Archive for year of 2012
Prince’s Countryside Fund gives emergency cash
Dec 18, 2012 - 04:34 PM
Patron of the Prince’s Countryside Fund, HRH The Prince of Wales and Trustee, Lord Curry of Kirkharle at Clarence House last night
Last night His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, called a meeting of the leaders of the UK farming charities and Trustee’s of the Prince’s Countryside Fund to discuss the problems currently being experienced by farming communities.
The Prince of Wales said “I have been growing increasingly concerned about the many difficulties which farmers from all sectors are facing – and are likely to face – this winter and so I thought it was important for us to come together, hear what we each have to report and then I want to see what I can do to help through my Prince’s Countryside Fund.”
His Royal Highness announced a donation of £150,000, being the entire amount of the emergency fund help within the Prince’s Countryside Fund. Following the meeting the Duke of Westminster has generously confirmed to match fund and donated an additional £150,000 taking the total amount raised so far to £300,000.
This morning we have been informed that the Duchy of Cornwall will donate a further £25,000. These funds will be split between the three Farming Help Charities operating across England and Wales and colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Lord Curry of Kirkharle, a Trustee of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said: “This is the first time that the Countryside Fund has utilised all of its emergency funding and is a reflection of what a difficult time this is for farmers. Farms have been hit hard by the poor weather and it is only going to get worse as the need to buy in feed at inflated prices and the increase in other costs begins to have a serious effect on cash flow. In addition arable farmers are having a dreadful year and it is clear that next year will be no better. The impact will probably be felt in January and February onwards so it is particularly well timed to release the money now and ensure the charities can prepare for the increase in demand for their services.”
The public can make a donation online at Virgin Giving at the Post Office or by Text. Text PCF to 70300 and a £3 donation will be made to The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Until March 2013 all donations will be given directly to the Farming Help Charities.
Addington benefits from Royal Smithfield Champion Beef Ribs Auction
Dec 11, 2012 - 11:48 AM
The second East of England Smithfield Festival held at the Peterborough Arena on 30th November and 1st December was once again a roaring success and a fitting finale to the major prime stock show season.
Addington had a stand there for the two days and were pleasantly surprised to hear we were going to benefit from the auction of the all the ribs that had been entered into the beef rib competition sponsored by Morrison’s.
The auction took place on the Saturday afternoon and a fantastic job was done by auctioneer, Paul Gentry, who managed to make a grand total of £1,275.00, which will be split between Addington and RABI.
May we take this opportunity to thank Geoff Burgess, Secretary of Royal Smithfield Show, and to Andrew Loftus from Morrison’s for donating the auction money.
In the National Festival of Meat beef ribs competition the winner was a Limousin cross heifer from S J Hodges, Aylesbury.
Reserve was Ian Wildgoose, Derbyshire, with another Limousin cross heifer.
Ding Dong Merrily on High!
Dec 11, 2012 - 11:17 AM
Friday evening saw Addington host another Advent Carol Service, this time in Chilton, Buckinghamshire. The Parish Church of St. Mary The Virgin was packed full with around 120 people who had come to support Addington and warm up their vocal chords with the festive carols.
The short service was lead by The Revd. Canon John Wynburne, and readings by Arthur Hall, Harry Aubrey Fletcher and Eric Carte. People arrived to the welcome sound of Winchendon Brass lead by Edward Paine, and played various pieces throughout the service.
Ian Bell, Addington Fund Director, thanked everyone for attending and continuing to support the work of Addington. Chilton House opened their doors for the congregation to enjoy wine and mince pies after the service.
The collection raised a very generous £2718.00 including donations from people who weren’t able to attend, so a heartfelt thanks from Addington. We would also like to thank our lesson readers, Winchendon Brass and Chilton House staff for their support. We would not have been able to do all this without the very generous offer of using the church and Chilton House this year, so we would like to thank Lady Aubrey Fletcher for her help and support. Also to Milly Soames, our Vice Patron, who organises the event each year.
Celebration of Advent to ward off the chill!
Dec 07, 2012 - 10:31 AM
Addington hosted its annual Warwickshire Advent Service at St Edith’s Church, Monks Kirby on Wednesday evening. Although a very chilly night, thankfully there was no snow and people still braved the chilling temperatures in and out of the church to join us in celebrating the start of Advent.
Warm mulled wine and a great spread of sandwiches and nibbles, supplied by Warwickshire Farm Women’s Club, was a welcome start to the service.
Revd. Canon Barbara Clutton lead the service and Sheila Cole, Chairman of Addington Trustees, lit the first Advent candle and was joined by the new High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Robert Waley-Cohen, The Bishop of Warwick and other great supporters of Addington who read lessons throughout the service.
Ian Bell, Addington Fund Director, thanked everyone for attending and continuing to support the work of Addington. He said ‘We are preparing for a difficult winter, especially in the livestock sector. We particularly want to help the famers who are trying to help themselves by adapting their marketing strategy and farming practice to cope with the current situations. We are not able to solve everyone’s problems but we can help in a small way and show that somebody cares’
The collection raised a very generous £1200, including donations from people who weren’t able to attend so a heartfelt thanks from Addington. We would also like to thank Revd. Canon Barbara Clutton for leading the service, our lesson readers, the Diatonic Choir and to the Warwickshire Farm Women’s Club, who each year have kindly supplied the guests with refreshments before and after the service.
Charity Race Day at Bangor-on-Dee
Nov 20, 2012 - 01:57 PM
Patron of Addington, The Rt Hon Lord Iliffe, enjoying his day at the races!
Pockets and purses were opened in readiness for our charity race day last Wednesday 14th November. For the last six years, the Anne Duchess of Westminster’s Charity has held a Charity Race Day at Bangor-on-Dee race course, sponsoring the main race and also nominating another charity to benefit financially from the day. This year Addington was privileged to have been selected as the nominated charity.
It presented us with a huge opportunity to raise funds and increase our profile in the North-West. The day was focused on landowners and farmers and proved to be an overwhelming success. Several prominent landowners collectively sponsored their own dedicated race, and took tables to entertain their tenants.
The day involved seven races, and guests enjoyed a champagne reception followed by lunch and afternoon tea. There was a main auction over lunch and also a silent auction ran throughout the day where all visitors to the course were welcome to place a bid on any of the 28 donated auction lots.
We were delighted that HRH, The Prince of Wales, donated an artist’s proof of his painting ‘The South Front Highgrove’ for the main auction, which raised an impressive £5,000.
We have to thank a great many people for making this day possible, mainly Richard Matson, the race day committee, Jeannie Chantler GM of Bangor and all the volunteers that helped on the day. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, the weather was fair and the attendance for our lunch was at a high, so all in all a great success and now just to tot up the total!