Welly Week round-up - Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution

Winter 2008
The newsletter from the Royal Agricultural
Benevolent Institution
news
Welly Week round-up
see page 12
For Christmas
and beyond
see page 2
Psychedelic sheep
set for Smithfield
see page 16
The royal agricultural charity providing financial support to the farming community past, present and future

Calendar su ported by
For Christmas and beyond
Christmas Cards
RABI Christmas cards have once again proved to be very popular and for
those last minute ones there is still time to place orders - up to 19th
December.
Details of the designs can be found at www.rabi.org.uk and you can
download an order form. Alternatively they are available from your regional
officer or the fundraising, marketing & communications department at
Shaw House on 01865 724931.
Books
Stoneground, the masterly biography of John
Rymer, based on his own writings by Mike Keeble,
is a most revealing insight into one of the most
successful farming pioneers of our time.
It is a book which will appeal to anyone with a
fascination for farming’s recent past and an
interest in its future sustainability. To say that it is
a good read is an understatement.
Copies of the book, £10 plus £1.50 p&p, are
available from JSR Limited, Southburn, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25
9ED or from RABI.
Thanks to the generosity of the Rymer family, all the proceeds from
sales of the book are being donated to RABI.
Horse Tales is a delightful book of
anecdotes from the bygone age of the working
horse, compiled by Harry Sear. He has been
collecting the tales from around the country
for the past 20 years and, with many of the
original story tellers having passed on, he
decided it was time to write them down
before they are lost for ever. It is
complemented by Michael Avery’s amusing illustrations.
This ideal stocking filler, especially for those who still remember horse
power on the farm, is available from Harlin House Publishers, Charity
Farm, Eggington, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 9PB, price £12
including p&p (cheques payable to Harry Sear).
There are currently three RABI originated cookbooks available:
The Proof is in the Pudding, a collection of tried and tested
favourite recipes compiled by RABI Cumbria committee member Pat
Turnbull. Available from 25 Walverden Road, Briercliffe, Burnley, BB10
3QP, price £9, including p&p (cheques payable to RABI).
Farmers’ Favourites, the 2007 edition of Sally Mitchell’s popular
cookbook first published in 1996. Available price £5.95 from Old Pond
Publishing Ltd – see www.oldpond.com
Look and Cook, a collection of 77 recipes gathered from members
and friends of Carmarthenshire RABI committee by Margaret Howell.
Available, price £5, from Erys Hughes, regional officer for Wales, phone
01686 650937 or 07799 79844.
Notelets
RABI notelets, ideal for
all those thank you
notes you will be
writing after
Christmas. Produced in
the south east region,
packs of 10 (five of
each design), price
£3, are available
from south east
regional officer Sally
Field, phone 01803
882741 or 07799
798441
Calendars
Farming in focus 2009 is proving a big
hit with all who have seen it. Designed on
the same lines as this year’s calendar but
with a bit more space to write your daily
notes or appointments, it once again
includes some stunning rural scenes kindly
donated by leading photographer members
of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
It has again been supported by the NFU
Mutual Charitable Trust, ensuring that all
proceeds go directly towards helping those in need.
At only £7 (including post and packing) it is a real bargain.
Full details can be found on the enclosed insert and, as with the
Christmas cards, on the website or from Shaw House.
Farming in focus
RABI Calendar 2009
A l proceeds go towards helping those in need in the farming community.
Welly Wallmanac, is a 14-month
calendar (from October 2008)
produced by the Norfolk RABI
committee and launched in Welly
Week. It has been compiled by
committee member Carolyn Gay, who
secured £2,000 in sponsorship, with
every page carrying a photograph of
different supporters suitably clad in
wellies, with the exception of the
Eastern Daily Press agricultural editor,
Michael Pollitt, who is hiding behind
them!
It is on sale at the Christmas card
shop at the Assembly House, Norwich for £6. For additional availability
contact the Norfolk RABI secretary, Sally Mitchell, on 01692 670521.
Annual Christmas
hamper appeal
Every year RABI delivers around 1,000 hampers to beneficiaries, providing
them with essential foodstuff and a few seasonal luxuries to help them
celebrate Christmas.
Last year nearly half the total number was paid for by donations - £35
will buy a hamper for a single person and £55 buys a hamper for a couple.
This year our target is to double that figure. Thanks to a generous
donation of £12,800 from the Oxford biennial dinner, held earlier this year
at Keble College, we have made a good start and are already half way
towards our target.
Details of how you can help, by donating the cost of a hamper and
bringing a little Christmas cheer to someone in need, can be found on the
enclosed insert, on the website - www.rabi.org.uk - or from the fundraising,
marketing & communications department at Shaw House on 01865
724931.
RABI staff and their wellies
competition
Congratulations to Rosemary Brown of Little Walkers Heath Farm in
Cheshire, the only entrant to correctly match all nine members of the
RABI staff with their wellies in the autumn issue of R.A.B.I. News. She
should have received her Farming in Focus calendar by now, as should
the four runners-up - Kate Read from Hexham; Anna Burdett & Pam
McGowan of the News & Star, Carlise; Louise Graham from Newark; and
Jeanette Folland from Winkleigh.
The correct pairings were A-4; B-6; C-3; D-7; E-9; F-5; G-2; H-8; I-1.
www.rabi.org.uk
2

Introduction
Cause for concern
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 the
welfare and wellbeing needs of those farming
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Index
News from Shaw House 4
London 10k
Great North Run
Welfare 5
Beneficiary holiday
Beaufort House refurbishment
Manson House goodbye
Around the country 6
Welly Week round-up 12
Looking ahead 16
Psychedelic sheep for Smithfield
Dorset Charity Challenge.
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, Wales
and Northern Ireland. A sister charity, RSABI
operates in Scotland.
Registered charity no. 208858
COVER PICTURE:
SheepScape sheep grazing in Gloucestershire
before heading for Smithfield - see page 16
'Credit crunch hits charity giving’ and ‘Farm
borrowing at record levels’. Two recent news
headlines that could be giving us cause for
concern.
The first reported that over the past year one
in four charities that accepts donations had
seen a fall in giving and one in five had
experienced a rise in demand for their services.
The Charity Commission chairman was
reported as saying that charities were facing a
great deal of uncertainty. They were being
squeezed by higher costs and higher demands
for vital services even before the Icelandic bank
collapses, in which UK charities may have lost
up to £120m of invested funds.
