companies that had supported RABI
during its 150th anniversary year, and
members of RABI staff to the House
of Lords, Lord Plumb said:
“It is a personal pleasure for me,
after 22 years as president, to
welcome as my successor for the
next 22 years, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.”
Addressing His Royal Highness, he said: “We are aware Sir of your many commitments
but know you as a good countryman and citizen. It is a great honour to invite you to lead
a wonderful team following a remarkable and successful year of celebrating our 150th
anniversary.
“There have been only seven presidents in 150 years - four dukes and two royals - so it
is appropriate to invite a royal duke to follow an old yeoman farmer as the eighth.
“RABI will become more important as we live longer and will be under greater
pressure. I am a great believer that the value of life lies not in the length of days but in
the use made of them. He who has lived a long time and lived every day has had a rich
life. Mine has been full of riches, working with people full of compassion in RABI, an
organisation that combines efficiency and effectiveness with compassion and is an
example to us all.”
Welcome for the president
Following The Duke’s gracious acceptance of a role which he said he was looking
forward to fulfilling, the RABI chairman, Julian Sayers, thanked him for the honour that
he had bestowed on the charity by accepting the invitation to become its President
during the 150th anniversary year.
Commenting on the interest that His Royal Highness had already shown and
suggestions he had made at a meeting the previous week, the chairman said that it was
clear that the new president intended to play an active part in RABI’s work over the next
few years.
Appreciation of Lord Plumb
Turning to Lord Plumb, Julian Sayers thanked him for “all his hard work, support,
leadership and inspiration over the past 22 years”. He said: “You have shown true
dedication and attended countless
events throughout England and Wales,
together with trustee meetings and
AGMs. You supported the chairman,
trustees and staff, including during the
challenging times of the foot and
mouth crisis in 2001 when RABI
helped some 8,000 farming families,
and you have promoted the charity on
A word of advice from the old to the new – HRH the Duke
of Gloucester with Lord and Lady Plumb
HRH The Duke of Gloucester is welcomed to the presidency by
Lord Plumb
every possible occasion.”
He went on to list Lord Plumb’s
extensive list of achievements and commitments during the past 22 years, which made
the “time given to RABI even more extraordinary”.
Announcing that Lord Plumb’s ties with RABI would continue, in his capacity as a vicepresident,
he said that Lord and Lady Plumb would always be most welcome at future
RABI events.
The chairman then thanked everyone present who had supported RABI during the
150th anniversary. “Thanks to you we have achieved a great deal in the past eleven
months. We have hosted numerous events, nationally, regionally and locally and I have
thoroughly enjoyed the many moving services.
MF tractor for RABI
Thanks to AGCO there is a unique opportunity to acquire
the first of a limited issue of an exclusive scale model
tractor.
The MF 8650 model in black, in scale 1:32, is produced
by Universal Hobbies and is limited to 4,000 pieces. Each
model is individually numbered under the chassis from
0001/4000 to 4000/4000. This limited edition, which
is exclusive to AGCO, will be on sale at the MF Shop at
the SIMA show in Paris and through selected MF dealers.
However the first issue number of this model is being
auctioned via eBay with all proceeds being donated to
RABI, AGCO’s charity of choice. The starting bid is £50
with the auction closing 4th March.
If you are interested you are advised to visit eBay without
delay.
Hamper thank you
A big thank you to all those who participated in the
2010 Christmas hamper campaign, which made a
considerable contribution towards the distribution of
more than 1,000 hampers to RABI beneficiaries.
Including reclaimable Gift Aid, a total of over
£13,000 was donated.
Keep up to date -
watch the web
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the RABI website at
www.rabi.org.uk for all the latest news and events.
We have just registered as a charity on eBay. If you use
this site and would like to sell something on behalf of the
charity, hold an auction or just make a donation as an
eBay seller look out for RABI on the site.
Seven presidents in 150 years…
1860 The Duke of Richmond
1904 HRH The Prince of Wales
1912 The Duke of Portland
1930 HRH The Prince of Wales
1936 The Duke of Portland
1944 The Duke Beaufort
1979 The Duke of Northumberland
1989 Lord Plumb
2010 HRH The Duke of Gloucester
3 www.rabi.org.uk

News from Shaw House
Dorchester Abbey service
Having begun with the Westminster Abbey a Service of Thanksgiving in
London, where RABI was founded, it was fitting that the 150th
anniversary’s national celebrations should conclude with a very moving
service in the impressive setting of Dorchester Abbey, in Oxfordshire not
far from the present headquarters.
Fortunately we were spared the worst of the severe weather conditions
at the beginning of December and there was a full congregation for what
was very much an ‘RABI family’ service of carols and readings, involving
trustees, volunteers, beneficiaries and members of staff. Conducted by
the Diocesan Rural Officer, the Revd Canon Glyn Evans, it was an
impressive occasion, graced by the presence of three bishops, the Right
Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester; the Right Revd Dr Anthony
The Bishop of Dorchester with RABI trustee Jeremy Lewis, Elspeth Lewis, and Lord Plumb.
Young farmers who helped at Dorchester Abbey
Russell, former RABI chaplain and a former Bishop of Dorchester; and the
Right Revd John Oliver, RABI chaplain, who gave the address.
The solemnity of the occasion was underlined by the poignant
testimony of beneficiary Joan Ackrill (whose story was related in the
previous issue of R.A.B.I. News) and the joyousness enhanced by the
voices of the Oxford Pro Musica Singers.
Among the many who contributed to make the evening a success were
the Dorchester Abbey bellringers, who gave their services for free, and
sponsors P D Hook (Group) Limited.
Following the service everyone enjoyed refreshments, provided by
Foxbury Farm and distributed by members of Oxfordshire Young Farmers’
Clubs, and there was certainly no rush to leave. It was a truly splendid
way to round off a year of celebration.
Christmas card picture
‘Tractor in the Snow’, the original
watercolour by Richard Gawthorpe
used to illustrate the RABI 2010
Christmas card, was sold by online
auction for £250. The picture
had been donated to RABI by
Creative Greetings to raise funds
and was bought by Penny Coates
from Leicestershire, who grew up
on a farm and is a regular
purchaser of RABI Christmas
cards.
Penny Coates (left) called in to Shaw House to collect the picture from Christmas card coordinator
Melanie Moughton, under the watchful eye of RABI founder John Mechi
Geoff Mollart
It is with regret that we report the death Geoff Mollart, at
the age of 84, on 23rd January. As a dairy farmer at
Ossington, Nottinghamshire he was an active member of
the NFU and supporter of various charities including
RABI. In 1991 he joined the Nottinghamshire RABI
committee as county secretary when it was re-formed
under the chairmanship of Angela Barton (then RABI
trustee and later national chairman), a post which he
held for 16 years.
