The original 1993 start-up sum of £3000 has grown considerably over the years thanks to the fund-raising efforts by members, friends and colleagues. Peter Bullen, Guild Chairman 1993-94, who originally conceived the idea of the Trust, ran the London Marathon on five occasions and more recently Trust chairman Arthur Anderson undertook a 180-mile sponsored walk from the Thames Barrier to the source of the Thames.
In 2011, former Guild chairman, journalist Ronnie Fraser, left a generous legacy of more than £12,400 to the Charitable Trust capital fund.
Other important sources of income include:
- Sales of Guild Christmas cards
- Legacies and donations
- Social fund-raising events
- Harvest Lunch prize draw
- The '200 Club' cash prize scheme
At the last count, the Charitable Trust had built its fund to more than £85,000 earning interest from which payments to Guild members in difficulty can be made.
Individual members can help the Trust achieve its £100,000 capital target through any of the above means on an ad hoc basis (the 2011 Harvest Lunch prize draw and auction raised more than £1800) but can also make a regular contribution through the 200 Club – and have the chance of winning a cash prize!
The Guild's Charitable Trust chairman Arthur Anderson at the Thames Barrier about to start his sponsored walk to the source of the river.
The 200 Club
The 200 Club works through an annual subscription to shares which qualify the holder to participate in cash prize draws held during the year – usually at the Guild’s annual meeting in spring and at the harvest lunch in autumn.
At each draw there is a £250 first prize, £100 second prize and two £50 prizes. This is the easiest – and potentially most rewarding – way to contribute to the Trust. The annual subscription is £10 for a single share up to £100 for a maximum of 10 shares, each with two chances a year of winning a cash prize.
You can subscribe to the 200 Club simply by downloading a bank standing order form or by contacting:
Diane Montague, treasurer
Guild of Agricultural Journalists Charitable Trust
Chatham House
115 Widmore Road
Bromley
Kent
BR1 3AH
Tel: 020 8290 1212.
diane.montague@btconnect.com
John Allan, 200 Club secretary
Meadow Mist
Radcliffe Road
Cropwell Butler
Nottingham
NG12 3AG
Tel: 0115 933 2721
cropwell.consultancy@farmline.com
Annual subscribers to the 200 Club have won these cash prizes
Draw held at the 2011 Harvest Lunch:
£250 Malcolm Bridges
£100 Ruth Widen
£50 Amy Jackson
£50 Roger Smith
Draw held at the 2011 Annual Meeting:
£250 David Collett
£100 Baroness Byford
£50 Peter Reynolds
£50 George Chancellor
Draw held at the 2010 Harvest Lunch:
£250 Ruth Widen
£100 Denis Frost
£50 John Nix
£50 Michael Pollitt
Draw held at the 2010 Annual Meeting:
£250 Mike Humphrey
£100 Godfrey Brown
£50 Wendy Ryder
£50 Roy Bird
£50 Carol Twinch
Draw held at the 2009 Harvest Lunch:
£250 Tony Collier
£100 Steve Mitchell
£50 Baroness Byford
£50 Sarah Gregson
Draw held at the 2009 Annual Meeting:
£250 Tony Collier
£100 Godfrey Brown
£50 Sarah Gregson
£50 Andrew Faulkner
Draw held at the 2008 Harvest Lunch:
£250 Baroness Hazel Byford
£100 Colin Jackson
£50 David Kelsey
£50 David Steers
Draw held at the 2008 Annual Meeting:
£250 - Tony McDougal
£100 - Howard Venters
£50 - Wendy Ryder
£50 - Tony Collier
Draw held at the 2007 Harvest Lunch:
£250 Peter Bell
£100 Joe Watson
£50 David Lloyd
£50 Jeremy Hawkey
Draw held at the 2007 Annual Meeting:
Tony Collier
Chris Walkland
David Ashton
Godfrey Brown
Draw held at the 2006 Harvest Lunch:
Ronnie Fraser
Carol Trewin
Bill Howatson
Chrissie Nicholl
