Charity golf day organised by Focus Consultants raises funds for hospice

More than £200 has been handed to charity following an annual golf day staged by Focus Consultants. 

The company, which specialises in funding and economic development, project management, chartered surveying and energy, staged the event at Belton Park Golf Club in Grantham. 

Players donated £230 in the raffle, and the proceeds were presented by Focus Partner Trevor Newton to Ann Randall of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice. 

Trevor, who is based in the Boston office of Focus, organised the event which has become an annual date on the Focus Consultants’ calendar, and attracted players from across the East Midlands. Twenty three clients, associates and staff took part in the charity day. 

Trevor said: “It was great to see so many clients at our charity golf day, and I am very pleased that we have been able to support the very valuable work carried out by St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice with our donation to charity.” 

Focus Consultants, which has offices in Nottingham, Leicester, Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, and in Holborn, London, specialises in funding, research and economic development, project and programme management, construction and property services and energy services. The company works on private and public projects across the UK. 

Veronica Brien, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said: “We are so thankful that Focus Consultants has chosen to support St Barnabas. The funds they have raised will go towards helping more than 9,000 people across Lincolnshire receive the specialist end-of-life care they deserve. Their support ensures that our patients and their families can make the most of every single second they share, regardless of how much time remains.” 

The hospice has been providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care for more than 30 years across Lincolnshire. In the last 12 months St Barnabas has cared and supported 1,215 people within the Boston area through their day therapy, hospice at home, out-patient and in-patient services. 

Focus chose to raise money for St Barnabas as the charity recently provided care to a colleague and family. 

For more information about Focus Consultants visit www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Shire Horse Society National Show attracts thousands

More than 5,000 visitors attended the Shire Horse Society’s National Show – the largest gathering of Shires in the world. 

With almost 300 entries from across the UK and Europe, the event was held over two days at Arena UK, Allington near Grantham. 

The King George V Champion Challenge Cup for the best stallion in the show was awarded to Schumann’s Eregon, owned by Mr Volker Schumann from Hattingen, Germany. It was the first time that a German stallion had taken the top spot. 

Woodhouse Calendar Girl, shown by Mr Martin Fountain, from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, was awarded The Henry Young Perpetual Memorial Cup as champion mare in show. 

The Shire Horse Society’s event is believed to be one of the oldest, almost continuous, horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society. 

The show is the flagship event of the Shire Horse Society, the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. Since 1878 the organisation has been working to protect the breed, which was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. 

The Shire is recognised as an at risk breed under the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. 

Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies said he was delighted that so many members of the public had turned out to see the horses being shown in the ring and to support the charity at its showcase event. 

“At one point, the Shire horse breed faced an uncertain future, but thanks to a dedicated band of enthusiasts their numbers have steadily increased and they are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity. However, there are still fewer than 500 new foals registered every year so it’s very important to continue the charity’s work of protecting and promoting the breed to ensure that we can enjoy these wonderful gentle giants for generations to come,” he said. 

“I’d like to say a big thank you to all those who came from far and wide to compete at the event, and also to all the visitors who supported both the charity and the competitors who work so hard showing their Shires. Thanks also are due to all the volunteers, stewards and judges who helped deliver such as successful event. 

“Shire horses have a unique history and heritage and our national show plays a key role in highlighting their past and in promoting their future, so we are delighted that so many people joined us for the two-day event.”

The evening performance on Saturday March 21^st was opened by Household Cavalry drum horse Major Drummer Mercury.

As well as the show classes, with horses shown in-hand, ridden and in harness, the event also featured a range of trade and other stands, as well as a food hall. For the first year the Shire Horse Society welcomed as a partner the Lazy Jacks clothing company, who provided brand new society merchandise. 

For more information about the Shire Horse Society visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

World’s largest gathering of Shire horses to be held in the East Midlands

Horse lovers in the East Midlands are being urged to support one of the nation’s favourite breeds when the world’s largest gathering of Shire horses takes place on the doorstep next month (March). 

The iconic breed was in danger of dying out just a few decades ago, and even now fewer than 500 new foals are registered every year by the Shire Horse Society. 

The charity has been running a Save Our Shires campaign to raise awareness about these gentle giants and numbers have steadily increased, thanks to the dedication of a band of enthusiasts. 

On March 21^st and 22^nd the society stages its national show at Arena UK, Allington, on the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border near Grantham. It’s billed as the world’s largest gathering of Shires, and is expected to attract horses from across Europe and visitors from around the globe. 

