A Special Evening in Cornwall to Mark 25 Years of Addington Fund
On Thursday 8 October, the iconic Eden Project near St Austell played host to a very special evening as Addington Fund celebrated 25 years of supporting farming families and rural communities.
Suits were donned, bow ties were tightened and a little sparkle was added to the South West as more than 150 guests gathered for Addington Fund’s Cornwall Celebration Dinner. The evening brought together supporters, sponsors, farmers and friends to celebrate the charity’s achievements, reflect on its history and raise vital funds to support its work for years to come.
Guests were welcomed with a glass of something cold and sparkling, generously sponsored by Handelsbanken, before sitting down to enjoy a delicious three-course meal.
After Dinner Speaker Julian White MBE
The seasonal menu started with a vegetable soup, followed by a braised featherblade of beef served, kindly supplied by James Kittow Butcher & Grazier, and finished with sticky toffee pudding. The menu was generously sponsored by Carter Jonas, while the wine on each of the tables was sponsored by Penderlaw Solicitors.
Following the meal, guests heard an entertaining and inspiring talk from former England and Leicester Tigers rugby player turned farmer, Julian White MBE.
Reflecting on his career at the highest level of professional rugby, Julian shared stories from his time in New Zealand and then going on to discuss tales from his time representing both England and Leicester Tigers. During the talk he also shared insights into the challenges and opportunities he has experienced since making the transition from professional sport to farming.
Speaking at the event, Julian said: “Following my career in professional rugby, it really helped me to know I was finishing to progress into farming as it was something I was always equally as passionate about.”
Following Julian’s talk the evening then turned to fundraising as Addington Fund Trustee and livestock auctioneer Alastair Brown took to the stage to lead a lively auction featuring seven fantastic lots.
Among the prizes on offer were an England rugby ball signed by Julian White MBE, an original piece of artwork by Doodling Lucy, and a case of Sipsmith Gin, kindly donated by Sam Galsworthy of Trewithen Estate.
With plenty of competitive bidding the auction raised an incredible £2,500 for Addington Fund. The funds raised will help the charity continue supporting farming families and rural communities across England and Wales.
The evening continued with the announcement of the prize draw winners. Prizes included £100 in cash alongside a Sweet & Savoury Deluxe Hamper from The Cornish Company, kindly donated by PKF Francis Clark; £50 in cash and a bottle of Addington Fund Gotland Gin, kindly donated by Gotland Gin; and £25 in cash alongside a pack of 10 Christmas cards by Doodling Lucy.
In total, the evening raised over £4,800 for Addington Fund’s vital work. The funds will help the charity provide housing for farming families who need an alternative home through no fault of their own, emergency relief for farmers facing hardship, and support through Forage Aid. They will also contribute towards the charity’s New Entrant Grant Scheme, helping people without the security of a family farm take their first steps towards a future in agriculture.
As a lasting reminder of the evening, guests were given an oak tree sapling, generously gifted by Inez Williams-King of The Grower Nursery in St Agnes, winner of the Best Woman in Agriculture award at the 2025 Cornwall Farm Business Awards.
The saplings provided a fitting symbol of growth, resilience and looking to the future, values that reflect Addington Fund’s own journey over the past 25 years and its continued commitment to supporting the people who make their living from the land.
Reflecting on the evening, Addington Fund Fund Director Sue English said:
“2026 is Addington Fund’s 25th anniversary year and, like the oak saplings, we have grown into a major national farming charity, supporting farmers when they need us through housing, hardship grants, grants for new entrants and a growing area of our work creating farm tenancy opportunities.
“We would like to thank everyone who donated a prize for the auction and prize draw, and everyone who came along to be part of our 25th anniversary celebrations.”
Julian White MBE signing an England rugby ball ahead of the auction
Addington Fund would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success, including Alastair Brown, Daphne Skinnard, Doodling Lucy, Gotland Gin, Julian White MBE, NFU, Paul and Jessica Semple, Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, Sam Galsworthy and The Grower Nursery.
The charity would also like to thank its generous event sponsors:
Carter Jonas – Menu and Event Sponsor
Penderlaw Solicitors – Table Drinks Sponsor
Handelsbanken – Welcome Drinks Sponsor
Cornish Mutual – AV Sponsor
James Kittow Butcher & Grazier – Beef Sponsor
The Grower Ltd – Gift Supplier
Savills – Event Sponsor
Azets UK – Event Sponsor
Stephens Scown – Event Sponsor
UHY Peninsula – Event Sponsor
Strutt & Parker – Event Sponsor
The Cornwall Celebration Dinner was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 25 years of Addington Fund’s work while bringing together the people who make that work possible. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, the evening raised vital funds to help the charity continue providing a helping hand to farming families, creating opportunities for new entrants and securing a future for British farming.
The dinner was held to raise important funds for Addington Fund, supporting farmers and those in rural communities through housing, disaster relief and a new entrant scheme.
