Western Morning News (Saturday)
Show’s off – but charity fundraising continues
THE summer agricultural show calendar has been decimated by the coronavirus outbreak, but that’s not going to stop the Cornwall branch of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I) from raising funds to support the county’s rural community.
The Royal Cornwall Show, which has now been cancelled for 2020 after being postponed from June until September, is usually the focus of fundraising initiatives by businesses and individuals to help support the work of the R.A.B.I, farming’s oldest and largest charity.
Undeterred, the Cornwall-based fundraising committee are taking the event online, with a timed auction and quiz via Facebook on Friday, June 5, which would have been the second day of the county’s headline outdoor event, held at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge.
Auction lots up for grabs include a Cornish food hamper, 1,000 litres of heating oil, Cornish gin and a day’s pheasant shooting.
Edward Buckland, organiser of the auction, said: “Whilst the Royal Cornwall Show is not going ahead this year, the Cornwall R.A.B.I committee is going online.
“We know you many people enjoyed attending our annual fundraising evening in the past and this year needs to be no different. So bring your own
Cornish supper, pasty and a pint, and enjoy one Brian Harvey’s famous quizzes and bid on our charity auction.”
The quiz, hosted by Brian Harvey, will be broadcast live on the Cornwall R.A.B.I’s Fundraisers Facebook page, starting at 8pm on the same evening.
Mr Harvey, partner and agricultural accountant at PKF Francis Clark, added: “Cornwall is a net beneficiary from the R.A.B.I, last year more than £87,000 was spent by the charity supporting farmers in the county.
“There’s a very obvious need for this help locally and we’d be grateful for as many people as possible to join the quiz and auction for what will be a great fun evening.”
Founded in 1860, the R.A.B.I offers financial support, practical care and guidance to farming people of all ages, including farmers, farmworkers and their dependants.
Online auction items can be viewed and bids placed by visiting the website www.edwardbuckland.co.uk. Bidding ends from 8.30pm on Friday, June 5.
To participate in the quiz, visit the Cornwall RABI Fundraisers Facebook page.
The event is being supported by Barclays Bank, Edward Buckland Ltd, Handelsbanken, Oatey Media, PKF Francis Clark and Trewithen Dairy.