The second concerned figures that show
lending to the farming industry is at an all time
record of £10.6bn. Lloyds TSB was anticipating
increased borrowing next year, as farmers face higher tax bills, based on 2007 profits.
Meanwhile, rising input prices and volatile grain markets are putting farmers' cash flows
under pressure.
RABI has been fortunate in that over the years its trustees built a firm base, ensuring
that its investments were sound, while its main source of income has traditionally come
from within the industry it serves. However, with the industry shrinking and the numbers
needing RABI's help growing, there has been a growth in the fundraising activities aimed
at those outside the farming community.
As the effects of the credit crunch bite, for an increasing number of people it will, of
necessity, be a case of charity starting at home. This is going to make it harder to
fundraise outside the industry, while the cash flows of many of our most loyal and
traditional supporters are likely to be under increasing pressure.
It behoves us all to ensure that giving is managed as efficiently as possible, for
instance making sure that Gift Aid is applied to all donations whenever it is applicable.
This way we will be able to concentrate more of our concern on those who need our help
and less on the gloomy headlines.
Thank you for wearing your wellies
The first RABI Welly Week was a great success thanks to everyone who participated and
the spirit in which such a variety events took place. It is important to keep the fun in
fundraising, particularly in times of economic depression. We certainly achieved that as
the extended round-up of events, which is only a fraction of what took place, testifies.
Thank you for wearing your wellies – see you in them again next year.
Nicholas Bond
Editor
Apologies
Our apologies to Mr & Mrs Charles Dakin, hosts of the annual Shropshire lunch whose
picture in the autumn R.A.B.I. News, was somehow replaced by three Shropshire
committee members about to carve the meat.
Also for leaving a nought off the sum raised by the Oxford Moonlight Stroll, in the
introduction to our new trust officer Nick Streeter. The figure should have been
£70,000.
Finally, to those who are still waiting for the next episode of ‘RABI’s first 150 years’,
which has again been squeezed out, this time by Welly Week. It will be back in March.
3 www.rabi.org.uk

News from Shaw House
London 10k
RABI runners pose for a post race picture in
front of Horseguards Parade with (insert) three
members of the team, from Norfolk, who
unfortunately missed the main photoshoot
High winds and rain did nothing to
deter our team of 40 runners at this
year’s London 10k road race. At the time
of writing, the team has raised over £7,000 with more to come in – a
great achievement.
To the strains of Chariots of Fire, our team set off around London’s
famous landmarks in the company of runners from all over the world,
including current Olympic and world champions. A champion of our
own emerged – Darren Waters from Shropshire completed the course
in just over 40 minutes, only slightly outside the top 100 best times
out of a total field of 26,000.
This was our seventh year of entering the race and we were
delighted to welcome new faces from Norfolk, Suffolk and Shropshire.
Special tribute must also be paid to our Berks/Bucks/Oxon team,
several of whom have never missed a run and to the team from
Bidwells in Cambridgeshire who entered for the third year.
The challenging weather made for an interesting post-race picnic in
St James’s Park but, thanks to Ray Stollery’s expert navigation of road
closures to transport the refreshments and Sally Field’s acclaimed
catering, our runners and supporters departed fed and watered, if not
also somewhat wet.
Next year’s run takes place on Sunday, 12th July and will be the
last before the big one – in 2010 we have 150 places allocated to
celebrate our 150th anniversary.
Website Revamp
In the lead up to
RABI’s 150th
anniversary in
2010, we have
given our website
an overhaul. With
funding provided
by DEFRA, the
site has been
given a more
modern feel and
will include a
facility for
applications for
assistance to be
made online.
The new site was scheduled to be live from the end of November. Please
visit www.rabi.org.uk, to have a look for yourself and let us have your
comments.
Great North Run
While on the subject of running - among the runners in this year’s Great
North Run were RABI’s fundraising officer, Nick Streeter, and three
members of the Walton family from Lancashire.
Nick, was attempting
his first ever half
marathon and, despite his
fairly lax training regime,
he successfully finished
the run in 2 hours 45
minutes, raising some
£1,100 in sponsorship.
Catherine Walton, a
graduate of Harper
Adams Agriculurtal
College, grew up on farms
in East Yorkshire before
making her home in
Lancashire, where she
met her husband Stephen
Nick looking surprisingly fresh at the end of 13.1 miles!
The Waltons - Isaac (3), Catherine and Sam (5),– after
the run when they raised funds for RABI
Staff News
through the young
farmers club. It was also
her first half marathon,
completed in a very
creditable 2 hours and 5
minutes while sons Sam,
aged five, and Isaac, aged
three, completed the Mini
North Run Mile on the
previous day. Between
them they raised in excess
of £1,000, which will be
equally split between
Westhead School (Sam's
school), Lathom St James
Playgroup (Isaac's
playgroup) and RABI.
Well done to all of
them.
Yvonne Bonas and Carole Smith on a recent visit to Shaw House
Changes at Manson House
The retirement of Yvonne Bonas as manager of Manson House, RABI’s
retirement home in Bury St Edmunds, is reported on page 5.
A dedicated and much loved head of the house she will be missed by
residents and staff alike.
She has been succeeded by Carole Smith, who has been team leader at
the home since 2003, which enabled there to be a smooth transition
between them. Gillian Giffiths has joined the staff as the new team leader.
www.rabi.org.uk
4

Welfare
Beneficiary Holiday
Beaufort House refurbishment
Thanks to the support of the Buckinghamshire County Farmers Ball
Committee, the lounge, bar and dining room at Beaufort House, have
been completely refurbished. The committee’s most recent donation
has funded the cost of new carpets, curtains and new furniture. “We
are also planning to get a new large flat screen television and DVD
which can be used for film afternoons”, explains the manager, Sue
Luck. “We are extremely fortunate to have such great friends and are
very grateful for the continued support.”
Enjoying the Devon sunshine, the beneficiaries and helpers on one of the day trips
during this year’s holiday. Trish Pickford is on the far left of the group while
Christophine Goss is hiding behind the large sunglasses in the back row.
Every year, in September, the RABI welfare department organises a weeklong
holiday for elderly or disabled beneficiaries who would not otherwise
have the opportunity to go away. For some, having spent a lifetime working
on the land, it can be the first proper holiday they have ever had.
The arrangements and the organisation during the holiday are ably
carried out by Trish Pickford, head of the welfare department, and the
deputy head Christophine Goss. Judging by the letters of thanks received
after each holiday, they provide something very special for the participants.