He was a former player, committee member and
president of Newark RFU Club and an active supporter of
the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Air Ambulance
Appeal. In his memory his family have invited donations
to RABI and the Air Ambulance Appeal.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his sons, Richard
and Christopher, and their families.
In Memoriam
We are immensely grateful that donations in memory
of Gordon Cousland, who was killed in the Moscow
airport bombing in January, are being made in favour
of RABI. Gordon was from a farming family in
Lincolnshire. Our deepest sympathy to his family.
(Donations can be made on
www.justgiving.com/Gordon-Cousland)
151st Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the 151st Annual General Meeting of
the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution will be held at
Weston Manor Hotel, Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, OX25
3QL on Wednesday 11th May 2011 at 2.00pm.
By order of the Council of Trustees.
4
www.rabi.org.uk

Welfare
Helping people in 2010
A few facts and figures
We may have been celebrating our 150th
anniversary in 2010 but throughout the year it
was still business as usual in the welfare
department. The helpline continued to ring,
beneficiaries continued to receive grants and
visits and support continued to be given to
farming families facing hardship across England
and Wales.
In 2010 we were supporting 1,365 long-term
beneficiaries aged between 24 and 101 with
85% of them between 60 and 90 years old.
They included one person who we have
supported for nearly 34 years and two who
became beneficiaries during the year at the age
of 100.
The welfare department received over 600
enquiries and referrals, all of which were followed
up, many with visits from their regional welfare
officer. They included 111 working farming
families who RABI was able to help through a
variety of crises, paying out a total of £178,264
in emergency grants. The level of enquiries can
be a reflection of the state of the industry but we
are always concerned that there are people who
are not seeking help, because they are unaware
of the support that is available to those in need.
Rising costs were reflected in the increases in
payments for both care home top ups and items
purchased to assist beneficiaries. In three years
the cost of care home top ups has risen by more
than 25% per person with the amount paid out
last year totalling £261,980. Although the
number of people helped (333) by the purchase
of items such as white goods, beds and mobility
scooters, or by disability adaptations and
improvements to their homes was only one more
than in 2009, the expenditure last year increased
by more than 13% to £290,250.
During the year the 12 regional welfare
officers made 1,780 visits to beneficiaries,
including those they were able to assist by
ensuring that they were receiving the correct
amount of social security welfare benefits. In
2010 they helped claimants recover a total of
£341,350 in state benefits to which they were
unaware that they were entitled.
Thankfully 2010 was a year without major
national crises in the farming world but, as we
remember the 10th anniversary of the 2001 foot
and mouth epidemic and consider the current
plight of Australian farmers, we are only too
aware that disaster, whether disease, flood or
drought can strike at any moment. We are proud
that we have a welfare team that can respond
immediately to an individual cry for help or in a
wider emergency, whether it be the floods and
foot and mouth outbreak of 2007 or the collapse
of Dairy Farmers of Britain in 2009.
News from the homes Celebrating her century
Legacies –
Christmas coffee morning
The annual Beaufort House coffee morning was a
great success, providing plenty of Christmas fare
and raising £1,536.50 for the residents’ amenity
fund. Home manager Sue Luck described it as a
wonderful morning thanks to all the help and
support everyone gave. As always the raffle,
which has been run by Beaufort House resident
Mrs Bertha King for the past 23 years, was a
popular attraction. Pictured at the raffle table are
(from left): Sue Luck, chief executive Paul Burrows,
care assistant Sharon Mullins, Mrs King and
trustee James Orme.
Tables wanted
Manson House is in need of ‘old style’ dining
tables that can seat 10 people. We would be
pleased to hear from anyone who might have any
such tables that are surplus to their requirements.
There were celebrations at Beaufort House to
mark resident Miss Margaret Axford’s 100th
birthday.
Margaret is
pictured below,
seated next to her
brother Bob - who
is also a resident,
with members of
staff and chief
executive Paul Burrows. As well as receiving a
card from The Queen, she was treated to a
splendid cake made by Kelly Woodland, one of
the cooks, and care assistant Maggie Chave.
Residential homes
For information about RABI’s two residential
homes, Beaufort House at Burnham-on-Sea and
Manson House at Bury St Edmunds, visit the
website – www.rabi.org.uk or call the welfare
department on 01865 724931.
Remember
a Charity
People in the UK population are
among the most charitable in the
world with over 67% supporting
charities with cash, time and
dedication. But few of us think to
remember a charity in our will, on
top of which a quarter of people
die without leaving a will at all
and 5% leave a will that is not
valid.
Only 5% of people provide for
their favourite charity in their will,
possibly because many people are
under the impression that a
legacy must be a large amount.
This is not true: a legacy can be
as large or as small as the
individual chooses.
Legacies are a vital part of our
fundraising so why not think
about helping those in need in
the farming community after you
have gone?
Professional legal advice must be
sought as RABI cannot help or
advise on this matter.
5
www.rabi.org.uk

Farmhouse Breakfast Week
Breakfasting across the country
Once again, this January many of our supporters joined in the national Farmhouse Breakfast Week, staging RABI fundraising and awareness events
across the country. The now traditional head office breakfast, cooked in the Shaw House car park by Ladies in Pigs and sold to staff from members
of various neighbouring offices and businesses, became a media event, while the number of breakfasts organised in Kent increased to six.
Oxford
Stoneleigh
Collecting breakfast orders in the Shaw House car park
Unfortunately the Ladies in Pigs’ mobile kitchen failed its MOT only a few days before it
was due at Shaw House but they were undaunted. Frances Slade, Jane Drew and Judy
Mallett improvised very efficiently with electric frying pans on trestle tables under an RABI
marquee in the car park. The prize-winning Gloucester Old Spot sausages and prime
bacon from Foxbury Farm, sponsored by BPEX, went down very well with the sizzling
sausages providing excellent sound effects for BBC Radio Oxford’s breakfast programme.
The annual RABI / ARC Addington Fund breakfast in the
Jersey Cattle Society pavilion has become a fixture in the
Stoneleigh diary of events. Once again there were plenty
of orders for take-away breakfasts from staff at the various
organisations based at the NAC and there was a full
house of supporters from Warwickshire for the hearty
breakfast. The success of the event, which raised
£1,489.53, was due to the generous donations of local
farm produce and the team of ladies from FeRN (Food &
Education Rural e-Network) and City & Guilds who worked
hard in the kitchen.
Lou Hannan interviewing Frances Slade and Jane Drew
With BBC presenter Lou Hannan on site from 7am to 10am, giving regular reports and
conducting live interviews every half hour, RABI gained far wider exposure than normal.
Most of the breakfasts had been pre-ordered but at least two customers turned up
because they had been listening to Radio Oxford on their way to work!
