Supporters filled hundreds of hungry stomachs across the South East with a series of farmhouse breakfasts, raising £13,315.

The Kent committee kicked off the new year with a breakfast at The Poacher & Partridge in Tudeley, where they raised £2,500. More than 60 guests attended the event, tucking into a locally sourced meal while trustee Sue Lister gave a talk about R.A.B.I’s work in 2019.

A further ten events in Kent brought the county’s fundraising total up to £8,362. As well as serving breakfasts in local pubs, the committee also arranged to dine at Chiddingstone Castle and Elham Vineyard.

Not to be outdone, the West Sussex and East Sussex committees also put on breakfast events. Volunteers in West Sussex organised a breakfast at Bartholomew Barn – a Grade II listed oak-beamed building. Around 150 people attended and helped to raise £1,700.

Gill and Bryan Hesselgrave

Meanwhile, Gill and Bryan Hesselgrave organised their annual farmhouse breakfast at Hellingly Village Hall and raised £3,253 – with match-funding from Barclays. The couple have been organising this event for 14 years and have raised thousands for R.A.B.I. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary and asked for donations to R.A.B.I in lieu of gifts.

The south east committees have more farmhouse breakfast events planned and would welcome any newcomers to join them.

• 27 Feb – Breakfast at the Kent Showground
• 10 Mar – The Isle of Wight BIG Breakfast at Tapnalls
• 23 Mar – Breakfast at The Plough Inn, Leigh, Surrey
• 24 Mar – The New Forest R.A.B.I Breakfast at The Burley Inn

Please contact Sally Field at sally.field@rabi.org.uk for more information.