This year a party of 30, including helpers, had a very happy time in
South Devon. Based at the Sefton Hotel in Babbacombe, near Torquay,
they enjoyed a range of outings and entertainment as the report from two
of the participants, Bob and Frances from Yorkshire, describes.
We were pleased to receive a letter from RABI inviting us to a holiday in
Torquay.
We thought it would be nice to go but nothing prepared us for the
enjoyment that we and everyone else on the holiday had. The Sefton Hotel
has beautiful views overlooking Babbacombe Bay. The hotel itself was very
comfortable, and clean. All the staff were very nice.
Brian, our driver for the trips out, was very helpful to everyone and took
some wonderful photos of us all. There was entertainment every night -
usually overshadowed by the main dancers, Trish and Christophine, who, as
part of RABI, planned everything and went along to look after us all. They
were amazing all week.
We will never forget the trips we went on - to Living Coasts, Torquay;
Buckfast Abbey; seeing the butterflies and otters; the ride on the steam
train; and the variety show at the theatre. All these things will stay in our
memory but none more so that all the wonderful people we met, some of
whom we have kept in touch with and become good friends with.
It is without doubt the most enjoyable holiday we have had, so to RABI
and especially Trish and Christophine who we can’t praise enough, thank
you from us and everyone else who went, a great time was had by all.
Thank you to every one - Frances & Bob
We are very grateful to Brown & Co, Bury St Edmunds, for their
generous donation of £3,044 towards the funding of this year’s
holiday.
Reflecting on silver
While we were enjoying the reflected
glory of the British team’s success in
the Olympics one RABI beneficiary,
Mrs Vera Hutchings from Devon, had
a much more personal involvement.
Her granddaughter, Heather Fell, was
competing in the modern pentathlon.
In return for sewing on name tags Vera, who has followed Heather's
for her before she left for Beijing, Vera progress keenly, has a large collection
told Heather she would like her to of medals and trophies that her
granddaughter has won over the years,
bring home a medal! Heather did not
along with many photographs of her
let her down, she won silver!
competing
The completely refurbished dining room
with new tables and chairs
Residential homes
A corner of the redecorated lounge with
its new carpet, curtains and chairs
Yvonne says goodbye to
Manson House
The retirement of Yvonne Bonas as home
manager was marked in style, with at least
two parties to mark her 20 years of
continuous service at Manson House.
Yvonne first joined the home in 1981,
working nights, before taking a nursing
post at West Suffolk Hospital. She
returned to Manson in 1988 as deputy
warden, was appointed senior warden the
following year, deputy head of home in
1993 and head of home eight years ago.
Yvonne (4th left) and her successor Carole Smith (3rd
left) with some members of the Manson House team
The depth of feeling expressed by staff
and residents alike at her retirement bore
testimony to how well she ran the home
and how much she was going to be
missed. One resident summed it up during
the presentation to Yvonne by the
chairman of the Manson House
committee Michael Paske, “This is not a
care home - it is a caring home”.
Following her retirement she planned to
visit relatives in Canada.
Manson House cook Marion
Bryant, presenting Yvonne with
an exquisite (and equally
delicious!) farewell cake
Michael Paske had several
amusing stories in his address
following Yvonne’s farewell lunch
RABI has two residential homes, Beaufort House at Burnham-on-Sea
and Manson House at Bury St Edmunds. For information about them
visit the website – www.rabi.org.uk or call the welfare department on
01865 724931.
5
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
REGIONAL
OFFICERS
NORTH EAST
Sally Conner
Durham, Northumberland, East
Yorkshire, North Yorkshire
tel: 01964 541400
mobile: 07818 093506
sally.conner@rabi.org.uk
NORTH WEST
Georgina Lamb
Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, South
Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
tel/fax: 01282 411484
mobile: 07917 114250
georgina.lamb@rabi.org.uk
CENTRAL
Fay Dewey
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire,
Warwickshire, Worcestershire
tel: 02476 403122
mobile: 07876 492839
fay.dewey@rabi.org.uk
EAST OF ENGLAND
Bob Archibald
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex,
Hertfordshire, Huntingdon, Norfolk,
Rutland, Suffolk
tel: 01366 385388
mobile: 07739 297374
bob.archibald@rabi.org
EAST MIDLANDS
Milly Wastie
Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire
tel: 01604 706681
mobile: 07525 323450
milly.wastie@rabi.org.uk
SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND
Sally Field
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent,
Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire,
Surrey, Sussex
tel: 01903 882741
mobile: 07799 798441
tax: 01903 882501
sally.field@rabi.org
Busy time in the north east
After the chaotic summer and equally busy
autumn our winter period has quietened down,
resulting in a much-needed rest for all of us!
North Yorkshire will be holding their wonderful
Christmas Musical evening at Swinton Park on
10th December - always a lovely start to the
Christmas period.
In February East Yorkshire are staging a
concert in Brandesburton Church featuring the
Hot Gospel Choir – as a member of the choir, I
am really looking forward to sharing them with
my East Yorkshire committee! The committee are
also hosting a Golf Am Am for the first time on
15th June, at Driffield Golf Club. Any teams of
four are invited to come along, great course and
great prizes!
We will also be having the usual Singing
Farmers Concerts: dates and venues will be
confirmed shortly. Watch out for future events
both in Northumberland and County Durham.
Sally Conner
Triumphant end to vets ‘try’athlon
Northumberland RABI chairman Michael Richardson and regional officer Sally Conner
congratulating cyclists from the A1northumbria Veterinary Group at the completion of their
‘try’athlon, in the main
ring at the Glendale
Show, Wooler.
Members of the group
had run, canoed and
cycled between its
veterinary practices
across the county,
raising funds for three
charities, including
RABI. Organised by
senior partner John
McFarlane, they raised
over £1,000 for RABI.
Centenary dinner dance
Thanks to a huge amount of time and effort by the Northumberland RABI committee and Alan
Coxon from County Durham, a very successful dinner dance, celebrating the centenary of the
NFU was held at the Hilton, Gateshead. With the table centre decorations in wellies, the occasion
was also used to launch the north east’s Welly Week celebrations. 320 guests danced the night
away to the Ray Chester Big Band and over £4,000 was raised for RABI.
SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND
Nick Toms
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset,
Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire
tel/fax: 01752 893502
mobile: 07919 478518
nick.toms@rabi.org
WALES/CYMRU
Erys Hughes
tel: 01686 650937
mobile: 07799 798446
erys.hughes@rabi.org
ffôn: 01686 650937
ffôn symudol: 07799 798446
erys.hughes@rabi.org.uk
Pictured at the dinner dance – NFU president Peter Kendall; Sir Don Curry; NFU vice-president Paul Temple and his
wife Alison; Sally Conner; and Lord Plumb.
www.rabi.org.uk 6

Around the country
Hard work and commitment in north west
A special thanks to all my county committees for their hard work and
commitment throughout the year, also to the groups and YFCs across
the north west for all their Welly Week antics (some of which appear on
the round-up on pages 12-15)
In addition to Welly Week activities there has been a lot happening in
the region, including a very successful Cheshire ploughing match.
West Yorkshire committee had a productive end of show season
attending the Halifax Food and Drink Festival and the Penistone show.
We also received a donation from the Halifax NFU Centenary
celebrations. I am very proud of what this brand new committee has
achieved this year with both fundraising and awareness increasing over
the past twelve months.
Cheshire cheque
Mid Cheshire Farmers
Club added to its
previous very generous
donations over the
years when David
Rosten presented
Georgina Lamb with a
cheque for £800 from
the club, at the
Cheshire Ploughing
Match.
Raising the profile in Wales
As another year draws to a close, I look forward to the Winter Fairs at
Anglesey and the Royal Welsh showground which again affords an
opportunity to renew old acquaintances and, hopefully, meet new
friends, so please do visit our stands.
In 2009, our efforts will continue to raise the awareness and profile
of RABI, and it is already good to record that there is an increase in
requests from a variety of organisations to give presentations on our
work. I would also suspect that fundraising will be an increasingly
difficult task as the “credit crunch” bites even more but I have no doubt
that the commitment and hard work of our committees will continue.
May I take this opportunity of thanking all committee members for
their hard work throughout the year and wish you all a very happy
Christmas.
Looking ahead, on 5th December we have a charity auction in Carlisle
and there are Farmhouse Breakfast events being organised in all the
north west counties.
Georgina Lamb
Cumbrian generosity
The RABI Cumbrian committee was very fortunate to be the chosen
charity of Carrs Milling Industries’ sumptuous celebrations in a
luxurious marquee in the Garden at Eden, Carlisle. The generosity of
Mr Chris Holmes and all at Carrs was exceptional, with their event
and an auction of promises raising in excess of £10,000. We were
also offered the use of the marquee for the “Party on the Green”, in
conjunction with another local charity, raising £450.
Lunch in Lancashire
A packed programme in
Lancashire included Sunday
lunch at Ferrari's, in Longridge,
when 120 guests were
entertained by James Herriot’s
son Jim Wight with tales from
All Creatures Great and Small.
The event raised £1,200.
All the fun of the fair
Cylchlythyr
Wrth inni nesáu at ddiwedd blwyddyn arall, edrychaf ymlaen at y
Ffeiriau Gaeaf ar Ynys Môn a Maes y Sioe Frenhinol. Bydd y rhain yn
gyfle unwaith eto i gwrdd â hen gyfeillion, a gyda lwc, i gwrdd â rhai
newydd – bydd croeso cynnes i bawb ar ein stondin.
Yn 2009, codi ymwybyddiaeth a phroffil RABI fydd y ffocws, a braf
yw cael nodi’r cynnydd yn y nifer o geisiadau gan fudiadau amrywiol i
roi cyflwyniadau ar ein gwaith. Buaswn yn amau hefyd, y bydd y gwaith
o godi arian yn mynd yn anoddach wrth i effaith y “wasgfa gredyd”
ddod yn fwy amlwg. Ond does dim dwywaith yn fy marn i y bydd
ymrwymiad a gwaith caled ein pwyllgorau yn parhau.
Hoffwn gymryd y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i holl aelodau’r pwyllgorau trwy
Gymru am eu gwaith caled yn ystod y flwyddyn, a dymunaf Nadolig
llawn iawn i chi oll.
Erys Hughes
Pembrokeshire Ladies RABI Committee ready to ride the carousels
Ball gowns and black ties, with a hint of green, were the order of the
day for those attending the Pembrokeshire autumn ball. Organised
by the newly formed Pembrokeshire Ladies RABI committee, under
the chairmanship of Mrs Hilary Raymond, it was held at Folly Farm,
one of county’s renowned tourist attractions, by courtesy of the
owners and management.
Following a Champagne reception almost 200 people had an
hour of enjoying all the fun of the fair before sitting down to a threecourse
meal, with guest speaker, RABI president Lord Plumb, and
then dancing the night away. With a highly successful promises
auction, the evening raised just under £7,000.
The event followed the committee’s successful Hog Roast at this
year's Pembroke Show.
7
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Interesting events in central England
Fundraising is never easy on a continual basis, yet our committee
members push on to achieve what they can despite their busy and hectic
lifestyles. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated and sincere
supporters; it means so much and really does make a difference to
people’s lives in the heart of the farming community. In recent months
there have been some interesting events raising several thousands of
pounds. We have had an art exhibition in a shed courtesy of David
Toone and the Anker Group of Artists; spectacular raft racing at
Dearnford Lake, with special thanks to Mr & Mrs Bebbington for hosting
the event; and a successful metal detecting event, heralded as the best
rally of the year by the National Council for metal detecting.
Fay Dewey
Successful metal detecting
At the end of the most
successful Warwickshire metal
detecting event yet, NCMD's
Bob Baldock auctioning a pair
of walking boots while RABI
Warwickshire county
chairman, Richard Grindal
holds the raffle tickets ready
for the draw towards RABI
funds.
Art in a cowshed
Michael Lester,
organiser of the Anker
Group of Artists’
exhibition, held on
Warwickshire RABI
committee member
David Toone’s farm at
Copston Magna,
presenting cheques for
£1,000 to regional
officer Fay Dewey, for
RABI, and to a local
charity, the Sunshine
Club. The money was
raise from the
proceeds of sales of
the pictures and
refreshments during
the three-day event
held over the August
Bank Holiday.
The hard working art show refreshment team.
Building support in east midlands
Following an action packed autumn in the east midlands we are looking
to build up our support with meetings to encourage new committee
members in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire during November and
December.