The event is believed to be one of the oldest, almost continuous, horse shows in the world, having been held for the first time at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, in 1880, when the charity was named the English Cart Horse Society. 

Now local horse lovers are being urged to support the event, which includes a range of classes, as well as trade stands, stalls and demonstrations. 

“The Shire Horse Society’s National Show is the perfect opportunity for members of the public to see these gentle giants of the horse world in all their glory,” said Shire Horse Society secretary David Ralley-Davies. “The breed has a unique history and heritage. The pedigree Shires will be put through their paces over two days of competition and it’s the ideal place to see them shown in style - in-hand, ridden and turned out. 

“The show is quite a spectacle and we’re urging people to come along and support us in what is our annual showcase event. Their support will help us to carry on protecting and promoting a breed that was once crucial to the nation’s industrial and economic development, as well as having a vitally important role in World War One.” 

The annual show, taking place indoors at its new home at Arena UK for the second time, is the flagship event for the Shire Horse Society, which is the only charity dedicated to the protection, promotion and improvement of the Shire horse. Since 1878 the organisation has been working to protect the breed, which was then known as the Old English Breed of Cart Horse. 

The show runs from 8am until about 10pm on the Saturday to include the championship in the evening. It will be open from 8am until 4.30pm on the Sunday. Adult day tickets cost £8 in advance, with under 12s and seniors £6, and are available from http://bit.ly/1nxKWIW Day tickets will be £10 and £8 on the gate. Free admission to Shire Horse Society members on presentation of their society badge. 

Sponsors for the event include botanical brewers Fentimans, Fullers Brewery, Young's Brewery, Boldscan and Fosters Foods. 

For more information visit www.shire-horse.org.uk or follow the charity on Facebook or Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/shirehorsesociety and @saveourshires

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Opportunities for food and drink producers

East Midlands food and drink producers have flocked to be part of a special Diamond Jubilee event in Mansfield next month.

All the stalls at Mansfield Jubilee Food and Drink Fair on Tuesday June 5th are booked, with a waiting list in operation.

Now East Midlands Fine Foods is inviting firms to take part in a food and drink marquee at the Festival of Heroes event in Grantham, which is being staged on July 7th and 8th.

The aim of the event, which takes place at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, is to raise the profile of the Territorial Army, as well as raise money for Help the Heroes charity and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

A speciality food and drink marquee celebrating the best of British food and drink will be staged within the festival.

“We’re delighted that so many traders are keen to take part in the Mansfield Jubilee Food and Drink Fair, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the town,” said East Midlands Fine Foods event organiser Toni Jarvis. “We’re now fully booked, but have a waiting list in case of any cancellations.

“However, there’s still space for traders who’d like to join us for the Festival of Heroes event in Grantham in July.”

East Midlands Fine Foods, which promotes food and drink producers from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, runs a number of food and drink events in the region, including the monthly Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in Nottingham.

Items on sale at the Mansfield event include exotic, fresh and cooked meats, pickles, cheeses, olives and baklava, cakes and coffee.

For more information about stalls call 0115 9758810. For details about the Festival for Heroes event in Grantham visit www.festivalforheroes.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Two new event opportunities for food and drink producers in the East Midlands

Food and drink producers are being invited to take part in two special events this summer.

East Midlands Fine Foods is organising stalls at Mansfield Jubilee Food and Drink Fair, as part of the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations in the town.

Taking place on Tuesday June 5th, the event is being branded the Best of British and will feature activities for all the family.

East Midlands Fine Foods, which promotes food and drink producers from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, is also managing the food and drink marquee at the Festival of Heroes event in Grantham, which is being staged on July 7th and 8th.

The aim of the event, which takes place at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, is to raise the profile of the Territorial Army, as well as raise money for Help the Heroes charity and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

A large speciality food and drink marquee celebrating the best of British food and drink will be staged within the festival. East Midlands Fine Foods is organising for a range of traders to take space.

“These two events, along with our regular monthly Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in Nottingham, are great opportunities for food and drink producers in the region to sell directly to members of the public,” said East Midlands Fine Foods event organiser Toni Jarvis.

“East Midlands Fine Foods has many years of experience in organising stalls and markets at a range of events and venues, and we are very pleased to be getting involved with these two special events in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire this summer.”

For more information about stalls at either event call 0115 9758810.

For details about the Festival for Heroes event in Grantham visit www.festivalforheroes.co.uk

East Midlands Fine Foods www.eastmidlandsfinefoods.com

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk