FUNDRAISERS in Dorset who amassed more than £13,000 for farming people in financial need have been recognised.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has recognised the organisers of a unique fundraising champaign reception that involved a debate on throwing people out of a sinking air balloon with the coveted Sam Taylor Cup.

Downton Abbey creator Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, former international news correspondent and author Kate Adie and Lady Rachel Billington were among those to take part in the fundraising event at Melbury House in Melbury Sampford last year.

The event took the form of a debate with the speakers tasked with arguing the case as to why they should not be thrown out of a sinking balloon.

With Lord Fellowes speaking as Queen Victoria, Lady Billington as Maria Graham and Mrs Adie as the Mata Hari, it was the latter who survived and the occasion provided great entertainment as well as much valued funds for the RABI.

Last year the RABI gave out grants of around £1.9million to farming people in hardship and also helped people claim more than £390,000 in state benefits and tax credits.

The charity, first formed by Essex farmer John Mechi in 1860, gave out emergency grants of around £88,000 to flood victims in the north of England at the turn of the year. More than 200 people attended RABI’s annual general meeting and awards ceremony at the Manor Hotel in Oxford that saw the Sam Taylor Cup awarded to the committee that had come up with the best new ‘stand-alone fundraising event’.

Susan Hooper collected the award on behalf of the organisers of the Melbury House event.

Voluntary income is RABI’s chief source of funding, with the organisation boasting more than 50 county committees across England and Wales who work at a grass-roots level to raise funds for the charity, as well as awareness.

Paul Burrows, RABI chief executive, said: “These awards provide an opportunity to recognise some of the incredible people who do so much to help others.”