AFTER long anticipated months, the Glendale Agricultural Society are thrilled to announce that they have now become a registered Charity – marking a historic moment in the Society’s long and successful history.

After a promising EGM in November with a unanimous vote from members to submit the application, the Charity Commission’s approval was announced late last week, meaning that this well-known Society will now operate under a new and refreshing image.

As a Charity, the Glendale Agricultural Society will now be able to apply for grants from both local organisations and top charitable funders including Funding Central and the National Lottery.

The annual Glendale Show and Children’s Countryside Day will continue as normal, but they will each have the added benefit of being run by a charity.

For over 125 years, the Glendale Agricultural Society has been at the forefront of promoting agriculture and education in North Northumberland, and now will be able to do so in a much larger and more prominent way. Lord Joicey, President of the Glendale Agricultural Society, expressed his delight on the news:

“Being a registered charity allows the Society to apply for funds that it has hitherto not been able to attract. Its activities and objectives have always been charitable, and I am thrilled that the Charity Commission have agreed to recognise this by granting full charitable status.”

The Glendale Agricultural Society is one of the smallest agricultural societies in the whole of the United Kingdom with around 300 members. Active for over 125 years, Glendale Agricultural Society stages the hugely successful Glendale Show which attracts over 10,000 visitors each year and is one of the leading highlights of the Northumbrian agricultural calendar. It also hosts the multi-award-winning educational Children’s Countryside Day which last year attracted over 1,650 children.

Rachael Tait, Secretary of the Glendale Agricultural Society, said: “This is truly a defining moment in the Society’s long history, and it excites me greatly to see what the future holds.”

Along with their announcement, the Glendale Agricultural Society also celebrated a successful and informative Burns Night with Beeswax Dyson Farming, held at Lowick Village Hall on Monday 27th January. Whilst the haggis was addressed and hunger was met, both James Thompson and Harry Huddart of Beeswax Dyson delivered two detailed presentations on the many aspects of this enormous and well-known company.

Rebecca Maitland, Assistant Secretary of the Glendale Agricultural Society, said: “I am absolutely thrilled with how well the evening went – and the comments back from the many guests who attended were outstanding.

“I would like to thank Harry and James for taking their time to return to Northumberland and inform us of what Beeswax Dyson Farming is really about – it truly was amazing. I would also like to thank Border Livestock Exchange Ltd and MSP Agriculture for sponsoring the night, and the many Society members who each helped to make the evening great. This was my first event for the Society, and I cannot wait to host more”, concluded Rebecca.