In early 2009 the Derbyshire committee will be holding a bingo
evening at the Bluebell in Tissington. Fun for all the family at a quiet
time of year, watch out for more details on the website or contact me.
Leicestershire open day
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for
making me feel so welcome during my first few months with the RABI -
I really feel part of the RABI family! I would like to wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Milly Wastie
London harvest festival
The RABI day at Quenby Hall include live music entertainment
An open day and clay shoot at Quenby Hall, organised by the
Leicestershire RABI committee raised £1,500. For one day only,
members of the general public were able to taken a guided tour of
the Jacobean mansion.
Simon Drury Lowe; Milly Wastie; the Venerable Dr William Jacob, Rector; and the
Rt Revd John Oliver outside St. Giles in the Fields (Picture courtesy of John Deere)
Leicestershire committee member Simon Drury Lowe organised a
harvest festival service at the church of St Giles in the Fields,
London at which the RABI honorary chaplain, the Rt Revd John
Oliver preached. Simon arranged for a John Deere tractor to have
pride of place outside the church as well as acquiring sponsorship
for a post service bread and cheese reception from Marks and
Spencer, Geery’s Bakeries and Yara UK. With the proceeds of the
collection, just under £1,000 was raised for RABI.
www.rabi.org.uk 8

Around the country
Much planned for the south west
There has been a wealth of Welly Week activities in the south west (see
Welly Week round up on pages 12-15) which started with an invitation
to speak at the Trinity School, Teignmouth, harvest festival service. It was
great to see so many children taking an active interest in farming and
agriculture. They certainly put in a lot of hard work on the various
presentations and songs, and during the collection £270 was raised for
RABI.
Looking ahead, events are already well on the way to being planned
for 2009. As a little bit of a taster, these include – outdoor music
concert at Dowrich House, Devon on 3rd July; a St George’s Day dinner
in Dorset, together with the Countryside Challenge Event (see elsewhere
in this issue); a dinner and dance in Cornwall; and much much more.
Have a great Christmas, and my thanks as ever go to all those
volunteers who have helped do so much for RABI this year.
Nick Toms
Cornish dinner dance
On Saturday 11th October the new Members’ Pavilion on the Royal
Cornwall Showground played host to a fantastic dinner and dance. 188
people attended and enjoyed a sumptuous meal, good company and live
music. The event was supported by a large number of local companies
and individuals, with auction lots ranging from a Duchy Originals
Hamper (donated by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of
Cornwall) to a week-long stay for six in a Breton holiday cottage. The
Royal Navy also came up trumps with two exciting days out – one
onboard HMS Cornwall (including a trip on her fast sea-boats) and one
to RNAS Culdrose. In all, over £7,150 was raised – a terrific effort by all
those involved with the Cornwall county committee.
The new Members’ Pavilion decked out for the RABI dinner and dance
Museum and garden open day
A most enjoyable Farm Museum and Garden open day was held at
Teason Farm, Cardinham near Bodmin on Sunday 10th August,
thanks to John and Margaret Bate who kindly opened their lovely
grounds for the day. Despite mixed weather conditions, a large
number of people enjoyed a fascinating glimpse at times past as
well as the BBQ lunches and cream teas, which were sponsored by
local producers. The Cornwall committee, with support on the day
from the Cornwall Women's Food & Farming Union and the
Cornwall Federation of YFCs, raised a total of £1,550.
Returning to normal in the east
What a cereal harvest we have had! But, as I write, with the
potatoes now in stores, most of the drilling completed and the
sugar beet harvest well under way things are returning to schedule
on the farms in the east of the country.
We have had a busy time in the region with lots of welly events
(see Welly Week round up on pages 12-15). There has also been
plenty of activity in Norfolk where the West Norfolk committee
organised the ride around Pynkney Estate and also held a very
successful cocktail evening at Cockley Cley Hall, thanks to Sir
Samuel and Lady Roberts. It was also the occasion for the launch
of Norfolk’s Welly Wallmanac calendar (see page 2).
Staying with Norfolk they are again selling RABI Christmas
cards and calendars at the Christmas Card Shop in the Assembly
Rooms, Norwich during November and December.
The Mersea Island Ploughing match was a huge success thanks
to glorious weather and tremendous enthusiasm; their next
ploughing match is scheduled for 2010 with Essex being the
home of our founder John Mechi it should be quite an event in
our 150th year.
Bob Archibald
Beds ladies’ donation
The East Bedfordshire NFU Ladies section has made a donation of
£600 to RABI. Regional officer Bob Archibald received the cheque
from the chairlady Ruth Simkins.
9
www.rabi.org.uk

Around the country
Weather extremes felt in south east
This year has flown by, I am not sure if this is due to ever increasing
age! Despite the awful summer the autumn so far has been kind. Over
the next couple of months we have the usual Christmas fatstock shows
and carol evenings and the calendar is already filling for 2009. Thank
you ever so much to everyone who has helped and supported me over
Bucks book signing
As well as selling Christmas cards, the RABI stand at the Bucks
County Show included a peddle tractor raffle and raised a total
of £350, despite the regional officer being struck down by a
virulent bug. Fortunately, as well as county committee
members, regional welfare officer Sara Garner and RABI
supporter Virginia Stollery, from the adjacent NFU stand, were
on hand to ensure that she survived!
the year, I am very lucky to have such a lovely bunch people to work
with in the south east. I hope we all have a very happy and healthy
2009. Don’t forget to get your Christmas cards!
Sally Field
Fine weather for
farm walks
The farm walks at Daylands Farm, Ashurst, on two consecutive
Sundays in September as part of Horsham Food Festival Week,
have become annual events in aid of RABI. This year they attracted
some 60 people who enjoyed an excellent farm walk, finishing with
scones with cream and homemade cakes. As well as promoting
RABI the event raised £250.
Also present was Harry Sear, signing copies of his book Horse Tales (see page 2)
together with his wife Linda.
Kent harvest supper
At the annual harvest supper in the Amos Hall, Ashford
Market, 180 supporters and their guests were entertained by
the Knatchbull Jazz Band. Organised by David Chantler, David
Brummell and Caroline Fletcher, with the Kent committee, the
evening included an auction, the highlight of which was a
picture of a woodcock painted with its pin feather by Charles
Gunther, which sold for £1,200. The total raised by the event
was £6,000 plus £400 from the sale of RABI Christmas cards.