The kitchen team ready to cook at Stoneleigh
Kent
Coordinated by chairman David Chantler, this year the
Kent committee held six breakfasts, at: The Stockpot in
Ashford Market; Greenfields Shooting School, Canterbury;
The Dirty Habit, Hollingbourne; Etchinghill Golf Club,
Folkestone; Highgrove Garden Centre, Marden; and Gore
Farm, Upchurch. Their recipe of selecting a number of
venues with catering facilities across the county, adding a
small surcharge and running a raffle, once again proved a
winner. With numbers varying between 20 and 50
people, each event raised between £300 and £862.
www.rabi.org.uk
6

Farmhouse Breakfast Week
Ross-on-Wye
Truro
Hellingly
Helpers ready for action at the annual Ross-on-Wye NFU
breakfast at Benhall Farm. They served some 120 people
and raised £592 for RABI, with the same amount going
to the Ross First Responders 4X4 appeal.
Kirdford
Marguerite Philp and Ross Symons in Truro market café
During Farmhouse Breakfast Week the café at Truro
Livestock Market collected donations for RABI.
Marguerite Philp, who runs the café, was joined by Probus
YFC chairman Ross Symons who announced that he has
named RABI and FCN as his charities for his year of office.
Kendal
Among those having breakfast at Holmescales Activity
Centre were Mike Butler and Paul Crewdson of Hadwins,
Cumbria RABI chairman Derek Lomax, and local tractor
dealer Brian Hogarth. Thanks to donations of bacon by
Booths, sausages from John Geldard and eggs from
A Dixon and Sons, 30 people enjoyed an excellent
breakfast and £445 was raised.
Carlisle
Ladies from the Cumbria
RABI committee cooked
breakfast for 25 people in
the newly refurbished kitchen
of solicitors Cartmell
Shepherd and, thanks to
generous sponsorship from
Clydesdale Bank, were able
to raise over £500.
Jill Hesselgrave (left) and her
merry helpers
Staff from Borderway Auction Mart enjoying breakfast
The annual breakfast held
by Jill and Brian
Hesselgrave in their East
Sussex farmhouse has
become so popular that
this two-day event is a sell
out. To cook breakfast in
her small kitchen and
serve it to 80 people,
seated in various rooms
round the house, on each
day takes a lot of
organising. The locally
sourced food and
wonderful atmosphere
ensured that it was once
again a great success,
raising £900 for RABI.
For the fourth year running the West Sussex RABI
committee joined forces with the Countryside Alliance to
stage a breakfast in a barn. This year it was held in
Bartholomews Barn, Kirdford, by kind permission of
Frances Attwill, a venue that proved ideal for the 80
participants. The locally sourced food was cooked by
Judy Burden and Sally Field, with Margaret Barlow from
Imbhams Farm Granary providing the bread and muesli.
The event raised £900, shared between RABI and the CA.
Whitchurch
Whitchurch YFC members were among residents of North
Shropshire who gathered at the award-winning café
Midway Truckstop, in Prees Heath for a hearty British
breakfast, raising £136 for RABI.
7
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Regional
EAST OF
ENGLAND
Bob Archibald
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire,
Essex, Hertfordshire,
Huntingdon, Norfolk, Rutland,
Suffolk
tel: 01366 385388
mobile: 07739 297374
bob.archibald@rabi.org.uk
As I write I cannot help thinking of those still struggling to deliver sugar beet. With the most prolonged damaging frosts
rendering many acres of the crop unsuitable for processing it could just be the breaking point for some arable farmers in
the east.
On a brighter note, county committees are building on their successes of last year’s 150th anniversary celebrations with
many events planned and even more in the pipeline.
In Norfolk the annual golf day at Bawburgh will be in May and the annual showground cocktail party will take place in
June. Events ranging from pig racing at Stowmarket, in March, to a demonstration of Thai cooking at Hacheston, in May,
are planned for Suffolk.
May will be a busy month in Cambridgeshire with the annual Morborne lambing day, a fine arts preview evening in
Cambridge and Sentry Farms’ shooting flush challenge at Chatteris. In Essex a tour of the Great Lodge vineyard is
planned.
For details of all events in the region see ‘Dates for your diary’ on page 16 and keep up-to-date by visiting the website.
We hope you will be able to support as many of these events as you can. If you are able to help any of the committees
or organise an event we would be very pleased to hear from you. Bob Archibald
2011 is set to be another busy year as we build on last year’s successes. The committees are busy arranging lots of fun
and exciting social activities to raise funds - including whisky tasting evenings, pig racing and go karting, as well as roping
me into various local conferences to say a few words and raise our profile that bit more.
I am so pleased to have continued support from companies, such as Lloyds TSB Agriculture, who have been assisting us
with funds and profile raising over the last 12 months. To top it off Spaldings have chosen us as their charity of the year
for 2011 and have lots of activities planned, including a sponsored sky dive.
I would like to encourage you to challenge yourself this year and take part in one of those once in a lifetime
opportunities that you always said you would do but never got round to. Maybe take a place in the London 10k; make a
sponsored bungee jump; plan a long distance run, walk, climb or swim.
We wish the best of luck to two who have already planned their challenges - Robert Bower from Nottinghamshire,
undertaking a four-counties endurance horse ride, and Andrew Critchlow from Derbyshire, who is taking part in the 21
mile long Edale fell run, to raise money for RABI. Milly Wastie
Milly Wastie
EAST
MIDLANDS
Derbyshire, Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire,
Northamptonshire,
Nottinghamshire
tel: 01858 525805
mobile: 07525 323450
milly.wastie@rabi.org.uk
NORTH
WEST
Georgina Lamb
Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire,
South Yorkshire, West
Yorkshire
mobile: 07917 114250
georgina.lamb@rabi.org.uk
This year will, I am sure, be as successful as our 150th year, which seems to have inspired committees far and wide. We
have quiz nights, rhubarb tours, cream teas, dinner-dances and Sunday lunches across the north west with something for
everyone. New and exciting ideas are paramount in reaching new audiences which will benefit both fundraising and
awareness raising.
Change is also in the air, with Alan Hewitt standing down after many successful years as the very active chairman of
the Cheshire committee. We will miss Alan but I look forward to working with his successor, Norman Lawson.
It has been through recent personal experience that I have learned the true value that charities hold in our society. It
is only when you need to call on them, you understand the important role they play in all our lives in many different
ways. Where government resources are not available or do not provide the level of support needed, charities step in and
help in what can be very difficult times. Farming families might not know when they will need us, but knowing RABI is
here will hopefully be of comfort. Georgina Lamb
I love celebrations and in our family it’s any excuse for a party. Our farmhouse has over the years been the setting for some
memorable revelry including parties with themes, a golden wedding, christenings, Hogmanay and of course children’s jelly
and ice-cream parties. You can imagine my delight therefore when last year I was offered a job with RABI - in its year of
celebrating 150 years! Fantastic - a whole year of celebration!
