The 2018 hosts were Lindsey and Will Hitchen, of St George’s Court B&B, based at Old Home Farm, High Grantley, near Ripon, and the three-day event raised almost £7,000 for national farming charity, the Addington Fund, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
This also included the proceeds of a standalone two-course hot supper for another 60 guests, where entertainment was provided by local singer, guitarist; writer, journalist, TV presenter and producer Chris Berry.
It was the second Big Breakfast bonanza staged by the couple. The first in 2011 netted over £3,000 for the same two charities, with the latest event boosting the St George’s Court kitty to around £10,000.
Multiple sponsors stepped forward to support the event, both financially and with product donations. Keynote sponsors were Ripon accountants Eura Audit, Barclays Bank’s agricultural division, who again sent two of their senior personnel every day to work with the ladies, and Craven Cattle Marts in Skipton.
Over the years, other regional members of Farm Stay UK, the country’s largest network of farm-based accommodation providers, have laid on charity Big Breakfasts, which have netted many thousands of pounds, primarily for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Addington Fund, which offers a vital lifeline and safety net to farmers in desperate need of housing or emergency funds.
“Once again, both sponsors and Big Breakfasters gave us fantastic support. We cannot thank them enough,” said Mrs Hitchen.
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