Visitors of all ages took part in the farm walk
Ploughing match raffle
The raffle, which raised £150, was a highlight of our presence at
the East Kent ploughing match at Waldereshare Park where, once
again, land agents Angela Hirst, thanks to Giles Hirst and family,
invited RABI to join their stand and provided the prize.
Bidding underway at the harvest supper auction
www.rabi.org.uk 10

Around the country
Students plough
funds to RABI
This year the money raised from the Reading University agricultural
students’ annual 48-hour charity ploughing marathon, has been donated
to RABI. The marathon, which took place from the 3rd to 5th March,
involved 35 students, including “male and female drivers of all abilities”,
using two tractors and ploughs.
In total 185 acres were ploughed on the university farm and a cheque
for £2,238.56, the total sum raised, was presented to RABI by a number
of the participants at the agricultural faculty in October.
Sunshine on the IoW
The Isle of Wight committee together
with our host, NFU group secretary
Matt Legge, and a sunny day ensured
that we had a great day at the
island’s annual ploughing match, at
Brading, near Ryde. The sale of ‘Jolly
Jars’ raised £100, Christmas cards
sales made £400 and a welly
wanging competition brought in a
further £100. A big thank you to
NFU’s Matt and Karen for all their Jars of everything and a raffle tickets for
help and support.
sale which ever way you go!
Weather cancels shows
Atrocious weather at the beginning
of September put pay to two events
in one weekend. Harvesting the Old
Fashioned Way at Lavant, near
Chichester, normally attended by
around 1,000 people, was a
particular loss as RABI receives half
of the gate takings, which last year
amounted to £4,000.
The Alresford Show in Hampshire
had to be called off on the morning
of the show and the RABI stand,
which had been erected with the
help of Norma Morris and Denys
Ryder the day before, had to be
rescued with the aid of Denys’s John
Deere mule.
Denys with the dismantled RABI stand
safely back on firm ground
In Brief....
Durham debut
The first event organised by the County Durham RABI
committee was a stand at Eggleston Show. The RABI marquee
attracted a lot of interest and they raised £175.00 - not bad at
all for a first effort.
Regional officer in the sheep ring
RABI’s presence at the annual Masham Sheep Fair
extended into the show ring when the north east
regional officer, Sally Conner, donned a white coat
to show sheep. She described the occasion as “a
brilliant weekend, wonderful weather and loads of
sheep!”
Dolls House Fair
A dolls house fair held at Bedale School, the
brainchild of North Yorkshire RABI committee chairman David
Burke, attracted more than 200 people and made over
£1,000. It was so successful that it looks likely to become an
annual event.
Cards sell well at Loseley
The RABI presence at the Loseley County Fair and annual
ploughing match was thanks to the organisers, Surrey
Agricultural Society – who were very supportive of RABI during
last year’s foot and mouth outbreak, and to the Countryside
Alliance, who shared our stand space. Christmas cards sold
well during the day, raising £340.
Ploughmen’s lunch
The West Sussex committee, ably assisted by Sally Field, once
again provided the refreshments at the Petworth & District
Agricultural Society’s annual ploughing match. Held at Manor
Farm, Heyshott, thanks to Richard and Sue Comber, the event
attracted over 500 people and the RABI stand raised £150.
Lunch in Cheshire
This year’s annual Cheshire Sunday lunch was well attended,
in lovely surroundings, with guests enjoying an excellent beef
roast and pleasant company. Our thanks to the hosts, Mr and
Mrs J Roberts.
Lancashire thank you
The farming community in East Lancashire organised a hugely
successful hog roast and band night in Burnley, as a thank you
for the help RABI had given to a family in the area and to
raise awareness locally. Our thanks to the very hard working
supporters who put on a fantastic night and raised £1,800.
Lancashire harvest praise
Songs of Praise service and NFU harvest service, plus a ‘Trouble
at the Mill’ comedy night, in Lancashire raised £400. Regional
officer Georgina Lamb expressed her many thanks to the
‘wonderful’ committee for all the apple pies they cooked.
Northants harvest party
The Northants committee’s annual harvest party had a new
venue this year, at Deene Park. Following the reinstatement of
the organ at Deene harvest festival, a reception was held in
the grand surroundings of Deene Park where over 100 guests
enjoyed an Indian buffet and a glass of wine.
Forde Abbey update
The final accounts for the Forde Abbey Summer Fair (reported
in the autumn issue of R.A.B.I. News) reveal that, despite the
adverse weather conditions, a total of £12,450 was raised -
slightly more than two years ago, the previous occasion when
it was in aid of RABI - when the sun shone!
11
www.rabi.org.uk

Welly Week round Up
Welly Week round up
The first ever RABI Welly Week in October proved a great success. Large organised events and small
spontaneous activities took place across the country, raising not only funds for the purchase of special
items (such as stairlifts and electrically-powered vehicles) to give a better quality of life to those in need
in the farming community but, equally importantly, increasing awareness of RABI
Over 80 events had been
registered and more than
£7,000 raised for Welly Week
activities by the time R.A.B.I.
News went to press. But that
number was continuing to grow
with many more donations to
come.
Several activities hit the
headlines with at least two
groups going for world records.
Bicton College, with 208
students and members of staff
participating, narrowly missed
out on their attempt to perform
the longest Welly Conga.
Meanwhile, North Beds YFC
produced what they hope will
prove to be the largest ever
pair of wellies, some 12 feet
high - we wait with interest to
learn if they have made it into
the Guinness Book of Records.
The Bedfordshire wellies
were not the only large ones.
Lancashire YFCs transported a
nine foot welly on the back of
a tractor and trailer from the
bottom club of their county in
Warrington to the most
northern, in Lancaster, where it
was welcomed with a welly
party. It became renowned
during its travels through the
county, even getting a mention
on BBC Radio One!
Welly wanging proved to be
the most popular activity
during the week, with
numerous competitions taking
place. The rules tended to vary
as did the wanging techniques.
At the Cheshire ploughing
match, where regional NFU
press officer Carl Hudspith was
spotted wanging a mean welly,
cars parked on the wanging
site meant that accuracy rather
than brute force was the order
of the day.
