FARMING MATTERS: Join farming families for a Christmas singalong in the livestock market

Virginia Stollery is on R.A.B.I.'s Buckinghamshire committee and has helped to organise the Christmas Carol Evening

In addition to enjoying a good old festive community singalong, there will be mince pies, mulled wine and the promise of fun.

So wrap up warm and take a trip down to the market to exercise your vocal chords.

Entry is a donation to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I.).

This is a welfare charity which helps farming people of all ages if they are in financial difficulty and of limtied means.

Help can be through one off or regular grants, as well as the provision of essential household items and disability equipment.

For working farmers the charity can fund relief staff to help in a crisis or offer training to help bring extra income onto the farm.

For retired and/or disabled people, the charity can pay towards care home and home help costs, and R.A.B.I also runs two residential homes of their own.

Every case is different and every application is judged on its own merits with compassion, discretion and friendship.

So here’s a chance to support a very worthwhile charity as well as enjoying a terrific and jolly start to Christmas.