John Deere Press Room 2009

Farming was represented in the form of a John Deere tractor and plough when the appropriately named St. Giles in the Fields church in London hosted the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) at its harvest thanksgiving service in October.

Loaned by John Deere for the occasion, the 6330 Premium tractor was at the entrance to welcome those attending the Choral Holy Communion service, at which the RABI honorary chaplain, the Rt Revd John Oliver (former Bishop of Hereford), was preaching and a collection was taken for the national farming charity, raising just under £1000. The Venerable Dr William Jacob, Rector of St Giles in the Fields and Archdeacon of Charing Cross, welcomed the opportunity to share the harvest thanksgiving with RABI.

Founded in 1860, RABI provides welfare advice, care and financial provision to those who are elderly or disabled, and to working farming families facing crises in their lives such as illness, bereavement and disaster.

During 2007, RABI paid out over £2.4 million to support over 2000 individuals and families, an increase of over £1 million on the previous year. Much of this can be attributed to exceptional payments made as a result of the summer floods and livestock movement restrictions following the foot and mouth outbreak. In total, £782,500 was awarded in emergency grants between July and December 2007.

In 2010 RABI will be celebrating 150 years of helping those in the farming industry and also 75 years since the charity was granted a Royal Charter.

October 2008