The longest throw so far
been notified to us was an
impressive 92 feet six inches in
Hampshire by Timmy Parsons,
Wanging techniques
The elegant approach - at NFYFC sports and speaking
finals
Precision pitch - demonstrated by Carl Hudspith in
Cheshire
Bicton Wanglers
Bicton students warming up before the college wanging
competition
Preparing for Bicton’s world welly conga record attempt
Over arm fling - seen at Dearnford Lake
Reverse overhead - at Stratford-upon-
Avon Market
Giants wellies
Welly suited
North
Beds
YFC
giant
wellies
on show
at the
East of
England
Autumn
Show
Land agents, bankers and local businessmen on a guided tour of
Stratford market before enjoying a welly breakfast hosted, by local
solicitors Lodders, which raised £1,130
www.rabi.org.uk
12

Welly Week round Up
Lake winners
Ladies of Leisure, from Whitchurch Leisure Club, winners of the
Dearnford Lake raft race
John and Pat Pimlott of Park Hill Farm Beef, with their welly
burgometer, who have donated £100 from their sales at the
Dearnford Lake Festival
Welly Sunday
The Revd Rob Kelsey with members of the Eglingham Church
congregation after celebrating their Harvest Thanksgiving. In
addition to the collection, £5 was donated to RABI from the
Vicar’s Discretionary Fund for every pair of wellies worn at the
service
You put the
right welly in...
On the dance floor at Longtown YFC’s welly dance
Tractors on a rope
Preparing to pull at Bicton College
Taking the strain at Moulton College
Disco welly
Northants young farmers enjoying a welly disco
Showing a welly!
Entering into the spirit of the occasion at the East of England
Autumn Show Welly Supper
at the Wellow & District
Growmore Club’s annual
ploughing match. Fortunately
his gun dog was stopped, just
in time, from retrieving the
welly before the distance could
be measured. Together with a
generous donation from the
Club committee the event
raised £250 for RABI.
Welly discos, wearing wellies
to work or school and
decorating wellies were among
the most common activities.
Longtown YFC, at the very
northern tip of Cumbria, pulled
out all the stops and proved
just how much RABI means to
the local community. Their
welly dance and raffle raised
over £1,900 with the cheque
being presented at the
Longtown Auction Mart in
November.
Bicton and Moulton colleges
both staged tractor pulling in
wellies events. The winning
team of nine first year students
at Moulton covered the 100-
yard course in 30.2 seconds
and the college hopes to have
raised over £400 in
sponsorship. While at Askham
Bryan College the welly
happenings included a ‘welly
sensation’ competition,
involving the identification, by
touch alone, of mysterious
objects in wellies! Also filling
wellies, but with sweets for
participants to guess how
many they held, were Whitby
Young Farmers, with the boots
as a prize.
A number of welly events
took place before the week
proper had begun. Most
notable of these was in
Shropshire at the Festival of
Fine Foods, Arts and Crafts at
Dearnford Lake, Whitchurch.
Among a variety of welly
orientated activities, a
highlight of the day was raft
racing with several of the
teams, including the West
Midlands NFU pirates ably led
by regional director David
Collier, ending up in the water
as their self-constructed rafts
came apart. It is expected that
the day will have raised several
thousand pounds.
Another pre Welly Week
event was the
13
www.rabi.org.uk

Welly Week round Up
Northamptonshire young
farmers welly disco at a new
venue in Bozeat. Over 120
people boogied the night away
in their wellies and collected
£300 for RABI.
In the parishes of Old
Bewick and Eglingham,
Glendale in Northumberland
parishioners were invited to
wear their wellies when the
Revd Rob Kelsey celebrated
harvest and Welly Week
together. RABI regional officer
Sally Conner gave the address
and the congregations donated
a total of £437 to RABI. Sally
also gave the address at the
Rillington (near Malton)
Primary School’s harvest
service, following a visit to the
school the previous day to
launch a day of welly activities
from which they raised £51.50
for RABI.
The newly formed RABI
committee in Co. Durham
chose Welly Week to hold their
first social event - a
www.evening (wine, wellies and
waffle); BBC Radio Humberside
staged a welly wanging
competition live on air; and
Northumberland YFC held a
sponsored welly walk.
Weybred Hall was the venue
for a ‘welly good brunch’ to
round off the Suffolk RABI
committee’s popular welly walk.
Across the county border in
Cambridgeshire there was a
welly-themed pre-show dinner
before the East of England
Autumn Show and a fiercely
contested welly wanging
competition during the event.
In the south west, as well as
well as the activities a Bicton
College, welly fever also took
hold at Beaufort House, RABI’s
residential home in Somerset,
where the residents and staff
enjoyed a ‘fun day’ with a
range of welly orientated
activities, raising £280.
Meanwhile in Devon a welly
car boot sale, which had the
added attraction of some early
morning Husky racing to keep
the punters entertained as they
set up for a hard morning’s
selling, raised £550.
The on-line rural dating
agency Muddy Matches held a
very successful Welly speed
Designer wellies
Rotary welly
Laura
Podd
from
Harleston
whose
decorated
wacky
wellies
won her a
voucher
for a pair
of
Hunters
boots at
the
Suffolk
welly
walk and
welly
good
brunch
The job of selecting a winning welly design out of more than 100,
submitted by the pupils of Northwold Primary School in Norfolk, was
the unenviable task facing regional officer Bob Archibald. He chose
a design by Finlay of class 2 (which may or may not be one of the
above) - his prize was to have his design painted onto his wellies!
The craft
club at
Rillington
School
show off
their
handiwork
When Bob Archibald addressed the Rotary Club of High Suffolk during Welly week they
all came suitable attired and, passing round the welly, collected £50 for RABI
Fun at Beaufort House
Becky Simister, relief cook at RABI’s Beaufort House residential
home, with her lovingly made welly cake which was raffled,
raising £53
Beaufort House staff showing off their handiwork at the start
of the welly parade
Wanging on the Isle
Welly wanging proved a popular attraction at the Isle of Wight
ploughing match
Car wellies
Past RABI chairman, Rosemary Nash,
sporting a natty pair of wellies while on
duty at the Devon welly boot sale
www.rabi.org.uk 14

Welly Week round Up
Welly dating
Can you
judge a girl
by her
wellies?
Ready to
take part
in the
welly
speed
dating
evening
Wellies in a fountain
Members of the Bristol welly pub crawl cooling off - picture
courtesy of the local constabulary
Rural MPs’ support
Zumerset wellies
The Wurzells helping Milly Wastie promote Welly Week
Welly cheque
Members of Shawbury YFC used the presentation of a cheque
to RABI for £457.20, which they raised from a raffle at their
70th Anniversary Dinner, to promote Welly Week. Chairperson
Emma Bayliss said: ‘The club wanted to help the local rural
based community and RABI was our obvious choice
dating night at Wolvey in
Warwickshire. Everyone was
asked to come in their favourite
pair of wellies and the event
raised £400 for the RABI.