True, the anniversary year has ended, but in the South West we are determinedly continuing to celebrate as it’s now
‘More than’ 150 years of RABI! We have plans for more events, including an auction of promises in Wiltshire; an art
preview evening in Dorset; sponsored events in Gloucestershire; dinner-dances; and, of course, activities for the Cream Tea
and Welly Week campaigns. Somerset is also hosting the British National Ploughing Championships this year, and we’ve
been selected as show charity. Altogether, more fundraising, more awareness raising and therefore we can help more
beneficiaries, who in the current economic climate need us more and more. Thank you to all for the support I have
received in my first year and I look forward to more in 2011! Suzie Paton
Suzie Paton
SOUTH
WEST OF
ENGLAND
Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Somerset, Wiltshire
tel: 01285 712440
mobile: 07860 507980
suzie.paton@rabi.org.uk
NORTH
EAST
Sally Conner
Durham, Northumberland,
East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire
tel: 01964 541400
mobile: 07818 093506
sally.conner@rabi.org.uk
After a good fundraising break, due partly to the awful winter weather and partly to the festive season, we are well and
truly back into the swing of things. There were so many successful anniversary events last year that we are repeating some
of them! We have a farmhouse breakfast to look forward to in May; another dinner at the Black Sheep Brewery in October;
a Ball in County Durham in the autumn; a golf day; and the Singing Farmers concerts to name but a few.
We are also benefiting from having had a really good show season in 2010, including having a presence at both the
Northumberland County Show and Stokesley Show, which we hope to repeat in 2011.
Last year the YFCs were brilliant with many new friends and contacts being made. The East Yorkshire Federation are
already planning a Ready Steady Cook evening, with parents and members competing to produce the best meal, which
promises to be fun!
The agricultural colleges are always really supportive, helping to raise funds as well as providing venues for meetings and
events, and so are our churches. As you can see our work is very varied and never finished, so if you want to help out in the
mad world of RABI, please contact me or just come along and find yourself a job. Sally Conner
www.rabi.org.uk
8

Reports
Sally Field
SOUTH
EAST OF
ENGLAND
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire,
Kent, Hampshire, Isle of
Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey,
Sussex
tel: 01903 882741
mobile: 07799 798441
sally.field@rabi.org.uk
Around the country
We are already two months into 2011 with numerous farmhouse breakfasts enjoyed across the region, breaking any New
Year resolutions of the customary “New Year diet”!! In Buckinghamshire the annual Bucks County Ball changed its venue
for the first time since the mid 80s to Doubletree by Hilton Milton Keynes Hotel. Despite moving from Aylesbury nearly
500 tickets were sold.
Students at Sparsholt College, with a ‘24-hour plough’, and members of the Reading University Agricultural Club, with
a ‘ploughing day’ have both raised funds for RABI through ploughing marathons.
County committees are busy holding their meetings – planning and discussing events for the year ahead with great
enthusiasm. A warm welcome to those that have kindly joined an RABI committee in the region and a sad farewell to a
few that have decided to step down due to work or family commitments. But a very big thanks to everyone who worked
so hard last year to make 2010 a very special and successful year for the charity in its 150th anniversary year. Now we
look ahead to a successful 2011 and I look forward to welcoming as many as possible of you at the wide range of events
planned for the south east this year. Sally Field
RABI in Devon and Cornwall has many reasons to celebrate the fantastic food produced on the counties’ farms, not
least that shoppers at local food outlets also purchased thousands of pounds’ worth of RABI Christmas cards this year.
The cards were sold by Devon chairman Celia Hyland, who attended farmers’ markets and other events in the run up
to the festive season, and Cornish food specialists’ community shop Taste Cornwall in Liskeard. Devon committee
member Pearl Dawe also produced and sold her own cards in aid of RABI. Sincere thanks go to them and all our other
supporters for their many hours’ work.
Looking forward to the coming year, a Burns Night Supper organised by Dawlish-based farmer Andrew Goodridge
and his wife Catherine got 2011 off to a great start, raising more than £2,000 to be divided between RABI and FCN.
In April the highlight of RABI’s local fundraising calendar will be a Sporting Heroes Dinner at St Mellion
International Golf Course, where the after-dinner speaker will be Olympic rower Ed Coode. Later in the year the
mainstays of our show programme will be the Devon County Show in May and Royal Cornwall Show in June – we look
forward to seeing you! Philippa Spackman
Philippa
Spackman
DEVON &
CORNWALL
Cornwall, Devon
tel: 01872 500902
mobile: 07919 478518
p.spackman@rabi.org.uk
Kate Roberts
WEST
MIDLANDS
Herefordshire, Shropshire,
Staffordshire, Warwickshire,
Worcestershire
tel: 01630 638997
mobile: 07876 492839
kate.roberts@rabi.org.uk
After a string of NFU AGMs across the west midlands, and the distant memory of Christmas and New Year, the
fundraising committees are in full swing for 2011. The Staffordshire committee have already hosted a thatching
demonstration whilst Warwickshire have been up to their eyes in breakfasts as part of Farmhouse Breakfast Week. The
Shropshire committee hosted a successful quiz at the end of January, and are now planning boat trips and walks.
Concerts are being planned in Shropshire and Worcestershire - watch this space for further details! Herefordshire NFU
and YFC hosted a spectacular variety performance at the end of 2010, and I am looking forward to some further events
in the county.
Staffordshire’s annual dinner on 17th March is fast approaching, with guest speaker Steve Leonard, so please get in
touch as soon as possible if you are keen to attend. For those who like a beer or two, don’t forget to get your tickets for
the Ludlow Brewery tour on 1st April.
Finally, I’d like to highlight that it is a real pleasure working with such amazing RABI supporters and volunteers. Thank
you for all your contributions to RABI, and for making my job so enjoyable. Kate Roberts
It is gratifying to report that the enthusiasm generated by the events of 2010 appears to be continuing this year. Virtually all our
committees in the region have already met and discussed their ideas for the year ahead. As events, dates and venues are
arranged these will appear on our website.
There is a team tackling the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge on behalf of RABI in late April, led by a relative of Carmarthenshire
committee member Mansel Charles. I am also hoping to have another successful and enjoyable golf challenge this year, the
details of which should be available by the beginning of March.
It remains a fact that there are some areas in the region where it continues to be difficult to either form a committee or
increase a currently small group of individuals who are working very hard to support RABI. If you feel inclined to join one of
our groups and have just a few precious hours to spare, then please do get in touch with me.
Erys Hughes
Peth boddhaol iawn yw gallu adrodd fod y brwdfrydedd a welwyd mewn cysylltiad â digwyddiadau a gynhaliwyd yn ystod
2010 yn parhau eleni, mae’n debyg. Mae pob un o’r pwyllgorau yn ein rhanbarth eisoes wedi cwrdd eleni, er mwyn trafod eu
syniadau ar gyfer y flwyddyn sydd i ddod. Dyma gyfle i’ch atgoffa felly, y bydd unrhyw ddigwyddiadau, dyddiadau a lleoliadau yn ymddangos ar
ein gwefan ar ôl eu cadarnhau.
