NFU Mutual branch - Pulborough

Local community

We are pleased to be supporters of many local events, such as the Rother Raft Race, Pulborough Harvest Fayre, Iping Horse Trials, Fernhurst Revels, to name a few. We are also collecting money via our 'dress-down Fridays', the proceeds from which will be donated to Ferring Country Centre.

Rother Raft Race

We were pleased to finally present Help for Heroes with a cheque in the sum of £525.00 collected from our successful run in the Rother Raft Race 2009.

Pictured are (L to R) Caroline Doll, Amanda Harman, Sarah Lydiard-Wilson (Volunteer Sussex Co-ordinator for Help For Heroes) and Stephanie Coxall. 

Plough Service for RABI 150

The RABI celebrates its 150th anniversary this year and, to help them celebrate, NFU Mutual Pulborough, in partnership with Sussex RABI, held a Plough Blessing Service at Chichester Cathedral on 31st January, 2010. The Plough Service was traditionally held in January to mark the start of the ploughing for the year. Farmers would pull the plough around the village and collect money from the residents. That money would then be spent on candles to give to the Church as a token to accompany the prayers asking for a good year's crop. The practice has tailed off over recent years but it is our intention to hold these services on a regular, but not annual, basis.

The event was started with a procession of vintage and modern tractors, preceded by a cart and horses, which carried the plough. The procession went from Chichester College through the streets of the city to the Cathedral, where our Young Farmers Club members carried the plough from the cart into the full Cathedral.

The picture above left shows the procession, headed by Sally Field, Field Officer for RABI, and David Burden, County Chairman for RABI.

The service was attended by many farmers, local people and dignitaries, including Mayors and Mayoresses, the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex, Lord Lieutenant and Nick Herbert, MP.

The picture to the right shows the Cathedral during the service.

It is not yet known how much money was raised through the collection, which will be shared between RABI and the Cathedral.

The picture below shows the produce flag, produced by the kindness of Simon Kendall, Runcton Farm Shop.

Rural Crime Prevention Seminar 17th February 2010

Held in partnership with Sussex Police, NFUM Pulborough were proud to be associated with this seminar. The purpose of the day was to promote FarmWatch and to help people realise that there is increasing resource available within the Police force to look after the rural community. There were other attendees available to discuss products and services to help improve security and Police from the Devon Force gave a presentation on the Stop That Thief initiative, which provides security technology to help prevent incidents. It was very well attended and, if you would like more information on any of the initiatives, products, Country Watch Radio or FarmWatch, please do not hesitate to contact us. To join Farm Watch, please visit www.sussex.police.uk/farmwatch and register using the form.

The picture shows (L to R) Superintendent Lance Gray, who introduced the event, Amanda Harman, and Crime Prevention Adviser, Trevor Cox, who organised the day.

Fleet Seminar 18th February 2010

This event was organised by Russ Howarth, in conjunction with our fleet partners. It featured presentations by Adam Millership, HO Fleet UW, Stuart Scoble, RAC, and Paul Hewitt of Autoglass and was well received by both existing insureds and those who we would like to insure this year. Well-catered at the Hilton Avisford Park, we involved James Wiseman, agent from Chichester, who also insures a number of large fleets, Staff Engineers, Steve Smedley and Peter Trotman, Regional UW John Sorsby, Sales Consultant Nigel Williams and Account Executive Caroline Doll. The feedback has been excellent so far, in that we have already had one fleet manager give us the go-ahead to quote this year.

The picture shows all attendees except Keith Vincent of RAC, who kindly took the picture.

West Sussex Growers Association Autumn Dinner

This annual event was held at the Vicars' Hall at Chichester Cathedral and was another success. Our guest speaker was Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nick Herbert MP, and he is shown here with (left to right) Mrs Ebbi Ridd, John Ridd, Chairman of Chichester District Council, Sarah Pettit, Chair of the Board of Horticulture for the NFU, Mrs Alison Sopp and Dr Paul Sopp, Chairman of the WSGA. Our sweepstake, on the combined length of the guest's and Chairman's speeches, raised over £400.00.