Norfolk RABI committee
marked the week by launching
its 14-month Welly Wallmanac
calendar (see page 2) and
copies were available at the
Norfolk Harvest Festival in
Norwich Cathedral as well as
at the Christmas card shop in
the Assembly House, Norwich.
Aptly named Mrs Wellington
of Keyworth, Nottinghamshire,
organised a Welly Week apple
day in her orchard and raised
some £250 for RABI from
different welly and apple
activities.
Getting into the spirit of
things a group of 30 young
farmers and friends,
encouraged by Milly Wastie,
raised just under £200 from a
welly pub crawl in Bristol. They
even persuaded the local
constabulary to photograph
them in a town centre
fountain. Meanwhile 12 young
ladies from Rearsby YFC in
Leicestershire took to the
challenge of raising the Welly
Week profile by baring nearly
all for a calendar shoot in
wellies whilst posing with
agricultural props. The
calendars are selling for £7.50
and, to add to the funds they
are raising, the girls also
organised a welly rummage
sale.
The farming press joined in
the fun with Farmers Weekly
promoting the week extensively
and running an ‘Ode to a
Welly’ poetry competition,
which was judged by Pam
Ayres. Farmers Guardian staff
donned their wellies for work in
support of Welly Week and the
paper headlined its success.
(The 'Ode to a Welly' winning
entries and the finalists in the
can be seen on the RABI
website - www.rabi.org.uk)
Interest is already being
registered for next
year’s Welly Week -
book the dates now:
10th-17th October 2009.
Seven west county MPs donned their wellies to officially endorse RABI’s Welly Week. Clockwise from top left Anthony Steen; Dan
Rogerson; Mark Harper; Bob Walter; Geoffrey Cox; Gary Streeter; David Laws
For more pictures visit the
website
15
www.rabi.org.uk

Looking ahead
Dates for your diary
December
1st&2nd Ashford Cattle Show, Ashford Market, Kent
1st&2nd Welsh Winter Fair, Royal Welsh showground
2nd/3rd Carol Evenings, Lavender Farm, Isle of Wight
3rd Mince pie & mulled wine evening,
Woodhall Spa
3rd Hailsham Fatstock Show, Hailsham,
East Sussex
4th Health Day, Thirsk Auction Mart
5th Charity auction, Carlisle.
5th&6th Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair, Bath & West
showground
10th Christmas concert, Swinton Park,
North Yorkshire
2009
January
16th
30th
February
8th
19th
21st
Bucks Farmers Ball, Aylesbury Civic Centre
Shropshire Pub Quiz
Rural Day at Hereford Race Course
Farmhouse Breakfast at Stoneleigh Park.
Venison Feast, Burpham Village Hall,
West Sussex
25th-31st Farmhouse Breakfast Week
(see website for updates on
tbc
Events organised by or for RABI (in bold) and
shows where there will be an RABI presence.
March
tbc
April
26th
RABI breakfasts venues around the country)
Hot Gospel Choir, Brandesburton Church
Singing Farmers concerts
(dates & venues tbc)
Suffolk Sunday Lunch
Psychedelic sheep set
for Smithfield
Thanks to RABI there will be an unusual
splash of colour in the sheep lines at
the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair
this year. The predominantly white
(with a bit of black) lambs will be
joined by a pen of life size fibreglass
sheep, each colourfully painted with a
unique design.
Commissioned in 2006 by Art in Rural
Gloucestershire (AIRinG), the SheepScape
flock of 55 individual fibreglass sheep
originated in the Forest of Dean and for
the past two years have been attending events across the county. AIRinG has kindly
allocated 25 of the ‘sheep’ to RABI for fundraising, with the proceeds raised being shared
between the two charities.
Of the seven SheepScape sheep appearing at Smithfield, it is planned to auction three
at the Meat Traders dinner on the Friday evening and three the following day, in the main
ring during the sheep sale.
The RABI Charity Sheep Class, to which exhibitors enter a single lamb and donate the
auction proceeds to RABI, has attracted an entry of 12. In recognition of the sheep
exhibitors’ support for those in need in the farming industry, it is planned to inaugurate
the presentation of a perpetual trophy for the class at this year’s show.
We are extremely grateful to the Royal Smithfield Club, AIRinG, and the sheep exhibitors
who are supporting RABI in its work to help those in need in the farming community.
For details of the Christmas Fair, on 5th and 6th December at the Bath &
West showground, visit www.bathandwest.com/show_show_8.php
Following the SheepScape sheep’s debut at the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair other
members of the RABI flock will be helping to raise funds and awareness at various
events across England and Wales over the next 12 months.
To see the complete SheepScape flock visit www.ewetube.co.uk
Dorset Challenge Event –
September 2009
Had enough of hog roasts?
Done enough dances?
Bored of beard shaving?
Fancy a bit of a challenge?
May
18th
21st
June
7th
8th
26th
July
12th
18th
25th
Norfolk Golf Day
Sentry Clay Flush, Chatteris
Clay Shoot, Steventon Hill Farm, Oxfordshire
Golf Am Am, Driffield
Surrey Gala Evening, Newdigate, Surrey
London 10k run
Picnic in the Park, Whithurst Park, West
Sussex
Skittles Evening, Daylands Farm, West
Sussex
Then RABI might have something for you in 2009!
RABI is constantly looking for new ways of raising money, whilst at the same time
providing entertainment, experiences and memories for its supporters.
Dorset RABI committee are organising a Countryside Challenge event in September
2009. It is based on the popular triathlon format but with a strong rural twist.
Taking place on the stunning Sherborne Castle Estate, participants will undertake three
main events – kayaking on the castle lake, a long bike ride through rural Dorset and a
run through the estate’s wood and parkland. On top of this, there will be a number of
“mini” challenges, from plant and object recognition through to cooking a ‘survival’ type
meal.
On the Sunday there will also be a farming-themed “Its-a-knock-out” style competition
before the winners are announced and people head home, full of new tales to wow workcolleagues
and friends alike!
If you would like to find out more, or to register interest then please
contact Nick Toms, regional officer for the south west on 01752 893502 or
email Nick.Toms@rabi.org.uk .
16
www.rabi.org.uk