Mae tîm yn cystadlu ar ran RABI yn Her Mynyddoedd Cymru 2011 tua diwedd mis Ebrill, dan arweiniad un o berthnasau Mansel Charles, sy’n
aelod o’n pwyllgor yn Sir Gâr. Rwyf hefyd yn gobeithio cynnal her golff llwyddiannus a phleserus arall nes ymlaen eleni, ac erbyn i chi ddarllen y
rhifyn hwn o’r cylchlythyr, bydd y manylion wedi cael eu cadarnhau a’u hysbysebu.
Mae dal yn wir fod rhai ardaloedd yng Nghymru yn cael trafferth sefydlu pwyllgor, neu i gynyddu’r nifer fach iawn o unigolion sydd ganddynt, ac
sy’n gweithio’n galed iawn i gefnogi RABI. Felly, os oes gennych awydd ymuno ag un o’n grwpiau, neu os oes gennych ychydig o oriau gwerthfawr
i’w sbario, croeso i chi gysylltu â mi. Erys Hughes
WALES/
CYMRU
tel: 01686 650937
mobile: 07799 798446
erys.hughes@rabi.org.uk
ffôn: 01686 650937
ffôn symudol: 07799 798446
erys.hughes@rabi.org.uk
9
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Fundraising events
Christmas concert escapes
snow
Many of the traditional pre-
Christmas fundraising events
planned for December were hit by
the severe weather with all but one
in the north east being snowed off.
The one that escaped was the
annual Christmas concert held at
Swinton Park, Masham by kind
invitation of Lord Masham (Mark
Cunliffe-Lister).
Leicestershire quiz
The winning team, ‘The Steady Eddies’ with
the quiz organiser, Mrs Buckle (centre)
Following an excellent performance by the
Harp singers, the 100 guests enjoyed wine
and mince pies.
Despite the snow and ice, local
friends, neighbours and family
turned out for Mrs Buckle’s annual
fundraising quiz at Glooston
village hall. The 18 teams,
including a guest team comprised
of local NFU members and RABI
regional officer Milly Wastie,
battled through 10 rounds of
questions and raised about £500.
Cathedral service and dinner
in Oxford
Film show in
Kent
A collection for RABI at a private viewing of The
Forgotten Army, a film about the Women’s Land Army,
raised £237 when it was shown at Cobham Hall, an
independent girls’ school in Kent. The showing
arranged by the school’s event organiser, Diana Usher,
provided an opportunity for members of the local
community to see the film which had been shot on
location at Cobham Hall and on neighbouring
farmland.
Kent plough
service
Following last year’s service to commemorate RABI’s
150th anniversary, the traditional Plough Sunday
service at Rochester Cathedral, led by the diocesan
rural life and environment adviser, Revd Caroline
Pinchbeck, was again dedicated to RABI.
East Sussex
supper
A supper to celebrate both the harvest and the end of
RABI’s anniversary year was held by the East Sussex
committee in the village hall at Upper Dicker. The 55
guests, who reportedly had a great time and raised
£550, dined on locally sourced and cooked shepherd’s
pie, followed by apple crumble and cream.
Shropshire quiz
Enjoying dinner in the Great Hall at Christ Church
The biennial Oxford dinner, in Christ Church College, took on an added dimension in
December when, to mark RABI’s 150th anniversary, it was preceded by a service in
Christ Church Cathedral. Unfortunately the arrival of a number of people was delayed
due to the adverse weather conditions but there was a full house for the dinner, with
300 guests enjoying an excellent meal in magnificent surroundings. Thanks to the
organisation of county chairman Stephen Bitmead, secretary Andrew Duffy and the
Oxfordshire committee, the evening raised £15,600.
Concentrating on the questions
There was a good entry of teams at the annual quiz
organised and hosted by Shropshire committee
members Mervin and Trish Mullard at Hadnall Village
Hall. The night was a real hit with everyone enjoying
the homemade food supplied by the committee.
www.rabi.org.uk
10

Around the country
Burns
remembered
Thatching in Staffordshire
Burns Night was celebrated in Devon and
Nottinghamshire.
Staffordshire committee chairman George Fallows (left) with master thatcher
David Wood who gave an insight into the world of thatching at Hilderstone
Village Hall. The 40-strong audience was entertained by David’s stories and
enjoyed an evening of wine and cheese.
In Dawlish Warren, Devon farmer Andrew
Goodridge and his wife Catherine organised their
sixth Burns Night at the Langstone Cliff Hotel,
raising more than £2,000, to be divided between
RABI and FCN.
Among the guests were Tiverton and Honiton MP
Neil Parish and his wife Sue, who bought the top
auction prize of a toy tractor generously donated
by machinery dealers Beares, and are pictured here
with Devon committee member John Smith (left),
Andrew Goodridge (right) and RABI mascot Daisy.
Hampshire quiz
The Hampshire quiz night, held in the village hall at Bishops Waltham, proved a great
success. As well as enjoying the quiz, run by Nigel Fox, the 220 participants were
treated to a luxury plated supper provided by Norma Morris and members of the
Hampshire committee. The evening raised a grand total of £1,800.
Music in a Welsh market
There was a full congregation at the
carol service in the new Welshpool
Livestock Centre organised by the
Montgomeryshire RABI committee.
Among those taking part were the
Earl of Powys; the High Sheriff of
Powys, Mrs J. Thomas; Glyn Davies
MP; the chairman of
Montgomeryshire YFC, Roland
Davies; the Welshpool High School
band and choir; and the renowned
Montgomery folk choir Parti Cut Lloi.
Peter Blundell presenting the haggis to Robert Bower
The Nottinghamshire RABI Burns Night supper
was held at Manor Farm, Carburton, where the
haggis was addressed by Robert Bower before it
was served to the hungry guests. The evening
raised £450.
Celebrating Christmas
On the Isle of Wight, the popular annual evening of Christmas carols and poetry
readings at The Lavender Farm on the Isle of Wight was once again repeated on
consecutive evenings. Organised by Murray and Anne Baird and Sarah Doe, the
evenings raised £850 for RABI.
In Kent, Caroline Fletcher organised the sale of RABI cards at the Smarden traditional
Christmas charity card sale and raised over £335.
11
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Donations
Agricultural supplier’s
charity of the year
Spaldings, the leading agricultural and groundcare equipment suppliers, have chosen RABI
as their charity of the year for 2011. Announcing the decision their chief executive David
Fox said: “The agricultural industry is one that Spaldings
is very much a part of and is an industry that has driven
our success over the past 55 years of trading; our support
of RABI in 2011 is an opportunity to give something back
to the agricultural community and we will be working
throughout the year on a number of fundraising
initiatives. The first event will be held over the two days
of the Lamma Show at which a number of products from
our range will be raffled to raise funds. Secondly there
will be a tandem sky dive set to take place in early spring
David Fox
with many Spaldings employees taking part. There will
be other sponsored events throughout the year in order to raise financial support and
generate some additional funding that is so crucially needed by RABI.”
As a result of the raffle at Lamma, RABI has already received a donation of £547.25.
(For details of how to support the sky dive participants see page 15)
Farm shop book
sale
Foxbury Farm Shop, near Brize Norton, has a
novel way of raising funds for charity.
Throughout the year customers and friends are
invited to donate their unwanted books, which
are sorted for an annual sale when for £3
purchasers can fill a carrier bag with books of
their choice. Last year, together with donations
from cream teas sold in the farm tearooms
during Cream Tea Week, they raised £566 for
RABI.
This was not the only support that the Dawes
family of Foxbury Farm have given to RABI. In
Show donation
Regional officer Philippa Spackman (centre)
accepted a donation of £500 for RABI from
members of Camelford Show committee (left to
right) Ann Hayne, John Hawken (show
president and also RABI Cornwall committee
member), Phil Roose, and Edwina Broad, at
their AGM.
Colin Dawes (left) handing the cheque,
and a basket of books from the book sale,
to RABI chief executive Paul Burrows, in
the butchery section of Foxbury Farm Shop
December they provided the catering for the RABI’s anniversary Christmas Carol Service at
Dorchester Abbey and in January prize winning sausages and bacon from the farm shop’s
butchery were used for the Shaw House farmhouse breakfast.
Cornish vets
save on
Christmas cards
Instead of sending Christmas cards to its
farming clients, Pelyn Veterinary Practice in
Lostwithiel made a donation to RABI. Practice
manager Renay Rickard and Faun are seen here
presenting a cheque to regional officer Philippa
Spackman.
Fresh veg for
Christmas
From My Farm’s Tracy Palmer with the veg
bags stacked in the back of Bob Archibald’s
car ready for distribution to RABI
beneficiaries
From My Farm, suppliers of fresh fruit and
vegetables produced by local member growers,
once again donated bags of seasonal
vegetables to RABI beneficiaries in East Anglia
at Christmas. For the third year running
regional officer Bob Archibald collected the
bags from their Peterborough headquarters
before distributing them to beneficiaries in
Suffolk and Norfolk.
YFC donations
South west regional officer Suzie Paton attended
YFC meetings in Somerset and Dorset to receive
donations from events held in 2010. Ilminster
YFC members donated £750, the result of a
variety of activities including a sponsored bike ride
and carol singing, while Dorset YFCs raised £396
from cream teas at three shows in the county.
www.rabi.org.uk 12

Around the country
3,631 miles
to raise
£43,000
Between January 20th, when it made its first
appearance at Newark for the Lamma Show, and November 13th, when it returned
for the Tractor & Heritage Show, the Tractors Ancient & Modern’s (TA&M) classic
Ford 2000 travelled 3,631 miles and raised over £43,000 for RABI.
An official cheque
presentation, coupled with a
presentation to the winner of
the tractor, held at Greetham
Valley Golf Club, Rutland,
provided an opportunity for
TA&M to celebrate their
terrific achievement. Before
presenting a cheque for
£42,986.98 to RABI
chairman Julian Sayers, Colin
Holwell, who had
masterminded the operation,
officially thanked all those
who had been involved with
the tractor’s restoration and
Ann Banks receives her certificate from TA&M
treasurer Andrew Hunt
the raffle. He proudly pointed out that all the costs of the restoration and raffle,
right down to the refreshments for that day’s meeting, had been sponsored through
the generosity of numerous companies and individuals. Also that the donation
included £750 of matched funding by Barclays against the money raised from ticket
sales at the Cereals event.
During the year the tractor had been present at 28 events, as far apart as Kent
and Somerset in the south and North Yorkshire and Lancashire in the north, raising
funds and awareness for RABI. The distance covered by the tractor was the subject
of a ‘guess the mileage’ competition at the presentation which, together with
donations, added more than £100 to bring the grand total to £43,087.78.
Thanking Colin and all of the TA&M team, Julian Sayers said that the raffle
would be remembered as the outstanding fundraising event of RABI’s 150th
anniversary year. Pointing out the importance that awareness of RABI played, in
both raising funds and getting the message to those in need, he appreciated how
much exposure as well as funds had been generated as a result of the raffle.
The winner of the raffle, Ann Banks from Hutton near Preston in Lancashire, was
present to receive a commemorative certificate, having already taken delivery of the
tractor. Ann, a farmer’s widow, is still involved with the family dairy and pig farm
now run by her son, grandson and granddaughter. A supporter of RABI events, she
purchased the winning ticket at a RABI dinner dance in Whitechapel.
A big thank you to the YFC
Thanks to Helen Roberts choosing RABI as her charity for
her year of office as NFYFC chairwoman, in 2010 young
farmers clubs across the country went to considerable
lengths to support us. They
raised funds through a wide
range of activities and it is
estimated that donations
from young farmers in 2010
will be in excess of
£25,000. With money still
coming in through various
channels, including via local
county committees or as
part of larger fundraising
events, it is not yet possible
to give a final definitive
figure.
Helen Roberts with Lord
Plumb at the House of Lords,
where he expressed RABI’s
thanks for the outstanding
support of the YFCs
But that is only half the story. The monetary donations do
not reflect the considerable support which RABI received in
kind from YFCs at a wide range of fundraising events across
the country. Help with bucket collections at shows, running
car parks and bars, providing entertainment and serving
meals are just a few examples of the activities in which they
have been involved. The value of this support can be just as
great as the donation of funds and, on top of this, the
benefits which the added exposure RABI receives from YFC
involvement are beyond measure.
Show societies’ support
for RABI
One of the first duties HRH The Duke of Gloucester as our
new president was to receive a donation on behalf of RABI.
The cheque for £2,124 from the Association of Show and
Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) was the proceeds of an
auction held at their annual dinner. On hand at the House
of Lords reception to present it were ASAO secretary Paul
Hooper (centre) and
ASAO vice-chairman
Mike Harman (right),
watched by RABI
trustee and ASAO
member Chris Riddle
(left) and Lord Plumb.
Alpine cheque
Paul Foster, Andrew Crossley, Jon
Bland and Alistair Pawsey, four
members of a five-man team that
raised funds for RABI and Macmillan
Cancer Care (Addenbrookes)
through a sponsored climb of Mount
Blanc last summer (see report in
R.A.B.I. News autumn 2010), took
the opportunity of the House of
Lord’s reception to present a cheque
for £7,000 to RABI chairman Julian
Sayers (centre)
Bicester YFC donation
Three members of
Bicester YFC, who were
among the Oxford young
farmers helping with the
refreshments at the
Dorchester Abbey carol
service, took time off from
their waitressing duties to present a cheque for the funds
they raised for RABI at the club’s dinner-dance raffle. In the
picture are (from left) are Tori Corner, Laura Thompson, RABI
regional officer Milly Wastie and Grace Bennett.
