This year’s annual charity fair organised by the Roper and Kennard Family at Forde Abbey raised £26,000 for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) and Marie Curie. The cheque was presented to both charities at a lunch held at Forde Abbey to thank the volunteer committee and the sponsors, NFU Mutual and Mole Valley. Alice Kennard said: “I’d like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped to make this year’s fair such a success.

“It is very much a family and team effort with help from our very loyal volunteers and our sponsors who all work together to make it a day to remember.

“Raising such an amazing amount of money for the two charities makes it all worthwhile. We’ve been running our charity fair now for 40-plus years and are proud to say that all the money raised is donated to the charities. Although it only runs for a day we plan from one year to the next and are already looking to next year and another successful fundraising event.”

RABI regional manager Pam Wills said: “We’re very grateful for the funds raised by the Forde Abbey summer fair which will help us to make a real difference to the lives of many farming people.”

Marie Curie’s community fundraiser Amy Salmon added: “We would like to say a big thank you to the team at Forde Abbey fair committee who have worked phenomenally hard to make the annual charity fair a big success. Marie Curie is honoured to be chosen as a joint beneficiary of this event.”