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Andrew Arbuckle’s farming chuckles benefit charity

By 26th February 2016July 27th, 2023No Comments
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A collection of comic rural stories gleaned from across Scotland by freelance Andrew Arbuckle (pictured left below courtesy of Fife Today) and his brother has so far raised a remarkable £40,000 for rural charity Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).

Since being published in October, Farming is a Funny Businesshas been a roaring success, the anecdotes and jokes about the trials and tribulations of everyday rural life obviously striking a chord with a lot of people.

“With more than 300 jokes and anecdotes from contributors all over Scotland, it will surely dispel the view that farmers are dour and uncommunicative,” says Andrew, a Member of the Guild. “Equally, it will remove the thought that farming has a monopoly on pessimism.

“Some of the humour is pawky and a lot of it is dry and understated; there may not be a lot of ‘laugh out loud’ moments,” he adds. “But it provides proof there is a lot of fun in the farmyard, at auction sales and agricultural shows; in fact wherever farming folk meet.”

All proceeds from sales of the book, which is available for £10 (plus £2 p&p), go to the RSABI, which provides financial assistance and support in confidence to those people who have worked in Scotland in land-based occupations and who are suffering hardship.

Nina Clancy, RSABI chief executive, says: “We’re enormously grateful to Andrew and John for their hard work in putting this book together, and to all those who contributed their jokes and tales. Farming is a Funny Business deserves to sell well in its own right, but I’m always heartened that people are willing to help RSABI raise money in innovative ways.

“Rural life can be tough, and RSABI helps hundreds of people each year who are working or have worked on the land – as well as their dependants – and face difficulties due to illness, stress or financial strain. Whether you buy this book for yourself or as a present, you’ll be delighting someone and supporting a good cause at the same time.”

The book can be purchased online here. It is also available at a number of farm stores, auction marts, farm shops, NFU Mutual offices and machinery dealers across Scotland – see the RSABI website for a full list.