13
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Shows
Dorset – Gateway to
the South
RABI attended the Farm & More 2011 farm diversification trade show at
the Bournemouth International Centre in January. As well as an
awareness raising exercise the stand specifically promoted the
diversification funding opportunity of the Gateway Project as a way of
creating a valuable off-farm income stream.
During the event, Dave Rance of the Dorset-based Red Post Golf Society
visited the stand to present RABI Dorset committee secretary Susan
Hooper with a cheque for £500. RABI was one of three charities to benefit
from the society’s charity golf day, which included a raffle, auction and post
golf entertainment by local farmer Laurence Burgess, in the style of the West
Country comedian Jethro.
Dave Rance presents the Red Post Golf Society cheque to Susan Hooper
South east
fatstock
shows
Events at Bakewell Market
John Luther and East Sussex RABI
chairman Clarissa Hallings-Pott at
Hailsham market
Manning a stand at a market at the
end of November / beginning of
December can be a cold task and
last year was no exception but it
does provide a good opportunity for
meeting people and selling RABI
Christmas cards.
In Sussex, over £200 worth of cards
were sold at both the South of
England and the Hailsham fatstock
shows, while in Kent, at the two-day
Ashford Market cattle show, David
Chantler and Caroline Fletcher raised
over £400 from the sale of cards and
£550 on a whisky raffle.
RABI regional officer Milly Wastie (left) with Dickie and Penny Ward from the Farming Life
Centre on the stand
Despite the cold January weather the National Sheep Association’s winter fair at Bakewell Market
proved a good time to catch up with local supporters and make new contacts. Sharing a stand
with the Farming Life Centre, it was possible to promote RABI to a wider audience.
In was the second occasion in recent months that RABI had been at the market. Before Christmas it
was the venue for the Bakewell Market farmers’ thanksgiving service which last year was dedicated
to RABI’s 150th anniversary. The service, attended by some 200 people, included a presentation
from Milly Wastie and the collection for RABI raised £500.
www.rabi.org.uk 14

Challenges 2011
Down hill and up
dale - a year of challenges
Our post-150th anniversary year has got off to a flying start
with an unprecedented number of people testing their
nerves, stamina and endurance in a variety of exciting
fundraising challenges.
Lloyds TSB agricultural bank manager, Mike Buckby, was first off the mark in
January when he travelled to Africa with a group of friends and relatives to climb
Mount Kilimanjaro. Reflecting on his
experience he said: "I doubt that I will ever
offer to do the climb again ... it was very
enjoyable but the last part was really
challenging, both mentally and physically.
The trek is graded as "strenuous"
particularly at the higher levels where the
altitude can have dramatic effects, and did
for several of the team! Eight of the twelve
of us were not able to reach the summit
because of the impact of altitude sickness.
I was one of the fortunate ones, reaching
the summit to see a beautiful sunrise from
Mike at the summit with one of
the porters
Gilman's Point, before trekking another
couple of hours to get to Uhuru Peak. We
only stayed at the peak for a few minutes
because the wind chill took the temperature down to minus 35 degrees ... too
cold for me!" At the time of going to press, with his Just Giving page still open
for donations, Mike had raised £1,025 for RABI.
Andrew tackling a less gruelling run
RABI Derbyshire committee member, Andrew Critchlow, is
undertaking the gruelling Edale Skyline fell race at the end
of March, which involves running up 21 miles of
mountainous and hilly terrain, with 4,500 ft of ascent. Not
for the fainthearted.
In April, 19 members of the South Wales & Monmouthshire
Association of Agricultural Valuers are scaling the Welsh
Three Peaks (Snowdon, Cader Idris and Pen-Y-Fan), all
within 24-hours. They are raising funds for RABI and the
Wales Air Ambulance.
As part of their series of open challenges, event company Across the Divide is organising Just Walk,
which will see hundreds of fundraisers take to the South Downs on 7th May, including Kimberley
White from Wessex Grain Ltd who is raising funds for RABI.
Later in the month 10 employees from Spaldings, as part of the company’s charity of the year
activities for RABI (see page 12 ), will be jumping 15,000 feet at speeds of 120mph in a tandem
skydive.
Friends James Nathan and George Schuster are hoping to keep their wheels firmly on the ground
when they cycle from London to Zakynthos, Greece over 27 days, starting on 10th June. James, who
was brought up on a farm in Dorset and studied agriculture at university, and George, an actor, are
considering undertaking the trip wearing country tweeds. The heat will definitely be on!
Robert Bower on his horse Biggles
Nottinghamshire RABI committee
member Robert Bower, along with two
friends, is setting off on 1st May to travel
120 miles on horseback over five days.
Starting in Oxfordshire, the group will
pass through Bucks, Northants and
Leicestershire, finishing at Oakham Vets in
Rutland.
Moving ahead to the autumn, enterprising couple Chris and Melissa Harrison from Norfolk are not
just walking down the Grand Canyon, but back up again. Even their chickens are doing their bit
towards their fundraising target, with their eggs being sold outside the front gate.
These are just some of inspirational – and sometimes life changing activities – that people are
prepared to undertake to raise funds for RABI. We know that there are more in the pipeline, which
we will tell you about in the next issue. If you would like to support any of our fundraiser’s efforts,
you can find their Just Giving pages by visiting www.rabi.org.uk ‘supporting us’. They deserve it!
For more information about any of these challenges – or if you are inspired to do something yourself, contact the fundraising, marketing &
communications department on 01865 724931.
If you are looking for ideas for a fundraising challenge the Across the Divide event management company’s series of Just Events, which allow
individuals or groups to raise money for the charity of their choice, offers a wide range of fundraising opportunities
(www.acrossthedivide.com).
15
www.rabi.org.uk

News and events
Dates for your diary
Events organised by or for RABI (in bold) and shows where there will be an RABI presence.
