Myerscough celebrates Harvest Festival with community event

The RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) Lancashire Harvest Service was held at the College’s Food and Farming Innovation & Technology Centre, and was led by Myerscough’s Chaplain, the Reverend Garry Whittaker, featuring songs from pupils of John Cross Primary School in Bilsborrow.

RABI provides long-term care and emergency help for retired farmers, farm workers and working farmers and their families who find themselves in financial difficulties.

At the service there were also cakes made by Myerscough’s foundation learning students, while horticulture Level 2 students provided produce displays with tutors Kate Lynch and Jon Hoole, and the floral displays were designed and constructed by the Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma Floristry students with tutor Susanna Brandon & supported by our Inclusive Learning Advisor, Pam Robinson.

Craig Thompson, Head of Agriculture at Myerscough College, said: ‘’Many thanks to everyone involved in organising the event. It was a fantastic team effort and the room looked amazing!

‘’Thanks to our staff and students for the displays, refreshments and the cakes! Thanks too to Reverend Garry for leading a great service and for arranging John Cross School to come in. They added a real community feel to the service.

It was great to see local RABI members and supporters to come along too which again added a great sense of community, and raised money for their charity. Very well done all!’’

Alison Robinson, Chief Executive and Principal of Myerscough College, said: ‘’This was an absolutely brilliant effort across all departments truly demonstrating the ‘One College’ approach to teamwork.

‘’It was lovely to see all of the displays, the decorated room, the amazing food, the smiling faces of our staff and students and those from our local community including John Cross CE Primary School.

‘’A number of people from our local community stopped me to say what a great job everyone had done and how important it was to share this event across the college and wider community. It was fantastic to raise money for RABI too.’’

Georgina Lamb, North West Manager for RABI, said: ‘’Thanks so much, I was gobsmacked by all the effort everyone went to and think it is a credit to the College!

‘’As well as celebrating harvest this was a brilliant opportunity to fly the flag for RABI and I really do appreciate the opportunity to do that.  We also raised a fantastic amount for the charity, which is a great result!’’