21st Beds YFC Show
16th Cumberland Show
2011
21st Hadleigh Show
18th-21st Royal Welsh Show
March
21st Lincolnshire YFC rally, East Keele
20th Driffield Show
4th Quiz Night, The Farmers Inn, Scaynes Hill, East
22nd Charity Walk, Trelystan, near Leighton, Welshpool 22th-24th
5th
6th
8th
9th
10th
13th
15th
17th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
April
1st
1st
1st
1st
3rd
8th
10th
13th
15th
17th
17th
23rd
30th
May
2nd
6th
7th
8th
10th
11th
14th-15th
15th-16th
16th
18th
18th
19th-21st
20th
Sussex
Lancashire Dinner Dance, Whitechapel
Rhubarb Event, West Yorkshire
Farmhouse breakfast, Merseyside
Precision Farming, Peterborough
Quiz Night, Cheshire
Morborne Lambing Day
Cheese Tasting, Shrewsbury
Annual Dinner at Staffordshire County
Showground
Concert, Burton Agnes Hall, East Yorkshire
Welsh Drama evening, Llangyndeyrn,
Carmarthenshire
Whittington & Oswestry YFC Charity Evening,
Park Hall, Oswestry
Bingo evening, Carmarthen Mart
Fine Arts Preview Evening, Cambridge
Tour of Ludlow Brewery, Ludlow, Shropshire
Oompah Evening, Staffordshire County
Showground
Sporting Heroes Dinner, St Mellion, Cornwall
Singing Farmers Concert, Leyburn
Singing Farmers Concert, Malton
Singing Farmers Concert, Brandesburton
Singing Farmers Concert, Skipton
Dorset Fine Art Preview Evening
Ready Steady Cook Evening, with YFC, Bishop
Burton College
Suffolk Sunday Lunch, Stradbrook
Easter Egg Hunt, Kent, (venue tbc)
Market Day in Shrewsbury Square, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire
Clay pigeon shoot, Penmaendyfi Country Hotel,
Pennal
North Somerset Show, Wraxall
Farmhouse Breakfast, Milton Rooms, Malton
Warwickshire Dinner
Elmley Bird Sanctuary visit, Kent (talk & supper)
Suffolk Ladies Day, Hacheston
RABI AGM, Weston on the Green
Newark and Nottinghamshire County Show
Smallholders Fair, RWS, Builth Wells
Norfolk Golf Day, Bawburgh
NSA Welsh event, Machynlleth
Bingo evening, Carmarthen Mart
Devon County Show
Sentry Charity Flush Shoot
22nd
25th-26th
28th
28th
28th-29th
29th-30th
30th
30th
June
1st-2nd
1st-4th
5th
5th
5th
5th
9th-11th
9th-11th
12th
15th-16th
17th
17th-19th
17th-19th
17th
18th
20th
20th
21st-22nd
22nd-23rd
24th
25th
26th
29th
29th
29th-30th
July
1st
1st
2nd
2nd-3rd
9th
9th
10th
10th
11th-12th
12th-14th
Essex YFC Show
Beef Expo Show, Newark Showground
Heathfield Show, Heathfield, East Sussex
Northants YFC rally
Herts Show
Yorkshire Game Fair
Surrey County Show
Northumberland County Show
Suffolk Show
Royal Bath & West Show, Shepton Mallet
Hog Roast, Goddington Lake, Harrietsham, Kent
Myerscough College open day
Cambridgeshire YFC Show
Rutland Show
Royal Cornwall Show
South of England Show, Ardingly, West Sussex
Wiltshire Cream Tea and Fashion Show
Cereals, Leadenham, Lincolnshire
Surrey Gala Evening
East of England Show
Three Counties Show, Malvern
Dinner & Entertainment, Pontargothi
Whist Drive, Pontargothi
Norfolk Cocktail Party
Golf Day, Driffield, East Yorkshire
Cheshire Show
Lincolnshire Show
Charity concert, Shrawley, Worcestershire
Cream Tea & Cricket, Heathcote Lakes, Warwick
Blaston Show, near Market Harborough
Visit to Lullingstone Castle & Tom Hart Dykes’s
“World Garden”, Kent
Concert at Oswestry School, Oswestry,
Shropshire
Royal Norfolk Show
Berkshire Dinner Dance
Newark Agricultural Society President’s Party,
Hexgreave Hall
Pymoor Show
Cotswold Show, Cirencester
Tendring Show
Newport Show
Ashby Show, Leics
British 10k London Run
Wiltshire County Show, Marlborough
Great Yorkshire Show
26th-28th
28th (tbc)
30th
31st
August
6th
9th-10th
10th
11th-13th
16th-18th
17th
18th
29th
30th
September
2nd
3rd-4th
4th
4th
4th
21st
21st
22nd
24th
24th
24th
October
5th
8th-9th
9th
9th
14th
15th
23rd
November
CLA Game Fair, Blenhiem Palace (RABI is charity of
the year)
New Forest Show, Hampshire
Forde Abbey Summer Fair, Chard
Skittles Evening, Daylands Farm, West Sussex
NFU Chairman’s RABI Lunch, Ludlow
Racecourse, Shropshire
Blakesley show, Northamptonshire
Anglesey Show
Ashover Show, Derbyshire
English National Sheepdog Trials, Boxhill, Surrey
Pembroke Show
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show, Gillingham
Denbigh & Flint Show
Hope Show, Derbyshire
Preview Evening Dorset Steam Fair
National Golf Challenge, Oswestry GC
Dorset County Show, Dorchester
Manson House Hog Roast
Cream Tea aboard passenger boat ‘Sabrina’,
Shrewsbury
Lancashire Sunday lunch.
Bingo evening, Carmarthen Mart
Laughton & District Agricultural Society ploughing
match, Lewes
Flintham ploughing match, Notts
Cornwall County Ball
Gransden Show
Southwell ploughing match, Notts
Brailsford ploughing match, Derbyshire
British National Ploughing Championship
East of England Autumn Show
Harvest Festival at The Abbey, Shrewsbury
Worcestershire RABI/NFU Annual Dinner,
Worcester
Mersea Island ploughing match
Harvest festival service, Lincoln Cathedral
12th-13th National Tractor Show, Newark
16th Bingo evening, Carmarthen Mart
(For more details of these events contact the relevant RABI
regional officer – see pages 8 and 9. Additional events are being
added to the diary all the time - for up-to-date information visit
www.rabi.org.uk)
Shopping online can benefit RABI
When you shop on line you could be making a donation to RABI at
no additional cost to yourself. This is because RABI is now
registered with the website www.easyfundraising.org.uk through
which you can access over 1,800 online retailers (including leading
outlets such as Amazon, WHSmith, Tesco, HMV, John Lewis, Toys R
Us and M&S) who will make a donation to the charity of your
choice.
All you have to do is go through this website to your chosen
retailer, nominating RABI as your charity and we will receive up to
15% of the value of any purchases without adding to your bill.
Discounted Christmas Cards
Each year we are left with a small number of Christmas cards that we then sell off
early in the year at a reduced price.
We currently have a selection of designs from the past few years, which we are
selling off at a discount (while stocks last): - Winter (price per pack of 10 - £2.00);
The Magpie (£1.50); Winter Landscape (£2.00); Adoration of the Shepherds
(£2.00); Five Gold Rings (£2.50); Late Collection (£2.50); Pulling the Tree
(£2.50); Village Tree (£2.50); Snowscene (£2.50); Bringing Home the Tree
(£2.50); Top Field at Home Farm (£2.50) - visit www.rabi.org.uk
If you are interested in any of these please contact the fundraising, marketing and
communications department on 01865 724931 or email
melanie.moughton@rabi.org.uk
16
www.rabi.org.uk